Former Scotland captain 'nervous' ahead of Italy Six Nations as importance of strong start stressed
John Barclay has stressed the importance in Scotland winning their opening match of the 2026 Six Nations in Rome having lost there two years ago.
Scotland kick off their 2026 Six Nations campaign in one week when they travel to the Stadio Olimpico to take on Italy.
The tournament gets underway this Thursday as France host Ireland in Paris with the match in Rome second on the card. The first round of matches then concludes when England host Wales at Twickenham immediately after the Italy match.
Scotland’s run of fixtures in the tournament this year is being looked on as a favourable one with their second match coming at home to England followed by a trip to Wales after that. Gregor Townsend’s side finished above Italy and Wales in the 2025 tournament so there is an expectation they can and perhaps should pick up wins from both of those away tests.
Former Scotland skipper’ nervous’ ahead of Italy Six Nations test
However, Scotland lost on their last visit to Rome in 2024 as they went down 31-29 to an inspired Italian team. As for their record in Cardiff, their 27-26 win in the same tournament was their first in the Welsh capital in over two decades and was far from convincing in the end.
That is probably why former Scotland skipper John Barclay says he is feeling ‘nervous’ ahead of their trip to Rome. The 76 times capped ex Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby flanker has stressed the importance of getting off to a strong start in this year’s tournament.
On punditry duties as part of Premier Sports live coverage of Glasgow Warriors vs Munster on Friday night, Barclay was looking ahead to this year’s Six Nations. He said: “I'm a bit nervous and I'll tell you why, because I look at it the same every year. It's the same every year.
"I just think, I look at the run of games and the run of games is good for Scotland. Italy away first. You play Italy and Wales in the first three. Italy and Wales finished bottom two in the championship last year. Scotland fourth, obviously.
"Get off the mark in Italy. They lost there two years ago when they were, I think they were 20 points clear. I just look at it, but I like the noise or the lack of noise coming out of camp. They're talking up everyone else. They're very, very confident, I think, but trying to go about it quietly.
"I think of the confidence of Glasgow, we've never had a Six Nations where you've got the second seed in Europe, could have been first had Bordeaux not scored a try in the last minute against Bristol, and hey're top of the URC. Glasgow are flying. They are absolutely flying. We talk about it week in, week out, how good they're playing.
"International rugby is very, very different, but there's a bounce, there's a spring about this. They've got a full squad of players. I think just about nobody's injured at the moment, touch wood, but we know how tight the Six Nations is."
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