Squad for 6N

[septic 9]

Price will start. NO brainer.
Not bothered whether its Cherry or Turner. Props Sutherland and Fagerson, Kebble and Bergan (Bergan for around the park)
Hastings is very lucky to be in that squad after yesterday, I'd go Russell obviously with Hogg as 10 cover. Huw Jones to start and is 15 cover. Harris can bench. Or just maybe McLean
Centres Johnson and Jones, wings pick themselves, Graham and VDM
Lock will be Gilchrist and Skinner. Both were ok v Italy, but we'll need more than ok this week so need to step it up. Have to say I was impressed by Craig's cameo, better than I've seen him for Gloucester.
Watson and Fagerson pick themselves. And it will be Richie, cos there is no-on else even if he has fallen miles from his normal standards. Haining benches for the same reason

[whatisthejava]

I thought Steele had a good game and that your being harsh on him but maybe that's because I'm only new to watching Rugby lol, well club rugby, I've watched most Scotland games since 2006 6Ns.

I don't really know the laws etc so you guys will be a lot more critical of players than I am, please help me out .

Steele is keen, but his pass was poor. Not accurate enough this week, but so slow and lobbed I thought Laidlaw was back. Good 9s really zip the ball way, the best without taking a step first, and off either hand. Steele was taking a step, which allows the defence a fraction more time to hit the recipient, and a slow/lob pass another fraction. Means its much more difficult to drive forward, easier to drive us back. Its small thing but crucial. As you're half Irish , dig out some old youtube tributes to Peter Stringer, or watch Conor Murray for gold standard in scrum half passing

Im not half Irish


The point of the step is to commit the first defender, whipping it out means the first defender can instantly drift into the line, the step or two is to try and hold the defenders so that the defense line isn't a straight line


I think you need to let people have the first cap jitters, very few of our players come on and look like the manor born
(cammy redpath is the exception)

[Digby]

The point of the step is to commit the first defender, whipping it out means the first defender can instantly drift into the line, the step or two is to try and hold the defenders so that the defense line isn't a straight line

And it saves you having the ball being attacked quite some much by fringe defenders, and any grabbing of hands, wrists (or even ball that the ref misses/allows) will slow your delivery far more than taking a step or two.

The days of touch and away are hard to replicate, even when in theory the 9 has more protection these last few years

[septic 9]

I thought Steele had a good game and that your being harsh on him but maybe that's because I'm only new to watching Rugby lol, well club rugby, I've watched most Scotland games since 2006 6Ns.

I don't really know the laws etc so you guys will be a lot more critical of players than I am, please help me out .

Steele is keen, but his pass was poor. Not accurate enough this week, but so slow and lobbed I thought Laidlaw was back. Good 9s really zip the ball way, the best without taking a step first, and off either hand. Steele was taking a step, which allows the defence a fraction more time to hit the recipient, and a slow/lob pass another fraction. Means its much more difficult to drive forward, easier to drive us back. Its small thing but crucial. As you're half Irish , dig out some old youtube tributes to Peter Stringer, or watch Conor Murray for gold standard in scrum half passing

Im not half Irish


The point of the step is to commit the first defender, whipping it out means the first defender can instantly drift into the line, the step or two is to try and hold the defenders so that the defense line isn't a straight line


I think you need to let people have the first cap jitters, very few of our players come on and look like the manor born
(cammy redpath is the exception)

did I say you were? Still looks like I quoted ScottishCaleyfan

The point of a few steps is to draw a defender. The half step/step is not that, its a nine who needs to wind up his pass. Laidlaw a classic case. No distance without it and even then only off one hand

[whatisthejava]

Steele is keen, but his pass was poor. Not accurate enough this week, but so slow and lobbed I thought Laidlaw was back. Good 9s really zip the ball way, the best without taking a step first, and off either hand. Steele was taking a step, which allows the defence a fraction more time to hit the recipient, and a slow/lob pass another fraction. Means its much more difficult to drive forward, easier to drive us back. Its small thing but crucial. As you're half Irish , dig out some old youtube tributes to Peter Stringer, or watch Conor Murray for gold standard in scrum half passing

Im not half Irish


The point of the step is to commit the first defender, whipping it out means the first defender can instantly drift into the line, the step or two is to try and hold the defenders so that the defense line isn't a straight line


I think you need to let people have the first cap jitters, very few of our players come on and look like the manor born
(cammy redpath is the exception)

did I say you were? Still looks like I quoted ScottishCaleyfan

The point of a few steps is to draw a defender. The half step/step is not that, its a nine who needs to wind up his pass. Laidlaw a classic case. No distance without it and even then only off one hand

I might of misread, and to be clear I'm notsuggesting there is anything wrong with being Irish

I think we describing different things and we are mostly agreed.

[switchskier]

Apparently there's no Maitland for Friday because we're limited in the number of English players that we can get released and we think that there's good other options for the back three slots. I wonder if the SRU are calling their bluff given who sarries are likely to be facing and the pointlessness of him playing domestic rugby.

