Summary
I would love to know what Vern Cotter said to his Scotland team at half-time. They won that second-half 33-3. Those three tries in the opening 13 minutes of the half took the wind (and the belief) right out of USA. There was a change in personnel, which helped, but they were devastating with the ball in hand. With maximum points and sitting three points clear at the top of Pool B after two matches, they should be happy with their lot, particularly as they only had that four-day rest period between today and their opener against Japan.
USA faded badly. Fitness, or lack thereof, told and they weren’t able to capitalise on Scotland’s ill-discipline as they were able to do in the first half. There are definitely positives to take out of this game. Samu Manoa was excellent in defence – USA turned the ball over seven times by my reckoning – and Seamus Kelly, who plays for San Francisco Golden Gate RFC – had an excellent game at outside centre. Their physicality was thrilling, but sadly that was what was lacking in the second half.
USA now have a long rest before they take on South Africa on 7 October. Scotland also play the Springboks next Saturday. They will be hoping Finn Russell recovers from that ankle injury, the fly-half twisted it badly charging down a kick.
That’s all from me, thanks for reading. You can catch up on Ireland v Romania right now right here.
See you next time. Bye!
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Full-time: Scotland 39-16 USA
What a turnaround.
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Try! (Weir 79) Scotland 37-16 USA
Richie Gray and Josh Strauss make good ground and USA’s defence is in disarray in their own 22. Fitness is definitely telling here as Scotland look much the stronger. Laidlaw gets quick ball at the back of the ruck and spins it to Weir, who has options outside him but cuts inside Fenoglio for an easy score. Their fifth try! Laidlaw converts.
TRY! Scotland sub Duncan Weir adds a coat of gloss at Elland Road - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/b11U1npkpi
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 27, 2015
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76 min: Nice little stat here.
30 - Scotland have now posted 30+ points in three of their last four Tests, having previously gone seven matches without doing so. Form.
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 27, 2015
74 min: Six minutes to go, and USA’s camp will be furious that they are not within touching distance. But for 25 minutes at the beginning of this second-half, they have been the better side.
72 min: Scotland win a penalty as USA’s scrum collapses. Finally, Scotland are able to climb out of their 22 after some intense pressure.
71 min: Great credit must go to Maitland, Hogg and Strokosch for their defending there. Heroic stuff.
70 min: Scotland win the scrum and kick clear, but USA come roaring back: Kelly running the ball, bouncing off Bennett as the two 13s collide. USA again go to work around the fringes, about two metres short of the line, but Kilifi knocks on again!
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68 min: USA build their first meaningful attack of this second-half, all three back-row forwards sniping around the fringes and USA move into Scotland’s 22. It’s not that enterprising, but it’s effective and Kilifi is oh-so-nearly in for the score, but fumbles it at the crucial moment to give Scotland a scrum on their five-metre line. They got away with that one!
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Conversion! Scotland 32-16 USA
Laidlaw makes no mistake. Scotland’s score now doubles USA’s. Remarkable to think how much has changed since half-time.
Try! (Scott 66) Scotland 30-16 USA
Scotland have their bonus point! From the penalty, Weir kicks for touch again and from the line-out, Scotland go through a couple of phases before Matt Scott comes onto a Laidlaw pass at an outrageous angle, is half-tackled but reaches out and plants the ball on USA’s try-line. Lovely score.
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63 min: From the line-out McFarland is caught collapsing the maul. The referee stops the clock, and again warns USA about their discipline. I can see yellow cards coming out very soon.
61 min: With three tries on the board, Scotland are really pushing for that bonus point, and as USA give away yet another penalty, they kick for the corner, rather than the posts.
59 min: Finn Russell is down after an awkward collision. I think there’s something up with his ankle as the physios sprint on. He’s going to have to go off. The fly-half is replaced by Duncan Weir.
57 mim: Samu Manoa makes another huge hit. The No8 is probably the only USA player that can claim to have a good second half so far.
Manu Samoa
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55 min: Scotland’s forwards have really upped their game since the break, Nel and Dickinson have made a real impact. They keep the ball in the pack and roll their maul a good 20 metres up the pitch into the USA 22.
Conversion! Scotland 25-16 USA
Laidlaw, on as a substitute for Pyrgos, converts to five Scotland a nine-point lead.
