Scotland's 6N Build Up, Then Inevitable Fall: Dark Horses of the Year 10 years running

First topic message reminder :

It's the hope that kills ya!

Who else is really nervous about tomorrow’s game?

I wasn’t too fussed in the buildup to the England match as I strongly felt they would win. Then we pulled off a near perfect game (for Scotland) and the hope and expectation has returned. Yet Wales always seem to give Scotland a tough time coming out on top more often than not when the scoreline is close. 2017 was a great win but it took some impressive skill from the backs to win it. Any sort of sub par performance from Scotland will probably result in a loss.

bsando wrote:Who else is really nervous about tomorrow’s game?

I wasn’t too fussed in the buildup to the England match as I strongly felt they would win. Then we pulled off a near perfect game (for Scotland) and the hope and expectation has returned. Yet Wales always seem to give Scotland a tough time coming out on top more often than not when the scoreline is close. 2017 was a great win but it took some impressive skill from the backs to win it. Any sort of sub par performance from Scotland will probably result in a loss.

Me but Im Welsh!!

There was talk Richie Gray was a busted flush when he came came back to Glasgow and a poor return on the investment!

I think now it is fair to say plenty of us were wrong on that one!




The Richie Graynaissance: A 'genetic freak' who is playing his best-ever rugby at 33
Jamie Lyall
12:59pm, 10 February 2023


When he moved into his apartment in Castres, Richie Gray bought a rowing machine. Not content with the brutality of the Top 14 or his self-imposed midweek extras, the enormous lock would heave away on the rower until his lungs screamed and his legs burned.

“We would do top-ups after training – burpees, down-and-ups on the pitch – and Richie would win,” says Johnnie Beattie, the former Scotland No 8 who played with Gray at Glasgow, Castres and for the national team.

“Then he’d go home and flog himself on the rowing machine and set British amateur rowing times. It was ludicrous. If he’d entered the championships he’d have won. Nobody asked him to do it. He wanted to do more. That was out in France where nobody was looking at him. He wasn’t telling anyone, he wasn’t reporting that to staff, he just knew he needed to do more to perform in the hugely physical Top 14.

“You come across some people in rugby who are just built differently. Richie is physically different at over 2m tall, and he’s different because of this internal drive, these standards and motivation that world-class athletes have.”

We are waxing about Gray again because of his extraordinary return to the Test arena at 33 years old. He has fought in the toughest trenches the club game has to offer – the Premiership with Sale, the unrelenting grind of the Top 14 with Castres and Toulouse. He frequently played over 30 games a season and won a French title before being besieged by a seemingly endless spree of back, hip and head injuries. He went six years without starting a Six Nations match. He won only three caps between March 2017 and November 2022.

Gray will be 34 in August and yet, is delivering the finest rugby of his career. He set a lifetime-best top speed time with Scotland in the autumn. He ruled the skies in the Calcutta Cup epic and the rugby world has cooed at his fabulous role in the winning try. Collecting a miss-pass from Fraser Brown, the ball was in Gray’s sprawling hands for 0.2 seconds and then shooting out of them again on a perfect trajectory to the onrushing Matt Fagerson. In the 73rd minute, it was a wonderful flourish of skill.

“Remember this is a guy who can squat over 200kgs, runs like a back-rower, ran a lineout at Castres and Toulouse, is intelligent and hugely respected in the Top 14,” Beattie goes on. “His sleight of hand stood out on the weekend and he’s always had in his locker.”

What Gray also possesses is a vast arsenal of lineout nous. England had 13 on Saturday and threw to the front ten times. Why? The giant Gray loomed in the middle like an approaching tornado. He made 17 tackles without missing, cleaned more rucks than any other Scot and was among the first three arriving players at more breakdowns than anyone else in the visiting side.

“You see the work he gets through – completely tireless,” says Beattie. “His GPS stats have always been there or thereabouts with the back-rowers in terms of metres covered and speed. He is a machine.

“He’s always been imperious at lineout time. If you get Richie on a full lift, who is competing with him? Nobody. You had Richie and Grant Gilchrist locking back and middle on Saturday. You essentially force England to take every single ball at the front, which allowed Scotland’s defensive effort to thrive. Having a guy of Richie’s height, with his intelligence and the pressure he brings to a lineout. That made Scotland’s lineout defence two or three times easier every time. You could catch England behind the gainline. He brings fear factor in games that people don’t see or understand, and allows Scotland to play into games a different way.”

