Scotland V Italy - End of season redemption

by **RDW** Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:32 am

Scotland

15 Peter Murchie (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap

14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 78 caps, 10 tries, 50 points

10 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby) 2 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) CAPTAIN 20 caps, 2 tries, 18 conversions, 44 penalties, 178 points

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps, 1 try, 5 points
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) 37 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors) 55 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 13 caps
7 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) vice-captain 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 23 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes

16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
19 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
20 Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 2 caps
23 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

Italy

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Leandro Cedaro, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Gonzalo Canale, 23 Luke McLean

Kick off - 13:15

Referee - Haven't a scooby

Previous results

South Africa 30 - Scotland 17
Samoa 27 - Scotland 17

by **RDW** Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:37 am

After a looooong season the final game is here - not the game we would have wanted but a chance to end the season on a high after a fantastic performance against the World number 2, lose and last week's heroics will be forgotten.

Injury wise Jackson is a doubt and Horne / Wilson are buggered and have had to go home. Rob Harley has been called up and Jim Hamilton has gone home as his wife is about to give birth.

My team for Italy:

1 Dickinson
2 Lawson
3 Murray
5 Swinson
5 Kellock
6 Strokosh
7 Beattie
8 Denton
9 Laidlaw
10 Heathcoat
11 Seymour (deserves another start)
12 Scott
13 Dunbar
14 Lamont
15 Murchie (again deserves to keep his spot)

Subs - Welsh, Low, Lawrie, Gilchrist, Harley, Pyrgos, Tonks / Jackson, Taylor

Lacking balance in the back row but I think that is the best we can get just now!

by justified sinner Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:38 am

That's one of your more informative posts RDW. Question is do we have 15, never mind 23 fit players?

by **RDW** Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:40 am

justified sinner wrote:That's one of your more informative posts RDW. Question is do we have 15, never mind 23 fit players?

What you talking about - I'm always a fountain of knowledge on V2! Very Happy

by justified sinner Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:58 am

Sorry, meant to post that before your guess at a team. Think the Ginger tackle monster might start at 7, otherwise not a bad guess.

by **RDW** Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:01 am

Aye fair enough - would look like the laziest thread ever if you saw it before my first post!

Would Harley really go straight into the starting spot having been on holiday and only just started back at pre season?

by Majestic83 Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:01 am

pretty much agree with that starting line up. If jackson is fit i would maybe start with him again but if not then i certainly would be pleased to see Heathcote play.
Shame Jim Hamilton isn't able to play this one, him and Swinson looked a good pairing against the boks. Back Row I would maybe shuffle about just position wise, would got beattie at 8, Denton 6 and move Stroker to 7, played there a few times this season at Perpignan.

by **RDW** Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:19 am

Beattie has also played 7 in France

I dont see any of them fulfilling the traditional openside function so probably doesn't matter what number they have!

by Majestic83 Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:06 am

Yeah true, the only one definite decision would be to keep Denton away from 8, Beattie is far better at controlling the ball at the base of the scrum.

by GLove39 Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:28 am

Right to fill in one of the blanks, the ref for Saturday is Pascal Gaüzère.

As for the team, agree with you RDW, Seymour definitely deserves to keep his place. Plus that should give Timbo some much needed spare time to try and flog the South Africans some tailored shirts...

by funnyExiledScot Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:22 pm

I agree with Beattie or Denton at 7. Let's leave Strokosch exactly where he is. Harley on the bench.

