Relax, we'll make it, says Logan

Kenny Logan has urged the Tartan Army to relax – Scotland will qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals.

The veteran Wasps winger is refusing to get swept along by the growing number of doubters who believe Fiji will dump the Scots out of the competition by winning their make-or-break clash at Aussie Stadium on Saturday.

Confident as ever, Logan accepted the record 51-9 loss to France last weekend was a serious setback but cannot see why it should be allowed to derail Scotland’s bid for a last-eight slot.

“In 1995, we were beaten by France in the group stages and still went through, in 1999 we were beaten by South Africa in the group stages and still went through and now we have been beaten by France again,” he said.

“We always knew how tough it was going to be on Saturday. We didn’t perform in certain areas and it has taken a couple of days to get over it but we have had a look at the video again and we can take some positives out of it.

“You can’t deal in the past, we have to move on. If we beat Fiji we are in the quarter-finals, it’s as simple as that. People can say what they like but I am confident things will go to plan this weekend.”

Logan will be winning his 69th cap on Saturday, behind only Gregor Townsend on the all-time Scottish list, but, having announced his retirement at the end of the competition, he knows it will be his last should Scotland lose.

“I won’t change my mind,” he said. “I am getting too old now.

“I have been involved with Scotland since 1992 and I want to go out on my own terms. I won my first cap in Australia so it is nice to finish here as well.”

The 31-year-old will be part of a rejigged Scottish back line this weekend which, after four years of demands, finally sees Chris Paterson installed at stand-off.

Paterson has been touted as an international fly-half from the moment he started to show initial promise as a teenager.

With Townsend shuffling across to outside centre and Simon Danielli coming in on the wing, coach Ian McGeechan has opted for all-out attack against the South Sea Islanders, whose fast and furious approach to the game leaves them open to the counter.

Some may see it as a massive gamble on McGeechan’s part but Logan backs the move wholeheartedly.

“We didn’t create that many opportunities against France,” he said.

“By bringing in Simon and moving Chris to stand-off we now have one of the most exciting back lines I have ever been involved with.

“But it is not just about the backs, the forwards have to do their bit as well.

“France dominated the scrum last weekend and it is something we can’t afford to let happen again. The tight five is the engine room of our team, that is the key to the whole thing.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish camp are still waiting for a full statement on Martin Leslie’s appeal hearing.

Leslie had his 12-match ban reduced by a third in Sydney yesterday, although McGeechan is still unhappy at the outcome, claiming the 32-year-old back-row has been unfairly treated when compared with other incidents which have occurred during the tournament.

Twenty-four hours after the judgement was issued, the Scots had still only received verbal observations from the appeal panel, raising serious question marks over the competence of the IRB public relations team.

“It was very important for us to ensure that every effort was made to produce a potent and robust appeal of a sanction that we strongly believed was unfair and disproportionate,” said an SRU statement on the appeal.

“The appeal focused on several matters – the incident itself, the lack of intent to commit an act of foul play, the lack of intention to injure the USA player and the comparison of uncited incidents together with a comparison of suspensions for foul play in this and previous Rugby World Cups.

“The SRU, Scottish and Australian legal teams and Martin Leslie are extremely disappointed that the suspension was only reduced by four weeks thereby precluding Martin’s further involvement in the tournament.

“The written reasons for this decision are still being awaited.”