Scotland vs South Africa pre-match buildup.

First topic message reminder :

I thought I would start a Scotland vs South Africa thread, seeing that the other one is filled to the brim and there is a new opponent to focus on.

Scotland had a good game against South Africa with a not a full strength team in June. although I was not enammered with the tactics of Scotlands' tactics at the breakdown during that match, you have to give them Cudo's for their performance.

They scored two well executed tries and had our breakdown I shambles for most of the match.

South Africa learnt a lot from that match and it should stand them in good stead for the upcoming match.

By virtue of the Scottish performance on the weekend I would suggest that they will go into this match feeling better prepared and a bit of a roll. The momentum of a good match is always a positive to have.

It is obviously to early to speculate too much on team selections, but I would expect Scotland to put out their very best for this one.

Heyneke Meyer has been a tad contradictory in his media releases this past week as he first suggested that he will make some changes against Scotland regardless of the result against wales, but after the match he said he isn't going to make too many changes and doesn't believe in resting his best players during a test season, that should happen during the Super Xv and Currie Cup which we all know is a farce.

Morne Steyn had a back spasm during the Welsh encounter and will be assessed later in the week. I would like to see Lambie get another go at ten though.

SA have improved during the past RC and hopefully they can continue to improve.

For some reason we play poorly at Murrayfield, and I am hoping that we show a better performance there than we did in the past decade.

I'll update the thread as more news and team selections become available.

Scotland team announced.

1. Dickinson
2. Ford
3. Low
4. Gray snr
5. Hamiton
6. Strokosch
7. Denton
8. Barclay
9. Laidlaw (c)
10. Jackson
11. Lamont
12. Taylor
13. NDL
14.Seymour
15. Maitland

Replacements

16. Lawson
17. Grant
18. Cross
19. Gray jnr
20. Beattie
21. Cuisiter
22. Weir
23. Evans

Weir on please

VinceWLB wrote:I reckon Ford could be a decent LH prop.

Or water carrier.

123456789 wrote:I reckon Ford could be a good water boy

Not sure about that, dangerous imagine him throwing the bottles at the players face  

I know the worms or what ever have infiltrated the turf - but surely both the MS and Murryfield should consider installing 4G artifical pitches?

The benefits would not only be the obvious match day conditions but also it would enable the stadium to be used far more by the relative communities.

123456789 wrote:I reckon Ford could be a good water boy

No, the donkey would surely miss when he threw the bottle of Gatorade to you.

We're producing the rugby equivalent of John Inverdale's haircut.

VinceWLB wrote:

123456789 wrote:I reckon Ford could be a good water boy

Not sure about that, dangerous imagine him throwing the bottles at the players face  

If he attempted to throw it at someone's face they should be all right

At least we should he get a typical Scottish "spirited response" against Australia.

But seriously - losing 5 of your own lineouts in one half alone is completely unacceptable and mystifying given how solid our set piece was in the Quad and the last 6N. Has Ford just kissed goodbye to his Scotland career as a hooker?

Anyone wondering why people keep suggesting he moves to loosehead can wonder no longer.

He just smashed Habana so he's not all bad

Hamilton's been very good

I just hope that Scotland do not capitulate and get a good tonking, come on Jocks, show some backbone. 

Ford not hooking in the scrum there...

Get Jackson off now

justified sinner wrote:Get Jackson off now

He seems to play in order to promote himself as a genius and if there's no chance for him to do so he just chucks it away

Ok I take it back, Jackson's taking the mick now.

Why is Ford still on the field?

Not sure about that try bit again, our fault for being so pish

Oh he's not. Good

TJ wrote:Weir on please

about time

Please can we not be nilled, at least?

I mean, we're not Edinburgh.

Let's get Jonny Gray on, might as well give him twenty minutes alongside his brother before Hamilton gets frustrated and punches someone. Probably Eben Etzebeth.

Weir's made an instant improvement and has to start next week.

Ref feeling sorry for Scotland.

123456789 wrote:Let's get Jonny Gray on, might as well give him twenty minutes alongside his brother before Hamilton gets frustrated and punches someone. Probably Eben Etzebeth.

