6N squad - starting team

[Big D]

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) – Vice-Captain – 99 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps

10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 68 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 12 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 19 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 33 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 56 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 72 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – Vice-Captain – 75 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
7. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 39 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps

Replacements

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 60 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 41 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 41 caps

nteresting not to go with a 7 for this game even if Ritchie can play there. Dempsey has played well but not sure that will help at the breakdown where we are going to need to slow them down if we can.

Steyn needs to be much better in defence this game. Over a small sample size, but still three 6N games, he has missed a high % of tackles and their wings are good.

I don't see the point in Harris on the bench. To stem the tide if they start pumping us?

Cummings has had very little international rugby over the last 18 months (one sub appearance and the last Argentinian tour start?) will be interesting to see how he goes as the second rows have been very good this 6N bar one tackle. Starting to look stronger in that area at the top end of the position group again.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah that’s quite a bold move in the backrow. I expected to go at the breakdown not sacrifice a 7 for more carrying power.

This will be a big test for Dempsey.

Jonny Gray as vice captain is an interesting choice. He was touted as captaincy material when he first came through but always seems very quiet from what I can tell. Was great off the bench last week though and nice to see them finally pair up again.

[Cameo]

Surprised by Dempsey. I have never really been won over by the calls for him to start. Part of that is because I have always rated Fagerson. Part of it is that I think that the "big ball carrying 8s" that everyone demands at 8 often underwhelm at international level. There is also a bit of me that thinks he was a decent but not spectacular player for Australia and I've not seen anything to suggest he will be much more for Scotland. None of that adds up to it being a bad selection for this game though. However, I'll be interested to hear Townsend's logic. Is the idea that going too hard after the breakdown can be counterproductive if it leads to penalties and we need more big bodies. That seems more a call for Crosbie to me, but maybe it is more about our attack and we think Dempsey can hit better lines and make inroads.

Skinner is a funny one. When he came through he was treated as a revelation and it was meant to be a massive blow when he got injured before the last World Cup, but he has never nailed a spot down (even for Exeter) while never doing too much wrong. I am not sure if he was overhyped and has always just been what he seemed (a good, hard working player) or whether there is still untapped potential. Either way, I'm happy enough with Cummings on the bench.

[Mikey Brown]

I think there is more to Skinner, but maybe caught between being a 6 and lock to some degree. I wonder if that missed lineout at the end landed on him?

In terms of dynamism off the bench you’d think Cummings offers a lot more though.

[francoisfou]

Allez les écossais! I've a bottle of an excellent single malt primed and ready to celebrate a rare win over the Irish!

[septic 9]

Skinner is a funny one. When he came through he was treated as a revelation and it was meant to be a massive blow when he got injured before the last World Cup, but he has never nailed a spot down (even for Exeter) while never doing too much wrong. I am not sure if he was overhyped and has always just been what he seemed (a good, hard working player) or whether there is still untapped potential. Either way, I'm happy enough with Cummings on the bench.

I hadn't seen much of Skinner and didn't know he was SQ until he made his Scotland debut; before he was announced as MoM I had turned and said to my mate "I think we've found our World Cup bolter". Sadly he got injured and missed it.

I don't think he has continued to improve as we hoped, but it doesn't make him a bad player. Just he is now behind a few other very good locks. I don't buy into the annual "best group of players ever" fest, but with the resurgence of Gray Snr (a better version than the younger RG) I very much doubt we have ever had such a deep pool of quality locks to pick from, and there are more coming through

[Adder]

How is everyone feeling today?

Anyone feel this game could go the same way as England vs France?
So much to play for, It would be great if we could perform at this stage.

[Mikey Brown]

If the U20 results are anything to go by then maybe. You can't rule it out, but I feel like we can give them a proper game at least. Ireland are generally so superior that I wouldn't necessarily be gutted with a loss, but I just don't want to see us look overawed as we have done so many times in the recent past.

As much as I hate their cynicism and anti-rugby ways, they are incredibly efficient. While SA/France have monster players we just can't emulate, Ireland are so admirable because they get the effect of a monster pack through pure focus and aggression. They never seem to let up for a minute. If we're error prone they will pounce on it, so this will be a big test.

[paddy no 11]

Ye have to win this Ireland have no subs to bring on

Need to get 80 minutes out of O'Mahony which won't happen

Scotland just need cool heads

[Mr Mwenda]

Excellent game this.

[Donny osmond]

Scotland just need cool heads

Aye, well....

[Mikey Brown]

Scotland just need cool heads

Aye, well....

Haha

[morepork]

Great game.

[Mikey Brown]

Well, just too many dumb errors.

Im very confused by the situation with the front rows.

