Scotland Autumn Test postmortem and 6N look ahead

First topic message reminder :

2017 Autumn Test Results

Scotland 44 - Samoa 38

Tries - Hogg, Jones, McInally (2), Dunbar, Horne

Scotland 17 - New Zealand 22

Tries - J Gray, Jones

Scotland 53 - Australia 24

McGuigan (2), Price, Maitland, J Gray, Jones, Barclay, McInally


6N fixtures

Wales V Scotland
Scotland V France

Scotland V England

Ireland V Scotland
Italy V Scotland

munkian wrote:Three Sisters mun !

#Tourist :P

Teuchters and Berts just off Shandwick Place are amazing for pre match watching, and for soaking up the atmosphere pre game you cannae really go wrong on rose street.

The three sisters is ok, but I don't go down the Cowgate that often anymore, I'm getting too old for it hahaha!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

munkian wrote:Three Sisters mun !

#Tourist :P

Teuchters and Berts just off Shandwick Place are amazing for pre match watching, and for soaking up the atmosphere pre game you cannae really go wrong on rose street.

The three sisters is ok, but I don't go down the Cowgate that often anymore, I'm getting too old for it hahaha!

Need to keep up with the time radge - Berts is no more and is now a trendy hipster bar. I know these kind of bars well now that I live in Putney!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

munkian wrote:Three Sisters mun !

#Tourist :P

Teuchters and Berts just off Shandwick Place are amazing for pre match watching, and for soaking up the atmosphere pre game you cannae really go wrong on rose street.

The three sisters is ok, but I don't go down the Cowgate that often anymore, I'm getting too old for it hahaha!

Hey, I spent a happy four hours there before being manshamed by blyddi Edinburgh in the 2015 Challenge Cup

RDW_Scotland wrote:Three Sisters is 1 - nowhere near Murrayfield and 2 - the most busy place in the city during rugby weekends!

3. A potentially-catastrophic fire risk.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

munkian wrote:Three Sisters mun !

#Tourist :P

Teuchters and Berts just off Shandwick Place are amazing for pre match watching, and for soaking up the atmosphere pre game you cannae really go wrong on rose street.

The three sisters is ok, but I don't go down the Cowgate that often anymore, I'm getting too old for it hahaha!

Need to keep up with the time radge - Berts is no more and is now a trendy hipster bar. I know these kind of bars well now that I live in Putney!

I may be a former prop but I am trendy...

Munkian, that's probably why you have such fond memories of the three sisters! Compared to what happened to the Dragons in that match the 3 sisters would have been a joy!!

It's quite a young part of Edinburgh to be honest, when my mates were students I used to frequent those establishments like Bannermans, Opium etc.

I do not urge any visitors to any locations, because Edinburgh has so many pubs and drinking establishments its a shame to miss out on any of them. Rose Street and places like :

http://guildfordarms.com/

http://theblackcatbar.com/

http://teuchtersbar.co.uk/teuchters-west-end-bar/

You can start at the Guilford stopping at every second bar in rose street, and make your way to the stadium from there.

IanBru wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Three Sisters is 1 - nowhere near Murrayfield and 2 - the most busy place in the city during rugby weekends!

3. A potentially-catastrophic fire risk.

4. ridiculously overpriced

5. full of muppets

6. in one of the coldest, dampest areas of Edinburgh

7. did I mention the bammers?

Cheers chaps - Staying in Haymarket, but might just go straight to the stadium then for the big screens.
Will soak up plenty of the Edinburgh atmosphere following the game.

propdavid_london wrote:Cheers chaps - Staying in Haymarket, but might just go straight to the stadium then for the big screens.
Will soak up plenty of the Edinburgh atmosphere following the game.  

I'll be doing exactly the same with Hagia Sophia. Granted she's from a particularly tough part of Gateshead, but I felt the need to usher her away from some more aggressive nationalist types in a bar on the Royal Mile last year. England had just lost to Ireland, and she might have killed them.

