Scotland vs France | Auld Alliance Trophy

Has the team been officially released??

NeilyBroon wrote:Has the team been officially released??

Tramptastic announced the team in the other thread though officially it is tomorrow.

On a related matter, has anyone ever seen Tramptastic and Gregor Townsend in the same room?

There’s a rumour that Tramp is Toonie himself

NeilyBroon wrote:Has the team been officially released??

No but that is the expected team

A bit like Rassie Erasmus and his dummy twitter account "Jaco Johan"?

Hmmm. As a fellow Galloway lad to Tramp, I can attest that his tales of Stewartry RFC and the Wickerman Festival check out impeccably.

Not saying it's beyond Townsends more obsessive compulsive moments though to do a deep dive into Auchencairn landowners and Castle Douglas women's rugby to create this online persona though, the crazy barsteward

He'd only be doing a half job of game analysis if he didn't deep dive into 606 to solve the biggest conundrums

bsando wrote:There’s a rumour that Tramp is Toonie himself

Sometimes i get bored of calling out finns sh1te and look to 606 for brief escapism.

The "backstory" of knowing the galloway area intimately is a highly detailed facade that you've all bought. One mention of the wickerman festival and every man and their dog in Palnackie thinks you are as local as the current reigning flounder tramping champion. Pathetic.

The following five players have been released from the French squad, so definitely wont be playing on Saturday:

ABADIE Esteban (RC Toulon)
DEPOORTERE Nicolas (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
GAILLETON Emilien (Section Paloise)
GIBERT Antoine (Racing 92)
PRISO Dany (RC Toulon)

That still leaves a couple of fringe players that could make the match day 23.
BARRÉ Léo (Stade Français) - fullback or wing
HALAGAHU Matthias (RC Toulon) - lock
LACLAYAT Thomas (Racing 92) - loose head (can play tight head)

ROUMAT Alexandre (Stade Toulousain) - no 8 or lock

NeilyBroon wrote:He'd only be doing a half job of game analysis if he didn't deep dive into 606 to solve the biggest conundrums

Who could solve the conundrum of FES, our very own Jacob Rees Mugthepoortopayformybolly living in someone's attic in Morningside while sending half his pay home every month to his wife and 9 bairns in Castlemilk?

Who could solve the conundrum that is tigertattie, the man who ate the EEC's beef mountain single handedly?

Tramptastic isn't the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy. Mbawza is my bet.

French squad is out

Woki for Willemse and the kid is back on the wing instead of Mofana

France team for Saturday:
Baille
Mauvaka
Atonio
Gabrillagues
Woki
Cros
Ollivon
AllDritt

Lucu
Jalibert
Bielle-Biarrey
Danty
Fickou
Penaud
Ramos

Bench:
Marchand, S Taofifenua, Aldegheri, Tuilagi, Roumat, Boudahent, Le Garrec, Moefana.

Woki starting is a no brainer, swapping Bielle-Biarrey is a risky option with Fin's kicking game.
On the bench Sebastian Taofifenua is a lump of a loose head but not at a dynamic ball carrier. LeClayat would have been a better choice.
Roumat has been playing really well for Toulouse and deserves a shot. He is a great lineout operator and has superb  hands for a back rower. Not a massive gain line breaker but very useful in the wider channels as a link player.
Overall the scrum will be less powerful, both at the start and once the bench comes on. Lineout will more competitive, assuming they keep all 8 forwards on the pitch.
Not convinced that Aldegheri is international class and Tuilagi looked a bit lost last week.  
If Scotland can stay in touch until half time, there should be a decent chance of a win.

That's a big if sensiball. Got a bad feeling about this game...

