OUR BIG TEST OF RESOLVE
Fresh legs are key as Cotter prepares for raw power of USA
FATE decrees that Scotland shall win, and win well, here in the city where Billy Bremner, Joe Jordan, Gordon Str a c han a nd so many other sons of Caledonia are still revered.
Unfortunately, there has yet to be a recorded instance of fate clearing a 20- stone maniac out of a ruck. Against a USA team boasting bruising bulk in abundance, Vern Cotter’s leg-weary lads will rely solely on their own resources to get the job done.
While mention of Leeds United’s Scottish legends is obligatory ahead of tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup clash at Elland Road, with plenty of fans likely to pay pilgrimage at the famous Bremner statue before kick- off, Cotter and his players are focused only on the here and now. And the threats posed by today’s opposition.
It was pointed out to the Scotland head coach yesterday that, with the USA finally appearing to realise some of their potential in the ‘other’ football code, plenty are predicting a similar blossoming in rugby union pretty darned soon.
‘Gee, I hope they wait for a while,’ said the Kiwi, switching from jokey to serious as he pointed out: ‘They have put a lot of work into their rugby programme and they are developing, they are getting better.
‘I expect them to be very physical, very direct. They have speed and they have size and power.
‘They’ve been improving and I think they’ve done very well to get themselves to the World Cup, improving on the way. They’ve had some very good performances, beating Canada by 40 points.
‘They’ve had a week to prepare, they’ve watched us play two days ago, so they will be on the money, I think. But our guys are ready to take that challenge up against them.’
With Scotland now getting the fuzzy end of the lollipop in terms of recovery time following their win over poor, tired, beleaguered Japan, a point that will no doubt elicit the same sympathy f rom all the armchair handwringers who have been crying foul over the treatment of ‘ small’ nations, Cotter was always going to make changes.
Turns out he felt comfortable enough to swap around 10 of his starting XV from that opening victory. With the possibility, he acknowledges, of one or two other al t erations t o come between now and kick-off.
‘We’re adapting, that’s one of our key principles,’ he said, adding: ‘There are a few knocks and bruises — and I’m sure there may be one or two more surprises before kick-off. So we just stay alive and keep moving if we have to move.
‘We may need to change the team one hour before the game — but we have announced t he group which will take the field and play their part in the game.
‘ There are still bumps and bruises and guys who haven’t trained 100 per cent yet, so we will try our best and, if we have to change the team, then we will change the team.
‘We’ve got four days between games, so we can’t really do a lot other than try to work our best recovery process, which is what we’ve really been doing on the paddock today.
‘So, to have the majority of the players involved is good, about all we could ask for given the short time available. To try to develop new plays and things like that would be a bit much to ask for, so it’s just really about doing simple things and talking about doing them well.
‘It’s about energy, it’s about guys coming in who may have had less game time — or even had no game time at all on day one.
‘ These guys are bursting with enthusiasm and it’s about re-energising and redirecting that energy to play against a big, powerful team.
‘It’s also about recovery for guys who have had more time on the paddock — and f or others to step forward and give us that redirection we need.
‘Our guys pride themselves on their performances and the fact that they work hard for each other. I know that the players selected will give 100-per-cent commitment, 100 per cent of the time. We can only ask for that and see how the games unfold.’
It is worth pointing out that, for all the changes made, including Henry Pyrgos deputising as both scrum-half and captain for World Cup skipper Greig Laidlaw, Cotter has retained the f our players counted upon to provide so much of Scotland’s attacking impetus.
Stand- off Finn Russell, outside centre Mark Bennett, flying full-back Stuart Hogg and openside flanker John Hardie — the only specialist No7 in the squad — are all in there, all expected to run off any stiffness in their legs and just get on with it. Cotter shows some signs of concern about Hardie being able to play in all four pool fixtures, noting: ‘ We need to get hi m through this game and then have a really close look at t he South African game.’ The Scots seem more comfortable here than they were in Gloucestershire, despite the warm welcome of the locals and the cracking a t mosphere at Kingsholm. Maybe it is just that they are closer to home, within easier reach of their own supporters.
Tomorrow’s game is heading towards a sell-out and, without doubting the passion or spending power of the opposition fans, it is fair to say that the majority of the near- 38,000 in attendance will be Scots.
Cotter is hoping so, insisting: ‘Having home support means a lot to the players. If we can hear and see the colours and get the encouragement then the better it will be. The players will be looking for that to get them through tough times and to inspire them.’
Peter Horne (left), brought in to partner Bennett in the midfield, added: ‘There’s a lot of history in the stadium, so we’ll be looking to make sure i t’s another good evening for us — and all our fans.
‘It sounds like it will be a sell-out again, which is great. The atmosphere at Gloucester was awesome. Singing the national anthem, we got real goosebumps. We just want to put on another good show for them.
‘After a good win, we can’t go backwards. We’ve been guilty in the past of taking a step forward and then two back. We’re desperate to make a giant leap.’