QF4: Australia v Scotland, 18 October

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AUSTRALIA v SCOTLAND

18 October 2015
16:00 BST (UTC+01)
Twickenham, London

Live on telly

Ref: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
ARs: Glen Jackson (New Zealand) and Pascal Gauzere (France)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

A. Head to Head

28 Played 28
19 Won 9
0 Drawn 0
9 Lost 19
671 Points 330

B. Recent Form

23 November 2013
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
15 – 21 to Australia

5 June 2012
Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
6 – 9 to Scotland

21 November 2009
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 – 8 to Scotland

25 November 2006
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
15 – 44 to Australia

20 November 2004
Hampden Park, Glasgow
17 – 31 to Australia

C. TEAMS:
AUSTRALIA

15 Kurtley Beale; 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Drew Mitchell; 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia;

1 Scott Sio, 2Stephen Moore, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Kane Douglas, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 Michael Hooper, 8 Ben McCalman.

Substitutes: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 James Slipper, 18 Greg Holmes, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Sean McMahon, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Quade Cooper.

SCOTLAND

15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne 11 Tommy Seymour; 10 Finn Russell,  9 Greig Laidlaw;

1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Willem Nel, 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Richie Gray, 6 Blair Cowan, 7 John Hardie, 8 David Denton. 


Substitutes: 
16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Richie Vernon, 23 Sean Lamont.

Is it because Wales chose not to cite him? I thought I read that we weren't sure if we were raising it? Amazingly, it's only a yellow card offence clearly, given the warning handed out.

Risca Rev wrote:Is it because Wales chose not to cite him? I thought I read that we weren't sure if we were raising it? Amazingly, it's only a yellow card offence clearly, given the warning handed out.

Only the individual Match Citing Commissioner can cite someone. Team management can raise an issue with him, but it is solely his decision.

Not wanting to alarm anyone but a tongan has been banned for 3 weeks for contravening 10.4(j) following citing in NZ game on sunday.

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/111744

Gray and Ford aren't dirty players so it can't have been intentional. If TMOs are still intervening about neck rolls then it can't have been an obviously bad tackle.

I agree about J Gray's form. In fairness, I don't think any of our locks have played to their best. Only on a couple of occasions did Richie Gray run at the line at full pace and Jonny Gray hasn't really impressed like de Jager has for SA. The restarts have also been horrible.

Awwww frig.

<message ends>

Not to worry chaps. The big man himself Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has RT'd my tweet about Pocock & our Aussie citing commissioner. The fightback begins...

GLove39 wrote:Not to worry chaps. The big man himself Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has RT'd my tweet about Pocock & our Aussie citing commissioner. The fightback begins...

He does talk some sense, but he also frequently talks a load of pish!

Everything is a conspiracy theory.

He'd fit in well here!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

GLove39 wrote:Not to worry chaps. The big man himself Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has RT'd my tweet about Pocock & our Aussie citing commissioner. The fightback begins...

He does talk some sense, but he also frequently talks a load of pish!

Everything is a conspiracy theory.

He'd fit in well here!

He'd make Schiz seem mellow

I recall that Jonny is in the top 10 tacklers in the tournament. It's his defensive work that would be missed. Hope to hell neither is cited, to be honest.

Really, did nobody think that perhaps it wasn't appropriate for the citing officer to be Australian given how the groups were likely to finish and how the quarters were set up?

You have to love Shlong "“You can take us for granted all you want and you’ll get a bite on the arse,” ( about being underdogs)

George Carlin wrote:
Really, did nobody think that perhaps it wasn't appropriate for the citing officer to be Australian given how the groups were likely to finish and how the quarters were set up?

A bit awkward isn't it? Puts him in between a rock and a hard place.
Yes, you'd think WR would have had some contingency plan for this sort of scenario developing. Unbelievable.

Quote from Simon Taylor's article in the Scotsman this morning really underlines how big a blow it would be to lose both Gray and Ford:

Our lineout has been superb in the tournament, and I haven’theard many of Ross Ford’s previous detractors acclaiming the world- class understanding he has developed with Jonny Gray. Who would be a hooker? Like goalkeepers, people only notice you when you muck things up.

Nematode wrote:Gray and Ford aren't dirty players so it can't have been intentional. If TMOs are still intervening about neck rolls then it can't have been an obviously bad tackle.

I agree about J Gray's form. In fairness, I don't think any of our locks have played to their best. Only on a couple of occasions did Richie Gray run at the line at full pace and Jonny Gray hasn't really impressed like de Jager has for SA. The restarts have also been horrible.

Totally disagree, the Gray bro's make a huge impact to Scotlands pack, they are superb around the park, and have finally added a lot of tight work to their game.

