Seahawks Destroy The Broncos At Super Bowl XLVIII

by Dugald Skene

As the confetti settles on Super Bowl XLVIII, there is much to mull on following Seattle's 43-8 defensive demolition of the Denver Broncos.

For all the talk in the unprecedented and intoxicating build up to the main event, the game boiled down to the best NFL defence dominating the NFL's best ever offense.

The 35 point difference in the final score line highlights the dominance of one team over the other, but the fact it was over the best offense to ever take the field (by numbers) is a testament to the scale of the achievement by Seattle.

Peyton Manning and his Broncos did not play at their best, but they weren't allowed to.  Manning himself didn't have a terrible game, he threw for 34 completions, more than any other quarterback in a Super Bowl, and for 280 yards. Demaryius Thomas received the ball a Super Bowl record 13 times.  It was the turnovers that killed them and the Broncos offense coughed up the ball 4 times in the game.

The overriding principle for the Seahawks defence is speed. Even for Manning who is the fastest in the NFL at releasing the ball (average of 2.3 seconds from snap to release in 2013), the edge rush and the speed in the back field gave him much smaller windows to complete passes than he had seen all season.

And that defence was backed from the off. After winning the coin toss (conducted by the slightly overdressed Joe Namath!), the Seahawks chose to kick, putting the Broncos offense straight on to the pitch. It was a fantastic and ballsy call.

The game got off to a bad start for Manning, as miscommunication with his centre Ramirez saw the ball fly over his right shoulder and into the end zone where it was claimed by a retreating Bronco but given up for a safety. 12 seconds, 2 points to the Seahawks.  They didn't look back. Every single member of the defensive unit made plays - Chancellor, Sherman, Wagner, Clemons, Wright, Thomas, Smith, Avril, Maxwell - they all had big games.

Manning's mishap saw the fall fly past him as the

Broncos conceded a safety

The Seahawks went into halftime 22-0 up, shutting out Denver offense and restricting them to just 11 yards total. Compare that to the 45 yards garnered by the resurgent Percy Harvin and the overall 161 yards notched up by the Seahawks offence.  Credit needs to go to that unit too.  Under second year QB Russell Wilson, they managed 4/6 3rd down conversions by halftime which was critical to keeping Manning off the field.  Ultimately though, 16 of the 22 points came from defensive plays and the Seahawks were rocking.

You'd have expected the Broncos to take a long hard look at themselves, and I'm sure they did.  The first message would have been not to panic. The second would have been to not concede first in the second half.

The restart kick was deliberately kicked short in an effort to stop Percy Harvin gaining any momentum.  The reality turned out somewhat differently as Harvin gathered the ball after the bounce and set off through a slew of half tackles and ran right through for an 89 yard kick off return TD. As in the first half, the Seahawks scored after 12 seconds, an unintentional but well received tribute to the 12th Man, the resolutely loyal Seahawks fan faithful.

Having only played 40 odd snaps of football all season, Percy Harvin was proving to be the difference maker in the Seahawks offence.

29-0 down, the game was over then if it wasn't before for the Broncos. Never before in Super Bowl history has a team overcome a deficit of more than 10 points. Only twice before in Super Bowls had a team scored more than 22 unanswered points. Both times it was 24 points and both times it was against the Broncos. Harvin's kick return smashed that record too.

The second half saw a more even contest but let's be honest, it couldn't have got worse for the Broncos from there.  The Seahawks continued to make defensive plays but Manning seemed to find more of a groove and tempo, resulting in a TD throw to Wes Welker on the stroke of the 3rd quarter.  For all the turnovers, the Seahawks offense still got their points. There were touchdowns for Lynch, Harvin, Kearse and Baldwin through the course of the game to add to the two defensive TDs.  On the night, the 3rd largest Super Bowl winning margin of 43-8 was fair.

