Scotland v USA
Result: Scotland 24 USA 14
Player of the Match: Evie Gallagher
After relatively easy opening matches last week both sides knew this clash could be a clincher.
You could well view this game as the moment Scotland turned a corner. They are now enjoying a 4-match winning streak, untold riches after decades of suffering. This was their second win ever against the States.
It was a real surprise to see the pack get on top of the Eagles and stay there for most of the match.
Then out behind they have players who are linking far more fluently than in recent years. It was good to see Lisa Thomson back to her productive best, and first Emma Orr, then Meryl Smith showed talent and maturity in midfield.
The forwards don’t even need Jade Konkel as a permanent restorative up front.
Orr got the ball rolling, threatening an outside break before setting Francesca McGhie free on the left wing. In this new age they didn’t let the opposition straight back in as they used to. Instead, the forwards took charge again and the ever dependable Emma Wassell came up with the ball. (12-0).
Now the action swung to the other wing, where Rhona Lloyd showed delightful deceit in leaning infield, then beating her opponent on the outside. A winger’s special.
The Eagles needed to make a gesture before the break, and the pack provided it. They produced a series of pick and goes for Charli Jacoby to claim their first score.
Half-time: Scotland 17 USA 7
On the restart Scotland again claimed the initiative. More productive drives up front stretched the
defences, and Chloe Rollie had little trouble in dodging through with nimble feet. (24-7). There was plenty of action left, but little scoring.
On 62 minutes Tess Feury was within inches of the line for the Eagles in the left corner, but a desperate tackle by Evie Gallagher kept her out.
Despite Scotland’s control at the set-scrum, the Eagles built a powerful driving maul. Paige Stathopoulos exploited the unguarded open-side of a ruck to go over for USA’s second try. (24-14).
On 70 minutes more Scottish possession gave Rollie another chance to show her evasive skills. Unhappily for her, as she reached for the touchdown, the ball escaped her grasp. Taina Tukuafu did well to dispossess her. The Scots dearly needed that score to widen that lead.
The game didn’t end quite as the Scots intended. They were all over the Eagles, but as they won a penalty on 80 minutes Meryl Smith’s kick for the corner miscued.
So for nearly the last quarter of the game neither side could mount a score. Bryan Easson may have more to say about that than Milton Haig, but overall he must be delighted to see his squad developing so well. They had their second bonus point secured and are sitting pretty for further success.
The Eagles still have basic insecurities: the line-out is too often more luck than judgement; ball- presentation could be crisper, especially if supporting feet don’t get in the way of the scrum-half; the quickest way to relieve defensive pressure is to kick it accurately. There are all sorts of minor adjustments Haig will want to make. He has one more game in this series to put them right; but it’s against a hyper-confident Italy.
Teams
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Mairi McDonald, 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Lana Skeldon, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Emma Wassell, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 7 Rachel McLachlan, 8 Evie Gallagher
Bench: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Young, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Eva Donaldson, 20 Jade Konkel, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Meryl Smith, 23 Liz Musgrove
USA
1 Catie Benson, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Charli Jacoby, 4 Hallie Taufoou 5 Erica Jarrell, 6 Freda Tafuna 7 Tahlia Brody 8 Rachel Johnson, 9 Carly Waters, 10 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Clapp, 12 Mata Hingano, 13 Kate Zackary (captain), 14 Tess Feury 15 Bulou Mataitoga
Bench: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Monalisa Tupou, 18 Keie Mae Sagapolu, 19 Jenny Kronish, 20 Rachel Ehrecke, 21 Taina Tukuafu, 22 Katana Howard, 23 Autumn Czaplicki
Officials
Referee: Clara Munarini (FIR)
ARs: Natarsha Ganley (NZR) and Zoe Naude (SARU) TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
Afterthoughts
This was a fascinating match-up between nations ranked seventh and ninth in the world.
But within the structures of WXV2 the Eagles were sitting on top of the pile. Though they haven’t found victory easy in recent times, they now had to prove their right to that position, and prepare themselves for the chance of promotion when it finally comes. That target now looks much steeper.
With victories for Italy and Scotland on the same day, the Six Nations adventure can hold its head high. In both games the European teams showed greater all round skills and awareness than the opposition.
It’s through WXV that these margins can be narrowed.
