6N 2017: Scotland v Ireland, 4 February

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SCOTLAND v IRELAND 
4 February 2017
KO: 14:25
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand

Live on BBC, RTE, DMAX, FR2, ITV (H)

A. Head to Head

132 Played 132
66 Won 61 
5 Drawn 5
61 Lost 66
1,380 Points 1,475

B. Recent Form

19 March 2016
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
35 – 25 to Ireland

15 August 2015
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
28 – 22 to Ireland

21 March 2015
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
10 – 40 to Ireland

2 February 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
28 – 6 to Ireland

24 February 2013
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
12 – 8 to Scotland

10 March 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
32 – 14 to Ireland

6 August 2011
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 6 to Scotland

27 February 2011
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
18 – 21 to Ireland

20 March 2010
Croke Park, Dublin
20 – 23 to Scotland

C. Teams

SCOTLAND 

15-Stuart Hogg; 14-Sean Maitland, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Alex Dunbar, 11-Tommy Seymour; 10-Finn Russell, 9-Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1-Allan Dell, 2-Fraser Brown, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-Ryan Wilson, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Josh Strauss

Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-Gordon Reid, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-John Barclay, 21-Ali Price, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Mark Bennett

IRELAND

15-Rob Kearney; 14-Keith Earls, 13-Robbie Henshaw, 12-Garry Ringrose, 11-Simon Zebo; 10-Paddy Jackson, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best (captain), 3-Tadhg Furlong, 4-Iain Henderson, 5-Devin Toner, 6-CJ Stander, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: 16-Niall Scannell, 17-Cian Healy, 18-John Ryan, 19-Ultan Dillane, 20-Josh van der Flier, 21-Kieran Marmion, 22-Ian Keatley, 23-Tommy Bowe.

geoff999rugby wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Thornley's Ireland selection for Saturday, he's rarely wrong.

Ireland possible v Scotland

R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (capt), T Furlong; D Ryan, DToner; CJ Stander, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, I Henderson, J van der Flier, K Marmion, I Keatley, T Bowe.

Trimble injury must be worse than I thought.

Bowe is a hell of a punt given his form

Yeah. It's the name that hits me. If he's there, I hope he's up to it because this Scotland side requires the full monty!

12 Dunbar
13 Jones

11 Seymour
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Master of Suspense RDW!

It is the annoying way the SRU Twitter feed announces the team!

16 Carrots
17 Corn Flakes
18 Milk

....oops, sorry, that was just my shopping list.

1. Dell
2. Brown
3. Fagerson
4. Gray
5. Gray
6. Wilson
7. Watson
8. Strauss
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

Jones starts. Awesome. He's already better than BOD.

11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

IanBru wrote:11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

You're a bit behind!

Head Coach Vern Cotter has named three changes to start Scotland’s opening RBS 6 Nations match at a sold-out BT Murrayfield Stadium this Saturday (4 February, kick-off 2.25pm).

Stormers centre Huw Jones is back in the starting line-up in place of Mark Bennett, having recovered from the foot injury that ruled him out of the team’s third and final autumn test match against Georgia in November.

Jones hit the headlines when he became the first Scot to score a brace against Australia in his first start for Scotland before being injured in the act of creating a try for Sean Maitland against Argentina a week later.

Jones will reform the midfield partnership he forged in those two tests with Alex Dunbar in between returning half backs Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell, and the back-three trio of Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour, who contributed half of Scotland’s 10-try tally in the autumn.

The remaining changes are in the pack which sees Glasgow Warriors hooker Fraser Brown promoted from the bench in place of cap centurion Ross Ford and Josh Strauss (back-row) replace clubmate Rob Harley.

Strauss’ inclusion at number 8 sees Ryan Wilson make a positional switch to the blindside of the back-row, with Hamish Watson holding down the openside role he occupied throughout the autumn.

Second-row brothers Jonny and Richie Gray return to the boiler house with young props Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson packing down either side of Brown in the front-row.

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, said: “Although it’s a reasonably settled squad, it’s nice to have an uncapped player and some reasonably new players in the team, who bring their enthusiasm along with the others.

“We’ve been growing our depth and our versatility within that, so we have a number of different options that allow us to continually attack the opposition, which is our main focus.”

