{"id":291318,"date":"2023-10-05T18:24:10","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:24:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=291318"},"modified":"2023-10-05T18:24:10","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T18:24:10","slug":"gregor-townsend-confident-scotland-can-get-what-they-need-from-ireland-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/gregor-townsend-confident-scotland-can-get-what-they-need-from-ireland-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Gregor Townsend confident Scotland can get what they need from Ireland game"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Gregor Townsend said Scotland are \u201cready to play their best rugby\u201d as he backed his team to rise to the challenge of having to beat Ireland for the first time in more than six years and prolong their World Cup campaign.<\/p>\n

The Scots must either secure a bonus-point victory or deny the world\u2019s top-ranked side a losing bonus point in the Stade de France on Saturday night if they are to get out of formidable Pool B and reach the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

Townsend billed it as one of the biggest matches his team have ever been involved in but feels they are equipped to deliver when it matters most and knock the rampant Irish \u2013 who have won 16 consecutive games \u2013 out of the tournament.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have got to deliver what we feel we are capable of which is their best performance as a team when it counts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are in great physical shape, they have been training really hard for weeks and months and I believe we have had enough experiences now \u2013 both good and bad \u2013 to handle this occasion. We are really behind this team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked what makes him believe that Scotland can defeat a team who have beaten them in their last eight meetings, a run stretching back to 2017, Townsend said: \u201cWell, why not? The players have performed in massive games before.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were underdogs but we have broken records before, whether it was not winning in Paris (for 22 years, before doing it in 2021), not winning at Twickenham (for 38 years, before doing it in 2021), we hadn\u2019t beaten England for 10 years (before doing it in 2018).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is another opportunity to break another record. We believe in them, we believe in where they are mentally as a group and where they are physically. They are ready to play their best rugby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scotland will either have to win by at least an eight-point margin or by scoring at least four tries. Townsend insisted that his team will not alter their game-plan significantly because of that situation.<\/p>\n

They are ready to play their best rugby<\/p>\n

\u201cOur approach would be similar if we were just looking to win the game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are two scenarios for us to get through, one is eight points and one is to score more tries so it suits how we would approach normal games, which would be to aim to score tries when we are in the opposition 22.\u201cIt\u2019s important that we get those opportunities, Ireland have been very good at not giving up too many opportunities inside their 22 over the last two to three years and that\u2019s a goal for us, to make sure we are in there a few times this weekend.\u201cWe definitely want to be the team that goes out there fearless with nothing to lose. That\u2019s the way we\u2019ve been thinking and planning this week.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Several permutations could come into play as the match evolves, but Townsend has trust in his players to be able to make the right decisions about how to negotiate the business end of proceedings if the qualification situation remains in the balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it\u2019s a tight game and defences are on top it\u2019s likely to be the eight points gives us the best opportunity,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most important element is scoring points. If things change and go in our favour we have plenty of time to talk about that at half-time or in a huddle during the second half.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re able to communicate with people on the sideline, whether they\u2019re medics or water-carriers, but you want to create an environment where the players are making the decisions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got some very intelligent rugby players and very intelligent people in our team so they won\u2019t need instruction from us. They\u2019ll be coming together and nailing what needs to be done in that next action.\u201dTownsend expects a box-office occasion to illuminate the World Cup in Paris.\u201cThere have been so many Scots at our last few games and there were a lot of Irish in Paris for their game against South Africa so it will be a cracking atmosphere,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s jeopardy, there\u2019s something at stake, so it will be one of the best games of the World Cup, I\u2019m sure.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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