Scotland World Cup campaign

[hugh_woatmeigh]

https://www.threeredkings.com/the-wally ... s-irevsco/

Worth a read.

Superb analysis that.

You could tell that Schmidt was prepping for this game, and this game alone, for the last few months. Every facet of Scotland’s play, from their lineout launches to their big openside plays, had been planned for.

Nail on the head. They knew exactly what we were going to do, targeted our weaknesses and did so relentlessly and furiously until we wilted.

Is Schmidt employed next season?

[morepork]

It's depressing that you got squashed by such effective anti-rugby.

[whatisthejava]

https://www.threeredkings.com/the-wally ... s-irevsco/

Worth a read.

A cracking read and it shows you what a complete coach Schmitt is; absolutly pulverised us worked out our game plan and backed themselves to execute it. Its a real shame they have SA, they really deserve an easier ride to the semis than SA.

Moving back to Scotland
There is no way Japan or Samoa have the personnel available to beat Scotland like Ireland did. Neither have got the time to invest in that level of workrate to kill the scottish game.

Although Toony again comes off looking like a wee lad because when his game plan doesnt work it really doesnt work.

Interestingly a couple of pens went against us and the kick coming off the post was very fortunate for the irish and i still cant see how they awarded the Best try. Clearly not in possession so cannot of provided downward pressure.

We would have still lost our tactics and the fact we didnt turn up did for us but perhaps it wouldnt of been that bad

[whatisthejava]

https://www.threeredkings.com/the-wally ... s-irevsco/

Worth a read.

Superb analysis that.

You could tell that Schmidt was prepping for this game, and this game alone, for the last few months. Every facet of Scotland’s play, from their lineout launches to their big openside plays, had been planned for.

Nail on the head. They knew exactly what we were going to do, targeted our weaknesses and did so relentlessly and furiously until we wilted.

Is Schmidt employed next season?

Is it a tactic that will play dividence, sure it took the pressure of the team but it will mean F*** all if SA pump them out in the quarters

[whatisthejava]

It's depressing that you got squashed by such effective anti-rugby.

Interested to hear if people think the way the game is reffed is going to significantly change to try and stop anti rugby winning.

For a while i really thought WR were making the right calls but the lack of any meaninful action on offside, killing the ball and high shots has pretty much removed that as an option for me

[hugh_woatmeigh]

It's depressing that you got squashed by such effective anti-rugby.

I'd take Ireland's brand of rugby in a heartbeat if it meant more consistent performances and therefore results.

[Donny osmond]

It's depressing that you got squashed by such effective anti-rugby.

I'd take Ireland's brand of rugby in a heartbeat if it meant more consistent performances and therefore results.

Me too but is it going to he enough for ireland to carry them thru a 1/4 final v SA, a semi v Eng? and then a final v NZ? Cant see it myself.

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[Eugene Wrayburn]

It's depressing that you got squashed by such effective anti-rugby.

I'd take Ireland's brand of rugby in a heartbeat if it meant more consistent performances and therefore results.

Me too but is it going to he enough for ireland to carry them thru a 1/4 final v SA, a semi v Eng? and then a final v NZ? Cant see it myself.

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We've beaten all those teams in the recent past. It's obviously unlikely that we'll beat them all on the bounce because we'll pick up injuries and don't have that much depth (given the injuries we've already got).

I don't really get the anti-rugby tag. It was dead accurate when all we did was hoik the ball in the air off 9 about 5 years ago, but that's nowhere near a description of how we play now.

Anyway not really the point. That 3redkings analysis seems entirely plausible and if accurate shows really how much most of what we look at is pretty much a surface understanding. I'm surprised that your pack isn't up to that amount of running as I'd have expected them to be better equipped than most.

[SerjeantWildgoose]

Hear, hear, Eugene.

Tell me, my porcine friend, what is the aim of any rugby team? Might I suggest that it is to score points while preventing your opponents from doing likewise?

Of course Ireland seek to prevent their opponents from scoring. Keeping Scotland tryless on Sunday was as satisfying as the bonus point try of our own. But Ireland are not just about smothering the opposition; we have ourselves a potent attacking team.

Ireland made 9 visits to the Scottish 22 on Sunday, took points from 5 of them with a missed penalty from a sixth. An average haul of 3 points per visit to the opponent's 22 suggests a level of ruthlessness in attack that few competitive teams can manage consistently. We averaged 2.99 points per visit to the opponents' 22 throughout the heady 18 months that kicked off with the Autumn series in 2017 and racked up a grand slam and a second win over NZ in 2018 (Beating South Africa, England and New Zealand comfortably along the way).

You can call it many things if you are sour enough to need to do so, but anti-rugby it is not.

[Adder]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/49803146

Price is out.

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[Adder]

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[Adder]

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[Big D]

Echo in here?

Real shame for Price.

Looks like Groom will captain Edinburgh on Friday then.

[Big D]

On Ireland before we start worrying about Samoa. There is a difference between anti rugby and effective and well drilled rugby.

Ireland are effective, will drilled and well coached. Al lm things we are not.

[Cameo]

https://www.threeredkings.com/the-wally ... s-irevsco/

Worth a read.

That is a very good article. Shows them targeting what many would think would be a strength - our fitness and comfortableness with a fast game.

Short term solution to the lack of energy in the pack must be Cummings and Ritchie. I'd say Berghan too but take hw's point about Nel. I just think Nel is quite limited now in just tackling tight in and holding up the scrum. We really lacked dynamism on Sunday.

[Mikey Brown]

Hear, hear, Eugene.

