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Josh Bayliss's first appearance of this Six Nations Championship was an important one and the Scotland flanker thinks the manner of the win over Wales can be a huge confidence booster for the squad for the remainder of the tournament.
Bayliss admitted he was surprised by his early introduction to the match in Cardiff. The Bath forward came on in the 35th minute in a double substitution as head coach Gregor Townsend tried to address Scotland's shortcomings.
Scotland's Josh Bayliss on the charge during the Guinness Six Nations match against Wales at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. | PABayliss and Pierre Schoeman replaced Max Williamson and Nathan McBeth, with Bayliss slotting into the back row as Gregor Brown moved to lock.
"I probably didn’t expect to get on that early, but in this team, this squad, everyone has got a role to play," said Bayliss. "We saw it last week with a couple of injuries, so I got my chance this week.
"The boys on the pitch had a lot of mental energy. Games sometimes go that way when you bring boys on earlier. I think, as a 23 and a wider Six Nations squad, everyone contributed to that one."
Attention turns to France
Bayliss is Townsend’s ultimate squad man. Rarely a first pick, he is always available and when Jack Dempsey and Jamie Ritchie were invalided out against England, Bayliss answered the call.
His performance against Wales - dynamic and efficient - suggests he will be in the frame to start against France at Murrayfield but he's taking nothing for granted.
"All I'm thinking about is being happy to get the win," said Bayliss. "We've got the fallow week coming up now, so I think that's a great chance to build on what we're doing.
"The boys get a little bit of a rest, but also turn our attention to France and get back to the Oriam, get training and see what we can do."
Scotland's Josh Bayliss claims lineout ball during the win over Wales in Cardiff. | AFP via Getty ImagesScotland trailed 20-5 early in the second half in Cardiff but tries from Finn Russell, Darcy Graham and George Turner following Kyle Steyn's score in the first half saw the visitors wrench control from Wales.
"We had to really grind that one out," said Bayliss. "Look, this is a really tough place to come. I thought Wales were absolutely outstanding, especially in that first half. It really put us on the back foot and made it really tough, but I'm so pleased for the boys. We managed to dig out a win.
"That's something we've been looking for in those tougher, tighter games. We've not always been on the right side of the score sheet, so o do that, I'm so pleased.
"I think it's a massive confidence boost. That game could have gone either way. The way it went, the way we took control of the game towards the end of the second half was so pleasing.
"It just shows the confidence that everyone's got in the system, in the coaches, in the way we play. I was on the pitch in that second half and I felt confident that we could go out there and win that game and that's what we did."