Scotland - World Cup General Thread

[Majestic83]

First topic message reminder :

This should serve as our general moaning thread between World Cup matches.

     
SCOTLAND V JAPAN
23 September 2015
Kingsholm - Gloucester

    
SCOTLAND v USA
27 September 2015
Elland Road - Leeds

          
SCOTLAND v SOUTH AFRICA
03 October 2015
St James Park - Newcastle

      
SCOTLAND v SAMOA
10 October 2015
St James Park - Newcastle                                       

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP:

Props: Al Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh

Hooker: Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally

Lock: Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray and Tim Swinson

Loose Forward: David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch and Ryan Wilson

Scrum Halves: Greig Laidlaw (captain), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos

Fly Half: Finn Russell, Duncan Weir

Centre: Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott and Richie Vernon

Wing: Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser

Full Back: Stuart Hogg

[Gwlad]

Samoa will push SA for at leaf 50 minutes

IMO they will knock Scotland into next week at least, but most likely the next RWC.

How much do you think they will hammer us by Gwlad?

hard to say, 20 plus i expect though.

Tough on Scotzealand i know but fact is the Samoans know there is a huge opportunity for them to make the 1/4s. Scotland is not a tough ask for them.

You do realise that Wales or perhaps we should say "The Combined Isle of Cornwall/Midlands/North Lesser England" have at least 11 out of the 31 players born in other countries, 2 injured players born in England, a Kiwi who was playing in Auckland until 2014, a Kiwi head coach and a rugby league northern defence coach.

I will match your forecast of a 20+ by fronting up and put up a 8+ win for us.

Corrected to reflect the social, political, cultural, emotional and financial reality.

Yep, all those homegrown players England should have picked but went for Saffas and PI players instead.

[flyhalffactory]

Samoa will push SA for at leaf 50 minutes

IMO they will knock Scotland into next week at least, but most likely the next RWC.

How much do you think they will hammer us by Gwlad?

hard to say, 20 plus i expect though.

Tough on Scotzealand i know but fact is the Samoans know there is a huge opportunity for them to make the 1/4s. Scotland is not a tough ask for them.

You do realise that Wales or perhaps we should say "The Combined Isle of Cornwall/Midlands/North Lesser England" have at least 11 out of the 31 players born in other countries, 2 injured players born in England, a Kiwi who was playing in Auckland until 2014, a Kiwi head coach and a rugby league northern defence coach.

I will match your forecast of a 20+ by fronting up and put up a 8+ win for us.

Corrected to reflect the social, political, cultural, emotional and financial reality.

For what it's worth, I'm predicting that Scotland will beat Samoa by 14, and Wales will beat Fiji by -8.

[Gwlad]

Samoa will push SA for at leaf 50 minutes

IMO they will knock Scotland into next week at least, but most likely the next RWC.

How much do you think they will hammer us by Gwlad?

hard to say, 20 plus i expect though.

Tough on Scotzealand i know but fact is the Samoans know there is a huge opportunity for them to make the 1/4s. Scotland is not a tough ask for them.

You do realise that Wales or perhaps we should say "The Combined Isle of Cornwall/Midlands/North Lesser England" have at least 11 out of the 31 players born in other countries, 2 injured players born in England, a Kiwi who was playing in Auckland until 2014, a Kiwi head coach and a rugby league northern defence coach.

I will match your forecast of a 20+ by fronting up and put up a 8+ win for us.

Corrected to reflect the social, political, cultural, emotional and financial reality.

For what it's worth, I'm predicting that Scotland will beat Samoa by 14, and Wales will beat Fiji by -8.

Yes but your favorite player si Gregor Townsend so who cares what you think

[IanBru]

You OK, hun?

[123456789]

Let's be fair guys, he does have a brilliant point. If, hypothetically, a small Celtic nation with a long history of emigration were to lose to a Pacific Island nation in a crucial rugby World Cup match it would mean death as a serious rugby nation. History never lies....






















https://youtu.be/cK4MBEkN1yI

[Gwlad]

Let's be fair guys, he does have a brilliant point. If, hypothetically, a small Celtic nation with a long history of emigration were to lose to a Pacific Island nation in a crucial rugby World Cup match it would mean death as a serious rugby nation. History never lies....






















https://youtu.be/cK4MBEkN1yI

Or indeed if, hypothetically, a massive rugby nation with more resources than most of the others combined, sent a circus troupe lead by a manager with no experience leading circus troupes, to a RWC in NZ and lost a crucial game to a team they had beaten in the 6 Nations months before (before squandering yet another chance at a Grand Slam) History does indeed never lie.
















https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g3UVMQBrbs

[RDW]

I'm not sure why gwlad feels the need to start a fight with an entire rugby nation, but probably best we just move on now everyone's had their say.

