Latest news with #JamieRitchie
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Scotland lose Jordan and Ritchie to injury
Scotland centre Tom Jordan and loose forward Jamie Ritchie have been ruled out of their test against Samoa on Friday after suffering injuries in Fiji last weekend, Scottish Rugby said on Monday. Jordan played the entire match despite sustaining a fractured hand during the 29-14 defeat in Suva, while former captain Ritchie hurt his foot and was replaced after 21 minutes. Confirmation of their unavailability came after the call-up of three Scottish players as injury cover for the British and Irish Lions. Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Darcy Graham will bolster the squad for the Lions' match against the First Nations-Pasifika team on July 22 in Melbourne. That comes between the first and second tests against Australia and allows Lions coach Andy Farrell to rest all the players who will be involved in the test. Winger Graham joined up with the Lions on Monday, two days after he received two yellow cards and left Scotland a man down for the last part of their loss to Fiji. Loosehead prop Sutherland, who played in two tests in the last Lions tour in South Africa, and hooker Ewan Ashman will stay with the Scottish camp until after their test against Samoa, which is being played in Auckland, New Zealand.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Four things we learned from Scotland's loss to Fiji
Scotland suffered defeat in their second summer tour match as they were left battered, bruised and blown away by Fijian force and flair in Suva. That was despite the return of star players like captain Rory Darge, back-row dynamo Jamie Ritchie and flying winger Darcy Graham. Advertisement Losing test matches is never a good thing, but this result could have particularly grim consequences for Scotland's next World Cup campaign. But what else did we learn from the humbling 29-14 defeat by Fiji? Scotland falter under Fijian intensity Watching the Fijian runners take the ball into contact drew reactions akin to a horror film. Wincing, grimacing, hiding behind the sofa in sheer terror. The Scots were brave at times, superhuman at others, but they could not handle the heat of the Fiji flair. The visitors made 105 tackles in the first half but missed 24 - not surprising when the hosts have hot-stepping Jiuta Wainiqolo in their ranks, right enough. Advertisement Keeping up that kind of defensive effort, especially in that humidity, being run at by wrecking balls, seemed impossible and something had to give. The brave should be remembered though. Darge led from the front, making a few Serge Betsen-esque tackles. Kyle Rowe and Fergus Burke did brilliantly to deny Josua Tuisova when it looked for all the world that he would score. Matt Fagerson seemed to somehow be involved in every contact, picking himself up off the deck time and again. However, when the whistle blew and bodies were strewn like litter in a park on a hot summer's day, you knew that it was a matter of time until the points started to flow. Advertisement Ill-discipline and poor restarts haunt Scots The last six minutes of the first half really punished Scotland. It felt like they had had the ball in hand twice since they scored in the third minute - and the defensive effort started to toll. The penalty count mounted up, although according to the statistics, Scotland had only conceded two more (seven) than their hosts by the break. It felt like Ben O'Keeffe was constantly blowing his whistle for some infringement or other. Darge was told a few times to get his house in order, but it did not happen. Instead, Fiji were allowed chance after chance to kick down the door and they did that with glee from any given distance on the pitch. Advertisement When Scotland did have possession, it was soon given away via a box kick or self-inflicted error. Restarts were fumbled, throw-ins went wayward and the ball was gifted back to the delighted hosts. Chaos rules with gameplan under microscope Watching Fiji play rugby is usually an enjoyable experience - except when it is happening against you. They were at their free-flowing best at times in Suva, with the numbers on their back nothing more than a mere suggestion to the type of game they might play. Silky offloads, bone-shaking contact, twinkle-toed footwork. Forward or back, tight-five or back-three, it does not matter. Advertisement The problem for Scotland was, they seemed to be quite happy to allow Fiji to play the game their own way. Too often they were given a clear run at a Scottish shoulder or allowed in behind. The game was played to their strengths, while Scotland only fired two clear shots throughout. As a result, Fergus Burke did not get much a chance to run his back line and Scotland's attack without Finn Russell is still much of an unknown. If the plan was to pin Fiji back in their own half, it did not work as Scotland failed to put on pressure at set-piece time and let the hosts up the pitch far too easily. World Cup 2027 already looks harder When Gregor Townsend announced his Scotland squad, stacked with stars who might have warranted a summer off, his reasoning was clear. Advertisement The games against Fiji and Samoa were vital to secure important World Rugby rankings points ahead of the World Cup draw in December. This was the penultimate chance before the autumn to pick up such points to try to secure a top-six place - and, in doing so, become a pot one team. After a brutal and bruising match against Fiji, that now looks highly unlikely and another group of death awaits Scotland, akin to 2023. It looks increasingly likely that Townsend will be there in Australia in two years time, but another group stage exit would see his rein highlighted by failure.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Four things we learned from Scotland's loss to Fiji
Scotland suffered defeat in their second summer tour match as they were left battered, bruised and blown away by Fijian force and flair in was despite the return of star players like captain Rory Darge, back-row dynamo Jamie Ritchie and flying winger Darcy test matches is never a good thing, but this result could have particularly grim consequences for Scotland's next World Cup what else did we learn from the humbling 29-14 defeat by Fiji? Scotland falter under Fijian intensity Watching the Fijian runners take the ball into contact drew reactions akin to a horror film. Wincing, grimacing, hiding behind the sofa in sheer Scots were brave at times, superhuman at others, but they could not handle the heat of the Fiji visitors made 105 tackles in the first half but missed 24 - not surprising when the hosts have hot-stepping Jiuta Wainiqolo in their ranks, right up that kind of defensive effort, especially in that humidity, being run at by wrecking balls, seemed impossible and something had to brave should be remembered though. Darge led from the front, making a few Serge Betsen-esque tackles. Kyle Rowe and Fergus Burke