Scotland v Australia, 23 November

First topic message reminder :

Scotland v Australia
 
23 November 2013, KO: 18:00
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
 
Referee: Jaco Peyper (RSA)
AR1: Pascal Gauzere (FRA)
AR2: Francisco Pastrana (ARG)
TMO: Geoff Warren (ENG)
 
LIVE on BBC
 
A. Teams:
 
1. Jessies
 
15 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points
14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby) 40 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 5 caps
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 81 caps, 12 tries, 60 points

10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps, 3 tries, 23 conversions, 49 penalties, 208 points

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 70 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps
4 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby)
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 49 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 25 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) 59 caps, 4 tries, 20 points CAPTAIN
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps
 
16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors) 57 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
19 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
20 Kieran Low (London Irish) uncapped
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 63 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps, 3 conversions, 2 penalties, 2 drop-goals 18 points
23 Max Evans (Castres) 36 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
  
2. Wallabies

15 Israel Folau
14 Joe Tomane
13 Christian Leali'ifano
12 Mike Harris
11 Chris Feauai-Sautia
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia
 
8 Ben Mowen (capt)
7 Michael Hooper
6 Scott Fardy
5 James Horwill
4 Rob Simmons
3 Sekope Kepu
2 Stephen Moore
1 James Slipper
 
16 Saia Fainga'a
17 Ben Alexander
18 Paddy Ryan
19 Sitaleki Timani
20 Ben McCalman
21 Nic White
22 Nick Phipps
23 Bernard Foley
 
B. Recent Form - last seven
 
1. Scotland
 
Scotland - South Africa 0-28
Scotland - Italy 30-29
South Africa - Scotland 30-17
Samoa - Scotland 27-17
France - Scotland 23-16
Scotland - Wales 18-28
Scotland - Ireland 12-8
 
2. Australia
 
15-32 Ireland - Australia
20-13 England - Australia
41-33 New Zealand - Australia
17-54 Argentina - Australia
28-8 South Africa - Australia
14-13 Australia - Argentina
12-38 Australia - South Africa
 
C. Recent Form - head to head
 
5 June 2012, Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Scotland Tour of Australasia
Australia 6 – 9 Scotland
 
21 November 2009, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2009 Autumn International
Scotland 9 – 8 Australia
 
25 November 2006, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2006 Autumn International
Scotland 15 – 44 Australia
 
20 November 2004, Hampden Park, Glasgow
2004 Autumn International
Scotland 17 – 31 Australia
 
6 November 2004, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2004 Autumn International  
Scotland 14 – 31 Australia

Ineffable wrote:

alive555 wrote:and

1.maitlands too slow
2.we only have 1 good set of backs
3. we dont have a good fly half
4. we never play brown in his best position
5. we are really missing rennie
6. gray jnr looks v good.
7. scrum is decent
7 lineout is a total farce

oh dear bad result really

Wait didn't Maitland post the best 100m time for the Glasgow squad when he came in last year?
Has Scotland turned him from a 'great' player into a 'good' one?

Nope, the Lions did that. Not been the same since he came back, confidence looks shot.

Much Much better from Scotland 6/10
We need to remember how to ruck - especially on our ball.

Lamont - - no one has ever tried harder but please - no more.

Overall for the A!s much as I thought. Decent win against Japan, Humped by SA, competitive with Aus. At least Johnson has actually treid out the players and given almost everyone a decent amount of gametime.

One player who really has come out of this well is Seymour - not that he is now world class but he is a winger who does not look out of place in an international has made few mistakes and is willing to actually attack.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Why do Scotland always look knackered?

Defending for long periods, only to turnover the ball.......and kick it back to the opposition so we can start defending again. Thats why.

