Jamie Dobie

VERSATILITY IS GIVING THIS SCOTTISH HALF-BACK THE EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION FOR THE UPCOMING SIX NATIONS

- MARK PALMER

IF HE didn't look at the scoreboard, it was exactly how Jamie Dobie had pictured it. Taking the field at several of the world's most iconic stadiums to play for Scotland in the Six Nations in front of capacity crowds. Gregor Townsend's team lost all three of the matches in which the Glasgow man featured last year - at home to Ireland and away to England and France - but the overall experience still more than lived up to the childhood dreams that Dobie nurtured while growing up near Inverness.

"I vividly remember coming to Murrayfield for Six Nations games when I was still at school," says the now 24-year-old, who spent several years at Edinburgh's Merchiston Castle on a tennis scholarship. "The one that most sticks in my mind was 2017 and beating Ireland with wee Greeg (Greig Laidlaw) kicking that last-minute penalty. I always try to take a moment to appreciate being out there now, because I know just how cool and special it is.

"Last year was my first involvement in the Six Nations and the size of the occasions, the intensity of the matches, really was something else. As much as, if not more than, what you expect. It was pretty cool to experience both Twickenham and Stade de France for the first time, with the size of the crowds they have and especially the atmosphere in Paris and the whole spectacle they put on. It was unbelievable to be out on that pitch and to run out into those stadiums with those atmospheres as well. I've done it a few times at Murrayfield now, but that still never gets old.

"It was tough and challenging to be a part of the three losses. As a squad, in terms of setting high standards for ourselves, we don't want to be losing three matches in a campaign. It's really exciting to have the chance in this Six Nations to put our best foot forward to get some better results.”