6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February

by **George Carlin** Thu 19 Jan 2017, 10:10 am

First topic message reminder :

6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Scot_f10

6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Irelan10

SCOTLAND v IRELAND
4 February 2017
KO: 14:25
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand

Live on BBC, RTE, DMAX, FR2, ITV (H)

A. Head to Head

132 Played 132
66 Won 61
5 Drawn 5
61 Lost 66
1,380 Points 1,475

B. Recent Form

19 March 2016
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
35 – 25 to Ireland

15 August 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
28 – 22 to Ireland

21 March 2015
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
10 – 40 to Ireland

2 February 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
28 – 6 to Ireland

24 February 2013
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
12 – 8 to Scotland

10 March 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
32 – 14 to Ireland

6 August 2011
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 6 to Scotland

27 February 2011
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
18 – 21 to Ireland

20 March 2010
Croke Park, Dublin
20 – 23 to Scotland

C. Teams

SCOTLAND
6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Scotla10

6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Scotla10

15-Stuart Hogg; 14-Sean Maitland, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tommy Seymour; 10-Finn Russell, 9-Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1-Allan Dell, 2-Fraser Brown, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-Ryan Wilson, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Josh Strauss

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-John Barclay, 21-Ali Price, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Mark Bennett

IRELAND
6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Irelan10

15-Rob Kearney; 14-Keith Earls, 13-Robbie Henshaw, 12-Garry Ringrose, 11-Simon Zebo; 10-Paddy Jackson, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best (captain), 3-Tadhg Furlong, 4-Iain Henderson, 5-Devin Toner, 6-CJ Stander, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: 16-Niall Scannell, 17-Cian Healy, 18-John Ryan, 19-Ultan Dillane, 20-Josh van der Flier, 21-Kieran Marmion, 22-Ian Keatley, 23-Tommy Bowe.

by R!skysports Tue 24 Jan 2017, 3:23 pm

TJ wrote:FES - the worst toilet in Scotland was in Granton was it not?

Wherabouts in leith do you live because your description of it is nothing like my experience. Mind you I have only lived here for 23 years

3 michelin starred restaurants - the most in any city outside London.
25 eating an drinking establishments within 400 m of my front door.
Regeneration going on a pace and just recently voted the second hippest place to live in the UK

The benefit of living in a drain :-)

by tigertattie Wed 25 Jan 2017, 9:11 am

only 2 out of those 25 establishments have the basic food hygiene certificate from environmental health!

by bsando Wed 25 Jan 2017, 10:51 am

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38739439

Fantastic little interview here with Cotter, he really is going to be missed and deserves a lot of credit for what has been accomplished. I would be very happy to see him involved in Scottish rugby again in the near future. Maybe as a replacement for Scott Johnsn?

by Guest Wed 25 Jan 2017, 11:35 am

bsando wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38739439

Fantastic little interview here with Cotter, he really is going to be missed and deserves a lot of credit for what has been accomplished. I would be very happy to see him involved in Scottish rugby again in the near future. Maybe as a replacement for Scott Johnsn?

I was just going to post that on here! Great read. Seems like a good guy too.

by **RiscaGame** Wed 25 Jan 2017, 11:50 am

Hard to disagree with him, bar I wouldn't consider Laidlaw in contention. Though I guess he has to name his captain.

by Guest Wed 25 Jan 2017, 11:56 am

Griff wrote:
bsando wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38739439

Fantastic little interview here with Cotter, he really is going to be missed and deserves a lot of credit for what has been accomplished. I would be very happy to see him involved in Scottish rugby again in the near future. Maybe as a replacement for Scott Johnsn?

I was just going to post that on here! Great read. Seems like a good guy too.

Whoops sorry, I was on about a different article. More about his time in Scotland, etc. rather than Lions! I haven't read the Lions one:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/38735486

by **RiscaGame** Wed 25 Jan 2017, 12:38 pm

That makes more sense. Nice read. I assume Bsando meant the same one?

by bsando Wed 25 Jan 2017, 1:13 pm

RiscaGame wrote:That makes more sense. Nice read. I assume Bsando meant the same one?

