Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June

by Nematode Mon 18 Apr 2016, 1:20 pm

First topic message reminder :

SCOTLAND'S SUMMER TESTS

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 Japan10

JAPAN V SCOTLAND

Sat 18 June 2016

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Toyota City, Aichi
Coverage: Live on BBC
KO: 7.20pm local/11.20am GMT

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Touch judges: [tbc]
Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

5 Played 5
0 Won 5
0 Drawn 0
5 Lost 0
55 Points 266

B. Recent Form

23 September 2015
Scotland 45-10 Japan
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

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

JAPAN
[*]

SCOTLAND
[*]

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 Nagoya_Grampus_game_in_Toyota_Stadium_100814

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 Nagoya_Grampus_game_in_Toyota_Stadium_100814

JAPAN V SCOTLAND
Sat 25 June 2016
Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Coverage: Live on BBC
KO: 7.20pm local/11.20am GMT

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)

Touch judges: [tbc]

Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

[5 Played 5

0 Won 5

0 Drawn 0

5 Lost 0

55 Points 266]

B. Recent Form

18 June 2016

Japan * - * Scotland

Toyota Stadium, Toyota

23 September 2015

Scotland 45-10 Japan

Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

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

JAPAN

[*]

SCOTLAND

[*]

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJvWqd-_KlkpmlO7gzsFERjmfrSimzpGuZnD29bHbMWedvYivBxg

Scotland / Japan history:

2015: Scotland 45-10 Japan, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester (RWC 2015)
2013: Scotland 42-17 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2010: Scotland XV 24-5 Japan Select, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
2004: Scotland 100-8 Japan, McDiarmid Park, Perth
2003: Japan 11-32 Scotland, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville (RWC 2003)
1991: Scotland 47-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (RWC 1991)
1989: Japan 28-24 Scotland XV, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1986: Scotland XV 33-18 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
1977: Japan 9-74 Scotland XV, Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1976: Scotland XV 34-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)

Scotland Squad:
Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 ST16_squad_1200_dh-700x990

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 9 ST16_squad_1200_dh-700x990

by **RDW** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:02 am

Glasgow Warriors prop Gordon Reid will join the Scotland squad in Tokyo tomorrow (Monday) as an injury replacement for Alasdair Dickinson.

Dickinson sustained a hamstring injury in the third minute of Scotland’s 26-13 win over Japan at the Toyota City Stadium and will return home for further care an assessment.

Several other players require the ongoing care of the Scotland medical team, with John Barclay (shoulder), Willem Nel (knee) Duncan Taylor (hamstring) and Ryan Wilson (knee) requiring further management and assessment during the early part of this week.

Scotland will play Japan in the second and final summer Test match this Saturday (25 June) at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo (kick-off 11.20am BST, 7.20pm JST) – live on BBC.

Looks like we're going to see Jones starting at 13 too which is exciting!

by TJ Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:23 am

I thought it a good game. I don't think any other team in world rugby is as quick in defence and as quick to the breakdowns as Japan and Scotland did well at the breakdown to get parity.

Scotland played well to get the win despite blowing some chances.

by TJ Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:30 am

scrum.com does not seem to have any stats on this game - anyone help? I do like to see the game stats so any other sources?

by **RDW** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:40 am

ESPN rugby is the best I reckon

by TJ Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:44 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:ESPN rugby is the best I reckon

Thats the site I mean - it doesn't have any stats for the game

by **RDW** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:45 am

Yeah just had a looked myself - that's the first time I've ever not seen stats on that website!

by TJ Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:45 am

ah - found them - I was the victim of a bust link ;-)

http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/283099.html

by **BigGee** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 11:45 am

So Gordy is on his way to Japan and we are carrying a few other injuries from the match. Actually, other than Nel, they probably all just about fit with the projected rotation plans that were afoot anyway.

Jones getting a run at 13 would be good to see and Denton and Strauss coming in for Wilson and Barclay would be fair as well. Hopefully one of them will be fit enough to bench.

I guess if Jones is not fit enough to start you could bring Hoggy up to 13 or wheel out the venerable Sean. He did say that he would try and give everyone some game time.

by **George Carlin** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 7:31 pm

BigGee wrote:
I guess if Jones is not fit enough to start you could bring Hoggy up to 13 or wheel out the venerable Sean. He did say that he would try and give every syphillis-ridden, adult entertainment professional in the squad some game time.

Just as well for Lamont, really.

by **BigGee** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 7:46 pm

George Carlin wrote:
BigGee wrote:
I guess if Jones is not fit enough to start you could bring Hoggy up to 13 or wheel out the venerable Sean. He did say that he would try and give every syphillis-ridden, adult entertainment professional in the squad some game time.
Just as well for Lamont, really.

A bit strong?

by **RDW** Sun 19 Jun 2016, 7:58 pm

So making assumptions on injuries and assuming he'll try and keep the same starting lineup as much as possible, we might be looking at:

1 Sutherland
2 McInally
3 Nel
4 Gray
5 Gray
6 Strauss
7 Hardie
8 Denton

9 Laidlaw
10 Jackson
11 Seymour
12.Scott
13 Jones
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs Reid, Brown, low, Swinson, Barclay, pyrgos, Horne, Lamont

That would mean everyone gets a shot at least off the bench.

I'd rather Hoyland got more gametime but if he said everyone gets a game then I suspect that's all he's getting.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 20 Jun 2016, 8:59 am

I thought it was a bit of a 6/10 game from Scotland. Some really annoying errors and all in all the squad looked undercooked. Still, conditions weren't favourable and Japan came to up the tempo which Scotland just about controlled.

I thought Ryan Wilson did ok - only managed to get into one fight which is good going for him. I thought Sutherland looks very much at home at this level and Laidlaw's kicking was excellent.

Hopefully we can kick on next weekend and put in a sharper performance.

by **RDW** Mon 20 Jun 2016, 9:04 am

Apparently some players are claiming that is one of the most difficult test matches they have ever played due to the conditions - low 30s and very high humidity.

So we are maybe expecting too much for us to run riot and score lots of tries given the players are lacking match practice too.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 20 Jun 2016, 9:06 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Apparently some players are claiming that is one of the most difficult test matches they have ever played due to the conditions - low 30s and very high humidity.

So we are maybe expecting too much for us to run riot and score lots of tries given the players are lacking match practice too.

I did hear that explanation, but I'm not sure the humidity can be blamed for lineout errors or a failure to set or defend mauls and, unless I'm mistaken, the Japanese players were playing in the same conditions.

I suspect it's more a case of lacking match practice.

by **RDW** Mon 20 Jun 2016, 9:10 am

To be fair these are conditions that the Japanese players are used to!

You don't get many 32 degree 90% humidity days in Glasgow...

And if you are more fatigued due to very draining conditions you are more prone to making errors - such as lineout errors.

I would agree that our lack of match practice was probably the main reason but the conditions certainly won't have helped!

That's something I forgot to say - our rolling mauls really were poor. We got nowhere most of the time! Laidlaw said as much after the game. Even when we put 11 men into the maul we still didn't get anywhere.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 20 Jun 2016, 9:42 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:To be fair these are conditions that the Japanese players are used to!

You don't get many 32 degree 90% humidity days in Glasgow...

And if you are more fatigued due to very draining conditions you are more prone to making errors - such as lineout errors.

I would agree that our lack of match practice was probably the main reason but the conditions certainly won't have helped!

That's something I forgot to say - our rolling mauls really were poor. We got nowhere most of the time! Laidlaw said as much after the game. Even when we put 11 men into the maul we still didn't get anywhere.

We just seem to take an age to get them set. It gives the opposition so much time to counter it and get their body positions in place.

by Hazel Sapling Mon 20 Jun 2016, 10:22 am

It was an average game for Scotland. The tempo was slow when it had to be quick. Too one paced. Laidlaw needs to recognise when he can take his time and when it just needs to be shipped quickly to Jackson. He spends enough time getting over there to make his decision then not at the base of a ruck. Jackson was not great and I think some of that is the defensive line had a second too long to set itself for him to catch them off guard.

Hoyland's defense left a lot to be desired and he now knows what he has to work on if he expects caps. Scott had a good game I felt and Hogg did alright for his standards.

The Grays looked way less influential than normal and the lineout was not as effective as you would hope when your locks are each 4 inches taller than the opposition.

