Team vs Scotland

[Mr Mwenda]

I have two hopes: 1. We show we are really up for it right from the KO; 2. We don't concede loads of stupid penalties. The two should not contra-effect if our preparation is right.

Then, I think we will win with the 23 selected.

Hope springs eternal!

[FKAS]

I'll take that. Scotland would take the opposite happily enough. Conditions will be vile, more than one try a side will be surprising and it's going to be a scrumfest imo. Smith's kicking is fine so I assume you're talking about him getting rid of the ball as Ritchie/Watson home in on him

Going to be hard for the flankers to target all the kickers in the England backline if we move it around. Makes a lot of sense to ease that pressure on Smith or in fact any 10 we'd selected. I think Marchant is the only one without a noted kicking game and his skill set is still good.

[Banquo]

I'll take that. Scotland would take the opposite happily enough. Conditions will be vile, more than one try a side will be surprising and it's going to be a scrumfest imo. Smith's kicking is fine so I assume you're talking about him getting rid of the ball as Ritchie/Watson home in on him

Going to be hard for the flankers to target all the kickers in the England backline if we move it around. Makes a lot of sense to ease that pressure on Smith or in fact any 10 we'd selected. I think Marchant is the only one without a noted kicking game and his skill set is still good.

The key part is 'moving it around'- that's pretty much dictated by conditions. If its as vile as suggested it'll be one out and Youngs kicking.

[FKAS]

I'll take that. Scotland would take the opposite happily enough. Conditions will be vile, more than one try a side will be surprising and it's going to be a scrumfest imo. Smith's kicking is fine so I assume you're talking about him getting rid of the ball as Ritchie/Watson home in on him

Going to be hard for the flankers to target all the kickers in the England backline if we move it around. Makes a lot of sense to ease that pressure on Smith or in fact any 10 we'd selected. I think Marchant is the only one without a noted kicking game and his skill set is still good.

The key part is 'moving it around'- that's pretty much dictated by conditions. If its as vile as suggested it'll be one out and Youngs kicking.

Quite possibly but for a bit of variation it could be one out and kick. Could stand Smith one side and one of the other four kicking options the other side to keep Scotland on their toes.

[Puja]

I'll take that. Scotland would take the opposite happily enough. Conditions will be vile, more than one try a side will be surprising and it's going to be a scrumfest imo. Smith's kicking is fine so I assume you're talking about him getting rid of the ball as Ritchie/Watson home in on him

Going to be hard for the flankers to target all the kickers in the England backline if we move it around. Makes a lot of sense to ease that pressure on Smith or in fact any 10 we'd selected. I think Marchant is the only one without a noted kicking game and his skill set is still good.

The key part is 'moving it around'- that's pretty much dictated by conditions. If its as vile as suggested it'll be one out and Youngs kicking.

The weather forecast looks like it's calmed down a bit from expectations. Still gonna be raining and windy, but winds are predicted around 15-16mph (with custs at 30-33), rather than the 23-24mph (gusting at 38-40) that was being forecast earlier in the week. To give perspective, when Storm Ciara was here last game at Murrayfield, it was gusts of up to 90mph and regular wind of over 30mph.

Not saying the weather's not going to be a factor, but we should still be able to have a game of rugby.

Puja

[p/d]

Can’t they just pull the plug on curling and put the money towards a roof

[switchskier]

Going to be hard for the flankers to target all the kickers in the England backline if we move it around. Makes a lot of sense to ease that pressure on Smith or in fact any 10 we'd selected. I think Marchant is the only one without a noted kicking game and his skill set is still good.

The key part is 'moving it around'- that's pretty much dictated by conditions. If its as vile as suggested it'll be one out and Youngs kicking.

The weather forecast looks like it's calmed down a bit from expectations. Still gonna be raining and windy, but winds are predicted around 15-16mph (with custs at 30-33), rather than the 23-24mph (gusting at 38-40) that was being forecast earlier in the week. To give perspective, when Storm Ciara was here last game at Murrayfield, it was gusts of up to 90mph and regular wind of over 30mph.

Not saying the weather's not going to be a factor, but we should still be able to have a game of rugby.

Puja

Still going to be a tricky kicking game. The construction of Murrayfield means that the wind swirls at the best of times, especially in the top left corner (as seen on TV). Don't think Smith has ever played there for quins has he?

[Big D]

May be the best/luckiest(/home ) team win today.

Suspect Ford may be the difference in last 15.

[Mr Mwenda]

First uncontested box kick, everyone drink!

[Puja]

One shit Youngs kick aside, not a bad start for England. We're not getting much change out of the defence yet, but we're looking comfortable ball in hand.

Puja

[FKAS]

Small thing but ball presentation has been crap from England so far. Slowing us down in attack.

[Danno]

Neither of those dinks through from Daly seemed on

[Mr Mwenda]

Small thing but ball presentation has been crap from England so far. Slowing us down in attack.

That's the issue is it? I was wondering why it was half a second too slow all the time.

[Banquo]

Decent start

[Banquo]

Or.,. Poor defence I think- well taken

[Puja]

What the shit just happened in our defence?

ETA. Isiekwe happened. Very poor - had his eyes fixed on Hogg all the time when Itoje had him covered

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

Decent start

Kiss of death.

[Galfon]

Cheat throw in that.( through the official!)

[FKAS]

What the shit just happened in our defence?

Puja

Nick Isiekwe got caught in no man's land and then Marchant bought the step.

[Banquo]

What the shit just happened in our defence?

ETA. Isiekwe happened. Very poor - had his eyes fixed on Hogg all the time when Itoje had him covered

Puja

Alignment tackling comms you decide

[Stom]

What the shit just happened in our defence?

ETA. Isiekwe happened. Very poor - had his eyes fixed on Hogg all the time when Itoje had him covered

Puja

Yeah, that was poor.

We looked good until that.

We are creating some nice shapes but we’re not getting in behind. A little bit of impatience.

[Puja]

Cheat throw in that.( through the official!)

Yeah, I noticed that too. Still, not much in the grand scheme of things.

Isiekwe's in danger of getting the shepherd's crook after 36 minutes again.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Awful call, as Moore points out.

[Stom]

Ok, Isiekwe has been crap so far

[morepork]

Why is Daley kicking away overlaps every time? Is Owen Farrell the coach now?