Bring on Argentina, says Jacobsen

ALLAN Jacobsen was spitting blood last week after the forwards’ struggles against Romania, and one expected a wholly different demeanour from the prop from Prestonpans when he emerged after last night’s dominating display en route to victory over Georgia.

He was smiling, a bit, but the bearded loosehead who turns 33 two days before Scotland face Argentina this month remained angry at why the Scottish pack’s performance continues to swing wildly.

“We knew the Romanians were going to be tough as well, but on the day we didn’t deal with it,” said the straight-talking Edinburgh prop. “Tonight we did and we came out on top. But we’ve got to make sure we do that every time we pull on a Scottish jersey because if we don’t play well up front we usually don’t win.

“They [Georgian pack] were very tough; big strong guys and very physical who really wanted to take you on. They will give a lot of teams a fright. But we matched them and left people in no doubt about our pack and what we can do when we get it right. We have just got to get it right every time. I keep saying it, but every so often we have slip-ups. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s pretty simple – do well up front and we win the game.”

Jacobsen is the sole Scotland front row to have played 160 minutes in this World Cup so far and, after landing his 58th Test cap last night, would match Tom Smith’s cap record of 61 if Scotland were to reach the quarter-finals.

It is a far cry from the last tournament where he was forced to return home after suffering a calf injury in the opening match against Portugal.

Jacobsen paid tribute to the summer training and the rest he was given at the end of last season, when withdrawn from Edinburgh matches following the RBS Six Nations Championship.

“On Saturday I didn’t feel I played well, but tonight I played more like what I can play with another game under my belt and I think, like most players, I’m better with the more games I play, so I’ll be better in the next game as well.

“I certainly want to be involved. We came to Invercargill to get two wins and it was maybe a bit harder than we thought, but we’ve got nine points. We have a couple of games under our belt, have a day or two off now and time to get ready and work on the stuff we need to work on before facing Argentina.

“I think we’re in good shape. This feels like one job done, and the next job now is Argentina up in Wellington.”