Third tests : home nations

First topic message reminder :

There is tendency (it seems to me) that sides in three-test series and two-nil down have a better chance to win the final game.

Whether that's because the leading side take their foot off the pedal as the series is won or take the opportunity to experiment with different players etc.
Or the losing teams get more accustomed to the conditions and just improve, or through sheer grit and determination refuse to be whitewashed or whatever...

But to get a third victory will - must - be considered as a minimum for all sides:

England : The loss of Youngs and Robshaw must be considered as devastating loss and even at sea-level, I'd guess that a first test win on tour is highly unlikely. SA by fifteen.

Ireland : The fantastic performance against the ABs last week-end must be considered squandering of a great opportunity. That was to my mind their best opportunity to get so close (on the day) but the ABs will, I think, have been shocked by the closeness of the game and will put it as first priority to (in their minds) restore the dignity of World Champions. ABs by 35.

Scotland. Not a three-match series as such but they have to beat Samoa to take any impetus into next season. Scotland should win - but will there be any style and panache? I doubt it. Scotland by 10.

Wales. As the best team in the NH against a juddering OZ, Wales will be kicking themselves for not winning last week, but I fancy them to do themselves proud this week. Wales by 12.

Portnoy wrote:

KickAndChase wrote:But I do urge you, Portnoy, to actually watch some Scotland matches as a genuine neutral or even supporter before passing such generalised comment. I don't do it for your team.

I do watch as many Scottish games as I can - always as a neutral except when they are playing England. The excessive defensiveness of some Scottish posters have entirely twisted the OP into a diatribe. Essentially I have not attacked Scotland in any way. Indeed they are only implicitly involved in the discussion as they are not playing on a three-match tour of a SH nation.

Then perhaps your naked, desperate WUM about the team was poorly conceived for the purposes of this thread?

Don't get me wrong, I find your self-heckling very amusing.

Linebreaker wrote:Don't know why I keep saying "we" though....

You say it LB because 'we' live through every moment of every game no matter how brilliant or painful!

Just on the Scotland Oz game, rugby is as much about playing the conditions / ref as they are about playing the opposition. Scotland beat us fair and square.... that's it.

True FC but I've always had difficulty with the "we beat you!" remarks.
A figure of speech only I know.

Nice summary on the Scotland loss there too, btw. None of this pages and pages of detailed discussion and analysis. It hurt and 'we' all knew what 'they' had to do next match.

Sometimes it's best to say less. Be short and succinct. An Aussie trait perhaps? We don't like wasting bytes or clogging up cyberspace obviously!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Equo Troiano wrote:Maybe Scotland should play in the 4 Nations instead of the 6N, after all, they can at least beat one of the 4N sides?

Apologies for the face palm icon but it's the best I could do without resorting to personal insults.

What a moronic thing to say though.

Oh come now, surely you see that its Scotland's best hope of a win?

Why are numpties like this tollerated on this site?

When this site wa new there was a good debate but now more and more it's slipping back to the old ways of 606. I don't mind WUMing if it's funny or wity but this sort of stuff is done purely to antagonize.

Linebreaker wrote:Sometimes it's best to say less. Be short and succinct. An Aussie trait perhaps? We don't like wasting bytes or clogging up cyberspace obviously!

Like why pronounce something properly when you can reduce it to a syllable and a half? That's just wasted effort.

Because it is kind of funny and we do tolerate them. You get these types in pubs too I've decided to not reply to Portnoy now though; got a bit dull.

Exact.

I would point out that Scotland does play with style and panache about half the time - see recent games against Wales and Ireland as examples - mistake ridden maybe, but certainly entertaining

The times when we do not is when we play against negative dull arm wrestle type teams - Italy, Argentina and England - as we are not good enough to counter it

It all depends on the opposition

Cue - thunder - exit stange right