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Scotland finished fourth in the 2016 Six Nations, continuing their gradual improvement under Kiwi coach Vern Cotter. Given the building process Cotter is overseeing, there will not be many personnel changes over the next year, but in this article, Bleacher Report analyses two players who will probably not feature in 2017.
One is a seasoned campaigner too old to retain his place. The other is a forward often a leading player for Scotland, but whose lack of recent form and competition for places at club level threaten to cost him his place at the forefront of Vern Cotter’s plans.
Sean Lamont
Sean Lamont, 35, and a veteran of 104 caps for Scotland has probably played his last Six Nations game. The winger, who can also play at centre, has scored six tries in 45 Six Nations matches, but with Scotland on the up, we should not expect there to be a place for Lamont in Cotter’s 2017 Scotland squad unless there is a serious injury crisis in the back line.
Lamont has had an inconsistent career. He broke onto the international scene in the mid-2000s and had a big impact in the previous Scotland win against France, scoring two tries in a 20-16 triumph in 2006.
Lamont’s powerful running was one of Scotland’s key weapons then, but it is a measure of his struggles to regularly impact matches Lamont was never called up for with the British and Irish Lions. A late developer, in 2005 he was only six months into his international career, in 2009 he was out of form and by 2013 Sean Maitland and Stuart Hogg were ahead of him in Scotland and the Lions’ thinking.
It is very hard to evaluate Lamont’s career with Scotland. He is in the test centurions' elite club, and is a reliable, whole-hearted figure. In fact, only Chris Paterson has more caps for Scotland (109).
Overall, though, there is a strong sense of disappointment. One of Scotland’s shining lights in the mid-noughties will end his career as a player opposition teams will hardly give a second thought to in their preparations.
As per the BBC, ahead of Scotland’s victory over France this year at Murrayfield, Lamont insisted he would never retire from Scotland duty: “I'll keep going. I will become surplus to requirements rather than retire.”
But with players such as Tim Visser, Tommy Seymour and of course Stuart Hogg ahead of Lamont in the pecking order for the Scotland back-three, as well as Duncan Taylor and Mark Bennett in the centre, Paterson is likely to remain ahead of Lamont as Scotland’s most capped player.
David Denton
David Denton was one of Scotland’s best players in their 2015 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Australia. The Independent gave the back-rower 9/10 and noted of Denton:
"The man who least deserved to end up on the losing side. In a hugely attacking match, Denton came out on top with the most metres made as well as clean breaks. Brilliant with the ball and a joy to watch when at his best."
It would appear then to be something of a surprise to suggest Denton may not feature for Scotland in the 2017 Six Nations.
The reality is, Denton has suffered a bit of a post-World Cup hangover. Gone for example are the big carries we saw in the autumn. Playing across the back row at club level with Bath hasn’t helped. Denton is, without question, a No. 8.
Denton’s move to Bath seems to be an odd one given Wales and British and Irish Lions No. 8 Taulupe Faletau's arrival next season.
With South African open-side flanker Francois Louw the first name on the Bath teamsheet, and the workaholic Matt Garvey providing the graft on the blind side, Faletau’s arrival will probably crowd Denton out of the starting XV. This could have serious repercussions for his Scotland place.
What is more, Cotter’s Scotland are favouring two opensides, John Barclay and Josh Strauss, in the back row, and with locks Johnnie and Richie Gray providing so much ball-carrying threat, Vern Cotter may opt for Strauss’ workmanship at No. 8 if Denton’s form does not demand selection.
Denton, then, has a job on his hands to feature in Scotland’s starting XV in the 2017 Six Nations.
All stats courtesy of ESPN Scrum.
