The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

You’ll be right one day (I hope).

It’s a proper Celt neg off Who can be the most negative? I just don’t see us beating you. We seem incapable of putting in an 80 min performance. But. I suppose every dog has his day.

I see more opportunities next years 6Ns when Farrell is coaching the Lions.

[Irishnev]

If you win with a BP you've won the tournament.

The non try v France is stopping us from being 3 from 3 and the best ever start we've had to a 6Ns. That said, you lot are miles ahead of everyone else.

Here we go again

I genuinely think ye are due one against us, Italy away next will be tough ish but ye’ll win and England away will be a smelly one. A dirty arm wrestle, they’ll cheer winning any moment and wind us up. It’s mad because that’s all we used to be able to do vs them and if not, then we’d fight them

Ye’ll be playing for a triple crown vs us and you are due….. I’m confident but wary of our last two games

[Buzzo]

If you win with a BP you've won the tournament.

The non try v France is stopping us from being 3 from 3 and the best ever start we've had to a 6Ns. That said, you lot are miles ahead of everyone else.

[Irishnev]

We were efficient but frustrating in a 24 point bonus point win over Wales…… it’s mad the level of expectancy I have around the team now. Scotland should be sitting on 3/3 tbh and potentially setting up a match in Dublin in round 5

I’m wary of England away but if we play our game we’ll win….. the two week break will help us. We’ve gone 6/2 in 2 of the 3 games and it’s helped us a lot tbh

[RichC]

Dan Coles the walking penalty I cannot understand how he's still in the set up.

Rugby has evolved and we haven't.

[Buzzo]

Certainly no argument with the result, it's the result I expected. Borthwick isn't up to the job sadly, there's some decent talent we have and can call on but with the rugby version of Tim Sherwood managing England it's not going to happen. Again playing for 3rd/4th in the six nations and that's where we are.

100% the talent is there, Marcus Smiths injury has been massive I think, he is your game changer, he will be your Finn Russell - the guy that changes and wins games for you.

Some of the players coming through do have slightly inflated reputations, but over all there is enough to be putting out an amazing 23. Seems mad that the likes of Coles, Marler and Care are still the go to. Great in their day but now...???

And yeah then put in a coach who lacks any sort of flair or understanding of multi phase attacking Rugby and it becomes a problem. He isnt an upgrade on Eddie Jones imo.

[RichC]

Certainly no argument with the result, it's the result I expected. Borthwick isn't up to the job sadly, there's some decent talent we have and can call on but with the rugby version of Tim Sherwood managing England it's not going to happen. Again playing for 3rd/4th in the six nations and that's where we are.

[Buzzo]

Was a weird game on Saturday.

I dont think we ever played that well, but what was even stranger was how England just disappeared from the game after a strong start.

Its all about their blitz D. Once we figured it out and realised we could either absorb it or play around it if the opportunity appeared it felt pretty comfortable. I'd never say it in advance, but pre match was the most confident I've ever been pre Calcutta cup.

Englands attack is pretty woeful, the first try was some decent first phase shape, but was the only time it really materialesd. The second was **** defence from us.

I agree even more with Rich now, the issue is the coach. He doesnt have the game to take England forwards. Gregor Townsends Calcutta record is now P7 W5 D1 L1.

And then Italy... how unlucky was that?????? Surely he should be allowed to reset the shot clock if the ball falls over??? They must be absolutely gutted. And France - a one man team it seems. I missed the Ireland Wales game as I was on my way to Murrayfield.

[Irishnev]

England are horrible to watch, hope Scotland go on and thump them now

[Irishnev]

String start, tough middle and strong middle to get a bonus point win. It’s a heady position to be disappointed with a 24 point win over Wales

3 from 3 and 15 points - hard to argue with that

[Irishnev]

Its a mad swing when you realise we had won only 3 times and drawn once in the 27 years prior to this................... Home and Away.

No pun intended there eh Buzzo

[Buzzo]

Its a mad swing when you realise we had won only 3 times and drawn once in the 27 years prior to this................... Home and Away.

[Buzzo]

Scots clear favourites this weekend. Steve Borthwick was the dark times for me when he was England Captain I think he might continue that as coach

Yeah, I think we have to live with the favourites tag. Not something I ever predicted happening, but we've only lost once since 2017 and that was in a hurricane.

I am interested to see England, I pretty much agree with what you are saying, I think England have flattered to deceive, and I believe with the players available the right coach would turn England into an incredible team. I think you are right, his ethos is the same as it was as Leicester Manager and he has not moved England forwards.

That said. It is the Calcutta Cup and anything can happen.

[RichC]

Scots clear favourites this weekend. Steve Borthwick was the dark times for me when he was England Captain I think he might continue that as coach

[Buzzo]

Praise indeed, we need to win more than the aesthetically pleasing trophies mind.

Springboks' centre Jesse Kriel made a surprising revelation on RugbyPass TV's Boks Office, external about who was the toughest opponent in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

"Defensively, I think the toughest game was probably Scotland," Kriel said.

"Obviously a guy like Finn Russell, you never know what he’s going to do.

"They try to play a lot of rugby."

The two sides faced off in their opening Pool match of the tournament when South Africa defeated the Scots 18-3.

The Boks went onto retain their world champions status in the nail-biting final against New Zealand.

Team for tomorrow.

Looks good, Kinghorn and Steyn back is massive.

Kinghorn, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell (co-capt), White; Schoeman, Turner, Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge (co-capt), Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Hepburn, Skinner, Christie, Horne, Healy, Redpath.