{"id":951325,"date":"2026-11-03T17:46:12","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:46:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/951325\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:46:12","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:46:12","slug":"patience-the-key-against-all-blacks-says-olympian-scott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/951325\/","title":{"rendered":"Patience the key against All Blacks says Olympian Scott"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" <\/p>\n

The swimmer, Scotland\u2019s most decorated Olympian with no fewer than eight Games medals, alongside a glittering array of other championship crowns, was invited into camp recently to share his thoughts on high performance and what makes the very best tick.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pictured: Duncan in conversation with Scotland Team Manager, David Edge, on a recent visit into the national camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Duncan\u2019s own passion for Scottish rugby has always been a part of his sporting background, never highlighted better than when he delivered the match ball ahead of Scotland match against Tonga in 2021, on a day when the likes of Sione Tuipulotu, Pierre Schoeman and Jamie Dobie won first caps.<\/p>\n

That fixture, the first home international with supporters returning post-Covid, holds fond memories for the 29-year-old, as he told Scottish Rugby: \u201cI\u2019d love to know how many people have ever said no to it! I think anyone who grows up following rugby or watches it in Scotland, it\u2019s a really cool thing, with some of the people they get to do it. Personally, at the Ireland game [in February 2025] when Sir Chris Hoy walked out, I thought the reception he got was pretty special.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing it against Tonga, with the first appearances for some players who have become integral parts of the team, was a really awesome experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an interesting one because it was the first game back from Covid, so there were parts of the stand sectioned off, but it was really special with friends and family there on the day. Before the game, it was nice to chill out and watch the players warm up, but yeah walking out was just a cool reception for what went on to be a good Autumn for the team.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Pictured: Duncan Scott bringing out the match ball during an Autumn Nations Series match between Scotland and Tonga at Murrayfield, 30 October 2021<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving some involvement every so often with Scottish Rugby and being partnered with Arnold Clark means I\u2019ve been to a few more games in the last 18 months or so, so I can see the guys every now and then.<\/p>\n

To the matter at hand, then, and the heady notion of Scotland beating the fabled All Blacks for the first time in a full international this coming Saturday. As a man with no fewer than 22 global championship gold medals alone, Duncan has in recent times had to compete with French superstar Leon Marchand, whose own burst onto the scene has often left competitors in his slipstream.<\/p>\n

But how do you approach trying to beat the best? For Duncan, there are similarities in both sports, as he explained on how he approaches the toughest tasks in the pool: \u201cI\u2019ve never once labelled me and Leon as a rivalry, for that reason. Before being a swimmer, I\u2019m a huge fan of sport and he\u2019s one of the best to ever do it in our sport, so to be considered as being even close to that is a good thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably about going in and saying that everything in the past is nullified, we\u2019re starting again. I\u2019d probably say that\u2019s the same for the Scotland team against the All Blacks. It\u2019s not necessarily the same XV that go out there and the result, that unbeaten record [that New Zealand have] isn\u2019t carried over.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s probably spoken about more than what\u2019s needed for the players. They\u2019re all really good sportsmen, they\u2019ll know about the situation and what\u2019s on the line. Yes., they\u2019ll respect the players and it\u2019s not like they\u2019re afraid of the badge or what they\u2019re up against. New Zealand is a team with lots of quality but so does Scotland.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will happen, let\u2019s be patient and the first thing that\u2019s important is the process of how well the team perform in this match. And the second thing is that everything to have happened before is irrelevant. There\u2019s a bit of freedom, especially with the way Scotland play.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an autopilot thing. The second that whistle goes, and it\u2019s different to swimming as it\u2019s over 80 minutes, there\u2019s time to go in and out of that zone. For me, you\u2019re in that moment, subconscious and all the habits you\u2019ve trained are now being delivered upon. Whereas for rugby players, they\u2019ll be coming in and out of the moments but regardless, the training and the subconscious is just as important.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Duncan were to swap the pool for the pitch, where does he think he\u2019d be best suited?<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the centres maybe? I think I\u2019d need to speak to the Strength & Conditioning coaches to put on a few pounds so I can at least go into a little bit of contact! Or put me in the scrum; 80kg, I think I\u2019d get chucked around in there!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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