Unlcuky Scots put up a good challenge but I hate to say it, Australia were better
 

Another positive was our handling v good

Have to hand it to the Aussies genia and folau (sp) were the difference

Wish we had used the maul more looked like we had the upper hand there

Yes, there are some AI positives:

- Swinson is a giant
- Jonny Gray absolutely belongs at the top table
- Beattie still has some mojo
- All may not be lost with Moray Low
- Dickinson, when played in the correct position, is 'no' bad'
- Weir has a future as an international 10
- If we're playing with an openside, Barclay has still got it
- Pat MacArthur has emerged
- Seymour is a quality and valid alternative on the wing until Visser learns to get his knees muddy

and we also know which players are no longer the incumbent for their shirts:
- Lamont
- Jackson
- Ford

madmaccas wrote:

Ineffable wrote:

alive555 wrote:and

1.maitlands too slow
2.we only have 1 good set of backs
3. we dont have a good fly half
4. we never play brown in his best position
5. we are really missing rennie
6. gray jnr looks v good.
7. scrum is decent
7 lineout is a total farce

oh dear bad result really

Wait didn't Maitland post the best 100m time for the Glasgow squad when he came in last year?
Has Scotland turned him from a 'great' player into a 'good' one?

Nope, the Lions did that. Not been the same since he came back, confidence looks shot.

1) Maitland much better today than last week playing out of position don't forget
2) Seymour is now known to be a decent second choice if not just decent
3)Weirs first start for Scotland ( I think). Competent but no more. NO blunders adn a couple of sweet kicks and passes and most importantly - got the head for it. Bossed the team around as he should. Tackled and rucked a few times. should have taken a couple more longer pens
4) Brown needs to be captain and on the team sheet everytime in his best position.
5) Yup - strength in depth is always an issue. When you have maybe half a dozen reall calss players to have most of them injured is harsh
6) _ Yup - everyone said he was better than Ritchie
7) Yup - and depth as well - entire front row changed but still solid
7) Not as bad as last week but needs sorting out fo su

alive555 wrote:

Wish we had used the maul more looked like we had the upper hand there

Gotta admit I nearly had a complete sense of humour failure when Australia were a man down and we got a penalty in their half. I was almost screaming at Scotland to kick into the corner and use the attacking maul, especially as the missing Oz player was a forward. Instead we kick for goal and miss.  

A better performance compared to last week but the main thing that let us down today was a lack of self belief. Sean Maitland should have backed himself against Falou, Maitland is the quicker of the 2 and had the gas to beat him to the corner. A few other chances to attack but again the belief wasn't there to really put the head down and back themselves.

The other key area that Scotland really need to improve on which killed us tonight was the ball speed away from the breakdown area. By the time the Laidlaw and even Cusiter put their hands on the ball and passed it to 1st receiver the Aussie defence was up in the face of the Scottish attack in the outside channel meaning we really couldn't do anything with the ball apart from take the tackle. Was great defence by Australia but Scotland made it easy for them. Need a better clear out at ruck time and need far sharper passing from whoever is at 9.

Also the defence line from Australia knew Laidlaw wasn't going to snipe much so didn't cover him on D which allowed them to push a wider pattern for defence again cutting down the Scottish attacking options out wide. The couple of times Scotland did attack and snipe around the fringes we made good yards for example Beattie's break.

Was impressed with Jim Hamilton tonight, he put in a big shift yet again tonight, not a flashy player but could see the big workload he was going through. Grant Gilchrist also had a surprisingly good shift tonight. Wasn't a fan of the backrow we put out but they did manage to keep Hooper fairly quiet. Beattie looked good for what is only his 2nd game in about 2 months and Brown was solid as usual. Denton started off well but faded badly and his carriers looked pretty weak in the 2nd half. Seems to have lost some of his power!

How did I end up a Scotland fan - one who it hurts when we lose?  English name, English accent, English parents.  Passionate Scots fan  Its no bluddy right and it hurts "sulks"








Real answer is growing up here and going to murrayfeild many times with a rugby fan father  what gets in your heart you cannot change

Not a bad performance, and we were in the game right to the final whistle. Backs still look a mess, and Weir was no better than Jackson. Perhaps more decisive, but still not looking at home at this level.

I want Maitland back on the wing, and I want Lamont back in a Glasgow jersey. Doesn't have the raw materials for an international winger anymore. I don't care if Visser never makes another tackle in his life, I want finishers on the Scotland wing.

But......the pack fought well, I enjoyed the dog from hamilton and Beattie came back strongly. We sadly learnt that MacArthur can't throw either, but his low carrying style worked well, and both Low and Murray fared better than Mike Ross.

All in all, not a bad game. Just a shame we didn't finish that Lamont/Maitland chance.