Yep! Exactly

by tigertattie Fri 27 Jan 2017, 10:07 am

Anyone going to take a punt on a score prediction for this or we all waiting to see what teams are announced?

by **RDW** Fri 27 Jan 2017, 10:09 am

25-21 Ireland - they pull out an early lead but we fight back, ultimately to end in glorious failure.

by GLove39 Fri 27 Jan 2017, 10:50 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:25-21 Ireland - they pull out an early lead but we fight back, ultimately to end in glorious failure.

and the tournaments first ever losing bonus point!

by jimbopip Fri 27 Jan 2017, 12:23 pm

Actually, we have already been awarded them. The table hasn't been published yet but we end up with four points: we take fecc all from the Italian game, except Sarto and Favaro have blinders and then crash into each other in the 81st minute putting them out for the rest of the season.

by IanBru Fri 27 Jan 2017, 12:56 pm

And everyone at the Murrayfield fan village gets food poisoning from an errant shipment of Isle of Mull cheddar.

by EST Fri 27 Jan 2017, 1:01 pm

tigertattie wrote:Anyone going to take a punt on a score prediction for this or we all waiting to see what teams are announced?

I think Ireland will win, although if they have an off day and we perform at our best then we are in with a shout. I think the games swings on two areas - the backrow and the halfbacks. In Stander, SOB and Heaslip Ireland simply have better players than we do. At halfback, I don't think the Laidlaw/Russell axis gets the best out of Finn, as Laidlaw likes to take most of the responsibility on his own shoulders - fine in some instances, but often this stops him giving Russell the quick ball he needs to play his game. As much of an erse as Connor Murray has been over the past couple of weeks, he a better player than Greig, and his partnership with Sexton will pressure us into playing from deep and making mistakes.

I'm going to the game and will be having a Friday/Saturday sesh in the Capital - I can't wait, should be a great game.

by funnyExiledScot Fri 27 Jan 2017, 1:59 pm

I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

by beshocked Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:14 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

You shouldn't give in before the match has even started! You've got to believe you will win.

Ireland are a strong side but not unbeatable. Harness the good form of Glasgow, bring that feel good factor to Scotland.

Don't worry about Ireland's strengths. Focus on your own.

by **RDW** Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:23 pm

beshocked wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

You shouldn't give in before the match has even started! You've got to believe you will win.

Ireland are a strong side but not unbeatable. Harness the good form of Glasgow, bring that feel good factor to Scotland.

Don't worry about Ireland's strengths. Focus on your own.

To be fair we're not the players or caoches - it is entirely reasonable for fans to be pragmatic and realistic about our chances.

Scotland have a terrible 6N record and although we are getting better the level of competition is so fierce that we could still only end up with 1 or 2 wins at best. Ireland have beaten all 3 Southern Hemoisphere teams recently and will be going into the game as hot favourites.

Can we beat Ireland? Yes.

Will we beat Ireland? Unlikely - and it is not unreasonable to say that as fans.

by carpet baboon Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:26 pm

beshocked wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

You shouldn't give in before the match has even started! You've got to believe you will win.

Ireland are a strong side but not unbeatable. Harness the good form of Glasgow, bring that feel good factor to Scotland.

Don't worry about Ireland's strengths. Focus on your own.

Ahhh I see beshocked. Your that scared of Ireland your trying to get Scotland to derail us.
Can't face meeting us in Dublin when were 4 from 4 and diliver a brutal smack down on you white shirted boys.
Tut tut
Hug

by carpet baboon Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:28 pm

And to be brutal honest I have a horrible feeling Scotland are going to do us over and our wheels are you going to come flying off.

by EST Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:29 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
beshocked wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

You shouldn't give in before the match has even started! You've got to believe you will win.

Ireland are a strong side but not unbeatable. Harness the good form of Glasgow, bring that feel good factor to Scotland.