Next match I would like Sutherland, Brown, Low, Gray (either or), Swinson, Strauss, Barclay, Denton, Pyrgos, Horne, Hoyland, Scott, Jones, Seymour, Maitland

Test Horne to see if he can play as an international 10 (kicking as well), I would prefer Pyrgos but expect Laidlaw, big backrow to make up for Swinson (rests R Gray who can be an impact sub in the last 20), don't want to push Nel for an hour if his leg is a bit gimpy, Hoyland needs experience (Lamont does not) and Maitland gets to show he is the number 2 full back (another I would not expect unless Hoggy has a knock)

by **NeilyBroon** Mon 20 Jun 2016, 10:31 am

In other news, Scotland play Aus again tonight in U20s - I don't think Australia will blink twice, I expect it could be a long evening.

Still, great progress from our young team, after Laidlaw's performance last Saturday I will be watching Hugh Fraser with great interest.

I think it's important we have Pyrgos come on. If I was Vern and I wanted consistency I'd have Laidlaw start, then give Pyrgos the second half and switch the armband to Johnny Gray or Barclay.

by jimbopip Mon 20 Jun 2016, 12:51 pm

Personally, I thought it was a decent enough performance. Both sides made several errors in the last 20 minutes which probably says a lot about the heat and humidity.
I would give most Scotland players pass marks with the possible exceptions of Hoyland and Jackson. You could see Hoyland has potential but he never really got the chance to show us what he can do. He should start on Saturday: I expect the squad as a whole to be sharper and more acclimatised so he should have a better stage to stake his claim.
Similarly with Jackson, it was one of those games where he didn't really do anything very good or bad. With slow(ish) ball against a very fast rushing defence he never panicked or looked stupid for trying too hard but neither could he be said to have had a controlling influence on the game. Like Hoyland he needs another chance to show that he can be better than that. Certainly he did nothing to persuade us he is substantially better than Meatball or Hornee Furra as Dancer's back up. NB I know Jackson is potentially way better than either of them but we are talking about delivering that potential consistently

I would go with

1. Sutherland
2. Brown
3. Low
4. Swinson (as long as he isn't cited for what looked like an accidental foot/head contact with the Japanese 4 lying at the bottom of a maul as Swinson stepped backwards)
5. Little Gray
6. Bluto
7. Batman
8. Clare Baldwin
9. Henners
10 Jackson
11. Seymour
12. Scott
13. Jones
14 Hoyland
15. Maitland Who edging closer and closer to the last chance barstool

by Hazel Sapling Mon 20 Jun 2016, 1:22 pm

Jimbo, I think our only disagreements are the 7 and the 10!

Don't fancy Batman in that role and it is a shame Watson did not go over as he would have been good. I think in an experimental side, VC would want an experienced section and Barclay is a leader with Gray and Strauss.

Jackson I would like to see get gametime but we are limited by 2 matches in that regard (probably for the best after a year of constant rugby) and the same is true of Horne. Either or at this point. Definitely want Pyrgos to get at least an hour.

by TJ Mon 20 Jun 2016, 1:22 pm

I'd like to see Furra Linee at 10. His only chance there for Scotland he played very well I thought and he is probably the most elusive runner of the 10s we have.

by jimbopip Mon 20 Jun 2016, 1:39 pm

Hazel, I know what you mean as regards the 7 jersey. However, Barclay could well be Hors de combat as they say in Stockbridge so that only leaves Batman or Bluto, assuming Hardie gets a much needed rest. Bluto is a 6 or 8 but probably the fifth choice 7 at Scotstoun. (Favarro, Fusaro, Blake, Batman then Bluto since you asked) As I'm typing this it dawns on me that Bluto-Batman- Clare looks very much like a Sott Johnson 3X8 wet dream. picard

As for 10... it really asks the question, "Is Horne the third choice 12 or second choice 10?" At Glasgow it would seem that he is being seen more and more as a 12, certainly over the last two seasons he has probably played there as much as Dunbar has. I've got a sneaky feeling we might see Jackson at 10 and Horne at 12 to start with as that would allow Scott to come on at 12 and Horne to go to 10 if Jackson has an off night.
As for Henners, yes we need to see how his faster delivery can assist Jackson in getting the backs moving.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 20 Jun 2016, 2:01 pm

I would agree that Pyrgos is worth a look, and Jackson should probably get the benefit of the doubt).

Don't like the backrow comprising number 8s. We struggled at the breakdown in the first Test so one of Barclay or Hardie should start at 7.

by **RDW** Mon 20 Jun 2016, 2:05 pm

We definitely need a proper 7 - they are very good at getting low over the ball. Their openside looked about 5ft 7!

I really can't see him making that many changes - certainly not benching Laidlaw or even Jackson. If he's going to start Jones he might want their added experience too.

I don't think we he's going to rest players for this one either - if they are deemed OK to tour then they will be deemed OK to play both games.

by **BigGee** Mon 20 Jun 2016, 3:35 pm

I think it is the injuries that will define the changes as much as anything.

I can't see Hardie not being picked and he did not seem to be on the injury list, so we will certainly have a 7 on the pitch. Rotating around Strauss or Denton into the 7/8 positions is not going to be that big a deal.

Jacko should get another crack at 10 and I would give Hoyland another go on the wing.

There is no way Laidlaw won't start and probably the best Henry can hope for is 20 off the bench unless we are out of sight at half time.

I think we are looking at:

Sutherland
McInally
Nel
Gray
Gray
Strauss
Denton
Hardie
Laidlaw
Jackson
Seymour
Scott
Jones
Hoyland
Hogg

Subs:
Reid
Brown
Low
Swinson
Barclay/Wilson (depending on who is fit)
Pygros
Horne
Maitland/Lamont (depending if VC is feeling sentimental or not!)

If neither Barclay or Wilson is fit, then Swinson covers the backrow and both Maitland and Lamont bench. Sean is probably a better wing forward than wing these days anyway!

by reallybored Mon 20 Jun 2016, 6:20 pm

Assuming Wilson, Barclay & Taylor are injured.

1 - Sutherland
2 - Brown (thought McInally was poor)
3 - Nel
4 - Gray
5 - Gray
6 - Denton
7 - Hardie
8 - Strauss
9 - Pyrgos (needs gametime & would prefer Laidlaw's kicking at the end of a match)
10 - Horne (thought Jackson was poor)
11 - Maitland (thought Hoyland was poor)
12 - Scott
13 - Jones
14 - Seymour
15 - Hogg

by **RDW** Tue 21 Jun 2016, 12:25 pm

That's Taylor confirmed as going home with s hamstring injury.

Not surprised he pulled something given the end of season he's had!

by Hazel Sapling Tue 21 Jun 2016, 12:50 pm

At least with Taylor's injury, it should heal quickly and give the rest of his body a chance to take a break for a few weeks.

Also Gordy Reid after being called up whilst on the bench for Ayr (are they really playing this late and should he not have been on holiday?)

"I was with the family, it was a nice day on the Costa del Ayr," he said. "I wasn't watching the game but I had it taped. When I got the phone call, I said to the missus, 'Just to let you know, I'm going away'. She was pretty angry, to be honest, because it was such short notice.

"It was just because I was leaving her. She doesn't like us to be apart. Young love, eh? Well, it's getting a bit older love now."

Scotland trained in persistent rain and Reid added: "Looks like I brought the Scottish weather with me."

by jimbopip Tue 21 Jun 2016, 1:26 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:At least with Taylor's injury, it should heal quickly and give the rest of his body a chance to take a break for a few weeks.

Also Gordy Reid after being called up whilst on the bench for Ayr (are they really playing this late and should he not have been on holiday?)

"

Ms Sapling, I think you'll find that he was on the beach at Ayr seafront. Laugh

Mind you, sometimes the behaviour on that stretch of sand does resemble some very intense rucking and mauling. However, young Pipetto now thinks Ayr is wonderful ever since I introduced him to the booth that sells Irn Bru flavoured ice cream.

Shrek may also find he has a new nickname. Apparently he changed up some sterling before heading off only to discover that shops in Tokyo don't accept Hong Kong dollars. picard

Hong Kong Phooey at Loose Head anyone?

by **Rugby Fan** Tue 21 Jun 2016, 1:54 pm

Any travelling fans over? I might get along to the game this weekend.

by **RDW** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 7:52 am

Interesting article in the Scotsman this morning - apparently the players ran 3-4k more than they usually do in a test match. No wonder they were tired!

Laidlaw led the way with Hogg and Seymour close behind on the 10-11k mark.

And who was 4th?

WP Nel! And he didn't even play the full game.

by funnyExiledScot Wed 22 Jun 2016, 9:21 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Interesting article in the Scotsman this morning - apparently the players ran 3-4k more than they usually do in a test match. No wonder they were tired!

