Danny Brough will captain the side that beat Wales over two games to put Scotland through into this world cup, which is only fifty four days away from commencing. With Georgia being disqualified after failing to field a team in the final European B group, only Russia went through into the European A, Pool 2 with Lebanon and Ireland. Therefore the Pool 1 ties between the Scots and the Welsh would be similar to a two legged affair with the points difference being important into the outcome of the group winners. As it was, Scotland shocked a dominant Welsh side on paper in Bridgend to win the first match by seven points. Wales, led by Lee Briers and Iestyn Harris, could only win by two points in the return game up in Glasgow meaning Scotland qualified automatically.
Steve McCormack submitted his preliminary man squad to World Cup chiefs in time of the deadline, but within the past few days it has only been released to the general public. With seventeen first grade NRL or Super League players (including Mark Calderwood) the squad looks like thus;
Chris Armit, Nathan Armit (both Canterbury Bulldogs), Kier Bell (London Skolars), Jamie Benn (unattached), Danny Brough (Wakefield, capt), Mark Calderwood (Wigan), Paddy Coupar (Edinburgh Eagles), John Duffy (Widnes), Ben Fisher (Hull KR), Keith Galloway (Wests Tigers), Daniel Heckenberg (Harlequins), Andrew Henderson (Castleford), Kevin Henderson (Wakefield), Ian Henderson (NZ Warriors), Graeme Horne (Hull), Jack Howieson (Sheffield), Paul Jackson (Huddersfield), Wade Liddell (Brisbane Easts), Scott Logan (Canberra Raiders), Rhys Lovegrove (Hull KR), Neil Lowe (Keighley), David Lynn (Edinburgh Eagles), Iain Marsh (Workington), David McConnell (Leigh), Duncan McGilvary (Wakefield), Dene Miller (London Skolars), Spencer Miller (Whitehaven), Iain Morrison (Widnes), Gareth Morton (Widnes), Mick Nanyn (Oldham), Lee Paterson (Widnes), Michael Robertson (Manly), Iain Sinfield (Oldham), Jamie Smith (Fife Lions), Jonathan Steel (Hull KR), Alex Szostack (Sheffield), Andy Todd (Edinburgh Eagles), Matthew Tunstall (Workington), Tom Wild (Rochdale), Oliver Wilkes (Wakefield).
Scotland has a small but proud history in Rugby League despite never having a full time professional club. Dave Valentine, captain of the successful 1954 wining Great Britain side, was obviously the first man to lift the trophy at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris. The domestic competition was indeed an individual competition until it was placed under the Rugby League Conference umbrella from 2006. Fife Lions and Edinburgh Eagles have both won the title but before the division became part of the RLC, the Scottish Rugby League Conference was participated from 1997 where Edinburgh took the title four times.
Scotland face an uphill struggle if they are to progress into the semi finals. I feel they are more than capable of taking on Fiji at Bluetongue Stadium, but France will be a whole different kettle of frogs. France's performance against England earlier this year showed promise but also exposed flaws in the team that Steve McCormack is able to identify. Providing they expose these weaknesses and play tactically they can beat France as well as beating Fiji and as a miniumum target, they can make the Semi Final Qualifier.
No comments:
Post a Comment