He added: “Facing Ireland first up doesn’t get much harder.

“They are at the top of their game and will come here with confidence after beating some of the best teams in the world, including the All Blacks and Wallabies and having won the tournament twice in the past three years.”

There are four further changes to the bench, with Edinburgh Rugby tighthead Simon Berghan in line for a test debut if called upon from the replacements.

Elsewhere Tim Swinson, Duncan Weir and Bennett occupy the remaining back replacement spots in place of Grant Gilchrist and injured Warriors pair Pete Horne and Rory Hughes.

“We aim to win every game we play but know that Ireland will come here with a lot of confidence and try to dominate us on our home paddock,” added Cotter.

“Those are the challenges of the sport at a high level but we’ll embrace that and put everything we have into getting the right performance and result this Saturday.”

Scotland team to play Ireland at BT Murrayfield, RBS 6 Nations
Saturday 4 February (kick-off 2.25pm) – live on BBC

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 48 caps; 13 tries, 3 pens, 74 points

14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 26 caps; 5 tries, 25 points
13. Huw Jones (Stormers) – 3 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
12. Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps; 5 caps, 25 points
11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 31 caps, 14 tries, 70 points

10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps; 2 tries, 3 cons, 1 pen, 19 points
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) CAPTAIN – 56 caps; 4 tries, 74 cons, 134 pens, 570 points

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – 3 caps
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
4. Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 60 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
6. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8. Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps

Substitutes:
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 102 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
20. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 55 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 caps
22. Duncan Weir (Edinburgh Rugby) – 23 caps; 2 tries, 7 cons, 10 pens, 1 drop, 57 points
23. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Master of Suspense RDW!

It is the annoying way the SRU Twitter feed announces the team!

I agree, It is really annoying.

Its a good-ish first XV, but our bench is really very poor - especially the front row and backrow replacements. As much of a quality player as Barclay is, we have nobody to up our physicality in the last 20/30 mins.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

IanBru wrote:11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

You're a bit behind!

Ha ha, I didn't refresh - assumed it was you being tardy!

Decent and predictable team selection. My only quibble is Barclay being much better at rugby than Wilson, but Scott Johnson, Vern Cotter and Toonie have all praised Wilson to the hilt, so it's just possible I may be wrong about him (despite his entirely underwhelming international career so far). He's on good form right now. Can't argue with that.

Brown over Ford was probably 50/50 so I suspect Ford is on the bench to help Berghan through his debut

Swinson over GIlchrist is justified

I think the backrow lacks a bit of balance - Wilson's best performances have been at 8, for me he's not as effective at 6. I would have started with Barclay

I probably would have gone for Scott on the bench to cover 12 and 13 - if Dunbar gets injured we're lacking a physical presence in the backs.

Huge call on Jones who hasn't played in months!

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

Overall like the look of the starting XV. Back division certainly looks very dangerous. Pack looks good, the inclusion of Brown at hooker certainly adds more dynamism and he is very good over the ball at the break down. Dell also won a few turnovers in the autumn tests so could be an area Scotland really target with having Watson there as well. Scrums are still a bit of a mystery how we will go but Dell and Fagerson seem to have improved since the autumn tests.
Only negative yet again is Wilson still involved. Decent at Glasgow, very average at international level.
Following some of the chat Hogg/laidlaw could be stand off cover slightly disappointed to see Weirs name on the bench instead of Matt Scott.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Decent and predictable team selection. My only quibble is Barclay being much better at rugby than Wilson, but Scott Johnson, Vern Cotter and Toonie have all praised Wilson to the hilt, so it's just possible I may be wrong about him (despite his entirely underwhelming international career so far). He's on good form right now. Can't argue with that.

And stuck by him after Kebab-gate. I'm with you though fES, despite the aforementioned rugby luminaries (discounting Johnson, obviously) always picking him, I really fail to see what he has brought to the party at international level. He has a big engine and gets through a power of work, but I can't recall many occasions where he has made a physical impression - a huge tackle or a powerful carry. I suppose he is a high % player, but you only have to compare him to his probable opposite number, Stander, to see what he is missing.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence. If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well. Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Decent and predictable team selection. My only quibble is Barclay being much better at rugby than Wilson, but Scott Johnson, Vern Cotter and Toonie have all praised Wilson to the hilt, so it's just possible I may be wrong about him (despite his entirely underwhelming international career so far). He's on good form right now. Can't argue with that.

