It’s odd to be still talking about a controversial strategy that was undeniably successful and right as if it were some sort of low point in Scottish rugby history, but it’s what still happens eight years on.
Everyone recalled 2007 as Scotland made 11 changes to the starting XV for their third Rugby World Cup pool match against the erstwhile favourites and twice champions South Africa tomorrow in Newcastle.
Four players not yet involved in the opening two matches have been included, key men who would be regarded as first choice starters like Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Mark Bennett either on the bench or omitted entirely.
The dual inference as the Scots coach Vern Cotter and captain Grieg Laidlaw sat on stage at the small theatre in the team training camp of the Royal Grammar School both from the questioners who remember and the two men answering who clearly expected the questions was that this was at least a little like RWC 2007, when Frank Hadden picked an entirely second XV for the third pool game against New Zealand at Murrayfield.
Hadden did so not quite unashamedly this reporter got a broadside from the usually mild-mannered Dundonian for asking one too many questions about it but pragmatically, because he wanted to save his frontline starters for the match against Italy six days later in St-Etienne.
And it worked, undeniably. The second-string Scots lost 40-0 to New Zealand, but a fresh “first XV” edged Italy 19-17 and secured a quarter-final they might well have won against Argentina.
Clearly, with Laidlaw included, as well as Stuart Hogg, the Gray brothers, David Denton, Josh Strauss, Tommy Seymour and Matt Scott, this is nowhere near a second XV. But the inference that it was not a first choice, full-strength team bristled with both Cotter and Laidlaw.
“Be more specific,” barked Cotter when asked about his selection policy, as Laidlaw shook his head ruefully.
“This is our third game in ten days. We have looked at workloads and potential injuries and there are players we feel that are better regenerating,” admitted the coach.
“At the same time we are bringing players in fresh who have been watching their team-mates play for a few games and will be keen to have a piece of the action.
“Everybody has worked hard to make the 31 and we said we needed to use everyone. That is the case now and now it is a case of stepping up and get on with it.”
Laidlaw was even more forceful when asked what he’d say to those who said this wasn’t the best team.
“I think that’s a bit disrespectful to the players who have been selected,” said the captain. “We knew coming in to the World Cup that it would be a 31-man effort and you need your squad. Boys are champing at the bit, especially those who haven’t played.
“Fraz (hooker Fraser Brown) came on against America and made a big impact. He’s a strong and physical player as well. Richie Vernon is a big, physical centre.
“Just wait and see our performance rather than pre-judge.”
Two changes were forced. John Hardie has not cleared all the return to play protocols from his concussion, but it seems the Scots are erring on the side of caution here and Blair Cowan, “throwing himself about” since rejoining the squad on Tuesday, slots seamlessly into the openside role.
The other is Finn Russell, who turned his ankle against the USA and won’t restart training until next week. Duncan Weir, a try scorer as a substitute for Russell at Elland Road, takes his place.
“I don’t think it changes anything,” continued Laidlaw. “Finn is a wonderful player but he picked up a knock and he’s played a lot of rugby as well, so it’s a good opportunity for Duncan to come in.
“It’s important for me to give him a few early touches and settle him into his role. He’s played enough rugby now to know what it’s all about and he’ll be relishing this chance.”
Gordon Reid replaces Dickinson at loose head, while Richie Vernon becomes the first Scot to play in a World Cup as a forward and back by teaming up with Matt Scott in the centre a beefy combination to match South Africa’s young pairing.
Cotter reacted to South Africa’s claim they’d had to redraw their lineout scheme because Josh Strauss and WP Nel were playing with a little amusement.
“I am sure their team evolves and changes every week,” he said, referring to it being over three years since the South African-born pair had been in Springbok training camps. “We are focusing on what we are preparing. That will be of more importance than perhaps one or two conversations in the South Africa team.”
Not everyone has been totally impressed with South Africa’s bounceback win over Samoa, especially their high penalty count in that game, but Cotter was.
“Everybody saw it,” he said. “They lifted the intensity in both attack and defence. They were relentless.
“It is a game they have been playing over the past two years which is getting over the advantage line and piling the pressure and they have big powerful players to do it.
“We would expect nothing less from them. I think it will be a game that will be contested fiercely in the contact situation and hopefully we can get some go forward and put pressure on them.”
For Laidlaw, it’s about the Scots themselves rather than what people think South Africa are, especially compared to the two teams played so far.
“You can only play the team that is put in front of you,” he said. “Our mindset this week is again, we set our own standards. Against Japan we set our standards, the same against the USA and nothing will change this week.
“Against the Springboks if our standards are right we give ourselves the best possible chance of winning the test match.”
Scotland team: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tim Visser (Harlequins), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt); Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby); Richie Gray (Castres), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby).
Replacements: Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors).