The surprising way Scotland like to celebrate a win
Jamie Ritchie says it is only right Scotland sing when they are winning after getting their World Cup campaign back on track.
The Dark Blues players could be heard belting out a number of songs from inside their dressing room as they celebrated hitting all the right notes during Monday’s 34-0 triumph over Samoa.
It was a moment when the tension that has threatened to strangle the squad in the wake of their disastrous defeat to Ireland was released.
And flanker Ritchie believes those moments of team harmony are crucial if Scotland are to remain on song during the rest of the tournament.
He said: “Every time we get a win we sing a couple of songs just as a group to connect afterwards and to celebrate.
The Kiwi-born wing has held himself accountable for an error which could have come back to haunt the Scots. #RWC2019 https://t.co/B8oSxdHzgP
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“I think it’s important we do that. We talk about being a really tight-knit group and that’s part of that.
“It was good to get the win and it was good to have that chance to enjoy it, especially in a tournament like this when you spend a lot of time together preparing for matches.
“When these good times come around you have to make the most of them.
“I think that team spirit has been key to getting us through the last week. There’s been a lot of outside noise coming in but there has also been a few honest conversations inside the camp.
“For us to keep each other going has been great and the celebrations after games like Monday’s shows just how collected we are.”
Scotland faced a humiliating early exit after their shocking display against the Irish was compounded by Japan’s stunning upset win over Joe Schmidt’s men.
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
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Gregor Townsend’s were faced with requiring three bonus point wins to rescue qualification for the last eight but their display against the Samoans at the Misaki Stadium has delivered the first of those extras.
And Ritchie believes Scotland are profiting from their refusal to panic in the face of that daunting challenge.
“Before we went out to face Samoa, we spoke about winning the game first and then if the opportunity was there we’d go for the four tries,” said the back-rower, whose side face Russia a week on Wednesday and then Japan four days later.
“We went in at half-time 20-0 up and the bonus point got mentioned in the shed.
“We talked about not going for points so much and instead going for the tries. We looked like scoring more than we actually did so it bodes well going forward. We knew we needed to perform this week. We all had belief that we could so getting the job done feels good.
“We talked about the Ireland game in the first couple of days after the game and tried to put it behind us. Obviously it got brought up a couple of times as we needed to react in a few areas but I think we did that on Monday night.
“I think that’s a truer reflection of what the team is about than Yokohama. If we can back it up it will be. We can’t afford to flit in and out of form like we have done.
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“We played reasonably well in the warm-up games but then didn’t perform at all against Ireland. We need to back this win over Samoa up with another good performance against Russia.
“To nil Samoa, the first time they haven’t scored a point in a World Cup match, is a huge stat for us to have. Defence is going to be a huge part of our game going forward, especially against Japan in the final game.
“You saw what they did to Ireland so if we can defend like we did on Monday then hopefully that will be a great game.”
Scotland react to Samoa win
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe 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.
8 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.
56 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.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments