Scotland fans always enter tournaments full of hope. The team is normally looking as though it is about ​pull things together and then some cruel injustice denies them the opportunity of a Six Nations Grand Slam and World Cup glory. Many felt their time had come when Scotland came up against Australia in the quarter finals in 2015 until the referee wrongfully gave Australia a penalty to knock Scotland out of the competition. This World Cup, they feel it is Scotland's time again. 

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The mercurial fly half, Finn Russell, is one of the primary reasons that Scotland supporters are so optimistic.​ Russell has orchestrated a number of key wins for both club and country over the years. The fly half has the ability to create something from nothing. He was instrumental in Scotland's comeback against England in 2019 and few will forget his chip to Vakatawa in the Champions Cup semi final in 2020 which sent Saracens packing at the death. Finn Russell isn't the only threat in the backline. On the left wing is the far more direct and powerful Duhan Van der Merwe who scored one of the tries of the century against a beleaguered English defence in the Six Nations earlier this year. On the other wing is the wee fan favourite, Darcy Graham. What Graham lacks in size, he makes up for with his work rate and pace. 

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This will be Gregor Townsend's second World Cup in charge of Scotland. Back in 2019, Scotland were felled by Japan who caught the rugby world by surprise at their home World Cup. This time Scotland have been drawn on the tough side of the pool where they will face South Africa and Ireland as well as Tonga and Romania. The former world champions (SA) and the current number number one (IRE) will be a stern test. It will just be Scotland's luck that they'll beat one of them and then lose to Tonga who have been rejuvenated by the international eligibility law changes!