SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

1987: Quarter Final

1991: Fourth Place

1995: Quarter Final

1999: Quarter Final

2003: Quarter Final

2007: Quarter Final

2011: Pool Stage

2015: Quarter Final

CHALLENGING POOL OF FAMILIAR

FOES AWAITS SCOTLAND IN JAPAN

he heartbreak of the 2015 Rugby
World Cup quarter-final defeat to
Australia and all the controversy
that went alongside it is still talked about
by Scottish rugby fans today. It is hard to
believe that it’s four years already since
Mark Bennett’s try seemed to have given
Scotland a first semi-final in 24 years, only
for Bernard Foley’s penalty to snatch that
away.
Four years on, and with Gregor Townsend
well bedded in as Head Coach, Scotland
will hope to mount a similar challenge
in Japan, but face a tricky pool that also
includes Ireland, Samoa - tough opponents
in the pool stage four years ago, and
the host nation - determined not to be
eliminated at the first hurdle.
Scotland’s schedule is interesting too, with
an opening game against Ireland and the

final match of the pool stage against

the host nation - that could be a

winner-takes-all shoot-out for second place,

depending on results elsewhere.

Either side of those games, a clash with the

hard-hitting Samoans who, despite their fall

down the World Rugby rankings,

should never be taken lightly; and a

first-ever meeting with Russia, of whom

little are known.

Scotland’s recent form is very much of

the mixed variety - the comeback against

England to retain the Calcutta Cup was

remarkable, but the fact that it even got to

the stage Scotland were 31-0 down is of

concern. Similarly, the away-day hoodoo

that still lingers over the squad - highlighted

by defeat in Paris in the spring - must also

be addressed.

The squad was badly affected by injuries

in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations, but a raft

of players, many of them first choice before

their ailments struck, have returned to

Townsend’s training squad and are battling

for a place on the plane to Japan.

The Head Coach will be using the valuable

time he has with the extended training

squad to hone their skills and expect

Scotland to play at high tempo throughout

the Rugby World Cup.

Their attacking threats, spearheaded by

Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg, are among

the most potent at the competition and if

the forwards get parity at the set-piece, an

area that has creaked a little in the recent

past, then Scotland could be a dangerous

proposition for any team in the autumn.

T

SCOTLAND

COACH:

GREGOR TOWNSEND

TAKE THE TRAM

TO THE SUMMER TESTS

3

TRAMS TO MURRAYFIELD

from every mins

DESTINATION:

GREATNESS

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RUGBY WORLD CUP - TOP 10

48 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019