RWC'15 QF: Australia V Scotland. 16:00 Sunday, 18 Oct, Twickenham

sydthebeat

Australia:
1. Scott Sio, 2. Stephen Moore (c), 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Kane Douglas, 5. Rob Simmons, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Ben McCalman, 9. Will Genia, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Drew Mitchell, 12. Matt Giteau, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15. Kurtley Beale

Replacements: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. James Slipper, 18. Greg Holmes, 19. Dean Mumm, 20. Sean McMahon, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Matt Toomua, 23. Quade Cooper



Scotland: (probable)
1. Alasdair Dickinson, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. WP Nel, 4. Jonny Gray, 5. Richie Gray, 6. Blair Cowan, 7. John Hardie, 8. Dave Denton, 9. Greig Laidlaw (c), 10. Finn Russell, 11. Tommy Seymour, 12. Pete Horne, 13. Mark Bennett, 14. Sean Maitland, 15. Stuart Hogg

Replacements: 16. Ross Ford, 17. Gordon Reid, 18. Jon Welsh, 19. Alasdair Strokosch, 20. Josh Strauss, 21. Henry Pyrgos, 22. Richie Vernon, 23. Sean Lamont

Preview
The last time Australia and Scotland met in a rugby world cup game was back in 2003 at the quarter final stage. Both teams came into the game in much the same form they are at the moment. Australia, in their home world cup, were cantering along. Having put up ridiculously high scores against Romania and Namibia (the 142 – 0 Namibia game is still a world record RWC score line) they passed their first real test with a 1 point win over us Irish in the final pool game, to clinch top spot.
The scots however were in much shakier form. Having shipped 51 points versus the French in their ‘top of the table’ clash in round 3 they faced a fijian side in the final pool round where a win was necessary to go continue in the competition. The scots trailed 20 – 15 in the 78th minute when prop Tom Smith eventually barged over the line, with Paterson adding the cherry.
So going into the quarter final the scots were described as clueless, hopeless and a joke, with the wallaby coach having been quoted as say “we should win this blindfolded”. Well, that complacency must have followed his team onto the park as the first half threw up a bruising encounter that no one except the scots really expected. Going into the break at 9 - 9 the scots had frustrated and annoyed the aussies at every opportunity. They were determined to hit the extremely talented Australian back line hard and fast every time, preventing clean ball to the aussie back three of Tuqiri, Sailor and Rogers. This was a proud Scotland team who took great offense to being called a joke.
Eventually the Australian class rose, after a half time bollocking and helped in no small manner to some dodgy decision by some beautiful referee with fantastic hair. The aussies ran in 3 second half tries to pull away to a final score of 33- 16 and set up the semi against the all blacks.
“whats the point of all this?” you ask…. Well this is just me trying to find some semblance of hope for this current Scottish team and some scenario in which they might win this game.
Australia are the competitions form team at the moment, having come through the group of death in flying colours and with little disruption. Pocock and Folau both miss this game with niggling injuries, but both are expected back the following week. In Bernard Foley Australia have a player on fire, supreme in confidence in his own ability after a season of questions. His record of 89% from the tee is one of the best in the competition so far, and has showed no sign of being the weak point a lot of people predicted. McCalman comes into 8, which is a move that will bolster the aussie line out, an area the scots might thing they should be getting at least parity at. While Beale doesn’t have Folaus imperiousness under the high ball, hes still a very accomplished footballer and a player with something to prove, so he will be chomping at the bit to have a big impact on the game here.

‘Gray the better’ and Ross Ford are now available to play after their bans were over turned. How it will affect the line ups and preparation to receive this news 24 hours before kick off is anyone guess, but im sure Vern Cotter is delighted. Scotland would have been essentially down to their 3rd and 4th choice locks in the elder Gray and Swinson, but now Jonny and Richie can line out in a RWC quarter final with pride. Ford will probably return to the bench in place of Kevin Bryce

Head to Head

Hooper V Hardie

Here are two players who know each other well from their club performances. Hoopers waratahs were super XV winners in 2014 and Hardies Highlanders winners in 2015 (yep, had to get that in here somewhere :pac:) Where Hooper is a constant blonde locked blur of activity, the elder Hardie is more conservative with his energy. His aim on Sunday will be to negate Hooper as much as possible. Id suggest if Hooper makes turnovers in this game it will be because Hardie will be the ball carrier. Hardies credentials may be suspect but hes a big reason Scotland are where they are as hi performance against Samoa was huge. His 14 carries was the highest of any scot that day, twice that of the next carrying forward, with Denton at 7 carries. Two world cup starts, two tries.