The big screens as Murrayfield are safer for everyone involved.

Fecc, fecc feccity fecc.

Not only am I not packing my bag tonight in preparation for a flight on Friday... but Barry The Kidneystone has had his op rescheduled. We could have gone. Granted he'd have been in agony and unable to drink... but I'd have seen the game.

Fecc fecc feccity fecc.

p.s. On rugby matters; the bench for Scotland means Aldi Price, Grigg and Kinghorn coming on for the last quarter against a tiring defence.

If, and it's a big if, Scotland are still in it after the hour mark it could be very interesting.

Imagine if all the chumps, choppers, numptys, donuts, tubes, and nuggets in Clapham were condensed into a single pub  - you would still be nowhere near how grim the clientel in the 3 sisters is.
It's like a black hole of bams.

furra_linee wrote:Imagine if all the chumps, choppers, numptys, donuts, tubes, and nuggets in Clapham were condensed into a single pub  - you would still be nowhere near how grim the clientel in the 3 sisters is.
It's like a black hole of bams.

I believe that's on their flyers.

p.s. On rugby matters; the bench for Scotland means Aldi Price, Grigg and Kinghorn coming on for the last quarter against a tiring defence.

I think our defence actually improves as the game goes on, we don't do tired.

jimbopip wrote:Fecc, fecc feccity fecc.

Not only am I not packing my bag tonight in preparation for a flight on Friday... but Barry The Kidneystone has had his op rescheduled.  We could have gone. Granted he'd have been in agony and unable to drink... but I'd have seen the game.

Fecc fecc feccity fecc.

p.s. On rugby matters; the bench for Scotland means Aldi Price, Grigg and Kinghorn coming on for the last quarter against a tiring defence.

If, and it's a big if, Scotland are still in it after the hour mark it could be very interesting.  

Gutted for you Jimbo. Hope all goes well and they install the latest software update that allows you to work quote functions correctly.

How long is a suitable amount of time to wait before asking if I can have your ticket isn't considered poor taste?

Good Luck* to our Scottish Friends for the Calcutta Cup.



* In the context that everybody gets a good few bevvies, nobody gets hurt and every gets a good view of the umpteen English tries that are as inevitable as the tide rolling in on the Holy Island causeway trapping the usual suffern inglish tourist.

tigertattie wrote:

jimbopip wrote:Fecc, fecc feccity fecc.

Not only am I not packing my bag tonight in preparation for a flight on Friday... but Barry The Kidneystone has had his op rescheduled.  We could have gone. Granted he'd have been in agony and unable to drink... but I'd have seen the game.

Fecc fecc feccity fecc.

p.s. On rugby matters; the bench for Scotland means Aldi Price, Grigg and Kinghorn coming on for the last quarter against a tiring defence.

If, and it's a big if, Scotland are still in it after the hour mark it could be very interesting.  

Gutted for you Jimbo. Hope all goes well and they install the latest software update that allows you to work quote functions correctly.

How long is a suitable amount of time to wait before asking if I can have your ticket isn't considered poor taste?

Tiger, it's Barry The Kidneystone who's having the op not me. And the hospital contacted him yesterday to say it's been move to next Thursday. Fecc
He did that typically English thing of putting his bank balance first and cancelling the hotel as soon as he had his, first, date for the op. Friendships have withered and died for less. As for the tickets...they went to a good home via the Warriors Forum.
Oh yes, the walking Kidneystone called to ask if I wanted to go over to his to watch the game. I had to say no as Irish John from next door (Donncha O'Callaghan's third cousin on his maternal grannie's side) is coming round to watch the match, drink my beer and scream abuse at those stuck up English cretins. When he said "Stuck up English Cretins" he wasn't clear as to whether he meant the 15 who will be on the pitch or the rest of our neighbours. Probably both as he doesn't like people to feel left out.

TrailApe wrote:Good Luck* to our Scottish Friends for the Calcutta Cup.