One of Danny Wilson’s first acts as Glasgow coach was to bring Gray back to his home city. Wilson built his reputation as a set-piece specialist but even he was shocked by how astutely the Lion bossed those areas of play. Though Glasgow’s quarter-final capitulation at Leinster cost Wilson his job in June, his Warriors pack finished with the best lineout and scrum statistics in the URC.

“When we got Richie, Ryan Wilson and Scott Cummings on the pitch at once, Jesus, people feared how much ball we could pinch,” he says. “We stole more than anyone else in the league. A lot of that was built around Richie.

“He is not just good in the air, he’s also fast across the floor and fast in the air which makes him a double threat. It was easy to put your lineout menu together and remember, most tries are scored off that source of possession.

“Richie has a brilliant ability to see what opposition are doing in defence – way better than I thought – and mirror what they’re doing. You talk about a defensive 13 who makes good reads and avoids decoy runners, like Chris Harris, well Richie Gray is that in a lineout.

“We stole a lot of ball through his knowledge and ability as well as his size. Everyone presumes that being 6ft 10ins makes him a good lineout performer. It doesn’t – it’s all the intricacies around that.”

Wilson knew he was getting a serious lineout weapon, but he didn’t quite appreciate what a figurehead Gray would be for his evolving squad. The lock was given a leadership award at the end of the season, a nod to the aura he carried and the example he set. Gray’s understated manner belies a man of such monumental proportions. Still, he commands huge respect at Scotstoun.

“He’s a very quiet leader,” says Wilson. “He leads meticulously by example versus by voice. He’s not one for big speeches. But when Richie loses his rag, everybody knows, Christ, this must be something. He was normally the calm person but there was once or twice when he’d let everyone know he wasn’t happy with stuff.

“Your leaders are the temperature gauge for your group and you don’t want them to be emotional but you want them to drive standards and he found a good way to do that.

“I’m so glad we brought him back. He was a really good signing for us. He got back in the Scotland team and has a zest to play for Scotland again.”

There was a degree of choice in Gray’s time out of the international set-up. He needed time to get his body right. He did not think it fair to spend weeks away from his newborn child in France. Now home again, and motoring again, Scotland are reaping the rewards. Gregor Townsend has talked long and loud about this version of Gray and how it’s the best he’s ever seen.

“Playing his club rugby back in Scotland has helped a lot – getting physically back to where he was and even surpassing that, because he’s in the shape of his life,” said Townsend. “He’s probably our most professional player, first up in the morning to go to the gym and get himself ready for training.”

John Dalziel, Townsend’s forwards coach, is similarly effusive.

“We always look at Richie and think, ‘he’s a line-out forward, he’ll assist the line-out’. That’s a given. But it’s outside of the set-piece where he’s really excelling, like in the collision area.

“For someone that tall to be able to do some of the things, he’s doing at the moment, using his body in a way he’d never really used it before, is exceptional.”

All these elements and all these pieces in a potent 125kg puzzle. Gray’s excellence burned to the fore at Twickenham; after so many years out of the picture, he has become a go-to man for Townsend again.

“It is incredible to watch him,” says Beattie. “He could be Simon Shaw-esque with his longevity. Shawsy went for about 20 years – Richie could be the same because he looks after himself so well, he’s so diligent and such a good team player. He’s worked through the hardest points and he’s come back aged 33 in the form of his life.

“The work he gets through individually in a defensive line, the ability to get off the deck for a huge man, go through repeat efforts and be tireless. If you were going to describe that Scottish doggedness on the weekend, Richie was a hugely important part of that process.”

When Gray seared on to the scene around 2010, you couldn’t take your eyes off his colossal carrying and immense frame, topped, like a massive stick of broccoli, by his wild blonde mop. But now, over a dozen years later, back from England and France and injury after injury, Scotland are getting the full package.

“Hitting top speed times in his 34th year, over 2m tall, squats over 200KG, that’s a genetic freak,” says Beattie. “In Scotland, you talk about Andy Murray, Chris Hoy, the Stoltman brothers – who else would you put in that bracket? Richie is in there. There are not many on the planet who can produce the kind of output Richie does.”

BigGee wrote:
“It is incredible to watch him,” says Beattie. “He could be Simon Shaw-esque with his longevity. Shawsy went for about 20 years – Richie could be the same because he looks after himself so well, he’s so diligent and such a good team player. He’s worked through the hardest points and he’s come back aged 33 in the form of his life.

