Rugby World Cup 2015

For the first time ever Elland Road played host to the Rugby World Cup.

On Saturday Italy took on Canada, while yesterday it was Scotland against the USA. Chris Dawkes was there for us:

There were stars and stripes, bagpipes and kilts as Scotland and the USA played in the rugby union world cup at Elland Road in Leeds. John Shires was there to soak up the atmopshere.

Scotland have beaten USA - the score there 39-16. Here's part two of John Shires' blog.

Cotter's immediate answer to Scotland's woeful first half was to change two thirds of his front row. And if he also gave his team the hairdryer at half time it certainly worked. Less than two minutes in, a textbook passing move put Visser over in the corner. No inaccuracies this time, apart from the conversion which was missed. And a couple of minutes later Russell's deft offload led to a try under the posts for Sean Maitland. Suddenly Scotland were 18-13 up. Surely the underdog had had its day.

Not quite. Another penalty from MacGinty reduced the gap to two points, but the suspicion that Scotland's fitness and strength in depth would take its toll was reinforced when replacement WP Nel bullocked his way over the line for the Scots' third try. 25-16. Momentum had switched enough now for Scotland to turn down penalty kicks in favour of attacking lineouts, a policy that paid dividends when another replacement, Matt Scott, danced through to claim a four-try bonus point.

The USA still had their moments - giant replacement prop, the quaintly named Olive Kilifi, dropped the ball with the line at his mercy - but by now the largely Scottish crowd were relaxed enough to indulge in the dreaded Mexican Wave.

Towards the end Duncan Weir added a fifth try meaning a final scoreline of 39-16 to the Scots. Comfortable, but more than a little flattering. What have we learned? That the USA are improving and willing, but ultimately limited, and that Scotland can't rely on their second string against even the weaker teams in this World Cup.

And - speaking as someone who doesn't support Leeds United - we no doubt saw more entertainment than on the usual match-day afternoon at Elland Road

Calendar sports correspondent John Shires sends this blog from the USA v Scotland game.

First impressions - Elland Road looks awfully small with 30 giants doing their stuff on it as opposed to 22 normally sized men. The atmosphere's different too. Respectful silence when a penalty's taken, polite applause for the opposition's efforts, and you're allowed to drink in your seats. Somehow I'm not sure sure it'll catch on next week.

As for the game itself, Scotland - overwhelming favourites - were slow out of the traps. The USA took an early lead with a penalty by their very Scottish sounding fly half Alan McGinty, but that was quickly cancelled out by Stuart Hogg. USA's lineout creaked with two squint throws, but their pack got the biggest cheer of the day so far from neutrals in the crowd when they took one against the head in the scrum. 10 minutes in, no sign of the expected Scottish walkover.

So apart from the odd shout of "boring, boring" it was no surprise when Scotland decided to kick a penalty in front of the posts rather than run it. This time Finn Russell obliged to put the Scots ahead for the first time.With no discernible pattern emerging - other than both sides' inability to secure their own lineout ball, it mostly came down to referee Chris Pollock's whistle. Until that is, the 20th minute when - miracle of miracles - the USA won clean lineout ball on the Scottish 22, and launched their first meaningful attack, which ended with prop Titi Lamositele rumbling over for a try converted off the post by McGinty. 10-6 to the USA - is this to be Japan SA all over again?

Scotland fans were certainly concerned when first, Seamus Kelly exposed their defence with a scorching break that could have led to more points had the referee not noticed half the Scottish side were offside. And then after Hogg had stepped and sliced through a gap at the other end, he should have given Tim Visser a walk-in, but his dreadful pass meant the try was butchered. As half time approached Scottish supporters were getting even more worried. They'd seen inaccuracies all over the pitch, dropped passes, two missed penalty kicks - plus in your face defence from the USA, whose pack also enjoyed overwhelming superiority at scrum-time, and who were just as enterprising in attack. The half ended with another penalty from the USA, who deservedly led 13-6 at the break. Scotland coach Vern Cotter has plenty to ponder!

Thousands of Canadian and Italian rugby fans have taken over Leeds as the city played host to the first of two world cup games. The city may be better known for rugby league and football - but today international rugby union supporters flocked to Elland Road to cheer on their home countries. Jon Hill reports.