Don't worry about Ireland's strengths. Focus on your own.

To be fair we're not the players or caoches - it is entirely reasonable for fans to be pragmatic and realistic about our chances.

Scotland have a terrible 6N record and although we are getting better the level of competition is so fierce that we could still only end up with 1 or 2 wins at best. Ireland have beaten all 3 Southern Hemoisphere teams recently and will be going into the game as hot favourites.

Can we beat Ireland? Yes.

Will we beat Ireland? Unlikely - and it is not unreasonable to say that as fans.

Agreed, I don't have the stats at hand, but our record in the opening game must be truly horrific.

I know there are different theories about how much of a benefit playing a weaker team first is, but I would love it if we could get Italy first once in a while (no guarantee we would beat them, obviously). We have the ability to trouble most teams, and an opening day win would really give the team a shot in the arm.

by beshocked Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:32 pm

Being pragmatic and realistic is fine but don't be defeatist.

Scotland do have a terrible 6n record agreed but the only way that's going to change is if Scotland fights to get it changed. Fans need to believe Scotland will win, not just the players.

Need to turn Murrayfield into a tough place to win.

Glasgow were one of the weakest sides in Europe but now they are on the rise.

Glasgow have shown that's possible for a Scottish side to not accept that they'll be at the bottom of the established pecking order.

Scotland must do the same.

You are at home. Not away. You should fear no side.

carpet baboon no not at all. I just would like to see Scotland the underdogs pick up a good win.

Well okay, Ireland do worry me a bit to be fair.

by carpet baboon Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:43 pm

I think my fear stems from the fact we havnt completely fallen apart in a game for a few years, and can't help but thing we are due a ridiculously Poopie performance of epic headless chicken proportions

by GunsGermsV2 Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:47 pm

carpet baboon wrote:I think my fear stems from the fact we havnt completely fallen apart in a game for a few years, and can't help but thing we are due a ridiculously Poopie performance of epic headless chicken proportions

We did against Argentina in the WC about 18 months ago. Thats recent enough. Our pack were poor that day. They are much better now.

by **RDW** Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:48 pm

We haven't won a 6N opener since 2006, to put things into perspective.

by **RDW** Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:49 pm

beshocked wrote:Being pragmatic and realistic is fine but don't be defeatist.

Scotland do have a terrible 6n record agreed but the only way that's going to change is if Scotland fights to get it changed. Fans need to believe Scotland will win, not just the players.

Need to turn Murrayfield into a tough place to win.

Glasgow were one of the weakest sides in Europe but now they are on the rise.

Glasgow have shown that's possible for a Scottish side to not accept that they'll be at the bottom of the established pecking order.

Scotland must do the same.

You are at home. Not away. You should fear no side.

carpet baboon no not at all. I just would like to see Scotland the underdogs pick up a good win.

Well okay, Ireland do worry me a bit to be fair.

Very easy to say as a Saracans and England fan, as opposed to an Edinburgh and Scotland fan

by funnyExiledScot Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:52 pm

beshocked wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't see past Ireland winning. At their best they have a level of play that we simply can't match.

You shouldn't give in before the match has even started! You've got to believe you will win.

Ireland are a strong side but not unbeatable. Harness the good form of Glasgow, bring that feel good factor to Scotland.

Don't worry about Ireland's strengths. Focus on your own.

I'm not giving in. I was asked to make a prediction, and I did. I even threw in a little bit of reasoning.

Believe me, us Scots don't need a lecture on how to spring an underdog victory. We won three Calcutta Cups in 2000s with a dog meat team, as well as beating Australia, Argentina and South Africa, including on away turf in the case of the first two. Of course we can win, but I'm simply saying that we'll need Ireland to misfire in one way or another. If they play as we know they can, then I can't see us prevailing. Same goes for England. Just a prediction. My heart says Scotland Grand Slam.

by GunsGermsV2 Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:53 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:We haven't won a 6N opener since 2006, to put things into perspective.

