Scotland RWC Warm-up Matches

First topic message reminder :

Previous RWC related nonsense:
https://www.606v2.com/t58234p1000-scotland-world-cup-look-ahead-and-squad

Game 1:

  
IRELAND v SCOTLAND
15 August 2015
KO: 17:00 local
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Game 2:


ITALY v SCOTLAND
22 August 2015
KO: 15:00 local
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin

Game 3:

  
SCOTLAND v ITALY
29 August 2015
KO: 15:15 local
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Game 4:

 
FRANCE v SCOTLAND
05 September 2015
KO: 21:00 local
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

Exactly my thinking and why I went for the Samoa game. We will lose to South Africa, I'm confident about that, and we'll beat Japan and USA. No question in my mind that the Samoa game will be our crunch fixture.

You could be right there Fes, but I think the Bok are approaching a French-loke state of mental collapse. They will hold it together for their opening match, perform out of their skins in a bruising battle with Samoa and hopefully be on a come-down when they meet us. I think it's a winnable match for us IF we have four fit centres to chose from.

A lot will depend on if Vermeulen is fit for the Boks and if Mayer sorts his act out in terms of selection. As things stand there is no reason you can't beat them.

The best thing about our group is if Scotland make it out the group stages they will be up against either England Australia or Wales in the QF.. I think of the three Wales would be the team scotland would want to play but in my opinion are the team most likely to not make it out of the pool stages going by current form.

So of England and Aus I would take Aus because I am sure most English fans would rather Aus lost than Scotland and they would get Support from the crowd. Playing England at twickenham in the QF would be the worst outcome I think.

Personally I think the wallabies will top group A because they will not want to play SA in the QF's and they're coming together well at the right time.

South Africa have not been performing well in the championship, but they always seem to raise thier game when the world cup comes along!

As it stands just now, Samoa is our main course, beating the Bokke would be gravy!

We can beat SA. We've done it before! We could do with topping the group!

funnyExiledScot wrote:Exactly my thinking and why I went for the Samoa game. We will lose to South Africa, I'm confident about that, and we'll beat Japan and USA. No question in my mind that the Samoa game will be our crunch fixture.

I went for the South Africa game for the same reasons. We are not expected to beat SA so no pressure. Any win is bonus.

We need to win (and should win) Samoa game, so lots of pressure and only other outcome is a downside

So less pressure, more hope and of course the chance to tell my SA mates at work a mighty HA HA

Loving all the chat about "we could beat them" and "we have every chance". Let's just be clear about this, we will not beat South Africa in the World Cup.

If we beat South Africa I will make a pilgrimage to Scotstoun and kiss the feet of the no doubt soon to be erected statue of that bastion of medicrity that was Al Kellock.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Loving all the chat about "we could beat them" and "we have every chance". Let's just be clear about this, we will not beat South Africa in the World Cup.

If we beat South Africa I will make a pilgrimage to Scotstoun and kiss the feet of the no doubt soon to be erected statue of that bastion of medicrity that was Al Kellock.

Wow - looks what happens when you get used to watching Edinburgh

Not even the ability to dream anymore

SHAME ON YOU

Last season I dreamt that Edinburgh won the 1872 Cup. Oh, hang on......

funnyExiledScot wrote:Last season I dreamt that Edinburgh won the 1872 Cup. Oh, hang on......

Also dreamt we made it to a European final..!

funnyExiledScot wrote:Last season I dreamt that Edinburgh won the 1872 Cup. Oh, hang on......

In all honesty, that is like winning the Ashes

Lots of good PR, but untimely worthless in the scheme of winning leagues..yes leagues, winning them

Right, time to put club differences to one side (briefly). Teams being announced!

Blake the wonder kid is starting!

15. Jackson !?!?!
14. Shlong
13. Vernon
12. Horne
11. Visser
10. RDW's wet dream
9. Pyrgos (c)

8. Clare Denton
7. Blake
6. Cowan
5. Grant Gilchrist
4. Jim Hamilton
3. Jon Welsh
2. Fraser Brown
1. Ryan Grant

Holy moly.

That's all I have. Holy Moly.

Blake is 7

Shall we move this chatter to the actual thread for the game?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Blake is 7

it's getting even weirder!

Yes!

I've unlocked this thread - the idea being that this thread is used for general world cup chat, and we keep the match threads to things specific to each warm up.

On that point, nickj posted on the banter thread that Strauss will be made available for Glasgow's opening Pro 12 game

http://www.glasgowwarriors.com/articles/news/008851.php

Good for him to get match experience, but it is a shame he has to be away from the Scotland match day environment to do it.

