Scotland v Ireland 6 Nations Championship Sunday 12th March 2023

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Scotland v Ireland
6 Nations Championship and Triple Crown Decider

BT Murrayfield Stadium
Edinburgh

Sunday 12th March
KO 15.00


So we approach the business end of the championship with a triple crown at stake and for Ireland a potential Grand Slam, which as the top side in the world, they must feel is within their grasp.

Ireland, more than any other side in the championship, have been Scotland's bogy side. They seem to have been inside our heads for quite some time now and with the WC coming up, if we are going to have any chance of progression from our group, it is a headspace that needs to be altered drastically. Scotland were good in their first two games but came up short against another of the big boys last time out, despite playing at times, some sublime rugby and at times dominating France. Ireland are going to be every bit as physical as France were and are playing with even more belief. They were given an unexpected;y hard game by Italy last time out and that will no doubt have removed any complacency from them. All the smart money will be on Ireland to win this one.

Scotland, to confound form and the bookies will have to match Ireland physically for the bulk of the game and to take their chances. They have shown this season that they can play well off little ball and have an extremely dangerous backline when they can get it moving. They are also playing at home and that may possibly lift them as well, along with a sense of what if, regarding the French match. The general consensus this season is that Scotland have been progressing, but this is another level, but a necessary one if they are going to be considered a side that can really compete with the best.

Ireland, by just about any objective reckoning at the moment, are the best!

I am not seeing an awful lot of changes for this one, maybe a Scotland team along these lines:


1. Schoeman
2. Turner
3. Fagerson Z
4. Gray J
5. Gray R
6. Dempsey
7. Ritchie
8. Fagerson M
9. White
10. Russell
11. DVDM
12. Tuipolotu
13. Jones
14. Steyn
15. Hogg

Subs

Sutherland
Ashman
Nel
Skinner
Christie
Price
Kinghorn
Redpath


I am assuming Gilchrist will be suspended, though the mystery of his disciplinary continues to perplex

Sutherland has had 2 good run outs for Ulster in the past two weeks and looks fit and hungry

Ashman deserves his chance and I don't want another overthrow from FB in the last 5 mins

Christie has been consistently excellent for Sarries these past few weeks and Watson still looks flat to me. He deserves his chance.

Redpath might bring some creativity off the bench, out defence has stood up well without Harris.

Unfortunate for Ireland.

Just grew up with one not the other.

I don't dislike Ireland's call but its just not for me.

Lucky let off for Scotland there

Surely lost forward...

It was more fact Farrell was singing it that struck me.

Scotland lucky to get away with just losing 3 points.

Three utterly bampot lineouts and that call for the Ireland try to be chalked off for Scotland throwing in with a new ball was technically correct but Scotland shouldn’t have done it.

Murray far too pedestrian there for me. Quicker distribution would have seen a try, slowness allowed Scotland to set their defense.

Good play from Scotland against the number 1 team. Good defence and attack.

Sexton received a fair fend there and was proper milking it, allowing his unfit forwards to get a rest……..

HUW!!!!!!

So much quicker from White at 9 for Scotland and they do not allow Irelands defense to set, good try for Scotland.

Its been a while since Ireland have got to 20 minutes without a try

eirebilly_01 wrote:So much quicker from White at 9 for Scotland and they do not allow Irelands defense to set, good try for Scotland.

He’s on great form. Sadly we have price on the bench who makes greig laidlaw look like the fastest passer in the world

That looked a bit nasty. Slide tackle....that allowed?!

Good finish by the Aussie. No arms tackle from the Saffa though….

This is such a tight match, very evenly matched

Very close and entertaining game so far. It was to be expected with these two teams though.

Great defending from Scotland in this game

I’m pooped

Pooped I tell you

Wow, what a first half!

Good game to watch this is.

It seems a bit quiet on here though. When Wales play there’s more noise, usually coming from a bunch of English and Irish blaming the ref.

Will be one hell of a RWC group

SA will be bricking it

Squad fitness is going to be the only decider in this game I feel. What a great half of rugby. Scotland are really putting Ireland under some pressure.

mikey_dragon wrote:Good game to watch this is.

