Scotland relishing World Cup clash with Auld Enemy

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 23:20

SCOTLAND and England will meet for the first time in an overseas Rugby World Cup and both nations hailed the draw that pitched them together for the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

Scotland's slide in world rugby was clear yesterday when the draw pulled the Scots from the third pot of seeds, however, there was something of a silver lining as they avoided the southern hemisphere's 'big three' and the competitive Pacific Island nations.

Frank Hadden's squad will feature in a pool with their oldest rivals England, 140 years after they first met at Raeburn Place, as well as Argentina, ranked fourth in the world and the side responsible for knocking Scotland out at the quarter-final stage last year with two qualifiers still to be confirmed. The host nation New Zealand were drawn in Pool A along with France and Tonga; Australia, Ireland and Italy came out together in Pool C and South Africa, Wales and Fiji will meet in Pool D in 2011.

That final pool is already being viewed as the toughest as Fiji knocked the Welsh out in the pools last year and the favourite to join those three from the Oceania qualifying section is Samoa, who also have a record of knocking out Wales.

English media hailed the draw as wonderful, BBC online stating it was "kind", and Ladbrokes instantly cutting the odds on Martin Johnson's squad reclaiming the William Webb Ellis Trophy in three years' time from 12/1 to 8/1. England are at a low point of sixth in the IRB world rankings, and the IRB's break with previous protocols, to draw the pools nearly three years before the next event, leaves scope for much to change in the strength of the competing nations, and personnel, between now and 2011.

Argentina were similarly pleased with the draw, their coach Santiago Phelan revealing that they are to play Scotland and England in next year's autumn tour. But, there was also a cautiously optimistic air about Hadden and the Scottish contingent inside yesterday's novel draw venue of an inflatable rugby ball by London's Tower Bridge.

He said: "It's a good draw and one that gives Scotland every chance of maintaining our proud record of being one of only five countries to qualify for the quarter-final of every World Cup.

"The draw is the first piece of the jigsaw. The second piece is the scheduling of games and I believe it is absolutely imperative that games are scheduled to allow players' proper recovery and preparation time given the intensity of international matches.

"As far as our Pool B opponents are concerned I'm happy with the draw. We haven't played England in the World Cup since the 1991 semi-final (at Murrayfield], and we lost out at last year's World Cup to Argentina in the quarter-final.

"It looks as if we've missed the Pacific Islands' countries as they are pretty much playing on their home patch so that's a bonus."

There remain two spots to fill in each pool with Scotland's Pool B to welcome the winner of the European qualifying rounds, either Georgia, Romania or Portugal, and the final play-off winner, the 20th-ranked side on the tournament.

Mike Blair, the Scotland captain, said: "I'm excited by the draw. In England and Argentina we have two extremely tough sides in our pool who have a very proud record in the tournament. It will take a big effort from us, but that's what we will be setting our minds on."

Scotland have only played England once in the six World Cups to date, when Scotland lost a narrow semi-final at Murrayfield 9-6 in 1991. Gavin Hastings, who missed a penalty in front of the posts with the scores at 6-6 on that day, admitted: "I think to face England in New Zealand will be a terrific occasion. We've got to be pleased to have the opportunity to play England again and I'm sure that fixture will inspire the players."

England manager Martin Johnson never lost to Scotland as a player, and he recalled watching the 1991 World Cup match "in the back of a bar" after his Leicester team lost to Sale in a league match on the same day.

He said: "I remember that game as being quite tense in many ways. But England v Scotland in a World Cup pool will be tremendous, especially with us not having played each other in the tournament since 1991. It will be very passionate."

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan admitted that playing Scotland and England next year (during their 2009 UK autumn tour] had made their draw more appetising.

"We are in a development process and I feel that all the preparation between now and 2011 will be very important so that arrive in the best form at the first match.

"We knew that any one of the draw options was going to be very difficult, but it was very important to keep out fourth position (in the IRB World Rankings] and avoid to the southern hemisphere teams, who are, at this moment the best. Argentina always have very demanding pools and this will be no exception."

Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi added: "All the groups are very even and ours will be tough, but we have been given two teams we have beaten. I believe that all of us – Scotland, England and ourselves – are in a developing stage right now, and the one that makes the most of the year before the tournament will have the best chance."

Two spots remain vacant in every pool, to be filled over the next year by qualifiers from Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, and there remains scope for Scotland to again be paired with their 2007 adversaries Romania and Portugal, or, potentially, Georgia, who toured Scotland last month and almost sunk Ireland in last year's tournament.

The pool make-up may be something very new for Scotland, but there is a familiar scenario of a clash with New Zealand in the quarter-finals – for the fourth time - if both won or finished second in their pool.

The RWC 2011 organisers will now firm up the venues across the North and South Islands, with an announcement expected on that between April and June, 2009. Dunedin is desperate to host Pool B and welcome Scotland to the 'Edinburgh of the South'.

A clash with England at the famous Carisbrook Stadium – home to the Highlanders Super 14 team and due to be redeveloped into a 29,000-all-seater - would undoubtedly be a sell-out and, with such a large number of Scots already living in that area, more than likely be brimming with Saltires.

Previous encounters

SCOTLAND'S POOL B RIVALS

Scotland 6 England 9, 1991 (RWC semi-final, Murrayfield)

A dour, forward-orientated England strangled the match, but Scotland clung on and towards the end Gavin Hastings had a great chance to slot a third penalty and put the hosts 9-6 up, but he struck a close-range penalty from almost directly in front of the posts wide of the uprights. Minutes later Rob Andrew slotted a drop-goal to send England into a final with Australia and Scotland to a third-fourth play-off with New Zealand in Cardiff, which they lost 13-6.

Argentina 19 Scotland 13

(RWC 2007 quarter-final, Stade de France)

This was another sluggish, nervy encounter.

The Pumas had beaten hosts France and Ireland to reach the last eight, but retreated into their shell as the tournament heated up and were more than happy to stifle the game with Scotland to claim their first-ever semi-final appearance. A try by Chris Cusiter gave Scotland hope as the team finally threw off its shackles and exposed Puma weaknesses. Dan Parks went for broke in the last minute with a crossfield kick, but it was just too far for Sean Lamont to catch and Scotland's last quarter salvo proved too little too late.

QUALIFIERS TO COME

The current vacant spaces will be taken by the top European qualifier and the play-off winner and with the IRB ploughing more money and coaching resources into these 'minnows' all are expected to be noticeably better prepared for 2011.

The first spot is expected to be taken by one of four nations - Georgia, Romania, Portugal and Russia.

The final nation remains anybody's guess with dozens of countries from Serbia to Luxembourg, Uganda to Brazil all still in the running for what will be the final, 20th place.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 DRAW

POOL A

&#149 New Zealand

&#149 France

&#149 Tonga

&#149 Americas 1

&#149 Asia 1

POOL B

&#149 Argentina

&#149 England

&#149 Scotland

&#149 Europe 1

&#149 Play-off winner

POOL C

&#149 Australia

&#149 Ireland

&#149 Italy

&#149 Europe 2

&#149 Americas 2

POOL D

&#149 South Africa

&#149 Wales

&#149 Fiji

&#149 Oceania 1

&#149 Africa 1