2nd Saturday - Scotland v Australia & USA v Japan

[Which Tyler]

Wk2a.jpg

After last weekend's experience, I'm thinking of splitting the matches by the day, so that you don't have to have watched all 6 matches before considering the thread safe for spoilers.

For Saturday, I'll try a separate thread for France v England, which is the most reasonable time, and most likely to have conversation around it.

No spoilers for the other matches please.

[Which Tyler]

Just settling down to watch the recording of game 1 - I'll watch game 2 later.

15 minutes in, and Scotland better with the ball, Aus defence generally looking more organised, set piece looks pretty level.

Scotland ahead in the board, and deservedly so - so far

[Which Tyler]

30 minutes, Scotland well on top at the moment.
Aus had come back into things with their power runners, but Scotland keeping them mostly outside the 22.
Then Aussie yellow and PT for sacking the maul, and a brilliant clearance kick by Scotland just now.

Scotland looking comfortable at the moment, and should be so for the rest of the half.
Still too many handling errors though, and Aus have shown an area to exploit, so have something to work on at HT.

[Which Tyler]

HT and Aus did well to slow play during the yellow, and didn't give away any points.
Still making good ground with power runners, but Scotland still looking comfortable, but still fumbling the ball too much.
Is that a dislocation for the Scots FB? Never good to see gas & air on the pitch

Aus actually getting some territory this last 10 min.

[Which Tyler]

54 min.
Similar to the end of the first half - Aus building pressure, but not converting it yet.
1 nasty late tackle, but just a penalty.
Can really see the wind here, now into Scottish faces, which explains some of the territory difference first half.

Scots by 2 scores feels fair, but an Assie try is feeling inevitable for the first time.

[Which Tyler]

67 min
Aus definitely on top here, looks like Scotland are tiring, having to over-resiurce the tighter areas now, and leaving the odd gap wider out.
With 13 to go and 1 score in it - it's feeling ominous. Need a momentum swing. Scotland certainly not out of it (ahead on the score board) but I don't think they can hold out from here.

Aus definitely the more... abrasive

ETA - Aus get away with that one, Yellow IMO, but there's enough there that it's not a "bad" decision.

[Which Tyler]

Bugger.

Try was always coming, good kick by Cramer.

There's time for Scot to come back, but it would be against the run of play now.

[Mr Mwenda]

Some lovely bits and pieces in Japan v usa!

[Which Tyler]

Red makes it interesting agaiin.

So close to avoiding head on head, but doesn't, so straight red, no real question about it. If she'd kept her head 2" to the right, then nothing much in it - but she didn't.

[Which Tyler]

Well played Aus, nothing in it over the 80, just a matter of where the tries were scored, and Scots had one in the corner that couldn't be kicked, Aus had both of theirs infield.