Our partners use technology, such as cookies, and gather browsing info to personalise the information and advertisements shown for you and to give you the ideal internet experience.
Please let us know if you agree.
By Andy Burke
BBC Scotland in Murrayfield
Scotland pulled off from a stubborn Georgia in the second half Murrayfield to earn their third win in four World Cup warm-up matches.
It turned out to be a game in the break, with Blair Kinghorn met by three Tedo Abzhandadze penalties and unconverted tries by Ali Price.
However, Sam Johnston darted around to border the Scots clear, and attempts by Darcy Graham, along with the Horne brothers – Pete and George – sealed success in Scotland match against Ireland on 22.
It was a performance in substantial part together with the Georgians demonstrating more belligerent than in last weekend’s reverse osmosis in Tbilisi.
The story of Scotland’s summertime had been one of improvement. A disheartening hammering at the hands of France at Nice followed over Les Bleus in Murrayfield, after which a dismantling of Georgia.
Having named his final 31-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday, Townsend chose to take a lot of his big guns – the likes of Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw, Hamish Watson, John Barclay and Stuart McInally – out of the lineup of fire.
With all these alterations, the Scots took some time to get into their stride, but following a frustrating opening 15 seconds they started to cut. Kinghorn started the counter-attack and, even after incursions from Johnson and Graham, Price dived over for a try that was brilliant.
Adam Hastings’ crossfield-kick that was pinpoint found Graham, who did to offload.
Three penalties from Abzhandadze supposed, despite those two Scotland attempts, we had a one-point game as the visitors ended the half stronger, along with the buoyancy turned into anxiety in the crowd. Fly-half Abzhandadze was growing in influence and his eye for a difference was giving Scotland difficulties.
The hosts had a try to shoot some wind from the Georgia sails, plus they obtained 10 minutes to it after the break. Blade Thomson and ryan Wilson punctured the defence and Scotland showed great inspiration to continue prodding and probing until Hastings was able to send Johnson untouched beneath the sticks.
The try did little to raise the atmosphere of frustration within Murrayfield, together with all the error count through the roof because the home side struggled to stitch five phases of play together.
This wasn’t exactly the rip-roaring display the supporters came to watch to Japan for the, also at 17-9 moving in the last 15 minutes the first priority simply secured the win.
The game was secure when Duncan Taylor staged a lengthy pass to Chris Harris, who brought two defenders and slipped from Graham up the touchline.
The visitors’ resistance was now disintegrating and substitute George Horne darted through a ropey fringe defence to touch down to try number five, before brother Peter came off the bench to get in to the action, capitalising on some crazy Georgian play deep in their own territory.
Finally a victory for the Scots ahead of the serious stuff begins in Japan. When their men that are key return They’ll be better, and they will have to be when they choose on the Irish primary up.
Scotland: B Kinghorn; T Seymour; D Taylor, S Johnson; D Graham; A Hastings, A Price; G Reid, G Turner, Z Fagerson; S Cummings, J Gray; R Wilson (capt), J Ritchie, B Thomson.
Replacements: G Stewart, A Dell B Toolis G Horne, P Horne, C Harris.
Georgia: S Matiashvili; Z Dzneladze; D Katcharava, L Malaghuradze; M Modebadze; T Abzhandadze, V Lobzhanidze; M Nariashvili (capt), S Mamukashvili, B Gigashvili; K Mikautadze, G Nemsadze; S Sutiashvili, G Tkhilaishvili, B Gorgadze.
Replacements: G Kveseladze, T Mtchhedlidze V Karkadze G Melkidze, L Lomidze, B Saghinadze.
Scotland manager Steve Clarke informs Tom English about following in famous footsteps, that which he’s heard in the likes of Jose Mourinho, also being”softly surprised” by his own group.
Scot Jamie Gillan on his remarkable increase to Cleveland Browns’ starting punter in the NFL from rugby-daft adolescent.
Reacquaint yourself with the fixture and Russian soccer in general by taking our quiz Since Scotland prepare to face Russia for the first time in 24 years.
Powerful in midfield but short on defenders. Select your Scotland team to face Russia in Euro 2020.
As Scotland declared their final outing before the Rugby World Cup team is named with a comfortable victory over Georgia, rory Hutchinson crossed double on his first Test beginning.
Everything you need to know about soccer with BBC Sport Scotland
Read more here: http://softballedge.com/?p=31963
