Fraser Brown: Round 1 victory vital for campaign success

Scotland hooker Fraser Brown has emphasised the importance of Gregor Townsend’s charges kicking their campaign off with a win. 

Brown, who captains Glasgow Warriors, boasts over 50 caps for his country since 2013, but is not currently with the squad after only recently returning to the pitch from long-term injury. However, he does believe a victory in Round 1 against the English is of paramount importance. 

"It's such a funny tournament," Brown said, speaking to the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. 

"You can start out in a terrible place and in the space of three or four weeks you can feel like you're world-beaters. 

"You need to get off to a good start. It doesn't matter how well you play, you can play terribly, if you win your first game it gives you that little bit of impetus going into the second game. 

"I'm certain that everyone sitting in that Scotland camp, their goal will be to win the Championship. 

"You look at Wales last year, they had a torrid autumn [in 2020], they were terrible. 

"At the start of the Six Nations they were everyone's pick to finish fifth. They didn't play well in that first game against Ireland. It wasn't a good game of rugby to watch but they ground out a result. 

"The next week they come up to Scotland and they didn't play well in the first half of that game either but ground out that result. That's what it's about at this level, taking your opportunities."