6N 2017: France v Scotland, 12 February

      
FRANCE v SCOTLAND
12 February 2017
16:00 CET (UTC+1)
Stade de France, Paris

Referee: Jaco Peyper (RSA)
Touch judges: John Lacey (IRE) & Luke Pearce (ENG)
TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRE)

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

A. Head to Head

90 Played 90
52 Won 35
3 Drawn 3
35 Lost 52
1,280 Points 1,102

B. Recent Form

13 March 2016
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
29 – 18 to Scotland

5 September 2015
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
19 – 16 to France

7 February 2015
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
15 – 8 to France

8 March 2014
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17 – 19 to France

16 March 2013
Stade de France, Saint-Denis
23 – 16 to France

26 February 2012
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
17 – 23 to France

C. Teams

FRANCE 

15-Scott Spedding; 14-Noa Nakaitaci, 13-Remi Lamerat, 12-Gael Fickou, 11-Virimi Vakatawa; 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Baptiste Serin; 1-Cyril Baille, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Uini Atonio, (captain), 4-Sebastien Vahaamahina, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Loann Goujon, 7-Kevin Gourdon, 8-Louis Picamoles,

Replacements: 16-Christopher Tolofua, 17-Rabah Slimani, 18-Xavier Chiocci, 19-Julian Le Devedec, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Maxime Machenaud, 22-Jean-Marc Doussain, 23-Yoann Huget

SCOTLAND

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

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

Thanks GC

All the positivity that has built up since Saturday could quickly disappear if we get badly beaten on Sunday, and I have got concerns about this game.

France are absolutely humongous and will really punish us if we have a similar drop-off in intensity that we saw against Ireland. They also showed against England that they mean business this tournament and they are really going to be targetting us.

My biggest concerns are the scrums and our all-round physicality. I'm not saying we need to pick our biggest pack possible - that's not the way we play - but I think there needs to be a couple of changes to give us more oomph. my reasoning being that matches get much less intense from around 50 minutes so we can bring on our more athletic, light weight players to keep the tempo up and challenge a tiring French team.

1 Reid (more physical than Dell but probably on a par as a scrummager)
2 Ford (we need him to shore up the scrums for the first 50-60 minutes)
3 Fagerson
4 Gray
5 Gray
6 Wilson
7 Watson
8 Strauss

9 Laidlaw
10 Russell
11 Seymour
12 Dunbar
13 Jones
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs - Dell, Brown, Berghan/Welsh, Toolis (although it will never happen - Toolis gives extra bulk), Barclay, Price, Weir, Scott


I really think we need Scott on the bench for his extra physicality to close out the last 20 minutes.

Isn't Depardieu Russian nowadays?

French scrum was a mixed bag against England, while Scotland's struggled against Ireland (albeit they managed to secure their own ball OK). Suspect Scotland will be hoping for not too many of them.

Could be an intriguing game, France showed in patches last week that they might be on their road to recovery, but you'd expect Scotland's backs to test the French defence a bit more (particularly out wide, the French wingers aren't renowned for their defending).

Really hope Scotland can back up last week's efforts, news seems to be that there aren't any injury issues (still waiting on Russell's HIA?) which is good.

If this game were in Murrayfield I'd say Scotland to win, but in France... Whilst the French are unpredictable I think they may have too much for Scotland at home. Scotland would need a similar start to that they got against Ireland and for the French crowd to get on the backs of the French team.

I'd love Scotland to manage it though. They just deserve a good run of games after being so close to being good for so long!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Thanks GC

All the positivity that has built up since Saturday could quickly disappear if we get badly beaten on Sunday, and I have got concerns about this game.

France are absolutely humongous and will really punish us if we have a similar drop-off in intensity that we saw against Ireland.  They also showed against England that they mean business this tournament and they are really going to be targetting us.

My biggest concerns are the scrums and our all-round physicality. I'm not saying we need to pick our biggest pack possible - that's not the way we play - but I think there needs to be a couple of changes to give us more oomph. my reasoning being that matches get much less intense from around 50 minutes so we can bring on our more athletic, light weight players to keep the tempo up and challenge a tiring French team.

1 Reid (more physical than Dell but probably on a par as a scrummager)
2 Ford (we need him to shore up the scrums for the first 50-60 minutes)
3 Fagerson
4 Gray
5 Gray
6 Wilson
7 Watson
8 Strauss

9 Laidlaw
10 Russell
11 Seymour
12 Dunbar
13 Jones
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs - Dell, Brown, Berghan/Welsh, Toolis (although it will never happen - Toolis gives extra bulk), Barclay, Price, Weir, Scott


I really think we need Scott on the bench for his extra physicality to close out the last 20 minutes.