I think the analogy to Simon Shaw is apt. Both excellent players at times overlooked or underestimated by coaches and fans (though not by teammates and opponents). Got better with age and ended up with a really good career. In fact, Shawies signature game was that in that 2009 Lions series where he was the best player on the pitch. I think he was 36.

I see Biggar has been slagging us off in the media. I hope Crosbie smashes him at the first opportunity.

To be fair he's made the point that Wales have been far more successful than us, which is true, but my God does he come across as an arrogant Mr Winklechops. Also he says everyone is saying Scotland are the best team in the tournament, I have no idea who he's been reading or talking to but I've not seen that anywhere!

Please Scotland don't balls it up today.

Eddie Jones esque sledging. Stuff like this used to annoy me but now I smile because I think it’s all part of what makes the 6N the best rugby tournament in the world. Will any of the Scotland players read Biggars interview and be affected by it? No chance. If they lose today it’ll simply be down to Wales being the better team.

Gréât article on Gray. It also solidifies the view that many of the Scottish rugby pundits have which is that this Scotland side is nearing its peak. Pressure has never been higher for this group and I am really excited to see how they react to that pressure. Previous Scotland sides have crumbled spectacularly or simply rolled over. I’m confident they can do it today but it’s a big test for the group. Wales hate losing.

Well, looking at today's Gruaniad there is an article about Engerlund rugby. It has tables for the top 11 Test sides over 2022.
Average over 80 minutes.
Tries Per Match; Wales 11th out of 11, Scotland 6th.
Attacking Ruck Speed; Wales 11th, Scotland 8th
Tackle Success; Scotland 1st, Wales 2nd
Turnovers Won; Scotland 3rd, Wales 11th
Lineout Steals; Scotland 7th, Wales 11th
Scrums Won; Wales, 6th, Scotland 10th.

So Wales came last in 4 out of the 6 aspects which usually determine the outcome of a game.
The only clear area where Wales look to be better is in the set scrum.
With Gray Snr in the form of his life perhaps Scotland should be looking at kicking the ball off the field and attacking the Wales linout in their half rather than keeping it in play as they did last week. Also, the youngsters Cementhead has brought in look like adding a fair bit of pace into Wales' pack but perhaps not as much grunt in the scrum or height in the lineout.

i do hope Toonie is telling them to have lots of lineouts in the Wales 22 and also challenging Ragnar The Pretty to justify his selection.

On an unrelated related note, watching the scotland training camp great to see our refs getting involved, I think a lot of our improvement has come from understanding the laws better and applying them to our game. Having more pro referees will only help our cause, I think they've contributed more to the Scottish setup than they get credit for.

Nice stats Jimbo, I get the feeling Wales will want to be as disruptive as possible. They'll want to silence the Murrayfield crowd and kill any Scottish momentum. I'm expecting a huge defensive effort from them.

Lineout time should be a big advantage for Scotland as you say. Wales have Beard (penalties galore last weekend) and Jenkins who will be winning his 3rd cap. Scotland have an experienced backrow vs a young and promising backrow for Wales. They may click and have a stormer, but it's an unknown vs a tried and tested Scottish backrow.

On paper head to heads its pretty heavily in favour of Scotland.

Hogg vs Liam Williams - Williams

Steyn vs Josh Adams - Adams

George North vs Jones - Jones

Joe Hawkins vs Tuipilotu - Tuipilotu

DVDM vs Rio Dyer - DVDM

Russell vs Dan Biggar  - Evens

White vs Tomos Williams - Williams

Schoeman vs Wyn Jones - Evens

Turner vs Ken Owens - Owens

Fagerson vs Dillon Lewis - Lewis (Fagerson just back from injury)

Gray vs Dafydd Jenkins - Gray

Gilchrist vs Adam Beard - Gilchrist

Ritchie vs Christ Tshiunza - Ritchie

Crosbie vs Tommy Reffell - Evens

Fagerson vs Jac Morgan - Fagerson



Replacements

Brown vs Scott Baldwin - Brown

Bhatti vs Rhys Carre - Evens

Nel vs Leon Brown - Nel

J Gray vs Rhys Davies - J Gray

Dempsey vs Taulupe Faletau - Evens

Horne vs Rhys Webb - Evens

Kionghorn vs Rhys Patchell - Patchell

Harris vs Alex Cuthbert - Evens

Scotland - 9
Evens - 7
Wales - 6

Look, forget all the hype train carry on and what not, the simple fact is that wales are utter dug kite right now and anything but a good win for Scotland should be considered an upset.