Laidlaw led the way with Hogg and Seymour close behind on the 10-11k mark.

And who was 4th?

WP Nel! And he didn't even play the full game.

Remarkable stats. I knew that Laidlaw was generally acknowledged as one of the fittest members of the squad, but massive credit to WP Nel for covering that ground. Where were Barclay and Hardie?? Lazy sods.

by **RDW** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 9:23 am

It didn't give a full breakdown but it sounds like all the players generally ran a lot more than usual, so there probably wan't that much in it.

Scotsman wrote:The Scottish players insisted that last weekend’s clash with Japan was one of the toughest and hardest on the lungs they could remember. Now they have cold, hard facts to back it up.

While it’s unusual for a  player to run more than about six or seven kilometres in an average Six Nations game, the top guys in the Scotland side which beat Japan were all up around the 11-kilometre mark with, amazingly, prop WP [Willem] Nel up there towards the top of the list despite coming off with a knee problem for the final quarter.

So on a day when the squad was cut by one when centre Duncan Taylor headed home with a hamstring problem – the emphasis was on how to control the game better.

They will probably do that with Huw Jones, who is already with squad and plays for the Stormers in South  Africa, in at centre for his  Scotland debut.

The distance-run figures for each player are all part of the digital revolution that has taken over rugby with more statistics than anybody can handle available for analysts, coaches and players to make of what they will.

What the players took from those numbers revealed by the  GPS trackers which they wear tucked under their jerseys is proof that the the game was every bit as fast and arduous as they had claimed.

Captain Greig Laidlaw said: “I was up about eleven [kilometres] at the weekend, Hoggy [Stuart Hogg] was near it, Tommy Seymour was 10km and Nel was pretty high as well, around nine km and he came off early.”

Speaking during a break as the squad were put through their main training session of the week in the rain the scrum-half added: “We had previewed the Sunwolves and the way they like to play in the Super Rugby competition.

“Their players cross over into the Japan national side. We knew they were going to play that style of game because it suits them.

“It has been a long season for everybody. We played Japan pretty much a year ago in the World Cup and here we are still going.

“We are not going to take our eye of the ball now. We have also been clever in the way we have trained. We have not overdone it – it is hot here. That is part of the challenge.

“We have to be wary looking ahead. You could see how quickly they scored a try against us. It was quick fire, bang, seven points on the board before we even blinked.

“We have to be very wary of that coming into the next game.”

The fact was that Japan were determined to keep the ball moving as fast and as far as possible. They ran every free kick, a high percentage of their penalties and every ball which went into touch but not into the stands.

They obviously reckoned they could run the legs off the Scots in the humidity and heat.

In the end, it did not work out for them but in Tokyo for the second test with Akihito, the Emperor of Japan, watching them for the first time, the Brave Blossoms can be expected to raise the pace even higher despite the heavy drizzle  forecast for the day.

For Scotland, it is a chance to cement their place in the top eight of World Rugby. With France having lost to Argentina at the weekend, Scotland jumped into a place where they will get a World Cup seeding if they can maintain their position for another year.

“I think we can,” maintained Laidlaw. “We have looked at the two Japan games and the three in Autumn as mini-series of five. We have got off to a good start. The games in the autumn are ahead but we have to take care of Japan before then.

“We believe in the squad and the coaches and everybody can see we have moved a long way forward in over a year and we can slowly nudge that up.

“Every time you get to pull on a Scotland jersey, it is a huge honour. This game is massive because, if we win, we can look back on this season as being a fairly good season.

“It is very important to finish on the right note as you always remember your last game.

“We want to come off the field with a win, go home and reassess and be ready for November.”

Despite losing Taylor, Scotland go into the game with a reasonably healthy squad. Most of the remaining walking wounded from last week’s Test were able to take some part in yesterday’s training, while Gordon Reid has now arrived to replace Alasdair Dickinson at prop.

“We were actually in training with Glasgow. We only had a week off and then were were back in training, two and a half weeks training full time,” Reid said of his weekend call-up.

“I was finished at the gym, went down to the beach to see the family and got the phone call to pack my bags and be ready to go.”