Don't really disagree with any of that, except that I would keep Swinson on the bench for his versatility and that I also suspect that he is better round the park in the last 20 than Toolis. Lets just hope its not Gilchrist!

Also re Scott, might Taylor be a better bench option? If fit, that is.

If Taylor was fit you could make a good argument for his inclusion but he once again wasn't in the Sarries team this weekend.

Given that VC tends to not use his backs subs maybe we'll see a 6/2 split?

Dell, Brown, Berghan, Swinson, Barclay, CDP, Price, Scott/Bennett - something like that?

Hamish Watson could play in the backs if needed!

Is Jones up to 80 minutes at the moment? I'd be worried about that given how physical this game is going to be.

This game may turn out to be just too big an ask, but one thing is for sure - Scotland will turn up believing they can win this and will not be fearing this French side. They put in a much improved, big physical performance against England but we can attack their defence out wide and score points. It may all come down to whether we can build an early lead again and withstand the pressure on our scrum.

Starting to think we only need two backs on the bench as things stand, I'd rather price came on at 9 and Laidlaw went to 10 if Russell gets injured and if both half backs went I'd rather Hogg moved forward to 10. Weir simply isn't good enough.

I'd quite like to see maybe the same starting XV but perhaps Barclay starting ahead of Wilson. I'd put a 6-2 split with the same front row replacements but Swinson, Wilson and Hardie on the bench. We have quite a small pack and it will take a Herculean effort to win this from the pack.

France IMO didn't look all that good. They looked powerful and big up front but I'm not sure if that physical test will be much more than what Ireland brought to the table.

Scotland need to get the tempo up and keep it high all afternoon. France tired visibly in the final quarter against England.

Excited but also have that dread in the pit of my stomach.

How many times have Scotland not backed up the result in the following game?

On the flipside - if this is a year to get the collective monkey off of our backs, Paris is a great target, I would argue it'd be even more significant than our victory against Ireland (without taking anything away from that HUGE win). Play against France like they did in the first half against Ireland for 60-80 mins, we have a good chance. Drop off in the second half again, we're stuffed.

I just hope BVC does what he does well and keeps the players down to earth. Maybe he'll have them out wringing cockerel necks in preparation. That is key really, they've had their excitement, but they need to forget about the Ireland win and focus on France. Win against France, then the only game I'll have doubts over is against England. 1983 spirit, anyone?

NeilyBroon wrote:Excited but also have that dread in the pit of my stomach.

How many times have Scotland not backed up the result in the following game?

On the flipside - if this is a year to get the collective monkey off of our backs, Paris is a great target, I would argue it'd be even more significant than our victory against Ireland (without taking anything away from that HUGE win). Play against France like they did in the first half against Ireland for 60-80 mins, we have a good chance. Drop off in the second half again, we're stuffed.

I just hope BVC does what he does well and keeps the players down to earth. Maybe he'll have them out wringing cockerel necks in preparation. That is key really, they've had their excitement, but they need to forget about the Ireland win and focus on France. Win against France, then the only game I'll have doubts over is against England. 1983 spirit, anyone?

Against anyone. Not just France, or England. Maybe even....the AB's?

Both Grays can play for 80 mins, incredible engines. Only need subbing if injured.

Bringing Swinson on as back row worked well as he can carry and defends well. Strauss is never going to last a whole game so will need someone to cover him. The bench we had on Saturday gives options, I don't see it changing that much other than maybe Reid and Ford swapping for Dell and Brown.

To be fair to Brown, he was injured early on and never really recovered despite coming back on for a little while. The scrums did improve as well, even before Reid came on.

A massive shout out to Zander though, who did the full 80 as well, though that does not exactly spell confidence in Berghan, leaving him on the bench. Maybe VC just thought that this was not the game to blood him in.

demosthenes wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Excited but also have that dread in the pit of my stomach.

How many times have Scotland not backed up the result in the following game?

On the flipside - if this is a year to get the collective monkey off of our backs, Paris is a great target, I would argue it'd be even more significant than our victory against Ireland (without taking anything away from that HUGE win). Play against France like they did in the first half against Ireland for 60-80 mins, we have a good chance. Drop off in the second half again, we're stuffed.

I just hope BVC does what he does well and keeps the players down to earth. Maybe he'll have them out wringing cockerel necks in preparation. That is key really, they've had their excitement, but they need to forget about the Ireland win and focus on France. Win against France, then the only game I'll have doubts over is against England. 1983 spirit, anyone?

Against anyone.  Not just France, or England.  Maybe even....the AB's?

Hmm I don't think the ABs would come into it, and I think England would still be a very tough ask despite their game at the weekend. Australia (if we can get over that psychological barrier) are very much beatable! South Africa aren't even worth mentioning until they get their s**t together!

Zander was still going strong and this was a very close game so understandable they kept Berghan off.

The matchday experience would still have been very useful for Berghan though so hopefully he will be less overawed if he comes on against France.

I'd go with the 6-2 with Price and Bennett/Scott as the replacements.

Laidlaw and Hogg cover 10. Bennett covers wings and 13. Scott covers 12 and 13. Maitland would cover 15.

Speed will be key to beating France. Don't run into them, make their pack move about and they will tire!

How nice is it to go into the 2nd round of the 6Nations & not have our usual wound licking / autopsy thread!

GLove39 wrote:How nice is it to go into the 2nd round of the 6Nations & not have our usual wound licking / autopsy thread!  

I have been rather enjoying it.

If, and I said IF we win the championship (and no I'm not saying we will, I know it's week one, I'm not getting carried away) but if we win it, I trust Glove will be marking the achievement with a suitable homage?

tigertattie wrote:If, and I said IF we win the championship (and no I'm not saying we will, I know it's week one, I'm not getting carried away) but if we win it, I trust Glove will be marking the achievement with a suitable homage?  

Oh God, you've done it now!

Swap Reid in for Dell and Scott into the centres (I would prefer 13 as he has played that mostly for Gloucester even if his defence could be considered risky).

Bench of Ford, Dell, Welsh, Swinson, Barclay, Hardie, Price, Bennett

Reid is a bigger scrummager than Dell and Scott offers more size and has been on fire for Glos.

6/2 split so Laidlaw or Hogg covers 10. Hardie on for Watson and Barclay can come on for Strauss and move to 6 with Wilson at 8 on the hour mark. Welsh more proven than Berghan (as much as I like Berghan and he is a big boy). Dell offers just enough to keep Allan out.

I think a 6/2 split on the bench is an option, especially as he is clearly not going to play Weir unless FR is injured, ditto Price.

There is an old adage about not changing a winning team though and so I don't see to many changes coming, except maybe a few bench/starter swaps.

There will be some injuries throughout the tournament and I suspect some of the other (deserving) candidates may have to wait their chance.

I think the only thing we need to sort out is the front row and maybe the bench

The rest deserves to remain the same - although in fairness they were under a lot of pressure and very certainly not the better team on Saturday (Although I do not care about that as we won )

We need to play the Glasgow way - fast fast fast - commit to the breakdown when needed

Up on the tackle - smash them back - keep them running

Arm wrestle and we are gone

GLove39 wrote:How nice is it to go into the 2nd round of the 6Nations & not have our usual wound licking / autopsy thread!  

It was a genuinely bizarre feeling sitting at work yesterday morning and being genuinely happy after a Six Nations weekend. I didn't even need to put up my "It's February - Don't F****** Talk To Me" sign.

One of my many bosses (who supports Glasgow and Scotland because his grandmother might have hijacked a bus to make make sure he was born north of the border) simply came up and high-fived me. He's 67.

What really inspires me is how positive the other nations' supporters and media have been - it's not a case of us getting carried away. Lots of people who have no particular reason to support us are singing our praises. We've been here before, with big wins followed by abject failure, but for some reason this feels different. We've actually got the tools to do a job in Paris.

It'll come as no surprise to say that the model for beating France is a certain pair of wins over Racing 92:
The first thing we need is scrum parity - we won't be winning many penalties in the scrum, but if we can maintain possession on our own ball and ensure that France need to spread it in order to get anywhere on theirs, our midfield defence should be strong enough.

Secondly, we need some serious linespeed to cut down the available space and deny their outside backs the chance to build momentum (especially so if Bastaraud plays).

Finally, as we've said, we need to see this as a 50-30 or 60-20 match. If we can stay in touch with 20 minutes left, we can bring on some gas-merchants to speed up the tempo and punch holes. Obviously Nick Grigg is a bit light for international rugby, but it's that kind of specialist we need to bring on once the game loses its physicality. The giant French forwards should be puffing by 50, and by 60 they'll either be subbed or on oxygen. Swinson, Wilson, Watson, Price, Bennett and Scott could be deadly in that scenario.