Think it's fair to say lineout wasn't much better - in fact over the 80 it was probably worse than last week

Not sure how much was MacArthur's fault (probably as much as it was Ford's fault last week), but he had a decent game apart from that

[quote="TJ"]How did I end up a Scotland fan - one who it hurts when we lose?  English name, English accent, English parents.  Passionate Scots fan  Its no bluddy right and it hurts "sulks"

I have a Scottish father and support Scotland too but my support is evened out by NZ. Join me. Come to the dark side.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:

TJ wrote:How did I end up a Scotland fan - one who it hurts when we lose?  English name, English accent, English parents.  Passionate Scots fan  Its no bluddy right and it hurts "sulks"

I have a Scottish father and support Scotland too but my support is evened out by NZ. Join me. Come to the dark side.

Kiwis?  no way jose!  Seriously you cannot change what is in your heart  

So we agree that when on form, this team might do something?:

01 Grant
02 MacArthur
03 Murray
04 Swinson
05 Hamilton
06 Brown
07 Barclay
08 Beattie

09 Laidlaw
10 Weir

11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Dunbar/Taylor/Bennett
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

16 Dickinson
17 Ford
18 Low
19 R Gray
20 Strokosch
21 Cusiter
22 Heathcote
23 Seymour

Yup

We should be in good position fro the 6N now with combos tried out and players gaining experience and guys to come back from injury

Swap Barclay for Rennie GC and I'd agree!

I'd also have Denton at least on the bench - more of an impact than strokosh

Looking towards the six nations we've got to start with:

1. Grant
2. MacArthur (although Ford looked good when he was on and MacArthur's lineouts weren't much better)
3. Murray
4. Swinson
5. Gray jnr
6. Brown
7. Rennie
8. Beattie
9. Laidlaw
10. Weir
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Dickinson
17. Ford
18. Welsh
19. Gray snr
20. Barclay
21. Cusiter
22. Jackson
23. Seymour/ Taylor

Visser would have scored a couple at least today, as would Hogg. It is clear that Scott is integral to any chances of our success and I'm going to stick my neck out and say he's the best British inside-centre by some distance, it's not often that someone can combine the creativity of a fly-half with the body of a back rower and the step of a winger but he's managed it, what we lose in creativity when we bench Jackson we can make up for with Scott. Bennett has more zip than De Luca and is not far off defensively and could give O'Driscoll a torrid time with the difference in pace. Laidlaw is an incredibly intelligent player and can set that backline free.
MacArthur has to start just because Ford was woeful in both games and can't get away with it, most of you will disagree with this but I still believe on form Ford is our best hooker. Murray and Grant will destroy their counterparts when we play Ireland based on this series. Jonny Gray and Swinson start ahead of the rest for me as they make the hard yards, put their hits and carry which Gray snr doesn't always do, Kellock can't do and Hamilton is either not on the pitch or protesting against his latest infringement although based on today's performance Gilchrist isn't far off. The back row is still an area of strength and that back row is well balanced and a match for any other in the six nations, Barclay on the bench as he can, just about, cover all three positions and Brown can move around too.

I honestly believe that we are now a far superior team to Ireland and have better players in all but three or four positions, we should win the first game comfortably and then what better way to follow that up than with a home game against England and then Italy?

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:

TJ wrote:How did I end up a Scotland fan - one who it hurts when we lose?  English name, English accent, English parents.  Passionate Scots fan  Its no bluddy right and it hurts "sulks"

I have a Scottish father and support Scotland too but my support is evened out by NZ. Join me. Come to the dark side.

I'm the opposite, born in England to Scottish parents with a Scottish name and yet for some unfathomable reason I chose not to support the nation that win regularly and has a half decent football team

Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

That was a "BETTER" TODAY than the Wales game yesterday. That is for sure.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

Never been to New Zealand and surely you must get bored winning every time? At least we know that when Scotland win every single player has given a 100%. I honestly believe that with the generation coming through from Gray jnr down to Hidalgo-Clyne combined with older players like Brown, Murray, Ford (if he sorts himself out) Rennie, Beattie, Barclay and Laidlaw we can beat anyone in the world eventually. Even, maybe just maybe, the All Blacks.

123456789 wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

Never been to New Zealand and surely you must get bored winning every time? At least we know that when Scotland win every single player has given a 100%. I honestly believe that with the generation coming through from Gray jnr down to Hidalgo-Clyne combined with older players like Brown, Murray, Ford (if he sorts himself out) Rennie, Beattie, Barclay and Laidlaw we can beat anyone in the world eventually. Even, maybe just maybe, the All Blacks.

