6N squad - starting team

[Mikey Brown]

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?

Something like "you didn't win that one many times did you John?" to Barclay, who retired several years before MC died. I'm guessing that's what prompted her to then explain what the cup actually was a few minutes later.

[Donny osmond]

Dempsey and White have had good 6Ns too.

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

Yup

[Donny osmond]

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.

Yup

[Cameo]

One thing that seems to get ignored in this Kinghorn debate is that there is a very good reason for him to be on the bench, or even at 15, covering 10 (Russell is rarely coming off so it frees a spot).

It is therefore a good thing that he gets some game time there, especially when the alternative isn't exactly a top proven international.

Anyway, I didn't think he was bad today. Everything is just a bit less sharp without Russell (and Kinghorn has a shocker pass in him) but at least he showed his strengths.

I think our real problems were in the forwards. Didn't really manage to compete on their ball but still gave away loads of penalties. Conceded turnovers on our ball and gave the 9s scrappy ball. Also screwed up a few big lineouts.

I can't disagree with the calls re Watson at the moment. Just not the old impact. For me Darge comes in ahead of him if he gets to anywhere near his pre injury form. I do think we need one of them though. Ritchie can play seven but I actually think he's at his best when trying to disrupt and be a pest and only going for the turnover when it is really on.

[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.

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.

Maybe it was the shonky kicks from a very central position that made it seem so odd. We played desperation rugby in the first half then looked knackered in the second.

But yes, Dempsey was very good and Huw Jones looking much better in defence these days. I saw his tackle stats are pretty good this year. Shame we didn't get him more ball today.

A nice glimpse of Redpath's skill after the Nel/Fagerson screw up.

[Cameo]

Watching the final game today gave me some hope that pressure can get to Ireland. Their slick interplay was not there at all. It was also noticeable that a strength of theirs - Lowe and Hanson's freedom to try things - became a bit of a weakness as Lowe in particular kept dropping the ball.

They are the number one team in the world for a reason but the World Cup does funny things to teams. If we could recreate that first half from last week but get into the lead, who knows.

[Cameo]

Also, I normally quite like Gardiner as a ref, but he seemed a bit all over the place today. Very odd penalties for both sides but the one I am still confused by is the one against Ritchie when he dropped the ball (arguable off his legs but no issues with that but), dived on it to regather and popped it back to a supporting players. Gardiner pinged him for playing it on the ground.

I get annoyed when refs go back for the knock on when the player has dived on it and is holding on against a jackler, but to me Ritchie just did what you are meant to do.

[Spiffy]

Also, I normally quite like Gardiner as a ref, but he seemed a bit all over the place today. Very odd penalties for both sides but the one I am still confused by is the one against Ritchie when he dropped the ball (arguable off his legs but no issues with that but), dived on it to regather and popped it back to a supporting players. Gardiner pinged him for playing it on the ground.

I get annoyed when refs go back for the knock on when the player has dived on it and is holding on against a jackler, but to me Ritchie just did what you are meant to do.

What I cant stand about Gardner is his endless lecturing of the players in his condescending voice. Just warn them, blow yer whistle and get on with it.. No need for a tutorial on scrummaging at every scrum.