The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[I like neeps]

I would have McDowell at 12 and Jones at 13 but apart from that not a bad home grown team!

Yer average pundit/punter would still call it South Africa A or United Nations XV, would point at Huw Jones developing in Cape Town and Russell coming of age in Paris. Once a narrative sets in, facts don't matter anymore.

Oh, I know. When they analyse the World Cup squads then it’s all about how many players were born in the country. But some people want to discount players even when they were, on the basis of ‘where they learned their rugby’. Strangely, this only works one way round - if a player like Ali Price graduates from the Scottish Rugby Academy, all that matters is where he was born.

Price was only there for a year though... He was in the Sarries academy longer.

I don't think players born in England really matters for Wales and Scotland. Of course there's a lot of movement.

What people take more offence to is project players.

[Slick]

This time last week I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation.

This week I’m just filled with fear and loathing hoping Saturday just passes without too much pain

[Deveron Boy]

This time last week I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation.

This week I’m just filled with fear and loathing hoping Saturday just passes without too much pain

+1 with Gatland back it feels like the 'hex' is well in...

[clydecloggie]

This time last week I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation.

This week I’m just filled with fear and loathing hoping Saturday just passes without too much pain

+1 with Gatland back it feels like the 'hex' is well in...

I'm torn. We've been here a number of times in the last six years and it never went well. But this time does feel different - pretty much the first thing Jamie Ritchie said after the Calcutta Cup was about the next game. He wasn't wearing a tie around his head drunkenly singing Flower of Scotland while ripping his shirt to pieces (still the best Scottish rugby video ever, of course, but nevertheless) . It might be that the maturity has finally kicked in.

Scotland should beat Wales on Saturday. They're clearly the better team, playing at home. Bookies have us as favourites. Algorithms have us as favourites. Not a single poster here has backed Wales on the prediction thread so far.

But there's just so many ways it could go wrong, I must admit I've got a big dose of The Fear too.

But I want to believe, and up to a point, I do. I don't think Saturday will be another immature performance with the team showing up expecting to win, I think this team is beyond that now. Yet all it takes is a head contact red card, knock on at the exact wrong moment, injury to a key player and it still feels like it could unravel at a rate of knots.

[dpedin]

We have always struggled against Gatlandball - one pass out a few times then kick and chase with only passing more than once if they are in your 22. Hopefully we have learnt how to beat them but it will be difficult. They will be dogged in defence, make a mess of the breakdown to ruin our quick ball, continually look to reset the scrum, try and target Russell, create lots of niggle, cause a few fights and try and disrupt our line out by jumping all over and across the line. I suspect it will be a mess of a game, as Wales will want it, with limited rugby and it will come down to who makes the most mistakes. Not pretty but we need to avoid being drawn into their game.

[Yr Alban]

This time last week I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation.

This week I’m just filled with fear and loathing hoping Saturday just passes without too much pain

+1 with Gatland back it feels like the 'hex' is well in...

I'm torn. We've been here a number of times in the last six years and it never went well. But this time does feel different - pretty much the first thing Jamie Ritchie said after the Calcutta Cup was about the next game. He wasn't wearing a tie around his head drunkenly singing Flower of Scotland while ripping his shirt to pieces (still the best Scottish rugby video ever, of course, but nevertheless) . It might be that the maturity has finally kicked in.

Scotland should beat Wales on Saturday. They're clearly the better team, playing at home. Bookies have us as favourites. Algorithms have us as favourites. Not a single poster here has backed Wales on the prediction thread so far.

But there's just so many ways it could go wrong, I must admit I've got a big dose of The Fear too.

But I want to believe, and up to a point, I do. I don't think Saturday will be another immature performance with the team showing up expecting to win, I think this team is beyond that now. Yet all it takes is a head contact red card, knock on at the exact wrong moment, injury to a key player and it still feels like it could unravel at a rate of knots.

I agree that by any reasonable metric, we should win this game. But I have The Fear big time. Partly because of bloody Gatland and his bloody charmed life where we are concerned, partly just because of our tendency to follow up a great performance with an awful one.

[Big D]

Lets be blunt. Not winning on Saturday is a massive failure (except for very specific circumstances).

[Jock42]

I'm confident about the game. As has been said the team appear to be approaching this moch more professionally than previously.

[clydecloggie]

Lets be blunt. Not winning on Saturday is a massive failure (except for very specific circumstances).

Yes. Unfortunately Scottish rugby is far from immune to massive failure.

[Slick]

This time last week I was bouncing off the walls with excitement and anticipation.

This week I’m just filled with fear and loathing hoping Saturday just passes without too much pain

+1 with Gatland back it feels like the 'hex' is well in...

