6 Nations:Ireland v Scotland - An Craic Mór - 10 Mar 2018

First topic message reminder :

Forget the Tiddlywinks at Twickers, this one’s the proper test match with soaring Scotland taking on their Ivernian cousins.  

Ireland have it all to do on their home turf to keep their championship tilt going, and Scotland have the bit between their teeth to snatch it from them and head into the final round ready to rack up a cricket score against the hapless Italians to try reach top of the table.

Scotland started cold and lost heavily to Wales but now they’ve got their game together, they could be on a roll.  But as their coach has pointed out, their away record in the last decade has been dismal.  That’s the hurdle they have to overcome.  They have the players, the skills, and a successful game plan if they can beat Ireland at their own game at the breakdown.  

Ireland started without a few players like O’Brien, Ringrose, and then lost Furlong, Henderson and Henshaw.  All the replacements stood up - VdF, Leavy, Farrell, Porter, Ryan - and then a couple of them got injured.  But the timing looks good as Furlong, Henderson, and Ringrose are ready to re-enter the fray.  O’Brien could be back for the final round.  

Schmidt has some thinking to do on how he can outwit Townsend - attempting 60-70% possession with constant pick and goes isn’t going to cut it.  Will Sexton have his kicking boots back?   Will yet another midfield continue to weaken the defensive line?   On the other hand, will Russell turn from hero to zero if his looping passes fail to hit their target and Fall into the hands of Stockdale or Earls instead?

Both sides haven’t been shy about scoring, although they go about it in completely different ways.   Let’s see if they can keep it up.

Paddies

15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 81 caps
14. Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster) 65 caps
13. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster) 11 caps
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht) 5 caps
11. Jacob Stockdale (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 7 caps
10. Johnny Sexton (St Mary's College/Leinster) 71 caps
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 62 caps

1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 76 caps
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 109 caps
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster) 21 caps
4. James Ryan (UCD/Leinster) 6 caps
5. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 56 caps
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 45 caps
7. Dan Leavy (UCD/Leinster) 7 caps
8. CJ Stander (Shannon/Munster) 21 caps

Replacements
16. Sean Cronin (St Mary's College/Leinster) 59 caps
17. Jack McGrath (St Mary's College/Leinster) 45 caps
18. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster) 5 caps
19. Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 36 caps
20. Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) 18 caps
21. Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) 19 caps
22. Joey Carbery (Clontarf/Leinster) 8 caps
23. Jordan Larmour (St Mary's College/Leinster) 1 cap

Lovely Scotsmen

Whiffy Tops
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Huw Jones Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Finn Russsell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne),
Beautiful Rumblers
Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets, captain), Hamish Watson Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Extras:
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), David Denton (Worcester Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors).

Oh come on Horne!!!!!

Thats inexplicable from Horne. Jones was on his shoulder

Jesus man. Just go for the easy pass.

Criminal. Absolutely criminal

Not if Scotland keeping throwing horror passes like these....

The Oracle wrote:Put down the knitting needles Eirebilly and SecretFly, those grand slam onesies you’re making will have to go on hold!

Its in the bag

Scotland again making the wrong decisions. All the attacking play minded but simple bad decisions and handling skills letting them down.

Have to say, Ireland would be really in trouble if Scotland could pass

Not sure about that scrum penalty - we mashed them

Updated prediction. Pre match the predicted score was 31-18, Ireland with 78% chance.

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Yep Scotland doing the most difficult part but messing up the easier stuff somehow.
Still as soon as they go through phases at speed they seem to find room in the Irish defense.

Sexton kicking hasn't been great today

Agree about Barnes, Oracle.

Feel for Scotland today though. Three good opportunities not taken. Lovely try though.

Amazing what the scots got away with vs England, not happening today is it lads! Lol

TightHEAD wrote:Amazing what the scots got away with vs England, not happening today is it lads! Lol

Yeah because Scotland opposition are making an attempt to ruck

nathan wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Amazing what the scots got away with vs England, not happening today is it lads! Lol

Yeah because Scotland opposition are making an attempt to ruck

And, you know, playing well

Great Scrum Nel

Scotland mashed Ireland in the scrum there, to me that should have been a Scotland penalty.

They have one now though.

Barnes is being very kind to Ireland today

Denton has been a penalty liability

I think thats a harsh call

nathan wrote:Barnes is being very kind to Ireland today

Tighten up Nathan, ye know that Barnes is clearly biased against Ireland and will ensure that Scotland win in the end. The worst referee in the world.

Nonsense from Barnes. Denton rolling away and Irish players come in from the side and push him back and he's penalised.

nathan wrote:Sexton kicking hasn't been great today

It was not good against Wales either. He needs to have a word with himself if he wants to get in my fantasy league team again!

Is that the championship right there?

Over to you England...

Good play Ireland

Guess England will really have to chase the BP in Paris?

Truck and trailer! He wasn't attached

eirebilly wrote:Is that the championship right there?

