| GEMMELL KEEN TO IMPOSE WINNING MENTALITY |
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| Saturday, 14 February 2009 | |
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Day one: IRB international 7s series, San Diego, USA Scotland 7s ended day one of the IRB international 7s series at PETCO Park stadium, San Diego placed third in pool C. Consecutive defeats by England and Samoa and a win over 2009 World Cup Pool C opponents, Japan, secured a quarter-final bowl encounter v Mexico today (Sunday) at 6.15pm (BST). Scotland began the fourth leg of the IRB international 7s series with a loss to Wellington champions England. England, currently second in the world standings, distanced themselves from the Scots with a converted and unconverted try early on. Scotland replied through Roland Reid with captain Colin Gregor adding the extras to put the sides in at half-time just five points apart, 12-7. England and Scotland exchanged tries early in the second half with Andrew Easson crossing the whitewash before England put the game out of reach with a try late in the game, 22 -12. In game two the Scots got off to a bad start which allowed Samoa to open a large lead, crossing the whitewash three times with two conversions to go in at the break with a clean sheet 19 – 0. The Scots replied in the second half with a try from rangy Glasgow Warriors back-row Richie Vernon and a conversion from Gregor however the impressive Samoans scored their fourth and final try of the afternoon - which they converted - to complete the victory, 24-7. In the third and final tie of the exhausting afternoon Scotland defeated 2009 World Cup Pool C opponents, Japan, just under three weeks away from the tournament. First half tries from Roddy Grant, Colin Gregor and Scott Riddell saw the Scots go in at half time with a comfortable 19-5 lead. After the break Grant and Riddell crossed the line once more to register a brace a-piece before Japan scored a consolation try to finish the game 29-12 at the final whistle. Looking back at day one, Scotland 7s head coach, Stephen Gemmell, said: “We played well against England but we made too many mistakes in one-on-one situations. The tries they scored were relatively easy scores and you just can’t afford to do that against a team like England – you have to make them work for it. “We played well with the ball in hand against Samoa but we were beaten physically, particularly in the contact area. The numbers in contact weren’t physical enough. We were making breaks but because we weren’t getting enough numbers in support – we were getting isolated and Samoa played off that turnover. “We played some much better rugby in attack against Japan and it’s nice to score five tries but I am disappointed with the ones we gave away. Points are going to be crucial in the world cup and we can’t afford to be giving them away like that; but it was good to end on a positive with a win so we can build on that winning mentality going into tomorrow’s match against Mexico and World Cup in March.” Scotland next face Mexico at 6.15pm (BST) on day two of the IRB international 7s series in San Diego Scotland 7 team v Japan, PETCO Park stadium, San Diego Scotland 7 team v Samoa, PETCO Park stadium, San Diego Scotland 7 team v England, PETCO Park stadium, San Diego 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), Scott Riddell (Blaydon)+, Colin Shaw (Glasgow Warriors), Marc Teague (Edinburgh), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors) The fifth Rugby World Cup Sevens will be held in Dubai from 5-7 March this year at a new purpose-build venue – ‘The Sevens’ |
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