Close Menu
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies
  • Super Rugby
    • ACT Brumbies
    • Blues
    • Chiefs
    • Crusaders
    • Fijian Drua
    • Highlanders
    • Hurricanes
    • Moana Pasifika
    • NSW Waratahs
    • Queensland Reds
    • Western Force
  • Six Nations
  • Women’s
  • Sevens
  • Podcast

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

What's Hot

Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025

June 3, 2025

Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!

June 2, 2025

Friday’s Rugby News.

May 30, 2025
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
Latest News
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the last round
  • Talking Teams Pod Week 16
  • Yowie on the Loose: Rugby News wrapped-up like a beef wellington
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #71: who saw that coming?
  • The Dropped Kick-Off 154 – Finals Perms
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the pointy end
  • Hump Day News – in from the side
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
  • Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #70: Can Super Rugby get any better?
  • Friday’s Rugby News.
  • Talking Teams Pod Round 14
  • Thursday’s Rugby News – the pointy end
  • Collab Special – Talking Teams x The Dropped Kick-Off – discussing the Lions with The Eggchasers Rugby Podcast
  • Hump Day News – in from the side
  • Tuesday’s Rugby News
Green & Gold Rugby
0 Shopping Cart
Facebook Instagram YouTube X (Twitter)
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Shop
    • Jerseys
    • Training
    • Men
    • Women
    • Kids
    • Headwear
    • Gifts & Accessories
      • Babywear
      • Balls
      • Collectibles & Memorabilia
      • Home & Office
      • Keyrings
      • Pet Accessories
      • Scarves
      • Souvenirs
      • Toys & Games
    • Super Rugby
    • Clearance
  • Wallabies

    Tuesday’s Rugby News

    February 25, 2025

    G&GR readers hate Australians?

    February 23, 2025

    Schmidt extends Wallabies tenure through TRC as search for head coach successor begins

    February 6, 2025

    Tickets on sale for blockbuster Wallaroos and Wallabies home Tests

    February 5, 2025

    Tuesday’s Rugby News, 4 February 2025

    February 4, 2025
  • Super Rugby
    1. ACT Brumbies
    2. Blues
    3. Chiefs
    4. Crusaders
    5. Fijian Drua
    6. Highlanders
    7. Hurricanes
    8. Moana Pasifika
    9. NSW Waratahs
    10. Queensland Reds
    11. Western Force
    12. View All

    Brumbies lob first grenade.

    March 19, 2025

    Hoodoo Gurus: Brumbies beat Blues.

    March 8, 2025

    Super Rugby Women’s Team List: Trial Match v Queensland Reds

    February 5, 2025

    Brumbies and Raiders combine for ANZAC weekend fixtures

    February 4, 2025

    Sotutu Returns to Boost Blues for Highlanders Clash

    February 19, 2025

    MG Motor Joins Blues as Official Vehicle Partner

    February 13, 2025

    Tu’ungafasi Celebrates 150th Cap as Blues Unleash Star-Studded Line-Up at Eden Park Opener

    February 12, 2025

    Blues Team Up with Gerard Roofs for a Strong 2025 Season Partnership

    February 11, 2025

    Chiefs Prepare for Crusaders Clash: Brown’s Debut and Tupaea’s Milestone

    February 19, 2025

    Chiefs’ All Blacks Set for Pre-Season Action Against Moana Pasifika

    February 6, 2025

    Chiefs Unveil New Talent Ahead of Taranaki Pre-Season Clash

    January 30, 2025

    Chiefs’ Rising Star Wallace Sititi Sidelined After Knee Surgery

    January 25, 2025

    Crusaders Ready to Kick Off Pre-Season with Blues Battle in Kirwee

    January 30, 2025

    Crusaders Partner with Moa Brewing Company to Elevate Fan Experience

    January 23, 2025

    Jamie Hannah Commits to Crusaders Until 2028

    January 23, 2025

    Crusaders 2025 Tickets Now Available!

    January 23, 2025

    Fijian Drua to Host Rugby FCLA in Historic Fiji Showdown

    January 20, 2025

    Highlanders Set for Home Opener Against Blues

    February 19, 2025

    Waratahs edge Highlanders in thrilling season opener

    February 16, 2025

    Highlanders Announce Squad for Season Opener Against Waratahs

    February 12, 2025

    Highlanders Gear Up for Waitangi Day Showdown Against Crusaders

    February 4, 2025

    Xavier Numia Commits to Hurricanes Through 2027

    January 29, 2025

    Hurricanes Brew Up Partnership with Flight Coffee for 2025 Season

    January 28, 2025

    Hurricanes Poua Swap Rugby Boots for Riding Boots at Hutt Valley RDA

    January 16, 2025

    Match Review: Qld Reds v Moana Pacifika — Rd2 2025

    February 21, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 3, 2025

    Ardie Savea Named Moana Pasifika Captain for 2025 Super Rugby Season

    February 2, 2025

    Moana Pasifika Set to Face Highlanders in Pre-Season Opener

    January 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Tahs best Brumbies.

