Day two: IRB international 7s, San Diego, USA
(Bowl quarter final) Scotland 50-0 Mexico, (bowl semi-final) Scotland 12-17 France
Scotland were knocked out of the IRB international 7s series bowl semi-final after surrendering the lead, and consequently the win, to a last-minute French try at the PETCO stadium, San Diego – the final competitive international 7s outing before the World Cup next month in Dubai (5-7 March).
After finishing third in the day one pool stages, Scotland made the bowl semis after an impressive eight-try victory over quarter-final opponents Mexico with Roddy Grant and Scott Riddell each picking up their second brace of the weekend.
Riddell was first on the score sheet before Roddy Grant, Colin Gregor and Richie Vernon each crossed the line to give Scotland a 26-0 lead at half time thanks to three conversions from captain Colin Gregor.
Riddell and Grant completed their braces in the second half before replacements Rory Hutton and Marc Teague registered their first tries of the San Diego leg.
Gregor and his replacement, Mike Adamson, added the extras to two of the four second half scores to end the match as convincing winners (50-0).
The Scots then faced France in the semi-final who saw off the Canadians in the previous round.
An unconverted try gave France the early lead but Scotland were back on even terms after the prolific Richie Vernon scored his third of the weekend.
The French went ahead again with their second unconverted try but Scotland came back through Mike Adamson who crossed the line for a try which, after Gregor’s conversion, put them in the lead for the first time in the game (12-10).
With only a minute left on the clock a handling error cost Scotland possession and ultimately the match as France broke Scotland’s defence from a penalty in their own half to dot down under the posts for a converted try.
Scotland 7s coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: “We had a lot of ball against Mexico and we kept it which, without being too disrespectful, is what we expect to do against a team like Mexico – it is obviously positive to score eight tries and we did that by playing good disciplined rugby.
“There were definitely good points to take from the France game but we lacked consistency as a team and that has mirrored our performances over the last two weeks – things like one-on-one tackling and basic accuracy.
“We have improved but it’s disappointing to lose in this way. We needed to play a tighter game.
”We pushed England and France hard this weekend but we couldn’t close the game down – we need to start putting these bigger teams away.”
Looking forward to the World Cup in Dubai, Gemmell, added: "In the run in to the World Cup the players need to look at themselves and at the shape of these games.
“This tournament is massive for Scotland and Scottish Rugby and it’s my job to select the strongest possible squad and make sure they are prepared in the short time between now and the tournament.”
Scotland 7s are next in action in the 2009 7s World Cup in Dubai (5-7 March).
Scotland 7s team v France, PETCO Park stadium, San Diego
1 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), 2 Scott Riddell (Blaydon)+, 3 Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, 4 Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), 5 Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), 6 Andrew Easson (Edinburgh Rugby), 7 Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements: Roland Reid (Edinburgh Rugby) on for Grant, Rory Hutton (Hawick)* on for Easson, Graham Hogg (Hawick)* on for Vernon
Scotland 7s team v Mexico, PETCO Park stadium, San Diego
1 Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), 2 Scott Riddell (Blaydon)+, 3 Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, 4 Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)*, 5 Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), 6 Rory Hutton (Hawick)*, 7 Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements: Graham Hogg (Hawick)* on for Vernon, Marc Teague (Edinburgh) on for Gregor, Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors) on for Gregor
Scotland 7s squad (sponsor Murray) for the IRB Sevens World Series tournament in San Diego, USA: Colin Gregor (captain, Glasgow Warriors), Mike Adamson (Glasgow Warriors), Andrew Easson (Edinburgh), Roddy Grant (West of Scotland)*, Graham Hogg (Hawick)*, Jamie Hunter (West of Scotland)*, Rory Hutton (Hawick)*, Roland Reid (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Riddell (Blaydon)+, Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Marc Teague (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)

This article was posted on 16-Feb-2009, 10:48 by Hugh Barrow.