Scotland v Japan, 23 September

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SCOTLAND V JAPAN
23 September 2015
KO: 14:30 BST
Kingsholm, Gloucester

Live on [tbc]

Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) & Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

4 Played 4
4 Won 0
0 Drawn 0
0 Lost 4
221 Points 45

B. Recent Form

09 Nov 2013
Scotland 42 - 17 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

13 Nov 2004
Scotland 100 - 8 Japan
McDiarmid Park, Perth

12 Oct 2003
Scotland 32 - 11 Japan
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

05 Oct 1991
Scotland 47 - 9 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

C. Teams

SCOTLAND

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Tommy Seymour
13 Mark Bennett
12 Matt Scott
11 Sean Lamont
10 Finn Russell
09 Greig Laidlaw (c)

01 Ali Dickinson
02 Ross Ford
03 Willem Nel
04 Grant Gilchrist
05 Jonny Gray
06 Ryan Wilson
07 John Hardie
08 David Denton

16 Fraser Brown
17 Ryan Grant
18 Jon Welsh
19 Richie Gray
20 Joshua Strauss
21 Henry Pyrgos
22 Peter Horne
23 Sean Maitland

JAPAN

01- Keita Inagaki
02- Shota Horie
03- Hiroshi Yamashita
04- Luke Thompson
05- Justin Ives
06- Michael Leitch (captain)
07- Michael Broadhurst
08- Amanaki Mafi

09- Fumiaki Tanaka
10- Harumichi Tatekawa
11- Kenki Fukuoka
12- Yu Tamura
13- Male Sa'u
14- Kotaro Matsushima
15- Ayumu Goromaru

16- Takeshi Kizu
17- Masataka Mikami
18- Kensuke Hatakeyama
19- Shinya Makabe
20- Shoji Ito
21- Hendrik Tui
22- Atsushi Hiwasa
23- Karne Hesketh

Good luck with the interview Jimbo. Just be yourself. Actually......

Yes, good luck Jim old chum.

The advice my brother gave me when interviewing for my current job:
"Just go in there and be yourself... but not too much."

Don't worry about Eddie Jones and his gamesmanship comments!

He says Japan will win if they are close to us at half time!

Lat time we played them they were very close after half time. We then humped them!

Scotland by 20 points!

tigertattie wrote:Holy crap. Anyone watching STV's rugby special?

The comments from the panel are great but my god the production looks like it's being done by some primary kids with a camcorder

Didn't show it up on STV Aberdeen....disgrace! Instead we there was some programme called parking wars!

[quote="RDW_Scotland"]

George Carlin wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:The Fiji game showed the importance of having a 90% + kicker for all kicks within the 10m line.

Even Michalak's kicking can be dodgy.

One of my pet hates in rugby is Stuart Hogg attempting long range kicks from in his own half - he must be on around 1 in 12 now as FES says.  What's the point!!

Mark Bennett has has much higher success rate around the 50m mark in any event.

To be fair, he's only actually tried a handful of kicks![/

Bennett was pretty handy as a goal kicker at u20s level from far out and close range. Huge boot on him and certainly more accurate than hogg with probably a bigger range.

Best of luck on the interview today Jimbo.

I’m assuming this is a job interview, as opposed to a police/social services/HR interview?

RDW_Scotland wrote:I’m assuming this is a job interview, as opposed to a police/social services/HR interview?

It's a very good question. What is an old ex-teacher applying for?

Japan’s odds have halved with Willy Hill in the last couple of days – I think it was 9/1 at one point even after the SA game.

I’ve gone for Japan to win with a 12 point head start – very good odds at 8/5!

I’d be very surprised (and delighted) if Scotland won by 13 points of more.

This would be like a double blow if Japan take another scalp....

Hoping the boys take it to them early, it would destroy their confidence.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Japan’s odds have halved with Willy Hill in the last couple of days – I think it was 9/1 at one point even after the SA game.

I’ve gone for Japan to win with a 12 point head start – very good odds at 8/5!

I’d be very surprised (and delighted) if Scotland won by 13 points of more.

I used to like betting against my teams - an emotional hedge of sorts!

I'm sure I will be proven wrong as usual but Japan are severely handicapped by having this game so soon after the hardest fought game of their lives. I would be very surprised if they cam emulate the same kind of performance with their still very stiff and bruised bodies. Scotland by 10 or more.

And with those words I've consigned Scotland to defeat

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Japan’s odds have halved with Willy Hill in the last couple of days – I think it was 9/1 at one point even after the SA game.

I’ve gone for Japan to win with a 12 point head start – very good odds at 8/5!

I’d be very surprised (and delighted) if Scotland won by 13 points of more.