Its certainly the just about the best group of players I ave seen in 40 years of supporting Scotland  1990 maybe better?

TJ wrote:

123456789 wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

Never been to New Zealand and surely you must get bored winning every time? At least we know that when Scotland win every single player has given a 100%. I honestly believe that with the generation coming through from Gray jnr down to Hidalgo-Clyne combined with older players like Brown, Murray, Ford (if he sorts himself out) Rennie, Beattie, Barclay and Laidlaw we can beat anyone in the world eventually. Even, maybe just maybe, the All Blacks.

Its certainly the just mabout tyhe best group of players I ave seen in 40 years of supporting Scotland  1990 maybe better?  

I'm too young to have seen the 1990 side but I think this is the first team since the nineties to have the potential for a grand slam

That was an absolute shambles I've never been so angry after a Scotland match, I actually feel like my hard earned money for my ticket was stolen from me, that was pathetic. The Aussies handed that game to us and we said ''nah we've already won it twice you can win this one''. All the players should say sorry to the fans publicly and donate there appearance fees to charity.

Taylor is no where near Scott I new that from the South Africa game he's made to look good with the quality players at Saracens why are we not pushing Dunbar and Bennett?. play a proper no 7 Kelly brown is not a 7 and he ain't a captain, 4 minutes on the clock and the team are having a huddle and walking to the line out
Why!!?. Hamilton is nothing more than dead weight in the scrum he doesn't do enough around the field and guaranteed he'll give away 3-6 points with his Indiscipline. Who is making the decisions in the line outs we have an extra lock on the field so we shorten the line out on our own ball why? keep the numbers which tie in a Aussie back player and start a rolling maul. For all the faults Jackson has at least he sucks in defenders and creates space for the backs, Weir good boot but misses a gaping hole in front of his face.

Brain dead decisions brain dead team. no pace no urgency pathetic.

123456789 wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

Never been to New Zealand and surely you must get bored winning every time? At least we know that when Scotland win every single player has given a 100%. I honestly believe that with the generation coming through from Gray jnr down to Hidalgo-Clyne combined with older players like Brown, Murray, Ford (if he sorts himself out) Rennie, Beattie, Barclay and Laidlaw we can beat anyone in the world eventually. Even, maybe just maybe, the All Blacks.

The more you have the more you want. I was dressed up in my kilt with a Scottish mate in a Calcutta match in 2006. Hideous rugby but the victory felt so sweet. Not as good though as the last 5N win when I was living in Paris. All the suffering makes those victories sweeter just as all the wins make the losses hurt that much more. But sod that. NZ all the way and I support Spain in the football due to my Spanish wife.  

123456789 wrote:

TJ wrote:

123456789 wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Sod football. Join me too. You don't need a heart to support NZ TJ. There is no compassion for the sides we beat.  

Never been to New Zealand and surely you must get bored winning every time? At least we know that when Scotland win every single player has given a 100%. I honestly believe that with the generation coming through from Gray jnr down to Hidalgo-Clyne combined with older players like Brown, Murray, Ford (if he sorts himself out) Rennie, Beattie, Barclay and Laidlaw we can beat anyone in the world eventually. Even, maybe just maybe, the All Blacks.

Its certainly the just mabout tyhe best group of players I ave seen in 40 years of supporting Scotland  1990 maybe better?  

I'm too young to have seen the 1990 side but I think this is the first team since the nineties to have the potential for a grand slam

We had a few good teams in the amateur era, the 1984 and 1990 ones obviously spring to mind but you cannot compare then and now. All the teams back then suffered from variable selection and good players where left out of teams for no good reason. For a lot of good players back then, life often got in the way of their sport as well. 20 caps was considered a very good career back then, now we would think that they were just finding their international feet. Professionalism has changed all of that and it has taken from its birth to know for Scotland to start to look like they can put a competitive team out on the park.

Talk of grand slams is a fair way away as of yet but I do think SJ is correct when he says that this is a team that could go somewhere. We have had a lot of false dawns but we do finally seem to have a good group coming through and in the depth required for an international squad.

Of the new players out there today, Duncan Taylor had a much better second start and looked like a decent player, which he is. He is still probably our third choice in that position at the moment, though that may change. He knows what international rugby is all about though.

