6N 2019: France v Scotland

First topic message reminder :

Saturday 23rd Feb 2019
Stade de France
KO 14:15

France


Scotland


After two opening losses for France and a home loss for Scotland, both teams are looking to get their tournament back on track. Expect a response or implosion from France at home but also expect the same from Scotland.

This could be interesting.

Yeah what is the deal with Marfo? Has he even started a game for Edinburgh this season? I thought he did well for Scotland autumn 2017, has been a shame to not see him finding his way back to that form.

Cockers has publicly said on several occasions that he's not had the right attitude, and needs to earn his place in the team. I think he has 2 appearances off the bench all season and no starts.

Sounds like he'll be off at the end of the season, which is a shame because it's no mean feat to put in the performances he did on those AIs, which shows he has the ability.

What is going on here? We are down to playing James Robson at prop and Jade Konkel with her hair tied back and hoping people don't notice, and we have Toonie pontificating about glorious a victory this will be? Those liqueur chocolates must be strong, Gregor and you shouldn't mix them with valium like this.

Flounder boy needs to change his shiny badge. This black nonsense looks sinister and very New Zealand like.

Perhaps a nice salmon pink will be better on the eyeballs?

It would seem that if Wee Frodo scores 2 points tomorrow he will pass Gavin Hastings and become Scotland's second highest points scorer ever.

it will have taken him a long, long time to pass Big Gav's total but it's still quicker than he passes from the back of a ruck.

OK Flounder, you've bamboozled me!

What exactly do you mean?

jimbopip wrote:OK Flounder, you've bamboozled me!

What exactly do you mean?

i read your post wrong then used my new-found powers to hide my tracks

Game day! Have a feeling this is going to be rather brown trousers all around

Agreed Neily, I have that sad, certain feeling that the French half-backs could play like men possessed and destroy us. Their back row could destroy us. Fickou and Basteraud have the edge in terms of experience over our centres. It could be a long, painful afternoon.

However, I think we have the advantage in the second row and the back rows look fairly evenly matched.

If we manage to slow down their ball and Ritchie and Bradbury get in the new boys' faces then we can force them to kick to our back three, which is half the battle against them.
Again, if we can produce quick ball then Furra Linee will repay our faith in him. Yes TT I am looking at you.

If I had to bet Bru's remaining (unused) stone it would be on a home win. But you never know.

Ah, this is the life. A day I can sit back and enjoy the rugby. . Go easy on the heart-attack blood pressure surges the rest of you....

I'm very nervous

As am I, I’m starting to think we’re going to struggle here.

Looks like it's allez les bleus today!

Come on Scotland. Should have beaten the Irish last time out, now a golden chance to beat the French in Paris. Time to start addressing the lopsided H2H record.

Really need our lineout to function

Decent possession but lacking in creativity

Looked like at least 2 knock ons in the buildup to that

One after Kinghorn spilled it then another just before the try

Clear knock on!

Knock on, no try

Should be no try but then penalty to France for the Scottish player flopping over the ball

What about big Bas’s double movement?

Excellent exit play

France looking worryingly organised

Good defence, but need to get out of our half

The French so slow with ball in hand, and they make heavy weather of every breakdown.

But that was a sweeping counter-attack!

They've decided to turn up today then. Feck

Good try France, they can be very dangerous

Ramos is a bit good

Wow - that was a nice try

Maitland skinned

Excellent running but god awful chase of the kick

FFS Kinghorn

Take it we’ve decided we’re not arsed about this game. 15 minutes in and we’ve barely touched the ball. Need to get the finger out or we’ll get pumped here.

Mistakes are killing us again

If it carries on like this it's going to be a long day for Scotland - mind you the Wales match started like this ...

RDW wrote:FFS Kinghorn

Crap Horne pass!

We need to score next or it could be a long day

Horne is not impressing at FH so far, just does not look comfortable at this level

There was a comment in another thread about not using pen advantage - going for a drop goal rather than a try.

One thing I hate is seeing teams kick for goal when inside the 22, particulaly when they're less than 10m out and bang in front of the posts.

If France take a scrum there they stand a good chance of scoring 5. Surely, a scrum 10m out, with equal distance either side, is EXACTLY what you prepare for (if France prepare...) in training?

Take the points when you're central and 30-40m out. When a try isn't imminent, when the pressure on the defence isn't immense. But the game management of the NH is poor in this regard. Just because it's a gimme 3 points doesn't mean you should take them.

He got absolutely flatend there, very brave by Horne

Take the points

What a hit!

I would have gone for corner - we've had very little possession and territory

When GL starts missing, you know it is not going to be our day

Why don’t we chase kicks? This is awful

To contradict myself somewhat, I think points are the right choice. If you're being physically overpowered as Scotland are, take the points when you can. Space and dominance will come as France tire. Points will be scored by breaks, not necessarily from first phase grinding.

Our lightweight midfield is getting bullied all over the place at the moment

French defence has been good but we're desperately lacking in creativity

Surely he needs a HIA?

Scotland finally starting to move this heavy French defence around the field...and starting to expose the gaps.