did brilliantly to deny Josua Tuisova when it looked for all the world that he would Fagerson seemed to somehow be involved in every contact, picking himself up off the deck time and when the whistle blew and bodies were strewn like litter in a park on a hot summer's day, you knew that it was a matter of time until the points started to flow. Ill-discipline and poor restarts haunt Scots The last six minutes of the first half really punished Scotland. It felt like they had had the ball in hand twice since they scored in the third minute - and the defensive effort started to penalty count mounted up, although according to the statistics, Scotland had only conceded two more (seven) than their hosts by the felt like Ben O'Keeffe was constantly blowing his whistle for some infringement or other. Darge was told a few times to get his house in order, but it did not Fiji were allowed chance after chance to kick down the door and they did that with glee from any given distance on the Scotland did have possession, it was soon given away via a box kick or self-inflicted error. Restarts were fumbled, throw-ins went wayward and the ball was gifted back to the delighted hosts. Chaos rules with gameplan under microscope Watching Fiji play rugby is usually an enjoyable experience - except when it is happening against were at their free-flowing best at times in Suva, with the numbers on their back nothing more than a mere suggestion to the type of game they might offloads, bone-shaking contact, twinkle-toed footwork. Forward or back, tight-five or back-three, it does not problem for Scotland was, they seemed to be quite happy to allow Fiji to play the game their own way. Too often they were given a clear run at a Scottish shoulder or allowed in game was played to their strengths, while Scotland only fired two clear shots a result, Fergus Burke did not get much a chance to run his back line and Scotland's attack without Finn Russell is still much of an the plan was to pin Fiji back in their own half, it did not work as Scotland failed to put on pressure at set-piece time and let the hosts up the pitch far too easily. World Cup 2027 already looks harder When Gregor Townsend announced his Scotland squad, stacked with stars who might have warranted a summer off, his reasoning was games against Fiji and Samoa were vital to secure important World Rugby rankings points ahead of the World Cup draw in was the penultimate chance before the autumn to pick up such points to try to secure a top-six place - and, in doing so, become a pot one a brutal and bruising match against Fiji, that now looks highly unlikely and another group of death awaits Scotland, akin to looks increasingly likely that Townsend will be there in Australia in two years time, but another group stage exit would see his rein highlighted by failure.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fiji 29-14 Scotland: What Townsend said
Gregor Townsend admitted "Fiji deserved to win" as his Scotland side were left battered and bruised after a humbling loss in Suva. The Scots scored early in the first and second halves but couldn't respond to the physical onslaught that their hosts threw at them, with Fiji going on to win 29-14. Advertisement "Fiji deserved to win," he admitted. We're disappointed with our own performance and disappointed we didn't capitalise on a good start to the second half and getting back in the game. "It was tough for us when we were down to 14 men on three occasions, but Fiji deserved to win. "At times in the second half, players were looking very physically spent because of the big hits, the end to end action." A combination of their own errors and ill-discipline allowed Fiji into attacking areas throughout the game, while Scotland struggled to fire a shot in reply. "Discipline [went wrong], clearly," Townsend continued. "There was 14 penalties and three yellow cards. I would imagine most of them are in our control. Advertisement "That's unusual for us, to give away so many penalties and yellow cards, and that fatigues us when we're a man down. It also gives the opposition opportunities in our 22m and eventually those opportunities told for Fiji." Scotland were without several stars who are on tour with the British & Irish Lions but had recalled the likes of Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie and Darcy Graham, who were rested last week against the Maori All Blacks. "It would have had an effect when you're missing a few players but we believed in the team, we've got a lot of depth. We felt how we trained, how we've worked together the last two weeks, that we were ready to win this game. "The start of the game and start of the second half showed what we can do. Some of the effort was excellent, but there was too many times where it was simple mistakes. "That's nothing to do with the quality of our players. It was just giving away possession and penalties that made it easier for Fiji today."
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Fiji 29-14 Scotland: What Townsend said
Gregor Townsend admitted "Fiji deserved to win" as his Scotland side were left battered and bruised after a humbling loss in Scots scored early in the first and second halves but couldn't respond to the physical onslaught that their hosts threw at them, with Fiji going on to win 29-14."Fiji deserved to win," he admitted. We're disappointed with our own performance and disappointed we didn't capitalise on a good start to the second half and getting back in the game."It was tough for us when we were down to 14 men on three occasions, but Fiji deserved to win."At times in the second half, players were looking very physically spent because of the big hits, the end to end action."A combination of their own errors and ill-discipline allowed Fiji into attacking areas throughout the game, while Scotland struggled to fire a shot in reply."Discipline [went wrong], clearly," Townsend continued. "There was 14 penalties and three yellow cards. I would imagine most of them are in our control. "That's unusual for us, to give away so many penalties and yellow cards, and that fatigues us when we're a man down. It also gives the opposition opportunities in our 22m and eventually those opportunities told for Fiji."Scotland were without several stars who are on tour with the British & Irish Lions but had recalled the likes of Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie and Darcy Graham, who were rested last week against the Maori All Blacks."It would have had an effect when you're missing a few players but we believed in the team, we've got a lot of depth. We felt how we trained, how we've worked together the last two weeks, that we were ready to win this game."The start of the game and start of the second half showed what we can do. Some of the effort was excellent, but there was too many times where it was simple mistakes."That's nothing to do with the quality of our players. It was just giving away possession and penalties that made it easier for Fiji today."