Cheers for the for your input sensiball. Moefana had a quiet game by his standards last weekend, his replacent looked dangerous against us pre World Cup. I’m expecting France to get on the board early but whether Scotland can come back in the first half will be interesting to see. Presumably Lucu will be feeling the heat from White and others as he looked a bit hesitant against Ireland. However l suspect he’ll have more time to operate on Saturday.

sensisball wrote:France team for Saturday:
Baille
Mauvaka
Atonio
Gabrillagues
Woki
Cros
Ollivon
AllDritt

Lucu
Jalibert
Bielle-Biarrey
Danty
Fickou
Penaud
Ramos

Bench:
Marchand, S Taofifenua, Aldegheri, Tuilagi, Roumat, Boudahent, Le Garrec, Moefana.

Woki starting is a no brainer, swapping Bielle-Biarrey is a risky option with Fin's kicking game.
On the bench Sebastian Taofifenua is a lump of a loose head but not at a dynamic ball carrier. LeClayat would have been a better choice.
Roumat has been playing really well for Toulouse and deserves a shot. He is a great lineout operator and has superb  hands for a back rower. Not a massive gain line breaker but very useful in the wider channels as a link player.
Overall the scrum will be less powerful, both at the start and once the bench comes on. Lineout will more competitive, assuming they keep all 8 forwards on the pitch.
Not convinced that Aldegheri is international class and Tuilagi looked a bit lost last week.  
If Scotland can stay in touch until half time, there should be a decent chance of a win.

Well, still a very powerful starting pack - but they don't have any out and out monsters like they normally do. I think this one will totally depend on how fired up France are for this one, play like they can and they will win but if they are off it a few percent then we have more than a fighting chance.

Tramp comes up with the goods again

I'll be interested to hear his reasoning for dropping Ritchie


Scotland team to face France at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations on Saturday 10 February, kick-off 2.15pm – live on BBC (caps in brackets)
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (2)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (16)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (44)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (23)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (35)

10. Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (76)
9. Ben White – Toulon (19)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (27)
2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (41)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (63)
4. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (68)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (41)
7. Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (15)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (16)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (13)
17. Alec Hepburn – Exeter Chiefs (1)
18. Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (1)
19. Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (31)
20. Andy Christie – Saracens (4)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (27)
22. Ben Healy – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
23. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (10)

Toonie on dropping Ritchie basically said he sees that starting backrow and the bench as providing the right blend to face France.

Seems fair enough, then it was a toss up between Bayliss and Christie. If both of those two players do well this six nations that will apply more pressure on Ritchie, Dempsey and Fagerson. Good to have healthy competition for places. Then there is the new crop training in the wider squad, Ferrie etc. Hard to see Watson coming back without some really good form for Edinburgh.

Theres part of me that wishes they'd given Darge a wee bit more time for additional rehab and given Christie the start - he's proven to be on form, Darge has been out for a while and we've nae idea what his form is looking like.

Overall though, quite content, wish they'd gone for for a 6/2 split though

It is a weird one as that backrow lacks a third line-out operator and is perhaps on the lighter side for scrum time so is arguably unbalanced. It is where it is a shame that Crosbie is not available and Ferrie lacks the experience necessary. Gregor Brown has looked good when he has played for Glasgow but just can't seem to stay fit as well (bit similar to Crosbie in that regard).

As someone mentioned, it won't matter much on the third jumper if we are throwing front, middle and over the top due to Turner/Ashman's limitations and if our props are able to deliver parity. Worst case, we have the starting locks play 80 and bring Skinner on at BS.

France will be better than they showed last week but if we can start like we did against Wales, we should have a good shot at this. Recent history is us spotting France the lead and playing from behind.

Surely one of Fagerson or Dempsey jumps at Glasgow on the tail?

Tramptastic wrote:Surely one of Fagerson or Dempsey jumps at Glasgow on the tail?

Well, yes but both are about 6'1 give or take. Ollivon is 6'6 and a good lineout operator.

Might need to have practised a few short line outs.

How tall is Christie and is he used much in lineouts?

Not got huge faith in our hookers throwing to the back but we still need to compete on their ball.

Line out time is giving me the fear sans big Ritchie, but Turner is relatively competent in that area, and Cummings can call things too.

