The Rugby Thread

[Irishnev]

Anyway mate we're not going to agree (even though I'm a qualified ref' so clearly right ). The good thing was that one or two tight calls either way didn't decide the game which is always incredibly frustrating when 2 teams are evenly matched for 80 minutes only for things to be decided on a marginal law interpretation.

we can agree about the best team winning.

Being a qualified ref, that doesn’t cut it for me, apparently so is Garces

[Buzzo]

Murrayfield looks v tough for us next week.

It is a nicely poised match. We played fairly well against the Italians, but emptied the bench and switched off for the last 10 mins allowing them some easy scores. In a weird way I think this works well for us for next week, and sharpens the focus.

The good news for us is the backs, we scored some great trys, and were very slick. Finn Russell looks confident and was involved in everything and Stuart Hogg was back to his electric best after a pretty quiet 12 months for him. He had an amazing try disallowed for obstruction which the ref has subsequently apologised for.

But we face a wounded Ireland who will be looking to get back on track. My worry is the scrum. The rest of our set piece is great, our lineout is solid.

My other worry is the bench, we are carrying a lot of injuries and our bench is not as strong as it could be.

It is a clash of styles and will be interesting to see which one wins out. The one thing our games are guaranteed is points. Looking forward to it should be a cracker.

[Buzzo]

Hoggs try that wasn't. Would have been a peach.

[ame="https://youtu.be/Pb9-JwWwkHk"]Stuart Hogg Robbed | Rugby Mad - YouTube[/ame]

[Irishnev]

Nah the Italians stopped when they heard the whistle

[Irishnev]

[Buzzo]

Nah the Italians stopped when they heard the whistle

The ref has apologised. Should have gone TMO but he blew his whistle.

No Italian was getting near Hoggy in full flow.

[Buzzo]

CJ Stander out of next two games and rumours that Itoje is out for the tournament.

[Cormack74]

rumours that Itoje is out for the tournament.

I've only seen England's next two games mentioned. Oghenemaro's clearly a decent player and will be missed, but at least he plays in a position where they are fairly well stocked.

[Cormack74]

CJ Stander out of next two games

Toner and Ringrose absent for your game too. Unlike England, Ireland seem to be getting towards the bare bones for locks from my admittedly fairly limited knowledge of their second row cupboard.

[Irishnev]

Jaysus Buzzo at this stage they might draft me in for the second row bs your lot

[ame="https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1092785215007870976"]https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/status/1092785215007870976[/ame]

[Irishnev]

Toner and Ringrose absent for your game too. Unlike England, Ireland seem to be getting towards the bare bones for locks from my admittedly fairly limited knowledge of their second row cupboard.

Toner - out
Henderson - out
Beirne - out

Will be Ryan and Roux based on the last squad, with Holland or Dillane on the bench.

CJ and Leavy out of the back row so O’Brien might play at 8 with Ruddock onto the bench.

[Buzzo]

Jaysus Buzzo at this stage they might draft me in for the second row bs your lot

https://twitter.com/murray_kinsella/...85215007870976

Unfortunately we have plenty of our own injury issues... Reckon you guys have the strength to cover it though.

Some big players missing though.

[Buzzo]

Our team for the Irish.

1 Dell, 2 McInally, 3 Berghan
4 Gilchrist, 5 Gray
6 Wilson, 7 Ritchie, 8 Gray

9 Laidlaw
10 Russell

11 Maitland

12 Johnson, 13 Jones

14 Seymour

15 Hogg

Bold decision to drop Kinghorn after a hat-trick, though Maitland is class. I'd have though Tommy Seymour may be under threat but he is great under the high ball. Lots of creativity in the backs, Sam Johnson was great on debut. I wonder if Duncan Taylor will ever be fit?

The worry for me is the front row, and the back row. Where WP Nell, Zander Fagerson, Hamish Watson and John Barclay would have been very welcome.

Bring it on I guess

[Irishnev]

Henshaw injured also now

Ireland team v Scotland: R Kearney; K Earls, C Farrell, B Aki, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (capt), T Furlong; Q Roux, J Ryan; P O'Mahony, S O’Brien, J Conan.

Replacements: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, U Dillane, J Van der Flier, J Cooney, J Carbery, J Larmour.

I wanted to blood players this 6 Nations - now we are getting to do it.

A forwards based game we win, a lose open game we probably lose....I know what I'd be aiming for if I were the Scots.

[Buzzo]

Henshaw injured also now

Ireland team v Scotland: R Kearney; K Earls, C Farrell, B Aki, J Stockdale; J Sexton, C Murray; C Healy, R Best (capt), T Furlong; Q Roux, J Ryan; P O'Mahony, S O’Brien, J Conan.

Replacements: S Cronin, D Kilcoyne, A Porter, U Dillane, J Van der Flier, J Cooney, J Carbery, J Larmour.

I wanted to blood players this 6 Nations - now we are getting to do it.

A forwards based game we win, a lose open game we probably lose....I know what I'd be aiming for if I were the Scots.

I agree. I think both teams have injury based worries. We need to keep the ball moving. Interestingly there are only 6 changes to the team we put out 2 years ago. But they are all pivotal positions.

Prop wise we are ****ed, and that without going to the bench. Losing WP is a huge blow.

The key to the game for us is Finn Russell. If he is supplying ball to our backs then we could see some great Rugby. We need to move your pack about the pitch.

It’s an intriguing one.