Scotland worry over tackle citations for Ford and Gray
Scotland forwards Ross Ford and Jonny Gray will find out today whether they will miss their side’s World Cup quarter-final against Australia on Sundayafter theywere both cited for dangerous tackles.
The pair have been charged by independent citing commissioner Scott Nowland with committing an alleged act of foul play in Saturday’s 36-33 Pool B win over Samoa in Newcastle.
Nowland has accused Ford, the Scotland hooker, of breaching rules on dangerous tackles, while Gray, a lock, is waiting to hear his fate after an allegation that he committed an illegal tip tackle during the victory over the Pacific Islanders, which clinched Scotland’s place in the last eight.
Their fate will be decided by the independent judicial officer Christopher Quinlan QC this morning at a hearing in London.
Both men are vital members of the pack and their head coach, Vern Cotter, will be loath to lose either of them for Scotland’s first World Cup quarter-final in eight years, at Twickenham.
Meanwhile, Australia f l anker David Pocock was yesterday cleared by independent citing commissioner Steve Hinds to face the Scots after he was given a warning for planting a knee into the midriff of Wales hooker Scott Baldwin during Saturday’s Pool A decider at Twickenham. However, Pocock could yet miss the match after sustaining a calf injury midway through the second half.
Regardless of the outcomes for Ford, Gray and Pocock, Scotland are “massive underdogs” according to their prop Alasdair Dickinson.
“I’d say from this World Cup, [Australia] are the form team so far, definitely. They were outstanding against England and showed how clinical they can be in that Wales match. It’s going to be a huge test for us,” Dickinson said yesterday.
Australia are the form team so far. There is no doubt we are going to be massive underdogs
“There is no doubt we are going to be massive underdogs, but we can take confidence from that fact we’ve got out of a pretty tough group to reach the quarter-finals.
“We have nothing to lose. I don’t think anybody expects Scotland to win this match.”
Scotland can take heart from winning two of their past three meetings against Australia, including a memorable 9-6 victory Down Under three years ago, their first since 1982, when Greig Laidlaw kicked a winning penalty in time added on.
“We have got to go out there and impose ourselves on the game. It’s going to take a huge performance from us, there’s no doubt about that,” Dickinson added.
“But there’s no reason why we can’t go out there and do something special.”