Anyway, one week to go!!!

Who is excited?

It is very inconsiderate for our first game to be a half 2 kick off - my work internet comes via America so I can't watch any UK broadcasters online in the background!

Radio it is then. That mightt be no bad thing though given how utterly appalling itv are as a sports broadcaster.

[Tattie Scones RRN]

I'm not sure why gwlad feels the need to start a fight with an entire rugby nation, but probably best we just move on now everyone's had their say.

Anyway, one week to go!!!

Who is excited?

It is very inconsiderate for our first game to be a half 2 kick off - my work internet comes via America so I can't watch any UK broadcasters online in the background!

Radio it is then. That mightt be no bad thing though given how utterly appalling itv are as a sports broadcaster.

Edited

But I agree - 2.30pm is annoying. However, I have heard that the match is sold out so should be a good atmosphere. Hopefully your brother's trek won't be in vain!!

[RDW]

Sorry Tattie - couldn't let you say that!

My brother has told me that the liability lies with me if these tickets turn out to be dodgy, so I'm hoping that your pal is legit!

[EWT Spoons]

Aye 2.30 midweek isn’t ideal. There is no way for me to watch/listen to the game, so will be hoping there is some kind of minute by minute update on the like of the BBC. Failing that I’ll be checking out this site in the hope one of you kind people will be updating what’s happening

[NeilyBroon]

I'm likely to be on business in Dublin... This said, should only be a half day! I hope I get back before K/O!

[RDW]

I'm likely to be on business in Dublin... This said, should only be a half day! I hope I get back before K/O!

Surely in Dublin it is perfectly acceptable to have business meetings in the pub with a few pints of Guinness?

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Sorry Tattie - couldn't let you say that!

My brother has told me that the liability lies with me if these tickets turn out to be dodgy, so I'm hoping that your pal is legit!

Aye fair enough....just needed to get it off my chest

My pal is far from legit. But the tickets are so tell him not to worry.

[rodders]

Scotland looking pretty decent in the warm-ups. It's a very tough group for them but any Scots fans feeling quietly confident they could be a surprise package? Or was the 6N reflective of their current standing?

Decent squad on paper and very experienced coach - Finn Russell is one of the best 10's in the tournament I think so if the pack can go well they could make the latter stages....

[NeilyBroon]

I'm likely to be on business in Dublin... This said, should only be a half day! I hope I get back before K/O!

Surely in Dublin it is perfectly acceptable to have business meetings in the pub with a few pints of Guinness?

It'll be a hospital site visit... Do we reckon Irish hospitals have Guinness on tap?

(here's hoping)

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Scotland looking pretty decent in the warm-ups. It's a very tough group for them but any Scots fans feeling quietly confident they could be a surprise package? Or was the 6N reflective of their current standing?

Decent squad on paper and very experienced coach - Finn Russell is one of the best 10's in the tournament I think so if the pack can go well they could make the latter stages....  

TBH, it would be more of a surprise if we didn't qualify rodders. I'd even say that we should target getting the win against SA.

[rodders]

Scotland looking pretty decent in the warm-ups. It's a very tough group for them but any Scots fans feeling quietly confident they could be a surprise package? Or was the 6N reflective of their current standing?

Decent squad on paper and very experienced coach - Finn Russell is one of the best 10's in the tournament I think so if the pack can go well they could make the latter stages....  

TBH, it would be more of a surprise if we didn't qualify rodders. I'd even say that we should target getting the win against SA.

Good man - that's the spirit!

[R!skysports]

Scotland looking pretty decent in the warm-ups. It's a very tough group for them but any Scots fans feeling quietly confident they could be a surprise package? Or was the 6N reflective of their current standing?

Decent squad on paper and very experienced coach - Finn Russell is one of the best 10's in the tournament I think so if the pack can go well they could make the latter stages....  

TBH, it would be more of a surprise if we didn't qualify rodders. I'd even say that we should target getting the win against SA.

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.....next you will be saying we are dark horses


Arrgggggghhhhhhhhh -we are dooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed

[Tattie Scones RRN]

I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying......we should never ever accept that coming second is a 'great' result and be happy with reaching the 1/4 finals.

You don't hear any other top 8 nation saying that a great WC would be reaching the last 8. It's a horrible defeatist attitude and it's been going on far too long in Scottish Rugby.