I might be tempted to give young Duncan Taylor a shot in this game, possibly moving Sean Lamont onto the bench. But I'd be pretty happy to see RDW's team on Saturday. I certainly think Scott and Dunbar should play together again.

by Scot Abroad Wed Jun 19, 2013 3:38 am

I'd gofor

1 Dickinson
2 Lawson
3 Murray
4 Swinson
5 Kellock
6 Denton
7 Strokosch
8 Beattie

9 Laidlaw
10 Heathcote
11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Dunbar
14 Seymour
15 Murchie

16 Lawrie
17 Welsh
18 Low
19 Gilchrist
20 Harley
21 Pyrgos
22 Jackson (if not fit Tonks
23 Taylor

Pack mostly unchanged, with the exception of the forced backrow shuffle. Heathcote to start with Jacko on the bench. Laidlaw covering 10 if Jackson is unavailable.
Brought Visser back in to see if being dropped had any affect. Kept Seymour in because he deserves another game after a solid debut. Stroks and Swnison told to do exactly what the did against SA. Game is up for grabs. Both teams will be looking to end on a high. Could go either way depending on which Scotland turn up.

by funnyExiledScot Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:02 am

If you want Strokosch to do exactly what he did against South Africa, why move him to a different position?

Looks like we're all pretty much on the same page though, with some divergence on the wings.

I wouldn't be surprised if Scott Johnson gives Taylor a start. At this stage for this particular game, I'd like to see him start ahead of Visser or Lamont, or at least play a significant role from the bench.

by Shifty Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:48 am

Even in South Africa it's a wooden spoon decider Sad

by furra_linee Wed Jun 19, 2013 9:04 am

Shifty wrote:Even in South Africa it's a wooden spoon decider

Its the Braai Tongs decider, with a pack of Droewors thrown in for the loser.

by Scot Abroad Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:18 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:If you want Strokosch to do exactly what he did against South Africa, why move him to a different position?

Looks like we're all pretty much on the same page though, with some divergence on the wings.

I wouldn't be surprised if Scott Johnson gives Taylor a start. At this stage for this particular game, I'd like to see him start ahead of Visser or Lamont, or at least play a significant role from the bench.

Did he not move to 7 when Wilson went off?

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:10 pm

Bugger the Lions test selection - the big news of the day is that the Scotland team will be announced at 11am! Braveheart

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:27 pm

Does Jim have to sit this one out, then?

In that case:

01 Dickinson
02 Lawson
03 Murray
04 Swinson
05 Kellock
06 Strokosch
07 Harley
08 Beattie

09 Laidlaw
10 Heathcote
11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Dunbar
14 Lamont
15 Murchie

16 Lawrie
17 Welsh
18 Low
19 Gilchrist
20 Denton
21 Pyrgos
22 Jackson (if not fit, Tonks)
23 Seymour

Tough leaving Tommy out, but I would give Visser another chance now that his backside has picked up some splinters from the bench. Neither Stroker nor Lamont deserve to be dropped or moved after their display against the Bokke.

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:29 pm

GC - I'd normally agree with Harley at 7 in this situation but he has been on holiday for a few weeks and just started back at pre-season - surely can't be match fit.

Papers suggesting this morning that Strokosh will be moved to 7, and he said in an interview that he doesn't really play any differently whatever the number on his back.

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:32 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:GC - I'd normally agree with Harley at 7 in this situation but he has been on holiday for a few weeks and just started back at pre-season - surely can't be match fit.

Papers suggesting this morning that Strokosh will be moved to 7, and he said in an interview that he doesn't really play any differently whatever the number on his back.

Hmm. The recent photos I saw showed only showed his fluroescent ginger heed and obviously not the pie and pint he was holding just off camera.

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:47 pm

From an interview with him when he arrived he made out he wasn't even on the standby list!

by GLove39 Thu Jun 20, 2013 8:59 pm

Team announced

15 Peter Murchie (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap

14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 14 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 78 caps, 10 tries, 50 points

10 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby) 2 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) CAPTAIN 20 caps, 2 tries, 18 conversions, 44 penalties, 178 points

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps, 1 try, 5 points
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) 37 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors) 55 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
5 Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 13 caps
7 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) vice-captain 34 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 23 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes

16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
17 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
19 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
20 Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
21 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 2 caps
23 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby) 11 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

by Manky-Flanker Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:08 pm

Good to see last weeks debutants getting a second start, they deserved it. Also hopefully this will be Heathcote's first victory in a Scotland jersey. Very Happy

If Scotland don't beat Italy I will be absolutely confuzzled as to where we are as a team Erm

by GLove39 Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:11 pm

Let's hope they can match last weeks intensity.
Slightly odd bench, can only assume Jackson didn't recover in time?