Half back battle


Finn Russell is the great white hope in Scotland. The 23 year old already has 19 caps and is a celtic league winner. Against Australia hes going to have to have the perfect game for Scotland to have a chance. He has been known to have the odd mare however under pressure, like in this years 6N game versus wales where a dodgy day off the boot and from the hand was capped off with a yellow card for running under a jumping Dan Biggar. Greg Laidlaw has had a sold if unspectacular tournament so far, but that’s really what he brings to the table. His real strengths lay in his leadership as captain and his organising, oh and his dead eye off the tee (93% success). In 2003 Scotlands main strength was also their half backs of Brian Redpath and Christ Paterson. They faced off that day against the wonderful skills of George Gregan and Stephen Larkham, one of the best partnerships that ever took to a field. While Genia and Foley aren’t a patch on their predecessors, their partnership is working very well. Both suffered pretty poor seasons following their SXV wins and both have had to surpass talented players to claim the 9 and 10 jersies, Genia having a good season with the Reds has seen him picked ahead of Nick Phipps and Nic White. Foley has proven to be a more trustworthy than Quade Cooper, and Nick Toomua is seen as more of finisher in the 22 jersey.


Prediction

Stephen Larkham was there in 2003, worn the tee shirt so to speak. Between him and Cheika they will certainly not allow any sense of complacency, buts that easier said than done. Scotland will point to the absence of Pocock as a plus at the breakdown, and at Folau as possible attacking option to drop bombs on Beale. This Scottish back line know each other inside out and if Russell fizzes we could be in for a high scoring exciting try filled game.
The return of the Scottish ‘tip two’ will fill their team mates with some extra confidence, but not enough to get them over the line in my opinion.

I can see Australia winning this by 4 tries to 2, probably around 36 – 17.

Scotland will have to look beyond 2003... something i was unable to do

ThisRegard

I'm seeking sanctuary here from the idiots on the other side.

Scotland you glorious bastards, do it for the nordies!

vienne86

Come on Scotland.....we need cheering up!

Coburger

Two words to Scotland ..... "Good Luck"

Honestly, here's hoping Scotland put it up to them. Come on Scotland!!!

FPLLeebo

Lets go Scotland

vienne86

Sill start from Scotland.

Kiwi_knock

That was try was coming. Could be a long match for Scotland if it continues like this.

Celly Smunt

Gwan the jocks!

GreNoLi

C'mon the Scotch!

Stheno

Scotland now 13-5 up!

Del.Monte

Come on the Aussies!

tanko

i know its early days but wouldnt it be hilarious if Scotland were the only northern hemisphere team to reach the semis.

Del.Monte

tanko wrote: »

i know its early days but wouldnt it be hilarious if Scotland were the only northern hemisphere team to reach the semis.

No, and it won't happen.

sorta_happy

il never shout for scotland in anything but they are giving it a hell of a go here

ixus

Tackler was 50m ahead of Mitchell kick never retreated. How did Joubert miss that? A joke.

errlloyd

Praying for Scotland here.

vienne86

Fair play to Scotland......but no panic for Oz.

stadedublinois

ixus wrote: »

Tackler was 50m ahead of Mitchell kick never retreated. How did Joubert miss that? A joke.

Isn't everyone onside when the ball goes into touch?

Kiwi_knock

Huge call

CurryFlavoured

Captain Hooper!

vienne86

That was a well worked try for Oz. Scotland blew their chance when they were in a great position.

Orchard Rebel

I've lost count of the number of times David Denton has done something daft that has cost Scotland....

CurryFlavoured

0/3 for Foley. My bet at -15 might regret those.

vienne86

Scotland in thte lead at half time.....just.

Kiwi_knock

Foley having a horror show from the tee, imagine Giteau will take the next kick

Al_Coholic

Foley has been poor in every aspect of that first half

Very Bored

Come on Scotland! I didn't even watch the first half as I was expecting a mauling.

DDC1990

Joubert letting the Scots away with murder at scrumtime.

Aussies look disinterested. Real lack of intensity.

Scotland really up for it. Easily the better team in the first half.

Hope Australia get their act together in the second half.

vienne86

Aussies will get a right telling off at half time from Cheika. I think they'll come out roaring after the break.

CurryFlavoured

They still look like scoring tries regularly. Expect Aus to drift away, hopefully by over 15 points.

Kiwi_knock

One of the hallmarks of the Cheika reign has been the huge impact off the bench, so Scotland need to increase the gap in the first 10 mins of the second half.