Russell Wilson picked up the Lombardi trophy in his

second season, the 3rd youngest QB ever

Much of the talk before the Super Bowl was what a win or loss would mean for Peyton Manning and his position in the conversation of who is the greatest quarterback in the history of the game.  The fact is he is the greatest regular season quarterback ever. Record breaking numbers, 5 MVP awards - I don't think there's a debate there.  But to be the best, regular season records count for little.  Manning's post season record is below .500.  The Super Bowl loss last night made him 1-2 in Super Bowls and 11-12 in all postseason games.  For me it's simple, he cannot be considered the greatest of all time, but he is in the top 3 or 4.

There are some other sad stories from the Broncos. Veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, all time leading defensive player in Pro Bowl picks and finally in his first Super Bowl, came up short.  Wide receiver Wes Welker notched his third Super Bowl loss in as many attempts, an unenviable record.  I wholeheartedly agree with Peyton Manning who reacted in the post match interview that the Broncos performance was embarrassing.  That is an insulting word, for the effort that goes in can't be discounted.  They were just outplayed on the night.

The Seahawks, none of whom had any Super Bowl experience, played like it. They have played all season with an abandon and combined chip on their shoulder stemming from a lack of recognition from around the league, attention that has only really focussed on them through this season. 

Coach Pete Carroll, once denounced from the NFL for being 'too friendly' with his players when he was on the coaching set up at the Jets in the 1990's has come back via a stunning college football run to lead this young team to glory.  He will feel a certain sense of redemption, I'm sure.

I'm delighted for the Seahawks.  It's a combination of youth and enthusiasm with a balance and dedication that has seen them triumph.  They seem to live by the mantra of work hard, play hard.  Last night, they definitely did that.

Scotland's Team Selection Is A Vote Of No Confidence For Jackson

by Dugald Skene

Scott Johnson has once again proved his ability to baffle, or at least defy expectations.  Scotland's interim head coach has picked his 23 man squad for the upcoming opening game of the 6 Nations in Dublin and has left some notable names either on the bench, or out of the squad completely.

The immediate headlines in the wake of the announcement appear to centre around the international return of full back Stuart Hogg.  Absent for the November tests, his inclusion now is hardly a surprise. When fit, he can now be considered a shoo-in for a starting berth.  Perhaps more significant is the start that has been given to Duncan Weir at fly half and consequently, the omission of Ruaridh Jackson from the match day squad altogether.

I have to say I'm delighted with this particular selection. I won't go over it all again, but I saw this tournament as the last chance for Ruaridh Jackson to stake his claim as the consistent starting 10 for Scotland in the lead up to next year's World Cup.  I have also seen Weir as the long term fixture in the position, so to see Johnson plump for him from the outset is great news.

Duncan Weir starts for Scotland with Ruaridh Jackson

out of the match day squad

It is a risky strategy though, as the back up for Weir is his half back partner Greig Laidlaw. With both starting, Johnson is clearly expecting one or the other to see out 80 minutes, most likely Laidlaw.  With only Chris Cusiter on the bench who can cover at 9, Stuart Hogg is the only man with experience, albeit limited experience, at the fly half position at anything like this level.

Scotland do have flexibility in the backs. Sean Lamont can, although shouldn't, play in the centre and Maitland can cover across the back three if pieces need moved around.  The back line generally has a sense of defensive solidity about it, perhaps purveying a negative approach to the game.  But like fielding a defensive line up in football when playing away from home, Johnson can't be blamed for taking this tack.  Scotland will be looking to smash and grab when they can but will fully expect to spend the majority of their time keeping the Irish out.

This all makes Hogg's inclusion more important, and shifts a fair amount of responsibility to spark some attacking backs play on to his shoulders.  He is perhaps the only Scottish back that has the ability to make something out of nothing, and can do it from deep as he has proved so many times before.

I like the inclusion of Alex Dunbar, but regret he isn't getting to start with Matt Scott, the centre combination I see as the future for Scotland and which played so well last summer in South Africa. Duncan Taylor had a torrid Autumn for Scotland but will hopefully look to reverse that form and play to the potential he has shown at Saracens.  There's no doubt he'll see more of the ball playing outside Weir rather than Jackson.