[EWT Spoons]

I'm likely to be on business in Dublin... This said, should only be a half day! I hope I get back before K/O!

Surely in Dublin it is perfectly acceptable to have business meetings in the pub with a few pints of Guinness?

It'll be a hospital site visit... Do we reckon Irish hospitals have Guinness on tap?

(here's hoping)

Well there's a chance

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/3266819.stm (if you don't want to click on the link, it's an old story from the bbc saying that Guinness could actually be good for you, helping reduce heart clots etc)

[RDW]

South Africa have pretty much chosen a full strength team to face Japan on Saturday.  Will be very interesting to see if Japan does the same since they face us 4 days later (not that I'd be able to tell what Japan's first XV is!).

[George Carlin]

Japan may not have enough unbroken players to play us at all if the Boks are suiting up for a fully throated asskicking.

[Weegie Wizard]

One worry I have is that we seem to fade badly in the second half of games. I doubt it is anything to do with fitness as our guys seem to be as well conditioned as others domestically but I've looked into it.

Summer tour 2014 -

We won the second half 7-3 against USA
Lost 9-6 against Canada
Won 14-11 v Argentina
Lost 37-0 v the Boks

2014 AIs

Lost 21-17 v Argentina
Lost 10-6 v NZ 2nd XV
Won 23-0 v Tonga

6 Nations

Lost 6-0 v France
Drew 13-13 v Wales
Lost 7-3 v Italy
Lost 15-0 v England
Lost 20-0 v Ireland

Warm-ups

Lost 21-15 v Ireland
Won 7-6 v Italy
Won 25-0 v Italy
Lost 7-13 v France

5 of those games we were winning at half time and ended up losing. Only once (against Argentina last summer) did we win from being down at half time. The only thing I can think of is that the players make too many mistakes when the pressure ramps up.

[EWT Spoons]

It's the 2nd half curse.  We have been poor in the 2nd half of games for years now.  I don't know what it is either, as like you say the players should be conditioned well enough, but we always fade, or just not turn up after halftime.  It often starts with a shocking restart as well.

It's probably not helped that for a number of years we had the prescribed changes at 60 mins (Robinson I'm looking at you) regardless of what was happening on the pitch.

[RDW]

Maybe also a sign that our bench hasn't been very strong in recent years?

[funnyExiledScot]

Maybe also a sign that our bench hasn't been very strong in recent years?

Agreed on this point. Against the top sides we rarely have the calibre of impact player they have. Around the 60 minute mark the opposition tends to step up a notch, whereas we can potentially bring on Jon Welsh, Al Strokosch/Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson.

We just don't have the game changers that other teams do.

[jimbopip]

Sorry Tattie - couldn't let you say that!

My brother has told me that the liability lies with me if these tickets turn out to be dodgy, so I'm hoping that your pal is legit!

Aye fair enough....just needed to get it off my chest

My pal is far from legit. But the tickets are so tell him not to worry.

Mr Scones, glad you moved your tickets. Apparently I am on interview next Wednesday morning. They assured me that it would be wrapped up by lunchtime, so all I have to do is get home without a speeding ticket.

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Sorry Tattie - couldn't let you say that!

My brother has told me that the liability lies with me if these tickets turn out to be dodgy, so I'm hoping that your pal is legit!

Aye fair enough....just needed to get it off my chest

My pal is far from legit. But the tickets are so tell him not to worry.

Mr Scones, glad you moved your tickets. Apparently I am on interview next Wednesday morning. They assured me that it would be wrapped up by lunchtime, so all I have to do is get home without a speeding ticket.

Might have one more if you can be on standby. My best mate is expecting OFSTED in the next week and if they don't turn up by Monday, he's a no go.

[jimbopip]

TT, as I'm in Sarfend till lunchtime then unless Usain Bolt is giving me a piggy back to Glaws I think I'm a no go too.

Mmm, let me check driving times from

On the OFSTED note; I once had a Headteacher who told us on 1st September that they would be in that year. Cue a very long and stressful year. Then on the last possible week when they could have come in before the end of summer term, we had worked out that if we made it to Tuesday lunchtime we were safe: hten Tuesday morning they called to say "We'll be there tomorrow" Bas tards.

[RDW]

Wait, are you a teacher Jimbo??

[jimbopip]

Why yes, isn't it patently obvious? Pedantic, nit picking (sometimes literally) and annoying in equal measure.

Anyway, it's a three hour drive from Sarfend to the Shed. Sorry TSRRN they won't let me leave by 10:30, although would love to see their faces when I asked.