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:12 pm

Generally no surprises there - who would have thought at the start of the season that would be the Scotland 23 for the last match of the season??

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:12 pm

That's all fair enough really. Keep forgetting that with Laidlaw on the field, we don't really need specific bench cover at 10. Happy that's about the best bench we can conjure up at present.

If we don't win well against this Italian side, I'm going to be seriously disappointed. We need this win badly for good feeling. We have to start cashing in all of the good play up until now.

Italy have quite a few injuries - Orquera has cracked a bone in his hand (the fashionable injury of the moment) and is out, Venditti and Ghiraldini are waiting to get the official word from their medical team.

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:46 pm

How things can change in a year - here's the team that played Samoa in Summer 2012:

Hogg, Lamont, Ansbro, Scott, Visser, Laidlaw, Cusiter, Grant, Ford, Murray, Kellock, Gray, Strokosch, Rennie, Vernon. Replacements:Evans for Ansbro (54), Blair for Cusiter (43), Lawson for Ford (59), Ryder for Kellock (69). Not Used: Cross, Harley, Weir.

Only 4 players starting on Saturday in the team and same position as they played in last year, and another 2 playing a different position.

by MacKnocked-on Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:53 pm

Glad Tommy Seymour is getting another start, he looked good last week. Great motivation for Visser and others to improve their game now there is genuine competition for places across the backline.

by Manky-Flanker Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:06 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:How things can change in a year - here's the team that played Samoa in Summer 2012:

Hogg, Lamont, Ansbro, Scott, Visser, Laidlaw, Cusiter, Grant, Ford, Murray, Kellock, Gray, Strokosch, Rennie, Vernon. Replacements:Evans for Ansbro (54), Blair for Cusiter (43), Lawson for Ford (59), Ryder for Kellock (69). Not Used: Cross, Harley, Weir.

Only 4 players starting on Saturday in the team and same position as they played in last year, and another 2 playing a different position.

Didn't Harley score the winning try at the end of that game?

by **RDW** Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:07 pm

Aye, his first cap! Good memories - 3.30am, random stream on the Samoan turism Facebook page and even more random Saffer commentary!

The sleep deprived banter on here was brilliant!

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 20, 2013 10:27 pm

Good team selection - very pleased that Heathcote is fit to start again, and I'm pleased to see Denton back. He's had his troubles this season but he's still a fine player and a good prospect for us.

Dickinson has been quietly very effective in the last two games. Solid at the scrum and prominent in the loose. Lawson also had a decent game last weekend, and I expect he and Kellock will perform well in the lineout on Saturday.

Sadly I'm out on Saturday after the Lions so will miss this one, meaning that Scotland will probably play really well and score a bunch of tries. It's a good midfield and Visser and Taylor can both come off the bench and make an impact. I think we'll win this one by 10-15 points.

by Alex_Germany Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:05 am

Italy will be tough. Scots must be glad they only sent three players to Australia.

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:10 am

Well I rather we had "sent" more personally, as that would mean we had better players!

Italy have been cast aside with ease by South Africa and Samoa. We should beat them.

by Alex_Germany Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:17 am

Nothing against the Lions, but I'd have been more annoyed if England had lost to Argentina, than if the Lions use to Australia.

In the event, we didn't need Corbisiero, Twelvetrees, Wade and the others. So good that they're with the Lions.

I wish well to both Scottish and Italian rugby, so hope its a good match. (Is it on normal TV?)

by EWT Spoons Fri Jun 21, 2013 1:44 am

Alex_Germany wrote:Nothing against the Lions, but I'd have been more annoyed if England had lost to Argentina, than if the Lions use to Australia.

In the event, we didn't need Corbisiero, Twelvetrees, Wade and the others. So good that they're with the Lions.

I wish well to both Scottish and Italian rugby, so hope its a good match. (Is it on normal TV?)