The forward pack selection has also thrown up some surprises, not so much about who's in, but who's out. Richie Gray, Geoff Cross and Johnnie Beattie are all on the bench.  While Scotland fans will see less of the talismanic Gray than they did a couple of seasons ago now he plies his trade at Castres, they will have fond memories of his runaway try against the Irish in 2012 and will have wanted to see him start again.  That said, the strength at second row is particularly deep at the moment, and Hamilton and Swinson provide plenty of power in the heart of the scrum.

Ryan Wilson has been selected at 6 and David Denton at 8, ahead of Beattie. Captain Kelly Brown continues at 7, a position to which he is not naturally attuned. Beattie is the only specialist back row cover on the bench.

In the front row Ryan Grant naturally starts, with the out of form Ross Ford getting the nod at hooker, a position he still hasn't adjusted to since the scrum law changes. He needs a big game, as does Moray Low, who has never got it all together for Scotland. Up against Cian Healy, he'll have it all to do.

The Irish are up there with the favourites to win the tournament this year, despite needing to travel to Twickenham and the Stade de France, but with two home games up first, they'll be keen to get off to a flier.  The Australians really rocked their scrum back in November and that will be an area Scotland will target if the front row can click.

It's going to be a hell of a test for the Scots, but a repeat of 2010 isn't out of the question, and if they can reduce the game to a slug fest and stop the Irish from scoring early, like last year, Scotland can compete with anyone.

Scotland team to face Ireland:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Sean Maitland
13 Alex Dunbar
12 Duncan Taylor
11 Sean Lamont
10 Duncan Weir
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Ryan Grant
2 Ross Ford
3 Moray Low
4 Tim Swinson
5 Jim Hamilton
6 Ryan Wilson
7 Kelly Brown (c)
8 David Denton

Substitutes:
16 Pat MacArthur
17 Alasdair Dickinson
18 Geoff Cross
19 Richie Gray
20 Johnnie Beattie
21 Chris Cusiter
22 Matt Scott
23 Max Evans

The 2014 Six Nations Is, On Paper, Wide Open

by Dugald Skene

Here we go again.

The 2014 6 nations seems to promise the usual thrills and spills, but there is a decided air of uncertainty going around as to who will take the championship crown.  The English are well backed, and the Irish and French also have good support following the success of the provincial and top 14 teams in this year's Heineken Cup.

Unfortunately as a Scotland fan, there isn't much promise beyond the usual expectations, but being an 'even' year, Scotland do host the English and French at Murrayfield and on their day, have the ability to throw a spanner in the works.

It seems almost clichéd to say that the Italians are an ever-improving force, and there's no doubt they will be eyeing the fifth placed spot at the very least, especially as they host Scotland in week 4 and have always played strongly against England in Rome in recent years.

Wales are perhaps the biggest unknown, simply down to who is fit and who isn't. Captain Sam Warburton has already been announced as being a substitute for the opening salvo against Italy at the Millennium, and Warren Gatland will have a few holes to fill elsewhere.  With 3 games at home though, they can't be discounted as they look to claim their third championship on the spin.

In most respects, predictions are somewhat pointless and generally founded on the form of individual players rather than the teams.  The last time each nation played was in November, and while not that long ago, autumn test form is rarely a barometer for 6 Nations success - just look at France last year.

Can Wales make it 3 in a row?

That said, the final table is something to muse, so why not?

First off, I don't believe there will be a grand slam winner this year.  The fixtures are such that everybody has tough away days that some will win and some won't.  I see Wales losing at Twickenham, but Ireland triumphing.  On the reverse, I can see Wales winning in France where they have a wonderful record but France beating Ireland in what could well be a championship decider on March 15th in Paris.

Scotland have always been good value in Wales, most notably in 2010 where they suffered a heart aching self destruction to lose in the final seconds.  Is 2014 there year to win in Cardiff?  The English in turn have only won once at Murrayfield since 2004.  Scotland always raise their game for the arrival of the English.

So no, there won't be a grand slam this year - that is probably my most confident prediction.  The winner however, is between France, Ireland and England.  While Ireland have an opportunity to get a strong start under their belts with 2 home games against Scotland and Wales, the French host the English in week once in a game that could define the rest of the tournament.  England played so well in France 2 years ago to win, but I don't see that bit of history repeating itself this year.  The French clubs have played so well in European competition so far this year, and the French contingents of each seem to be gaining form as their clubs do.

