Rugby: Bumbling Scots pull up socks

A closely fought defensive game against New Zealand Maori adds a touch of credibility to the tour by Scotland, reports CHRIS RATTUE.


"We've gone from a joke side to a couple of laughs."

That was how Scottish coach Ian McGeechan, with tongue in cheek, summed up the 15-18 loss against the New Zealand Maori side in New Plymouth.

McGeechan's more serious analysis of his side's effort on Saturday night was "outstanding."

Rarely could the coach of an international side of reasonable standing have been more delighted in defeat.

And with just cause. After bumbling their way to a loss against the Vikings and having their midweek side play fairly ordinarily against minnows East Coast-Poverty Bay, the Scots were supposed to get a hiding.

But McGeechan - a keen student of the Super 12 who wants his players to emulate many parts of the Southern Hemisphere game - has seen his side improve dramatically in days.

The hallmarks of the Super 12 education were there in the Scottish gameplan in front of a crowd of 7500 at Rugby Park.

Scottish forwards intermingled with backs in a flat, across-the-field, defensive line. When the outside option looked dodgy, the Scots always had players available on the inside ready to plough the ball forward in the name of ball-retention.

With the Scots dominating the scrums and having a slight edge in the lineouts, the Maori spent large parts of the game without the ball.

While it may have brought a glow to McGeechan's heart, a poll of people at the ground and around New Plymouth afterwards brought a uniform "not much of a spectacle" response when asked about the game. Many had expected some kind of exhibition from the Maori and were frustrated that they saw a ding-dong battle between a couple of flat defensive lines.

In terms of a finish though, it was what top sport should be all about.

Give us the gripping finale any day rather than the 100-point test score at Albany the night before, where a team honed by rugby's best professional system obliterated a side that seemed to be thrown together at the last minute from around the world.

The standout for the Maori was openside flanker Matua Parkinson who ripped from ruck to maul at relentless speed, and managed to tear the ball out of Scottish hands.

He set up the first try to No 8 Deon Muir, another who had a strong match, after ripping the ball out of a maul as the Scots drove the Maori back.

Scotland, who had earlier had a try ruled out by the video referee, took a 10-7 lead after 20 minutes when their scrum dominance finally paid off with a try to flanker Jason White.

Parkinson's easiest stroll of the night came when he scored the second Maori try, after the best forward drive of the match created a big overlap on the right.

The Maori then led 15-10.

Maori coach Matt Te Pou had replaced first five-eighths Glen Jackson with Bruce Reihana early in the second spell.

It was a rash Reihana move - when he chip-kicked over the defence deep inside his half - which gave Scotland their second try finished by Craig Joiner.

Scottish first five-eighths Duncan Hodge was presented with a potential match-winning chance in the 73rd minute, a simple penalty from 22m. But with Maori lock Dion Waller walking towards him, and then across his kicking line, Hodge muffed the shot.

Ace goalkicker Adrian Cashmore had the final say. He had earlier missed a 40m penalty attempt, but succeeded from 27m in the 75th minute after referee Paul Honiss penalised Scotland for approaching the tackle ball area from the wrong direction.

So it was another defeat for the Scots, but led by a robust game from prop Tom Smith, their forwards showed they could give the All Blacks a decent go in the test series.

Te Pou said: "They did surprise me - I was quite amazed. They can compete with the All Blacks.

"That's the level of game we want to play at all the time. Nobody wants 100-0 results."

And captain Norm Hewitt said: "I want to compliment the Scots. They have taken a huge step up."

New Zealand Maori 18 (Deon Muir, Matua Parkinson tries; Adrian Cashmore 2 pen, con) Scotland 15 (Jason White, Craig Joiner tries; Duncan Hodge pen, con). Halftime: 10-10.