Forwards coach John Dalziel believes Scotland are ‘building something special’, after 28-17 success against Italy in their Autumn Nations Cup opener stretched their winning run to five games.
Dalziel replaced Danny Wilson in the national team set-up in August after a season with Glasgow Warriors, but is familiar with several members of the playing squad having led Scotland U20s to a best-ever finish of fifth at the 2017 World Rugby U20 Championship.
The former Gala, London Scottish, Border Reivers and Melrose player also spent two years in charge of Scotland’s national sevens team, and he is now enjoying working with myriad familiar names in the senior XVs camp.
Under head coach Gregor Townsend, Scotland largely impressed during the disrupted 2020 Guinness Six Nations, emerging as the only side to get the better of Fabien Galthié’s high-flying France in one of three victories.
Les Bleus lie in store next for Scotland in the Autumn Nations Cup, and Dalziel is confident the energy and strong relationships established in the side will stand them in good stead for the BT Murrayfield clash and beyond.
“I think the energy around, not just the playing side, but the management and that interaction is great,” he said. “With Gregor there and Steve Tandy, Pieter de Villiers and Mike [Blair], there is a real energy within the coaching team as well.
“David Edge [Scotland Team Manager] was my team manager for Scotland U20s, Ally Little, who was the physio for Scotland 7s, so there are a lot of familiar faces and there are a lot of good people.
“I feel there is something special building within the group, so to have the opportunity to come in and add to that has been a real honour.
“I was involved with Scotland U20s for six-and-a-half years and the majority of the lads you now see playing with Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Scotland national team.
“I think we’ve got some fantastic kids and some fantastic young men in Scottish rugby now, that have been developing over a long period of time, and hopefully we can keep improving and be successful going forward.”
