Scotland Autumn Fixtures confirmed

So here is a full list of Scotland's remaining 2013 international fixtures ...

South African Quadrangular Tournament

8/6/2013 - Samoa vs Scotland - KO 15:00 SAST (UTC +02) - Mr Price Kings Park, Durban. Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

15/6/2013 - SA vs Scotland - KO 17:00 SAST (UTC +02) - Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Finals

3rd/4th Place Match
22 June 2013 - 15:00 SAST (UTC+02) - 3rd Placed team - 4th Placed team - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

1st/2nd Placed Match
22 June 2013 -17:00 SAST (UTC+02) - 1st Placed team - 2nd Placed team - Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

Autumn Internationals

Scotland vs Japan - 9/11/2013 - Venue/KO TBC

Scotland vs South Africa - 17/11/2013 - KO 15:00 - Murrayfield

Scotland vs Australia - 23/11/2013 - KO 18:00 - Murrayfield

That is some pretty damn exciting rugby in my opinion. I will definitely be getting tickets for Scotland vs Aus, although i support Australia as well as Scotland, I will definitely be supporting Scotland for that one. A chance to retain the Hopetown cup and make it 3 wins in a row. That game will sell out pretty quick I reckon, especially if Scotland play well vs japan and SA. Some great matches ahead this summer/ Autumn Z Z Z Z Z Z

Is that tournament in South Africa on sky, do you know?

Good Autumn series. Japan are a very good team and wouldn't be underestimated.

Unlike the All Blacks we have a chance of winning against Australia and South Africa since we have done it before.

Should be a great series.

Well, fancy the look of all 3 of those games. Hope they send Japan up to Aberdeen.

On sky sports news it says Scotland are playing South Korea in the Autumn. I suppose they got that wrong.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:On sky sports news it says Scotland are playing South Korea in the Autumn. I suppose they got that wrong.

At least we would be confident of a win against them!

Good fixtures.

After Tonga last year, the squad shouldn't take any fixture lightly.

Ah, so we get to thump you in SA and then freeze our Ar$e$ of in november.

Biltong wrote:Ah, so we get to thump you in SA and then freeze our Ar$e$ of in november.

I can see a couple of moral victories for Scotland against SA this coming year.....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Biltong wrote:Ah, so we get to thump you in SA and then freeze our Ar$e$ of in november.

I can see a couple of moral victories for Scotland against SA this coming year.....

Well somehow we always struggle at Murrayfield, so it is possible there will be more than just moral victories.

Do you think they fancy going to Aberdeen after the lat time we were there? The players probably have post traumatic stress and seeing Pittodrie again will set them off!

With all due respect to Japan, at least were playing them up first for once, so we can iron out any issues in time for South Africa. Far too often we play the hardest game first and look totally off the pace.

Agreed, I like the order of the fixtures, assuming we don't get too many injuries against SA.

If they don't want to go to Pittodrie, how about the Caley Thistle stadium in Inverness. Thay would be well received locally.

I say play Japan in Scotstoun as a reward for the weegies efforts in the Rabo!

I remmeber watching Scotland Vs Japan on the tele when they played in Aberdeen. The late, great Bill McLaren commentating and as the japanese players ran onto the pitch on a cold Autumn eveing, he came out with "aye, there is a fair wee nip out there this evening"

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agreed, I like the order of the fixtures, assuming we don't get too many injuries against SA.

If they don't want to go to Pittodrie, how about the Caley Thistle stadium in Inverness. Thay would be well received locally.

I would love that! It's a cracking little stadium and I know a lot people who would be keen to see that game. It would be a first for Scottish rugby and a great way to encourage more people to play in my view.

Just realised that weir will not feature in South Africa this June. Great shame, hope mends well. But it does mean that if Laidlaw is to continue at 9 or is on the lions tour, that Jackson and heathcote will be the ones playing at 10. This is a good opportunity for heathcote and also Jackson, who needs to sort his s**t out!

I think heathcote will play better and by the autumn could well be starting against Japan. Thoughts?

Agreed on Heathcote, big opportunity to start some games in a Scotland jersey. I doubt Laidlaw will go with the Lions, so it means that Heathcote (or Jackson) can get on with running the backs, without the added pressure of taking the kicks at goal.

Still, shame about Weir. He'd have almost certainly been in pole position to start those games.

bsando wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agreed, I like the order of the fixtures, assuming we don't get too many injuries against SA.

If they don't want to go to Pittodrie, how about the Caley Thistle stadium in Inverness. Thay would be well received locally.

I would love that! It's a cracking little stadium and I know a lot people who would be keen to see that game. It would be a first for Scottish rugby and a great way to encourage more people to play in my view.

Might be an issue with capacity though? Caley less then 8,000. McDiarmind Park (scene of the 100-8 demolition of Japan) 10,600. Whereas they got 20,000 for the Tongan game at Pittodrie last year. Plus for purely selfish reasons I love going to see Scotland play without a 6 / 7 hour round train journey!

Scotsman this morning says it definitely won't be in Aberdeen.

The fact that its being moved to the 1st of the dates makes me think they are considering Scotstoun. With the planning Regulations about temp stands, having it that weekend would mean the Temp Stands could be kept up for the 2 opening home HC games.

I have a feeling based on cost that they will keep the game at Murrayfield and I don't really have an issue with that.

I think it would be fantastic to have it at Scotstoun - what's the largest capacity they can make it? 12000?

Haha I've driven from cardiff to Edinburgh for the last 4 Scotland games I've been to Glove. Inverness is just a short trip up the road from Edinburgh

Scotstoun would be good too though, great that Glasgow have had such a good season.

I think Glasgow would be a good choice. Good fans over there and my perception is a growing interest in rugby in the city generally, particularly with interest in football waning.

Still, Inverness would work nicely for me. I could dress the trip as a reason to catch up with my folks. "Mum, would you mind giving me a lift from the station......".

RDW_Scotland wrote:I think it would be fantastic to have it at Scotstoun - what's the largest capacity they can make it? 12000?

Its around 15,000 for the 7s.

Cost is an issue for the Temp stands though as they cost a small fortune to rent.

How can it be a quadrangular tournament if you're only playing Samoa and SA? Thought Italy were playing as well? I'm confused, or thick, or most probably both!

Effervescing Elephant wrote:How can it be a quadrangular tournament if you're only playing Samoa and SA? Thought Italy were playing as well? I'm confused, or thick, or most probably both!

From what I recall each team is playing 2 of the other sides in the first phase. After those games its 1v2 and 3v4. So Scotland may face Italy or Samoa/SA again.

Cheers Dot. Should be a good little tournament. Is it televised?

Going by rankings, it should be a SA vs Samoa final with Scotland playing Italy for 3rd. But I think most Scottish fans will expect Scotland to beat Samoa, even though they are a pretty decent side at the moment.

Have to say I am really looking forward to this tournament, hopefully it'll be a big success!

If all goes according to plan in the summer, then come the AI's we can make it 3 in a row against both Australia & South Africa..!

I'd like to see a Scotland game played at Dens Park in Dundee, I believe the pitch is bigger than both Pittodrie and Perth. I'm sure there would be plenty of un-tapped support in the city and Angus who would fill the ground. Scottish football is dying a slow death, lets see if traditional football towns can enjoy rugby.