Scotland player ratings vs Ireland - Autumn Nations Cup
Scotland player ratings: Going into this match Gregor Townsend’s men would have been deservedly happy with their lot, a string of wins for the men in dark blue sees them exit 2020 on a relative high.
With that said, a shot at an Ireland side rather unsure of itself in Dublin, was an opportunity for the Scots to cap after good 2020 [if such a phrase can be used] in style. And indeed, Scotland looked good money for a win in the opening 30 minutes but disappointingly fell away in the face of workmanlike but unrelenting second-half Irish performance.
Here are our Scotland player ratings:
15. STUART HOGG – 5.5
Put under pressure early by Ireland before playing his way into the match with some electric upfield running. At times he appears to be second-guessing himself in defence when dealing with the defensive hand-grenades chucked in his direction.
14. DARCY GRAHAM – 4.5
The lad from Hawick RFC looked lively from the get-go after a couple of weekends off. However, his failure to deal with a high ball under pressure from Robbie Henshaw resulted in Ireland’s opening try and if he did have the key to pierce Ireland’s defence, then he was keeping it to himself. Outplayed by Earls.
13. CHRIS HARRIS – 6
Part of a Scottish backline that had clearly set out to outmuscle and dominate collisions with the Irish. He started so brightly, with 10 post-contact metres, all in the opening minutes. A second-half green-out put pay to him building on it.
12. DUNCAN TAYLOR – 6
A rare start at 12, Taylor ran it straight and hard. Unlucky to be yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on with Bundee Aki threatening the line.
11. DUHAN VAN DER MERWE – 8
Having come in off his wing looking for work, the big winger’s sublime solo try dragged Scotland by the scruff of the neck back into the match. Undoubtedly the find of the Autumn Nations Cup for Scotland.
10. JACO VAN DER WALT – 5.5
His first foray into Test rugby showed he isn’t scared to throw the ball around, even if his ball security let him down at times. After a bright first half, he seemed to fall away in the second as Ireland’s possession stats.
9. ALI PRICE – 6
With six kicks to twenty-nine passes, Price wanted to play. Looked sharp on the other side of the ball even if critics of the speed of his service won’t be convinced on the back of this performance.
1. RORY SUTHERLAND – 6
Got stuck into Andrew Porter early, but didn’t get an opportunity to truck the ball up with Scotland starved anything like go-forward ball.
2. FRASER BROWN – 6
Saved Scotland’s skin with a timely 59th-minute turnover. He was clearly irate after he alleged a gouge by Ireland’s Quinn Roux, but the referee and TMO didn’t find anything to act on. Brown seemed to lose his discipline in the immediate aftermath, which was a shame, because it was one of his better recent performances.
3. ZANDER FAGERSON – 5
Had a ding dong battle with newly minted centurion Cian Healy and came out roughly evens. A non-descript shift by his own high standards.
4. SCOTT CUMMINGS – 5
Launched himself at Irish ball-carriers like a 6’7 ICBM but was left an interested bystander by the time Ireland had got up a head of steam in the second-half.
5. JONNY GRAY – 5.5
Ireland reverted to 10-man rugby following Scotland’s early onslaught and when push came to shove the Scottish pack weren’t able to match Ireland on the grunt-o-meter. Gray has typically been Scotland’s carry-stopper general, but he struggled to contain Ireland’s relentless grinding here. In 2017 he was extreemly unlucky not to tour as a Lion, but would you say that of his 2020 form? No.
6. BLADE THOMSON – 5
Moved to six to accommodate Fagerson, the Aucklander failed to make a mark on the match and was largely left in the Irish backrow’s wake.
7. JAMIE RITCHIE – 5
Told off for mouthing off at the referee, but he was another Scottish forward who failed to shine as the game tilted in Ireland’s favour. Stander, O’Mahoney and Doris grew into the match as the Scottish backrow shrunk from the light. Failed to show the quality he’s capable of.
8. MATT FAGERSON – 6
The No.8 packs a helleva physical punch on a comparatively modest 6’1, 102kg frame. Looked to have gone too upright in defending Cian Healy’s 46th-minute try, although replays suggested he was the victim of a poor refereeing decision, with Peter O’Mahony clearly in front of the loosehead acting as a blocker. Still, he looks like Scotland best option at eight.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments