SCOT
No.Name
15Stuart Hogg, FB
14Sean Maitland, W
T
13Mark Bennett, C
12Pete Horne, C
11Tim Visser, W
T
10Finn Russell, FH
9Henry Pyrgos, SH
1Ryan Grant, P
2Ross Ford, H
3Jon Welsh, P
4Richie Gray, L
5Grant Gilchrist, L
6Alasdair Strokosch, FL
7Ryan Wilson, FL
8Josh Strauss, N8
Replacements
16Kevin Bryce, R
17Alasdair Dickinson, R
18WP Nel, R
T
19Tim Swinson, R
20Fraser Brown, R
21Greig Laidlaw, R
3
22Duncan Weir, R
T
23Matt Scott, R
T

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Elland Road
2:30 PM, September 27, 2015
Attendance: 33,521
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

84'Thanks for joining us this afternoon. Ireland vs Romania is coming up shortly. You can follow that game live here
83'
82'Match report here
81'Tristan Barclay's Elland Road verdict: "It was a case of first-half bad, second-half good for Scotland here at Elland Road. Before the break, they seemed almost afraid of taking on the USA pack, while also failing in some fairly basic handling areas. In the second 40, however, they were more accurate, using the talent of Finn Russell together with simple, snappy passing to cruise over for five tries and a winning bonus point. The USA will be disappointed with their efforts after starting so brightly, but they seemed to tire and had no way of holding back to blue tide. One stint in the Scotland 22 was spoilt by an inability to hold onto the ball after contact. They kept on battling, as one would expect in a World Cup fixture, but I have to admit the Eagles were made to look like the Tier Two nation they are as the game wore on."
81'39-16 End of second half
80'Game Over. No upset for USA.
80'39-16 Conversion - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
79'The kick is good and it's 39-16. Just seconds to go...
79'37-16 Try - Duncan Weir , Scotland
78'Player substituted - Ross Ford , Scotland
78'Substitute on - Kevin Bryce , Scotland
77'The Scottish forwards are driving again and Laidlaw sniffs a chance but is soon snuffed out. The Scottish pack are close to the line again and Weir finds a gap and it's a TRY!
76'The Scots get a penalty and again kick for touch and a lineout inside the American 22.
75'The Americans keep pushing until a knock-on ends the attack and the ball is back in Scottish hands.
73'But the Scottish throw-in isn't straight and the Americans have the ball back with a scrum in midfield.
72'That was a good run by USA's Kelly to set up the opportunity but it was squandered. And now Scotland have a penalty from the resulting scrum and will kick for touch and relieve the pressure.
71'Now it's time for the American forwards to put the ball up their jumper and push forward. And then the ball is swung out wide abd a series of passes and carries take the ball close to the blue line, but then there's a fumble and that's the end of that.
70'Scotland almost make a mess of the scrum but rescue it and boot it clear. But USA are still in the Scottish half and have a lineout for an attacking platform.
69'The Americans are held up short by strong Scottish defence and the pressure is off.
69'Player substituted - Titi Lamositele , United States of America
69'Substitute on - Chris Baumann , United States of America
68'USA have an opportunity with a lineout close to the Scottish line and now the American forwards batter through the phases. They win a penalty out wide and go for another lineout. The Scots could do without an American rally...
67'When I described the Scottish strip as their "traditional" jerseys, I did ommit to mention the tartan touches around the edges. Not just plain dark blue.
67'Player substituted - Eric Fry , United States of America
67'Substitute on - Olive Kilifi , United States of America
66'Can USA force their way back into this game? They need a try soon to have much chance.
66'32-16 Conversion - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
65'That should be enough daylight for the Scots as the conversion goes over and Scotland lead 32-16.
65'30-16 Try - Matt Scott , Scotland
64'Another lineout in the corner and another opportunity for the Scottish pack to drive. The USA forwards hold firm, but eventually substitute Matt Scott finds a tiny gap and runs through. TRY!
64'Substitute on - Zach Fenoglio , United States of America
64'Player substituted - Phil Thiel , United States of America
63'The referee says the Americans brought down the maul illegally and Scotland have another penalty out wide. It's all Scotland at the moment.
62'The Scots are back in the corner, five yards from the American line, with another lineout and another chance to roll the maul towards the line...
60'As we head into the final 20 minutes the Scots try to fling the ball wide and eventually the ball is coughed up and the Americans have the ball again.
60'Substitute on - Duncan Weir , Scotland
60'Player substituted - Finn Russell , Scotland
59'Scotland are giving USA no chance at the lineout and another maul is rumbling forward. Still the American defence holds. For now...
59'Player substituted - Andrew Durutalo , United States of America
59'Substitute on - John Quill , United States of America
59'Substitute on - Folau Niua , United States of America
59'Player substituted - Blaine Scully , United States of America
58'Russell is down with a knock to the ankle and is off the field briefly. The Scottish forwards tuck the ball up their jumpers and roll the maul towards the line again. Scotland choose not to kick the penalty and go for a lineout close to the American line.
56'The Scots are dominating the lineout and now the pack in blue are rolling the maul towards the goalposts. Phase after phase runs into American defence and eventually the Americans turn the ball over and kick to touch for a bit of relief.
55'The Americans try to steal the ball from a Scottish scrum but the ball wasn't out and Scotland have a penalty to move the ball down the field for territory. Back in USA's 22...
55'The retweets have it!
55'Player substituted - Pete Horne , Scotland
55'Substitute on - Matt Scott , Scotland
55'25-16 Conversion - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
54'The under-the-posts conversion is simple and good and Scotland lead 25-16. A bit of breathing space for the Home Nation now.
54'23-16 Try - WP Nel , Scotland
53'The Scottish forwards drive for the line again and again and eventually it's a TRY!
53'Player substituted - Henry Pyrgos , Scotland
53'Substitute on - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
52'A Scottish charge down by Swinson and he gathers and he must score but he doesn't as superb tackling by Manoa, who is then joined by several more American bodies and the ball is bundled into touch. Great defence by the Americans.
51'McGinty's kick is good and the gap is back down to just 2 points.
51'18-16 Penalty goal - AJ MacGinty , United States of America
50'The Americans make some sweet passes through the midfield. USA bring on some fresh legs and take the ball through the phases. Penalty to USA...
50'Player substituted - Mike Petri , United States of America
50'Substitute on - Shalom Suniula , United States of America
50'Player substituted - Greg Peterson , United States of America
50'Substitute on - Danny Barrett , United States of America
49'Can USA bounce back? The Americans had the better of the first half but Scotland have come from the changing rooms a changed side.
48'And the conversion counts too and it's 18-13 to Scotland.
48'18-13 Conversion - Finn Russell , Scotland
47'TRY! Maitland runs through a gap close to the line to score...
47'16-13 Try - Sean Maitland , Scotland
46'"Scotland! Scotland!" rings out around Elland Road as the Scottish fans try to lift their team, who edge forward into the USA 22.
46'Substitute on - Fraser Brown , Scotland
46'Player substituted - Ryan Wilson , Scotland
45'
44'The Scots are finding a bit more rhythm than the first half but still coming up against some formidable American defence. Some big hits going in.
44'
43'But Finn Russell's kick goes astray and it is USA 13-11 Scotland.
43'
43'Player substituted - Hayden Smith , United States of America
43'Substitute on - Cam Dolan , United States of America
42'If Scotland make the conversion it will be all-square...
42'Half-time analysis from Tristan Barclay at Elland Road:
That half has left me scratching my head slightly at Elland Road. The first 20 minutes was mostly punctuated by penalties, with Scotland looking far superior to the USA in the set-piece. Eagles hooker Phillip Thiel has been struggling with his line-out throws, while the Scots seems to have the upper hand in the scrum. That dominance alone should have been enough for Scotland to take a decent lead into half-time. However, post the 20-minute mark, the USA began to take advantage of Scotland's inaccuracies. Handling errors from the Scottish backs have denied them several scoring opportunities, while the USA have kept plugging away with a brutal forward game and a willingness to throw the ball around when given the chance. Scotland have much to do to avoid an upset.
42'11-13 Try - Tim Visser , Scotland
41'TRY! Big start to the second half for the Scots. Some neat passing at last and the ball reaches winger Visser on the touchline and he is clear and over the line.
41'USA go in at half time 13-6 in front...
41'Substitute on - WP Nel , Scotland
41'Player substituted - Jon Welsh , Scotland
41'+16-13 End of first half
41'+16-13 Penalty goal - AJ MacGinty , United States of America
40'And they are back out for the second half. Can Scotland overcome the Americans? We will find out over the next 40 minutes
40'Player substituted - Ryan Grant , Scotland
40'6-13 Start of second half
40'Substitute on - Alasdair Dickinson , Scotland
39'The American forwards are again on top and they inch towards the Scottish line and win a penalty in front of the posts...
36'Some rather aimless kicking and now the Americans have the ball back with their forwards and are inching down their right touchline. And then they kick it away again and the Scots break, but again a pass doesn't go to hand and Scotland are putting themselves under pressure with these mishandles.
34'Scotland spill the ball again after another big USA hit, this time by McFarland. American forwards are putting the pressure on the Scots. Big time.
33'Scotland break but again lose the ball with a knock on. Scottish penalty just inside the USA half. But another miss by Scotland. Still 10-6 to USA.
32'
31'The American pack get the Scottish forwards back-pedalling and feel that they have the turnover, but No says the referee. Some big efforts there by the USA pack.
30'Eventually the Americans give up the ball with a forward pass. Back to the scrum.
29'Nice run by Ngwenya for USA but he runs straight into the Scottish tacklers and we are back to some forward phases, with the Americans keeping the ball but not making much territory.
28'
27'The Scottish fans in Yorkshire are trying to lift their team with a bit of chanting. Some practice in passing and catching might be more useful for the Scottish team.
26'A Scottish break as Hogg breaks the line but his pass to winger Visser is low and knocked forward and that was a try gone begging.
25'
24'The USA pack are on the front foot and then the ball is turned over and Scotland attempt to run the ball away. Still very scrappy at Elland Road.
22'While Scotland benefited from playing Japan just days after their epic game against South Africa, the Americans might just gain from playing the Scots just days after their game against Japan. Those midweek games are making it tricky for some teams. Good start for USA.
22'6-10 Conversion - AJ MacGinty , United States of America
21'MacGinty's conversion kisses off the posts and over and it's 10-6 to USA.
21'6-8 Try - Titi Lamositele , United States of America
20'TRY! The USA pack ruck and maul to the line and Lamositele gets the ball down. 8-6 to USA
19'Yet to see more than the fingers-on-one-hand number of passes strung together by either team. USA kick for touch deep into Scottish territory and now their pack are pushing towards the Scottish try line...
18'That one drifts wide and it's still a 3-point game. Scotland have also lost Grant Gilchrist to some sort of leg injury.
18'Substitute on - Tim Swinson , Scotland
18'Player substituted - Grant Gilchrist , Scotland
17'This game is still failing to find much rhythm: broken play, sill infringements, and now a Scottish knock on, but the USA forwards are offside and another chance for Scotland to add to their points total with a penalty, straight in front of the posts but on the halfway line. Hogg to take...
16'USA need to eliminate the silly penalties from the forwards.
16'6-3 Penalty goal - Finn Russell , Scotland
15'And it is.
14'And it's another penalty to Scotland, inside the 22 and at not much of an angle. This should be 6-3 to the Scots...
13'The Scots move through the phases and towards the American 22.
12'From our man at Elland Road:
11'Another USA lineout goes wrong and the Scots get the ball back. While it's not much fun to watch yet, the early signs are that USA could frustrate the Scots and keep this game close.
9'But MacGinty fails to find touch and the Scots have the ball back. But then they give it away with another penalty. This is a very stop-start opening to the game, lacking fluidity.
8'This time is the American pack who are on top and they win it against the head and swing the ball across the backs. That was a big moment for USA. But now there's another scrum, and again the Scots have the put in. And this time Scotland are penalised. Bog, big psychological gains for the American forwards.
7'USA go for the up and under but Hogg seizes it well and sets up a Scottish raid on their left, but the ball goes out of play and it's a lineout. The USA lineout is so far from straight that it is penalised (although who ever throws them straight any more?). Scotland get the scrum put in...
7'3-3 Penalty goal - Stuart Hogg , Scotland
6'Two big boots and it's 3-3.
5'This time it's the Americans who give away a penatly, at the scrum, and Hogg will kick this penalty attempt from just inside the USA half.
4'USA wearing a mostly white uniform today, with red and blue trim, while Scotland are in their traditional blue jerseys and white shorts. Scotland playing from right to left and put pressure on USA stand-off MacGinty who finds touch but still within the American half.
3'And it's USA 3-0 Scotland.
3'0-3 Penalty goal - AJ MacGinty , United States of America
2'USA take early control, running through the phases and win a penalty just insiude the Scotland half, straight in front of the posts. MacGinty will take the kick...
1'What a pair of stiring anthems: Flower of Scotland and the Star Spangled Banner. Some predictions:
1'Welcome to another crucial game in the wide-open Rugby World Cup Group B. Japan's victory over South Africa has raised hopes for Scotland, Samoa and even the USA that the knock out stages were an achievable goal. Scotland beat Japan just days after the epic group opener and now the table looks like this. Any of the teams could still reach the quarter final and today's game is certainly no gimme for Scotland. On the four previous official occasions that the teams have met Scotland have won, with an aggregate score of 181-50. Full preview here.
Our man Tristan Barclay is out and about in Leeds ahead of the game and has these scene setters for us:
1'0-0 Start of first half

Rugby World Cup 2015 News