The Rugby Thread

[Buzzo]

Ashton back for England.

Ashton, Farrell and Eddie Jones Not winning many popularity contests with opposing fans with those three

Bastareaud back for the French. I think he is massively over rated.

[Cormack74]

We play an accuracy based game, long gone are the days of fighting in the wind and rain. I think Buzzo refers to there being many scrums due to handling errors which might suit us better.

We are used to rain but surely so are the Scots

Cormack - surely some Irish blood with that name?

Cormack is in homage to Peter Cormack (the guy in my avatar) who I came across watching a re-run of the '74 cup final: the best player I'd never heard of He spent time at Hibs I believe (before and possibly after) so clearly the wrong side of the tracks in Buzzo's eyes

But I do have some Irish blood apparently; Frenchies (yeah I know spit, spit) who went there in the mid 18th century. Not sure why or when they fetched up in Ingerland though.

[Cormack74]

Rain means knock ins means scrums, our depleted front row against yours means this could be a problem. If we are accurate then I’d fancy us, but, I’m not confident. I think it will be a losing bonus point game either way.

It’s looking like it’s going to be both rainy and windy, so expecting a lot of kicking.

I'm inclined to agree this is exactly how it will be . . but maybe it will offer up some surprises like last week. As a neutral I'm hoping so

[Cormack74]

Ashton back for England.

Ashton, Farrell and Eddie Jones Not winning many popularity contests with opposing fans with those three

Bastareaud back for the French. I think he is massively over rated.

I suspect Bastereaud is an attempt to nullify Manu Tuilagi but although he's a fat lad I don't see that it necessarily means he has a better chance of stopping him than Ntamack. I don't especially recall his defensive capabilities being anything special and despite his build, MT is by no means slow whereas Bastereaud looks pretty ponderous.

It's not easy to ever second guess how France will perform and especially not when they play one game then make 6 changes for the next. I can't see any reason why this game will be anything other than an England win but equally if a motivated , inspired French team turn up as they randomly do, then any result is possible.

[Buzzo]

About to head of for a pre match pint with some Irish friends, very windy today but this far dry. It feels like it could be a cracker, both teams with a lot to prove today.

[Rigadon]

About to head of for a pre match pint with some Irish friends, very windy today but this far dry. It feels like it could be a cracker, both teams with a lot to prove today.

Enjoy Buzzo. Think it will be a cracker. Edinburgh is a great place to be for 6 Nations games.

[Irishnev]

About to head of for a pre match pint with some Irish friends, very windy today but this far dry. It feels like it could be a cracker, both teams with a lot to prove today.

Enjoy the day Buzzo and may the best side win, I’m never confident in Murrayfield but the kick in the arse last week might help a bit. Two depleted teams and I don’t know how it will go - wouldn’t be surprised at ANY result today.

[Irishnev]

Tough win - didn’t play well but a nervy win nonetheless. Take it and run.

[RichC]

Scotland vs Ireland was a good watch earlier, conditions looked like it made it bloody tough for both sides.

Result is what I expected but the injury to Hogg certainly didn’t help the Scots

[Buzzo]

Scotland vs Ireland was a good watch earlier, conditions looked like it made it bloody tough for both sides.

Result is what I expected but the injury to Hogg certainly didn’t help the Scots

We were brilliant first half, and the Irish defence at the start and the end of the half probably won them the game. But even within that we gifted Ireland a try.

Second half was a bit of a non event with the Irish managing the ball well.

Our front row is just decimated and the replacement props just weren’t strong or experienced enough, these guys don’t even start for their clubs let alone being thrown into international rugby.

Thought the trip on Hogg where he was injured was a pen though.

[Zapater]

Pissed away Buzzo

[Irishnev]

We were brilliant first half, and the Irish defence at the start and the end of the half probably won them the game. But even within that we gifted Ireland a try.

Second half was a bit of a non event with the Irish managing the ball well.

Our front row is just decimated and the replacement props just weren’t strong or experienced enough, these guys don’t even start for their clubs let alone being thrown into international rugby.

Thought the trip on Hogg where he was injured was a pen though.

In fairness we retuned the favour but Russell did v well to take advantage. Your no 7 (Richie?) was superb.

[Cormack74]

First half I think the Scots really should have made more of their possession but if the ref' had picked up the "no arm" tackles from O'Mahoney on Hogg and Kearney near his own line then Ireland wouldn't have scored their first try and one or both players could easily have gone to the bin.

I get Poitre might not necessarily have seen either incident (although he seemed to imply he saw the Hogg one) but any TMO worth his salt should have been referring him back to them.

Second half it looked to me like the real Ireland turned up but TBH the number of knock ons, daft pens' and poor option taking by Scotland did them plenty of favours.

[Irishnev]

First half I think the Scots really should have made more of their possession but if the ref' had picked up the "no arm" tackles from O'Mahoney on Hogg and Kearney near his own line then Ireland wouldn't have scored their first try and one or both players could easily have gone to the bin.

I get Poitre might not necessarily have seen either incident (although he seemed to imply he saw the Hogg one) but any TMO worth his salt should have been referring him back to them.

Second half it looked to me like the real Ireland turned up but TBH the number of knock ons, daft pens' and poor option taking by Scotland did them plenty of favours.

The French officials we’ve had in both games were poor - Sexton was targeted by the Scots and copped a fair few late hits. I’m not sure how many times POM turned the ball over legitimately to be called back. Aki did the same in the first half and again got pinged incorrectly. We pride ourselves on accuracy and give away v few penalties but Poitre was poor for both sides.

We have depth in certain positions but not in others are really rely of on half backs to dominate games - right now both Murray and Sexton are badly out of form. Murray in particular is struggling with his kicking game.

Our go to guys in the back to make yards have struggled in both games and the most frustrating thing for me is Beirne is injured as I had hoped he’d get the chance to stake his place as Ryan’s partner. He is superb.

[Cormack74]

The French officials we’ve had in both games were poor - Sexton was targeted by the Scots and copped a fair few late hits. I’m not sure how many times POM turned the ball over legitimately to be called back. Aki did the same in the first half and again got pinged incorrectly. We pride ourselves on accuracy and give away v few penalties but Poitre was poor for both sides.

We have depth in certain positions but not in others are really rely of on half backs to dominate games - right now both Murray and Sexton are badly out of form. Murray in particular is struggling with his kicking game.

Our go to guys in the back to make yards have struggled in both games and the most frustrating thing for me is Beirne is injured as I had hoped he’d get the chance to stake his place as Ryan’s partner. He is superb.

Some of the hits on Sexton were certainly borderline, although they made the point on the UK coverage that by taking the ball right to the line (which is one of his great strengths), he is going to get the big hit rather than the guy outside him for whom he creates the space.

And within the millisecond of it occurring it's not always possible to judge whether the tackler is already committed or whether he's trying to leave one on dear Johnny.

I thought Carberry was pretty good when he came on (intercepted pass aside) so at least there should be a seamless transition when Johnny hangs up his shoulder pads.

With Connor Murray, the thing that struck me about his quality of kicking in the Champions Cup was that no one was putting any pressure on him. So maybe some analysis was done on that because he hasn't had nearly such an easy ride these past two weeks and has suffered accordingly.