Try! (Nel 52) Scotland 23-16 USA
But Scotland aren’t to be denied, they score on their next attack! It’s an attritional, hard-earned score, and Scotland’s forwards batter away at the USA line in front of the posts. Nel eventually gets over the line, wedging the ball against the bottom of the goalposts for the score. Their third try in 10 minutes!
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52 min: Swinson charges down a box-kick in USA’s 22 and looks for all the world like he will pick the ball up and score but a magnificent tackle from Samu Manoa gets USA out of jail. Eventually support arrives, and MacGinty rips the ball before going into touch.
Penalty! Scotland 18-16 USA
50 min: Just what USA needed to settle their nerves. Scotland give away a cheap penalty in the middle of the pitch and MacGinty punts over.
49 min: USA need to re-organise. And they do so: Barrett and Suniula replace Peterson and Petri.
Scotland also make a change: Fraser Brown comes on to replace Ryan Wilson in the back-row.
Conversion! Scotland 18-13 USA
Russell adds the extras. He made that try.
Try! (Maitland 47) Scotland 16-13 USA
Scotland are ahead! Again they inch up the field, keeping the ball in hand, showing a lot more patience and composure. Scotland’s darting round the fringes causing USA all manner of problems. Eventually the ball is swung right, and Russell gets his hands through a tackle and pops it to Maitland, who runs through untouched to put the ball down under the posts. Scotland have started like a train.
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45 min: Scotland are looking like they are greatly improved in all areas. They are matching the USA’s physicality too, little Russell upending Smith.
Try! (Visser 43) Scotland 11-13 USA
Scotland have come out a completely different animal. Strauss burrows up the middle, and it takes two or three USA defenders to take him down with their wide players sucked in. Pyrgos wings an excellent mis-pass out wide, and suddenly there’s a two on one. This time, Hogg makes no mistake, a simple shift left allowing Visser to score in the corner. Russell misses the conversion, but it was a tough ask on that touchline.
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Peeep! And we’re off again! And yep Scotland have subbed both their props. Ryan Grant and Jon Welsh coming off for Alasdair Dickinson and Willem Nel.
Vern Cotter could be seen berating his team inside the Scotland dressing room/ Remember they made nine changes to the team that beat Japan. Surely they’ll be making some substitutions imminently.
This is a really, really, really good game of rugby. Pool B is full of surprises isn’t it? After Japan’s expoits, USA were widely seen as the weakest team but they are playing brilliantly and fully deserve their half-time lead. How are your fingernails Scotland fans? Email michael.butler@theguardian.com or tweet me @michaelbutler18.
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Here is that Ngwenga hit, in all its glory. Marvel at its magnificence.
BOOM! Huge hit by USA's Ngwenya shakes the ground #SCOvUSA - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/DVcD74mUsX
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 27, 2015
Half-time: Scotland 6-13 USA
Well. Who saw this one coming?
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Penalty! Scotland 6-13
40 min: MacGinty nudges it over.
39 min: USA are now just five metres out! But Duratulo loses it forward in a tackle by Gilchrist. Hang on though, Scotland are penalised for offside and USA have a kick right under the posts!
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38 min: Meanwhile USA have been very efficient with ball in hand – the try scorer Lamositele making waves on the left side of the pitch, before the forwards join him, picking and going as USA edge into Scotland’s 22 and towards the try line once more.
37 min: Scotland have had more of the ball in this first half, but they haven’t done a lot with it. You have to credit USA’s defence, very resolute.
Possession: @Scotlandteam 64% v USA 36% #AsOne #RWC2015 #SCOvUSA pic.twitter.com/dlG2W5zYaN
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) September 27, 2015
35 min: Oh. My. Word. Ngwenga absolutely nails Bennett as the ball is looped wide. Bit of a hospital pass from Pyrgos, but that was a shuddering hit. The biggest of the World Cup so far?
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33 min: Russell tries his luck from range, but his kick again flies wide. That’s two penalties missed now, one from Hogg, one from Russell.
32 min: Bennett steps inside and sets off down the middle of the field but a brilliant covering challenge from McFarland saves USA’s skin. Bennett drops the ball, and the USA counter-attack, but again they are ruled off-side as they chase the ball, Scully was not behind the kicker.
