Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June

First topic message reminder :


Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Touch judges: [tbc]
Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

5 Played 5
0 Won 5
0 Drawn 0
5 Lost 0
55 Points 266 

B. Recent Form

23 September 2015
Scotland 45-10 Japan
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

09 Nov 2013
Scotland 42 - 17 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

13 Nov 2004
Scotland 100 - 8 Japan
McDiarmid Park, Perth

12 Oct 2003
Scotland 32 - 11 Japan
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

05 Oct 1991
Scotland 47 - 9 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

C. Teams

JAPAN 
[*]

SCOTLAND 
[*]




[*]

SCOTLAND 

[*]



Scotland / Japan history:

2015: Scotland 45-10 Japan, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester (RWC 2015)
2013: Scotland 42-17 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2010: Scotland XV 24-5 Japan Select, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
2004: Scotland 100-8 Japan, McDiarmid Park, Perth
2003: Japan 11-32 Scotland, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville (RWC 2003)
1991: Scotland 47-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (RWC 1991)
1989: Japan 28-24 Scotland XV, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1986: Scotland XV 33-18 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
1977: Japan 9-74 Scotland XV, Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1976: Scotland XV 34-9 Japan,  BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)

Scotland Squad:

We've looked good when we had the ball though - Taylor shouldn't have grubbered it in their 22

God, we suck.

We're lucky the ref is being awkward with them at rucks

Who is the co commentator?

Close game!

Need to get more than 7 points up - Japan can score from anywhere

Terrible cross kick by Jackson there, it was a careless punt!

Penalty Try! And another yellow for Japan!

We deserve to be in the lead given we've had all the ball but feck me we're making hard work of it

Poor from Japan.

Although, if anyone can lose to a 13-man tier 2 nation I have no doubt it's us.

Wilson and Scott Scotland's standout players in that half

Eejit wrote:Poor from Japan.

Although, if anyone can lose to a 13-man tier 2 nation I have no doubt it's us.

I don't know if you've noticed but we are a Tier 2 team (we didn't make the top 8 for last world cup - samoa were ranked higher than us and we were lucky we got samoa), and the gap between tier 1 and tier 2 is growling ever smaller.

Interesting first half. Scotland definitely have them in the set piece and just need to make use of their dominance. If Japan keep fouling like they have been, they will have a few more players taking a breather.

Still we are in the lead and they have 13 men on the pitch. Need to hit them hard at the beginning of the second half and build this lead.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Wilson and Scott Scotland's standout players in that half

Wilson is playing well, which must be annoying to all his detractors!

Ritchie G going well also, despite the jetlag!

Nel once again showing Maitland how it's done!

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Wilson and Scott Scotland's standout players in that half

Wilson is playing well, which must be annoying to all his detractors!

Ritchie G going well also, despite the jetlag!

Don't know who you mean!

We have Batman and Rambo on the pitch at the same time. Yet, judging from that botched lineout, they don't talk much...

Dammit Hogg. A knockon with the line begging...

Classic unfathomable scrum penalty from the ref!

We need another score - one try from Japan and things will start to get uncomfortable

Hardie was unlucky there. Replay shows he got the ball back into play but the linesman didn't see.

Shame we coughed up the ball there...

Agree RDW. Who is the co-commentator? Apparently, he was at Edinburgh when Laidlaw was a stand-off.

Nick Scringver - former Edinburgh defence coach

RDW_Scotland wrote:Nick Scringver - former Edinburgh defence coach

Well, there's a blast from the past. Wouldn't have guessed that was him.

*Sigh*
From now on, all in-goal areas shall be increased to match Murrayfield!

Jackson having a hot and cold day...

Will certainly take the win but not a great performance - hopefully we can improve next week.

Very important to get the win though - job done!

Take the win any day of the week against these up and coming Japanese. They're progressing as a rugby nation faster than we are.

Barclay and Wilson played very, very well in particular.

A few of our boys haven't payed since 7th May, so I imagine we'll be a bit sharper next week. Our front row needs to stay fit too...

They looked a bit rusty but good to get the win, definitely left a few points out there in the second half.

We looked very solid in defence and we can surely build on that. The pack played well to a man but the backs did not quite click.

It was s very professional and efficient performance - probably the best way to put it.

Japan were actually quite poor - particularly in attack.

Hoyland had a decent enough game for a first start and was unlucky not to score from that cross field kick. Hopefully they will keep him on there for next week, he needs the experience,

Sutherland got a full game, which is good for him and he did not disappoint. I imagine we will need another LH for next week, someone will be getting on a plane tomorrow!

Jackson was a bit so so I thought, some good and some not so, just looked a fraction of a second slow, which is not surprising given his lack of game time this season and not having played FH internationally for a while. He deserves another chance though.

I don't see to many changes for next week really, maybe go for a bit more carrying weight in the back row. Strauss will surely get some game time and Henry was a bit unlucky not to get on, but he always will be with Laidlaw kicking like that, unless we really can build an unassailable lead.

A decent enough, if unexciting, win. I thought there was rustiness all round from most players and a couple of missed try chances, the time Hogg tried to side step the defence instead of giving the easy scoring pass to Maitland the most glaring.
Looks like Taylor may have pulled a hamstring so hopefully Jones is fit enough to at least make the bench next week.