Some fool didn't do their adding up did they...

funnyExiledScot wrote:Loving all the chat about "we could beat them" and "we have every chance". Let's just be clear about this, we will not beat South Africa in the World Cup.

If we beat South Africa I will make a pilgrimage to Scotstoun and kiss the feet of the no doubt soon to be erected statue of that bastion of medicrity that was Al Kellock.

*Sniggers*

Anyone read this utter rubbish?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33942689

Ah Colin Deans, rapidly turning into the Jeremy Clarkson of Scottish Rugby: "What's that Mr Newspaperman? You want a bit of click-bait headline action? Well I think we should be using sulfuric acid on the ball to burn the opposition's hands. Iain Milne did it in my day."

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong but when looking for a prop my first thoughts tend not to be , "I need someone pretty with lovely flowing locks."
Actually a couple of fat boys from my club were at the Beer Festival in that London t'other day (real pre-season training for props) and they Facebooked that they were rounding the day off with a "white stout". My response was, "White,stout, strong, tasty and punchy; sounds like a few props I know."
Does not sound like Claire Denton.

Spot the difference!



V

Great game Glove!

Spot the difference!



-v-

Anyone got a link?

Highlights of Japan v World XV:


Of course the thing we all want to look at is Frank the Taq scoring his hat-trick (with another quasi-assist), but I'm quietly voiding my digestive tract about the Japanese scrum and rolling maul - we have to find a way to beat it or we'll be having a very long trip back from Gloucester.

Couple of questions as I didn't see the Ireland game:

1. Did Cusack get on the field? How did he play?
2. Ditto John Barclay.
3. Why were our tight 5 so mince?

George Carlin wrote:Couple of questions as I didn't see the Ireland game:

1. Did Cusack get on the field? How did he play?
2. Ditto John Barclay.
3. Why were our tight 5 so mince?

Cusack got on for last twenty mins, he did well I thought.

Barclay was okay as well but went to ground bit quickly in contact. Only on for twenty so hard to judge properly.

Of all the subs ford did feck all and his defence was poor.

Tight 5 were poor because they lacked the power and cohesion of their Irish opposition. In Irish scrums they could just about hold them back, during a Scottish scrum feed the minute Scotland tried to hook it back the scrum started going backwards and Scotland got penalised.

Also at the breakdown Irish forwards were much quicker to secure ball, we lost possession several times simply because no one was there to help players going into contact.

That's my take on it anyway

15 minutes in watching the game and we're getting absolutely crucified at the breakdown - another thing we were bad at in the 6N!

Thanks Bsando.

Any one else beginning to think Peter Horne should be regarded as our first choice 12 now regardless of the fitness of Scott and Dunbar?

He seems to Glue a back line together, has a great Rugby brain. Most importantly has been injury free for a year and seems durable a great quality during the war of attrition that is a world cup period.

Both Matt Scott and Alex Dunbar are fantastic players but i personally feel Dunbar may be leaving it to late now and i would have Doubts about Matt Scott managing the schedule with-out breaking down.

I've been pretty critical of him in the past but I thought he did well yesterday. He needs a solid 10 inside him and a big 'un at 13 - both of which he had yesterday.

I'm still not convinced how well he'll cope defensively against Samoa and South Africa though - no doubting his commitment, but he's just very small. D'Arcy and Payne aren't exactly physical specimens similar to what we'll face in the world cup.

Injuries might lead to him starting though and he showed yesterday that he's starting to become more comfortable st this level.

It is about balance though and if we have Russell at 10 and Bennett at 13 I just think we'll be too lightweight with Horne at 12 too.

Mind you Finn Russell impresses me every time i see him with his physicality in contact. In fact considering his importance to us i wish he would take it down a notch.

I think we worry too much about size in the backs, has everyone forgotten about rob dewey?? Horne is pretty strong in defence and tackling technique but he has a great rugby brain too. If we sort out receiving high ball and our work around the breakdown, size in the backs should become irrelevant. I think Horne, like pyrgos is vastly underrated.

Except when you are five metres from your line and one on one with a quick back who is heavier and stronger than Horne ( 6ft and 93 kg), then he can be exposed defensively.
Up against De Allende ( 6ft 2" and 101kg) for the Boks i suspect he could struggle quite badly at crucial times.

sensisball wrote:Except when you are five metres from your line and one on one with a quick back who is heavier and stronger than Horne ( 6ft and 93 kg), then he can be exposed defensively.
Up against De Allende ( 6ft 2" and 101kg) for the Boks i suspect he could struggle quite badly at crucial times.

