Team For Scotland

[Mellsblue]

Skinner is an excellent player, one who I think will go on to win 50+ caps. But he is just starting out in test rugby and playing in a struggling side.
We'll surely win tomorrow and likely finish in 2nd place. This is what most of us thought would happen before the tournament started.
A GS would have been nice, but I dont think missing out makes us any less a genuine WC contender.
On the whole, this years 6N's has been poor. I expected a really close fought competition. Unfortunately the games have been largely dull with few coming up to scratch.

Agree with all of this. However, once you’ve put that performance in against Ireland to then produce that second half - performance and tactics - against Wales, despite being ahead at halftime, feels like a big letdown and an opportunity missed.

[Raggs]

When we have a fully fit side, we have enough very good players to beat anyone. Remove one or two key players (outside of lock) and things look a lot worse. From both an Eddie selection, and Eddie subs, point of view (as well as simply doubling down on the kicking).

[Digby]

When we have a fully fit side, we have enough very good players to beat anyone. Remove one or two key players (outside of lock) and things look a lot worse. From both an Eddie selection, and Eddie subs, point of view (as well as simply doubling down on the kicking).

What my head has done with this post is have Eddie singing 'I double down' on loop to the tune of the Beach Boys' I get around

[Renniks]

I'm hoping Ireland win, mainly as it forces England into a knock-out style game…

In that scenario, I imagine it would fire Scotland up more so they can upset our 6N title hopes
And England will have to win it to get the title…

So whilst I agree in not painting over the cracks from the Wales game, I'd rather be in a situation where we have to play for a championship, rather than just play for 2nd

[Banquo]

I'm hoping Ireland win, mainly as it forces England into a knock-out style game…

In that scenario, I imagine it would fire Scotland up more so they can upset our 6N title hopes
And England will have to win it to get the title…

So whilst I agree in not painting over the cracks from the Wales game, I'd rather be in a situation where we have to play for a championship, rather than just play for 2nd

for sure.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm hoping Ireland win, mainly as it forces England into a knock-out style game…

In that scenario, I imagine it would fire Scotland up more so they can upset our 6N title hopes
And England will have to win it to get the title…

So whilst I agree in not painting over the cracks from the Wales game, I'd rather be in a situation where we have to play for a championship, rather than just play for 2nd

That’s a good point.

I’m really struggling with the idea of supporting Ireland though. Hopefully they just choke-tackle eachother into oblivion and it’s a hollow 3-0 win for anti-rugby.

[Banquo]

When we have a fully fit side, we have enough very good players to beat anyone. Remove one or two key players (outside of lock) and things look a lot worse. From both an Eddie selection, and Eddie subs, point of view (as well as simply doubling down on the kicking).

...on our day yes, but I'm not sure we'd have our day that often v NZ, or even a fully functioning Ireland. I don't think Eddie's half backs are much cop, backrow is now at least competent to good but not great (and continuing to develop fast), and Daly would be exposed. I guess you could argue that Eddie has cocked up selection at 9 and 10, and I definitely don't think we've yet played as much 'rugby' as we could have, so some potential being masked imo.

I certainly think we miss Mako and Maro big time, as they perform so many roles so well; for example, without Maro, our restart receptions look very shaky.

[Which Tyler]

I'm hoping Ireland win, mainly as it forces England into a knock-out style game…

In that scenario, I imagine it would fire Scotland up more so they can upset our 6N title hopes
And England will have to win it to get the title…

So whilst I agree in not painting over the cracks from the Wales game, I'd rather be in a situation where we have to play for a championship, rather than just play for 2nd

That’s a good point.

I’m really struggling with the idea of supporting Ireland though. Hopefully they just choke-tackle eachother into oblivion and it’s a hollow 3-0 win for anti-rugby.

cheer for a draw then

[Mikey Brown]

Do we still beat Wales due to BPs if they get a draw?

[francoisfou]

]cheer for a draw then

Indeed! That would be the perfect result, cos I couldn't go so far as to support Ireland and supporting Wales is also definitely out of the question.

Off to the bookies for a tenner on 3-3 draw!

[francoisfou]

Do we still beat Wales due to BPs if they get a draw?

Is it 2 points for a draw? Wales are a single point ahead of England so a simple win without a bp should suffice.

[Pie Man]

Do we still beat Wales due to BPs if they get a draw?

Is it 2 points for a draw? Wales are a single point ahead of England so a simple win without a bp should suffice.

Unless it's a basketball game and they score 4 tries and yet somehow only draw...if we get a regulation no-bonus point win, then presumably our points diff would be vast superior. But do Wales get the trump card of having beaten us head-to-head?

[JellyHead]

From the 6 nations website.

The Championship positions are decided as follows:

The Union with the highest number of Match Points will be placed first and the other Unions placed in descending order according to the Match Points awarded.

If two or more Unions finish the Championship with the same number of Match Points, they will be placed according to the difference between the total points scored and the total points conceded on the fields of play in all Matches.