29 min: USA have been penalised for offside in this game, but their rush defence is working, for the most part. Kelly steps out the line well to bring Maitland to the ground before he had a chance to get going.
27 min: The referee is having a word with the USA forwards, advising them that any more indiscipline will result in a sin-bin.
25 min: What a waste from Hogg! Again he comes into Scotland’s attacking line to great effect, stepping inside Kelly easily and sets off at pace leaving a trail of USA defenders in his wake. Not one person lays a hand on the full-back, who is soon bearing down on his opposite man Wyles. With Visser in support, it’s a simple two on one, but Hogg’s pass is right on Visser’s bootstraps, and the winger can’t hold on!
Scotland waste golden chance to score a try vs USA - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/imUq6NTtVP
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 27, 2015
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23 min: After a shaky start, USA have been excellent in this last 10 minutes and fully deserve their lead. Gray catches a high-ball and USA captain Wyles brings him tumbling to the turf. Gray has taken a hammering so far!
MacGinty adds the extras, with the ball kissing the right-hand post before falling over. Out of nothing, it’s Scotland 6-10 USA!
Try! (Lamositele 20) Scotland 6-8 USA
Terrible defending from Scotland. From a USA line-out, they work it out to the backs. First Kelly, then Fry (!!!) step inside their markers, making good inroads into the Scotland 22. Ritchie Gray makes a heroic tackle on his own try-line to deny the USA but the American forwards arrive and Lamositele bundles over the line. Scotland’s scrambling ‘defence’ was non-existent!
TRY! U-S-A roll over the line to shock Scotland. Game on! - brought to you by @SamsungUK | #SamsungRugby http://t.co/cQq9LYyd2n
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 27, 2015
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19 min: Hogg really does come into the line superbly well at pace from full-back. He breaks the first tackle and tries to make the offload, but the pass is too low for Bennett.
17 min: USA finally win a line-out but are again penalised around the half-way line. Hogg tries a long-range effort just inside his half – the kick has the legs but flies just wide of the upright.
Scotland’s Grant Gilchrist has taken a knock and he is replaced by Tim Swinson in the second row.
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Penalty! Scotland 6-3 USA
16 min: Things are not getting much better for Thiel, he’s caught with hands in the ruck and Scotland have another penalty wide on the right. Russell step up and slots it over. Scotland lead.
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15 min: Ooooooo, Ngwenga just ended Gray. Ouch ouch ouch.
14 min: Maitland and Bennett shows some quick feet to break the USA line, as Scotland begin to build some momentum with ball in hand for the first time.
13 min: In 13 first-half-minutes , USA have lost four - FOUR – line-out on their own throw. I mentioned Thiel coming into his side, USA’s only change, and it’s fair to say he’s having a shocker so far.
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10 min: Better from the USA big boys, they overturn a scrum on their 22, but as the ball is spun wide, they lose it forward. Unlucky.
8 min: Hogg catches the high ball, and sets off on a mazy run, before a neat offload to Horne. The centre tried a little grubber kick, but it awkwardly bounces out of the clutches of the oncoming Bennett.
Penalty! Scotland 3-3 USA
6 min: Hogg makes no mistake off the tee. The Elland Road pitch is only 95m long – 10m less than Twickenham – so anything from around half-way is within kicking range.
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5 min: Oh dear! The USA front-row is having familiar problems, as they collapse in a scrum on half-way. Chance for Hogg to get Scotland back on level terms.
4 min: Scotland kick-off, caught by MacGinty, who just about manages to clear the ball under heavy pressure from Pyrgos. MacGinty’s kick barely makes it out of USA’s 22.
Penalty! Scotland 0-3 USA
3 min: MacGinty pops it over from about 30m out. A particularly excited USA fan looks like he’s just won the lottery.
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2 min: Seven phases later, and Scotland are penalised for offside. I think Welsh was the offender.
1 min: MacGinty sends the ball skywards, Ritchie Gray goes up, but fumbles it forward. USA begin pummelling away at Scotland’s defense, Polamo hitting hard in particular.
Peeeeep! It’s USA to kick off. Here we go!
The sight of USA prop Eric Fry balling his eyes out is a joy to behold.