It seems a bit quiet on here though. When Wales play there’s more noise, usually coming from a bunch of English and Irish blaming the ref.

Can't take your eyes off the game long enough to type!

An absolutely terrific half of rugby.

Across this tournament Ireland, France and Scotland have looked like three sides at the pointy end of their development. They know their game plans so well and all three sides have that sprinkling of special players to differing extents.

Scotland had their poorest game against France which was a shame. They are playing well here though. Those three forward injuries for Ireland are massive blows, especially in a close finish.

Impressed with Scotlands discipline and defence, very good so far. Our defence needs to be a bit better.

Was that not a no arms tackle by Aki at the death of the half. What’s the point of a TMO if they don’t see that. Was very obvious

Collapse2005 wrote:Will be one hell of a RWC group

SA will be bricking it

Yep. Especially when you factor in the SA depth in the tight five and the rotation that allows being ideal for a RWC. With good fitness they can basically play a second choice but still world class tight five and bench players such as Etzebeth, keeping the big boys fresh for those key group games.

BigGee wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Good game to watch this is.

It seems a bit quiet on here though. When Wales play there’s more noise, usually coming from a bunch of English and Irish blaming the ref.

Can't take your eyes off the game long enough to type!

The comment didn’t go down well I see. Some don’t like the truth

Anyone know why VDF was throwing in?

That's absolutely fantastic from Steyn. Just after the important hit on Ringrose too.

Scotland talking back again. Stupid.

Wow ref. Wow. Have a word

A really odd situation with Kelleher on the pitch but not throwing. It's hard to see an injury that would allow him to be on the pitch but not throw. Very odd.

king_carlos wrote:A really odd situation with Kelleher on the pitch but not throwing. It's hard to see an injury that would allow him to be on the pitch but not throw. Very odd.

Yeah, I'm sure they've contravened a law there.

Wow. They're contesting scrums with Healy at hooker by the looks of things.

Missing a hooker at lineout and scrum is brutal and completely changes the game.

Hansen is having an absolutely fantastic game and tournament.

Dempsey has more than justified his selection

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:A really odd situation with Kelleher on the pitch but not throwing. It's hard to see an injury that would allow him to be on the pitch but not throw. Very odd.

Yeah, I'm sure they've contravened a law there.

Anyone can throw. No rule on that at all.

BigGee wrote:Dempsey has more than justified his selection

With Ritchie having another very good tournament, Darge a livewire, Fagerson still solid and now Dempsey the Scotland back row is looking good even if the Mish has been impacted by injuries.

Anyones game really, Gibson Park may make a difference for Ireland…

… hopefully!

Winning a scrum penalty with Healy at hooker against fresh props is serious alpha-ing.

Got to be a yellow for Ritchie surely.

Should have been a yellow for Richie there, very obvious.

tigertattie wrote:Scotland lucky to get away with just losing 3 points.

Three utterly bampot lineouts and that call for the Ireland try to be chalked off for Scotland throwing in with a new ball was technically correct but Scotland shouldn’t have done it.

Yes odd one that - I think they should treat that like a knock-on and play advantage for the other side ...

Collapse2005 wrote:Should have been a yellow for Richie there, very obvious.

Dislike how a try seems to just reset that.

Congratulations on the win Ireland. Ali price is on. Game over Scotland

This is so impressive from Ireland with the injuries. Two hookers, second row and number 8. That would cripple most teams but Ireland are sticking with their systems very well.

tigertattie wrote:Congratulations on the win Ireland. Ali price is on. Game over Scotland

I do not get that substitute, White has been excellent...

Can't understand why they keep taking White off when he's going well - however happy to have him kept fresh for when we get him back at LI ...

Great game from Hansen, my man of the match so far.

eirebilly_01 wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Congratulations on the win Ireland. Ali price is on. Game over Scotland

I do not get that substitute, White has been excellent...

I don’t get why price is even on the bench? Why Townsend takes white off is beyond me. Utterly beyond me.

Well now lose by death by box kick!

Correction. Death by box kick and more Fraser brown lineout brain farts