For me, I think the French will win the tournament.  There is no lack of talent and ability to run away with the 6 Nations on an annual basis for France, it always seems to come down to attitude and team selection.  The former should be sharpened following last year's awful showing, so it's down to the combinations that take to the field.

Ireland will come second this year.  The fixtures suit them with 2 home games up first and a trip to Twickenham with 2 weeks break either side in the middle, a game I fancy them for.  Ireland will go to Paris on Super Saturday looking for a Grand Slam but will come up short, and France will sneak off with the trophy from under their noses.

With predicted losses to the French and Irish, I see the English winning their other fixtures.  Scotland away and Wales at home will be tough affairs, and I admit I would dearly love to see them lose both, but I think they are starting to come good, achieving a consistency in both form and selection under Lancaster now that spells out a clear focus on 2015.

My heart says Scotland will win in both Italy and Wales, two games where they will be undoubted underdogs. They will finish fourth.  My head fears for the worst.

Wales will come in fifth and Italy will round off the group, but I have to stress not because they are perceived as the whipping boys anymore (not that a Scotland fan could ever claim they were).

It's going to be a fascinating tournament, and for once I think all the hyperbole from the head coaches ahead of the opening weekend may well ring true. While none of them are bigging up their own team, at least 4 of them will be confident of going home with the crown.  For that reason alone, all of them will fall short of the grand slam.

Scotland's 2014 6 Nations Squad Does Little To Address Problem At Half Backs

by Dugald Skene

The 36 man Scotland training squad named on Wednesday for the upcoming 6 Nations tournament didn't throw up many, if any surprises.  In the wake of the announcement, some familiar comments were banding around the social networks, some that have been aired many times before but nevertheless still haven't been answered - like why Chris Fusaro is still not capped by his country?

Congratulations to Dougie Fife too, who was named in the squad as the only new boy.

For all the familiarity of the selection, the deficiencies at half back are still as glaringly obvious as ever.  Only two scrum halves - Greig Laidlaw and Chris Cusiter - have been selected and Scott Johnson appears to be once again plumping for Ruaridh Jackson at 10, with Duncan Weir his back up option.

The latter stuns me.  While there has no doubt been a marked improvement in Jackson's all round play under the tutelage of past master Gregor Townsend since his takeover of the Glasgow head coach job, Ruaridh is not an international stand off.  It's not for lack of trying and it's certainly not because he hasn't been afforded the opportunity, he has simply failed to take it and run with it.

Of course this is open to argument, but I would encourage anyone to try and think of any Ruaridh Jackson related highlights for Scotland in the past 5 years or so.  I certainly struggle.

Ruaridh Jackson is under pressure to perform

What's more, I believe there is better talent behind him ready to be exposed at a consistent level.  First in line is Duncan Weir.  Small in stature and a little weak in defence, he has far me far more awareness of the game around him and is infinitely better at making those split second decisions.  A classic example would be when he came on for Jackson in that dismal performance against South Africa last November. Almost instantly, he was shipping the ball to the man on his outside shoulder and wasn't trying audacious miss passes at every opportunity.

His kicking from hand is accurate, and possibly his best weapon. Even better, he knows when it's on and when it isn't. His threaded through kick against South Africa was inch perfect and should have led to Tommy Seymour crossing the line was it not for some last ditch covering. It was Scotland's only real chance of the game and came from a clear awareness of what was in front of him and a well executed kick under pressure from a strong South African defensive line.

The issues over his size and strength are real ones, but it wasn't that long ago that Leigh Halfpenny was considered quite weak defensively. We all know how that turned out.

Second in line is probably Tom Heathcote, who I admit up front I don't know a huge amount about.  What I have seen of him from the quadrangular tournament in South Africa last summer and a few games here and there, he has the clear potential to establish himself as a very different option to Weir. Being based in England, he has had little opportunity to familiarise himself with the Scottish crowds, and vice versa, and so some exposure now would have been beneficial, I would have thought.

