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SOUTH SEAS SQUEEZE ON SEVENS SCOTS
Posted: 01/Dec/07
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South Pacific nations got the better of Scotland on day two of the IRB World Series 7s tournament in Dubai.
Scotland lost 5-28 to Fiji in the Cup quarter-final and were then eliminated from the Plate semi-final 19-28 by Samoa. Overall, however, coach Stephen Gemmell was able to draw some encouragement from the opening tournament of the season.
“Once again we qualified for a Cup quarter-final and the form the boys displayed against Samoa – a top four team on the world sevens circuit last season, who only scored the try to settle the tie right at the death – was impressive.
“We’ve got Samoa in our pool in George next week and on the basis of our display today we know that’s a game we have the potential to win,” he said.
Scotland’s try against Fiji was scored in the first-half by Ruaridh Jackson, whose last-gasp score against France on day one had been crucial in ensuring their qualification for the knockout stages. Scotland also defeated the Arabian Gulf yesterday to sit alongside a loss to New Zealand.
Against Samoa, who were knocked out by England in the Cup quarter-final, Colin Gregor notched Scotland’s first try but from trailing only 5-7 at half-time the Samoans opened up a 5-21 lead. Scotland’s response saw Stephen McColl and Chris Kinloch cross for tries, both converted by Gregor to narrow the gap to 19-21. However, Samoa’s final converted try sealed their win.
Scotland will travel to South Africa for next week’s tournament where, in addition to Samoa, they face Australia and Tunisia in a tough pool.
Scotland 7s squad (sponsored by Murray) for IRB tournaments in Dubai (30 November and 1 December) and George (7 and 8 December)
Scott Forrest (Ayr)* CAPTAIN, Calum Forrester (GHA)*, Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Newlands (Edinburgh), Chris Fusaro (Heriot’s)**, Stephen McColl (Dunfermline)*, Colin Gregor (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Kinloch (Edinburgh Accies)*, James Thompson (Heriot’s)*, Andrew Dymock (Dundee HSFP)**, Grant Anderson (Ayr)**, Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Hawks)*.
Coach – Stephen Gemmell; Physio – Dan Moore; Manager – Karen Burnett
* = Member of Scottish Rugby’s National Senior Academy
This article was posted on 1-Dec-2007, 18:48 by Hugh Barrow.
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