Oh God... I'm feeling confident. What's wrong with me!

Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

I'd be keeping the team the same. Maybe having Ford start and Brown to make an impact off the bench!

Still think we should drop weir and go for 6 forwards on the bench! If Russell does get crocked then laidlaw to 10. If laidlaw gets crocked you've got Price on the bench still.

We need to play with the same intensity and knowing the next weekend is a weekend off, we'll have time to recover so it's kitchen sink time! If we can start like we did against Ireland and get the crowd turning on les blues then we're in with a shout! Two from two and we can have a wee rest and then think about the sheep worriers next!

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

Ask her to join you - if she still likes you during a rugby match, it's meant to be.

IanBru wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

Ask her to join you - if she still likes you during a rugby match, it's meant to be.

My girlfriend laughed at how excited I was and at the shot of a man crying with joy in the stands... Being English, I don't think she quite understands how painful it's been for the last 15 years...

Can only see the combined France/Fijian team winning unless Hogg does a one man show again.

TightHEAD wrote:Can only see the combined France/Fijian team winning unless Hogg does a one man show again.

My money would be on France. My heart is split. On the one hand as I live in Scotland I have a soft spot for them and want them to win. As an England fan I would like them to lose just because they currently have a win while France do not.

I think France are still strong favourites for this game - we haven't won in Paris since 1999 - but I am a lot more confident after the weekend than I was at the start of the tournament.

If we move that French pack around the park and avoid scrums as much as possible then we'll be in with a shout!

We have a young backline but they have a fair amount of experience. If our forwards can give them quick ball, it's game on!

IanBru wrote:

GLove39 wrote:How nice is it to go into the 2nd round of the 6Nations & not have our usual wound licking / autopsy thread!  

It was a genuinely bizarre feeling sitting at work yesterday morning and being genuinely happy after a Six Nations weekend. I didn't even need to put up my "It's February - Don't F****** Talk To Me" sign.

One of my many bosses (who supports Glasgow and Scotland because his grandmother might have hijacked a bus to make make sure he was born north of the border) simply came up and high-fived me. He's 67.

What really inspires me is how positive the other nations' supporters and media have been - it's not a case of us getting carried away. Lots of people who have no particular reason to support us are singing our praises. We've been here before, with big wins followed by abject failure, but for some reason this feels different. We've actually got the tools to do a job in Paris.

It'll come as no surprise to say that the model for beating France is a certain pair of wins over Racing 92:
The first thing we need is scrum parity - we won't be winning many penalties in the scrum, but if we can maintain possession on our own ball and ensure that France need to spread it in order to get anywhere on theirs, our midfield defence should be strong enough.

Secondly, we need some serious linespeed to cut down the available space and deny their outside backs the chance to build momentum (especially so if Bastaraud plays).

Finally, as we've said, we need to see this as a 50-30 or 60-20 match. If we can stay in touch with 20 minutes left, we can bring on some gas-merchants to speed up the tempo and punch holes. Obviously Nick Grigg is a bit light for international rugby, but it's that kind of specialist we need to bring on once the game loses its physicality. The giant French forwards should be puffing by 50, and by 60 they'll either be subbed or on oxygen. Swinson, Wilson, Watson, Price, Bennett and Scott could be deadly in that scenario.

Oh God... I'm feeling confident. What's wrong with me!

its the first year i can remember where pretty much the whole pub who were not scottish were supporting scotland

nice for a change !

yeah I think Scotland have a decent chance here. That French Pack are a lot bigger and stronger than that Irish pack, but our dynamic locks and backrow really did a number on the Irish lineout and at the breakdown. France will dominate the scrum, the same way Ireland did, but I think our forwards will have the advantage everywhere else. That French pack is also a lot heavier and will be approaching cardiac arrest in the final quarter. That and the opening quarter is where Scotland will have to press their advantage.

France are the favourites, but so were Ireland.

Their wingers are not renowned for their stout defence and I expect Scotland to test them out wide far more than England did.

Oh France will be a handful.  They'll have warmed up now as a team and the coach will have had things to be able to point to in the game against the very GS favourites themselves.  Jones said he was most concerned with France this year and so his concern proved to be well founded.  But he got his win and France have to start again.