 

Put on Cusiter too. Might as well find something out about the subs.

Screw it, put on Evans too. Why not.

What has happened to Sean Maitland's confidence?! He never counters anymore. First noticed it on the Lions tour. Think it destroyed his confidence.

Ineffable wrote:Put on Cusiter too. Might as well find something out about the subs.

Screw it, put on Evans too. Why not.

You called it

madmaccas wrote:What has happened to Sean Maitland's confidence?! He never counters anymore. First noticed it on the Lions tour. Think it destroyed his confidence.

disagee. Hes fine and counters when its on.

Looking forward to seeing Weir & MacArthur start next week...

TJ wrote:

madmaccas wrote:What has happened to Sean Maitland's confidence?! He never counters anymore. First noticed it on the Lions tour. Think it destroyed his confidence.

disagee.  Hes fine and counters when its on.

Even in open play for Glasgow and Scotland he more often than not kicks or passes it, I haven't seen him back himself since last season.

WE need a try

madmaccas wrote:

TJ wrote:

madmaccas wrote:What has happened to Sean Maitland's confidence?! He never counters anymore. First noticed it on the Lions tour. Think it destroyed his confidence.

disagee.  Hes fine and counters when its on.

Even in open play for Glasgow and Scotland he more often than not kicks or passes it, I haven't seen him back himself since last season.

Not my impression at all. ?

I'm not too dismayed. I predicted a thumping.

TJ wrote:

madmaccas wrote:

TJ wrote:

madmaccas wrote:What has happened to Sean Maitland's confidence?! He never counters anymore. First noticed it on the Lions tour. Think it destroyed his confidence.

disagee.  Hes fine and counters when its on.

Even in open play for Glasgow and Scotland he more often than not kicks or passes it, I haven't seen him back himself since last season.

Not my impression at all.  ?

I can see what he's saying, TJ. It might be more of a weird second season syndrome (since coming from NZ) , or that he's just getting used to NH rugby ...

No class from Jp there. Not sure why Denton didn't lamp him.

Denton didn't really know what hit him there.

That was pretty harsh from Pietersen ...

... Also, I've seen Lamont pass it twice in 10 minutes. This guy is somehow getting better for Scotland whilst everyone else ... well, you know.

Great tackle but I don't like the hand in the face thing...

I thought it funny by JP and no reaction at all from Denton apart from a smile- very professional of him

That is why i hate JP Pieterson. That is not the first time I have seen him do that sort of niggly thing. That's when you'd rather Denton just smacked him. Really really want to see someone muller him.

Higher_Ground wrote:No class from Jp there. Not sure why Denton didn't lamp him.

Can you imagine if he'd tried that on big Jim?!

Wonder if he'll get cited for it? I mean, it's off the ball no?

Only caught he last 10 minutes of this, but Mr Garces would benefit greatly from learning the difference between a player having his feet on the ground and being 'on his feet'.

And I think because Denton ignored it, the citing committee should look on it as vindication to punish him. I mean, that's really irritating.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

Higher_Ground wrote:No class from Jp there. Not sure why Denton didn't lamp him.

Can you imagine if he'd tried that on big Jim?!

Big Jim would have got a yellow. Its something many players do and its not going to injure - the aim is to make them loose the plot.

Is it essential for South Africans to always act like tw@ts? JP Pietersen needs to get leathered.

Bet the Aussies are bricking it

south africas ruck work has been great.  The ref has allowed a bit of time for a contest but how many times have we seen the first south african over the ball and get their hands on it and the first scot fail to clear them out?  The scots have been there most of the time but have been ineffective.  Better in the second half

Don't worry, wait until Denton meets Pietersen with the ball. Be it today, next year, or the year after ...

Not really clever from JP!

Scotland have been truly smashed today. The Boks are fired up for this game that is for sure.

Ineffable wrote:Don't worry, wait until Denton meets Pietersen with the ball. Be it today, next year, or the year after ...

Not really clever from JP!

You berate Pietersen for his actions and in the same breath endorse the Scottish players doing the same thing... Bravo