SCOTS WOWED BUT NOT SURPRISED
THEY are psychics and oracles, the lot of ’em. Either that, or the current Scotland squad is packed with the most astute and insightful judges of rugby in the history of the game.
Why, if only they had been allowed to back up their remarkable foreknowledge with a few shekels, they would have spent yesterday deciding whether to splash their winnings on a Caribbean island or a corporate box at the World Cup Final.
Not surprised by Japan’s win over South Africa? That was the official party line from within the Scotland camp the morning after the night before. If you believe that, you will believe anything.
Seriously, pretending to be anything other than shaken, stirred and turned upside down by the biggest shock in rugby history makes the Scots sound more than just unconvincing.
By sticking to such a response, they come over as being defensive, caught in a state of blank denial — and a lot more worried than they should be. Calm down lads, it’s all going to be just fine.
Yes, we all know that Japan overcoming odds of 66-1 changes the complexion of Pool B.
Nobody saw it coming, so it was always going to take everyone a little while to understand what it meant to the rest of the teams; the earlymorning timing of yesterday’s media session didn’t do Vern Cotter’s squad any favours.
Let’s not jump to the worst conclusion immediately, though. Instead of running scared from the spectre of abrasive little genius Japanese coach Eddie Jones and his well-drilled charges, Scotland need to see this development as a brilliant opportunity.
Because, as good as Japan appear to be, the way they pushed the Springboks around also suggests that the biggest bullies in world rugby have lost their mojo.
The group favourites — twice World Cup winners — are there for the taking, if only someone is bold enough and brave enough to knock them off top spot. Why not us?
If prudence prevents Cotter or his men from publicly declaring as much just yet, they must now be thinking about not only reaching the quarter-finals, but winning the pool. Even in a tournament already replete with surprises, going from bottom of the Six Nations to top of a table including South Africa and Samoa would turn a few heads.
First, of course, they will have to beat a Japanese team on the wrong end of the short turnaround.
J ust as Scotland wil l be handicapped by limited recovery time before going on to play the USA this weekend, Jones’ boys must be hurting.
The real positive for Cotter and his team is that, despite the fatigue f actor f or the opposition, all expectations surrounding Wednesday’s clash in Gloucester have been dramatically recalibrated.
Before Saturday, even a 10-point Scotland win over Japan would have been dismissed by many as an underwhelming result, the product of a performance that would have i nevitably been described as workmanlike.
Now? Pip the Japanese by even a single point and we might just declare a day of national celebration. Or at least afford our first XV some genuine respect for a job well done.
The i nternational game has shown signs of some seismic shifts over the first three days of this World Cup. There is no reason why we have to be on the wrong side of the uprising.
To Kingsholm, t hen, with confidence not dented, but renewed. Banish all thoughts of defeat. Ignore completely that nagging inner voice warning of doom upon catastrophic doom, ending with Scotland missing out not only on the quarter-finals but even third spot in the group, pitching us into pre-qualifiers for the next World Cup.
Instead, focus on who we might fancy at Twickenham on October 17. And rest assured that, within this Scotland group, there are clearly characters incapable of being surprised by anything Japan might throw at them.