I'm torn. We've been here a number of times in the last six years and it never went well. But this time does feel different - pretty much the first thing Jamie Ritchie said after the Calcutta Cup was about the next game. He wasn't wearing a tie around his head drunkenly singing Flower of Scotland while ripping his shirt to pieces (still the best Scottish rugby video ever, of course, but nevertheless) . It might be that the maturity has finally kicked in.

Scotland should beat Wales on Saturday. They're clearly the better team, playing at home. Bookies have us as favourites. Algorithms have us as favourites. Not a single poster here has backed Wales on the prediction thread so far.

But there's just so many ways it could go wrong, I must admit I've got a big dose of The Fear too.

But I want to believe, and up to a point, I do. I don't think Saturday will be another immature performance with the team showing up expecting to win, I think this team is beyond that now. Yet all it takes is a head contact red card, knock on at the exact wrong moment, injury to a key player and it still feels like it could unravel at a rate of knots.

I'd really like to think that the final monkey off the back was beating England at Twickenham with a full crowd. Despite the dreadful record against Wales I can't bring myself to believe that they have an inferiority complex about playing them. But.

[I like neeps]

+1 with Gatland back it feels like the 'hex' is well in...

I'm torn. We've been here a number of times in the last six years and it never went well. But this time does feel different - pretty much the first thing Jamie Ritchie said after the Calcutta Cup was about the next game. He wasn't wearing a tie around his head drunkenly singing Flower of Scotland while ripping his shirt to pieces (still the best Scottish rugby video ever, of course, but nevertheless) . It might be that the maturity has finally kicked in.

Scotland should beat Wales on Saturday. They're clearly the better team, playing at home. Bookies have us as favourites. Algorithms have us as favourites. Not a single poster here has backed Wales on the prediction thread so far.

But there's just so many ways it could go wrong, I must admit I've got a big dose of The Fear too.

But I want to believe, and up to a point, I do. I don't think Saturday will be another immature performance with the team showing up expecting to win, I think this team is beyond that now. Yet all it takes is a head contact red card, knock on at the exact wrong moment, injury to a key player and it still feels like it could unravel at a rate of knots.

I'd really like to think that the final monkey off the back was beating England at Twickenham with a full crowd. Despite the dreadful record against Wales I can't bring myself to believe that they have an inferiority complex about playing them. But.

You'd have to think that Scotland have a far bigger mental block Vs Wales than they do England these days. Never beaten Gatland, 2 wins in 14 I think?

I (hope) part of it has been. We've beaten England, that's the biggest game, we'll take it a bit easier this week. Which is obviously unacceptable but understandable.

[clydecloggie]

Saturday's bad guys.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Saturday's bad guys.

Is that almost a completely different pack? Back row is very inexperienced. Advantage Scotland there, surely.

Adams is class, but I wasn't that impressed with the other winger, he got caught a few times in possession without looking for offloads of linking. He'll probably have a blinder this week now.

[Slick]

Either young and not a care in the world or will fold with expectation. I can’t think straight.

When are we announcing

[Jock42]

Zander only change, Nel drops to bench.

[charltom]

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 97 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 6 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 12 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 66 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 10 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 54 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 70 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-Captain – 60 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 37 caps
7. Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps

Replacements

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 51 caps
19. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 73 caps
20. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 39 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 40 caps

[dkm57]

Hopefully Zander has grown up a bit and won't get red carded.


I hope we win, I know we should win but I can't help feeling things will go to sh1t. It is Wales under Gatland FFS.

Discipline and controlled ferocity required.

[charltom]

Good... but oddly I think it lower risk to start with Nel and finish with Zander.

PS police are searching for a missing tombola machine.

[Blackmac]

Good... but oddly I think it lower risk to start with Nel and finish with Zander.

PS police are searching for a missing tombola machine.

I'm the same. Would rather have had WP in to start and present a rock solid scrum. I think Zander would make more of an impact off the bench.

[Slick]

We should smash that U20’s/Vets select XV.

There, I’ve said it and feel better for it

[Biffer]

Was Gatland all really his doing or was it Shaun Edwards?

Very nervous about this. Hope we fuck them sideways.

[I like neeps]

Good... but oddly I think it lower risk to start with Nel and finish with Zander.

PS police are searching for a missing tombola machine.

Absolutely the right decision to play the same team after a good win. There was no need for changes. I'm a bit more positive Toonie has kept his nerve and not tried anything 'clever'

[Slick]

Was Gatland all really his doing or was it Shaun Edwards?

Very nervous about this. Hope we fuck them sideways.

Beautifully poetic, Biffer.

[Slick]

Good... but oddly I think it lower risk to start with Nel and finish with Zander.

PS police are searching for a missing tombola machine.

