Tokyo (AFP)

But what is Scotland worth? Capable of better or worse, the XV thistle does not have much certainty at the time to start the Rugby World Cup in a group A affordable.

Gregor Townsend does not really know which foot to dance to. Is his team the one able to pass six tries in England as in March (38-38)? Or will it be the training twice outclassed by France, in February (27-10) and August (32-3)?

Due to lack of regularity, the XV thistle does not really seem to have progressed under Townsend, the former opener of Castres, arrived in 2017.

Whoever had made Glasgow Warriors a machine to win can not find good carburation. Unlike Vern Cotter before him, Townsend can still count on an effective pack, most of the executives from Edinburgh, revived and solidified by the English Richard Cockerill.

But the Scots continue to hang around their lack of chronic power, their incorrigible lack of concentration, and an unfortunate tendency to start their matches badly.

- Flair behind -

The Thistle can hope, however, because he is capable of everything: with the Finn Russell Racing opener at the hinge, and especially Stuart Hogg in the back, he has two world-class attackers. And if the front five probably lacks power, he found in Hamish Watson the flanker capable of blasting the defenses.

Townsend seems at least to have clear ideas as shown by his decision to do without the center Huw Jones who is no more than the shadow of the player who exploded on the international scene in 2016.

"There were a number of tough decisions to make (...) and when it was tight, we paid attention to pick players with strong defensive qualities," explained Townsend.

Scotland will have their cards in Group A where, behind Ireland, new number one in the IRB rankings, they start with the advantage of the odds to win the second ticket to the quarterfinals in front of Samoa , always unpredictable, but also in front of Japan who will evolve at home.

"We are going to take the matches one by one and try to win them all, and if we get out of the pool, it will be knockout rugby afterwards," said hooker and captain Stuart McInally.

A language of the most beautiful forest of Scotland? No, just the sign of a team not quite convinced of its potential after two last comfortable success against Georgia (44-10 and 36-9).

© 2019 AFP