Not sure that really means that much to be honest. Oddly Scotland have nearly always played England or France in the first game during that period.

by **RDW** Fri 27 Jan 2017, 2:55 pm

GunsGermsV2 wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:We haven't won a 6N opener since 2006, to put things into perspective.

Not sure that really means that much to be honest. Oddly Scotland have nearly always played England or France in the first game during that period.

I suspect a lot does come down to who our first game was against (we haven't opened against Italy since the first 6N!) but I also thinks it shows that we are slow starters and always struggle to pick up momentum.

by IanBru Fri 27 Jan 2017, 3:00 pm

EST wrote:Agreed, I don't have the stats at hand, but our record in the opening game must be truly horrific.

I know there are different theories about how much of a benefit playing a weaker team first is, but I would love it if we could get Italy first once in a while (no guarantee we would beat them, obviously). We have the ability to trouble most teams, and an opening day win would really give the team a shot in the arm.

I looked into this as the statistic was raised by Inverdale (who else?) in the pre-match program against England last year - it seems we have only won the opening fixture of the Six Nations once, against France in 2006. I thought it was strange, so I checked, and we have not played Italy in the opening fixture since the first ever Six Nations in 2000.

by the-goon Fri 27 Jan 2017, 3:02 pm

It's meant to rain for most of the week including on Saturday. This may tilt the game towards more of a forward/territory game as it's harder for the backs to fire. I think it suits Ireland.

I think ireland are stronger 1-9, and that will be the difference.

Won't be a pretty game, cos Ireland won't allow it.

by funnyExiledScot Fri 27 Jan 2017, 3:03 pm

IanBru wrote:
EST wrote:Agreed, I don't have the stats at hand, but our record in the opening game must be truly horrific.

I know there are different theories about how much of a benefit playing a weaker team first is, but I would love it if we could get Italy first once in a while (no guarantee we would beat them, obviously). We have the ability to trouble most teams, and an opening day win would really give the team a shot in the arm.
I looked into this as the statistic was raised by Inverdale (who else?) in the pre-match program against England last year - it seems we have only won the opening fixture of the Six Nations once, against France in 2006. I thought it was strange, so I checked, and we have not played Italy in the opening fixture since the first ever Six Nations in 2000.

I think a lot also comes down to team selection. Before Vern Cotter our coaches didn't traditionally watch any Scottish rugby on a regular basis and just asked the Scotsman to print the same squad each year. That meant that it took the coaches a couple of games to realise who was any good, but which time we had suffered two heavy beatings. Thankfully Vern is different.

by IanBru Fri 27 Jan 2017, 3:53 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
IanBru wrote:
EST wrote:Agreed, I don't have the stats at hand, but our record in the opening game must be truly horrific.

I know there are different theories about how much of a benefit playing a weaker team first is, but I would love it if we could get Italy first once in a while (no guarantee we would beat them, obviously). We have the ability to trouble most teams, and an opening day win would really give the team a shot in the arm.
I looked into this as the statistic was raised by Inverdale (who else?) in the pre-match program against England last year - it seems we have only won the opening fixture of the Six Nations once, against France in 2006. I thought it was strange, so I checked, and we have not played Italy in the opening fixture since the first ever Six Nations in 2000.

I think a lot also comes down to team selection. Before Vern Cotter our coaches didn't traditionally watch any Scottish rugby on a regular basis and just asked the Scotsman to print the same squad each year. That meant that it took the coaches a couple of games to realise who was any good, but which time we had suffered two heavy beatings. Thankfully Vern is different.

"Boss?"
"Ah, young Mr McPhail, how are you enjoying your apprenticeship?"
"I'm enjoying it a great deal sir. Journalism certainly is hard work!"
"It is a fine profession, my boy. Why, nearly four people attended my birthday celebrations last week - you certainly win friends in this business. Now, how can I help?"
"Well, the 'Da Luca' and 'Morrison' keys have worn out on the rugby department typewriter."
"Hmm... that's a tough one. Are the Lamont and Evans keys still working?"
6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Headma10

6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February - Page 4 Headma10

by EST Fri 27 Jan 2017, 4:18 pm

IanBru wrote:
EST wrote:Agreed, I don't have the stats at hand, but our record in the opening game must be truly horrific.