I used to like betting against my teams - an emotional hedge of sorts!

To be honest over the last 15 years, betting for Scotland to win is like burning money when they play most tier 1 sides.

fa0019 wrote:This would be like a double blow if Japan take another scalp....

Hoping the boys take it to them early, it would destroy their confidence.

If Japan do beat us it makes the SA game against Samoa at the weekend massive. If Japan win against us, we can likely assume they'll beat USA. Three wins will see them through, leaving 2nd place a slugfest between Samoa, Scotland and South Africa. If SA lose to Samoa and Japan beat us, SA will probably miss out on the QF before they've even played Scotland!

Still, I reckon Scotland will beat Japan by 10 points, and SA will do bad things to Samoa at the weekend.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Japan’s odds have halved with Willy Hill in the last couple of days – I think it was 9/1 at one point even after the SA game.

I’ve gone for Japan to win with a 12 point head start – very good odds at 8/5!

I’d be very surprised (and delighted) if Scotland won by 13 points of more.

I used to like betting against my teams - an emotional hedge of sorts!

As an Edinburgh, Scotland and Hibs fan I find betting against my team is the only way to soften the regular emotional setbacks that I receive.

And anyway I can get a win-win situation – if Scotland win by less than 12 points I can be delighted with the win and also up some money. If Japan win then at least I can use the winnings to gamble on more rugby, which will ultimately lead to me losing it all!

Eddie Jones seems to think japan are fitter than Scotland. Well I think Scotland are fitter than the boks so let's see how this pans out.

This is a great opportunity for Scotland to go out and win and show other nations they can compete. I suspect many think because japan beat the boks they should beat Scotland too. Never as simple as that but I will admit I am a bit nervous.

On a side note, my mate runs a Scottish restaurant here in London called Mac & Wild. He's showing the game today, free haggis Popsicles for every try Scotland score. Winner of best burger in London as well

bsando wrote:On a side note, my mate runs a Scottish restaurant here in London called Mac & Wild. He's showing the game today, free haggis Popsicles for every try Scotland score. Winner of best burger in London as well

Does he do deliveries to Glasgow?

"I suspect many think because japan beat the boks they should beat Scotland too"

Unfortunately it's how the masses tend to view things but that fact is the win will surely have come at a cost on their bodies and against Scotland it will be telling. It's a different match, a different day and certainly for Scotland a different mindset going into the game than they would have had a week ago. Scotland are a lot stronger than many would give credit and the six nations is a meaningless memory.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

fa0019 wrote:This would be like a double blow if Japan take another scalp....

Hoping the boys take it to them early, it would destroy their confidence.

If Japan do beat us it makes the SA game against Samoa at the weekend massive. If Japan win against us, we can likely assume they'll beat USA. Three wins will see them through, leaving 2nd place a slugfest between Samoa, Scotland and South Africa. If SA lose to Samoa and Japan beat us, SA will probably miss out on the QF before they've even played Scotland!

Still, I reckon Scotland will beat Japan by 10 points, and SA will do bad things to Samoa at the weekend.

Said that vs Argentina mind a month ago... they won but they didn't do the usual and smash them to pieces. I don't think they have it their locker to annihilate teams like they used to. Although play Alberts and Vermeulen and that could very well change.

Vermeulen on Tuilagi...... even I would get a brain injury from watching that let alone the players.

Pete330v2 wrote:"I suspect many think because japan beat the boks they should beat Scotland too"

Unfortunately it's how the masses tend to view things but that fact is the win will surely have come at a cost on their bodies and against Scotland it will be telling. It's a different match, a different day and certainly for Scotland a different mindset going into the game than they would have had a week ago. Scotland are a lot stronger than many would give credit and the six nations is a meaningless memory.

I think the masses, on this site anyway, still say Scotland will win.  
But the alternate speculators ain't dumb either.  

It's not a misinformed populist bandwagon that suggests Japan might do it again but an assessment based on what they were actually doing to beat SA.  It wasn't simply passion - it was strategic resolve to be in the right places on the field and to make set-pieces tell - sometimes with a controlled fury that suggests it was much more than simple adrenalin.

It is a different match and different day.  Right now, either side could win it.  Many here say Scotland will.  Some still think Japan might.

1 swallow doesn't make a summer though fly.

Their form right up to the SA game suggests their actual place in the world is quite accurate... loses to Fiji, Tonga, USA and a scratch win over Georgia.

They are better than I took them for. Better than what most took them for but a team like Scotland should be putting them over.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

I used to like betting against my teams - an emotional hedge of sorts!

Exactly the approach I've gone for. Either be happy that Scotland won the game, or take some solace in winning a bit of money. To be spent on repairing the inevitable damage to the flat caused by flying furniture.

fa0019 wrote:1 swallow doesn't make a summer though fly.

Their form right up to the SA game suggests their actual place in the world is quite accurate... loses to Fiji, Tonga, USA and a scratch win over Georgia.

They are better than I took them for. Better than what most took them for but a team like Scotland should be putting them over.

True-ish. But a team like SA didn't.

I think we rely too much on habits of thought. The gutsy guys get their win but history tells us it doesn't last long. True, history does tell us it doesn't last long. But I still say I was more impressed by the organisation of the Japanese than their heart and fight and passion.
So perhaps Scotland should be winning but Japan are where they are in the rankings. And given the coach they have, it's also true that the top sides aren't the only ones that might 'choose' to underperform in the lead in to hide their true intentions at the WC itself.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

I used to like betting against my teams - an emotional hedge of sorts!

Exactly the approach I've gone for. Either be happy that Scotland won the game, or take some solace in winning a bit of money. To be spent on repairing the inevitable damage to the flat caused by flying furniture.

I have rather the opposite experience with household furniture - it tends to damage me during Scotland matches!

The best example was when Dan Parks nailed the winning penalty against Ireland in 2010, I jumped up and cut my head open on a low-hanging light-fitting, requiring eight stitches and a carpet cleaner to wash the blood from my parents' carpet...

I now watch Scotland matches dressed like this:

I have gone from being quietly confident to bricking it.

Well Tattie Scones RRN, my brother and dad got into the stadium OK so your tickets were genuine - you won't be expecting a horses head in your bed any time soon!

Looking forward to this. Before the tournament I fancied the Scots to have a good world cup and maybe rattled the Boks but Japan has blown the group wide open. Should be a good match!

Why on earth are ITV talking about Ford and Farrell just minutes before kick-off between Scotland and Japan

I have the pleasure of watching it at work, on all the work TV's

Nothing like 179 people wanting to take the p**s out of me and 1 person wanting us to win (Me)

The benefit is I have control over the TV system, so there may be a 'technical fault' if things go poorly

Oh to hide away until we have won....

Just hearing on the radio that some ex-Gloucester Samoan (I think) player said that there is no honour in Scotland beating a team 4 days after they’ve already played – what does he expect us to do then, just let them win??

Could you, please?

Notch wrote:Why on earth are ITV talking about Ford and Farrell just minutes before kick-off between Scotland and Japan

They are obviously trying to copy the BBC 6 Nations coverage. Have they mentioned Jonny and that drop goal yet?

Clive Woodward isn't on today fES!

Notch wrote:Why on earth are ITV talking about Ford and Farrell just minutes before kick-off between Scotland and Japan

Yes, only the other day, we had to hear about Ireland's game against Canada before the SA v Japan game.

Disgraceful.

You mean the Ireland-Canada game which had literally just finished?

Japan has one of the shortest national anthems 'in the world!'

cakeordeath wrote:I have gone from being quietly confident to bricking it.

Pretty much this. Off to make a pillow fort and sit in it for the next 80 minutes.

幸運ジャパ = Good Luck Japan.

Good luck Scotland. British rugby is poorer without a good Scottish team.

Good start!

Solid, sensible start

Come on Japan!

Fcukin sooooooo up for this

Good start from Scotland. Solid clearing kick chased well and Hogg/Lamont bundle the Japanese fullback into touch. Penalty from resultant lineout.

Now we're on the 10m line, Scotland side. Japan had a bit of possession from a turnover but were turned over themselves.

(I promised to give detailed updates for those that can't watch)

Notch wrote:You mean the Ireland-Canada game which had literally just finished?

Yeah, but still felt i had to feel aggrieved about it, irrational though it might have been.

Penalty Scotland from that scrum to clear their lines

Jimpy wrote:

Notch wrote:You mean the Ireland-Canada game which had literally just finished?

Yeah, but still felt i had to feel aggrieved about it, irrational though it might have been.

So... how is that an equivalent then? You're talking about reviewing a game which has just finished, as opposed to previewing a game which is still days away, surely you can see these are different things?

After this is over I expect they will talk about this game before moving onto previewing the next one. I do not expect they will talk about Robbie Henshaws chances of being fit to face Romania or Sam Cane captaining the All Blacks for the first time.

Promising Scotland attacks with a neat chip from Russell included - he kind of stopped the advantage early from a Sscotland penatly. Laidlaw to go for posts again.

Our fecking arsing sports bar is closed for no reason to speak of! Barsterds. Finding alternative venue now so please keep emailing those updates!

Laidlaw slots a second penalty, 6-0