Think it's a mistake though after Dulins recent nightmare under the high ball. He's out one really good player there (Graham can leap like a salmon but is still pretty short)

[Spiffy]

Agree about Steele's laboured service at SH. But the passing problems of the Scottish backs did not end there. They were all guilty of lobbed passes straight to the receiver's head in too many cases. Backs (not only Scottish) seem to have forgotten the art of passing the ball in front of a receiver and not throwing it at the point where he was standing when they made the pass. Can't think of the last perfectly weighted pass I last saw, put in front of the receiver at belly button level to encourage acceleration on to the ball. It was really noticeable in the Italy game how often players had to check their run to wait for the ball; or had to jump up in the air to collect it, which took all impetus out of the attack.

[septic 9]

Agree about Steele's laboured service at SH. But the passing problems of the Scottish backs did not end there. They were all guilty of lobbed passes straight to the receiver's head in too many cases. Backs (not only Scottish) seem to have forgotten the art of passing the ball in front of a receiver and not throwing it at the point where he was standing when they made the pass. Can't think of the last perfectly weighted pass I last saw, put in front of the receiver at belly button level to encourage acceleration on to the ball. It was really noticeable in the Italy game how often players had to check their run to wait for the ball; or had to jump up in the air to collect it, which took all impetus out of the attack.

think I said that earlier Spiffy, it I didn't I meant to. Passing was woeful

[stevedog1980]

Agree about Steele's laboured service at SH. But the passing problems of the Scottish backs did not end there. They were all guilty of lobbed passes straight to the receiver's head in too many cases. Backs (not only Scottish) seem to have forgotten the art of passing the ball in front of a receiver and not throwing it at the point where he was standing when they made the pass. Can't think of the last perfectly weighted pass I last saw, put in front of the receiver at belly button level to encourage acceleration on to the ball. It was really noticeable in the Italy game how often players had to check their run to wait for the ball; or had to jump up in the air to collect it, which took all impetus out of the attack.

I agree completely. I thought Hogg was very guilty of this, a lot of momentum lost with soft, inaccurate passing. Obviously Jones is copping a lot of flak because of his pass to Graham but that was definitely not the only instance.

It was so frequently poor against Italy that you actually started to take note of the good passes. I remember one from Steele when we were in our own 22, off the left hand he fired a perfect pass to Hogg for the clearing kick. I think that made it even more frustrating that the skill is something he has

[ARM]

Agree about Steele's laboured service at SH. But the passing problems of the Scottish backs did not end there. They were all guilty of lobbed passes straight to the receiver's head in too many cases. Backs (not only Scottish) seem to have forgotten the art of passing the ball in front of a receiver and not throwing it at the point where he was standing when they made the pass. Can't think of the last perfectly weighted pass I last saw, put in front of the receiver at belly button level to encourage acceleration on to the ball. It was really noticeable in the Italy game how often players had to check their run to wait for the ball; or had to jump up in the air to collect it, which took all impetus out of the attack.

I agree completely. I thought Hogg was very guilty of this, a lot of momentum lost with soft, inaccurate passing. Obviously Jones is copping a lot of flak because of his pass to Graham but that was definitely not the only instance.

It was so frequently poor against Italy that you actually started to take note of the good passes. I remember one from Steele when we were in our own 22, off the left hand he fired a perfect pass to Hogg for the clearing kick. I think that made it even more frustrating that the skill is something he has

Not terribly surprising given one of the best fly half distributors in European rugby was concussed; we had a full back at 10; 12 and 13 who run hard but don’t distribute effectively.

Things would look a lot different with a Russell, Redpath axis.

I would bring Price back in for France.

[francoisfou]

The only changes in the French side will be Ntamack at 10 with Carbonel as replacement and a new second row. Willemse will cop a ban for his indiscretion against Wales and Taofifénua won’t have recovered from an injured knee, but Bernard Le Roux is expected to be fit. Toulon’s Rebbadj will probably partner Le Roux with Pesenti I’d Pay on the bench. Although France have not lost to Scotland in Paris in recent years, the victory margins have generally been slim so they may find it tough to get a winning bp and the required margin of 21 points to win the title. Could be a very good match and I’m looking forward to it.

[whatisthejava]

...

If you smash us , because we were restricted players we are totally blaming looking at the 6N for not punishing you lot for treating covid like a nice weekend away with your pals

[Mikey Brown]

...

If you smash us , because we were restricted players we are totally blaming looking at the 6N for not punishing you lot for treating covid like a nice weekend away with your pals

I feel like France should have had to pay for all of this.

[Mikey Brown]

[whatisthejava]

Willimse gets 3 week ban for making contact with the eyes

Fucking mental

[Big D]

Willimse gets 3 week ban for making contact with the eyes

Fucking mental

I don't think it is that mental to be honest. It clearly wasn't a gauge and it was reckless but not deliberate. It wasn't enough to merit a mid entry point (8 weeks for contact to the eye area), so then the LE is 4 weeks.