I know there are different theories about how much of a benefit playing a weaker team first is, but I would love it if we could get Italy first once in a while (no guarantee we would beat them, obviously). We have the ability to trouble most teams, and an opening day win would really give the team a shot in the arm.
I looked into this as the statistic was raised by Inverdale (who else?) in the pre-match program against England last year - it seems we have only won the opening fixture of the Six Nations once, against France in 2006. I thought it was strange, so I checked, and we have not played Italy in the opening fixture since the first ever Six Nations in 2000.

2006, bloody hell. I thought it would be bad, but I didn't think it would be quite that rubbish.

by beshocked Fri 27 Jan 2017, 4:19 pm

RDW Scotland every team has their up and downs.

Saracens haven't always been strong. Used to plenty of mid table mediocrity/not performing well. England went down to 8th in the world rankings after the world cup. Still got to believe a team can rise.

FES I think it's good to be realistic but also you have to believe you will win. I don't think this Scottish team is comparable to Scottish sides of the past. It is better. You have some genuinely very good players. You have Glasgow performing well at club level. Need to channel it.

I believe England fed off the success of their sides at club level last season, I feel that Scotland can do the same.

Need to move away from being the underdog. I feel like you are building up Ireland and underestimating your own players. With that attitude of course you will lose.

Ireland shouldn't hold fear. You play most of these players in the Pro12. Good team, good players but not infallible.

If this was in Ireland I'd perhaps agree about your chances but this game will be played in Murrayfield, every side should initially look to win their home games first and foremost.

by funnyExiledScot Fri 27 Jan 2017, 4:37 pm

beshocked wrote:FES I think it's good to be realistic but also you have to believe you will win.

Very hard to do both in this instance!!

If you're talking about the players (rather than fans) having belief then I couldn't agree more. Sadly I've been overlooked for team selection this year. I used to play lock but there's a body of opinion out there which suggests Jonny Gray is better. Sean Spicer on the other hand thinks I should play because I'm the best damn lock forward to have ever played the game. Period.

by jimbopip Fri 27 Jan 2017, 5:03 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:[quote="beshocked
Sadly I've been overlooked for team selection this year. I used to play lock but there's a body of opinion out there which suggests Jonny Gray is better. Sean Spicer on the other hand thinks I should play because I'm the best damn lock forward to have ever played the game. Period.

Sean Spicer bigs up FES bigly. Period.

There's a sentence I never thought I'd type.

Yes the Quote function has snaffed me up again: I don't care. I'm hte man who called Shrek, Shrek.

But maybe it didn't, just to lull me into a false sense of superiority, like we're doing with the Irish fans.

by **RDW** Mon 30 Jan 2017, 8:50 am

Game week! Yahoo

by tigertattie Mon 30 Jan 2017, 9:25 am

buzzing!

this seems like its been a long time in coming!

by **RDW** Mon 30 Jan 2017, 9:26 am

Good article from Jim - bunny slayer - Hamilton in the Scotsman this morning

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/jim-hamilton-scotland-will-impress-and-can-beat-ireland-1-4351738

Scotsman wrote:It’s the same every single year that I can remember. Ahead of the Six Nations, pundits always talk up Scotland as the ones to watch and Scotland always fail to rise to the occasion.

So here is my professional, objective opinion after 18 months out of the Scotland side. This is the best squad of players I have seen in the professional era and I think Scotland will impress.

Since taking the job Vern Cotter has won 16 and lost 15 games and the reason for that success is down to two things; players and coaches. In days past we would be competitive in some of our matches but sometimes we got smashed.