* In the context that everybody gets a good few bevvies, nobody gets hurt and every gets a good view of the umpteen English tries that are as inevitable as the tide rolling in on the Holy Island causeway trapping the usual suffern inglish tourist.

Apey - you are welcome here any time.

jimbopip wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

jimbopip wrote:Fecc, fecc feccity fecc.

Not only am I not packing my bag tonight in preparation for a flight on Friday... but Barry The Kidneystone has had his op rescheduled.  We could have gone. Granted he'd have been in agony and unable to drink... but I'd have seen the game.

Fecc fecc feccity fecc.

p.s. On rugby matters; the bench for Scotland means Aldi Price, Grigg and Kinghorn coming on for the last quarter against a tiring defence.

If, and it's a big if, Scotland are still in it after the hour mark it could be very interesting.  

Gutted for you Jimbo. Hope all goes well and they install the latest software update that allows you to work quote functions correctly.

How long is a suitable amount of time to wait before asking if I can have your ticket isn't considered poor taste?

Tiger, it's Barry The Kidneystone who's having the op not me. And the hospital contacted him yesterday to say it's been move to next Thursday. Fecc
He did that typically English thing of putting his bank balance first and cancelling the hotel as soon as he had his, first, date for the op. Friendships have withered and died for less. As for the tickets...they went to a good home via the Warriors Forum.
Oh yes, the walking Kidneystone called to ask if I wanted to go over to his to watch the game. I had to say no as Irish John from next door (Donncha O'Callaghan's third cousin on his maternal grannie's side) is coming round to watch the  match, drink my beer and scream abuse at those stuck up English cretins. When he said "Stuck up English Cretins" he wasn't clear as to whether he meant the 15 who will be on the pitch or the rest of our neighbours. Probably both as he doesn't like people to feel left out.

you lost me at "warriors forum" - can't think of a worse place to stumble across!

Well what a difference a few weeks made. If you told me after the Wales game that we would have scored 3 tries to 0 against England in the 1st half of the Calcutta Cup match I would have called you a liar.

What a great performance.

I think we are entitled to have a day or two to let it sink in, but Ireland are loaming next and they will in all probability present an even sterner challenge, especially in Dublin.

I would say that they are not unbeatable though, having made pretty hard work of seeing off the French and Welsh teams, in both games they should have been out of sight yet let them back into the game. That is a dangerous game to play and it will burn you at some stage.

Ireland will clearly be the favourites for the match, but we will surely go to Dublin with some confidence. We will surely at some stage work out how to win away from home and this would be a good place to start.

BigGee wrote:I think we are entitled to have a day or two to let it sink in, but Ireland are loaming next and they will in all probability present an even sterner challenge, especially in Dublin.

I would say that they are not unbeatable though, having made pretty hard work of seeing off the French and Welsh teams, in both games they should have been out of sight yet let them back into the game. That is a dangerous game to play and it will burn you at some stage.

Ireland will clearly be the favourites for the match, but we will surely go to Dublin with some confidence. We will surely at some stage work out how to win away from home and this would be a good place to start.

No please. Please wait for Rome. We've had a close enough 6N so far. We need a break!

http://www.rugbydump.com/2018/02/6207/new-footage-shows-moment-owen-farrell-pushed-scotland-players-in-the-tunnel-before-kick-off

Interesting footage!

Indeed. Looks to me like a load of handbags but Farrell the instigator. was he rushing up the tunnel pushing folk out of the way because he was after someone or just in a hurry. Either way push wilson he will push back. then try to lamp him?

Exactly, just handbags, but it does look like Farrell started it off. Ryan Wilson was just walking down the tunnel minding his own business up to that point.

Nothing much to see though, so put it to bed.

Looks to me like Farrell was 'respectfully enough' getting past one batch of Scottish players to get to the player his mind was on (Wilson). He wasn't trying to pass that player but have a 'chat' with him instead.
To me it suggests words and taunts or insults were flying about that perhaps Farrell had overheard and wanted to 'discuss'.
So it was just a conference really......

So 2 games left...

