Ireland v Scotland: Saturday 19th March @ 1645.

First topic message reminder :

I thought I'd be the one to start the match thread this week seeing as I haven't started one in a while and I'm trying to contribute to the forum more I'm future .

Before this test, there is a massive Scottish Derby in the URC which I'm definitely going to watch, let's hope these pesky train drivers aren't causing mischief again lol.

Regarding Saturday, everyone knows we will need to be MUCH BETTER than we have been this tournament to have any chance so hopefully Stuart and Gregor are rallying the troops all week in training etc.

I keep saying this as its true but, our rough record HAS to come to an end one day so why can't this weekend be that day just as last year were the days our rotten record was finally broken at Twickenham and Stade Francais.

As for the team I'd go:

Schoeman
Turner
Z. Fagerson
Gray
Gilchrist
Darge
Watson
M. Fagerson
Price
Hastings
Graham
Johnson (though GT won't drop Harris as he's our best defender)
Bennett
Kinghorn
Hogg

I am struggling to pick the bench so I'll let you guys help me out there, I would put Harris there but that means dropping Steyn completely and expecting BK to go the full 80mins. The other thing I'm struggling with is, do I put in Nel or Dell and Christie or Bayliss because my plan was to go with the 5:3 split.

Anyway, I'm expecting a good, tight and open game , hopefully with less errors from both than we saw from the round 4 matches.

My prediction: Ever the optimist and bearing in mind my original point regarding hoodoos eventually being broken, I say Scotland by 2, coming from behind .

Gone how i said we should play - lots of variety, don't let them settle

So far so good for Kinghorn

BigGee wrote:So far so good for Kinghorn

He's just kept it simple, not forcing anything

Well cleared Hoggy

Great kick from Sexton, here comes tye first try

We were lucky there

Steyn is not an international class winger

RDW wrote:Steyn is not an international class winger

I expect BK will go to the wing in the second half

Again our issue is not managing to sustain pressure and giving Ireland easy outs

BigGee wrote:

RDW wrote:Steyn is not an international class winger

I expect BK will go to the wing in the second half

If it's going well insay keep him on! Show Finn a lesson

Men against boys really!

Looks like my prediction isn't far off so far.

Schoooooooooe

He's been collosal so far

Well we needed that try, game was going rapidly away from us

Nice try by Scotland. game on.

Double movement

That's a try

Wayne says try. TMO trying his best not to give it

TMO really didn't want to give that!

Who is this TMO?

TMO didn't want to give that

Well he has had a decent game so far, but BK is no kicker

Very well done Gilchrist in the maul

Thank goodness GG is there to sweep up after ickkle Jonny’s mess

Not been too bad a half and I'll take that scoreline. We've really got to lift it though if we're going to stand a chance.

And keep the pressure up when we have the ball!

Kinghorn not exactly running things from 10 - he's just shipping it on

Pass it Hogg!!!!!

I just get fed up with Hoggy sometimes!

How many times is that

That's truly shocking by Hogg

That's a yellow at worse I reckon.

Again TMO wants a red and him banned 16 weeks

I am not sure there is a lot wrong with that

Makes the Hogg miss even worse now

TMO is desperate to penalise Scotland. Thank god it's Barnes in charge

Wayne and the TMO are not getting along....

Love Wayne Barnes. He and Owens were/are the last referees using common sense, against the nonsense of overzealous TMOs.

Penalties!!!!!

Hogg. Unforgivable

Ireland haven't actually been very good this game - things just haven't clocked.

It's been a chance this game and we're just giving away tooant penalties and mistakes.

Hogg’s 2nd piece of unforgivable stupidity this week in not making that pass. So so dumb

GeordieFalcon wrote:Wayne and the TMO are not getting along....

Barnes was annoyed because the TMO was making things up. He said there was separation when clearly there was not.

TMOs should keep out of the game unless called upon by the ref or there is CLEAR foul play.

Will Finn come on?

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Hogg’s 2nd piece of unforgivable stupidity this week in not making that pass. So so dumb

It is that sort of decision making that got him dropped by Exeter for the bigger games last season.

Hogg just isn't there this season. Missing a 3v1 at this level is unforgivable

RDW wrote:Will Finn come on?

They need to get him out of the bar.

I don't think Finn will make a difference. Another dire display.

Gibson-Park must be the best B&I SH at the moment, he has had another great game

Why have they taken GG off and left gray on???

tigertattie wrote:Why have they taken GG off and left gray on???

GG looked battered to be fair

Finn at 12!

Watch out. World class 10 is now world class 13