Scotland will be on a high which will be good for the confidence levels but risky in the context of being able to suppress over-confidence.  They'll have a good shot at the win, no doubt - but I do think they'll be made work harder still by a very physical French side.  I can see Scotland doing it, but needing even more effort to attack and defend than against Ireland.  Ireland are blunt in attack.  They have their channels and they overuse them.  France, if they get some air under them, can be much more tricky/creative.

Size counted for sh!t last year against them.

Smash them in the tackle like Saturday and their 'giants' will be going nowhere.

No better chance with their backs being worse than ours.

Ireland are better than France. We beat Ireland.

No fear.

Considering how well Scotland took their chances last weekend I really just hope they can do that again. I thought Jones in the midfield really helped in terms of intensity and if he can get the ball a bit more this weekend I'm sure he'll do some damage. Same side as last week for me, I have faith in Dell starting again. Perhaps as RDW has mentioned someone like Scott or Taylor on the bench instead of Bennet but I'm fairly relaxed on this.

My prediction is it'll be a painfully close loss. It takes time to develop consistency, we're getting there but as the second half proved on Saturday we're not close to the full shabang.

My guess would be something along the lines of 17-14 or 19-16.

Hoping the boys prove me wrong though!

tigertattie wrote:If, and I said IF we win the championship (and no I'm not saying we will, I know it's week one, I'm not getting carried away) but if we win it, I trust Glove will be marking the achievement with a suitable homage?  

Massive (Uni Antonio) sized IF. However I can confirm that following Saturdays emphatic win, preliminary plans are being made!

IanBru wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

Ask her to join you - if she still likes you during a rugby match, it's meant to be.

Thus speaks the man who superglues The Hagia Sophia to his side at stadia up and down the country.

jimbopip wrote:

IanBru wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

Ask her to join you - if she still likes you during a rugby match, it's meant to be.

Thus speaks the man who superglues The Hagia Sophia to his side at stadia up and down the country.

As my sister-in-law has said, "She's seen you at your absolute worst, Ian, and she's still here."

Honestly, the girl is incredibly patient with me - she put up with me staring into the middle-distance (like a guy who saw too much in the Ia Drang Valley) for whole portions of the Scotland game, then I sat quietly during the England match with her, biting my tongue and resisting the urge to call Dallaglio a massive trouser-sneeze.

At dinner last night she said "Ian, I'm so pleased Scotland won! It's fantastic! England were good too, no?"
To which I could only reply "Sophia, I'm just really glad you're happy. Pudding?"

I can't imagine BVC changing things up too dramatically, although I would also like to see a 6/2 split on the bench.

As a side note, am I right in thinking that the swinsonator came on at 6. He is in amazing form, and drove through heavy contact to help win the last penalty....I think one of the only occasions (outside of SA away ages ago) that he has made a physical impression at test level. Anyway, I was surprised to see him in the BR and have never really considered it as an option, although i'm sure he might have played there on the odd occasion for the Warriors. Anyway, could he be an option there for the France game? He is mobile (it's not like he is a 6'7" supertanker) and is showing good physicality, form and would help beef up the Scottish BR.

nahhhhhhh

He did a job on Sat but to expect someone to play out of position is a bit iffy.

From what I can see, Barclay came on early (for whatever reason) and then when Strauss tightened up BVC was left with no option but to deploy Swinson at 6.

If anything, to beef up the back row, you'd drop watson have barcs start and have either CDP or Bradbury on the bench. But Watson is in fine form just now and if it ain't broke, don;t fix it!

You can't tinker with a backrow that seems to be doing well to accommodate a lock who many think isn't cut out for international level rugby!

tigertattie wrote:nahhhhhhh

He did a job on Sat but to expect someone to play out of position is a bit iffy.

From what I can see, Barclay came on early (for whatever reason) and then when Strauss tightened up BVC was left with no option but to deploy Swinson at 6.

If anything, to beef up the back row, you'd drop watson have barcs start and have either CDP or Bradbury on the bench. But Watson is in fine form just now and if it ain't broke, don;t fix it!

You can't tinker with a backrow that seems to be doing well to accommodate a lock who many think isn't cut out for international level rugby!

I broadly agree Tattie - but it did seem pre-planned that Watson would come off for Barclay and Strauss doesn't put up too many 80min performances.  I think Swinson to BR was at least a contingency that had been planned/prepared for.

The BR worked their socks off at the weekend and did a great job ensuring quick ball, but aside from a few Watson carries (how does such a small guy carry ball so well?), I don't think they offered much going forward.  I dunno, I just can't shake the feeling that we need better balance to the BR, dammed if I know what the answer is though.

tigertattie wrote:nahhhhhhh

He did a job on Sat but to expect someone to play out of position is a bit iffy.

From what I can see, Barclay came on early (for whatever reason) and then when Strauss tightened up BVC was left with no option but to deploy Swinson at 6.

If anything, to beef up the back row, you'd drop watson have barcs start and have either CDP or Bradbury on the bench. But Watson is in fine form just now and if it ain't broke, don;t fix it!

You can't tinker with a backrow that seems to be doing well to accommodate a lock who many think isn't cut out for international level rugby!

While I broadly agree - I would actually say it was broke (slightly) , but lucky the Irish kept fumbling the pieces in the second half)...we were VERY lucky to win that and were blown away in the second half (we fully deserved to get the luck and effort in the first half helped produce that)

The front row were toast in the scrum at the start and that needs fixed (all very well having mobile props, but if the French get us into scrum world, we have zero chance - as I remember the second game against bath a couple of years ago........ )

There is some tweaking needed, as I do not think we will get the bounce of the ball twice -

The backrow wasn't broken on Sat though!

Watson carried like a Demon (dunno how he does it, he's sooooo strong)

We were relying on the ball carrying of ZooZander, The Bros gray, Chinhook and Strauss. I felt that in a ball carrying sense, Strauss had a very very quiet game. The only other option I see that we have is Bradbury to come in to carry ball. I don't think Swinson is the answer to getting us better carries!

Also, we actually played a lot of the game without the ball in hand! YOu can't really expect that many barn storming runs from a team with little possession! When we got the ball, we went up and scored. Ireland then just did a bang up job of keeping hold of it!

tigertattie wrote:The backrow wasn't broken on Sat though!

Watson carried like a Demon (dunno how he does it, he's sooooo strong)

We were relying on the ball carrying of ZooZander, The Bros gray, Chinhook and Strauss.  I felt that in a ball carrying sense, Strauss had a very very quiet game. The only other option I see that we have is Bradbury to come in to carry ball. I don't think Swinson is the answer to getting us better carries!

Also, we actually played a lot of the game without the ball in hand! YOu can't really expect that many barn storming runs from a team with little possession! When we got the ball, we went up and scored. Ireland then just did a bang up job of keeping hold of it!

They certainly went out and performed the job required of them - they were heroic in defence and mobile, quick and intense enough to ensure good quality ball in the first half. But to me the problem of balance still remains; while we are lucky to have Fagerson who carries a lot of ball and the two Grays who get through a power of work, I still feel that our BR doesn't contribute enough going forward.

I know it's not all about power and size, and we are developing a game based on skill, speed and accuracy.... but to continue to develop our game I think it is one of the obvious places where we can get much better.

I would agree that the backrow still lacks balance but it is doing the job for us just now.

I still think we need a big brute at 6 - basically CDP, just not the CDP that has been impersonating him this season!

Bradbury has all the attributes to fulfill that role in the longer term but VC has obviously pinpointed areas that he needs to work on.

IanBru wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

IanBru wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Weather in Paris for Sat is 5 degrees, sunny, little wind!

What about Sunday, that is when they are playing!

same but 8 degrees!

bit gutted as I was supposed to be going on a date on Sunday! Looks like she's gonna be stood up!

Ask her to join you - if she still likes you during a rugby match, it's meant to be.

Thus speaks the man who superglues The Hagia Sophia to his side at stadia up and down the country.

As my sister-in-law has said, "She's seen you at your absolute worst, Ian, and she's still here."

Honestly, the girl is incredibly patient with me - she put up with me staring into the middle-distance (like a guy who saw too much in the Ia Drang Valley) for whole portions of the Scotland game, then I sat quietly during the England match with her, biting my tongue and resisting the urge to call Dallaglio a massive trouser-sneeze.

At dinner last night she said "Ian, I'm so pleased Scotland won! It's fantastic! England were good too, no?"
To which I could only reply "Sophia, I'm just really glad you're happy. Do you want my Pudding? As usual."

Fixed that for you, no charge.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I would agree that the backrow still lacks balance but it is doing the job for us just now.

I still think we need a big brute at 6 - basically CDP, just not the CDP that has been impersonating him this season!

Bradbury has all the attributes to fulfill that role in the longer term but VC has obviously pinpointed areas that he needs to work on.

Actually, longer term we could have

6. Ray Bradbury
7. Hamish from the Glen
8. Arthur Ashe

A pretty eclectic back row with no shortage of athletic ball carriers. Could we get Bawbags to sponsor them?