The public part of Scotland’s Rugby World Cup preparation was completed in satisfactory fashion on Saturday.
The Scots secured a 23-12 win over a full-strength, first-choice Italian side that was at the same stage of readiness.
Comfortable as the win was, it required an important call to arms from skipper Al Kellock when things got a bit tight at 13-12 early in the second half.
Given this was not Scotland’s first-choice team, to win in much the same way Italy were beaten in March was encouraging.
Scotland still look undercooked, and unless Andy Robinson has a surprise up his sleeve for training camp in Australia then only one squad member will have played as much as 100 minutes of competitive rugby going into the opening game against Romania on September 10.
However, it is better to be undercooked than burned out, and Scotland aim to peak against Argentina and England in the two final pool matches.
Saturday was about a third win in a row and working out what was left to decide in the 30 to go to New Zealand to be announced at the National Museum in Edinburgh on Monday.Selection conundrumThe popular perception going into the second game was only two squad places had yet to be determined, on the understanding Robinson is going with three hookers, scrum-halves and tight-head props something largely confirmed by Saturday’s events.
One decision was probably between Simon Danielli and Nikki Walker, the two back-three players who can’t play anywhere but wing, and as Danielli left the field after 55 minutes he looked like he was pondering an autumn in Belfast.
However his edgy performance was rendered moot when Walker came on and tore his knee ligaments, a brutal bit of luck for the 29-year-old Aberdonian who had almost certainly got the nod on his half-hour of play between the two warm-up tests.
The other decision is which of a quartet of back-rowers to leave behind.
Richie Vernon probably did enough on Saturday to win his place, allied to his ability to play at seven as well as eight and his pace, which could be valuable late in a game off the bench.
Ross Rennie will also surely go as a straight back-up for John Barclay, leaving Alasdair Strokosch or Johnnie Beattie as the probable choice, and a tough one for Robinson, who loves the whole-hearted commitment of “Stroker” and the ability of Beattie.
It’ll probably come down to a question of whether the coach wants the potential of a full-firing Beattie something we haven’t seen for 15 months or the assurance the consistent if less flashy Strokosch will bring.
Saturday also worked out one or two other little conundrums, the first being that Dan Parks, although not yet back to his best, is the probable starting 10 again.
Parks said he hadn’t changed his style to get his place back from Ruaridh Jackson, but he played much more on the gain line on Saturday.
However, his tactical kicking remains a long way ahead of his younger rival, and Scotland need to be playing in the places that Parks’ boot can get them.Last-eight targetThe other issue with Dan is that he looks a far more assured player with Graeme Morrison beside him, another example of how the absence of the unheralded Glasgow centre was a key element in a disappointing Six Nations.
With Walker’s injury the starting wings are now surely Max Evans and Sean Lamont, the centres a rejuvenated Nick De Luca and Morrison, while Chris Paterson has the nod on Rory Lamont at full-back.
The Italians put a reserve Scottish front row in some strife, but it all seemed to settle down when Euan Murray came on, proving his fitness and his place in his the squad.
Al Kellock, Kelly Brown, John Barclay and Nathan Hines were never in any doubt at any time if they finished the match still standing.
Scotland still are missing too many outright scoring chances, failing to properly reflect their domination of games on the scoreboard, but on Saturday that was merely reflected in the comfort of victory rather than the actual securing of it.
Against England and in a potential quarter-final profligacy will be costly, but Robinson and attack coach Gregor Townsend have a month to work on it.
Scotland as they stand right now should be good enough to achieve the bottom-line target of reaching the last eight of the World Cup.