Decent enough win in difficult conditions with minimal time together.

Agree with above sentiments RE Barclay - showing us what we've been missing - Hardie was looking busy as always too. Wilson again has had a decent game although again just lacks bulk. But he's a good filler man to have.

Jackson was a little meh, I was disappointed considering his form in RWC warmups and as replacement in 6Ns - but that's the difference a year makes I guess, we'll see if he can up it next week.

Hogg was good, but there was one time he should have passed to Maitland which made me cringe, and a little angry, as it was an opportunity missed.

Good start but need to play much better next week.

Positives:
- We won.
- Nel milked their scrum well.
- Depending on how things get on between Argetnina & France we might move up to 8th
- Ryan Willson had a decent game & held that Japanese player for Ippon.

Negatives:
- line out malfunctions
- Restarts
- sliced clean open for their try
- Hogg blew 2 tries
- general ineptness

What we learned:
- Laidlaw should have a translator for every interview

Overall C+

Hopefully next week will be a little sharper, but the main positive for me is we stopped them playing their game. Im sure Vern would have put alot of work this week about how Scotland were going to disrupt Japanese game plan and it worked. I think we made Japan look quite average. A little more sharpness and a few more try's next week and its likely this will be regarded as a successful tour.

Then home to prepare for a smarting Australia who will be out for NH blood.

Who do we think they will call up for Dickenson?

Grant, Reid or Dell seem the obvious choices. I guess it may depend on who is available and not on holiday.

Nel was also hobbling as he went off and losing him would be a lot more serious as we are not exactly awash with THs. Pulling Fargerson from the U20s would seem the only options or Darcy Rae, I suppose, he did ok in the cup semi and is likely to have to sit on the bench for the majority of the game.

Perhaps I am being over critical, but I thought we looked like a team with no ambition. Good to get the win, but we should have done better. I thought Wilson played well. Jackson was ok, more cold than hot. I thought Maitland was going to play well, when he first came on he went looking for work and made a nice break. After that he faded a bit.

Must do better.

Is Reid not already in the squad?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Reid not already in the squad?

Don't think so and VC was talking about maybe sending for someone.

cakeordeath wrote:Perhaps I am being over critical,  but I thought we looked like a team with no ambition. Good to get the win, but we should have done better. I thought Wilson played well. Jackson was ok, more cold than hot. I thought Maitland was going to play well, when he first came on he went looking for work and made a nice break. After that he faded a bit.

Must do better.

I think it would be easy to be a bit critical if we wanted to. It was not a great performance against poorish opposition. The travel and the weeks since they last play do count for something though.

I am happy to give them the benefit of the doubt and reserve judgement until next week.

Yeah looks like we only took 4 props - surely Reid will be called up. Hope he's kept fit....!

I thought Sutherland had a very good game today and looked very much at home - solid in the scrums and prominent in the loose. Throws himself about too!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yeah looks like we only took 4 props - surely Reid will be called up. Hope he's kept fit....!

I thought Sutherland had a very good game today and looked very much at home - solid in the scrums and prominent in the loose. Throws himself about too!

Agreed, in many ways the injuries have worked out quite well. A lot of us wanted Ford and Dickenson to be rested anyway to give the next generation their chance. All three of Sutherland, McInally and Brown did just fine and this will hopefully give VC the confidence to pick them and give them more game time in future.

We still need a bit more depth at TH though, Nel being injured is a massive worry, he is currently not replaceable.

Hopefully Low gets a good 30 minutes next week.

Sutherland and McInally really need to be getting a lot more gametime for Edinburgh next season!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Hopefully Low gets a good 30 minutes next week.

Sutherland and McInally really need to be getting a lot more gametime for Edinburgh next season!

He may get a lot more than that if Nel is injured!

So is Fagerson our only other fit tighthead left to call up?

Only just caught the game on catchup. Frankly I thought Japan's try was very much a lesson to us in how rugby should be played! Lovely try.

Good game from Wilson, I see people are saying Jackson was hot and cold, personally I'm more of the opinion that he was lukewarm and more often than not cold. Very disappointed, after some of the rugby he's played for Wasps this season I expected better. I would comment on Laidlaw's service but as we know that isn't allowed anymore.

Still, we got the win and the ranking points. Let's hope we can lift our game for next week

RDW_Scotland wrote:So is Fagerson our only other fit tighthead left to call up?

Him, Darcy Rae or Bergham, can't think of any others.

2 of them are nowhere near ready for international rugby, it is actually a massive worry!

Imagine where we'd be if someone hadn't found Nel and brought him over!

After watching some of the games today I have already started to panic about next years 6 Nations

Well Gordon Reid shouldn't be hard to find if he is called up
https://twitter.com/AyrshireSPolice/status/744148110025302016

Nel has said his injury isn't too bad and he expects to be fit next week.

Has Ryan Grant played TH occasionally?

I have a feeling he has and if so he might be the better bet to bring out.

Trouble is if there is any doubt about Nel, they will have to bring a spare along. They would look very silly going into a test match without an alternative front row and I would imagine get some kind of sanction.