De Jager has made some rampant breaks, but its a bit like watching the big kid at junior rugby, when you consider the outcomes of those breaks they really are just what they are. As good as he's been I wouldn't switch De Jager for either Gray brother right now.

If Gray is banned for this match then unfortunately Cotter may think he has to include Wilson for his line out work,virtually all Batman has offered in a positive sense this WC. The knock on effect of a ban for Gray in adjusting the team, Cowan or Strauss should play 6, could seriously derail our chances. Obviously Gray will be a massive loss but at least Swinson has put himself about well, hopefully if the ban does happen then Cotter will just put in Tiny Tim and replace Wilson for better.

Damn it. What time is the verdict due?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

GLove39 wrote:Not to worry chaps. The big man himself Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has RT'd my tweet about Pocock & our Aussie citing commissioner. The fightback begins...

He does talk some sense, but he also frequently talks a load of pish!

Everything is a conspiracy theory.

He'd fit in well here!

He blocked me for disagreeing with some of stupid rants that he was having at the weekend. The man is doing more harm than good for Samoa!

nickj wrote:Damn it. What time is the verdict due?

Hearing is at 11:00 am ( I think )

Fraser Brown is a more than capable deputy. Our options behind Johnny Gray are limited.

Agreed if Ford is banned at least we have Fraser Brown who is a very good replacement. Swinson has played well and can do a job but leaves no 2nd row cover on the bench. Think the 2nd row cover would be strokosh who has played there a bit in his earlier days for Edinburgh.

I shall be watching this from behind the Sofa. I suspect an easy win for Aus especially if Ickle Jonny gets a ban as seems likely.

Scotland still have not quite gelled and Aus look awesome with no real weaknesses to attack bar perhaps playing fast, loose and wide to run 'em into the ground

Aus by 20

Just a real shame that Cotter has made such a dog's breakfast in picking the fringes of his squad. Wilson and Strokosch have added nothing.

Rob Harley would be looking useful right now.

Has anyone or did anyone see the incidents? Do we stand a chance?

The clearing of the player in the ruck does not look encouraging, Gray and Co literally tipped the man on his head.

Risca Rev wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:does anyone when it happened, I recorded the game so can have a squint

https://twitter.com/gavinc42/status/653584263607123969

doesn't look good....

Ford may get away with it. Jonny will probably get a short ban but may just get warned - is it a yellow card offence if so a warning - or a red card offense - if so a short ban. Previous record good for both of them.

Really? Having just seen it, I'm not sure there is really anything in it. I think it will be extremely harsh to ban either of them. The ref was staring right at it. Granted, the guy lands awkwardly but there is no lift and dump, its more the guys momentum isn't it. Jonny has one leg, Fordy the other but he is far, far lower.

Ouch, that looks painful

nickj wrote:Really? Having just seen it, I'm not sure there is really anything in it. I think it will be extremely harsh to ban either of them. The ref was staring right at it. Granted, the guy lands awkwardly but there is no lift and dump, its more the guys momentum isn't it. Jonny has one leg, Fordy the other but he is far, far lower.

My argument if I was defending them would be that their individual actions weren't dangerous and it was just an unfortunate accident that both happened at the same time - neither knew what the other was doing.

I think you've hit the nail on the head mate. V difficult to see from the twitter footage what happens to the player's legs and whether they go too high. That said, the ref was staring right at it, perhaps the citing commissioner should ask him!

RDW - that has precedent and when it happened previously both players got off. I would plead guilty with mitigation and hope for retrospective yellows

Why don't they do a public vote like they do with MOM?

With the internet going down in Australia.......

Arrghh arghhmm....

Internet is just fine here, Tattie.

I hope they both get off like Pocock did. Only fair that 2 of your guys are worth one of ours.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

nickj wrote:Really? Having just seen it, I'm not sure there is really anything in it. I think it will be extremely harsh to ban either of them. The ref was staring right at it. Granted, the guy lands awkwardly but there is no lift and dump, its more the guys momentum isn't it. Jonny has one leg, Fordy the other but he is far, far lower.

My argument if I was defending them would be that their individual actions weren't dangerous and it was just an unfortunate accident that both happened at the same time - neither knew what the other was doing.

Problem with individual actions is that it isn't seen that way by the judicial committee, Frans Steyn and Cobus Reinach was incolved in a tackle, the end results was the combined effort caused the payer to fall on his head, Steyn got a 5 week ban. The Judicial committee saw no extenuating circumstances because of what Reinach did.

I guess we need to apply a retrospective ban to Mealamu and Umaga then!

I sadly reckon Ford will get a week, ickle Jonny 2. I can feel a sense of injustice rising already

" Ross Ford and Jonny Gray (Scotland) have been cited by independent Citing Commissioner Scott Nowland (Australia) for an alleged act of foul play contrary to Laws 10.4(e) and 10.4(j) during the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool B match between Samoa and Scotland at St James’ Park, Newcastle, on  Saturday, 10 October. Law 10.4(e) deals with dangerous tackles and Law 10.4(j) deals with lifting tackles.

The hearing will take place at 11:00 on Tuesday, 13 October, at the offices of RWC 2015 official law firm Clifford Chance in London. The case will be heard by independent Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC (England"


Almost 2:00 pm now. It's a long hearing !!!

I’ve been refreshing the SRU and World Rugby Twitter feeds every 5 minutes waiting to hear the result!

awayandbileyerheid wrote:" Ross Ford and Jonny Gray (Scotland) have been cited by independent Citing Commissioner Scott Nowland (Australia) for an alleged act of foul play contrary to Laws 10.4(e) and 10.4(j) during the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool B match between Samoa and Scotland at St James’ Park, Newcastle, on  Saturday, 10 October. Law 10.4(e) deals with dangerous tackles and Law 10.4(j) deals with lifting tackles.

The hearing will take place at 11:00 on Tuesday, 13 October, at the offices of RWC 2015 official law firm Clifford Chance in London. The case will be heard by independent Judicial Officer Christopher Quinlan QC (England"


Almost 2:00 pm now. It's a long hearing !!!

4 players (that I know of) are at the hearing. There may be others.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I guess we need to apply a retrospective ban to Mealamu and Umaga then!

Weren't the rules changed as a result of that incident. No question that if the current system was in place then both would have (rightly so) been banned.

FFS how long can it it take?

Hines has come out as saying they have no issues with an Australian citing officer, but he's hardly going to say the opposite in public is he?

Will be interesting to compare the outcome of our two with SOB who gave a Bruce Lee 1 inch punch to PP.

GLove39 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

GLove39 wrote:Not to worry chaps. The big man himself Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu has RT'd my tweet about Pocock & our Aussie citing commissioner. The fightback begins...

He does talk some sense, but he also frequently talks a load of pish!

Everything is a conspiracy theory.

He'd fit in well here!

He'd make Schiz seem mellow

Glove, be serious.

Blimey. They are taking their merry time aren't they!

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Will be interesting to compare the outcome of our two with SOB who gave a Bruce Lee 1 inch punch to PP.

It's already interesting considering Pocock got off for his knee into a chest.....

In the meantime, here's the Wallabies doing their best to try and come across that they aren't overwhelming favourites and don't expect to give us a good pumping.

“They [Scotland] have been very impressive,” Giteau said at a press conference this morning (Tuesday 13 October).

“Their set-piece looks very strong, and, obviously, they’ve got a great goal-kicker and captain who leads them very well.

“They look like a very confident team who know what they want, and know the style of rugby they want to play, and they’ve been executing it very well.”

The last time Giteau faced Scotland, the Dark Blues overcame the visitors with a 9-8 win at BT Murrayfield in 2009.

Australia captain Stephen Moore also featured in that game, and, more recently in 2012, was again on the losing side as Scotland ran out 9-6 victors in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Moore said: “It shows you how difficult the task is.

“They’re a quality team, who have shown that in the tournament so far.

“Certainly, every time I’ve played against Scotland, I’ve felt it’s been a really tough Test match.”

Scotland play Australia in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals at Twickenham on Sunday (18 October), kick-off 4pm – live on ITV.

SecretFly wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Will be interesting to compare the outcome of our two with SOB who gave a Bruce Lee 1 inch punch to PP.

It's already interesting considering Pocock got off for his knee into a chest.....

Yes fly, but he's a cheeky wee scamp (headlock, knuckle rub in his hair).

The other three are cold blooded killers who would sell their children for a tattie and bean pie.

Look.  England suffered because they let (or couldn't stop) Australia going at them.  The English were just rushed out of it.

Wales didn't let Australia have that game against them.  They were rougher in contact and turned the tide on physicality.  The Aussies were forced to defend - and defend they did.  But the score was low because the Welsh decided that nobody would be flash harrying them for the full 80.

Scotland need to just be prepared to bully the Aussies onto a back foot and contain them on it for as many minutes of an 80 as they can.  The carrot is there - a semi-final.  Nothing is written in stone and the Australians must be beginning to feel the effects of two virtual 'finals' as it stands already.

Gordon Reid's, um, slightly different take on this weekend:

"Everyone is writing us off as underdogs. I don't care. It's awesome. Just look at the movies. It's always the underdog who wins - just look at the Mighty Ducks.

"We can be those Mighty Ducks.

Good on ya Gordy.
That's got me pumped up