Scotland v Ireland - 9 February 2019

[General Zod]

Shit. He was really good. His clearout work is good too, to add to the scrum and the little rumbles forward.

Bergman was indeed a revelation last year but has e hit that form again at all for Edinburgh?

In the same vein I imagine you guys may be right on Gray too. Ease him in off the bench, let Toolis see if he can trouble the Irish lineout, but Gray must be in the squad.

Berghan had ten minutes off on Saturday. I’m sure he’ll be ready. Just needs to bring his “a” game (and not scrummage on his knees!).

I hope Toner is out. He’s not the greatest, but always seems to cause us problems, particularly in the line-out.

[Cameo]

Shit. He was really good. His clearout work is good too, to add to the scrum and the little rumbles forward.

Bergman was indeed a revelation last year but has e hit that form again at all for Edinburgh?

In the same vein I imagine you guys may be right on Gray too. Ease him in off the bench, let Toolis see if he can trouble the Irish lineout, but Gray must be in the squad.

Berghan had ten minutes off on Saturday. I’m sure he’ll be ready. Just needs to bring his “a” game (and not scrummage on his knees!).

I hope Toner is out. He’s not the greatest, but always seems to cause us problems, particularly in the line-out.

Every now and then Berghan looks really good. Got a decent turnover on the weekend too.

One thing Toner is very good at is stopping the maul so it would be handy if he wasnt there

[General Zod]

Toner and Ringrose out.

[Tobylerone]

I hope Toner is out.

Good work, please hold your other Irish team curses until the Ref. starts the game..

A lightning strike on Sexton would be greatly appreciated.. Nothing too strong, just minor burns, Thanks.

[General Zod]

I hope Toner is out.

Good work, please hold your other Irish team curses until the Ref. starts the game..

A lightning strike on Sexton would be greatly appreciated.. Nothing too strong, just minor burns, Thanks.

Cheers. And don’t get me started on Owen Farrell.

[Cameo]

Just watched the Ireland England game and didnt fill me with that much confidence. I dont think Ireland were that far off. They were just a little lacking in sharpness with the ball and when your game relies more on relentlessness than inspiration that can cost you.

England also did very well to nullify their kicking game and were so physical in defence. The only thing I think we have over them (and almost everyone else) is sheer creativity when we are on song. Could do with it being dry to maximise the chance of that leading to tries.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Ireland have the most basic, boring and mundane game plan going. They are just exceptionally good at executing it.

I've no doubt that savvy and streetwise teams can beat them. I just think we lack the mental strength and prowess to do it. It's not a question of pace or physicality. I think we will just wilt & make the wrong decisions - I just hope I'm wrong. If there was ever a time for the controlled chaos that Toony promised it'll be this weekend.

[Big D]

I don't think they lack the mental edge at home, so it is more the physical attributes that worry me.

For the last few years when teams turn up the physicality to 11 we start to struggle.

[Big D]

Not sure where to add this but rumours that the Aussies are looking at Matt Taylor as their defence coach.

[Mikey Brown]

Just going to plonk this here.



A lot of fawning over the Scottish attack. They don't particularly (at the point I've got to) talk about how passive some of it was but interesting talk about how they're trying to use that blindside winger to hold the defence on the inside of the playmaker when we're doing the relentless (and mostly pretty telegraphed) pullback to Russell, then going wide.

We still have a whole lot to tighten up about it but there's some good stuff there.

Despite what Mike Blair says. I am worried how our defence holds up over 80.

[Mikey Brown]

Will be interesting to see if Ireland are so flat in defence against us. England didn't expose the space behind it nearly as much as they could have, but the warning signs were there. Scotland a little while back were very good at exploiting this. Showed a little bit of it vs Italy though.

[Cameo]

Will be interesting to see if Ireland are so flat in defence against us. England didn't expose the space behind it nearly as much as they could have, but the warning signs were there. Scotland a little while back were very good at exploiting this. Showed a little bit of it vs Italy though.

There was some good analysis on RugbyPass or somewhere about how Ireland are very good at showing you a weakness and then taking it away. They had examples of Earls flying up in the line but, actually, at the last minute dropping back and being in position for a kick. Henshaw being a 15 last week meant they lost a bit of that and Earls missing this week (I think) will be a further factor.

[Donny osmond]

I have a spare ticket (and obv no friends) and am driving thru from Glasgow if anyone is interested?


*may not drive, we'll see

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I have a spare ticket (and obv no friends) and am driving thru from Glasgow if anyone is interested?


*may not drive, we'll see

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

Try the weeg forums if you haven't already. They're a good bunch - I've had tickets off/with posters from there 3 times now.

[OptimisticJock]

If it had been a later kick off I'd have taken it off of you.

(Useless post I know)

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Christ. What an awful way to deal with one of our best young players. And JFC ROB HARLEY. WHY. WHY IS THERE ALWAYS SOMETHING. WHY?!?!?!!?

Scotland: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne - captain); Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks).

Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), D'arcy Rae (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh).

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Although twitter has Fraser Brown as the replacement hooker... if that's the case. Much, much better bench with the exception of Harley.

[OptimisticJock]

Toonies mates getting a game.

I'm a lot more annoyed than I thought I would be for Kinghorn.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Toonies mates getting a game.

I'm a lot more annoyed than I thought I would be for Kinghorn.

I think Rob Harley is a top player just not good enough for fecking IRELAND. And offers poor coverage - he can only cover 6, his ability to cover lock isn't really helpful. I would have probably started Hardie and brought one of Wilson or Strauss off the bench for impact. In Ritchie and Wilson we already have two players who can cover 6.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Updated the original post to reflect the fact that Brown is indeed on the bench.

[Soapy]

IMO Maitland has been in good form, brings others into the game, has been a good scorer for us recently and is a much better defender than Kinghorn. It is tough on BK but I do get the logic given we are going to have to defend for our lives if we are going to get anything out of this.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

IMO Maitland has been in good form, brings others into the game, has been a good scorer for us recently and is a much better defender than Kinghorn. It is tough on BK but I do get the logic given we are going to have to defend for our lives if we are going to get anything out of this.

Then drop Seymour

[OptimisticJock]

12 tackles to zero, hat trick, top 3 for defenders beaten, breaks made and metres made, player of the round. Drop him or Seymour to accommodate Maitland? Obviously you reward the form of Seymour

[OptimisticJock]

Toonies mates getting a game.

I'm a lot more annoyed than I thought I would be for Kinghorn.

I think Rob Harley is a top player just not good enough for fecking IRELAND. And offers poor coverage - he can only cover 6, his ability to cover lock isn't really helpful. I would have probably started Hardie and brought one of Wilson or Strauss off the bench for impact. In Ritchie and Wilson we already have two players who can cover 6.

I don't think he's good enough for int rugby. Great servant for Glasgow but it doesn't manifest itself at a higher level. If there was nobody else left I'd be happy enough.

However my mate comment was aimed more at Seymour and Maitland.

[Soapy]

I assume Townsend wants to defend better down the flanks and outside channels and sees BK as the poorest defensively.