Scotland

Best ever finish: 3rd (2001, 2006, 2013, 2018, 2023)

Grand slams: 0

Last year's finish: 4th

Head coach: Gregor Townsend

Captain: Sione Tuipulotu

Young player to watch: 

Expectation: Challenge for the title

Prediction: 3rd

Could this finally be Scotland's year? Perhaps. There are plenty of reasons to be positive about where the team is. Traditionally, Scotland's Achilles heel has been their bench. In some areas that looks to have changed. The expected starting front row is Schoeman, Ashman and Fagerson. That unit can compete with any in the tournament but the bench is the big question. George Turner is a reliable hooker option whilst Rory Sutherland Elliot Millar-Mills have developed nicely into decent international players. 

In the second row, the emergence of Gregor Brown has added some real depth to Scotland's pack. Scott Cummings will obviously start with the experienced options of Gray and Gilchrist still going strong alongside him. Darge and Dempsey should start in the back row with Ritchie and Bayliss providing some reliable depth options. There are also a couple of younger options to watch out for as Gregor Townsend looks to build some much-needed depth.

The backs are as good as any in the tournament. Ben White is the favourite to start at scrum-half alongside Finn Russell. "Huwipulotu" will resume their campaign of terror in midfield with Blair Kinghorn at fullback. The big questions come on the wings. D'Arcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are try-scoring machines but there is not guarantee that both make the squad. That's because Kyle Steyn has become the most well-rounded option in that position and he doesn't have the defensive frailties that sometimes crop up in the game of van der Merwe. Jamie Dobie is also an X-factor. He can play at both scrum-half and on the wing which should make him a good fit for the bench. His versatility allows Scotland to go with a 6-2 split on the bench. That then gives Tom Jordan the advantage to take the final bench spot ahead of whichever winger is dropped from the starting line-up.

Scotland have had the potential to do something special for several years now but have been unable to achieve anything more than winning the Calcutta Cup and come 3rd. This could be the year that they break that pattern - for better or for worse. 

Squad

LHP: Nathan Mcbeth, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland

Hooker: Ewan Ashman, Dave Cherry, Gregor Hiddleston, George Turner

Tighthead Prop: Zander Fagerson, Elliot Millar-Mills, D'Arcy Rae

Lock: Gregor Brown, Alex Craig, Scott Cummings, Grant Gilchrist, Johnny Gray, Max Williamson

Back row: Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Freddy Douglas, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Ritchie

Scrum-half: Jamie Dobie, George Horne, Gus Warr, Ben White

Fly half: Fergus Burke, Adam Hastings, Finn Russell

Centre: Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Sione Tuipulotu(C)

Back 3: D'Arcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Ollie Smith

Potential 23-man squad

1.Pierre Schoeman 2.Ewan Ashman 3.Zander Fagerson 4.Gregor Brown 5.Scott Cummings

6.Josh Bayliss 7.Rory Darge 8.Matt Fagerson 9.Ben White 10.Finn Russell

11.Kyle Steyn 12.Sione Tuipulotu(C) 13.Huw Jones 14.D'Arcy Graham 15.Blair Kinghorn

Bench

16.Gregor Hiddleston 17.Rory Sutherland 18.Elliot Millar-Mills 19.Grant Gilchrist

20.Jamie Ritchie 21.Jack Dempsey 22.Jamie Dobie 23.Duhan van der Merwe