Cement head is the only thorny factor. He could out tactic Toonie and everything falls to bits.

If we don’t beat wales today then really last weeks game means hee haw and quite frankly will herald another false dawn.

We’re doomed.

Doooooooooomed

Chugga chugga, chugga chugga. Chooooo chooooooooooooo

As the second half progressed there was a real sense of inevitability about the result.
Also good to see those old favourites; our complete bewilderment when asked to deal with a restart and Chris Harris' steadfast refusal to accelerate into space with the ball in his hands.

I got a wee bit emotional at doddies wife handing the trophy to Ritchie. As the commentary said it's so fitting. Well done boys, enjoy tonight!

NeilyBroon wrote:I got a wee bit emotional at doddies wife handing the trophy to Ritchie. As the commentary said it's so fitting. Well done boys, enjoy tonight!

Absolutely. Great win by Scotland, and you guys aren’t a bad bunch of blokes either. I predict another win in Paris upcoming .

mikey_dragon wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:I got a wee bit emotional at doddies wife handing the trophy to Ritchie. As the commentary said it's so fitting. Well done boys, enjoy tonight!

Absolutely. Great win by Scotland, and you guys aren’t a bad bunch of blokes either. I predict another win in Paris upcoming .

Steady on soldier. France know how to play the power game which is where we traditionally struggle.

As a Scotland fan I’m not used to this feeling though so I’m not sure which way to go.

Ps, has anyone checked jimbo’s blood pressure yet?

Big credit to Kinghorn, he had a great game. I think the Blair switch project has actually improved his game... AT FULLBACK TOONIE.... FULLBACK. But he starts for me against France.

Null points for Jamesie Cotter, " Kinghorn passes to the giant winger outside him." Very good except for the fact that Blarehorn is actually taller than Duhan the giant.

NeilyBroon wrote:I got a wee bit emotional at doddies wife handing the trophy to Ritchie. As the commentary said it's so fitting. Well done boys, enjoy tonight!

A wee bit!

I was bawling my eyes out!

jimbopip wrote:Null points for Jamesie Cotter, " Kinghorn passes to the giant winger outside him." Very good except for the fact that Blarehorn is actually taller than Duhan the giant.

McVandemer the dwarf

NeilyBroon wrote:Big credit to Kinghorn, he had a great game. I think the Blair switch project has actually improved his game... AT FULLBACK TOONIE.... FULLBACK. But he starts for me against France.

On form, he plays

Big big call for Toonie

I still don’t know if we’re allowed to get hyped or not yet

It’s just been too many false dawns

But back to back victories over England away from home. Then we finally beat a gatland coached wales.

Can we dream?

I just have this feeling. Imagine we beat France in Paris. We’ve done it before. Then imagine we beat Ireland at home. Holy cockwombles Batman. It would then be truly Scottish to lose vs Italy in the last game.

tigertattie wrote:I still don’t know if we’re allowed to get hyped or not yet

It’s just been too many false dawns

But back to back victories over England away from home. Then we finally beat a gatland coached wales.

Can we dream?

I just have this feeling. Imagine we beat France in Paris. We’ve done it before. Then imagine we beat Ireland at home. Holy cockwombles Batman. It would then be truly Scottish to lose vs Italy in the last game.

It'd be the most fittingly Scottish thing to win the triple crown and against France in Paris to lose to a resurgent Italy at home in the last round

tigertattie wrote:I still don’t know if we’re allowed to get hyped or not yet

It’s just been too many false dawns

But back to back victories over England away from home. Then we finally beat a gatland coached wales.

Can we dream?

I just have this feeling. Imagine we beat France in Paris. We’ve done it before. Then imagine we beat Ireland at home. Holy cockwombles Batman. It would then be truly Scottish to lose vs Italy in the last game.

You have definitely earned the right to get excited but you still have to face 1 and 2 in the world. Scotland have been excellent though and Townsend is a top coach.

Just the 8 defenders beaten for Duhan this week.

I’m again conflicted. Did we fail to get Duhan involved more or did Toonie play a blinder and day “listen lads, they are gonna target Duhan so everything goes to Kyle this week”

Collapse2005 wrote:

tigertattie wrote:I still don’t know if we’re allowed to get hyped or not yet

It’s just been too many false dawns

But back to back victories over England away from home. Then we finally beat a gatland coached wales.