France will trounce England who will then go on to nil Ireland in the final game, Scotland will continue using their pre-game fight tactics lead by a Saltire Crayon to smash both Ireland and Italy away from home for record away BP wins back-to-back to claim the 6Ns trophy and be restored to their rightful place as the comeback kings. I hear that Tesco are stocking pork wings in anticipation of the occasion but a boy can dream.

I would be delighted if Scotland could ruin Ireland's party, even if it is by grinding out penalties a la France-style to get the victory. For me, that would mean Scotland have made progress since last year and have had a good 6Ns - it'd even eradicate the frustration of losing so badly at Cardiff (especially as we're now in a pretty good position all things considered). Let's not forget Italy though, who, unless they stun Wales - will have absolutely nothing to lose, and to be honest still worry me as it's when we write them off we get horror shows like the one at Murrayfield in 2007.

All to play for, and finally feeling less dread, the pressure is off and the boys can just give it their best crack. Who knows? Pigs may fly.

I see Glove is copping a lot of abuse for posting the Farrell video - some people get a bit over excited don't they!

So... Wee Greeg has officially cast off the sobriquet, "Frodo the Ponderous"

Now he must be known as Cinderella's Fella, or Buttons

https://twitter.com/RugbyLAD7/status/967726589042741254

Well, 3 wins was the goal for this 6 nations and it is within sight. NB is right that the pressure is off against Ireland. The failure to get a losing bonus point against England stings, but the loss to Wales was worse. If we can put Ireland to bed then great, if we lose a relatively close game we can still achieve the original target.

As for Farell, as long as he has not thrown any punches, it can be forgotten about. Hughes tried to choke Wilson mid-game and no one is surprised. Wilson is the new Hamilton without the knack of giving away penalties.

I am hearing Wilson has been cited

He has been for making contact with the eyes.

He could be in trouble here as they have zero tolerance on these kind of things, but it would be a bitter pill to swallow given Hughes had both hands round his throat at the time!

Good chance for dozer to make a case for himself, he has the tools to be a good solid 8. If he can take some of Wilson's aggression on board and do some breakdown work then he could push for a starting spot.

It's a shame, Wilson for all his foibles was excellent on Saturday

RDW_Scotland wrote:He has been for making contact with the eyes.

He could be in trouble here as they have zero tolerance on these kind of things, but it would be a bitter pill to swallow given Hughes had both hands round his throat at the time!

All I saw was what was on the telly after a rewatching and it looked pretty tame. Hughes was strangling him and he put his hand on his face. If there was an eye gouge I hope he cops a ban, but it didn't look all that mental to me on the TV.

No eye gouge but his had did claw at Hughes face closish to the eyes.

It doesn't have to be a gouge to be an offence - making contact with the eye area is enough to get several weeks these days.

So I know  Scotland has a good track record of defending disciplinary cases but there's a high chance Wilson will get a ban.

So who replaces him?

The obvious answer is Denton, to keep some consistency in selection, and I'd be interested to see what he can do with a start.

The bench is a bit less obvious though, with Strauss, Harley, Bradbury, Hamilton and maybe even Hardie potential options. None of those really stand out for me but they all bring their own strengths. Strauss will bring carrying and power, Hardie a defensive rock and breakdown menace, Harley and Hamilton all action and work rate and Bradbury a bit of an all rounder, although not on great form.

This weekend's games may be the deciding factor - Townsend has shown with Grigg and Swinson that he'll reward good club performances.

Doesn't look great
https://streamable.com/uj1om

It would be very harsh to cop a ban for that, especially if Hughes get away with nothing.

Unfortunately I think he will as RDW says, there is zero tolerance for going anywhere near the eyes and that does seem to happen. I don't think he was trying to gauge him though, just to get him to stop strangling him!

TJ wrote:No eye gouge but his had did claw at Hughes face closish to the eyes.

That was enough to get Chris Ashton a ten week ban.

but was ashton defending himself from being strangled?