That just doesn’t happen any more. Scotland are competitive in every game. Look at Vern’s record closely and you can see that most of those 15 losses where within bonus point territory. The only two embarrassments were against South Africa (55-6 with a weakened Scotland squad) and Ireland (40-10 when they needed a big score to lift the championship). Both games came in Vern’s first year, it hasn’t happened since.

This is because Scotland have a core of experienced world-class players who can perform at the top level on an international stage. One example of class is Finn Russell who is in great form, whilst Ireland’s Jonny Sexton, who Russell could be up against on Saturday, is limping back from injury

When I played for Scotland and we beat Ireland in 2013 there was a lot of kicking in a match which could only have been admired by the rugby purists. The game has evolved even in the last four years and the pitch quality is a world apart. Now rugby has become a game about power. That is why I think flanker Hamish Watson may miss out because Vern will want to counter Ireland’s power with big guys of his own in the back row; Josh Strauss, Ryan Wilson and John Barclay with perhaps the physicality of Cornel Du Preez to come off the bench.

I played against “Barcs” in the Champions Cup recently and he was an absolute pain at the breakdown, a very clever, physical player, although he’s the most miserable human being you could ever come across.

An Irish player I’m looking forward to seeing is Peter O’Mahony – we had some titanic battles. He is a warrior and personifies the Irish attitude to rugby. We need to match his levels of aggression and passion, and also CJ Stander’s power, if we are to beat the Irish.

I suspect Vern will look closely at Glasgow when picking his team. No disrespect to what Edinburgh have achieved but those big Champions Cup games are close to a Test match in terms of intensity, and those Glasgow boys are already conditioned to that style of play, which is important given how how much momentum Scotland would get from winning the opening fixture.

Wins for me against Ireland were rare but I enjoyed three. Once in a World Cup warm-up and again in 2013 at Murrayfield. But the 2010 win in Dublin, which was a little unexpected, stands out. Not just the enormity of the victory but the after-match events. We were celebrating in a Dublin nightclub. Me and Allan “Chunk” Jacobsen befriended a bunch of bearded hipsters in the VIP lounge who were sharing free drinks and seemed like cool guys.

All through the night people were coming over to ask for autographs and take photos. I actually apologised to the lads and told them we had just beaten the Irish and this was part of being a rugby player. As the guys departed the club there were huge scenes, cameras flashing, girls screaming. A security guard told me my new pals were the world-famous band, Mumford & Sons. Everyone who was coming over was wanting to meet them, not me. How embarrassing!

Let’s hope Scotland have good reason to celebrate just as hard come Saturday evening, I have a sneaky feeling they will.

I'm struggling to imagine Chunk in a nightclub...

by **rodders** Mon 30 Jan 2017, 9:49 am

Not sure if it is T2 coming out or because Burns day has just passed but the Scots seem to have lost the run of themselves.

Ireland by 50.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 30 Jan 2017, 9:53 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:I'm struggling to imagine Chunk in a nightclub...

I have an image of him standing in the corner, resting his pint on his gut!

by tigertattie Mon 30 Jan 2017, 10:38 am

What a funny article. It was more about the off the field drinking antics of the Scotland team as opposed to actual rugby!

Best line in a sport article ever has to be

"I played against “Barcs” in the Champions Cup recently and he was an absolute pain at the breakdown, a very clever, physical player, although he’s the most miserable human being you could ever come across." boxing

by SecretFly Mon 30 Jan 2017, 11:42 am

Someone hasn't been reading the memos. Ain't the Irish supposed to get someone nice an easy at the start just to, like, warm us up and things? ...like say Italy?

by Scottrf Mon 30 Jan 2017, 11:43 am

SecretFly wrote:Someone hasn't been reading the memos. Ain't the Irish supposed to get someone nice an easy at the start just to, like, warm us up and things? ...like say Italy?

