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Welcome to another crucial game in the wide-open Rugby World Cup Group B. Japan's victory over South Africa has raised hopes for Scotland, Samoa and even the USA that the knock out stages were an achievable goal. Scotland beat Japan just days after the epic group opener and now the table looks like this. Any of the teams could still reach the quarter final and today's game is certainly no gimme for Scotland. On the four previous official occasions that the teams have met Scotland have won, with an aggregate score of 181-50. Full preview here.
Our man Tristan Barclay is out and about in Leeds ahead of the game and has these scene setters for us:
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| 1 |
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What a pair of stiring anthems: Flower of Scotland and the Star Spangled Banner. Some predictions:
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| 2 |
0 - 3 |
USA take early control, running through the phases and win a penalty just insiude the Scotland half, straight in front of the posts. MacGinty will take the kick...
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| 3 |
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And it's USA 3-0 Scotland.
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| 4 |
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USA wearing a mostly white uniform today, with red and blue trim, while Scotland are in their traditional blue jerseys and white shorts. Scotland playing from right to left and put pressure on USA stand-off MacGinty who finds touch but still within the American half.
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| 5 |
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This time it's the Americans who give away a penatly, at the scrum, and Hogg will kick this penalty attempt from just inside the USA half.
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| 6 |
3 - 3 |
Two big boots and it's 3-3.
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| 7 |
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USA go for the up and under but Hogg seizes it well and sets up a Scottish raid on their left, but the ball goes out of play and it's a lineout. The USA lineout is so far from straight that it is penalised (although who ever throws them straight any more?). Scotland get the scrum put in...
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| 8 |
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This time is the American pack who are on top and they win it against the head and swing the ball across the backs. That was a big moment for USA. But now there's another scrum, and again the Scots have the put in. And this time Scotland are penalised. Bog, big psychological gains for the American forwards.
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| 9 |
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But MacGinty fails to find touch and the Scots have the ball back. But then they give it away with another penalty. This is a very stop-start opening to the game, lacking fluidity.
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| 11 |
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Another USA lineout goes wrong and the Scots get the ball back. While it's not much fun to watch yet, the early signs are that USA could frustrate the Scots and keep this game close.
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| 12 |
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From our man at Elland Road:
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| 13 |
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The Scots move through the phases and towards the American 22.
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| 14 |
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And it's another penalty to Scotland, inside the 22 and at not much of an angle. This should be 6-3 to the Scots...
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| 15 |
6 - 3 |
And it is.
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| 16 |
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USA need to eliminate the silly penalties from the forwards.
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| 17 |
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This game is still failing to find much rhythm: broken play, sill infringements, and now a Scottish knock on, but the USA forwards are offside and another chance for Scotland to add to their points total with a penalty, straight in front of the posts but on the halfway line. Hogg to take...
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| 18 |
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That one drifts wide and it's still a 3-point game. Scotland have also lost Grant Gilchrist to some sort of leg injury.
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| 19 |
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Yet to see more than the fingers-on-one-hand number of passes strung together by either team. USA kick for touch deep into Scottish territory and now their pack are pushing towards the Scottish try line...
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| 20 |
6 - 8 |
TRY! The USA pack ruck and maul to the line and Lamositele gets the ball down. 8-6 to USA
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| 21 |
6 - 10 |
MacGinty's conversion kisses off the posts and over and it's 10-6 to USA.
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| 22 |
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While Scotland benefited from playing Japan just days after their epic game against South Africa, the Americans might just gain from playing the Scots just days after their game against Japan. Those midweek games are making it tricky for some teams. Good start for USA.
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| 24 |
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The USA pack are on the front foot and then the ball is turned over and Scotland attempt to run the ball away. Still very scrappy at Elland Road.
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| 25 |
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| 26 |
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A Scottish break as Hogg breaks the line but his pass to winger Visser is low and knocked forward and that was a try gone begging.
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| 27 |
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The Scottish fans in Yorkshire are trying to lift their team with a bit of chanting. Some practice in passing and catching might be more useful for the Scottish team.
