2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa explained

Tour:	2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa
Coach:	Andy Robinson
Captain:	Ross Ford
Top Test Point Scorer:	Greig Laidlaw (38)
Top Test Try Scorer:	Tim Visser (2)
Matchplayed:	3
Matchwon:	3
Matchdraw:	0
Matchlost:	0
Testplayed:	3
Testwon:	3
Testdraw:	0
Testlost:	0
Played1:	1
Won1:	1
Draw1:	0
Lost1:	0
Played2:	1
Won2:	1
Draw2:	0
Lost2:	0
Played3:	1
Won3:	1
Draw3:	0
Lost3:	0
Next:	Americas & SA 2014

In June 2012, the Scotland rugby union team made a tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa, playing one test match against each.

The tour began with Scotland's second consecutive win over Australia, meaning they retained the Hopetoun Cup. (They had beaten Australia 9–8 at Murrayfield in 2009.^[1]) Scotland then travelled to Fiji, becoming the first "Tier 1" nation to play a test in a Pacific Island nation since Italy visited Fiji in 2006.^[2] Scotland recorded away victories over both Fiji and Samoa.

Scotland were also scheduled to play the New South Wales Waratahs on 10 June, but this match was called off on 11 May as the Waratahs were unable to field a team "due to injuries and the requirements of the Wallabies squad."^[3]

Squad

Initial 28-man squad, named on 16 May.^[4] Ages and caps correct as of 5 June 2012.

• Head coach: Andy Robinson

The following players were called up during the tour:

Matches

Australia v Scotland

FB 15 Luke Morahan RW 14 Joe Tomane OC 13 Anthony Fainga'a IC 12 Mike Harris LW 11 Lote Tuqiri FH 10 Berrick Barnes SH 9 George Gregan)(c) N8 8 Scott Higginbotham OF 7 David Pocock BF 6 RL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 TP 3 HK 2 Stephen Moore LP 1 James Slipper Replacements: HK 16 Saia Fainga'a PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 Nick Phipps CE 21 Pat McCabe WG 22 Adam Ashley-Cooper Coach: Robbie Deans

FB 15 Stuart Hogg RW 14 Joe Ansbro OC 13 Nick De Luca IC 12 Matt Scott LW 11 FH 10 Greig Laidlaw SH 9 N8 8 John Barclay OF 7 Ross Rennie BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 Richie Gray LL 4 Alastair Kellock TP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements: HK 16 Scott Lawson PR 17 Jon Welsh LK 18 Tom Ryder N8 19 Richie Vernon SH 20 FH 21 Duncan Weir FB 22 Coach: Andy Robinson

Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Keith Brown (New Zealand) Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

• Six players made their full international debuts for Australia: Dan Palmer, Dave Dennis, Michael Hooper, Mike Harris, Joe Tomane and Luke Morahan.
• Two players made their full international debuts for Scotland: Ryan Grant and Tom Brown.

Fiji v Scotland

FB 15 RW 14 Waisea Nayacalevu OC 13 Vereniki Goneva IC 12 LW 11 Watisoni Votu FH 10 Jonetai Ralulu SH 9 N8 8 Netani Talei (c) OF 7 BF 6 RL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 Apisai Naikatini TP 3 Setefano Somoca HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 FL 18 LK 19 SH 20 WG 21 FB 22 Coach: Inoke Male

FB 15 Stuart Hogg RW 14 OC 13 Nick De Luca IC 12 Matt Scott LW 11 Tim Visser FH 10 SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Ross Rennie BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 LL 4 Alastair Kellock TP 3 HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 WG 22 Coach: Andy Robinson

Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia) Andrew Lees (Australia)

• Tim Visser made his debut for Scotland, only four days after becoming eligible by completing three years' residency.

