Graham Bean at Six Nations launch in Rome

Debrief from Six Nations launch in rainy Rome

Transcript

00:00Hello, it's Graeme Bean from the Scotsman. I'm in Rome for the launch of the 2025 Guinness

00:08Six Nations. A rather rainy Rome today, I'm afraid, but it's been an exciting couple of

00:16days nevertheless. We watched Gregor Townsend and Rory Darge represent Scotland at the big

00:24launch event at Spazio Field, an arts centre in the city. Darge, of course, has taken over

00:33as co-captain, along with Finn Russell, following the loss of Sione Tupulotu to injury, which

00:40is obviously a real blow for Scotland. Gregor Townsend said yesterday that he reckons Tupulotu

00:47will be out for four to five months, which comes as a real shame for the player and for

00:52the team. He's such an important figure, both on the field and off. There's a hope that

00:59he'll be back before the end of the season, maybe play for Glasgow Warriors towards the

01:02end, depending on how far they get in the URC play-offs. But also, the hope is that

01:10he will be involved in one of the summer tours, whether that's Scotland's tour to the Pacific

01:14Islands or, more importantly, the Lions' tour to Australia, which I think is what he's targeting.

01:20There's a lot of work to be done between now and then, but of course we've got the Six Nations

01:24kicking off a week on Saturday. Scotland are playing Italy in the opening game at Murrayfield,

01:30then home again the following weekend to play Ireland. So it's a good start for Scotland.

01:35The mood with Townsend and Darge is very upbeat, very confident, despite the injuries. Tupulotu

01:42is not the only one that's been ruled out, of course. Scott Cummings and also Dylan Richardson,

01:47both absent from the squad now due to injury, and Aaron Reid was called up as a precaution

01:54to cover for Doohan van der Merwe, who's carrying a slight niggle. But this is a huge opportunity

02:03for Scotland. It's a very talented group and the feeling, I think, amongst Darge is a quiet

02:08confidence that they can do something this year. It was disappointing last season, just

02:14two wins over Wales and England, and defeat by Italy was a real sort of sour note for Scotland.

02:20But, you know what, Italy up first is a good start and I think there's a real focus there

02:27to try and make up for what happened last year. But please stay tuned to The Scotsman

02:33for further updates throughout the tournament, which once again kicks off a week on Saturday,

02:36Scotland, Italy and Murrayfield. Thank you.