Scotland V Russia...

First topic message reminder :

Scotland v Russia (Shizuoka), ... Welcome to Stalingrad...or Bannockburn.

Well gentlemen, we seem to be spending a lot of time fretting about whether we shall need to pick up four points or five in our final group game while blithely assuming that the five are already in the bag from this fixture.

Russia didn't look too shabby in the opening match against Japan: losing 30-10 but if the referee had spotted a blatant body check on the Russian 9 the hosts could have been reduced to 14 and things might have been "interesting".

In their second match they looked at least as good as Fiji for a large part of the game before tiring badly in the latter part of the game; but a three day turn around will do that to a team.
Again, the Russian can rightly feel aggrieved that the officials somehow contrived not to show any red cards. The Fijians should have been reduced to 13 men after two "tackles" which would be frowned upon in even the rowdiest Glasgow kebab shops.

Three day turnaround, Stevie Wonder refereeing, playing the hosts in the opening game.... rumour has it the team song is to be changed to the blues classic "If it wasn't for bad luck I wouldn't have no luck at all".

Russia play Ireland tomorrow and then Scotland six days later. The Irish have made eleven changes from the defeat to Japan and will be hoping for five points before their final match against Samoa.

If Russia lose to Ireland they will have to mount the biggest comeback since Lazarus, or Scotland's second half at Twickenham, after three defeats if they hope to have any chance of winning.

So....an easy five points for Scotland?

I think the biggest obstacle for Scotland is the four day turnaround for the decider against Japan. Barring Ireland losing one of their remaining matches the loser of Japan v Scotland is going home. So Toonie will have to rest several first choice players and play a number who haven't featured yet.

Front Row

Taking only five props could come back to haunt Toonie here. Dell went off early against Samoa and Shrek played an hour in a sauna, he probably lost Bru's body weight in sweat. If Dell is not fit then Berghan needs to start at LH and Shrek is on the bench. This means that Ragnar and Nel will share TH duties. Not ideal in terms of resting our starting props before the big game.

Second Row

Toolis hasn't been in a match day 23 yet. Will he be ready to start? Presumably he'll partner Cummings with JG benching.

Back Row

Ideally we would rest Mbawsa-Replicant-Bradbury but that only leaves two to play ; Batman and Barcs. So do we have Turner hooking and Brown at 7? The nightmare scenario would see both of them injured. Just in passing...if that happened could we fly a hooker out in time for the next game? The jet lag would surely prevent him from playing?

Half backs

Frodo and Dancer must sit this one out. So Henners and Haircut to start? Wee George to bench.

Centres

Sam Johnson will be rested. Furra Linee at 12. Taylor at 13. He needs to play as he's still not up to full match fitness. Harris to bench BUT if Furra replaces haircut at 10 and Harris comes on then Taylor must play the full 80. Is he fit enough to be available against Japan four days later?

Back Three

Maitland and Hogg must be rested. So Blarehorn, Seymour and Graham. one of whom must then start against Japan.

So
1. Dell               Shrek
2. Turner           Rambo
3. Berghan        Ragnar
4. Toolis            JG
5. Cummings
6. Batman
7. Brown
8. Barcs            The slightly piqued B's Bradbury to bench

9. Henners        Wee George
10.Haircut        
11. Graham      Maitland
12. Furra Linee
13. Taylor         Harris
14, Seymour
15. King Blarehorn

It's a team that have never played together, with a few who haven't played in weeks. What could go wrong?

Experience there from Reid asking why Zander was pinged we n the scrum 2 mins ago.

Brain doing what his lungs can’t

Russia look very organised, going to take a while to break them down

Hastings waltzes through the Russian line

Great try

BigGee wrote:Russia look very organised, going to take a while to break them down

They do, their organisation has been prevalent in all games so far.

They are well coached, they play some good rugby. But have no foresight to play what’s in front of them as well as better sides.

Nice try for Hastings

Solid start. We need to be patient!

Finn who???

Hell of a try for Hastings’ second!

and another one for Hastings

Bit luckier on that one!

Hastings is chasing his Da’s World Cup points record

It's the Hasting show! The rugby ball bounce strikes again.

Hastings can't do anything wrong atm!

My god that’s a beauty!

RDW wrote:It's the Hasting show! The rugby ball bounce strikes again.

If it was Finn doing this the media would be creaming their pants.