Read more: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/scotland/scotland-find-that-running-a-game-isn-t-just-about-distance-1-4160595#ixzz4CIKX0jmZ
Follow us: @TheScotsman on Twitter | TheScotsmanNewspaper on Facebook

by yappysnap Wed 22 Jun 2016, 9:55 am

Hows Jackson been doing gents? He'll be first choiceish at Quins next season so I was kind of hoping he'd have an out standing tour and come to us full of confidence...

by **RDW** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 9:57 am

He had a mixed game, probably with more bad than good to be honest - missed kick to touch and a restart out on the full, plus his overall play was a bit erratic. It was his first game for a while too and I suspect he'll start again on Saturday so hopefully he'll put in a better performance.

by yappysnap Wed 22 Jun 2016, 9:59 am

Cheers, well he sounds like he's already got the Quins skillset nailed at least...

Are you playing Japan again this weekend?

by yappysnap Wed 22 Jun 2016, 10:00 am

Oh and what was the good play then?

by **RDW** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 10:01 am

Yeah - our summer tour is 2 tests against Japan.

The good was just the good bits Jackson does well - he is an attacking 10 that plays flat and tries to bring players into the game. He made the odd half break too and was generally solid in defence.

it is hard to standout as a 10 in the Scotland team because Laidlaw is so controlling - Russell stands out by doing the odd bit of brilliance (and quite a lot of daft things too!) as opposed to a general all-round controlling performance.

by funnyExiledScot Wed 22 Jun 2016, 10:02 am

I'd give Jackson another shot. He's the best 10 we have over there.

I wonder what odds you'd get on Gordy Reid covering 11km....

by highland_scot Wed 22 Jun 2016, 11:07 am

I wish Jackson would develop a bit of an attacking kicking game. Not talking Parks style punts to the corner, but you don't often see him putting in those chips over a rush defence like Finn does so well. A few times last week I thought we could do with some cheeky chip when the Japanese defence was right in our face - especially with Seymour's ability to catch the high ball!

by **RDW** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 11:26 am

A very fair point. Grubber kicks and wee chips over the top are very effective at making rush defences second guess what to do. Even if it doesn't work the first time it will make the defenders concerned of kicks through for the time after that.

The other thing about blitz defence is to expect people in your face on first phase, but know that 2nd or 3rd phase you might end up with a little more space - it is very hard to blitz, get back onside, then blitz again time after time - especially if you get quick ball. So we need to keep things simple first phase, have the forwards set up to get lightening quick ball (and tell Laidlaw to pass the feckin ball away ASAP) and aim to develop something off 2nd or 3rd phase.

No point doing an elaborate backs move off first phase if you know you're going to have defenders in your face.

by Hazel Sapling Wed 22 Jun 2016, 11:46 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ1IrLd9J5w

Think this is the sort of move Russell, Weir and Jackson should be working on against blitz defense.

by highland_scot Wed 22 Jun 2016, 11:51 am

Hazel Sapling wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ1IrLd9J5w

Think this is the sort of move Russell, Weir and Jackson should be working on against blitz defense.

Excellent.

Though could you not picture Weir mucking it up and scoring some sort of "own drop goal"?

by **Rugby Fan** Wed 22 Jun 2016, 1:08 pm

Incidentally, the weather in Tokyo on Saturday is expected to be cloudy with a chance of rain. It's likely to still be muggy in the evening.

It's been much like that all week, so the Scottish players should know what to expect.

by TJ Wed 22 Jun 2016, 11:00 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd give Jackson another shot. He's the best 10 we have over there.

I wonder what odds you'd get on Gordy Reid covering 11km....

I'd play Horne at 10 myself

by GLove39 Thu 23 Jun 2016, 1:38 am

Rugby Fan wrote:Any travelling fans over? I might get along to the game this weekend.

Sadly not, although not through lack of trying... Sad

by **RDW** Thu 23 Jun 2016, 6:37 am

PYRGOS TO CAPTAIN AS SCOTLAND MAKE SIX CHANGES

Head Coach Vern Cotter has made six personnel changes to the Scotland team to face Japan in this Saturday’s second summer Test match at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo (25 June, kick-off 11.20am BST, 7.20pm JST) – live on BBC.

The alterations are split evenly between the backs and forwards, with a positional switch made in each division to accommodate the new faces.

Scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, wing Sean Maitland and centre Peter Horne all come off the bench to start the match, with Pyrgos taking on the captaincy and kicking duties from Greig Laidlaw.