    March 22, 2025

    Isaac Kailea re-signs with RA.

    March 21, 2025

    U18s & U20s Tahs sides named.

    March 14, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    Reds break drought.

    March 22, 2025

    Tom ‘The Laser’ Lynagh: Its the vibe.

    March 22, 2025

    Caslick to start in Reds #100th.

    March 19, 2025

    Force out-Brumby the Brumbies 45-42.

    February 22, 2025

    Jeremy Williams Re-Signs with Western Force for Two More Years

    February 6, 2025

    Club captain Jeremy Williams re-commits to Western Force with new deal

    February 6, 2025

    Western Force Unveils Star-Studded Squad for Brumbies Pre-Season Clash

    February 5, 2025

    Reds top of the pops.

    March 29, 2025

    More Tahs misery.

    March 29, 2025

    Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

    March 24, 2025

    Live: SRP ladder

    March 22, 2025
  • Six Nations

    Six Nations round 4

    March 8, 2025

    Tree Irish legends call time

    February 28, 2025

    Frogs flog Italy.

    February 24, 2025

    Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

    February 23, 2025

    Poms pinch it.

    February 23, 2025
  • Women’s

    More in store for Qld women’s comp.

    March 21, 2025

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – progress mixed in with some injustice

    November 21, 2024

    Yowie on the Loose: How long until test rugby restarts?

    October 15, 2024

    Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #50: limited rugby, but plenty of news

    October 14, 2024
  • Sevens

    G&GR team’s podcast, Ireland and done

    December 2, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News

    November 28, 2024

    Happy’s Thursday’s Rugby News – US edition marketing the game, Perry Baker, Super Rugby my new dawn.

    October 17, 2024

    Sevens Olympic Heaven!

    July 18, 2024

    Thursday’s Rugby News

    July 4, 2024
  • Podcast

    Talking Teams Pod Week 16

    May 28, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 154 – Finals Perms

    May 23, 2025

    Collab Special – Talking Teams x The Dropped Kick-Off – discussing the Lions with The Eggchasers Rugby Podcast

    May 14, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 153 – Schmeal – Les Kiss from a Rose

    April 30, 2025

    The Dropped Kick-Off 151 – did we mention we like the Tahs?

    April 18, 2025
Green & Gold Rugby
Home»Rugby»Brian Smith analysis: Scotland didn’t do enough to win
Rugby

Brian Smith analysis: Scotland didn’t do enough to win

Richard EdwardsBy Richard EdwardsOctober 20, 201549 Comments
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Photo courtesy of World Rugby
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

So it’s been over 24 emotion-filled hours since full time in the thrilling quarter final between Scotland and Australia. It’s now time to consider whether Scotland really deserved to win and assess whether they showed enough to suggest they were a genuine threat in the penultimate and final rounds of the RWC?

Ex-Wallaby and England attack coach, Brian Smith, shares his thoughts on these and other issues in this week’s catch up with Richard Edwards from GAGR.

Wallabies played more rugby

With Australia sealing victory in the last-minute, you have to feel for the Scottish players, coaches and supporters.

Scotland played with tremendous passion and energy and have every right to be upset with what was yet another poor display by referee Craig Joubert.

But regardless of the controversial last-minute call, Scotland did not engineer enough themselves to deserve to go through to the semi-finals.

Australia dominated just about every facet of the game except for the scoreboard.

By full-time, the stats sheet showed that Australia had scored 5 tries to 3 and bombed two near-certain scoring opportunities.

They dominated possession (55%) and territory (62%), and carried for the most metres (345 vs 250).

Also, despite having three tries scored against them, the Wallaby defence was not troubled. They had to make less tackles (86 vs 117) and they missed less tackles (10 vs 17).

If you take away the emotion and focus on the statistics, Australia weren’t lucky to win that game, they were unlucky they didn’t win by more.

Australia played all the rugby and would have won with a score similar to Argentina vs Ireland if:

  • Bernard Foley had kicked well
  • we hadn’t messed around getting out of our own territory, and
  • Scott Sio hadn’t been harshly pinged at scrum time in his encounters with opposite prop Willem Nel.

Nel was clearly coached to slip his bind and assistant referee, Glen Jackson, didn’t pick that up.

That was lucky for Scotland, as they gained at least 2 to 3 penalties from this tactic.

Wallaby attack was very effective

A pleasing aspect of the Wallaby performance against Scotland was their attack and the tactics they developed and implemented specifically for this match.

When you are planning your attack you look for a couple of weak points in the opposition’s defence to exploit and the Wallabies did this effectively.

