1
Laidlaw admits to niggle on the Scotland training ground
Greig Laidlaw has revealed things are getting tetchy on the Scotland training ground in Japan. Gregor Townsend’s squad commenced their World Cup with a harrowing defeat to Ireland last Sunday in Yokohama, a result that led to tensions in training on Thursday ahead of next Monday’s match with Samoa.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The mood has been pretty tough, as you can imagine. We feel it more than anybody. It has been tough but it has happened. There was a bit of niggle in training today [Thursday], which sometimes happens, but we had it before the Ireland game as well.”
A 36-33 win over Samoa was critical in helping Scotland qualify for the quarter-finals in 2015. Another win is now needed if the Scots are to keep alive their prospects of reaching the last eight.
The Samoans began their campaign in Japan with a bruising win over Russia that resulted in two yellow-carded players being cited for high tackles that many felt should have been red cards.
Laidlaw, though, refused to go so far and label the Samoan tackling as nasty. “I don’t think it is a nastiness,” he said. “I know Motu Matu’u (one cited player) pretty well; I played with him at Gloucester. He just likes to hit people pretty hard. It is part of the way they are as people.
(Continue reading below…)
“They like that physical part of the game. It is just in their make-up and how they play the game… the tackles are being looked at. They were two clear headshots and pretty brutal ones at that. Ultimately you are looking for the ref to look after players.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite the negativity surrounding Scotland following their capitulation to Ireland, Laidlaw insisted his team were currently no worse than previous Scottish squads at the World Cup.
"They were devoured by Ireland’s overwhelmingly superior intensity, dismembered like a baby seal tossed into a shark tank."
– @JLyall93 goes to town after a truly degrading Scottish performance in Yokohama #RWC2019https://t.co/fdPTpqXOS9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 23, 2019
“No Scottish team has ever won all four pool matches (Scotland won all three in 1991), so at the minute we’re not any different to any other team. We’ve just had the No1-ranked team in the world up first.
“Were we pleased with our performance? No, far from it. But now every game is a knockout and we need to get it right against Samoa on Monday night.”
WATCH: Scotland legend Gavin Hastings recalls the 1991 World Cup in the latest episode of Rugby World Cup Memories, the new RugbyPass documentary series
ADVERTISEMENT
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 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.
10 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.
39 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.
3 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
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 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
39 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.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments