In our exclusive interview, the former Scotland international looks ahead to their upcoming test matches and the Nations Championship,
With the Nations Championship fast approaching, Betway sat down with former Scotland star Thom Evans to get his thoughts on Scotland’s prospects – who are currently 20/1 in the rugby betting – the world’s leading teams and some of rugby’s biggest talking points. He also opened up about the difficult transition he faced after his playing career was cut short by injury.
How did you initially feel when your career ended?
When my rugby career ended, it was like I lost my identity. But I was fortunate I had the opportunity to do Strictly, and the show opened so many doors for me. I built myself back together through wellness and fitness, but it was hard understanding that I was never going to play again.
How welcome is Finn Russell’s return from injury for Scotland ahead of the Nations Championship in November?
Finn is just sensational. What he does in terms of his ability to attack from anywhere, his passing game, his kicking game and his awareness. I would have loved to have played a game with him. I’m so happy to see the player he’s gone on to become, and he’s definitely one of, if not the best, fly-halves in the world right now.
How good is it to see the likes of New Zealand and Australia visit Murrayfield?
I really [think they] do. I think the reputation Scotland have earned themselves now, especially at home at Murrayfield, is that they’re a formidable team to beat. Their record shows that, and it’s not an easy place to come to, especially in November when the weather’s turning. As I said, Scotland on their day can beat any side. What a Test match of rugby it’s going to be, and that’s what the fans want to see. They want to see Scotland playing the best in the world, and Australia and New Zealand are that. I, for one, can’t wait for those games already.
Is Ireland finally looking set to break their long-standing quarter-final World Cup curse?
I don’t believe in curses, and Ireland is too good. There’s nothing in my mind that doubts they can go all the way, for sure.
Where is Wales going wrong in rugby union at the moment?
No, I firmly believe it goes to the top of the game. I think some of the old Welsh legends have come out and said it. They need to get a team in place. I think the saddest thing for me is that rugby is so important to Wales as a country. In years gone by, especially when I was playing, they were such a formidable team, and any rugby fan in the world wants to see Wales back to where they were. They love their rugby, they’re brilliant at rugby, and they just need to sort it out from club level. That comes from the top. They always had four amazing provinces: Cardiff, the Ospreys, the Gwent Dragons and Llanelli. And they were all very competitive, week in, week out, bringing in the biggest Welsh talent they had from schoolboy rugby. I don’t know what’s happened, but somewhere along the line that whole method has changed. It’s just not the same, and it needs to be changed. It needs to be brought back to where it was.
Were you shocked at England’s Six Nations performance?
It’s a tough one with England because they have all the talent in the world and, for whatever reason, some of their performances haven’t quite reflected that. But, as I said, they have an incredibly talented pool of players to choose from, and I did see some very encouraging signs from the last Six Nations. I know the results probably didn’t reflect that, but I do believe they can bounce back at any given time. They’ve always got a great knack of regrouping at the right time before a Rugby World Cup, so I would never rule England out. The pool of players they have to pick from is just exceptional.
Who are your favourites to win the Nations Championship?
South Africa has to be number one, then New Zealand, and then I’m going to go with Scotland. I have to go with Scotland as my third choice.
If the NFL was more popular when you came through the ranks, would you have followed Louis Rees-Zammit’s path and joined the league?
I actually had a really good game with Middlesex Sevens, way back in the day when I’d just signed for Wasps. I scored a brace of tries at Twickenham and was headhunted by this guy for NFL Europe, so I went down to do the testing. As soon as I put on the gear, I was like, ‘This isn’t for me,’ because I don’t think people realise how heavy the uniform is, with the headgear and shoulder pads. You’ve got to learn an entirely different sport. There are so many plays, so many rules, and so many angles of running that you have to learn week in, week out. I said, ‘I’m not going to do that.’ It didn’t have the same excitement either. I never played, so I can’t comment on that, but the moment I touched a rugby ball when I was about nine years of age, that’s all I wanted to do.
