As we countdown to the 2023 RWC in France, we flip the highlight to Scotland, the team that might doubtlessly derail the Springboks’ title defence.
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Scotland have appeared in all 9 tournaments to date and are the sixth-highest point-scorers in Rugby World Cup historical past with 1,261 factors, putting them above Six Nations rivals Wales and Ireland in the all-time record. Twenty-nine per cent of these factors got here from two of the greatest-ever kickers to grace the Rugby World Cup stage in Gavin Hastings and Chris Paterson.
Since reaching the semi-finals of the second match in 1991, the furthest Scotland have gone in the competitors is the quarter-finals. And having missed out on the knockout levels for less than the second time in 2019, after a defeat to Japan, they are going to be determined to make amends at France 2023.
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SCOTLAND’S RWC STORY
RWC debut:
23 May, 1987 v France at Lancaster Park, Christchurch
RWC appearances:
Played 42 – Won 24 Drawn 1 Lost 17 – Points for 1,261 Points towards 803 – Winning ratio 57 per cent
Most RWC appearances:
Chris Paterson, 15
Most RWC tries:
Gavin Hastings, 9
Best end:
Semi-finalists in 1991
Qualification for RWC 2023:
Third in Pool A at RWC 2019
Most memorable match:
The breathtaking 36-33 win towards Samoa at St James’ Park in Newcastle in 2015. Greig Laidlaw scored 26 factors – his finest ever haul in a single take a look at – in a bonkers recreation of rugby that produced seven tries and booked Scotland a quarter-final towards Australia.
Iconic second:
Chris Paterson kicking Scotland into the RWC 2007 quarter-finals with each level of their slim 18-16 win over Italy, a part of his then report run of 36 consecutive profitable kicks at aim in worldwide rugby.
Low level:
Gavin Hastings’ miss in entrance of the posts in the 1991 semi-final towards England – a kick that might have despatched Scotland via to the last. The scores had been tied at 6-6 at the time and Jonathan Webb’s second penalty of the match received it for England as an alternative. Hastings later stated the miss was his largest remorse in rugby: “If I could change one thing in my career, it would be putting that kick over.”
Iconic participant:
Hastings kicked way over he missed in his three match appearances and held the particular person report for many Rugby World Cup factors till Jonny Wilkinson overtook his tally of 227 factors from 13 matches in the RWC 2007 quarter-finals.
Record-breaker:
Chris Paterson is the solely Scotland participant to have performed in 4 Rugby World Cups (1999-2011). The final of his report 15 match appearances, towards England in Auckland in 2011, was additionally his farewell take a look at.
Did you understand?
Scotland’s tally of 34 factors towards Australia of their RWC 2015 quarter-final was the joint second highest variety of factors scored by a team in a RWC match with out them profitable the recreation. (Wales’ 37 v New Zealand at RWC 2003 is the highest).
Quote:
“To play against Jonah Lomu (in 1995) was the ultimate test although he was still relatively unknown at the time. I was pretty quick and there weren’t that many people I could show the outside to and not catch, but he was phenomenally fast for such a big man and incredibly light on his feet too.” – Scotland winger Craig Joiner on the thrill, and problem, of going through rugby’s most iconic participant on the recreation’s largest stage.
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RUGBY WORLD CUP 2023 CLASH OF THE TITANS: SCOTLAND VS SPRINGBOKS
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