Wilson has as much of a chance in looking like an international player than at any other time in his career. He has been excellent for Glasgow against Racing and Tigers and fought hard against those Munstermen.

His job is to run his arse off and get thrown around by Stander like a dog's chew toy to let Barclay on in the last half hour to do some damage.

I don't have any quibbles really apart from the front row, which is a horlicks wrapped in a f*ck up, draped loosely with a calamity. Ireland will just boot it to the corners all day and rumble in tries, which is why we need to hunt down Murray again and keep the ball in the midfield.

Look at that Scottish backline though. Dreamland compared to 5 years ago and it will really test this young Irish midfield.

Pete330v2 wrote:Thornley's Ireland selection for Saturday, he's rarely wrong.

Ireland possible v Scotland

R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (capt), T Furlong; D Ryan, DToner; CJ Stander, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, I Henderson, J van der Flier, K Marmion, I Keatley, T Bowe.

I like this side and it is a side that could damage Scotland. I have no issues with Tommy Bowe being in the squad, he may not have the same gas as he used to but he is still a very clever rugby player. Good impact sub.

Keatley for me is the surprising inclusion, I simply do not feel he is international standard at all. Really hope PJ doesn't get injured.

George Carlin wrote: I don't have any quibbles really apart from the front row, which is a horlicks wrapped in a f*ck up, draped loosely with a calamity. Ireland will just boot it to the corners all day and rumble in tries, which is why we need to hunt down Murray again and keep the ball in the midfield.

Don't worry though, when Dell and Fagerson have been suitably ground down we can send on Berghan and Reid to shore things up.

Who else is there though - no Carbery, no Sexton

To be honest Bowe has been really poor for Ulster - Gilroy or Marshall on the bench would have been options

geoff999rugby wrote:Who else is there though - no Carbery, no Sexton

To be honest Bowe has been really poor for Ulster - Gilroy or Marshall on the bench would have been options

Madigan would have been a better option, he is much better than Keatley in my opinion.

Em................................... Madigan knew the deal when he was leaving.

eirebilly wrote:

Pete330v2 wrote:Thornley's Ireland selection for Saturday, he's rarely wrong.

Ireland possible v Scotland

R Kearney; K Earls, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, S Zebo; P Jackson, C Murray; J McGrath, R Best (capt), T Furlong; D Ryan, DToner; CJ Stander, S O’Brien, J Heaslip.

Replacements: N Scannell, C Healy, J Ryan, I Henderson, J van der Flier, K Marmion, I Keatley, T Bowe.

I like this side and it is a side that could damage Scotland. I have no issues with Tommy Bowe being in the squad, he may not have the same gas as he used to but he is still a very clever rugby player. Good impact sub.

Keatley for me is the surprising inclusion, I simply do not feel he is international standard at all. Really hope PJ doesn't get injured.

Scotland have speed merchants out wide - that why I would prefer having someone with a bit of gas rather than Tommy Bowe.

Wouldn't worry about Keets - he kicked a great drop goal for Munster's away win to Glasgow in the PRO12 before Christmas.

Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

That he did Sin é but he is not consistent enough so that does not change my mind in that he is not international standard.

eirebilly wrote:Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

I think Sexton had it written into his contract with Racing that he would be available for all Ireland camps. Madigan could only have got here on Monday.

Sin é wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

I think Sexton had it written into his contract with Racing that he would be available for all Ireland camps. Madigan could only have got here on Monday.

Fair enough but contracts can be changed. Still would have preferred him over Keatley.

eirebilly wrote:

Sin é wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

I think Sexton had it written into his contract with Racing that he would be available for all Ireland camps. Madigan could only have got here on Monday.

Fair enough but contracts can be changed. Still would have preferred him over Keatley.

If both parties agree they can, why would Bordeaux want him to be unavailable to them?

EST wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence.  If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well.  Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.  

Its not the first time it has been raised in Ireland v Scotland games. I recall the Ireland team complaining about a Scotland player choking O'Gara at the bottom of a ruck until he passed out in a fixure about 5-10 years ago. If you don't speak out about things they become the norm.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/o-gara-breaks-silence-on-murrayfield-choke-claim-to-finally-put-hines-in-clear-1-1433607

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

EST wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence.  If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well.  Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.  

