MARK Bennett has steadily become one of Scotland’s most important as well as exciting performers, and he gave further proof of his value to the team yesterday with two tries in their 45-10 win over Japan. The Glasgow centre demonstrated his ability to speed through the slightest of gaps in the opposition defence, and after the game expressed his pleasure not only in his own performance, but also in the patient and disciplined display by the whole team.
“It was a fantastic start for us,” Bennett said. “It was exactly the result and performance that we needed.
“We knew it was going to be a tough task, and we were up against it a bit in the first half. We knew we had to keep our composure. I saw a stat which said possession was 50-50 at the break, but I would question that.
“But we played really well in the second half and we got the bonus try. That’s not something we targeted at the start of the game, because it was just about getting the win. But now the game is over we know how massive and important that bonus point could be.
“We put Japan under a lot of pressure towards the end of the first half, and although we didn’t manage to score I think we all felt they were beginning to tire a little. We just had to keep the pressure on them in the second half and grind them down. We managed to do that, so from a team point of view we are delighted.
“There are improvements to be made, because we’ve now got a short turnaround to the USA game. It will be tough and there are a few bumps and bruises, but we’ll do our work and get ourselves ready to go again.”
Bennett was unaware at the time of just how close he had been to putting a foot out of play before his first try - something his friends quickly reminded him of after the game. “On a personal level I was delighted to score two tries,” he said. “They were both from great team plays and I was just the lucky one to be on the end of it.
“I’ve had a couple of texts already and it seems I was close to going into touch with the first. I hadn’t realised at the time - I don’t know what I was doing and I certainly wasn’t aware I was so close to touch. I’ve had a few messages but it’s on the scoreboard and that’s all that matters.”
John Hardie scored Scotland’s first try of the afternoon, and his own first in a Test. He admitted that there had been some nerves before the game, to a large extent because Scotland had waited so long to play their first game in the tournament, but, like Bennett, he was pleased with his individual form as well as the collective showing.
“I’m not really one to get nervous, but I did actually have a few nerves,” the openside flanker said. “But I was just really looking forward to getting out there with the boys.”
Japan were the more dangerous team with the ball in hand for much of the first half, but once Hardie scored his team’s first try, the gaps began to open up for Scotland.
“I think there was an overlap on the other side, but I saw a winger and I backed myself,” the No 7 said of his score, in which he forced his way over from a few metres out. “I think he was maybe the only guy I’d back myself against, because I’m a bit smaller.
“It was cool to get the try at that moment, but I think it was really important for the team to score right then. It really put the pressure on them.”
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