It's on sky. Whether that falls under 'normal tv' I don't know, but its better than the Samoan Facebook page so closer to normal than some other games we've had.

by GLove39 Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:41 pm

"Johnnie Beattie rated 50:50 for tomorrow's Test v Italy with thigh injury."
Erm, that's awkward. Suppose if he doesn't make it, then Denton to 8 and Harley to 6, Stroks to 7.
Not sure who'd cover the bench though? Is there anyone left?

by **RDW** Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:46 pm

Fraser Brown has been playing backrow for Heriots all year – I suppose he would be next in line!

They’d have to bring Gordon Reid onto the bench I suppose.

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:46 pm

Get Richie Vernon out there - covers every position from 6 - 15.....

They could just add Tonks to the bench and go with a 4 - 4 bench split. Sort of an anti-Andy Robinson manourvre....

Swinson could play 6 in an emergency I suppose, with Gilchrist coming on at lock.

I certainly don't want Beattie picking up a long term injury and not making the start of next season. This game is not important enough to be risking players long term, and I'm sure Rob Harley will be very keen to get onto the pitch and make an impression having been left at home to watch Stroksoch play out of his skin twice.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:47 pm

Think this'll be a massive test for the lads tomorrow against a near full strength Italy, albeit they've stacked their bench with a few normal starters

by **RDW** Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:49 pm

Anyone got the Italy team?

by Manky-Flanker Fri Jun 21, 2013 8:59 pm

Italy have made 10 changes

Italy: 15 Andrea Masi, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi, 11 Giovanbattista Venditti, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Sergio Parisse (capt), 7 Robert Barbieri, 6 Joshua Furno, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 Leandro Cedaro, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17 Alberto De Marchi, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Antonio Pavanello, 20 Alessandro Zanni, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Gonzalo Canale, 23 Luke McLean.

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:03 pm

I predict Scotland by 10.

Some old hands in that Italy side but also a couple of debutants, and if we can play with the intensity we brought in the first 50 minutes against South Africa then I think we'll put these guys away.

Barbieri will be a menace given we don't have a genuine openside, but we dealt with Coetze very well last weekend, with Swinson and Strokosch smashing the South Africans off the ball. Same again, and we should score some points here.

by **RDW** Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:03 pm

Don't recognise their 14,13,10,6,4 or 2...

by Manky-Flanker Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:04 pm

Their Blindside flanker is actually a Lock playing out of position for this match

by **RDW** Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:05 pm

Not massively fearful of that side – Castro and Bortalami are looking a bit past it too.

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:10 pm

A lock playing out of position at flanker. What sort of country would be stupid enough to do something like that??

by RuggerRadge2611 Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:13 pm

No reason we can't win this one. Be a good chance to salvage some pride and let some of the youngsters show their stuff.

Hoping Heathcoate can answer some of his critics

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 21, 2013 9:20 pm

Agree - big chance for Heathcote this. The pack is capable of delivering some quick ball and he's playing between two quality and fairly established players in Laidlaw and Scott. He should get some decent ball here so now needs to show his stuff, and put the outside backs into some space.

I thought his performance against Samoa was a brave effort given the general defensive capitulation going on around him, and I've seen him impress a couple of times for Bath last season. He's the sort of fly half that can provide a stable platform, whilst capable of showing enough with ball in hand to keep the opposition defence interested. He's not flashy, and he isn't a big risk taker, but he's got guts and isn't afraid to take the ball flat and take it to the opposition line. I have high hopes.

by Scot Abroad Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:35 am

Horne out for 9 months with a torn ACL but McArthur expected to be fit for the start of the season. Players have taken a beating during this tour.

by funnyExiledScot Sat Jun 22, 2013 12:40 am

Really bad news on Horne and a real shame. He was developing nicely into good cover at both 10 and 12. Hopefully he can recover in time to make an impact towards the end of next season.

I'd imagine Dunbar and Bennett will now start as first choice centres next season at Glasgow, with wingers DTH and S Lamont able to fill in. I really hope Hogg isn't asked to play at centre next season.

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