Scotland?

by tigertattie Mon 30 Jan 2017, 12:25 pm

are teams announced on Wednesday?

by **RDW** Mon 30 Jan 2017, 12:30 pm

They usually are

by cascough Mon 30 Jan 2017, 12:37 pm

I can't wait for this game. Great curtain raiser. Two teams that feel they are on the up means one is going to get a nasty reality check.

Question for the Scots...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you consign yourselves to battling it out to avoid the wooden spoon again?

Question for the Irish...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you start to think perhaps all is not as rosy as it seems?

by **RDW** Mon 30 Jan 2017, 12:56 pm

cascough wrote:I can't wait for this game. Great curtain raiser. Two teams that feel they are on the up means one is going to get a nasty reality check.

Question for the Scots...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you consign yourselves to battling it out to avoid the wooden spoon again?

Question for the Irish...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you start to think perhaps all is not as rosy as it seems?

This topic has been done a bit to death but, at the risk of getting a telling off from Beshocked again for being negative, Ireland are strong favourites for this game so if we lose it wouldn't be a complete surprise and I don't think it will mean the end of our 6N before it even gets going. I think if it is a close game and we are competitive then there should be enough optimism that we should have enough to have a real crack at France and hopefully get ourselves over the line against Wales. If we get pumped then it will be a bit of a rude awakening.

The main thing for me in this game is no key injuries - we are perilously short of depth in key positions like props and standoff.

by SecretFly Mon 30 Jan 2017, 1:01 pm

cascough wrote:I can't wait for this game. Great curtain raiser. Two teams that feel they are on the up means one is going to get a nasty reality check.

Question for the Scots...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you consign yourselves to battling it out to avoid the wooden spoon again?

Question for the Irish...If you lose, do you think it's a bump in the road or will you start to think perhaps all is not as rosy as it seems?

I think from an Irish perspective, they have set their own standards now pretty high in the last year - especially as regards turning up with intensity and fire-in-the-gut tempo for more than one game a year. That WAS a major improvement on how Ireland play through sequences of games. But - they now have to sustain that intensity through five major games and if they are not there at the end ready to fight it out with England for Cups and Ranking points, then I'd have to say it's yet another false dawn and disappointing 6Ns.

I haven't always said that 1st or 2nd is required with this Schmidt led bunch. I've felt on other occasions that form going in would have allowed a 3rd place to be respectable and a level of 'growth' proven. But I think they themselves have heaped the pressure on now to at least be fully in the race before that last game. 1st or 2nd is what they need to do to prove last year was a genuine foundational advance.

by bsando Mon 30 Jan 2017, 1:08 pm

5 days! 5 Days! 5 Days! 5 Days!!!!

Man I can't wait, hope Scotland train well this week and come out against Ireland like they did against Aus in the Autumn.

For the Irish challenge I would select the following XXIII

1. Reid
2. Ford
3. Fagerson
4. Gray
5. Gray
6. Du Preez
7. Barclay
8. Wilson
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Brown
17. Dell
18. Berghan
19. Swinson
20. Strauss
21. Price
22. Weir
23. Taylor

It's tough to pick a centre pairing at the moment but I'm assuming all squad players are good to go. Possibly Dunbar/Scott or Dunbar/Bennett starting if Taylor and Jones are not up to scratch just yet. Something tells me both will be in good shape though.

Swinson been playing amazing for Glasgow but I would still keep R Gray ahead of him.

Du preez I think has been playing very well for Edinburgh and deserves to start or to be on bench for this one. Hoping he'll be similar to Denton but with better hands!

Laidlaw has to start but I do hope price get s a bit more game time. He is in great form and I would be happy to see him start if Laidlaw were not the captain.

Front row of Reid/Fagerson I think would be a good place to start but Dell and Berghan make for good backup on the bench. I'm interested to see how Berghan goes but perhaps Welsh would be a more conservative choice.

Both sides have clubs who are playing with a lot of confidence and reckon there'll be a few brawls during this match. Scotland have a real challenge ahead of them in terms of the Irish pack so defence is going to be key.

I suspect a very tight game by the final 10 mins assuming there is no cards.

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