Can we dream?

I just have this feeling. Imagine we beat France in Paris. We’ve done it before. Then imagine we beat Ireland at home. Holy cockwombles Batman. It would then be truly Scottish to lose vs Italy in the last game.

You have definitely earned the right to get excited but you still have to face 1 and 2 in the world. Scotland have been excellent though and Townsend is a top coach.

I disagree - they cannot get excited until the proper paperwork is filed, in triplicate.  Then wait for approval from the newly created government ministry, The Ministry of Excitement, created specifically to measure and increase your levels of excitement if not overall happiness.  They have KPIs to meet, just as in North Korea.  So I am sure their application will be handled expeditiously and viewed positively.

Congrats to Scotland for the start in this year's Six Nations. Looking good boys.

Don't be concerned about false dawns and the like. Just enjoy the performances and the ride.

tigertattie wrote:Just the 8 defenders beaten for Duhan this week.

I’m again conflicted. Did we fail to get Duhan involved more or did Toonie play a blinder and day “listen lads, they are gonna target Duhan so everything goes to Kyle this week”

I think he was marked out of the game a bit - giving space to others. He also stayed on his wing rather than coming in looking for work

Wonder why the TMO didnt review it when the Scottish scrum half got a swinging boot to the face?

Collapse2005 wrote:Wonder why the TMO didnt review it when the Scottish scrum half got a swinging boot to the face?

I don't think there was anything in that, just wrong place at wrong time.

Well I'm in bits having woken up and seen all the Doddie tributes - Ritchie holding the trophy aloft and pointing to the sky really got me. Then this was the finisher

https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/1624479668559568898?t=j9UEa4AO5xKnKthJUAVZPw&s=19



And we finally beat Gatland's Wales!

I'm normally pretty pessimistic but screw it - the Grand Slam is going to be ours

jimbopip wrote:As the second half progressed there was a real sense of inevitability about the result.
Also good to see those old favourites; our complete bewilderment when asked to deal with a restart and Chris Harris' steadfast refusal to accelerate into space with the ball in his hands.

The impact of Huw Jones returning at 13 to replace Harris must not be underestimated. Different class of player.

NeilyBroon wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Wonder why the TMO didnt review it when the Scottish scrum half got a swinging boot to the face?

I don't think there was anything in that, just wrong place at wrong time.

I do.  Its a common welsh tactic as you get cleared out to swing your feet round to obstruct the 9.  should have been looked at - not a deliberate kick to the face but a reckless act

BigGee wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Big credit to Kinghorn, he had a great game. I think the Blair switch project has actually improved his game... AT FULLBACK TOONIE.... FULLBACK. But he starts for me against France.

On form, he plays

Big big call for Toonie

I think what Toonie has done over the last two weeks has been the inverse of the WhichBlairProject: rather than starting as playmaker and having to cope with all the attendant stress and responsibility he is coming on once the patterns of the game are pretty established and seems to have freedom to hit the line when and where he wants. In short he seems to have been given the freedom to express himself.

So; Ali Price, Adam Hastings,NoMaits Sam Johnson, D'Arcy, Ollie Smith, Stafford, Cam Redpath could all come into the squad. That is a lot of talent waiting in the wings.
Actually, you could argue that there is a better back division there than in many a Scotland side pre Toonie.
It's just mad Ted. So it is.

jimbopip wrote:

BigGee wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Big credit to Kinghorn, he had a great game. I think the Blair switch project has actually improved his game... AT FULLBACK TOONIE.... FULLBACK. But he starts for me against France.

On form, he plays

Big big call for Toonie

I think what Toonie has done over the last two weeks has been the inverse of the WhichBlairProject: rather than starting as playmaker and having to cope with all the attendant stress and responsibility he is coming on once the patterns of the game are pretty established and seems to have freedom to hit the line when and where he wants. In short he seems to have been given the freedom to express himself.

So; Ali Price, Adam Hastings,NoMaits Sam Johnson, D'Arcy, Ollie Smith, Stafford, Cam Redpath could all come into the squad. That is a lot of talent waiting in the wings.
Actually, you could argue that there is a better back division there than in many a Scotland side pre Toonie.
It's just mad Ted. So it is.

Careful now. The craggy islanders aren't for a few weeks!

TJ wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Wonder why the TMO didnt review it when the Scottish scrum half got a swinging boot to the face?