The ref wasn't going to let him be 'strangled'.  He was being held down by the neck... a dominance gesture  You'd have to ask again, why the fracas started and who started it.
But there are Wilson's team mates there who didn't seem to think it urgent enough to help their man on the ground out.... and there was the distinct grab at the eye area of Hughes.
I still don't know why this still seems to be an instinctive reaction with rugby players - it's bloody dumb, it's bloody dangerous, there are many other ways of trying to get an aggressive player off you, they're all athletic and limber men.... and he knows cameras are all over a modern rugby game.
So dumb.  It's always dumb that players know how seriously the offence is treated and yet still can't deny themselves the urge to do it

Yeah I'd ban him for that, he's not exactly an angel.

TJ wrote:Doesn't look great
https://streamable.com/uj1om

Close to the eye but not in the eye. It's an instinctive reaction to someone having their hands on your throat when you're on your back defenceless on the ground. A rather cowardly attack by Hughes, who should also be cited.

SecretFly wrote:Looks to me like Farrell was 'respectfully enough' getting past one batch of Scottish players to get to the player his mind was on (Wilson).  He wasn't trying to pass that player but have a 'chat' with him instead.
To me it suggests words and taunts or insults were flying about that perhaps Farrell had overheard and wanted to 'discuss'.
So it was just a conference really......

Just Farrell being Farrell, he's a very good player with a dreadful attitude. One day someone is going to give him a good going over. I do hope there is plenty of footage of that doing the rounds when it eventually happens.

Re Wilson's two controversial moments.

Citing- innocuous but past history suggests he will get a ban. What started it? Was it Hughes, or was the England 8 reactIng to something?

Tunnel - Farrell daft to react so hot headedly, though frankly no place for the things Wilson was saying and threatening Ford with.

Personally I would give Farrell and Wilson 1 week bans for tunnel incident and an extra 2 weeks to the Scot for stupidity as all players should know not to put hands near eyes.

People keep saying that Wilson said or threatened ford. Is therelany evidence of this at all. I have not seen it but happy to be pointed in the right direction

As per the video with hartley spitting on the Welsh player. I think it's best to.not.rush to.conclusions before you have all the evidence.

LondonTiger wrote:Re Wilson's two controversial moments.

Citing- innocuous but past history suggests he will get a ban. What started it? Was it Hughes, or was the England 8 reactIng to something?

Tunnel - Farrell daft to react so hot headedly, though frankly no place for the things Wilson was saying and threatening Ford with.

Personally I would give Farrell and Wilson 1 week bans for tunnel incident and an extra 2 weeks to the Scot for stupidity as all players should know not to put hands near eyes.

First I've heard of that - where's the proof?

The only video I've seen is Wilson walking down the tunnel and Farrell pushing him from behind that started it all!

David-Douglas wrote:

TJ wrote:Doesn't look great
https://streamable.com/uj1om

Close to the eye but not in the eye. It's an instinctive reaction to someone having their hands on your throat when you're on your back defenceless on the ground. A rather cowardly attack by Hughes, who should also be cited.

You made a point of saying this on both the England and Scotland threads now. Ill repeat...what caused Hughes to react in that way?
Something must have happened.

We're all guilty of saying our own players are squeaky clean...People are quick to label Farrell all sorts of things, yet forget that Wilson is a prize nob head aswell...

Wilson is certainly no saint, but to be honest I don't see anything malicious in the Hughes incident. Stupid to put his hand in his face and near the eye area? Yes. But that is easy to say without having an 18 stone Fijian pinning you to the floor by your neck.

I'm not saying anything about who provoked it as we simply don't know yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson did say something.

EST wrote:Wilson is certainly no saint, but to be honest I don't see anything malicious in the Hughes incident. Stupid to put his hand in his face and near the eye area? Yes.  But that is easy to say without having an 18 stone Fijian pinning you to the floor by your neck.

I'm not saying anything about who provoked it as we simply don't know yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if Wilson did say something.

International rugby...an "English" Fijian holding down a "Scottish" Englishman...