Time is running out. With a  little over 18 months until the World Cup, Scotland need to have an established figure at 10 that can direct the game, and even be a game changer. Not since Townsend have we had any real creativity at that position, it's all been a bit one dimensional. That's not to say a non-creative player can't succeed - I wouldn't put Craig Chalmers in the bracket of 'flair player' - but at least Chalmers was solid, consistent and knew how to read the game and adapt accordingly.

With the likely crucial showdown with Samoa set to dictate whether Scotland progress from the group to the quarter finals, experience at key positions is going to be required.

In short, this 6 Nations tournament is the last chance for Ruaridh Jackson. I'd give him two games to prove that he can step up and perform for Scotland at the highest level, including at Murrayfield against the English, who we have only lost to once since 2004 on Scottish turf.

So what about scrum half?

Firstly, I'm surprised Henry Pyrgos hasn't been included in the squad.  With only 2 specialist scrum halves, we are not giving ourselves many options.  As much as I like him and he has been my preferred number 9 of the last decade or so, Chris Cusiter is on his way out at international level.  In many respects, he has been unlucky in the past with injuries and a particularly strong competition for places whilst Mike Blair and Rory Lawson were both vying for top spot. 

That said, unless there is a clear intention for Cusiter to be at the next World Cup as one of the top two scrum half options, he shouldn't be picked over the younger emerging talents of the likes of Pyrgos.

I'm no betting man, but provided he stays fit, Greig Laidlaw will be the first name on the World Cup team sheet - of that I have no doubt - and I would be happy with that.  He has been reasonably consistent and he knows how to rally his forwards. A strong voice for a wee man and a key leader for a team that lacks a lot of leadership, especially in the backs.

If the Scottish fans are honest with themselves (and I am a hopeless optimist at this time every year), Scotland don't have a realistic shot at the 6 nations title.  It may be a slightly controversial opinion, but I would happily see the Scottish coaching staff approach this year's tournament with an air of experimentation, fully aware that the price may be a wooden spoon.  I believe the potential long term benefits may well be worth it.  I'm not suggesting we don't compete, because any Scottish player would give their all, no matter who was on the pitch. I just think it might be the right time to take some risks.

Scott Johnson's selection is notably risk averse, and this saddens me somewhat.


Scotland's 36 man training camp squad for the 6 Nations 2014:

Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

Not considered due to injury: Alastair Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) and Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).

Notable names left out: John Barclay (Scarlets), Jack Cuthbert, Roddy Grant (Edinburgh), Dougie Hall, Henry Pyrgos, Jon Welsh (Glasgow)

NFL Conference Finals Are The Deserved Match Ups

by Dugald Skene

Never mind that the NFL conference final line ups are the ones we wanted to see, they are the match ups that all four teams deserve.

It's been many a year since the top 2 seeds from each conference have made it to their respective finals in the same year. Lately, there has always been an outsider, a wildcard team that has got hot in the post season.  Look no further than the Giants and the Ravens in the last two years as prime examples, both getting in through the back door to claim the Superbowl crown.

The divisional round didn't throw up any real surprises, and nothing like the exciting action of wildcard weekend (unless you're a fan of dominant defences slugging it out), but the cream has risen to the top, and the two match ups this weekend are generating many a headline.

The most obvious one is the difference in styles - the old versus the new, the young guns of the NFC taking on the stalwarts of the AFC.  The immediate advantage is that we will end up with a representative of each in the Superbowl and it doesn't really matter at this stage who progresses to the biggest stage - any combination of Seattle and the 49ers against the Broncos or Patriots is a mouth watering prospect.

With such even matched games, it's anyone's guess who will be in New York in February, but it won't stop me trying.

San Francisco at Seattle has everything - dominant defences, strong running games and two young quarterbacks that have the ability to carry their team when needed.

Colin Kaepernick of the 49ers has undoubtedly got the best arsenal at his disposal.  The triumphant return of Michael Crabtree at WR, together with veteran Anquan Boldin and TE Vernon Davis, means the 49ers have all their strongest options available to them.  The outstanding Seahawks secondary will have their hands full, but if there's any defence that can contain the 49ers wide men, it's the likes of Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor and co.  Each had an outstanding game against the Saints this past weekend, confining Drew Brees to a career low 34 throwing yards in the first half of that game.  More of the same will be needed this time.