Maitland is promoted in place of Damien Hoyland, with Sean Lamont coming into the squad among the substitutes, while Horne comes into midfield in place of the injured Duncan Taylor (hamstring), prompting a move to outside-centre for Matt Scott to accommodate the Warriors playmaker.

In the pack, Rory Sutherland remains in possession of the loosehead berth he inherited in the third minute of last weekend’s Test win over Japan, when Alasdair Dickinson limped off with a hamstring injury, earning his first start for the national team.

On the other side of the front-row, Moray Low swaps places with try-scorer Willem Nel to start his first Test since the 2014 summer tour win over Canada in Toronto, while Josh Strauss comes in to the back-row for John Hardie, with John Barclay moving to openside to make room for Strauss on the blindside.

Other notable inclusions see prop Gordon Reid (who arrived in Tokyo on Monday) take up a spot among the replacements, with uncapped centre Huw Jones set for an international debut if called upon from the bench.

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, said: “Continuity has been key for us since we began this season a year ago and in front of us is the need to put in another good, 80-minute performance against a team looking to bounce back from defeat last weekend.

“It was a very tiring game and we expect something similar this weekend.

“They’ll be very physical and relentless. That’s how they beat South Africa only a year ago in the opening round of the Rugby World Cup, so we know to expect a committed, tenacious team.”

He added: “We’re looking for improvements all over the field this Saturday but especially holding on to the ball at critical times.

“Our pressure through set phase was good last weekend with a lot of time invested in upping the level of impact that can have on the game; contesting their scrums and their lineouts.

“We want to be able to control this game as best we can.”

Scotland team to play Japan at the Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday 25 June (kick-off 7.20pm BST, 11.20am BST) – live on BBC
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 44 caps; 11 tries, 3 pens, 64 points

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps; 13 tries, 65 points
13. Matt Scott (Gloucester) – 35 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
12. Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps; 2 tries, 1 con, 1 pen, 15 points
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 20 caps; 3 tries, 15 points

10. Ruaridh Jackson (Harlequins) – 29 caps; 4 cons, 2 pens, 2 drops, 20 points
9. Henry Pyrgos CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps; 4 tries, 20 points

1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
3. Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 33 caps
4. Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 57 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps; 1 try
6. Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 8 caps
7. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 51 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps

Substitutes
16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps
17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
18. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 14 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps
20. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 11 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
21. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) – 52 caps; 4 tries, 66 cons, 124 pens, 524 points
22. Huw Jones (Stormers) – uncapped
23. Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 104 caps, 14 tries, 70 points

by **RDW** Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:22 am

Well that's a bit of a surprise!

Exciting selection all the same though.

Going to be very interesting to see how we get on with Low and pyrgos starting, as well as Barclay in the 7 shirt.

Shame Denton has been flown across the world to get 20 minutes but it does suggest Wilson is viewed as first choice number 8 now, rightly or wrongly!

Shame Hoyland us completely dropped bit he's kept true to his word and given everyone a game.

by **NeilyBroon** Thu 23 Jun 2016, 7:42 am

Pleased and surprised he's gone with pyrgos, kicking duties too though?? I feel like ruaridh isn't so bad at kicking. If pyrgos plays well on Saturday could we finally see a move away from laidlaw at 9??

It'd be good to see how the front row fares, but this will only tell us so much against a relatively small Japan pack. Glad Nel is getting some rest.

Very excited to see Barclay back at 7. That back row looks like it could cause problems if they gel well. Hardie is still first choice 7 for me, but how refreshing to have another in reserve!

by **BigGee** Thu 23 Jun 2016, 8:46 am

Well having said that he would definitely start Laidlaw, I am having to eat my words.

I am not complaining though, Henry deserves a start and I am very happy that VC is giving it to him, a slightly faster service may just show him what we have often been missing. GL will be a steady influence off the bench if the match does need closing out in the later stages.

Good to see that he is giving everyone a chance as well, even if it is a shame that Hoyland does not get some more game time. It will do good for the squad as a whole to know that they are all under consideration.

Denton is probably the most unlucky player in the squad, but Wilson got the opportunity and took it well. There is genuine competition there now and it will get even tougher when CDP comes along in the autumn.

A good team all round and a very strong bench. I am expecting a much improved game this weekend.

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