Rugby World Cup: 5 Reasons Scotland Will Fear Australia
Scotland meet Australia in the weekend's last Rugby World Cup 2015 quarter-final, with the weight of missing players, Wallaby excellence and history loaded against them.
They have lost two key men to questionable disciplinary decisions and will run into an Australian outfit oozing confidence after winning the toughest pool in the tournament's history.
Michael Cheika's men are starting to turn Twickenham, London, into their home from home—just digest that for a moment, England fans—after dispatching the hosts and then Wales at Red Rose HQ.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
The two sides last met at this stage in 2003, when a tight first half saw Scotland right in the fight at the break, before being blitzed in the second 40 minutes.
The pattern of the tournament so far has seen many underdogs keep it close before half-time and then wilt in the second half.
The underdog tag very much belongs to Vern Cotter's side this weekend, but they will need to buck their own trend from the pool stages that saw them struggle early on against Japan, the USA and then Samoa, until securing victory in the latter stages.
Any such slow start against Australia will see them out of sight by the time they turn for the dressing rooms. So, Scotland must stay in the argument, and to do that, they must look to quell the multiple threats this impressive Wallaby outfit poses.
Here are the five key reasons Scotland must fear Australia.
1. Their underpowered tight five
The bans handed down to Ross Ford and Jonny Gray have robbed Scotland of two of their key tight-five forwards.
Their suspension awards the upper hand to an Australian unit that has already been the talk of the tournament for its newfound aggression. The gold-and-green lineout has always been a well-oiled machine, but their scrum is known as a major area of weakness.
It is now a weapon that has been used to milk penalties from England and Wales already in this World Cup.
Now, Scotland’s pack—minus the experience and size of Ford and the power of Gray—will come into the Wallaby crosshairs.
Willem Nel has been heralded as a revelation on the tighthead since his induction into the side, and Vern Cotter will be hoping the adopted "Bok Jock" can live up to his billing against Scott Sio and Co.
2. Kurtley Beale
Australia’s first choice full-back Israel Folau has not recovered in time to face Scotland, so Kurtley Beale takes his place.
Beale came on to great effect for Australia against England. He slipped into the wing berth vacated by the injured Peter Horne and was quickly up to speed, linking superbly with Bernard Foley for the No. 10's second try.
Beale increases the X-factor in this Wallaby back line with his fast feet and searing pace. He can fill in anywhere along the three-quarter line and will post great danger to Scotland should they kick deep to him. One area he does not possess the same strength in as Folau is taking high balls in heavy traffic.
3. Michael Hooper
The twin threat of back rowers David Pocock and Michael Hooper has been halved with the news that Pocock is not fit to take part. Nevertheless, Hooper is still going to be one of Scotland’s biggest headaches.
Hooper is relatively fresh coming into this contest. He was rested against Uruguay and banned for the final clash in Pool A with Wales. And yet in his two outings, he has averaged 14.5 tackles.
Against England, he was a constant source of irritation at the breakdown, if not turning the ball over, slowing it down to deny the opposition any fluency.
Scotland can't allow him to have such an impact on their possession.
4. Australia’s half-backs
The new 9/10 combination that has blossomed for the Wallabies is at the heart of their dangerous attack. Will Genia looks reborn in harness with Bernard Foley, and when the old man tires, Nick Phipps can come on to add zest in the last 20 minutes
According to a Reuters report in the National, Genia said: "We train so much together, we’ve had so much time together, so you have plenty of time to develop those combinations and understand each other’s games. From a half-back point of view, it’s been quite seamless."
Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw has looked in great form himself, but as scrum-half, skipper and goal-kicker, he has an awful lot on his plate.
5. The Australian centurions
It has been said many a time that to win a World Cup, a team must have vast experience. On Sunday, two Wallabies will reach 100 caps.
Matt Giteau and captain Stephen Moore are both set to pass the milestone, joining Adam Ashley-Cooper, who already has over a tonne, and they are part of a starting team with 400 more caps (752) than the Scots (350).
These miles on the clock give the Australians the street smarts and composure to deal with any on-field situation, as we saw when they were reduced to 13 men against Wales.
Psychologically, it is incredibly difficult to look for weak links in a team with such experience in key positions, and it will not be something Scotland can pre-occupy themselves with.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