I don't think there was anything in that, just wrong place at wrong time.

I do.  Its a common welsh tactic as you get cleared out to swing your feet round to obstruct the 9.  should have been looked at - not a deliberate kick to the face but a reckless act

Looked to me like it was Liam Williams

Cracking second half performance to keep Wales scoreless. So many positives once Scotland escaped the Welsh arm wrestle. Being two from two felt nigh on impossible just over a week ago and look where we are! Getting a record win over Wales was a brilliant result, Doddie would have loved that one.

France in Paris next up will be superb. I really hope scotland can improve and find a way to win. It would setup a fascinating final two weekends.

I’ve got tickets for Scotland vs Italy and I’d be over the moon if we were still in with a shout of the title that day.

Apologies, mates, but if I may mention a little bit of a problem which also highlights an opportunity (how's that for mixed messages?). Scotland were leading by only 13-7 until the first of the two Steyn tries at the 50 minute mark, and had left quite a few tries begging. If Scotland had converted one or two more the match could have almost been out of sight at halftime. So a little more patience and tighten up finishing the attack and, well, boom!

This feels like a very appropriate video from GLove to summarise.

https://youtu.be/V3B6b_nlcqc

NeilyBroon wrote:This feels like a very appropriate video from GLove to summarise.

https://youtu.be/V3B6b_nlcqc

That's twisted! Like it, but it's twisted.

Not much else to add really having now watched the game. Shout out to Kinghorn who made a great impact. It's a shame he's spent the last few years becoming an average 10 when he could have spent that time developing into a genuinely world class fullback. He is such a danger when he hits those outside channels at pace and has a huge boot. His defence and ability under the high ball needs work but there's no doubt he's a long-term fixture in the Scotland 23.

Where he plays when he returns to Edinburgh is an interesting question!

Btw anyone else notice the Gray brothers don't stand together at the anthems? And it's not just because Jonny is on the bench as the players all mix together when lining up.

I'm sure it's nothing, but just a bit weird given the Fagerson's and Hornes are/were all together every time.

Well now, that was some performance again from Scotland. Toonie seems to have the set up well balanced.

Finn Russell, simply outstanding. If I were a Scotland fan, I would not be dreading playing France in France now. Sure they bring the power game but they also kick way too much and that will play into Scotland's hands.

Congrats on the win lads.

I think I'm in a Philip K Dick novel.

I seem to have passed out and woken up in an alternative reality where we spank Wales in the 6 Nations and feel we can still get better.

I'm checking to see if I'm married to Keira Knightly, which is the other part of my preferred alternative reality.

By the way, I'm old enough to remember watching Scotland in the 80s and 90s where Scotland did regularly and comfortably beat Wales.

Well isn't this a nice feeling! I'd say we're going to France with arguably less pressure now, I'm actually looking forward to seeing Scotland chuck it about a bit. I'm not sure we'll win against France but we definitely have a better chance against them than Ireland. Although with Ireland at home we can at least dream of the triple crown!

NeilyBroon wrote:Well isn't this a nice feeling! I'd say we're going to France with arguably less pressure now, I'm actually looking forward to seeing Scotland chuck it about a bit. I'm not sure we'll win against France but we definitely have a better chance against them than Ireland. Although with Ireland at home we can at least dream of the triple crown!

I agree. I think that the expectation before the tournament was that we weren't expected to beat France away from home and I don't think that has changed.

We have Italy coming up and 3 wins was always the minimum expectation. I do think that we can beat France though. Ireland showed what happens if you constantly attack.

George Carlin wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Well isn't this a nice feeling! I'd say we're going to France with arguably less pressure now, I'm actually looking forward to seeing Scotland chuck it about a bit. I'm not sure we'll win against France but we definitely have a better chance against them than Ireland. Although with Ireland at home we can at least dream of the triple crown!

I agree. I think that the expectation before the tournament was that we weren't expected to beat France away from home and I don't think that has changed.

We have Italy coming up and 3 wins was always the minimum expectation. I do think that we can beat France though. Ireland showed what happens if you constantly attack.

All aboard! The train has already left the station and Neily is driving, tigertattie has commandeered the buffet car, GC is leading the singing in second class while FES festers in splendid isolation in the Jacob Rees Mogg memorial First Class cabin.

p.s. I shall be telling bedtime stories over the intercom.

Good thing the hype train runs on hot air

When is Graham back?