Six Nations 2026: Huw Jones on Scotland’s chances

“For too long we’ve been letting games slip away, even if we’re still winning them. I look at a couple of Wales games in the last two Six Nations games where they’ve come really close when we’ve been in a position to put them down.

“The Italy match is away from home [in 2024] When we lost. And so I think maybe it hasn’t gone unnoticed, but it’s kind of uninvestigated. And I think Argentina are the really obvious team, 21 points behind, to let this one go.

“There were really good conversations, a lot of lessons learned from that about processes in the game, and what our mentality is with momentum swings.

“I feel really positive coming in and seeing the change in everyone and kind of buying into the plan. And I think we obviously want to see a huge improvement in that area.”

Like the Jones brand, Scotland’s players were dodging and deflecting any questions about the goals of this Six Nations.

After several disappointing campaigns over the past few years, and coming off a very disappointing autumn series, they know that any bold talk about winning the tournament is likely to be met with a collective groan from Scotland supporters.

The focus is entirely on Italy in the first round, and considering their last visit to Rome ended in defeat after one of those iconic landmarks collapsed in Scotland, it’s a sound strategy.

“We have to really believe, but we have to take it one game at a time,” Jones said.

“If we start looking forward and thinking about what we’re going to do when we get to that last game, it’s not going to do anyone any good. So, it’s really Italy. It’s game by game.”

“So, all we’re focused on is Italy and how to beat Italy while arranging our plan and believing in ourselves and believing in what we can do. But it’s just that game.

“I don’t think we can look forward at all. Maybe we’re stuck in the past with that, thinking about what we’re going to do when we get to that round and you get through the games and then suddenly the tournament is over.”