If any such Unions also have the same points difference, they will be placed according to the number of tries (including penalty tries) scored by each Union in all Matches.

If any such Unions have also scored the same number of tries (including penalty tries), they will be placed equally.

[Galfon]

There's a whiff of revenge in the air from some of EJ's rhetoric this week.He was clearly a wee dischuffed about some of the on & off-field shenanigans around his team's defeat last year.
It could be the House of Hurt tomorrow.

[Scrumhead]

It’s a real shame Ryan Wilson is not fit to play. Plenty of England players wanting to put him in the ‘house of hurt’.

[switchskier]

It’s a real shame Ryan Wilson is not fit to play. Plenty of England players wanting to put him in the ‘house of hurt’.

As I pointed out on the SMB, only two players in the starting 15 from last year for England (only one due to injury). Think it's just Jones making noise, don't think it would really matter either way.

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Horne, Maitland, Russell, Laidlaw; Reid, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, J Gray, Barclay (capt), Watson, Wilson.

Replacements: Lawson, J Bhatti (for Reid, 56), WP Nel (for Berghan, 69), Swinson (for Gilchrist, 56), Denton (for Wilson, 69), Price (for Laidlaw, 62), Grigg (for Horne, 72), Kinghorn (for Seymour, 65).

England: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May, Ford, Care; M Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Replacements: George (for Hartley, 56), Marler (for Vunipola, 69), Williams (for Cole, 65), G Kruis (for Launchbury, 71), Underhill (for Hughes, 56), Wigglesworth (for Care, 71), B Te'o (for Ford, 65), Nowell (for Brown, 56

[Scrumhead]

Wow. That pack was ugly ... obviously I’d prefer to have Mako and Maro, but I’m so much happier with our pack this year.

[Renniks]

Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May, Ford, Care; M Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Daly, Nowell, Slade, Tuilagi, May, Farrell, Youngs, Moon, George, Sinckler, Launchbury, Kruis, Wilson, Curry, Vunipola


Wow. What a difference a year makes!

[Mr Mwenda]

I'd still hope England are out for vengeance. I think the venom in the ireland and to a lesser extent the france game was linked to last year's chastening experiences.

[Stom]

It’s a real shame Ryan Wilson is not fit to play. Plenty of England players wanting to put him in the ‘house of hurt’.

As I pointed out on the SMB, only two players in the starting 15 from last year for England (only one due to injury). Think it's just Jones making noise, don't think it would really matter either way.

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Horne, Maitland, Russell, Laidlaw; Reid, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, J Gray, Barclay (capt), Watson, Wilson.

Replacements: Lawson, J Bhatti (for Reid, 56), WP Nel (for Berghan, 69), Swinson (for Gilchrist, 56), Denton (for Wilson, 69), Price (for Laidlaw, 62), Grigg (for Horne, 72), Kinghorn (for Seymour, 65).

England: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May, Ford, Care; M Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Replacements: George (for Hartley, 56), Marler (for Vunipola, 69), Williams (for Cole, 65), G Kruis (for Launchbury, 71), Underhill (for Hughes, 56), Wigglesworth (for Care, 71), B Te'o (for Ford, 65), Nowell (for Brown, 56

3. Launch, Farrell, May. Plus you could consider injuries for Billy last year and for Hartley, Mako, Lawes, Itoje, Watson for this year.

[Stom]

It’s a real shame Ryan Wilson is not fit to play. Plenty of England players wanting to put him in the ‘house of hurt’.

As I pointed out on the SMB, only two players in the starting 15 from last year for England (only one due to injury). Think it's just Jones making noise, don't think it would really matter either way.

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Jones, Horne, Maitland, Russell, Laidlaw; Reid, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, J Gray, Barclay (capt), Watson, Wilson.

Replacements: Lawson, J Bhatti (for Reid, 56), WP Nel (for Berghan, 69), Swinson (for Gilchrist, 56), Denton (for Wilson, 69), Price (for Laidlaw, 62), Grigg (for Horne, 72), Kinghorn (for Seymour, 65).

England: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, May, Ford, Care; M Vunipola, Hartley (capt), Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Hughes.

Replacements: George (for Hartley, 56), Marler (for Vunipola, 69), Williams (for Cole, 65), G Kruis (for Launchbury, 71), Underhill (for Hughes, 56), Wigglesworth (for Care, 71), B Te'o (for Ford, 65), Nowell (for Brown, 56

3. Launch, Farrell, May. Plus you could consider injuries for Billy last year and for Hartley, Mako, Lawes, Itoje, Watson for this year.

And Care. So we're missing 6 of that 15 through injury. With 1 returnee, maybe 2 if you consider Tuilagi. So there's only really 4 unforced changes, 3 of which are big upgrades in Sinck, Wilson and Curry.

[twitchy]

Well this is all a bit of an anti climax isn't it.

[Raggs]

Looking that way. Still want to see a performance.

[Epaminondas Pules]

What you on about it’s a cracking game!!!

[twitchy]

What you on about it’s a cracking game!!!

Will ire score a point? I'm on the edge of my seat.