If the opposition are five meters out and its a one on one you are probably dead anyway!

NeilyBroon wrote:I think we worry too much about size in the backs, has everyone forgotten about rob dewey?? Horne is pretty strong in defence and tackling technique but he has a great rugby brain too. If we sort out receiving high ball and our work around the breakdown, size in the backs should become irrelevant. I think Horne, like pyrgos is vastly underrated.

Being super critical as I thought he played well, but at one point he came flying out of the defensive line, got nowhere near his man and opened up a large hole which an irish player duly waltzed through. Less of that please Mr Horne!

It's not just about defence - I think we need a physical presence in the backs in attack too. If not we'll just crab across the pitch and struggle to get go forward. Especially against a physical bocks and samoan defence.

We don't have the skill or speed of the Irish backs in their heyday (BoD et al) who were lightweight but very effective.

I think we need one of Vernon, Scott or Dunbar.

In a ideal world we would have a fully fit Dunbar and the 12 shirt would be as nailed on as the 15 and 10, unfortunately its all up in the air at the moment and even big Vern doesn't know if he is going to make it yet as he said yesterday. I think we should Just be happy we have a guy like Horne sticking his hands up and putting in performances like yesterday.

Another bolter for me yesterday was Jackson, he looked surprisingly comfortable yesterday and he added nous going forward,He just looked happy to be back playing rugby. Im hoping he gets another go at fullback against Italy. Id maybe just give Hoggy 30 min at the end against tiring Italian legs so he gets a run out.

I am still to watch the whole match but it was great to see Jackson back on a pitch. If Weir doesn't start any of the next 3 games, are we to assume that he's toast?

Weir didn't even get on yesterday!

Thats my thinking, Tonks looked adequate yesterday without being exciting, the best compliment i could give him is you didn't really notice he was there. The fact he was chosen ahead of Weir speaks volumes.

I wonder if it was during the England Game when Tonks came on at inside centre and defended his lane manfully against the muckle English Runners that he may have went up in Cotter's estimation? If you can compete with England you can handle the Boks?

Yes, Tonks is a big solid lump with a good passing game and can kick out of hand. The difference between Tonks and Murchie is that Tonks can also make a fist of playing at 10.

If Maitland doesn't make it, surely Tonks already has one foot on the plane.

Of course if I had my way id have Harry Leonard at 10 so what do i know?

Guys, guys,

Tonks was adequate yesterday. That is all. Some of his tactical kicking was p£££ poor. R Jacko bailed him out on a number of occasions. Time for VC to stop indulging this madness and play a proper 10 at 10. Tonks is probably the 5th choice after Russell, Jackson, Weir and Horne (bit of a pattern developing here!). We (The Warriors) will need some of them back tbh - unless we unearth another wee star 10 !!!!

So, in terms of "can we improve on a decent performance?" here's what I took from yesterday;

Back three They all did well, Jackson especially, but Hogg, Seymour and NoMaits look to be a better first choice.
Will improve

Centres Horne-Vernon may very well be the first choice. Horne is playing better than Scott12, and Bennett and Dunbar may not make it (especially Dunbar).
Could improve, may not

10 Dancer is head and shoulders above the rest, Tonks doesn't even make "the rest".
Will improve massively

9 Henners should start ahead of Frodo with Samwise as impact/ insanity on the hour. Rather like Henners/Niko for Glasgow.
As long as Frodo is sidelined we won't regress.

Front Row Grant-Brown-Angela (all injured now) got pushed off the ball on their own scrum Dickinson-McInally-Nel should be better than that, Shrek-Ford-Coo as back up would probably be better too.

Second Row Gray and Gray are light years ahead of the pairing we saw yesterday. The front row can't take all the blame for being pushed off the ball.
Hagrid is possibly history. We will see a real improvement.

Back Row Dozer was superb taking the ball on. However, for the first ten minutes Ireland were facing uncontested breakdowns. We also turned ball over when players were isolated and no back row (or second) was there to ruck. Shuggie B looked a good player but the balance in that unit was not good enough. Strauss, Ashe or Harley at 6 would probably improve it, and we need to see what Watson and Hardie could bring to the party.
I think any three decent backrowers playing as a unit would be an improvement. This includes the three who started yesterday.

So, I thought it was a decent performance yesterday and it was much closer to my predicted win than the thrashing some people were suggesting.
However, I think we have areas where we will improve and will be a lot better in the World Cup.