Grant Gilchrist did not have a lot of people shouting out for him when the team was announced but he put in a really good shift and again did not look out of his depth. The guy who replaced him Big Johnny, well what can you say about him, he has surely got to start next time, unless it is felt that he just needs to be held back a bit just because it is his first full season. Personally I don't buy that, he is old enough, he is good enough and he should play. Richie is going to struggle to get back into the team!

We all wanted to see McArthur in this match and we did. The lineout clearly needs a lot of work still but he certainly brought a dynamism to the loose play. There is a lot more to come from him. Ford is not going to have an automatic spot from now on and we still have to see where Macinally is going to fit into the equation.

Seymour showed that he has the attributes of an international player as well. He is not perfect yet but he looks like he has the raw materials. These matches will have helped him, he has scored a couple of tries, good for his confidence, showed great confidence under the high ball and now knows what defending is all about at this level.

Duncan Weir had a steady game on what was his first start I think. He looked more comfortable and in control than Jackson has so far this season and in many of his other games for Scotland. maybe he is the one who can truly step up to international level. Heathcote is still an unknown quantity and looks like he will be lost to us this year while he warms the bench at Bath. I hope he gets sorted out for next year, hopefully at Edinburgh.

Kieron Low, coming off the bench today looked like he had something about him as well, but we will reserve judgement on him till we have seen a bit more of him.

Add to the mix the ones who have not debuted yet, such as Bennett, who I still feel sure we will see at some point this year. Fusaro, who good player that he is, probably remains behind Rennie (who looked very good off the bench in the Edinburgh game yesterday), Barclay and Brown. He is still young though and will hopefully still have plenty improvement to come. A few others as well like Ryan Wilson and Alec Dunbar who are also just at the start of their international journeys but look like they have what it takes as well.

We have also got our players in waiting, who will be joining us by residence soon enough, Cussack, Strauss, Nel and a little bit further down the line Du Prez who again looks like he may become some player!

At the other end of the scale a few of the older players, notably Sean Lamont, Al Kellock and Ross Ford and Max Evans seem to be slowly slipping down the pecking order. Lamont and Kellock have been great servants to Scottish rugby, through some very lean years but everyone is mortal at the end of the day, both have massive heart but maybe just lack some of the skills needed at true international level. Ross Ford may or may not come again and is certainly no lost cause, but he is not going to walk into the team from now on.

We could have won that game today, no doubt about that. I don't feel that down about us not doing so though. This has been a very useful exercise, some of it forced by injury and some by choice. The first real tests are to come in the six nations. Then hopefully we will start to see what our best side looks like.

BigGee - I agree with much of what you say but this "I don't feel that down about us not doing so though (winning) " is simply not enough. I fecking hurts to get beaten especially a game we could have one. And so it should for the players as well.

TJ wrote:BigGee - I agree with much of what you say but this "I don't feel that down about us not doing so though (winning) " is simply not enough.  I fecking hurts to get beaten especially a game we could have one.  And so it should for the players as well.

Maybe that did not quite come over right. Yes it does hurt to lose and I am sure the players are feeling it as well and some of them may well be looking over their shoulders and wondering if they will play again, which is no bad thing.

I think what I was trying to say is that there is losing without any hope, something we have done a lot of over the years and what we had more recently and definitely today, that is to say losing with some hope for the future!

Looking at the stats this really is a game we could have won. Oh for a decent winger to take that final pass just before the half!

Just like to say hard luck Scotland... t'was a cracking game for the neutral

Poor today, was pretty much gift wrapped for us.

We lack direction in procession and no one seems to know what we're trying to do then inevitably we get turned over or make a mistake. Don't vary the play enough, either go one out and make no ground or wide and lose the ball after spreading our players too thin.

Be better playing with less of the ball, there's a reason the top 3 nations play a lot of territory.

I'm advocating a return to Dan Parks Rugby, for now.

We need to go back to basics and out the foundations into our team. No team has won the World Cup without a good set-piece, defence and kicking game.

Give Weir a run at 10 and let him play his natural game by putting us in the right areas, play territory and percentage rugby. With Laidlaw, Hogg & Scott in the team we've got a good spread of kickers, so use them.

Our front-five is more than capable of providing a set-piece platform but the recent line-out misfires is a worry.

Defence is about mind-set, desire and concentration.

The tries will come, we've been missing 4 of our best attackers in Hogg, Scott, Rennie & Visser. But it's about putting them in the right areas of the pitch to do it.

There's enough quality players to make things happen but they need to have the platform to perform and everyone else doing their individual jobs.

reallybored wrote:

Our front-five is more than capable of providing a set-piece platform but the recent line-out misfires is a worry.

Agree about the line out, but it is something that should be relatively easily fixable. We have the players to do it and it is not an area we normally struggle in. It has cost us in these last 2 games though and will do so again unless we get on top off it.

On visser, I'm fairly confident if he had been on the receiving end of that pass from Maitland he would have scored that try!

Say what you want about his defence but he's one hell of a finisher - something that is missing from that team.

RDW_Scotland wrote:On visser, I'm fairly confident if he had been on the receiving end of that pass from Maitland he would have scored that try!

Say what you want about his defence but he's one hell of a finisher - something that is missing from that team.

I think Seymour would have scored it as well. Both those guys have raw pace, which is what a winger needs. I have been a great fan of Sean over the years, he has been our standout player in many dismal matches, but he is probably 5th in line in the back three hierarchy now.

On Weir - for his frst start how do we think he did - for me 6/10 - about the average for the team. NO huge mistakes, noting spectacular bar one break IIRC mixed his game up well. Didn't lose the ball, tried a few runs and seemed to boss the team

It's not hos first start - he started a few games in the 6N!

RDW_Scotland wrote:It's not hos first start - he started a few games in the 6N!

Ah - 2 starts in ther 6 nations according to espn.  I didn't think he had.  8th cap, 3rd start.

edited

Ireland and France wasn't it?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ireland and France wasn't it?

found it on espn eventually - wales and france last year.

Still only his 3rd start 8th cap - how did we think he did?

Ratings from the herald


Sean Maitland7 Might have done better to delay his pass a fraction as he tried to put Sean Lamont in but was one of the livelier Scotland attackers without being able to find the crucial break.

Tommy Seymour 7 Looked full of running but could not find holes in the well-organised Australian defence.

Nick De Luca 6 Ran well and thought he had earned a try under the Wallaby posts, only to be denied by an earlier knock on. A solid game.

Duncan Taylor 5

Strong and willing but lacks the vision of the injured Matt Scott. Tackled willingly but was replaced late on.

Sean Lamont 6 Would have expected more of himself when he was put clear but you can never fault his workrate or his dedication.

Duncan Weir 6 Lay flat to challenge the Wallabies' defence and pulled the best out of the players around him but could not find the killer gap.

Greig Laidlaw6

Efficient in everything he did and kicked reliably as always but could not find that touch of inspiration.

Ryan Grant5 Scrummed hard when he got the chance but would have expected to produce more in the loose, rarely managing to get his hands on the ball.

Ross Ford5 Had a couple of shaky moments in the line-out before going off injured. Replaced by Pat MacArthur, who did his chores well but added little extra.

Moray Low5 Would have hoped for more chances to show his scrummaging strength but got a couple of carries in the open and tackled well round the fringes.

Grant Gilchrist6 Good on his own throw but did little to damage the Australian line-out. Carried well without being able to find holes in the opposition defence.

Jim Hamilton7 Charged around in the opening quarter, but faded until late in the game when he seemed to find second wind. Ran the line-out well.

Johnnie Beattie6 One brilliant break from the base of a ruck should have produced a try, but faded in and out of the game as his team-mates struggled with the visitors' breakdown.

Kelly Brown7 Tackled more than willingly all match but was given something of a lesson in getting to the rucks and being able to slow opposition ball.

Dave Denton6 Did his usual in carrying well but not being able to get all the way through for all the dynamism. Used to offload more but that seems to have been coached out of his game.

Replacements 5 All bar one used without being able to turn the game. Chris Cusiter added a threat at scrum-half and Kieran Low will be delighted with his debut, but none could find the cutting edge Scotland so badly needed.

I think Weir did okay, he looked more confident and in control than Jackson did last week. I think we can take the Japan game out of the equation for the sake of the comparison. Bearing in mind he had another inexperienced player right outside him it was a decent shift. He came up flatter as the game went on and almost got through himself once. If Maitland had read his move onto Hamilton's pass better then we would have scored.