Its not the first time it has been raised in Ireland v Scotland games. I recall the Ireland team complaining about a Scotland player choking O'Gara at the bottom of a ruck until he passed out in a fixure about 5-10 years ago. If you don't speak out about things they become the norm.

Which it turned out was one of the Ireland players who was actually lying on top of O'Gara chocking him

marty2086 wrote:

If both parties agree they can, why would Bordeaux want him to be unavailable to them?

No club want to have their players released for international duty but it is expected.

All I said was that I would have preferred Madigan to Keatley.

eirebilly wrote:

Sin é wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

I think Sexton had it written into his contract with Racing that he would be available for all Ireland camps. Madigan could only have got here on Monday.

Fair enough but contracts can be changed. Still would have preferred him over Keatley.

I'd be a lot more comfortable with Madigan on the bench but it is what it is. Paddy just better not pick up an injury or on a scale of 1 to 10 it'll be bicycle clip time.

eirebilly wrote:Sexton was picked for Ireland when he was at Racing... Difference is?

Difference is, Madigan was probably told loud and clear that he wouldn't be.

Even Sexton was probably being told the grace wouldn't last and that he'd have to find a reason to come home - luckily enough, Mr Philanthropy O'Brien turned up.

Majestic83 wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

EST wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence.  If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well.  Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.  

Its not the first time it has been raised in Ireland v Scotland games. I recall the Ireland team complaining about a Scotland player choking O'Gara at the bottom of a ruck until he passed out in a fixure about 5-10 years ago. If you don't speak out about things they become the norm.

Which it turned out was one of the Ireland players who was actually lying on top of O'Gara chocking him

Fair enough. You win some you lose some.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

EST wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence.  If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well.  Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.  

Its not the first time it has been raised in Ireland v Scotland games. I recall the Ireland team complaining about a Scotland player choking O'Gara at the bottom of a ruck until he passed out in a fixure about 5-10 years ago. If you don't speak out about things they become the norm.

Another example of Ireland getting it wrong. At least they apologised on that occasion.

You need a hug FES?

EST wrote:

George Carlin wrote: I don't have any quibbles really apart from the front row, which is a horlicks wrapped in a f*ck up, draped loosely with a calamity. Ireland will just boot it to the corners all day and rumble in tries, which is why we need to hunt down Murray again and keep the ball in the midfield.

Don't worry though, when Dell and Fagerson have been suitably ground down we can send on Berghan and Reid to shore things up.

Yep, only real issue is with the front row and that's come about because of injuries. Hopefully we'll see Dicko back at some point. Personally I would have been shocked not to see Wilson in the starting 15, he's on top form and Watson deserves another shot at 7, having doen little wrong. Barcs was just the odd man out this time, but its good to see him and Swinson on the bench. I think we'll see both come on at 60.

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Decent and predictable team selection. My only quibble is Barclay being much better at rugby than Wilson, but Scott Johnson, Vern Cotter and Toonie have all praised Wilson to the hilt, so it's just possible I may be wrong about him (despite his entirely underwhelming international career so far). He's on good form right now. Can't argue with that.

Wilson has as much of a chance in looking like an international player than at any other time in his career. He has been excellent for Glasgow against Racing and Tigers and fought hard against those Munstermen.

His job is to run his arse off and get thrown around by Stander like a dog's chew toy to let Barclay on in the last half hour to do some damage.

I don't have any quibbles really apart from the front row, which is a horlicks wrapped in a f*ck up, draped loosely with a calamity. Ireland will just boot it to the corners all day and rumble in tries, which is why we need to hunt down Murray again and keep the ball in the midfield.

Look at that Scottish backline though. Dreamland compared to 5 years ago and it will really test this young Irish midfield.

Hard to quibble about the front row. Sadly, with Nel and Dickinson injured, that's the best we can do. Such a shame Moray Low and Ryan Grant failed to develop as initially hoped.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:You need a hug FES?

Ask me again on Saturday afternoon.....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:You need a hug FES?

Ask me again on Saturday afternoon.....