It's anthem time - Flower of Scotland is ringing around Elland Road. What an atmosphere! #AsOne #SCOvUSA pic.twitter.com/n3XjYwXhHY
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) September 27, 2015
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“Afternoon Michael,” emails Simon McMahon Scheduling may well have been an issue at this World Cup, but what do you make of the ticketing policy? I checked the website yesterday and found that there were seats available for Scotland - Samoa next week, but the cheapest ticket was £110. Factor in travel and possible accommodation and there won’t be many casual fans making the trip to Newcastle next weekend. Which is a shame. Anyway, Scotland by a couple of scores today.”
The tickets are definitely quite punchy, although this hasn’t seemed to affect the attendances too much. Elland Road is bouncing, incidentally. But that’s not really the point though is it, it’s not just a question of supply and demand, they should be affordable for anyone and everyone. What happens if you are a parent and want to take your two young kids along. You’ll be forking out a lot more than £110.
Just to put it into context, you can buy a group-stage ticket at Euro 2016 for €25 (£18).
Do get in touch via email michael.butler@theguardian.com or on Twitter @michaelbutler18 if you have any thoughts on today’s match.
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The players are out on the pitch warming up. Scotland’s hooker, Ross Ford is practising his line-out throws … to a coach six rows back in the stands. Most of his throws find their target, before he puts a bit too much on another, which promptly flies over the head of the coach, and hits a woman flush in the face.
Discipline will be hugely important today. It was probably the biggest factor in USA’s defeat to Samoa, they conceded 15 penalties, and if that is repeated today, Scotland will kick them off the park. USA’s Phil Thiel replaces Zach Fenoglio at hooker as they attempt to address some of those problems. Scotland’s discipline against Japan was good, but USA are very physical up front and the breakdown will be ferocious, so will be interesting to see if they can keep it up.
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This is just the second World Cup match being played at Elland Road, after Italy’s narrow 23-18 win over Canada yesterday. USA have been training at Leeds Trinity University this week and whilst Leeds is traditionally more of a rugby league town, but the city has got into the swing of things.
USA’s scrum-half Mike Petri took some time out of his week to write this for us. Which was nice of him.
Today's teams
Scotland
Backs: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos (c)
Forwards: 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 7 Ryan Wilson, 8 Josh Strauss
Substitutes: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Fraser Brown, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Matt Scott
USA
Backs: 15 Chris Wyles (c), 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Blaine Scully, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri
Forwards: 1 Eric Fry, 2 Phil Thiel, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Hayden Smith, 5 Greg Peterson, 6 Al McFarland, 7 Andrew Durutalo 8 Samu Manoa
Substitutes: 16 Zach Fenoglio, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Cameron Dolan, 20 John Quill, 21 Danny Barrett, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Folau Niua
Preamble
The dry mouth. The feeling that your brain is rattling around your head like a toy in a Kinder Surprise. The hot flush of regret sweeping over you that you didn’t down that pint of water before hitting the sack: who has got a sore head this morning? I bet Liam Williams does – and most of Wales to be honest – although they’ll still be feeling considerably better than any of the England players. But Scotland’s John Hardie head knock, sustained in his country’s 45-10 win over Japan in their opening game on Wednesday, means that the flanker is a late withdrawal from today’s match against USA.
Hardie failed one component of a head injury assessment on Friday and was consequently made unavailable despite being symptom free, with Ryan Wilson coming into the side in his stead, with Scotland suffering from just a four-day break since their last match.
The fixture list has been a topic of hot discussion this World Cup, and whilst it benefitted Scotland against Japan – who themselves only had four days since their famous win over the Springboks – they have made nine changes to their starting XV, meaning there will be six pairs of weary legs out there against USA, who have had a whole week to prepare since their opener, a 25-16 defeat to Samoa.
I expect them to be very physical and very direct; they have speed and size and power,” said Scotland coach Vern Cotter. “They have been improving and have worked very well to get themselves to the World Cup, they’ve had some good performances. They had a week to prepare and watched us play two days ago so they’ll be on the money.”
For those of you uninitiated to the speed, size and power in this USA team, keep your eye on Takudzwa Ngwenya on the wing, the counterattacking of Chris Wyles from full-back as well as Ireland-born fly-half AJ MacGinty. Scotland are odds on to win this, but could they suffer a scheduling hangover? Stranger things have happened at this World Cup.
Kick-off: 2.30pm BST
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