The Scotsman player ratings were far too high - 7, 8 and 9s everywhere!

Tough game for Scotland, Oz were under a lot of pressure at times but you guys just couldn't add those finishing touches. I thought your centre's really let you down most of the game.

In hindsight would it have been better for Scotland to play against another PI team and give the players more chances to score and get used to running the ball and backing themselves? Yes running out for a test against SA would have been incredible as a life experience but what do you really learn from a nilling like that? On the other hand a 2-1 AI's record might have given the players more confidence leading up to the 6N's.

I'm just glad we got through the match unscathed in terms of injuries, IRB or ARU penalties.  Well done, you mob!

It was doubly risky team selection given the stood down players and the suspension but in the end they did an OK job and it was nice to see young Feauai-Sautia score on debut.

They are still leaving 9+ points on the field every match just about... but thank goodness Issy can tackle (RL style!) otherwise we could have been on the losing end yet again.

So I believe they are in a relatively good place for the Wales match with a few players coming back into the fold for that one. Ewen will now start rewarding those who have performed well since the England game - and will have to start considering his options down the track once players like Pocock and Higginbotham (unfortunately Beale was observed drinking again) are available again to strengthen the core and increase competition for spots a bit more.

yappysnap wrote:Tough game for Scotland, Oz were under a lot of pressure at times but you guys just couldn't add those finishing touches. I thought your centre's really let you down most of the game.

In hindsight would it have been better for Scotland to play against another PI team and give the players more chances to score and get used to running the ball and backing themselves? Yes running out for a test against SA would have been incredible as a life experience but what do you really learn from a nilling like that? On the other hand a 2-1 AI's record might have given the players more confidence leading up to the 6N's.

Centres are our biggest problem at the moment, Yappy. Kind of like the Tualagi problem - one half of the combination stands out as pivotal (for us, Matt Scott) but who partners them is really not yet clear at all.
 
Our forwards are winning a lot of possession (70%+ in the second half against the Springboks, 60%+ against the Wallabies in aggregate). We just need to establish who it will be with Scott (Bennett, Dunbar or Horne would seem to be the most obvious candidates) and find a 10. Then again, we've needed to find a fully rounded 10 since Rutherford. Or Toonie, if you aren't as old as me.

Yea it seems really difficult for most NH teams to find two quality ball playing centre's who can work together doesn't it?!

Just remember as well GC that possession means very little if it isn't used well. The AB's often have low possession stats all game but still win nearly everyone.

You might find that this AI's those teams were happy to give you the ball for long periods as they weren't feeling threatened, likewise if you do suddenly get your try scoring mojo going then they may well not let you play with the ball so much.

Linebreaker wrote:I'm just glad we got through the match unscathed in terms of injuries, IRB or ARU penalties.  Well done, you mob!

It was doubly risky team selection given the stood down players and the suspension but in the end they did an OK job and it was nice to see young Feauai-Sautia score on debut.

They are still leaving 9+ points on the field every match just about... but thank goodness Issy can tackle (RL style!) otherwise we could have been on the losing end yet again.

So I believe they are in a relatively good place for the Wales match with a few players coming back into the fold for that one. Ewen will now start rewarding those who have performed well since the England game - and will have to start considering his options down the track once players like Pocock and Higginbotham (unfortunately Beale was observed drinking again) are available again to strengthen the core and increase competition for spots a bit more.

Linebreaker when will Higgs and Pocock be back? Seems like for ever since we've seen them pull on the Oz jersey.

yappysnap wrote:Yea it seems really difficult for most NH teams to find two quality ball playing centre's who can work together doesn't it?!

Just remember as well GC that possession means very little if it isn't used well. The AB's often have low possession stats all game but still win nearly everyone.

You might find that this AI's those teams were happy to give you the ball for long periods as they weren't feeling threatened, likewise if you do suddenly get your try scoring mojo going then they may well not let you play with the ball so much.

Totally agree. It's interesting to see the national squads take shape ahead of the 6N.
 
Scotland fans on these boards are usually very down on their team but even now, we can see that there is a quality spine developing in this team. If playing at home, I genuinely would take us to beat Italy, Ireland, France and potentially also even England. Although I am getting fed up with writing "if everyone is fit" after that. I might as well write "if Thom Evans and Joe Ansbro were still playing and Ross Rennie wasn't made of glass".