Glad we are going for a smaller, more mobile back row. We can't compete size-wise with the French pack, but we can run around them. I've seen Scotland victories in the past, where big Atonio is basically wheeled from scrum to scrum by his team-mates.
Think we can aim to run the likes of Posolo and big Taofifenua around a bit.

Pray for the French fans no doubt huddled around a solitary flickering patio heater in the Grassmarket tonight in this weather.

Well good luck again everyone. Scotland have the ability to beat France but there's no doubt we're going to have a very angry bunch of frenchies determined to make amends for last week

No feckin clue what the score will be, but all I know is I'll be asleep when it happens!

Enjoy

Are we nervous yet?

I can see us getting walloped like a Tory in this week's by elections.

I can also see us winning.

Interestingly, France kicked less than any other side in round one: Scotland kicked more than any other side.

I think today's back three are competent under the high ball so If France opt to kick more then we should profit from that. I also believe, oh lord I believe, that Dancer is cute enough to know when to kick. If France try to run everything back then we have the back row to profit from that.
Apparently, Shaun Edwards is not 100% convinced by Jalibert in defence so against Ireland he drifted out to 13 when Ireland had the ball. Good idea, mes amis, put your weakest defender into Shug's channel. If Shona can resist the temptation to smash into Fickou every time and get quick ball to St Shug Of The Manly Dimples we could really make hay there.
Not long to kick off and...

we're doomed. Doomed I say.

Well the Steyn of Destiny's wife choose an inopportune moment to go into labour, so he sits this one out now.

Harry Patterson straight in at FB

Not sure anyone saw that one coming. The boy has done well this season, but this is some step up and a great show of faith from the coaching staff.

Go well on your debut Harry!

God that is a callow back three, with big Dwayne making up all the caps. I'll be watching from behind the sofa I think, being called in to work may be a relief at this rate!

So Toonie could have put Speedy McReedy on the wing.
Or he could have put Shug or Healey at 15.
This is a huge call. Say what you want Toonie has cojones the size of Mrs Sunak's tax bill.

I just hope it doesn't wreck his confidence! A Stuart Hogg style debut would be preferable!

Oh fluffing fluff Mrs Steyn.

This is a very callow back three.

Van der Mewrve isn’t exactly known for his defensive skills either.

Let the kick fest begin.

I fear a gubbing.  I have my pillow fort behind the sofa ready.  Sustenance is laid on in the form of 80 shilling and pies

TJ I have the 80 shilling with the family sized bag of posh crisps leftover from Christmas.

Fantastic try.

Harry Patterson has been an inspired choice so far!

What an interception!

Take the points!

Russell kicks the points

10-3 Scotland

TJ wrote:I fear a gubbing.  I have my pillow fort behind the sofa ready.  Sustenance is laid on in the form of 80 shilling and pies

Scotland should win this and I think they will. France look very flat.

Is it me or are players slipping over a lot???

Penaud a mile offside

Russell has another shot

13-3 Scotland

A mistake at the restart and France go through phases and score in the corner

13-10 Scotland

Another kickable one for Scotland

Tapping it though and get another penalty

YC for Antonio for a no arms hit

This time we take the scrum with France a man down

And then another one, France giving away a lot of pens

How do you solve a problem like fagerson?

I've decided I quite like Nick Berry.

I can't decide if that's because O'Keefe screwed us so badly last week, or because we are genuinely more disciplined this week. Or both. Or Nick is screwing France.

Either way, chapeau Monsieur Nic (so far)

Scrums are such a lottery I think if you're not taking the points maybe a tap & go would have been a better option? It's not as if France have been winning a load of turnovers.

Andy Christie on for Matt Fagerson at the beginning of second half

You would expect a much better match from these two teams.

I’m not convinced by this France no 9. Obviously it’s a hard task filling his predecessor’s boots. But this 9 seems a long way down in comparison.