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Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup 2023
[RWC2019][Pool A] Round 4 - Japan vs. Scotland (13/10/2019)
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<blockquote data-quote="Bruce_ma gooshvili" data-source="post: 967660" data-attributes="member: 74121"><p>Answer: they have been neutered by Townsend's selections and tactics. It is hard for Hogg to make an impact when you are kicking the ball away so much.</p><p></p><p>I agree on the rest of your post, Scotland have only shown signs of developing their own talent in the past few years, with a half dozen or so of the youngsters in today's 23. So they are playing catch-up against their peers. While Ireland and Wales have project players to augment their squads, Scotland have been guilty in the past of effectively depending on them . You will achieve little relying on the cast-offs of other unions. </p><p></p><p>To my mind the best comparisons for Scotland are Australia and Japan. Ordinary packs with dangerous attacking backs. Whereas Joseph and Cheika will double down on their strengths by playing at pace to try and give their backs chances before the opposing defence has got organised, Townsend has moved away from that. Laidlaw could be great behind a strong pack, but does anyone see him fitting Japan better than Nagare or Australia better than the equally mobile Genia? No? Then why does anyone (including Townsend) think he would suit Scotland?</p><p></p><p>Townsend is on record as saying he is moving away from the pace style and that tactical, territorial play is the key for success - despite the game at Twickenham where Finn ripped up Townsends territorial tactics up at half time providing possibly the clearest possible evidence to the contrary. </p><p></p><p>For a club coach who can buy in talent, no problem. But for an international coach you surely need to tailor your tactics around what you have available. The pacey game is high risk and you can end up looking foolish, but Cheika and Joseph know that trying to keep the tempo high is the only chance they have with the players available; and that a risky, outside chance is better than playing away from your strengths and playing safe. The only time Scotland tried to play with pace in this tournament was the last thirty against Japan, but that was with untested combinations of players playing out of position. </p><p></p><p>Scotland are developing youth talent on a more consistent basis now and have two competitive professional teams and a host of talented centres (Scott, Bennett, Dunbar, Huw) that Townsend for some reason elected not to pick over Johnson and Harris. So the picture is not all doom and gloom despite the u20's hiccup. If he is open minded and able to reflect that the decisions he has made has coincided with Scotland's decline, then all is not lost. He is a smart cookie in some ways and who knows what Wales and Ireland will look like with new coaches. </p><p></p><p>But yes, the overriding lesson is that you must never ditch a coach who is doing well regardless of who else might be available.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bruce_ma gooshvili, post: 967660, member: 74121"] Answer: they have been neutered by Townsend's selections and tactics. It is hard for Hogg to make an impact when you are kicking the ball away so much. I agree on the rest of your post, Scotland have only shown signs of developing their own talent in the past few years, with a half dozen or so of the youngsters in today's 23. So they are playing catch-up against their peers. While Ireland and Wales have project players to augment their squads, Scotland have been guilty in the past of effectively depending on them . You will achieve little relying on the cast-offs of other unions. To my mind the best comparisons for Scotland are Australia and Japan. Ordinary packs with dangerous attacking backs. Whereas Joseph and Cheika will double down on their strengths by playing at pace to try and give their backs chances before the opposing defence has got organised, Townsend has moved away from that. Laidlaw could be great behind a strong pack, but does anyone see him fitting Japan better than Nagare or Australia better than the equally mobile Genia? No? Then why does anyone (including Townsend) think he would suit Scotland? Townsend is on record as saying he is moving away from the pace style and that tactical, territorial play is the key for success - despite the game at Twickenham where Finn ripped up Townsends territorial tactics up at half time providing possibly the clearest possible evidence to the contrary. For a club coach who can buy in talent, no problem. But for an international coach you surely need to tailor your tactics around what you have available. The pacey game is high risk and you can end up looking foolish, but Cheika and Joseph know that trying to keep the tempo high is the only chance they have with the players available; and that a risky, outside chance is better than playing away from your strengths and playing safe. The only time Scotland tried to play with pace in this tournament was the last thirty against Japan, but that was with untested combinations of players playing out of position. Scotland are developing youth talent on a more consistent basis now and have two competitive professional teams and a host of talented centres (Scott, Bennett, Dunbar, Huw) that Townsend for some reason elected not to pick over Johnson and Harris. So the picture is not all doom and gloom despite the u20's hiccup. If he is open minded and able to reflect that the decisions he has made has coincided with Scotland's decline, then all is not lost. He is a smart cookie in some ways and who knows what Wales and Ireland will look like with new coaches. But yes, the overriding lesson is that you must never ditch a coach who is doing well regardless of who else might be available. [/QUOTE]
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[RWC2019][Pool A] Round 4 - Japan vs. Scotland (13/10/2019)
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