Scotland v Wales 6N Championship Saturday 11th February 2023

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Scotland v Wales
6 Nations Championship
Saturday 11th February 2023

BT Murrayfield Stadium
Edinburgh

KO 16.45


So here we are after the first week of the 6N. Scotland on a bit of a high after beating England at Twickenham and Wales not in the best of places following a poor loss to Ireland at home.

So a nice easy win for Scotland at home in round 2 you would predict?

History would suggest it is never that simple though. Scotland have a poor record of backing up good wins and Wales, especially under a certain Mr Warren Gatland have a habit of bouncing back from poor displays, especially against Scotland!

What crumbs of comfort Gatland can take from the Wales performance, for which he largely selected his old guard, will be around the performance of his newer younger players, like Jac Morgan, who managed to steady the ship somewhat in the second half. So how will he see this game, a chance for redemption or a chance to bring on more youngsters with the WC in mind? You might imagine he will have a bit of a free pass with little or no expectation for this game. This is Wales however and expectation and rugby go very much hand in hand and expectation will always be there, especially against Scotland, who they have had the hex on for many many years.

So can Scotland finally become the team they have threatened to be for many a year now. Is this the year where one good win (usually against England) is enough to count for a good season. You sense that the players, the coaches and the fans want a bit more than that now and as the Toonie era maybe draws to a close and the international careers of a few of the senior players come towards the end, you do sense that it may be now or never.

Let's not pretend otherwise, this is a game Scotland should win, but will they be able to deal with the pressure of that and you can guarantee that the Welsh side that comes up to Scotland will be hurting badly and will certainly be a lot more competitive in the second game of the series than they were in the first. make no mistake, this is going to be a live game that both sides will fancy.

Another absorbing weekend in the 6 nations!


My guess for the Scotland team, I don't think there will be many changes:

1. Schoeman
2. Turner
3. Nel
4. Gray R
5. Gilchrist
6. Ritchie (capt)
7. Crosbie
8. Fagerson M
9. White
10. Russell
11. DVDM
12. Tuipolotu
13. Jones
14. Steyn
15. Kinghorn

Bhatti
Brown
Fagerson Z
Gray J
Dempsey
Horne
Healy
Harris/Redpath - Heart says Redpath, Head says Harris


Hoggy did not look fully fit to me and played like it. Let him have a week off and then go and play for Exeter in the break week. He will make his 100 caps, there is no rush

No 7&1/2 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Is it me or do they seem to be dialling back from what would have been red cards normally for some reason?

You could well see a citing for that one I reckon.

I don't know, kind of seemed like a reasonable call to me.  North bent way down, and not sure what Turner could do.  his tackle height would have been around North's waist.  

On the other hand, North doesn't need any knocks to the head...

Talking about the swinging arm. If he considers it to be so then the dip doesn't matter.

Fair enough, though if that swinging arm was around the waist no one would notice. I'm glad I am not a ref, though I wouldn't mind being on the disciplinary boards.

Not the first time we have seen North concussed. Must be a worry for the future

What do folk want? If turner doesn’t “swing his arm” then he’d be shouted at for not using his arms and going in with the shoulder.

Our 9 and 10 haven’t controlled the game well. It must be tempting to hook them. Wyn Jones seems to be making up the numbers so far.

I've been worried about North from his days with Saints, and would have strongly advised he not continue to play.

I’m very worried here, this has got another scrappy Wales victory written all over it!

tigertattie wrote:What do folk want? If turner doesn’t “swing his arm” then he’d be shouted at for not using his arms and going in with the shoulder.

Apparently he didn't according to the ref though. That's what's saved him a different colour.

North back on

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Is it me or do they seem to be dialling back from what would have been red cards normally for some reason?

You could well see a citing for that one I reckon.

I don't know, kind of seemed like a reasonable call to me.  North bent way down, and not sure what Turner could do.  his tackle height would have been around North's waist.  

On the other hand, North doesn't need any knocks to the head...

Talking about the swinging arm. If he considers it to be so then the dip doesn't matter.

Fair enough, though if that swinging arm was around the waist no one would notice.  I'm glad I am not a ref, though I wouldn't mind being on the disciplinary boards.  

I thought Brace said not a swinging arm. I think he considered the arms to be trying to wrap in the attempt of a legal tackle. Yellow card was correct from my point of view.

tigertattie wrote:What do folk want? If turner doesn’t “swing his arm” then he’d be shouted at for not using his arms and going in with the shoulder.

He came in too hot really, I think he could have backed out of it a bit and not gone for such a big hit. But these sort of things probably happen when the attacking team are going backwards like Wales were. Turner was eager to keep the pressure on Wales but probably overcooked it a bit.

Fagerson.. Grrr. He has been a bit if a liability so far. Needs to stop giving daft penalties away and stop reacting to every lippy welshman.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Is it me or do they seem to be dialling back from what would have been red cards normally for some reason?

You could well see a citing for that one I reckon.

I don't know, kind of seemed like a reasonable call to me.  North bent way down, and not sure what Turner could do.  his tackle height would have been around North's waist.  

On the other hand, North doesn't need any knocks to the head...

Talking about the swinging arm. If he considers it to be so then the dip doesn't matter.

Fair enough, though if that swinging arm was around the waist no one would notice.  I'm glad I am not a ref, though I wouldn't mind being on the disciplinary boards.  

I thought Brace said not a swinging arm. I think he considered the arms to be trying to wrap in the attempt of a legal tackle. Yellow card was correct from my point of view.

Brace did say that.

No 7&1/2 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

doctor_grey wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Is it me or do they seem to be dialling back from what would have been red cards normally for some reason?

You could well see a citing for that one I reckon.

I don't know, kind of seemed like a reasonable call to me.  North bent way down, and not sure what Turner could do.  his tackle height would have been around North's waist.  

On the other hand, North doesn't need any knocks to the head...

Talking about the swinging arm. If he considers it to be so then the dip doesn't matter.

Fair enough, though if that swinging arm was around the waist no one would notice.  I'm glad I am not a ref, though I wouldn't mind being on the disciplinary boards.  

I thought Brace said not a swinging arm. I think he considered the arms to be trying to wrap in the attempt of a legal tackle. Yellow card was correct from my point of view.

Brace did say that.

If not a swinging arm then I agree the call was right.

Another chance blown by Wales

Turner missed one there!

But it was a swinging arm…

Scotland run the risk of another yellow by repeated high offences too.

When will players learn?

Leave the feckin neck area alone. Jeez

Give

The

Ball

To

Duhan

Good try, Finn made it look easy…

Wow Finn Russell!!!

Nice pass

Well worked. At the back of a lot of pressure. Now, it's Wales turn...

Seeing some of the best of Finn Russell today.

This is taking the mick now, can we sub Biggar?

Liam Williams gets a YC

Who would have thought!

Yes, Russerll to Steyn, what a kick!

That was really good. Steyn was wide open.

BigGee wrote:Liam Williams gets a YC

Who would have thought!

Massive surprise.

Game over now. Ireland v Scotland triple crown final!!!

Finn Russell is the most hot and cold player on earth. Mince in the first half, so soooo much better on the second

Really good from Scotland. A very professional performance to back up last week. Have been in complete control, bar the 10 minutes when they were down to 14.

Just need the bonus point try now.

It’s the Finn and Kyle show

Turner off a little later than he should.

mikey_dragon wrote:This is taking the mick now, can we sub Biggar?

Well you have done now. I didn't notice initially that Patchell had replaced Williams in the 22 shirt. That just tactical or down to injury?

Collapse2005 wrote:

BigGee wrote:Liam Williams gets a YC

Who would have thought!

Massive surprise.

Game over now. Ireland v Scotland triple crown final!!!

Ireland won't make the same mistakes England and Wales have - can only see Ireland for the crown ...

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

BigGee wrote:Liam Williams gets a YC

Who would have thought!

Massive surprise.

Game over now. Ireland v Scotland triple crown final!!!

Ireland won't make the same mistakes England and Wales have - can only see Ireland for the crown ...

Its in Scotland, I wont be taking Scotland lightly but they are in our world cup group so its critical to win.

Well it’s rubbish from Wales. Scotland look like scoring every time they’re in our 22.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:This is taking the mick now, can we sub Biggar?

Well you have done now. I didn't notice initially that Patchell had replaced Williams in the 22 shirt. That just tactical or down to injury?

Injury at first. Patchell should be considered a contender for the 15 jersey though, he has all the attributes.

Looked like the Wales 12 took one to the head from the Scottish 12 there?

Wales have just lost all discipline.

Collapse2005 wrote:

Heaf wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

BigGee wrote:Liam Williams gets a YC

Who would have thought!

Massive surprise.

Game over now. Ireland v Scotland triple crown final!!!

Ireland won't make the same mistakes England and Wales have - can only see Ireland for the crown ...

Its in Scotland, I wont be taking Scotland lightly but they are in our world cup group so its critical to win.

No for sure you can't take them lightly but Ireland just look that much better at the moment ...

Great work Scotland. Wales, time to sack everyone .

Yes what a try for the BP!!!

Great to see the change in management has worked…

Blimey, Scotland! Gorgeous play.

Wales need to beat England in game three, otherwise it'll be five losses. So many basic errors today.

8 mins to hold out for our first win over warren

Wales used to be the come-back kings but it ain't happening today

Heaf wrote:Wales used to be the come-back kings but it ain't happening today

There’s still 4 minutes.

Finn Russell MoM

Hard to argue with that

Duty281 wrote:Blimey, Scotland! Gorgeous play.

Wales need to beat England in game three, otherwise it'll be five losses. So many basic errors today.

Annoyingly they probably will ...

and Finn just reminding us why he is MoM!!!