I have been gouged before and had plenty of contact around the eye area, there is a huge difference and I think the panel just about got it right.

[francoisfou]

Taofifénua seems to be making a remarkable recovery and may pack down with Bernard Le Roux in the 2nd row. Also, Anthony Jelonch (currently with Castres but will join Toulouse in the close season) may take Dylan Cretin's place at 6. The team should be announced within the next half hour.

[Which Tyler]

Mental in what way?
I hate gouging with a passion, but it was obviously not intentional - by the time he even knew where his hand was, it was too late, it's also eye area, not eyeball; so it's low level entry point every day of the week.

Now if you want a harsher punishment for low level entry point, then I'm with you all the way - but that's for WR to dictate, not for a citing panel to change.

[whatisthejava]

Mental in what way?
I hate gouging with a passion, but it was obviously not intentional - by the time he even knew where his hand was, it was too late, it's also eye area, not eyeball; so it's low level entry point every day of the week.

Now if you want a harsher punishment for low level entry point, then I'm with you all the way - but that's for WR to dictate, not for a citing panel to change.

Before i start, i dont think it was malice, or intentional

Mental in that i think it is worse than all the other red cards for head knocks, in that a single head knock can cause concussion , a single eye incident could blind you

I get it wasn't a gouge and it was clumsy but 3 weeks (if he doesn't have a game on the 5th) is a poor message

Hastings got 4 weeks for falling badly and lifting his leg

[Big D]

Mental in what way?
I hate gouging with a passion, but it was obviously not intentional - by the time he even knew where his hand was, it was too late, it's also eye area, not eyeball; so it's low level entry point every day of the week.

Now if you want a harsher punishment for low level entry point, then I'm with you all the way - but that's for WR to dictate, not for a citing panel to change.

Before i start, i dont think it was malice, or intentional

Mental in that i think it is worse than all the other red cards for head knocks, in that a single head knock can cause concussion , a single eye incident could blind you

I get it wasn't a gouge and it was clumsy but 3 weeks (if he doesn't have a game on the 5th) is a poor message

Hastings got 4 weeks for falling badly and lifting his leg

But the offence wasn't a gouge. This is a slap on the wrist for being reckless, if it was a gouge he'd be on a different set of entry points. If the video ref sat and watched every ruck and maul there would be 2 or 3 of these bans every game.

A single head knock can give long lasting neurological issues. Not all concussions are created equal.

[Which Tyler]

Before i start, i dont think it was malice, or intentional

Mental in that i think it is worse than all the other red cards for head knocks, in that a single head knock can cause a corpse to be carried off the field, a single eye incident could blind you

I get it wasn't a gouge and it was clumsy but 3 weeks (if he doesn't have a game on the 5th) is a poor message

Hastings got 4 weeks for falling badly and lifting his leg

FTFY, but should also add that your complaint is against sentencing guidelines, not this specific event.

Medically speaking, head knocks are more dangerous than gouging (which this wasn't); they're also far, far more common, and in desperate need of being reduced as much as possible, and hence attracting harsh sanctions currently - including for accidental.

Of course, on top of that, comparing different sanctions for difference offences is always a bit silly, and will always, and can only, expose things that are instinctively "unfair".
If you're calling for a complete overhaul of the sentencing guidelines though, then I'm right with you.

[Adder]

French team


Fickou on the wing.

Bouthier covering 10

[septic 9]

Before i start, i dont think it was malice, or intentional

Mental in that i think it is worse than all the other red cards for head knocks, in that a single head knock can cause concussion , a single eye incident could blind you

I get it wasn't a gouge and it was clumsy but 3 weeks (if he doesn't have a game on the 5th) is a poor message

Hastings got 4 weeks for falling badly and lifting his leg

Hastings got 3 weeks, not 4.

The sanction is correct according to the disc code. I do not like how discounts are made but that's how it is. More of a nonsense was Aki getting 6 weeks for the high head hit, reduced to 4. Only 2 weeks discount as he had previous for the same thing - now that is just crazy, should have had no discount, and IMHO an added 2 weeks because he had recent (RWC 2019) previous red card for same.

I'add add that while I think we all accept that Willemse's action was not intentional and caused no danger, what he did was a direct consequence of the shambles that is called "the breakdown". Until that is sorted cases like this and head hits are frankly inevitable - and not sorting that is a clear dereliction on the part of rugby authorities

[Adder]

No surprises.

[Ally]

Surprised he's picked broadly the same side as per Ireland, rather than rolling the dice and giving some of the guys who did well against Italy a go (Jones/Cherry/Steele)

Still, I can see the logic: we can't give Vakatawa any space, so having our best defender on the field makes sense (besides, why would you pick Harris ahead of Maitland for the EQP allowance, if he wasn't going to start). Price probably brings better kicking and service. Would have felt Cherry would have been a better shout to give a bit more reliability in the throwing early doors

Anyone feeling optimistic?