'I was pretty annoyed that Gregor had to say that' - what Townsend told the Scottish boys at halftime in Florence
Stuart Hogg admits it took a half-time telling off from Gregor Townsend for Scotland to come out fired-up in Florence.
The Scots made it five straight wins for only the second time in the professional era as they opened their Autumn Nations Cup campaign with a 28-17 win over Italy.
But for an hour that run looked under serious threat from the Azzurri at the Artemio Franchi Stadium.
Matteo Minozzi’s stunning try capped off a brilliant first-half display from Franco Smith’s side but the game swung in Scotland’s favour after Townsend told his team they were not working hard enough to stop their hosts dominating the breakdown.
Italian points dried up after the break and the visitors – who grabbed the afternoon’s opening try through Duhan Van Der Merwe – were able to see out victory with further scores from Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings and George Turner.
But Hogg was stung by his coach’s interval rebuke and the skipper revealed he warned his team-mates that must be the last time they allow their commitment levels to be called into question.
He said: “We didn’t really turn up for the first half. It was a bit disappointing but we got there in the end, which we’re chuffed to bits with.
“Gregor touched on the fact we weren’t working hard enough (at half-time) and as players that hurts us.
“I was pretty annoyed that Gregor had to say that.
“It gave us the kick up the backside we needed. I said to the boys at half-time that nobody questions our workrate or our physicality again.
“We turned that around in the second half and got the result.”
Townsend may have had to use the hairdryer treatment at the break but he was full of praise for the way his team turned the game around.
“I’m sure the belief helped the togetherness of the team,” said the coach, who will now look to become the first Scottish boss in 30 years to mastermind six consecutive wins when they host France next weekend.
PLAYER RATINGS
Scotland showed guts to fight back from a fiery Italian first-half in Florence, but all told it was a disappointing performance #ITAvSCOhttps://t.co/d2T3A9q6eM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 14, 2020
“The determination to win saw us up the intensity around the breakdown. We were slow to a couple of breakdowns in the first half that cost us penalties but that was much better in the second half.
“We showed more ambition in our game too. We got our back three on the ball much more in the second half.
“Was it a ragged win? Yeah that’s probably right but that seems to be the case a lot when we come over to Italy.
“But we still managed to get a bonus-point win against top opposition who played well so we’re delighted to start off the tournament with maximum points but there are obviously some areas to improve.”
Wonder how this remark will go down across the Severn? https://t.co/ShdcN5LBsP
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 14, 2020
It was an eventful afternoon for Duncan Weir on his first start for the national team in four years.
The Worcester Warrior, standing in for injured stand-offs Finn Russell and Adam Hastings, was flattened in the build-up to Minozzi’s impressive team try and had a score disallowed after a Sam Johnson forward pass.
But he did play a vital role in Fagerson’s touchdown with a couple of brave, flat passes and also kicked eight points at the scene of boyhood heroes Rangers’ 2008 Uefa Cup semi-final triumph over Fiorentina.
Townsend – who fears Rory Sutherland is a doubt for the Les Bleus clash after he was forced off with an ankle injury but hopes to have Jamie Ritchie back after a head knock – said: “I thought he played really well.
“I thought it was hard for our half-backs in the first half as we couldn’t get that momentum, which was being stopped through penalties and a couple of mistakes around the breakdown.
“But to see him keep up the attack, defend really well, almost get the reward of a try and to kick really well and to kick his goals was great.
“If the teams wins then often the half-backs have played a big part and Duncan played well today.”
Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
60 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
60 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
60 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
60 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
60 Go to comments