This will be the 3rd time the 49ers and Seahawks have

met this season

The Kaepernick/Wilson battle is generating a lot of intrigue.  There's no doubt that Kaepernick has go hotter as this postseason has gone on, not least because of the return to fitness of Crabtree, and Wilson's form during the last 5-6 weeks hasn't been great.  Wilson's options are also limited.  Percy Harvin is a doubt after being concussed at least once by the Saints (a great and legal hit too, by the way), and Golden Tate was a shell of himself after taking an early hit in the 1st quarter on Sunday.  Doug Baldwin isn't a first choice WR and so much of Seattle's game plan will be to run the ball through Marshawn Lynch - Beast Mode. 

I'm not convinced a one-dimensional running game is going to cut it against that front 7 of San Francisco who have been epic against the run of late.  Even with the 12th man behind them, Seattle could struggle in this one.

Pick: San Francisco 49ers by 6

If I'm truly honest about it, I don't care so much about the AFC conference game.  It's certainly one for the old timers, the fans of the pocket passer and the old school general type quarterback.  Both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have been here before - Manning going for his 3rd Superbowl appearance (and second win), Brady his 6th (and 4th win). 

Both men are under pressure for different reasons.  Talk in the NFL has been dominated by the idea of legacy and what it means for Manning to win or not win a second ring. There is no doubt he has been one of the best regular season QB's in the history of the game, but the regular season wins you nothing. His postseason record is poor  for a guy with his numbers.  Taking nothing away from his win with the Colts, with the Broncos he has the back up that might see him fulfil the undoubted potential of the last decade.  With WRs Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker and TE Julius Thomas, he has big men to throw at, as well as the small man with the big game aptitude, slot receiver Wes Welker.

This will be the 4th postseason game between Brady & Manning

 - Brady leads 2-1

Brady, on the other hand, hasn't won a Superbowl for 9 years, despite making it to the big one twice since the win in 2004.  A win this year could possible cement him as the best ever - the third quarterback to win 4 rings but easily the most consistent over the longest period.  This will be the Patriots' 3rd consecutive AFC conference game, and Brady and coach Belichik have won 11 divisional titles together

I see the Patriots going to Denver and playing hard ball.  If this past weekend has shown us anything, it's that the Patriots can evolve quickly, and lately their running game has come to the fore with LeGarette Blount - 8 TD's and almost 400 yards in his past 3 games. 

For Denver to win this, they need to get off to a strong start.  The longer the game goes on and Denver find themselves in a position where they need to make big offensive plays to win, the pressure might get just too much, and the Mile High crowd might not help their team as much as we might think.  When it comes to the clutch, I'd rather have Brady than Manning on my side.  That said, if the Broncos defence plays like they did for 3 quarters against the Chargers on Sunday, they're in with a very good start.

Pick:  Denver Broncos by 3

Searching For Positives On A Dire Day For Scotland

by Dugald Skene

I'll cut to the chase - That was the worst I've seen Scotland play for a long time.

I wasn't expecting much against one of the two form teams in the world and if I'm honest, the 28 point difference at the end was pretty much the figure I had in my head when entering Murrayfield in the misty drizzle.

What I didn't expect was the Scots not scoring a single point.  I've refrained from going through the annals to check the last time we were held to zero at Murrayfield, I thought any such search would be too depressing and ultimately pointless, but it must be a fair while. 

Willie La Roux breaks clear as Scotland players trip over themselves. Story of the game

So where did it all go wrong?

Firstly, South Africa were excellent but without ever having to excel themselves.  As much as Scotland contributed to their own downfall, South Africa prevented them from playing.  They were more combative at the breakdown without having to commit the numbers that Scotland did at ruck time. They also took their chances.

Scotland's defence was generally pretty good.  They scrambled where they had to and reset quickly enough. The 3 tries in the first half were basically either down to brute force or individual opportunism and skill.

