'That's what it means to play for Scotland'
Gregor Townsend said the real Scotland finally showed up at the World Cup to reignite their bid for the quarter-finals.
The Scots were a shadow of the team that has beaten some of the game’s biggest names over the last two years as they crashed embarrassingly to Ireland in their Pool A opener last weekend.
That defeat, combined with Japan’s shock win over Joe Schmidt’s men, left the Dark Blues staring at a humiliating early exit.
But Townsend’s team roared back into contention for the last eight with a gutsy display as they beat Samoa 34-0 at Kobe’s Misaki Stadium.
Sean Maitland and Grieg Laidlaw both grabbed first-half touchdowns before referee Pascal Gauzere issued two penalty tries after the break to seal a much-needed bonus point.
With 13 tackles, 1 turnover and 9 carries, Jonny Gray won the @Mastercard Player of the Match for #SCOvSAM #POTM #StartSomethingPriceless #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/MnqewVdURA
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 30, 2019
And a delighted Townsend said afterwards: “That was a true reflection of who we are and what we are capable of and what playing for Scotland means to the players.
“That was a tough challenge to face, knowing that if we underperformed we were out of the World Cup. To see the effort and togetherness was excellent.
“Last week we missed the beginning of the game and I take responsibility for not preparing the team well enough to start well against Ireland.
“But that didn’t make us a bad team. Tonight was great to see them get rewards for their effort.”
Japan lit up the 2015 World Cup with their famous win over South Africa but Saturday’s giant-killing repeat was bad news for the Dark Blues, leaving them potentially needing three bonus-point wins to qualify.
But they had to wait until the 74th minute to chalk off the first of those extras as Ed Fidow resorted to illegal means to prevent Maitland scoring his second try.
Scotland got the all-important bonus point against Samoa but it was far from convincing from Gregor Townsend's men. Here's how we rated the players.https://t.co/dbkpB9Xw6A
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 30, 2019
Gauzere was not fooled by his knee-slide which dislodged the ball from the Saracens wing’s grasp as he slid in at the corner and flashed a second yellow card at the Samoan wideman, who had already been sin-binned having conceded an earlier penalty try for stopping a Fraser Brown-led driven maul.
Townsend added: “The goal was to win the game and we believed with the pressure we built that opportunities would come in the second half.
“You have to play the full 80 to get the bonus point. We are glad we got it.
“To win and play better was the target and anything extra would be an exceptional performance and it was, especially in the first half.”
Townsend’s team must now repeat the trick against Russia a week on Wednesday – but if they do that they can seal a place in the last eight by defeating Japan while denying the tournament hosts a bonus point in their final Pool A game.
.@ScotlandTeam's ??????? Stuart McInally reflects on his team's victory and was grateful for his nation's support:
?“Thanks for sticking with us after last week and we’re pleased we managed to get a good performance today.”#RWC2019 #SCOvSAM #RWCKobe pic.twitter.com/HGQJ5p6Szv
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 30, 2019
“We are still in the tournament and the bonus point gives us an opportunity to go to our next game and get maximum points again,” added the head coach.
“If we do it will be a game against Japan to go into the quarter-finals.
“Japan and Ireland are still favourites to get out the pool. We have to win our next two games and get at least one bonus, potentially two.”
Townsend reacted to the abject display against the Irish in Yokohama by putting out a new-look back row and the move paid off with Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury and Blade Thomson providing the drive and energy they had lacked last time out.
The result was the first time Scotland have blanked out an opposition under Townsend’s reign and he said: “That’s a real credit to the players and to Matt Taylor, our defence coach, who does a fantastic job.
“He puts systems in place and he motivates players to defend. Tonight they defended with passion. They got off the line and put big hits on big men and did it time and time again.”
Scotland post-match press conference
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
60 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
60 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
60 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
60 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
60 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
60 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
60 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
60 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
60 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
60 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
60 Go to comments