Tell me, my porcine friend, what is the aim of any rugby team? Might I suggest that it is to score points while preventing your opponents from doing likewise?

Of course Ireland seek to prevent their opponents from scoring. Keeping Scotland tryless on Sunday was as satisfying as the bonus point try of our own. But Ireland are not just about smothering the opposition; we have ourselves a potent attacking team.

Ireland made 9 visits to the Scottish 22 on Sunday, took points from 5 of them with a missed penalty from a sixth. An average haul of 3 points per visit to the opponent's 22 suggests a level of ruthlessness in attack that few competitive teams can manage consistently. We averaged 2.99 points per visit to the opponents' 22 throughout the heady 18 months that kicked off with the Autumn series in 2017 and racked up a grand slam and a second win over NZ in 2018 (Beating South Africa, England and New Zealand comfortably along the way).

You can call it many things if you are sour enough to need to do so, but anti-rugby it is not.

Wasn’t it a Kiwi that said it? They’re horribly cynical too but at least they fling it about.

I just find myself wishing the rules were different whenever we play Ireland, but that’s precisely because we’re not very good at manipulating them or dealing with anybody else’s gameplans.

The choke tackles for instance are grim to watch but if you don’t want people offloading, make them try and take it to ground. It’s good coaching, but not exactly thrilling for a neutral to watch.

As with Saracens the stodgy, 10-man anti-rugby tag isn’t really accurate (anymore) and you score some fantastic tries. Our’s just stand out more because we do fuck all else.

[Cameo]

I sometimes agree on the boring tag for Ireland but don't think that applied at all on Sunday. Sure the second half in the rain and with a lead they slowed down but first half they played a quick game and took a few risks.

[Cameo]

Price being out is a blow. Does Townsend have the guts to start Horne v Samoa?

Just watching the Wales Georgia game and Davies is showing how involved a 9 should be in a game

[SerjeantWildgoose]

My last chip-in before you throw me out. Laidlaw is one of the key things that is holding Scotland back. I get that he is consistent kicking from the tee, but he is so pedestrian in everything else he does he is effectively acting as a shackle to your superb backs. Losing Price is a huge blow. I like Pyrgos and am terrified by Horne - and I get that Scots probably feel the same way - and I would start either of them ahead of Laidlaw regardless of who you are playing.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

My last chip-in before you throw me out. Laidlaw is one of the key things that is holding Scotland back. I get that he is consistent kicking from the tee, but he is so pedestrian in everything else he does he is effectively acting as a shackle to your superb backs. Losing Price is a huge blow. I like Pyrgos and am terrified by Horne - and I get that Scots probably feel the same way - and I would start either of them ahead of Laidlaw regardless of who you are playing.

But that's on Toony. Everyone here will agree with you. You can't play the 'fastest rugby in the world' with Barclay & Laidlaw.

[Chunks Baws]

My last chip-in before you throw me out. Laidlaw is one of the key things that is holding Scotland back. I get that he is consistent kicking from the tee, but he is so pedestrian in everything else he does he is effectively acting as a shackle to your superb backs. Losing Price is a huge blow. I like Pyrgos and am terrified by Horne - and I get that Scots probably feel the same way - and I would start either of them ahead of Laidlaw regardless of who you are playing.

Pyrgos is slow as fuck as well. I'm dreading him getting a game over in Japan, except against Russia, maybe.

[Cameo]

My last chip-in before you throw me out. Laidlaw is one of the key things that is holding Scotland back. I get that he is consistent kicking from the tee, but he is so pedestrian in everything else he does he is effectively acting as a shackle to your superb backs. Losing Price is a huge blow. I like Pyrgos and am terrified by Horne - and I get that Scots probably feel the same way - and I would start either of them ahead of Laidlaw regardless of who you are playing.

Agree completely but he's another one the journalists think is indispensible. Price gets one bad game and we are told that we need Laidlaw's calm head. Laidlaw gets five games to show the same old flaws and then Price or Horne will get one chance again.

It's the usual, if you do something slowly you are hailed as a good decision maker. Same way as if you shout a lot you are seen as caring or trying or as a good leader

[Big D]

My last chip-in before you throw me out. Laidlaw is one of the key things that is holding Scotland back. I get that he is consistent kicking from the tee, but he is so pedestrian in everything else he does he is effectively acting as a shackle to your superb backs. Losing Price is a huge blow. I like Pyrgos and am terrified by Horne - and I get that Scots probably feel the same way - and I would start either of them ahead of Laidlaw regardless of who you are playing.

Always welcome in this parish Serj.

I think most on here agree with you regarding Laidlaw, the general Scottish rugby viewers will not agree but we do.

However, the selection of Laidlaw is in keeping with a coach who has regressed into his shell a little and chosen the conservative route with selection. Jones and Hutchinson both have defensive weaknesses (no where near as bad as they are made out to be) and Jones has dropped out of form, but both offer way more than the OCs selected IMO. Fagerson and Bradbury offer more than Barclay and Wilson, Graham should be starting on the wing, etc.

GTs loyalty to his old guard and his D coach who he has always had by his side is going to cost him. A lot of us on here would have cut them some slack if they give it a real lash and fail but so far including the warm ups it has been pretty poor stuff including the most basic thing of being fit. They toured Japan a few seasons back so knew what to expect.

[BlackCat1978]

Well, it's a good thing that Toony gave George Horne a total of 15 mins game time during the warm-ups. Masterful planning that.

[BlackCat1978]

In Laidlaw's defence: Aaron Smith couldn't play the kind of rugby we are looking for behind that pack!