[Donny osmond]

Ireland turning the screw, too many Scottish players haven't been on their A game today, could end with a pretty bad scoreline unless we collectively screw the nut

[Mikey Brown]

Ireland turning the screw, too many Scottish players haven't been on their A game today, could end with a pretty bad scoreline unless we collectively screw the nut

It seemed to turn instantly with the replacement props coming on. It was so promising until that point but just didn’t make enough of the earlier opportunities and don’t have the depth to see it out.

[Donny osmond]

Ireland turning the screw, too many Scottish players haven't been on their A game today, could end with a pretty bad scoreline unless we collectively screw the nut

It seemed to turn instantly with the replacement props coming on. It was so promising until that point but just didn’t make enough of the earlier opportunities and don’t have the depth to see it out.

Nah, was obv from the beginning that the heads weren't in the right place. Scotland have managed a decent level of intensity but it hasn't been focussed intensity on doing the right thing, like Ireland have shown. Scotland have been focussed on Ireland, not on their own game.

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough. I do say promising very much in the sense we know we’re facing a better team, and play that way, but there was a good period of that first half I felt like we were pretty even.

[paddy no 11]

Duhan had to get his hands free and pop it to a team mate to score before half time. He was pants in attack and especially in defence today. Too many times Scotland went into touch while in possession

[Mr Mwenda]

A real chance missed there by Scotland and really impressive from Ireland in considerable adversity.

Two times marched back for lip, one precipitating the match turning point....

[Big D]

First half was good.

Front row bar the two dodgy early throws and Demspey were very good IMO.

Centres were good.

Decision making still hard to fathom sometimes. How Cummings, Gray and Ritchie allowed the line out to repeatedly get beaten at the front of the lineout with VdF throwing was borderline disgraceful.as two experienced locks and captain they should have worked it out.

VdM had a poor game, as he does occasionally and Steyn defensively hasn't been good enough across all 4 games.

Sub front row were poor.

[BaldiePete]

Just back from the game. From my seat in the 2nd back row in the corner it’s difficult to see what’s going on sometimes. What happened with the Irish hookers? I was expecting uncontested scrums but did they have one of the prop replacements hooking? I wonder if Townsend expected uncontested scrums and put Bhatti and Berghan on early because of that, because let’s face it they are not great scrummagers but are decent in the loose.

We were decent in the first half but didn’t have the accuracy to put away the chances we made. Second half was absolute dogshit from Scotland. Even when we did get the ball the Irish defence was too good, we couldn’t seem to get players in space at all.

I hope Ringrose is OK. It’s never good when a player has to go off on a stretcher.

[Cameo]

Gutted as we were in that at half time and had a few things go our way with the injuries, but not too disappointed with the performance. Yeah second half was way down on the first but I would credit Ireland for that as much as us.

A few random thoughts:

- We could make ground at wide (centres outstanding) but Ireland were outstanding in managing to get turnovers (or push us in to touch three times) or slow the ball down. We need to recognise when we are falling into a trap (and recognise great play from Hansen in particular).

- That James Lowe tackle on VDM before halftime was outstanding. Yeah, he should have passed but 9 times out of 10 he scores that.

- Defence was very good - especially of the maul and on our goal line.

- Defensive lineout was a real disappointment once VDF was throwing. I wonder if Richie Gray could have made a big difference there.

- A couple of passes were a little off but Russell was very good. Some great kicks, picked most of the right options and tackling looked incredible. Hope he's fit next week. Could do with a full seven day turnaround.

- Sub front row was an issue. Not too much we can do to solve it just now, though hopefully Sutherland can find some form.

- Despite being a bit sceptical about him starting, I thought Dempsey was good. Especially in the first 30 mins.

[BaldiePete]

We could be without Hogg (ankle), Russell (knee) and R. Gray (rib) on Saturday. That would certainly set the cat amongst the selectorial pigeons.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/scotland ... n-key-men/

IT’S TOONY TOMBOLA TIME

Kinghorn to 15, or maybe to 10. Twitter might go on fire if that happens. Is it time to try Healy? Another chance for the twitterati to self-combust. Maybe Ollie Smith at 15. Or just go old-school and bring Maitland back at 15. There’s too many permutations to get my head round.

I’d have Skinner in for Gray rather than Cummings, he’s been good in an Edinburgh team playing poorly.

Also, new front-row replacements (Sutherland, Ashman and Nel) and Horne on the bench for Price.

[Big D]

If there is any doubt on Russell's knee then there is little point risking him. It is not a year to be messing around with a knee injury.

One last attempt at convincing Fin Smith and Tom Roebuck? Joking aside and if those three are out, I think I would go with a team of:
Schoeman
Turner
Fagerson
Skinner
Cummings
Ritchie
Watson/Crosbie
Fagerson, although Dempsey was good yesterday.
White
Kinghorn
Duhan
Huwipolotu
Steyn
Maitland

Ashman. Sutherland, Sebastian, Gray, Dempsey, Horne, Healy, Harris I suppose