What frustrated me most though, was pretty much every time Scotland got their hands on the ball.  Whether it be at the lineout (we lost the first 4), or in open play, we couldn't do anything but turn it over.  Decision making by Ruaridh Jackson was bewildering at times.  Choosing to kick the ball cross field, off second phase ball, on the halfway line during first sustained (about 30 seconds) period of possession was ludicrous.

Duncan Taylor on a debut he'll likely want to forget, and Nick de Luca all too often dropped the ball in midfield when they did get it from Jackson, but more often than not they were bypassed by ill informed miss passes or ill conceived kicks.

Scotland had nothing in attack, and looked defeated in the face of an incredibly strong and defensively quick South African back line.  Scotland suffered by trying to stick too long to the Scott Johnson ethos of rugby - keeping the ball in play.  Murrayfield was beginning to reminisce about the touch finding skills of Dan Parks at halftime, a man who's skills were ideally suited to this game and the conditions.  Scotland didn't have the quality in attack to play too much in front of the South Africans, they had to kick for territory if they had any chance of nicking points down the other end.  As it was, the South Africans spent what must have been at least 90% of their time in Scotland's half.

Yes, the second half was better. And yes, they were only held to 7 points in that second period, but it is little consolation.

With all that said, and I fully accept that it is very easy to take pot shots at yesterday's performance, there were a couple of positives.  

Firstly, Duncan Weir.  His introduction for the final 13 minutes or so proved to inject pace and a better structure to Scotland's back play.  Contrary to Jackson, his decision making was excellent - he knew instinctively when something was on or otherwise, and when it was on, he executed the pass or kick very well, the kick to the corner which almost saw Max Evans touch down being the prime case in point. 

Defence at the set piece, particularly the line out, was ropey at best, but as already mentioned the overall shape and organisation of the defence in open play was good. South Africa's big hitters were for the best part kept at bay. 

There are many many elements of Scotland's performance on Sunday that had the fans heads in their hands, myself very much included. The principle frustration is knowing that the Scottish players have the ability to play so much better but on this occasion couldn't muster much of anything. Credit must go to South Africa who did exactly what they needed to do, but nothing more. 

A seemingly resurgent Australia will once again provide the sternest of tests for Scott Johnson's men, even with a few key players out on class detention. Where some fans may have sensed a whiff of an upset next Saturday, the realists will just be looking for a marked improvement from Scotland. Goodness knows they need it. 

Rory Lawson Announces Retirement Through Injury

Scottish international scrum half Rory Lawson announced his retirement today, with immediate effect due to a career ending wrist injury.

Lawson, who most recently has plied his trade at Newcastle Falcons, helping them back into the Aviva Premiership for the coming season, played for Scotland 31 times, including 12 starts, emulating his father Alan who also played for his country at number 9. Rory captained his country on 5 occasions. 

Scotland has consistently produced a high number of quality scrum halves over the years, and Rory was no exception. In many ways however it's the reason he never accumulated more caps for his country. Since playing his debut in 2006, he was in a 3 way contest with Chris Cusiter and Mile Blair to establish himself in the 9 shirt. All 3 men have captained Scotland, illustrating the strength in depth in the type if player and character we have been fortunate to see playing at scrum half for Scotland.

Rory Lawson celebrates Scotland's famous

win over South Africa

 

It's no surprise to me that Rory rose to the top of the game to lead Scotland. I was lucky enough to see him play and even train with Rory at schoolboy level, at Dollar Academy. Head boy of the school and captain of a 1st XV that included young upstarts like fellow Scottish cap Graeme Morrison, he showed very early the skills to lead on and off the pitch. 

Of course, he also comes from good rugby stock. As I mentioned, his father played for Scotland and his elder brother Gregor wasn't shy of a rugby ball and had a bit of pace about him as I recall. And of course his maternal grandfather was the legendary commentator Bill McLaren. 

Following university, he signed for Edinburgh where he played for 3 years before being signed by Gloucester Rugby in 2006, the club he would become synonymous with and where he would go on to play 151 times, leading the twice table topping cherry and whites to the playoffs where they never quite managed to clinch the title. 

