Darcy Graham Credits Bench Role for Scotland's Six Nations Victory Over Wales
Darcy Graham has openly confessed that being dropped from Scotland's starting lineup provided the extra spark of motivation he needed to become the hero in their dramatic Six Nations comeback against Wales. The Edinburgh wing reclaimed his status as Scotland's joint-leading try-scorer with a crucial opportunist score that turned the tide in their 26-23 win in Cardiff last Saturday.
A Pivotal Moment from the Bench
Graham secured his 35th Test try, drawing level with teammate Duhan van der Merwe on Scotland's all-time scoring list, by capitalising on Finn Russell's clever 57th-minute restart kick that caught the Welsh defence off guard. Remarkably, Graham had only been on the pitch for three minutes, marking the third consecutive Scotland match where the 28-year-old began as a substitute.
'It's been a tough couple of months,' admitted Graham, who has earned 48 caps. 'Coming off the bench is hard. It's been something totally different and I've had to adjust to it. The way the team's announced, you have a wee 10-minute sulk and then you're straight on the training park to prove why you should be there.'
Embracing Competition and Raising Standards
When questioned if his demotion had fuelled his determination, Graham responded emphatically: 'Of course. You always want to be starting in these big games. But the way Kyle Steyn is playing, he deserves every minute that he's playing. Steyno's playing unbelievable. He's world class and he's raised the bar, especially when I came into camp as I had to catch up. I'm glad to still be involved and bring my energy because these wins are special.'
Graham detailed how his first Test try since a hat-trick against the United States in November unfolded after a quick exchange with Russell. Wales had just extended their lead to 23-12 through a Jarrod Evans kick and were on the verge of their first Six Nations win in three years.
'Finn said as they were taking the penalty "Darcy, be ready". I've seen him sprint up to the halfway line and he gave me the nod. I gave him a nod and I knew it was on. So I just went as hard as I could for that ball and got a lucky bounce. He's obviously seen that space and it worked out. I'll probably never get a bounce like that again,' Graham explained.
Scotland's Championship Ambitions and Upcoming Fixtures
Currently second in the Six Nations standings, Scotland trail Championship leaders France by four points, with France remaining on course for Grand Slam glory after defeating Italy 33-8 in Lille on Sunday. The two sides are set to clash at Murrayfield in the fourth round of Six Nations action on March 7.
Graham expressed optimism about Scotland's prospects: 'We're back right up there. France at home is going to be the big one and if you can topple them, it would be massive. Everybody would have lost a game at that point (if Scotland win), so everything's on the line.'
Summer Nations Championship Schedule Announced
In related news, Scotland will face Fiji at Murrayfield on July 18 as part of the inaugural Nations Championship. This match will technically serve as a home game for Fiji, with the South Pacific nation also scheduled to play England and Wales in Liverpool and Cardiff, respectively. The summer series will see Scotland touring Argentina and South Africa before returning home to host Fiji.