Samoa v Scotland

FB 15 Fa'atoina Autagavai RW 14 Paul Perez OC 13 IC 12 Paul Williams LW 11 David Lemi (c) FH 10 Tusi Pisi SH 9 N8 8 Kane Thompson OF 7 Maurie Fa'asavalu BF 6 RL 5 LL 4 Fa'atiga Lemalu TP 3 HK 2 LP 1 Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 Ki Anufe FB 22 Coach: Stephen Betham

FB 15 Stuart Hogg RW 14 Sean Lamont OC 13 IC 12 Matt Scott LW 11 Tim Visser FH 10 Greig Laidlaw SH 9 N8 8 OF 7 Ross Rennie BF 6 Alasdair Strokosch RL 5 LL 4 Richie Gray TP 3 Euan Murray HK 2 Ross Ford (c) LP 1 Ryan Grant Replacements: HK 16 PR 17 Geoff Cross LK 18 FL 19 SH 20 FH 21 Duncan Weir WG 22 Coach: Andy Robinson

Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia) Andrew Lees (Australia)

• Originally, New Zealand referee Chris Pollock was meant to referee this match, but due to injury, Jaco Peyper of South Africa took over. He is the same referee who refereed both the Australia and the Fiji game.
• It was announced just 50 minutes before kick off that Nick De Luca was out of the match due to thigh strain, and would be replaced by Joe Ansbro.

Tour statistics

Player	Position	Start	Rep	Unused Rep	Minutes Played	Tries	Cons	Pens	Drops	Yellow cards	Red cards	Total points
Ross Ford	Hooker	3	0	0	221	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dougie Hall	Hooker	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Scott Lawson	Hooker	0	2	1	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Geoff Cross	Prop	0	1	1	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Ryan Grant	Prop	3	0	0	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Moray Low	Prop	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Euan Murray	Prop	3	0	0	226	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Jon Welsh	Prop	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Richie Gray	Lock	3	0	0	238	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alastair Kellock	Lock	3	0	0	230	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tom Ryder	Lock	0	2	1	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
John Barclay	Flanker	2	0	0	138	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Rob Harley	Flanker	0	1	0	17	1	0	0	0	0	0	5
Ross Rennie	Flanker	3	0	0	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alasdair Strokosch	Flanker	3	0	0	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stuart McInally	Number 8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Richie Vernon	Number 8	1	1	1	85	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mike Blair	Scrum-half	2	1	0	154	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chris Cusiter	Scrum-half	1	2	0	86	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Greig Laidlaw	Scrum-half	3	0	0	237	1	6	7	0	0	0	38
Duncan Weir	Fly-half	0	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Joe Ansbro	Centre	2	0	0	138	1	0	0	0	0	0	5
Nick De Luca	Centre	2	0	0	160	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alex Dunbar	Centre	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alex Grove	Centre	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Matt Scott	Centre	3	0	0	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Max Evans	Wing	1	1	0	84	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sean Lamont	Wing	2	1	0	136	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tim Visser	Wing	2	0	0	160	2	0	0	0	0	0	10
Tom Brown	Fullback	0	1	0	42	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Stuart Hogg	Fullback	3	0	0	240	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Penalty try	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	5
Total	-	-	-	-	-	6	6	7	0	0	0	63

See also

• 2012 mid-year rugby test series
• 2012 England rugby union tour of South Africa
• 2012 Wales rugby union tour of Australia
• 2012 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand
• 2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina
• History of rugby union matches between Fiji and Scotland
• History of rugby union matches between Samoa and Scotland
• History of rugby union matches between Australia and Scotland

External links

• 2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Australasia at ESPN

Notes and References

1. Web site: Australia 6–9 Scotland. 5 June 2012. 14 September 2017. BBC.
2. Inbound tours return for Pacific Islands . International Rugby Board . 15 June 2012 . 18 June 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120618043134/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2062854.html#inbound+tours+return+pacific+islands . 18 June 2012 . dead .
3. http://www.scotlandrugbyteam.org/content/view/3028/55/ Scottish Rugby Team Website – Scotland Summer Tour Update
4. http://www.scottishrugby.org/content/view/2845/2/ Five uncapped players named in Scotland summer tour squad