Key injuries mean Scots must change their approach
AS THE World Cup enters its second full week the stakes are getting higher and the tension mounting. Referees are also under massive scrutiny, it could all get very twitchy.
Nowhere will this be more evident than tomorrow when Scotland must somehow breathe life into their campaign against Samoa.
Losing against world ranked No. 1 Ireland on the opening weekend was always a possibility and needn’t derail their campaign but it was the manner of their defeat that has got Scottish fans jittery. They need to hit back strongly and decisively against the Samoans
The tournament ending injury to Hamish Watson – his knee trapped when being cleared out at a ruck – has arguably deprived them of their most influential player because it is the open side flanker and his ability at the breakdown that enables them to play their fast and loose attacking game.
How do Scotland now play it? Does Finn Russell play more conservatively with more reliance on Scotland’s tight forwards to break down Samoa?
And how do Samoa play it? This is a match they will have targeted and the Samoans produced their best performance at RWC2015 against the Scots before going down 36-33 but after the entirely correct citing and banning of Ray Lee-lo and Motu Motu’u – two of their best players when they concentrate on rugby – the vibe has changed.
In between the thuggery against Russia there was signs of talent but the entire team Samoan team and their tackling technique is going to come under the closest scrutiny from the kick-off. Step remotely out of line and they will be down to 12 or 13 players very quickly. Don’t think Scotland won’t play on that a little
On Wednesday France will be hoping for a routine, injury free, card-free win over the US Eagles who will have been disappointed with their showing against England. Gary Gold’s team are better than that, not so good as to entertain any chances of beating France but they need to put their best foot forward As the week progresses
Ireland should have a simple enough task taking on Russia on Thursday but the no-nonsense high spirited Bears have won many friends at this tournament and we await their skipper Vasily Artemyev’s post match interview with anticipation.
Educated at Blackrock College and with the broadest of Dublin accents this game will be a career highlight for Russia’s most accomplished player
On the same day Georgia tackle Fiji and what an important match that is for both sides. The Lelos’ World Cup revolves totally around today’s early match against Uruguay and this clash against a side they have beaten in recent years. Fiji, meanwhile, must get back on the horse quickly after their dismal display against the Uruguayans last week which resulted in immediate calls for John McKee’s resignation back home in Fiji.
Fiji have struggled in the past to secure enough ball against the Georgians and that again will be the challenge, but they have done well against better teams than the Lelos on limited possession.
Their attitude needs to be right, last week was a depressing return to the old Fiji, even an old pro like Niki Gonova looked barely awake for most of the game.