Heavy losses mar start of Dubai Sevens for Scotland

Published on Friday 4 December 2009 23:13

SCOTLAND will face Wales in the quarter finals of the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens Bowl competition today after finishing a disappointing last in their group yesterday at the end of the first day of the IRB World Series opening tournament.

The talk in the Scotland camp had been of continuing the form shown at London and Edinburgh in the last two tournaments of the 2008/09 season when the Scots reached the semi-finals. But any hopes of replicating these successes were cruelly dashed first by Fiji and then by Samoa, who both put Scotland's new-look team to the sword with 47-12 and 36-7 victories in successive ties.

Scotland's problems stemmed from a serious failure at the restart , either in executing the kick or fielding the ball. Against both Fiji and Samoa the Scots lost possession at just about every restart which meant Scotland were without the ball for most of play.

Moreover Scotland tended to stand off their opponents rather than put pressure on them and with both Fiji and Samoa possessing gifted individual runners there was always going to be just one result.

"We didn't get into the game against Fiji and were always chasing it," said Scotland sevens coach, Stephen Gemmell.

"Fiji and Samoa run hard but we tended to stand off them. We created a lot of our bad fortune".

He added: "We should be better than where we are. But to go from a relatively low standard of rugby at home to this is very difficult for the players".

Fiji's Emosi Vucago demonstrated this only too well with a four try tally while his team mate William Ryder, a genuine star of the sevens circuit, celebrated his return to the Fiji side with two tries and six conversions. When Scotland did have possession they showed their ability with a try at the end of the first half by Scott Forrest and a second half effort by Hefin O'Hare.

Against Samoa Scotland's only try came from a first half touch down by Andy Turnbull that resulted in a 7-19 half time scoreline. But in the second half Scotland's failings at the restarts allowed Samoa to score a further three tries for a comfortable win. Scotland had to win against Zimbabwe to avoid a whitewash but again failure to execute basic skills, a loss of shape in defence, and perhaps a lack of confidence resulted in a 17-17 draw against the East Africans.

The Scots' points difference, however, was inferior, relegating Scotland to bottom place.

Gemmell also has an injury problem for today. Playmaker Mike Adamson was carried off the field on a stretcher after suffering a head knock.

"Mike will be assessed overnight but clearly we will not take any chances with him" stated Gemmell.

SCOTLAND SQUAD: Scott Forrest (captain), Mike Adamson, Grant Anderson (Ayr), Mike Baxter (Bath), James Eddie (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Jericevich (Glasgow Hawks), Lee Jones (Selkirk), Stuart McInally (Watsonians), Hefin O'Hare (Glasgow Warriors), Colin Shaw, David Tait (Sale Sharks), Andrew Turnbull (Edinburgh).