His arrival and subsequent rise at Gloucester coincided with his first appearance in the national team, earning his debut against Australia in November 2006 at Murrayfield. 

His 6 nations debut came at Twickenham in 2007 against England off the bench. He started against France on the final weekend of that tournament. 

Other career highlights would include playing New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup and coming on for 60 minutes for an injured Chris Cusiter in the famous win over Australia in 2009.

But perhaps my residing memory of Rory in a Scotland shirt is when he captained Scotland against South Africa at Murrayfield in 2010. Rory controlled the game beautifully, his box kicking I remember was impeccable, his containment game exceptional. His face as he kicked the ball dead after the clock had gone red was the perfect mix of disbelief, relief and ecstasy.

Rory has left the playing side of the game but I get the feeling he'll be involved in other capacities, whether it be in commentary or coaching. He has been one of the most affable, hardworking and honest players to put on a Scotland jersey, both for fellow players and fans alike, and he will be missed.

I wish him all the very best in whatever he chooses to do in the future.

A Complete Murray Performance Sees Off Djokovic To Claim FirstWimbledon Title

From the sublimity of a straight sets victory over the world's best player to the ridiculousness of Alex Salmond's horrendous judgment of time and place, every superlative for Andy Murray's Wimbledon victory has been uttered over the last 24 hours.

The first Brit in 77 years, first Scot in over 110, Andy Murray's win is historic and doesn't deserve to be the subject of political oneupmanship, no matter what side of that particular debate you reside.

Talk of knighthoods, a notion that doesn't sit too well with Murray thankfully, however seems premature. I'm not necessarily against this form of recognition, but when it comes to sports stars, it seems odd to bestow an athlete with that high an accolade while their career has many years yet to run. It somehow slightly undermines any future success they may have, and it's generally recognised that at 26 Andy Murray has a good few career highlights yet to achieve.

That said, Murray's achievement in SW19 can't really be underestimated. In an era of tennis that has seen unprecedented domination by not one, not two but three of the best ever players over the last decade, Murray's resilience and determination to keep plugging away has been so admirable, anyone from any sporting background can appreciate his successes over the last year.

It has been a career year, a breakthrough for Murray following 2012's defeat in London, and the culmination of many years of hard work. And its exactly that which impresses me most. I'll confess, I'm an admirer of athletic prowess and any sportsman or woman that pushes themselves and dedicates their lives to be the best, and the last 4 or 5 years have seen Murray change a lot, especially physically. A move to Miami for winter training in each of those years has seen him get bigger, stronger and faster. Andy Murray is a real athlete.

Andy Murray's physicality saw him claim victory in the toughest of conditions

The BBC coverage revealed a statistic after the 3rd set in his quarter final 5 set win over Verdasco that Murray had covered over 2600m. That's over half a mile per set, covering the court in hundreds of short bursts. The requirement to sprint so often, change direction so quickly and to lunge and strike the ball over a match that can last 3, 4 or even 5 hours demands a huge and unique form of fitness. As all round athletic prowess goes, Murray must be close to being one of the fittest professional athletes in the UK.

Match all that physicality with the technical demands and speed of thought demanded by the likes of Novak Djokovic firing back balls as quickly as any player can, and Murray's achievements are all the more impressive. There was a lot of talk about the heat and the brutal conditions during yesterday's final - the referee's office were reporting court side temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius - and it reminded us all of Murray's comments after a win in the Miami Masters last year where he said it wasn't the physicality he struggled with in the heat, it's the decision making process. When you take that and see how he came back mid way through the second set from 4-1 down in those conditions, you can start to see how far he has come as the complete player.

Already many thoughts amongst the media fallout have turned to what he can achieve next. The answer, simply, is whatever he chooses.  At 26, he has half a dozen good years at least left in him. With realistic shots at 3 of the 4 grand slam events (the demands of the French Open clay don't really suit his style of play), there is no reason to think he can't bag at least one grand slam title in each of those years. 

7, 8, 9 grand slam titles? It seems hard to even imagine it, but given the events of the last year, who are we to doubt the possibility? Then we can start talking knighthoods.