Rugby: Scots sevens squad step up to Plate

Favourites Samoa took the trophy and also the overall grand prix prize with a 41-14 final win over Australia in front of the second consecutive five-figure crowd over the two days at Murrayfield.

But centre stage had to be shared with spirited Scotland who, for the first time, won five matches out of six in a tournament.

After becoming only one of two teams – the other was New Zealand – to complete the opening day with a 100 per cent record, the Scots then went down to England in the quarter-final of the main event.

However, the Scots salvaged considerable pride by overcoming South Africa and Argentina to claim the Plate, which is open to losing quarter-finalists.

Edinburgh winger Robertson, used as a successful impact player, said: "Officially we ranked fifth and the Commonwealth Games organisers were looking for us to produce a top-eight finish. Hopefully that is enough to get us accepted."

Along the way Scotland defeated three Commonwealth countries – Fiji, Wales and South Africa.

And, in beating Argentina, the Scots had the distinction of claiming the scalp of the only side to defeat eventual winners Samoa, a result which occurred in an early pool tie.

Robertson added: "If we are accepted, the SRU will have to decide priorities because the Games clash with the Heineken European Cup.

"For once, sevens might take priority rather than being at the bottom of the ladder because it will mean players being exposed to a high level and mixing with athletes from other sports. Standards are so high that you are challenged both physically and mentally.

"The Games, too, will benefit from having Scottish coaches and back-up personnel in Delhi because I believe we have the best around."

Scotland's sevens coach, Stevie Gemmell, is now stepping aside after four years in the post and Robertson said that sending him on his way with a trophy was a major motivation.

"We would have loved to have given Stevie the premier Cup as a send-off," he said. "Hopefully, the Plate will be an acceptable reward for all the effort he has put in. Beforehand, we spoke about the need to succeed for his sake.

"Against England, though, the bounce of the ball went the wrong way a couple of times but in every other respect we proved we could beat anybody.

"England were not as good a side as us but in the wet it was more like a game of 15-a-sides. We were pretty gutted to lose that one."

The England blemish aside, Scotland played either near flawless rugby or else showed indomitable spirit, such as when they trailed South Africa 0-14 in the Plate semi-final.

The opening day will live long in the memory as there were wins over Fiji (31-14), USA (35-12) and Wales (33-21), scoring 15 tries in the process. Only New Zealand shared Scotland's distinction of a 100 per cent record at the halfway stage.

Star of the show was Edinburgh winger Andy Turnbull who, by Sunday evening, had taken his aggregate try tally on the IRB circuit to 84 while Ben Cairns slotted in seamlessly after receiving a late call for his first tournament in three years.

Greig Laidlaw was the heartbeat throughout and all the Scottish moves were channelled through this hard-working playmaker.

John Houston's direct running was another feature while Ally Hogg ensured a steady supply of line-out possession besides using his physique to great effect inevitably with Roddy Grant on his shoulder ready to finish off half-chances.

Colin Shaw put in some thumping tackles and Robertson's impact was rewarded with three tries. "I was disappointed not to start more often but that left me keen as mustard when I did get on," he said – leaving all the fringe players, including new Edinburgh signings Lee Jones and Alex Blair, to figure at some stage in cameo roles. By contrast with the opening day, a quarter-final against England was a flat affair as the Scots struggled to find the same fluency and possession.

Denied line-breaks by smart covering, passes began to be forced and more mistakes accrued in one half than were apparent throughout the opening day. It was a measure of how far the Scots had come, though, that the MC was able to refer to Fiji as "shell shocked" and looking to "salvage some pride" during the opening tie.

Against that background it would have been hard if the Scots had departed without something to show for their improved efforts and in coming back from 0-14 against South Africa in the Plate to win 19-14 they not only did themselves justice, but engaged a five-figure crowd.

That earned the Scots a final clash with Argentina who had provided the opening day shock by defeating Samoa in a pool tie and the home side didn't disappoint in keeping a rare clean sheet to win 19-0.

Tries by Turnbull and Laidlaw set the Scots up and the coup de grace was provided by Ben Cairns after an inspired scissors move with John Houston.

Coach Gemmell, who side-stepped questions about a future role but is expected to figure more heavily on the Murrayfield technical staff, said: "I knew it was my last tournament and the players knew it was my last tournament so it has all been a little bit emotional.

"It has meant a lot of grey hairs and losing a lot of hair but it has been the biggest privilege of my life.

"It has been thoroughly enjoyable – a real roller-coaster with some great highs, real lows, but what a way to finish.

"There was a bit of disappointment we didn't go further in the Cup but to win five out of six against the calibre of teams we played speaks volumes."