On playing matters, I see Graham Henry saying a good 10 is the key to Word Cup success. Just as well we have two in our squad;
Dancer and then ......Meatball

[RDW]

Why yes, isn't it patently obvious? Pedantic, nit picking (sometimes literally) and annoying in equal measure.

Anyway, it's a three hour drive from Sarfend to the Shed. Sorry TSRRN they won't let me leave by 10:30, although  would love to see their faces when I asked.

On playing matters, I see Graham Henry saying a good 10 is the key to Word Cup success. Just as well we have two in our squad;
Dancer and then ......Meatball  

The thought of you being partially responsible for educating our future generation is terrifying!

Can imagine your punishment for kids being naughty - write this out 100 times:

"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"

[jimbopip]

Why yes, isn't it patently obvious? Pedantic, nit picking (sometimes literally) and annoying in equal measure.

Anyway, it's a three hour drive from Sarfend to the Shed. Sorry TSRRN they won't let me leave by 10:30, although  would love to see their faces when I asked.

On playing matters, I see Graham Henry saying a good 10 is the key to Word Cup success. Just as well we have two in our squad;
Dancer and then ......Meatball  

The thought of you being partially responsible for educating our future generation is terrifying!

Can imagine your punishment for kids being naughty - write this out 100 times:

"Al Kellock is athe great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"
"Al Kellock is a great leader"

[funnyExiledScot]

A whole generation of Essex kids unable to operate a simple quote function!

[George Carlin]

Essex and Glasgow is an amazing combination.

So you wear white Reebok Classics.

But you nicked them.

[funnyExiledScot]

Essex and Glasgow is an amazing combination.

So you wear white Reebok Classics.

But you nicked them.

He's a teacher remember. He "confiscated" them.

[R!skysports]

I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying......we should never ever accept that coming second is a 'great' result and be happy with reaching the 1/4 finals.

You don't hear any other top 8 nation saying that a great WC would be reaching the last 8. It's a horrible defeatist attitude and it's been going on far too long in Scottish Rugby.

I wish we were - I really do wish we were

[IanBru]

I'm not saying that at all.

I'm just saying......we should never ever accept that coming second is a 'great' result and be happy with reaching the 1/4 finals.

You don't hear any other top 8 nation saying that a great WC would be reaching the last 8. It's a horrible defeatist attitude and it's been going on far too long in Scottish Rugby.

I wish we were - I really do wish we were

Ironically (or perhaps not), only if we actually make the quarter finals can be make any legitimate claim to being a top 8 nation, at which point we can compare our levels of satisfaction with the other new top 8 countries, Fiji, Uruguay, Japan, Namibia, Tonga, Italy and Canada.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree with that. Let's put the silly and pointless rankings to one side. This is the World Cup. The Big Show. This is where we find out for real who the top sides are.

The top 8 sides make the QF, the top 4 sides the SF, the top 2 sides make the final and then Scotland are crowned overall winners.

It's a sad day where a fan bemoans how the World Cup could affect his/her nations IRB stat ranking!

[tigertattie]

A whole generation of Essex kids unable to operate a simple quote function!

[R!skysports]

Still a chance to show each other who is top of the ranking in rugby knowledge

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/clienthome.do

league code: 1114090-966

[Weegie Wizard]

50 Shades of Gray are in from me

[RDW]

50 Shades of Gray are in from me    

Good name! Wish I'd thought of that...

[George Carlin]

50 Shades of Gray are in from me    

Good name! Wish I'd thought of that...

If you like, you can borrow our pub quiz team name, "Scaramanga's Third Nipple".

[RDW]

Bring Back Mossy has joined - good to see a few people on here also involved!

[Eejit]

Bugger it, I'm in as Big Dick's 4 Skins.

[A Simply Mesmeric Try]

I'm Jaffa Kakes.

[George Carlin]

https://www.606v2.com/t60572-scotland-v-japan-23-september

[NeilyBroon]

I'm in, Nicola sturgeon

[RDW]

Does anyone else find it strange that John Hardie's selection has been met with a lot of controversy and plenty media coverage, yet Strauss being picked despite still not being eligible has pretty much snuck in under the radar? I've seen many articles with John Hardie pretty much having to justify his Scottishness, yet I've hardly seen any about Strauss.

Does that suggest that we're more comfortable with a player who has no Scottish links whatsoever but has a lived in the country for 3 years over someone with genuine Scottish heritage?

I'm sure Strauss' time in the media spotlight will come when he's picked, but I just find the difference in the circumstances very strange.

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