Scotland v Australia reaction

Sunday November 07 2004
Did the Wallabies 'declare' at half time?

The Scots, the Wallabies, the groundsmen and rugby administrators in general all received a media pasting following the lacklustre clash between Scotland and Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday. But the prize for least charitable journalistic contribution going to the Aussie media, with you-know-who calling for Scotland's immediate expulsion from all future Australian tour.

SCOTLAND

"This was a Jekyll and Hyde performance for Scotland if ever there was one ... I dont think Scotland could ever again play as badly as they did in the first half.

"The players looked scared, lacking confidence. They snatched at passes rather than crafted their way forward. They looked petrified to do anything, let alone be creative.

"They relaxed more in the second period and it showed in their performance. Again, though, a lot of people made uncharacteristic mistakes at inopportune moments that cost Scotland dearly.

"Willie Anderson and Williams must have been tearing out there hair at half-time but its not all gloom and doom. Youve still got to remember that weve several people to come into the equation - people who have experience of the English Premiership.

"For 30 minutes we were under the cosh and just could not get out of our half. Australia had control of the scrum when they wanted, left or right hand side."
- Kenny Milne, Scotland on Sunday

"The match programmes cover had offered 80 minutes of power, determination and passion, so it was only wrong by a matter of one hour.

"You could commend the Scots, critically underpowered without their Anglo players, for keeping the margin of defeat within reason, but at the end the only conclusion was that defeat had always been inevitable. Australia went off the boil at times, but the gulf in class they demonstrated for long periods was alarming to behold.

"It was painful viewing for most of the 37,828 in the stands at Murrayfield, but even the most Cyclopean of them would raise an appreciative glass to the skill levels with which the Australians beguiled their audience and bamboozled their hapless opponents.

"The Scots offered huff, puff and endeavour aplenty, but when it came to taking chances they were not remotely the equal of an Australian side who wafted through the Scottish defence in the manner of a warm knife through melted butter."
- Alasdair Reid, The Sunday Herald

"For forty minutes this was the ritualistic slaughter we all expected. We all know that Scottish rugby is in the doldrums and that they have not beaten Australia since 1982, so to expect them to triumph with a side shorn of the heart of their side, either through injury or unavailability because the English clubs (quite rightly) would not release their players, was just plain madness.

"But Scotland stirred and put up a spirited performance, winning the second period 14-3, and making this match, hastily arranged purely as a money making exercise (forget the tosh about the opening of the Scottish Parliament building) and not recognised by the IRB, at least worthwhile.

"At the end the Australians knew they had been in a game. We shall never know whether mentally, in cricketing parlance, they had declared at half time but it did not appear so."
- Steve James, The Daily Telegraph

"Of course, Scotland were helped by a pitch that had been deliberately narrowed to somewhat less than the 70m "maximum" demanded by the International Rugby Board.

"For the sake of the ignorant, IRB laws 1.2(a) and (b) apply, and the latter stipulates that "the length and breadth of the playing area are as near as possible" to the maximum dimensions stipulated in the former. The SRU playing fast and loose with the laws? Heaven forfend!

"Or maybe they are just catching up on professionalism at last. Australian coach Eddie Jones said he would kick up a fuss about the narrow pitch, but what a cheek the Australians have - theyve been cheating everybody for years."
- Martin Hannan, Scotland on Sunday

AUSTRALIA

"It wasn't one of Australia's most spectacular Test victories. But in the Wallabies' dressing room after the Scotland victory were many relieved players who had ensured they would appear against the nastier foes on tour, France and England.

"Jones is expected to name an unchanged line-up for France but that doesn't mean the pressure is off.

"There were too many mistakes made - in particular handling fumbles which saw at least two tries go begging, lineout throwing problems and confusion at the back of the scrum - for Jones to be entirely happy with the Murrayfield experience.

"Also, Scotland are not France. France will not give Australia as much easy possession as Scotland did in the first half. It is now time to go up a level."
- Greg Growden, The Sydney Morning Herald

"The Wallabies did have a reasonable excuse for the dousing of their tryscoring ... there wasn't enough space out wide. That was because the field lacked the correct dimensions.

"The frothy after-match banter provided much needed excitement after a predictable Test. At times, Australia was outstanding, especially in the execution of the four first-half tries.

"The enthusiastic but disorganised Scottish defence had no counter for flashy Australian hands, excellent running lines and high pace.

"But the constant rain, a slippery ball and lack of room eventually affected the Wallabies, who were unable to finish off Scotland in the second-half."
- The Age

"It's hard to work out why the Wallabies can play with a winning intensity and perfect execution in Australia, then play with only spasmodic splendour overseas.

"With this Test it seemed as though the easy start that resulted in points being put on the scoreboard at the rate of a point a minute induced an element of boredom in the players. The result was a foregone conclusion. It was all too easy. All the Wallabies had to do was go through their set pieces and the gaps would come and the points mount.

"Scotland, to their credit, did tighten their defence. But the quality of Australia's opposition was second rate, at best. There must be a question mark over Scotland's future as an opponent when the Wallabies are in Britain.

"There is no real contest now in Tests against Scotland. Because of this the Wallabies can be excused, perhaps, for showing a lack of enthusiasm in piling up points against an outclassed and hapless opponent."
Spiro Zavos, The Sydney Morning Herald