SCOTLAND ON FIRE!
(Image taken from BBC)
Well the last time Scotland faced Romania wasn't that long back, the Scots beat the East Europeans 48-6 at Murrayfield last year - with the Romanians using a hangover as an excuse. The two sides did meet in the World Cup once, Scotland beating Romania 55-28 in a Group D match at Carisbrook back in 1987 with a team that included both Hastings brothers (and back when Gavin was only 25) along with the likes of Alan Tait and David Sole.
Fast forward to 2007 and after hammering Portugal the Scots knew that the Oaks would be a step up, though still a needed win if their campaign was to have any credibility whatsoever. They had one bit of luck in being able to stage the Pool C game at Murrayfield, one of two UK stadia that's hosting matches in this World Cup. Patterson was back in action, though another curiosity was thrown up when Frank Hadden replaced Scott Murray with a guy called Jim Hamilton.
The Scots started absolutely perfectly, try 1 coming immediately when a Parkes kick caused chaos and Patterson collected, lobbed two more Romanians before touching down and converting. The Oaks had a decent spell after that but couldn't stop try 2 when a Scottish drive crossed the line, Hogg taking the credit before Patterson converted and Scotland came close for try 3 immediately afterwards only to collect it just before half time by creating an overlap which Rory Lamont took advatage of. Patterson converted, Scotland 21-0 up at half time.
It wasn't long into the second half before try 4 happened, Mike Blair charging down a Romanian kick before setting up Hogg, Patterson doing what he does. Hogg then completed his hat-trick after a string of passes off a scrum. Another two from Patterson. Roman Gontineach certainly thought he'd get some glory for Romania, but unlike the Portugese nutter, was stopped before he reached the tryline which just left Lawton to set up Rory Lamont for his second try to cap a brilliant Scottish display, winning 42-0.
Elsewhere, Italy faced Portugal at the Parc de Princes. Andrea Massi opened the scoring for Italy with a try which was converted by David Botolussi who then added two penalties before Portugal replied with a David Penalva try. Botolussi added another two penalties before Mauro Bergamasco and Masi grabbed tries to finish the Portugese off, the second converted by Botolussi. Italy won 31-5. That leaves Scotland 2nd in Group C, two points ahead of third placed Italy and level on points with group leaders New Zealand though with a -69 game points difference deficit.
In Pool B, Wales faced Japan in the Millenium Stadium. Shotaro Onishi opened the scoring for Japan. Wales replied with Stephen Jones converting an Alun Wyn-Jones try only for Japan to turn it back round with a Kosuke Endo try. Wales replied by stepping up a gear, Stephen Jones grabbing a penalty before converting tries by James Hook and Thomas Rhys Thomas. Onishi got another penalty for Japan but this wasn't a serious comeback, Kevin Morgan, Michael Phillips(converted by Stephen Jones), Shane Williams and Daffyd James(converted by Stephen Jones)collecting more Welsh tries with Japan's last gasp being a Hirotoki Onozawa try converted by Bryce Robbins. The Welsh finished off with another try surge. Gareth Cooper grabbed one, Martyn Williams grabbed two(both converted by Ceri Sweeney) and Shane Williams grabbed his second to give Wales a 72-18 win. They remain second in the pool, level on points with both third place Fiji and Group leaders Australia but with a +50 game points difference advantage over Fiji but a -33 game points difference deficit to the Aussies.
In Pool D, Ireland faced France in the Stade de France. The Irish never really got a chance to get going though with Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde kicking three penalties before Ireland got their only score of the game with a Ronan O'Gara drop goal. Elissalde then kicked two more penalties before two Vincent Clerk tries finished the Irish off. France winning 25-3. That has Ireland dropping to third place in the pool, level with second placed Argentina but with a -38 game points deficit.
In Pool A, Tonga managed to beat Samoa 19-15 at the Stade de la Masson before getting beaten 30-25 by South Africa at the Stade Felix Bollaert. That left England in third place in the pool and five points behind second placed Tonga and certainly heading out of the competition after three rounds of matches. Brian Ashton's team now knew what they have to do to get into the quarter finals and it involved beating poth Pacific Island sides.
So, as things stood after three rounds of matches, the quarter final lineup looked like this:
South Africa vs Wales
Australia vs Tonga
New Zealand vs Argentina
France vs Scotland
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