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| 28 |
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| 29 |
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Nice run by Ngwenya for USA but he runs straight into the Scottish tacklers and we are back to some forward phases, with the Americans keeping the ball but not making much territory.
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| 30 |
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Eventually the Americans give up the ball with a forward pass. Back to the scrum.
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| 31 |
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The American pack get the Scottish forwards back-pedalling and feel that they have the turnover, but No says the referee. Some big efforts there by the USA pack.
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| 32 |
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| 33 |
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Scotland break but again lose the ball with a knock on. Scottish penalty just inside the USA half. But another miss by Scotland. Still 10-6 to USA.
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| 34 |
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Scotland spill the ball again after another big USA hit, this time by McFarland. American forwards are putting the pressure on the Scots. Big time.
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| 36 |
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Some rather aimless kicking and now the Americans have the ball back with their forwards and are inching down their right touchline. And then they kick it away again and the Scots break, but again a pass doesn't go to hand and Scotland are putting themselves under pressure with these mishandles.
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| 39 |
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The American forwards are again on top and they inch towards the Scottish line and win a penalty in front of the posts...
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| 40+1 |
6 - 13 |
USA go in at half time 13-6 in front...
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| 40+2 |
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Half-time analysis from Tristan Barclay at Elland Road:
That half has left me scratching my head slightly at Elland Road. The first 20 minutes was mostly punctuated by penalties, with Scotland looking far superior to the USA in the set-piece. Eagles hooker Phillip Thiel has been struggling with his line-out throws, while the Scots seems to have the upper hand in the scrum. That dominance alone should have been enough for Scotland to take a decent lead into half-time. However, post the 20-minute mark, the USA began to take advantage of Scotland's inaccuracies. Handling errors from the Scottish backs have denied them several scoring opportunities, while the USA have kept plugging away with a brutal forward game and a willingness to throw the ball around when given the chance. Scotland have much to do to avoid an upset.
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| 40+3 |
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| 40+4 |
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| 40+15 |
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The retweets have it!
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| 40 |
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And they are back out for the second half. Can Scotland overcome the Americans? We will find out over the next 40 minutes
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| 41 |
11 - 13 |
TRY! Big start to the second half for the Scots. Some neat passing at last and the ball reaches winger Visser on the touchline and he is clear and over the line.
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| 42 |
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If Scotland make the conversion it will be all-square...
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| 43 |
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But Finn Russell's kick goes astray and it is USA 13-11 Scotland.
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| 44 |
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The Scots are finding a bit more rhythm than the first half but still coming up against some formidable American defence. Some big hits going in.
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| 45 |
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| 46 |
16 - 13 |
"Scotland! Scotland!" rings out around Elland Road as the Scottish fans try to lift their team, who edge forward into the USA 22.
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| 47 |
18 - 13 |
TRY! Maitland runs through a gap close to the line to score...
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| 48 |
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And the conversion counts too and it's 18-13 to Scotland.
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| 49 |
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Can USA bounce back? The Americans had the better of the first half but Scotland have come from the changing rooms a changed side.
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| 50 |
18 - 16 |
The Americans make some sweet passes through the midfield. USA bring on some fresh legs and take the ball through the phases. Penalty to USA...
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| 51 |
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McGinty's kick is good and the gap is back down to just 2 points.
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| 52 |
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A Scottish charge down by Swinson and he gathers and he must score but he doesn't as superb tackling by Manoa, who is then joined by several more American bodies and the ball is bundled into touch. Great defence by the Americans.
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| 53 |
23 - 16 |
The Scottish forwards drive for the line again and again and eventually it's a TRY!
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| 54 |
25 - 16 |
The under-the-posts conversion is simple and good and Scotland lead 25-16. A bit of breathing space for the Home Nation now.
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| 55 |
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The Americans try to steal the ball from a Scottish scrum but the ball wasn't out and Scotland have a penalty to move the ball down the field for territory. Back in USA's 22...
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| 56 |
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The Scots are dominating the lineout and now the pack in blue are rolling the maul towards the goalposts. Phase after phase runs into American defence and eventually the Americans turn the ball over and kick to touch for a bit of relief.
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| 58 |
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Russell is down with a knock to the ankle and is off the field briefly. The Scottish forwards tuck the ball up their jumpers and roll the maul towards the line again. Scotland choose not to kick the penalty and go for a lineout close to the American line.
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| 59 |
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Scotland are giving USA no chance at the lineout and another maul is rumbling forward. Still the American defence holds. For now...
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| 60 |
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As we head into the final 20 minutes the Scots try to fling the ball wide and eventually the ball is coughed up and the Americans have the ball again.
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| 62 |
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The Scots are back in the corner, five yards from the American line, with another lineout and another chance to roll the maul towards the line...
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| 63 |
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The referee says the Americans brought down the maul illegally and Scotland have another penalty out wide. It's all Scotland at the moment.
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| 64 |
30 - 16 |
Another lineout in the corner and another opportunity for the Scottish pack to drive. The USA forwards hold firm, but eventually substitute Matt Scott finds a tiny gap and runs through. TRY!
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| 65 |
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That should be enough daylight for the Scots as the conversion goes over and Scotland lead 32-16.
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| 66 |
32 - 16 |
Can USA force their way back into this game? They need a try soon to have much chance.
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| 67 |
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When I described the Scottish strip as their "traditional" jerseys, I did ommit to mention the tartan touches around the edges. Not just plain dark blue.
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| 68 |
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USA have an opportunity with a lineout close to the Scottish line and now the American forwards batter through the phases. They win a penalty out wide and go for another lineout. The Scots could do without an American rally...
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| 69 |
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The Americans are held up short by strong Scottish defence and the pressure is off.
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| 70 |
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Scotland almost make a mess of the scrum but rescue it and boot it clear. But USA are still in the Scottish half and have a lineout for an attacking platform.
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| 71 |
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Now it's time for the American forwards to put the ball up their jumper and push forward. And then the ball is swung out wide abd a series of passes and carries take the ball close to the blue line, but then there's a fumble and that's the end of that.
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| 72 |
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That was a good run by USA's Kelly to set up the opportunity but it was squandered. And now Scotland have a penalty from the resulting scrum and will kick for touch and relieve the pressure.
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| 73 |
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But the Scottish throw-in isn't straight and the Americans have the ball back with a scrum in midfield.
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| 75 |
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The Americans keep pushing until a knock-on ends the attack and the ball is back in Scottish hands.
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| 76 |
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The Scots get a penalty and again kick for touch and a lineout inside the American 22.
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| 77 |
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The Scottish forwards are driving again and Laidlaw sniffs a chance but is soon snuffed out. The Scottish pack are close to the line again and Weir finds a gap and it's a TRY!
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| 78 |
37 - 16 |
Weir - try
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| 79 |
39 - 16 |
The kick is good and it's 39-16. Just seconds to go...
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| 80 |
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Game Over. No upset for USA.
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| 80+1 |
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Tristan Barclay's Elland Road verdict: "It was a case of first-half bad, second-half good for Scotland here at Elland Road. Before the break, they seemed almost afraid of taking on the USA pack, while also failing in some fairly basic handling areas. In the second 40, however, they were more accurate, using the talent of Finn Russell together with simple, snappy passing to cruise over for five tries and a winning bonus point. The USA will be disappointed with their efforts after starting so brightly, but they seemed to tire and had no way of holding back to blue tide. One stint in the Scotland 22 was spoilt by an inability to hold onto the ball after contact. They kept on battling, as one would expect in a World Cup fixture, but I have to admit the Eagles were made to look like the Tier Two nation they are as the game wore on."
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| 80+2 |
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Match report here
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| 80+3 |
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| 80+4 |
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Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Ireland vs Romania is coming up shortly. You can follow that game live here
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