6N squad - starting team

[Cameo]

4 changes for Italy including a 21 year old winger on debut. Main other thing is that Allan is still at 15. Played okay there v Wales but not the same threat as Capuazo.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, I like that. Suspect Fagerson and Cummings are more to keep things fresh rather than droppings - certainly hope so in Faherson's case.

Against Italy, I think the key is to realise they are not the Italy of old but they will still give you chances. By that I mean that they will have spells in the game where their attack will cut you open, but you just need to keep going (and scramble in defence) as their all round game still isn't there.

Hopefully a fun game and a good test for Kinghorn and Healy.

Yep. I feel like normally I’m just desperate to see some tries, but most of all I just want to see 80 minutes of focus and more street smarts than last week. I think if we can do that we’ll win with a bonus point.

[switchskier]

So we're on track to give away 40 penalties at this rate. 3 in 6 minutes.

Edit: 4 in 6 minutes. Lucky it's only 3.

Anyone else getting that sinking feeling?

[Mikey Brown]

The manner of these choices not to take 3 from bang in front is not filling me with confidence. I feel like it’s meant to show our belief in our attack, but it just seems dumb to turn down a lead when we’ve been so error prone so far. As if we don’t believe we’ll get any more chances.

Italy are error prone too, but we aren’t matching their intensity.

[switchskier]

It's just not as calm and composed without Russell and Hogg directing things.

[Big D]

Tactical indiscipline. That's a gimme lineout.

[Mikey Brown]

I genuinely believed we were last playing like this. Why so desperate in everything we do. Are we ever aware of the time/scoreboard? No composure at all.

[Banquo]

luckily the ref is called Angus

[Big D]

It is understandable to look a bit tentative given Kinghorn hasn't been at 10 much since Austtalia.

Jonny Gray has regressed again. Him and Watson could easily be hooked at half time.

[Mikey Brown]

Ashman and Fagerson with 3 penalties in 3 minutes since coming on.

[General Zod]

They’ve all pretty much regressed. Our line-out has carried on where it left off against Ireland.

[Banquo]

lol fair play.

feel a bit for italy

[Mikey Brown]

Haha. Jesus what a cripple fight that was.

Bizarre ending. I really thought we deserved to lose that. I feel for Italy but they were their own kind of awful.

[switchskier]

lol fair play.

feel a bit for italy

Aye. They battled hard and were definitely their own worst enemies.

Massive damp squib from us. Don't know why we weren't contesting the breakdown but it just didn't work. Russell was a huge miss today, never has a player gotten better while not playing.

[Spiffy]

luckily the ref is called Angus

I'd call him a pedantic tit guarenteed to throttle the life out of any game. Wonder if he's a school master in his day job?

[Banquo]

luckily the ref is called Angus

I'd call him a pedantic tit guarenteed to throttle the life out of any game. Wonder if he's a school master in his day job?

yus.

[Banquo]

Haha. Jesus what a cripple fight that was.

Bizarre ending. I really thought we deserved to lose that. I feel for Italy but they were their own kind of awful.

They were- kind of panicked. That's two games they had a chance to win at the death, but blew both.

[Mikey Brown]

Oof. That joke about the Cuttita cup was awkward. Did I mishear her or does she not realise what it is?

[Big D]

It looks like Kinghorn hasn't spent much time at 10 in training which is odd. He wasn't bad but if he is the back up 10 for Scotland rather than the injured Hastings then he has to play there every week and not shifted if anyone is injured.

[Big D]

Gray and Watson wouldn't be in my WC squad if everyone is fit as it stands.

[Mikey Brown]

Oof. That joke about the Cuttita cup was awkward. Did I mishear her or does she not realise what it is?

Well I guess somebody has told her now.

[Banquo]

Oof. That joke about the Cuttita cup was awkward. Did I mishear her or does she not realise what it is?

what did she say?

[Cameo]

The manner of these choices not to take 3 from bang in front is not filling me with confidence. I feel like it’s meant to show our belief in our attack, but it just seems dumb to turn down a lead when we’ve been so error prone so far. As if we don’t believe we’ll get any more chances.

Italy are error prone too, but we aren’t matching their intensity.

I get what you mean but disagree. Even though we lost the ball several times, Italy never really got out of there and we ended up with a try and a man advantage. It happens over and over again. The alternative is to take three and mess up our restart and end up under pressure .

Anyway, that was really poor, but I can't be arsed focusing on why just now so I'd like to point out a positive. Given how Italy's backs have ripped apart other teams I think our midfield defence was great. Huw Jones really noticeable in that.

[Big D]

Dempsey and White have had good 6Ns too.

More positives than negatives overall in this 6N. A loss would have been a real downer.

[Big D]

And I am OK at not taking the points and backing ourselves except right at the end of the 1st half. We need to be a little bit better at picking up points there.