Over to you England...

I think it is. Can't see England winning let alone with a BP. We'll get mullered at the breakdown again.

Ireland's worries about Barnes were certainly unfounded - huge penalty count against Scotland.

I'm not claiming he's biased against us by the way.

eirebilly wrote:Is that the championship right there?

Over to you England...

Absolutely. No way are England going to score 4 tries against France AND Ireland.

So. Anyone doing anything interesting tonight? Bugger all worth watching on the tele

TightHEAD wrote:Truck and trailer! He wasn't attached

Lol

Championship was over last week. England just need to take 2 wins in the next 2 games and forget chasing tries. If it comes it comes. I doubt it will.

Russell

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ireland's gunsvgerms, collapse2005 and rodders worries about Barnes were certainly unfounded - huge penalty count against Scotland.

I'm not claiming he's biased against us by the way.

Fixed that for ye free of charge

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ireland's worries about Barnes were certainly unfounded - huge penalty count against Scotland.

I'm not claiming he's biased against us by the way.

I was going to ask if he's been forgiven over in Ireland now, but didn't want to sound like I was moaning about the calls. In the list of things that have lost us this game any refereeing decisions would be a long way down, if it was even on there at all!

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ireland's gunsvgerms, collapse2005 and rodders worries about Barnes were certainly unfounded - huge penalty count against Scotland.

I'm not claiming he's biased against us by the way.

Fixed that for ye free of charge

Good of you!

It has to be a mental thing with Scotland to win away from home. They have played some excellent rugby, certainly enough to beat Ireland but their lack of composure, handling and clinical finishing has seriously let them down.

They way they played here against Ireland would have to have led to a victory if at home.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ireland's worries about Barnes were certainly unfounded - huge penalty count against Scotland.

I'm not claiming he's biased against us by the way.

I was going to ask if he's been forgiven over in Ireland now, but didn't want to sound like I was moaning about the calls. In the list of things that have lost us this game any refereeing decisions would be a long way down, if it was even on there at all!

Absolutely

eirebilly wrote:It has to be a mental thing with Scotland to win away from home. They have played some excellent rugby, certainly enough to beat Ireland but their lack of composure, handling and clinical finishing has seriously let them down.

They way they played here against Ireland would have to have led to a victory if at home.

You're right there Billy, and its a worry because its not an easy thing to fix. Its mindset and belief rather than systems on the field. However, we've managed to fix our form at home so hopefully in time our form away can pick up too

That was never on Hogg

The sweaty socks couldn't get up for this game then!

Ah come on Barnes you've got to be consistent - Ireland player completely disrupting the ruck and not getting out the way!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah come on Barnes you've got to be consistent - Ireland player completely disrupting the ruck and not getting out the way!

I must admit I did have a rueful smile at that one

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

eirebilly wrote:It has to be a mental thing with Scotland to win away from home. They have played some excellent rugby, certainly enough to beat Ireland but their lack of composure, handling and clinical finishing has seriously let them down.

They way they played here against Ireland would have to have led to a victory if at home.

You're right there Billy, and its a worry because its not an easy thing to fix. Its mindset and belief rather than systems on the field. However, we've managed to fix our form at home so hopefully in time our form away can pick up too

It must be incredibly frustrating for you Scottish fans. Scotland have actually played very well today. Ireland simply more clinical and more composed.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah come on Barnes you've got to be consistent - Ireland player completely disrupting the ruck and not getting out the way!

I must admit I did have a rueful smile at that one

So blatant and makes rugby incredibly frustrating at times

It's not a mental thing with scotland it's the fact they are playing attacking rugby which is riskier. When 9u take those risks and how comes with paling together for a good length of time. While it develops you will win games like 2 weeks ago or not today. Either game could have gone either way. The thing which is impressive is how townsend is developing your pack. Scrum is looking v good. Balance good. Lineout needs work. Get that sorted is he next step. Consistency will come.

Wee bit gutted at the score but we never expected a win really.
It's at least a case of us being outplayed and not playing awfully for a change. No shame in that, Ireland deserve kudos for taking the game to us.

Watson has been immense

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's not a mental thing with scotland it's the fact they are playing attacking rugby which is riskier. When 9u take those risks and how comes with paling together for a good length of time. While it develops you will win games like 2 weeks ago or not today. Either game could have gone either way. The thing which is impressive is how townsend is developing your pack. Scrum is looking v good. Balance good. Lineout needs work. Get that sorted is he next step. Consistency will come.

The problem with this is that a lot of our errors today have been unforced, final passes overthrown in the expectation of scoring etc. It's a lack of composure when it counts, which we aren't seeing anymore when we play at home. Yes the way we're playing will always lead to more errors, but its been more than that today and against Wales

Barnes hasn't helped but we can only blame ourselves here. We're not finishing things off. A player makes a great break (the hard bit) but then rather than do the easy thing simply (the easy bit) we try some mad miss pass or other un-needed daft thing