Ok deal.

FES is the Scottish front row that bad???

Anyone listen to Eddie O'Sullivan's interview on Newstalk on Monday. Basically he spoke about trips to Murrayfield every two years. He was convinced that Scotland had spies that were passing on Ireland's lineout calls every year. In '01 they had to train in a gym cause the pitches in Edinburgh were frozen. Good old Eddie left a folder with all the lineout calls on a bin in the gym when they left so he went back a few hours later to get it. When he got there they gym owner said that he hadnt see anything. Eddie reckoned this was nonsense so they changed all the calls. In the game Scotland couldn't match them at the lineout according to Eddie as he reckons they were working off Ireland's old calls. Tall story?

EST wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

George Carlin wrote:
Fair enough Guns, but I have been watching rugby for 30 years and I have never heard a player speak to the press about how he was worried he would be hurt in a tackle.

Everyone can draw their own conclusions about that. I have.

You are absolutely right that Ireland has real quality at the breakdown. I would go with 6. Stander 7. Vd Flier and 8. Heaslip. Nice balance to that.

In the 2005 Lions tour O'Driscoll spoke a lot to the press about how his collar bone was broken in a tip tackle. In the game the referee didn't penalise the dump tackle nor did the citing comissioner retrospectively. The tackle was deemed ok by the officials. As a result of this incident indirectly or otherwise however, the rules around tackles were changed.

I have no issue with Murray raising his concern over tackling a kickers standing leg. Id much rather the concern was raised before someone gets injured and out of the game than after. Each to their own though.

 

I think it was the manner that it was raised, Guns - through the media and with a strong implication that it was premeditated, all based on very dubious evidence.  If an Irish team were accused of deliberately injuring another team, via the press, I can't imagine that would go down too well.  Anyway, its been done to death.

I'm looking forward to what should be a cracking game of rugby.  

It was raised with the officials during the game and they saw nothing wrong but how else would you prefer them to address it?

Glasgow admitted they targeted Murray, they denied they set out to injure him

Watching the game live there were a number of 'tackles' that were bordering on late and all aimed and hips and knees. There was nothing overtly illegal in what was done but it was clear they were trying to hurt or antagonise Murray

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Anyone listen to Eddie O'Sullivan's interview on Newstalk on Monday. Basically he spoke about trips to Murrayfield every two years. He was convinced that Scotland had spies that were passing on Ireland's lineout calls every year. In '01 they had to train in a gym cause the pitches in Edinburgh were frozen. Good old Eddie left a folder with all the lineout calls on a bin in the gym when they left so he went back a few hours later to get it. When he got there they gym owner said that he hadnt see anything. Eddie reckoned this was nonsense so they changed all the calls. In the game Scotland couldn't match them at the lineout according to Eddie as he reckons they were working off Ireland's old calls. Tall story?

That was an old pre-game counter strike by Eddie. He left that folder there on purpose...it was plans for his garden shed and the Scots bought it.

Don't be falling for Eddie-the-Innocent stuff, Guns. He loves pulling those tricks.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Anyone listen to Eddie O'Sullivan's interview on Newstalk on Monday. Basically he spoke about trips to Murrayfield every two years. He was convinced that Scotland had spies that were passing on Ireland's lineout calls every year. In '01 they had to train in a gym cause the pitches in Edinburgh were frozen. Good old Eddie left a folder with all the lineout calls on a bin in the gym when they left so he went back a few hours later to get it. When he got there they gym owner said that he hadnt see anything. Eddie reckoned this was nonsense so they changed all the calls. In the game Scotland couldn't match them at the lineout according to Eddie as he reckons they were working off Ireland's old calls. Tall story?

I listened to that last night. Sounds a bit tall to me but you never know, funny if it's true. The Wallabies did bug the All Blacks recently

He seems fairly confident of Ireland winning this fixture and at start of the interview I felt he was being a bit arrogant about it, but actually as the interview goes on he makes some fair points. However, I still think he was underrating the Scottish team somewhat. He seemed to think they're playing a less complicated/simpler game compared with England, Wales and Ireland??? Hence why our backline score the majority of our try's?

Eddie tends to be fairly balanced. I think it is fair enough to think we will win as we have a good record against Scotland even if they are getting better.