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Scotland player ratings vs Italy | Six Nations 2022

Stuart Hogg /Getty Images

Scotland avoided any potential banana skin with a bonus point victory in Rome, further extending the hosts’ winless Six Nations run in the process.

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A double from Chris Harris plus tries from his centre partner Sam Johnson, wing Darcy Graham and captain Stuart Hogg sealed victory.

As is usually the case for Scotland in Rome, Gregor Townsend’s side didn’t have it all their own way and had to withstand a late fightback from the home side.

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In the end, it was a second win of the championship but Scotland will have to be much better to threaten Ireland in Dublin next weekend.

Here’s how the visitors side stacked up.

15. Stuart Hogg – 7.5
Unable to stop Bruno getting offload away for Italy’s first try but little he could do as Capuozzo stepped for his debut score. In attack, the captain showed his counter-attack threat in the build-up to Scotland’s opener and the bonus point score. Deserved his try.

14 Darcy Graham – 7.5
Two excellent touches in the build-up to Johnson’s try and ran a lovely inside line to score his own try, wrapping up the bonus point.

13. Chris Harris – 8
Made two half breaks before showing great work-rate to collect Steyn’s chip and score his fourth international try. Finished a well-crafted team move for his fifth Scotland try.

12. Sam Johnson – 7
Marked his return with a well-taken try to open Scotland’s account. Otherwise kept quiet with Scotland often opting to kick.

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11. Kyle Steyn – 6.5
In for Duhan van der Merwe, made a solid defensive read on Bruno early before finding Harris with a pin-point kick. Will be disappointed to be beaten by Bruno as Italy scored but did well to stop namesake Braam Steyn late on.

10. Finn Russell – 7.5
Some great touches – including a trademark wide pass for Johnson’s try – but will have been relieved to see his intercepted pass go unpunished.

9. Ali Price – 8.5
His best showing of the championship so far, with a well-read interception for Harris to score. His excellent break and pass put Hogg away for the visitors’ fifth try.

1. Pierre Schoeman – 7.5
Put former Edinburgh colleague Ceccarelli under pressure at the scrum. A big shift with nine tackles too.

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2. George Turner – 7.5
A barnstorming carry led to the opening try, making amends for a needless penalty for flying off his feet. A good jackal penalty too.

3. Zander Fagerson – 6.5
Put Fischetti under pressure at the scrum, giving Scotland a good platform for Harris’ second try. Five carries and eight tackles in his 60 minutes.

4. Sam Skinner – 6.5
A quiet afternoon for the Exeter man. One lineout steal towards the end the stand-out moment. Also added five tackles and the same number of carries.

5. Grant Gilchrist – 7
Does a lot of the unseen work, often carrying into heavy traffic. Got Scotland front-foot ball and added 12 tackles

6. Rory Darge – 7.5
Scotland’s best player against France showed his breakdown threat again. Won two excellent jackal penalties and also added 13 tackles.

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7. Hamish Watson – 7
Back in the team after missing defeat to France, and once more led the defensive effort with 17 tackles. Kept quiet at the breakdown.

8. Matt Fagerson – 8
Back from an ankle injury and maintained his good form. Won two good turnovers as Italy attacked and threw himself into contact in close quarters. Add to that 12 tackles in 60 minutes and the Glasgow man will be pleased with his return.

REPLACEMENTS:
16. Stuart McInally – 6
On for the final 20 minutes to replace Turner, but unable to have the same impact as the man he replaced.

17. Allan Dell – 6
Has slipped down the pecking order since his last cap in 2020, but was given the final 20 minutes on his return. Won a breakdown penalty.

18. WP Nel – 6
Another cap for the veteran tighthead, but doesn’t have the same impact around the field as Fagerson. Solid at the set-piece.

19. Jamie Hodgson – 5
On for the final five minutes for Skinner. Unable to make a real impression on the game.

20. Magnus Bradbury – 6.5
The Bristol-bound number eight given the final quarter of an hour, replacing Fagerson. One big carry got Scotland out of danger in the closing stages.

21. Ben Vellacott – 6.5
Has had a fine season since joining Edinburgh and won his first cap, replacing Price for the final five minutes. It felt an ideal opportunity to give him more game-time at Test level, but he upped the tempo in a lively cameo.

22. Adam Hastings – 5
A poor read as debutant Capuozzo crossed for his second try.

23. Sione Tuipulotu – 5
A starter in the last two games, he came on for Johnson in the closing stages.

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David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions accepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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