Recap: Scotland vs France LIVE | Summer Series
Follow all the action from the World Cup warm-up match on RugbyPass as Scotland host France at Murrayfield.
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Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw is coming into the match insisting that the team chosen last weekend by Gregor Townsend did not disgrace the jersey in the 32-3 defeat to France. He is now is confident that they will give a more accurate account of themselves against the same opponents.
The veteran scrum-half sat out last weekend’s defeat in Nice and is one of 14 players brought back into the starting line-up for the return match in Edinburgh. The five-try loss provoked a big backlash even though it was only the first of four World Cup warm-up games for Townsend’s squad.
Laidlaw is sure that lessons have been learned, claiming that the players last time out had not let themselves or their country down. “That’s certainly not the case,” Laidlaw said at the end of the week where it was confirmed that Jim Mallinder will become the new SRU director of rugby.
Tommy Seymour took no pleasure from seeing positional rivals in the Scotland squad flop last Saturdayhttps://t.co/JOnDIlqUlj
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 22, 2019
“The group are tight-knit. I’ve been involved in performances that have not gone to plan before and it’s for a number of reasons. We’d probably rather it happened last week than going into a World Cup.
“We’ll take it on the chin and whether that be from how we trained all week or how we travelled, we need to look at all of that for away games. But this week is not an away game, we’re home at Murrayfield and we simply need to concentrate on that and make sure we get the next 80 minutes right.”
Scotland were on the back foot from the opening minutes in last week’s five-try loss and Laidlaw knows that tightening up in defence is a major job. “We learned we can’t be soft defensively, especially against a team like France who have world-class attackers within their ranks, as I know well from playing out in France,” he said.
Which is it Scotland fans? pic.twitter.com/fwQTV6dD8Y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 21, 2019
“We need to be defensively really sound. We come back to the basics of the game, being really aggressive, holding each other accountable and defending properly.
“If we do that, we can get our hands on the ball and impose our game in attack on any opposition. We have proved that in the past and this is another opportunity for the playing group selected to go out and do that.”
Townsend will name his RWC squad after the first of the two games against Georgia that have still to come, and assistant coach Mike Blair said that some places have yet to be decided.
Too severe a sanction is the feeling of the French who will appeal Paul Gabrillagues' six-week suspensionhttps://t.co/nJJkCTD22m
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 21, 2019
“You know, we’ve got a decent amount, a number that we’re fairly sure about, but there are a couple of positions that are still potentially up for grabs,” Blair said. “I won’t give it much more than that.
” It might have been last week that a couple of guys didn’t take their opportunity and they’ve opened for the 23 that are involved in this game. We’re really looking forward to seeing how these guys seize their opportunity and put their hands up for later selection.”
WATCH: A six-week ban has put the World Cup participation of French lock Paul Gabrillagues in jeopardy
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments