Scotland World Cup buildup

First topic message reminder :

Scotland v Italy
Saturday 29 July

Scotland v France
Saturday 5 August

France v Scotland
Saturday 12 August

Scotland v Georgia
Saturday 26 August

I think it's only fair to start another thread for this topic because I can see it being a popular topic in terms of discussion .

First things first is that 3 wins from 5 and a 3rd place finish probably exceeded expectations because most would have said 2 wins and the 4th place win, the one that most would have called was England to beat us as they were at home so imho we certainly deserve enormous credit for that one because we played very well against an England team that also had their moments, in fact I could already see improvements from the Eddie Jones era during that game and until DVDM clinched it at the death, I was still pretty worried we wouldn't win so was understandably over the moon that we did win.

The Wales and Italy matches were mixed bags tbh but we did get 5pts from both which was crucial, the Welsh game we didn't really perform first half and were in fact fortunate to go in at half time ahead but second half we were excellent and deserved the bonus point win.  The Italy game was a mixed bag in terms of; we had patches where we did well and others where we were hanging on, such as the last 2mins, I also felt that in that game our top centre pairing of Huwipulotu were quiet in attack though DVDM was a bit more involved that he had been in the previous few weeks before.

The France game was bloody frustrating because we showed glimpses of how well we can play especially in the second half for large parts but we were guilty of missing key opportunities and indiscipline from the captain of all people was our undoing which is where the frustration comes because as fans, we expect our captain to know what the ref will tolerate in terms of backchat!

The Ireland game was a game of 2 halfs, in the first half we were going toe to toe with them, it was probably the best we've played against them in a very long time; second half was a completely different story, we basically just capitalutated and handed the game to them with basic errors and more stupid indiscipline.

In terms of the coach, I have made my feelings known and really hope that the situation is resolved by at least mid to late April as we really need clarity on the situation!

Finally, for the summer warm up matches I'd like to see fringe players like Cameron Henderson, Ben Healy, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith get some game time to see what they can offer either at the world cup (unlikely) or next 6N in 2024 .

doctor_grey wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Argh, this is too much stress already!

As your physician, I prescribe alcohol.  
Alcohol:  Five millennia of helping people deal with stress.    

Sadly that's not an option as I'm recovering from what I think is norovirus I might be ill again after this game!

More gingers in the SA side than the Scotland side, whod have thought. Heat might favour Scotland.

handbags all round

Nice one Scotland, no backward steps

We’re not at the races today. Need a huge lift in both composure and intensity. We’re just a bit rabbit in the headlights at the moment

Huge loss for the Boks. Etzebeth is the best lock in the world. Their depth is insane but with Lood already out the tournament and now Etzebeth of early they are down to their second string locks.

tigertattie wrote:We’re not at the races today. Need a huge lift in both composure and intensity. We’re just a bit rabbit in the headlights at the moment

To be fair I'd say it's more SA being brutal than us not being at the races. They have been absolutely suffocating. They're looking better with each minute. It'll only take one opportunity to change momentum you feel...

Oh god, not Finn.

king_carlos wrote:Huge loss for the Boks. Etzebeth is the best lock in the world. Their depth is insane but with Lood already out the tournament and now Etzebeth of early they are down to their second string locks.

Boks second string locks would be first choice for everyone else…

NeilyBroon wrote:Oh god, not Finn.

Did himself.

How can you expect someone to wrap an arm when they are getting an elbow into the rib

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Huge loss for the Boks. Etzebeth is the best lock in the world. Their depth is insane but with Lood already out the tournament and now Etzebeth of early they are down to their second string locks.

Boks second string locks would be first choice for everyone else…

But are still worse than Etzebeth and Lood so clearly still a big loss.

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Huge loss for the Boks. Etzebeth is the best lock in the world. Their depth is insane but with Lood already out the tournament and now Etzebeth of early they are down to their second string locks.

Boks second string locks would be first choice for everyone else…

Beard would still get selected by Gatland!

Maine man wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Huge loss for the Boks. Etzebeth is the best lock in the world. Their depth is insane but with Lood already out the tournament and now Etzebeth of early they are down to their second string locks.

Boks second string locks would be first choice for everyone else…

Beard would still get selected by Gatland!

You had to say it didn’t you.

Argghhh. Darcey. That's England levels of butchering a chance.

NeilyBroon wrote:

tigertattie wrote:We’re not at the races today. Need a huge lift in both composure and intensity. We’re just a bit rabbit in the headlights at the moment

To be fair I'd say it's more SA being brutal than us not being at the races. They have been absolutely suffocating. They're looking better with each minute. It'll only take one opportunity to change momentum you feel...

3 on 1 and Darcy doesn’t pass. It’s a Hawick thing.

That’s rabbit in headlights stuff to me

Was screaming at my TV for Graham to pass , why didn't he give it!

Just saw the head on head on twitter - no idea how the Bok player is still on the pitch

BamBam wrote:Was screaming at my TV for Graham to pass , why didn't he give it!

Try butchery classes with his Hawick pal Hogg

Always looks difficult when you’re up again Snyman, that’s such a big body to stop

Heaf wrote:Just saw the head on head on twitter - no idea how the Bok player is still on the pitch

What the hell! Just seen this too, baffling!

You don't see the book pack go back like that often

Scrum penalty against SA, get in!

That is a huge scrum win.

I’ll take that score at half time. Remember lads, we’re a second half team!

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

Heaf wrote:Just saw the head on head on twitter - no idea how the Bok player is still on the pitch

What the hell! Just seen this too, baffling!

Welsh tmo

We’ve gone toe to toe with SA for 40 mins. Absolutely brutal stuff.

If we can play our game in the 2nd half instead of fronting up to SA’s style only, we have a chance

You should have been playing against 14 men for at least 10 minutes - probably more

Heaf wrote:Just saw the head on head on twitter - no idea how the Bok player is still on the pitch

Yep, absolutely clear red. No clue how the TMO missed it, when he was so keen to intervene for Russell's minor collision with a SA player.

The TMO lottery - get your tickets here

While a red card for Kriel, and a Darcy Graham pass. could have changed things, 6-3 is not a bad half-time scoreline for Scotland.

Barclay proving to be much better on the laws than Woodward.

FFS that’s a clear red all day long

Etzebeth, Lood, Pollard and Am all out now. First choice locks, 10 and 13. Etzebeth and Lood are so vital to the physicality and set-piece. Pollard controls the game. Am is the lynchpin that leads the Boks blitz.

The Boks depth is fantastic but it does feel like that is taking a toll. They started off winning every collision with Scotland looking panicked but as the half settled down that physical dominance subsided somewhat.

Vermuelen, van Staden, Mbonambi, Nche and Nyakane to come for the Boks. Incredible impact but they won't be changing both second rows as they so often can in the second half. Whilst Marx and Kitshoff are notably better suited to being impact subs than Mbonambi and Ox.

This should be a very interesting second half.

If he doesn't get cited now questions need to be asked

That scrum on 39 minutes will have rattled the Boks.
ADHD will be having sleepless nights if we lose.

That is the reddest red. How was it not even a penalty

They showed the head clash, it has to be Red based on what we’ve been seeing lately. Confusing. The game is going a bit differently to what I expected, Scotland are in it and are capable of winning.

Duty281 wrote:

Heaf wrote:Just saw the head on head on twitter - no idea how the Bok player is still on the pitch

Yep, absolutely clear red. No clue how the TMO missed it, when he was so keen to intervene for Russell's minor collision with a SA player.

I spotted it live and was gobsmacked that no one looked at it. Jamie and Finn both asked the ref if it was getting looked at and Angus just ignored it

If the TV crew miss it I can understand it but they showed a replay 30 secs after it happened and nothing was said.

Hopefully this spurs Scotland on to go on and win this

Can they sub the TMO at half time?

king_carlos wrote:Etzebeth, Lood, Pollard and Am all out now. First choice locks, 10 and 13. Etzebeth and Lood are so vital to the physicality and set-piece. Pollard controls the game. Am is the lynchpin that leads the Boks blitz.

The Boks depth is fantastic but it does feel like that is taking a toll. They started off winning every collision with Scotland looking panicked but as the half settled down that physical dominance subsided somewhat.

Vermuelen, van Staden, Mbonambi, Nche and Nyakane to come for the Boks. Incredible impact but they won't be changing both second rows as they so often can in the second half. Whilst Marx and Kitshoff are notably better suited to being impact subs than Mbonambi and Ox.

This should be a very interesting second half.

I guess we’ll see the Bok depth officially tested. Wonder if they are as reliant on key players as everyone else!

Heaf wrote:Can they sub the TMO at half time?

Ben Whitehouse is the TMO…

He should be sent home if he misses that

Whitehouse obviously has a bad rep anyway, but that’s a disgraceful miss.

Dollar Bill wrote:

Heaf wrote:Can they sub the TMO at half time?

Ben Whitehouse is the TMO…

He should be sent home if he misses that

On past performances he shouldn't be there in the first place ...

Well I think that's game over lads, can't see us clawing this back unless there's a significant momentum swing

Lovely try that, to be fair

Right, time to see if we can get a LBP. Otherwise we're out I think!

Beautiful second try after stalling, then turning over, Scotland's attack.

15 point gap. Would be an amazing comeback from here.

Yep nice try - big ask now

Scotland haven’t fired a shot and we are 55 mins in.