Horne now getting in on the act

Horne has to get time against japan!

Hornito stings Russia!

3 down one to go!

Absolute steal!

I wonder which team has the quickest Bonus Point this RWC

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:It's the Hasting show! The rugby ball bounce strikes again.

If it was Finn doing this the media would be creaming their pants.

Horne now getting in on the act

I do not know why you Jocks jizz yourselves so much over Finn Russel, yes he can be sublime, but he can also be a liability as well, and he crumbles in the big games. Hastings is a much better prospect for Scotland if you ask me and boy is he taking his chance today.

Therse corner kicks are just killing Russia

An almighty hoof.

Early sub for Brown, who looks fine as he went off. Bradbury comes one

Maybe they are all going to get 30 mins each!

LordDowlais wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:It's the Hasting show! The rugby ball bounce strikes again.

If it was Finn doing this the media would be creaming their pants.

Horne now getting in on the act

I do not know why you Jocks jizz yourselves so much over Finn Russel, yes he can be sublime, but he can also be a liability as well, and he crumbles in the big games. Hastings is a much better prospect for Scotland if you ask me and boy is he taking his chance today.

Can't agree with that at all. Flakey Finn has become much less flakey and no idea what you're on about when he says he crumbles in the big games. It's the entire team that crumbles! He's had some monumental performances in recent years - England x 2, Aus win in Aus, NZ narrow loss, France at home, Ireland at home and there's a few others. Add to that the performances he put in for Racing last year. As an attacking 10 he's always going to make mistakes but that comes with the territory. He will make us tear our hair out for years to come I'm sure but he more than makes up for that with his game winning contributions.

Hastings is a real talent but has a lot to learn, and is still to prove himself at the top level. Doing it against Russia is great but he's nowhere near taking over from Finn.

BigGee wrote:Early sub for Brown, who looks fine as he went off. Bradbury comes one

Maybe they are all going to get 30 mins each!

Hopefully Ritchie replaces Bradbury - don't really want him playing 50 minutes.

3 tries by half time, would have accepted that before, but we should have put it away before half time.

Still, am confident that the 4th one will come now and then theu may cut loose

Berghan on for Zander, which means ZF might be benching on sunday I guess

RDW wrote:

BigGee wrote:Early sub for Brown, who looks fine as he went off. Bradbury comes one

Maybe they are all going to get 30 mins each!

Hopefully Ritchie replaces Bradbury - don't really want him playing 50 minutes.

I'm sure Scott Hastings said he was speaking to the team manager and that's the plan (30 mins each)

BigGee wrote:Berghan on for Zander, which means ZF might be benching on sunday I guess

That or they're being given a half each to stake their claim.

Darcy Graham eventually shows us what we have been getting excited about.

Horne as ever on the end of it

BP in the bag, job done

The future is certainly exciting with Horne, Hastings and Graham involved!

George Horne playing on the wing now

Graham has been subbed

Seymour's got to pull the finger out if he wants to play against Japan!

Is Horne on the wing now?

I wonder if Scotland will keep the Russians out ? If they do, that will be two NILS against in two games, quite the achievement. Only one more half to go.

Sensible, I expect Horne (g) will likely go off around the hour mark as well.

Strangely there's not going to be much of a drop off in size even though Horne is on the wing!

Forwards gettign in on the act now!

Another try for George Turner

Russia falling to bits now, which is no disrespect to them, they have done themselves proud in this tournament, but this looks like a game to far for them

Putin is going to be mad with Scotland.

You are humiliating them, better let them score soon.

Lovely kick Kinghorn, nice dive from Seymour. We've certainly got hte bounce of the ball tonight.

Hornito gets the hat trick!

Horne started and finished that move, what an engine he has got

Got to say it is very nice to see us easily putting away the lower ranked teams. We've had some horrible performances in past world cups!

Gilco and Nel on for Reid and Cummings

Calm down guys.... Still time for Russia to win this.. 

Greig who?

Nel on now for Reid, Berghan playing LH

That looked a mile forward but looks like Hornito gets a 4th

What a run by Nelly though!

Looks like they are going to check it now

No try, can't complain about that!

Horne showing he's not a winger - could have held back a little bit. terrible performance from him...!

Hornito gets subbed for Harris, so no 4 tries for him

I don't think that's a right call. Ball carried forward, but wasn't passed forward

Wayne Barnes spoiling the party as usual...