Laidlaw kicks off a Scottish revival

THE Scottish team will board the plane home from Japan battered and bruised, but with their honour intact having defeated Japan twice in the space of a week.

They will be grateful that the season has finally ended and they will also feel relieved to have got away with two wins, neither of which was truly convincing.

Vern Cotter chose to make a number of changes to his squad for the second test match yesterday.

He selected what looked like a much more physical back row in choosing Henry Pyrgos over Greig Laidlaw, a more threatening half-back.

Elsewhere it was about giving other squad members the chance to show what they were made of and press for inclusion in the starting XV for the autumn.

But in leaving out John Hardie and WP Nel, Cotter played into the hands of the home team.

Last week, Hardie and Barclay were a real nuisance at the breakdown and consistently slowed down the Japanese ball.

This week, only John Barclay caused any problems – Josh Strauss was very strong carrying ball, but Ryan Wilson was all but absent in his contributions.

It meant the Japanese were able to recycle the ball quickly and cause the Scottish defence, particularly in the flyhalf’s channel, all sorts of problems.

Similarly, until the appearance of WP

Greig Laidlaw’s boot saved the day for the Scots. front row was having problems in Stuart Hogg then gave them a the scrum, and they were not second attacking platform, doing enough damage at the lineLaidlaw did the business again out to dominate possession. with another penalty to seal

They fully deserved their 13-9 victory. half- time lead, but Scotland Pyrgos, captain on the night, rectified their scrum problems by reckoned Japan had stepped up a changing the entire front row at level from the first Test, but his side the interval. coped.

The Scots were penalised for He said: “They played at a really failing to retreat at a ruck, and high tempo. Every time we have Tamura put over his third penalty, played them in the last year we though the seven-point cushion know that is what they bring so we was short- lived with Laidlaw needed to deal with that. coming off the bench to slot two “They scored a good try but the quickfire kicks to get the Scots frustrating thing for us was that we back within one point. could not hold on to the ball.”

Japan were dominating, with Losing Japan coach Mark Scotland unable to get the ball. Hammett claimed his side had

There was time for the scrum to been “disrespected”. do its job, though, and, after a rare “I feel that perhaps the last two breakout from defending their Tests we have been slightly line, the tourists won a penalty. disrespected as a team and what

Laidlaw sent his kick between we can achieve,” he claimed. the posts to hand Scotland the “Particularly in the second half, lead and, after a huge kick from we did not get the reward.

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