6 Nations:Ireland v Scotland - An Craic Mór - 10 Mar 2018

First topic message reminder :

Forget the Tiddlywinks at Twickers, this one’s the proper test match with soaring Scotland taking on their Ivernian cousins.  

Ireland have it all to do on their home turf to keep their championship tilt going, and Scotland have the bit between their teeth to snatch it from them and head into the final round ready to rack up a cricket score against the hapless Italians to try reach top of the table.

Scotland started cold and lost heavily to Wales but now they’ve got their game together, they could be on a roll.  But as their coach has pointed out, their away record in the last decade has been dismal.  That’s the hurdle they have to overcome.  They have the players, the skills, and a successful game plan if they can beat Ireland at their own game at the breakdown.  

Ireland started without a few players like O’Brien, Ringrose, and then lost Furlong, Henderson and Henshaw.  All the replacements stood up - VdF, Leavy, Farrell, Porter, Ryan - and then a couple of them got injured.  But the timing looks good as Furlong, Henderson, and Ringrose are ready to re-enter the fray.  O’Brien could be back for the final round.  

Schmidt has some thinking to do on how he can outwit Townsend - attempting 60-70% possession with constant pick and goes isn’t going to cut it.  Will Sexton have his kicking boots back?   Will yet another midfield continue to weaken the defensive line?   On the other hand, will Russell turn from hero to zero if his looping passes fail to hit their target and Fall into the hands of Stockdale or Earls instead?

Both sides haven’t been shy about scoring, although they go about it in completely different ways.   Let’s see if they can keep it up.

Paddies

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 81 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 65 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 11 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 5 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 71 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 62 caps

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 76 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 109 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 21 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 56 caps
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 45 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 21 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 59 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 45 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 36 caps
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 19 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 8 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster) 1 cap

Lovely Scotsmen

Whiffy Tops
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Huw Jones Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russsell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne),
Beautiful Rumblers
Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets, captain), Hamish Watson Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Extras:
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors).

Baws. We were doing so well the last 10 minutes too

eirebilly wrote:Jimbo, ye are as mad as a bag of spiders. How can you think Toonie will get the win today. I expect a minimum of 3 intercept pass for Irish tries as Russell looses his heed

There is number 1

Frustrating because there really hasn't been much between the teams

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Nope it was ours!!!
Ireland not at the races as yet. Dreadful

Clearly touched Earl's fingers

Nope. He clearly left it.

It did touch his fingers. And a knock on that brushed jones' was missed for the first 3 points. Swings and roundabouts

Ringrose with a great break but he needed to pass it to Earls who was away for a try there.

I dont even know why Horne threw that pass

Great game so far.

Jones!!!!!!

Jones... That really was a lost try for Scotland.

My nephew could have made that pass

14 point swing between the intercept and butchered try

really entertaining game so far. Mainly thanks to Scotland attacking intents. Shame about the missed opportunities.

Both teams look off their feet already!

Healy looked very dozy there, why no HIA?

Pretty poor the Dr or physio just ran off while checking healy as play was approaching.surely putting him danger

No 7&1/2 wrote:Pretty poor the Dr or physio just ran off while checking healy as play was approaching.surely putting him danger

Agree with this. It did not look good especially as Healy looked groggy getting back into position...

Bloody lineout!!!!

12 in 10 for Stockdale, what a try scoring machine.

Massively frustrating half - Ireland haven't really done anything but lived off our mistakes.

Interception - they happen

Botched 2 on 1 - unforgivable

Botched lineout - unforgivable

RDW_Scotland wrote:Massively frustrating half - Ireland haven't really done anything but lived off our mistakes.

Interception - they happen

Botched 2 on 1 - unforgivable

Botched lineout - unforgivable

Ireland also botched a try when Ringrose did not pass to Earls who was certainly in.

A very even first half for me, Scoreboard flattering Ireland somewhat.

Bit unfair RDW. Ireland look like scoring everytime they have the ball.

Scotland always risk an interception or getting caught by a tackle. The flip side is chances like jones to hogg which should be a try. The more he aide play together the better you will get at picking the times to lamp it into row z.

I must admit that I was sceptical about Ringrose coming straight back in (lack of options forced this) but he has done very well.

Big shout to Kearney as well who has played very well too.

We just need that wee bit more composure and the game could be turned around

If Ireland score first though I think they'll be too far ahead

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Bit unfair RDW. Ireland look like scoring everytime they have the ball.

Are you watching a different game? Ireland making far too many errors

Disappointed in you Scotland, first you beat England and now it looks like you'll lose to Scotland

nathan wrote:Disappointed in you Scotland, first you beat England and now it looks like you'll lose to Scotland

Clever!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

nathan wrote:Disappointed in you Scotland, first you beat England and now it looks like you'll lose to Scotland

Clever!

Would of been if it was the other way round

Clearly not on their feet there

I wonder if it would be advantageous for Scotland to swap Laidlaw. He is good with the boot but he is far from being a creative 9 and is not really helping Russell.

eirebilly wrote:I wonder if it would be advantageous for Scotland to swap Laidlaw. He is good with the boot but he is far from being a creative 9 and is not really helping Russell.

One more Ireland score and Laidlaw's kicking wont be enough!

Aki looked like he sealed the ball off their

He knocked that on surely

That looks it for Scotland now as Murray barges over.

Barnes loving Ireland at the ruck! Don’t see what all the pre-game fuss was about!

Looked like he lost that to me

The Oracle wrote:Barnes loving Ireland at the ruck! Don’t see what all the pre-game fuss was about!

The Oracle wrote:Barnes loving Ireland at the ruck! Don’t see what all the pre-game fuss was about!

Are you watching the same game? Barnes is clearly biased against Ireland and ensuring that Ireland lose again under him

Have we won a lineout yet??

eirebilly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Barnes loving Ireland at the ruck! Don’t see what all the pre-game fuss was about!

Are you watching the same game? Barnes is clearly biased against Ireland and ensuring that Ireland lose again under him

I’ve only watched it from the 2nd half and he’s given Ireland a few penalties from rucks. Nothing to Scotland (in the time I’ve been watching). Scotland perhaps need to adapt to the ref???

So Ireland will go to Twickenham on St Paddys day for the grand slam.

Another chance blown.

We can't blame Barnes. We've got no foundation to work off. We're missing line outs and throwing interceptions.

And now that's two certain scores butcherd.

Another very badly missed opportunity from Scotland. Clinical against England, poor against Ireland. Those chances simply must be taken.

We just can't play away from home at the moment. Total mental frailty when we step outside of Murrayfield. Ireland have been clinical though to be fair and are deserving of their lead

All these poor passes and one on ones landed perfect two weeks ago.

Just shows the fine margin at international level!

Kinghorn deserves that, he has been excellent for Scotland today.

Good try

Put down the knitting needles Eirebilly and SecretFly, those grand slam onesies you’re making will have to go on hold!