They clearly targeted Laidlaw (the Scottish half-back) who is not known for his defence. They also sought to exploit his defensive weaknesses by attacking the blind-side from line-outs mainly.

Before too long, Laidlaw had worked out he was being targeted and you could see him call his blind-side winger up during defending line-outs to protect him.

But when Maitland was in the bin, the Wallabies took advantage of the moment when Laidlaw was defending on his own on the blind side.

A quick ball from Genia inside Scotland’s 22 found Mitchell who had no trouble dealing with Laidlaw in his dash to the corner to bring up Australia’s fourth try and a six point lead.

Another impressive feature of the Wallabies attack was the way they used their forward runners this week.

This time around, they sent up forward pods and played it out the back.

This is how Tevita Kuridrani got free and Adam Ashley Cooper scored his try off the back of that.

This was a very different outcome to the previous week where Kuridrani took a pass in a similar position, where he was picked off by the blitz defence and a turnover ultimately resulted.

Scotland really didn’t do much

About the only play of note that Scotland created was the sneaky pick-and-go that resulted in their first try.

With the other two tries, one came from a charge down and the other from an intercept.

Both were very fortuitous and not the sort of plays you can rely on to win matches regularly, especially big matches with big consequences.

When you think about it, it’s very unlikely that Scotland will score from an intercept and a charge down two weeks running.

And without a clear attacking plan, you’d have to think they would have struggled against Argentina.

The Wallabies, on the other hand, will take the field next weekend with an attacking (and defensive) plan targeted to the opposition and not rely on luck.

This alone would make Australia more worthy opponents and are more likely to threaten the Pumas.

Lessons to be learned

After each game you play, there is also going to be something you can improve and for the Wallabies it is four key things.

  1. They have to get out of their own half and not mess around, because that’s where two of the turnover tries came from. They also have to be prepared to chase those kicks.
  2. The Wallaby scrum is a weapon. They must use it and not get conned again, like they did with Nel.
  3. They will need to keep up the variety in attack and utilise the great ball players they have in the 10, 12 and 15 jumpers.
  4. Foley needs to turn around his goal kicking form and will need to put in some work this week.

I expect the Wallabies will win next weekend if they can bring it all together. To do this, they will need to combine the scrum dominance and attack (from the England game) with the gritty defence (from the Wales game) and the attacking variety (from the match against Scotland).

We are a fan run website, we appreciate your support.

💬 Have you got a news article suggestion? Submit a story and have your say
👀 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.com
🎵 Listen to our Podcasts on Spotify and iTunes
🎥 Watch our Podcasts on YouTube


News
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleJoubert Goes Under the Bus
Next Article Tuesday’s Rugby News
Richard Edwards

An ex-piggy who once played with lots of passion and not much panache, with the bravehearts, beasts and blue giants.

Related Posts

Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025

June 3, 2025

Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!

June 2, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – the last round

May 29, 2025

Talking Teams Pod Week 16

May 28, 2025

We are a fan run website, we appreciate your support.

We are determined to keep G&GR a free site for all rugby fans. A place for all to engage with rugby stories, opinions, articles, podcasts, discussions and more.

Show your support to G&GR


Latest

Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025

June 3, 2025

Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!

June 2, 2025

Friday’s Rugby News.

May 30, 2025

Thursday’s Rugby News – the last round

May 29, 2025
1 2 3 … 2,600 Next
Latest Super Rugby

Reds top of the pops.

March 29, 2025

More Tahs misery.

March 29, 2025

Super Rugby Round #7: Bye-bye-bye

March 24, 2025

Live: SRP ladder

March 22, 2025
1 2 3 … 790 Next
Latest Six Nations

Six Nations round 4

March 8, 2025

Tree Irish legends call time

February 28, 2025

Frogs flog Italy.

February 24, 2025

Welsh rugby: heartbeat found!

February 23, 2025
1 2 3 … 25 Next
GAGR Podcast
Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
About Us
About Us

greenandgoldrugby.com is your one stop shop for all things Rugby Union - news, podcasts, opinions, fixtures, events & everything in between.

greenandgoldrugby.com - created by fans of rugby, for fans of rugby.

About
Submit a Story
Authors
Contact
Privacy

Our Picks

Rising rally to overrun Queensland Country

September 4, 2016

Waratahs young leaders to shine

January 18, 2017

Eight ANGRY Observations from tonight’s game

June 18, 2016
New Comments
  • Crescent on Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025
  • Crescent on Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!
  • KwAussie Rugby Lover on Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025
  • Hoss on Tuesday’s Rugby News – 3 June 2025
  • Timbo on Mad Monday with Brisneyland Local #72: the final round of Super Rugby Pacific – blowouts, and the Tahs blowing chunks!
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Super Rugby
  • Wallabies
  • Podcast
  • Privacy Policy (2023)
© 2025 Ponderosa Publishing Pty Ltd | ABN 76 668 430 386.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.