Absolutely the right decision to play the same team after a good win. There was no need for changes. I'm a bit more positive Toonie has kept his nerve and not tried anything 'clever'

Yes, that was my first thought as well. A maturing of the whole set up maybe...

[KingBlairhorn]

Good... but oddly I think it lower risk to start with Nel and finish with Zander.

PS police are searching for a missing tombola machine.

I'm the same. Would rather have had WP in to start and present a rock solid scrum. I think Zander would make more of an impact off the bench.

60 minute of being dragged around the field and smashed by a dynamic hard-hitting tighthead and then you look up to see WP coming on the drive you backwards in the scrum for the last 20. Utterly demoralising I would think!

Seriously though, with Zander and Schoe starting in the front row I don't think the scrum is going to be our biggest worry. I hope Zander can be as disciplined as the rest were last week as he does love to launch himself into rucks and his workrate is so high he will hit a lot of them and will do so from far out and at speed.

[Biffer]

Was Gatland all really his doing or was it Shaun Edwards?

Very nervous about this. Hope we fuck them sideways.

Beautifully poetic, Biffer.

Thank you. I work very hard at my art.

[Hellraiser]

I can only presume the breakdown tactics were a way of tightening up on the discipline and it largely worked so it's nice not seeing us get whistled off the park.

I get so pissed off at refs giving nonsense scrum penalties. The one against Nel in the first half was just nonsense and the one where Cole's head popped up virtually facing backwards was equally as bad.

The one with Cole really annoyed me. He'd quite clearly had his arse handed to Jim, standing sideways, first man up, and that penalty led to a try.

He's a relic of the England front row that used to stand up and walk forward as a way of showing some faux scrum dominance. Got away with that crap for years.

Also known as the Dylan Hartley Special.

[Blackmac]

The one with Cole really annoyed me. He'd quite clearly had his arse handed to Jim, standing sideways, first man up, and that penalty led to a try.

He's a relic of the England front row that used to stand up and walk forward as a way of showing some faux scrum dominance. Got away with that crap for years.

Also known as the Dylan Hartley Special.

There you have it.

[KingBlairhorn]

Was Gatland all really his doing or was it Shaun Edwards?

Very nervous about this. Hope we fuck them sideways.

Beautifully poetic, Biffer.

Thank you. I work very hard at my art.

Did Gats make them great
Or Edwards system. So Nervous.
Fuck them sideways lads

/notsoaccidentalhaiku

[Blackmac]

Coming on here this morning is like the first time out in the hills after lockdown and all the chavs were there, pissing in the streams and leaving their rubbish about, because they couldn't go to the football or fly to Benidorm.

[SaintK]

Coming on here this morning is like the first time out in the hills after lockdown and all the chavs were there, pissing in the streams and leaving their rubbish about, because they couldn't go to the football or fly to Benidorm.

[Slick]

Coming on here this morning is like the first time out in the hills after lockdown and all the chavs were there, pissing in the streams and leaving their rubbish about, because they couldn't go to the football or fly to Benidorm.

[clydecloggie]

Due to the lack of a Welsh rugby thread on here, I had a look in the not not place this morning for the first time in yonks. If you think this place is full of stream-pissing chavs...bloody hell

[Ovals]

It's always far more nerve wracking when you have expectations of your side, and feel that they 'should' win - but also know that there's so things that could go pear shaped.

I don't think the Weslh defence will give you as much space as we did last Saturday - but you should get more dominance up front and possession/territory

Anyway, good luck guys.

[Slick]

It's always far more nerve wracking when you have expectations of your side, and feel that they 'should' win - but also know that there's so things that could go pear shaped.

I don't think the Weslh defence will give you as much space as we did last Saturday - but you should get more dominance up front and possession/territory

Anyway, good luck guys.

Cheers, Ovals. Have a lovely 6N weekend!

Must say I’m a little calmer than earlier in the week

[dpedin]

It's always far more nerve wracking when you have expectations of your side, and feel that they 'should' win - but also know that there's so things that could go pear shaped.

I don't think the Weslh defence will give you as much space as we did last Saturday - but you should get more dominance up front and possession/territory

Anyway, good luck guys.

Cheers, Ovals. Have a lovely 6N weekend!

Must say I’m a little calmer than earlier in the week

The Welsh will make the game a street fight and set out to slow down the game and create a mess of the breakdown. It might not be pretty and to be honest it will be more difficult than the game against England.

[I like neeps]

It's always far more nerve wracking when you have expectations of your side, and feel that they 'should' win - but also know that there's so things that could go pear shaped.

I don't think the Weslh defence will give you as much space as we did last Saturday - but you should get more dominance up front and possession/territory

Anyway, good luck guys.

Cheers, Ovals. Have a lovely 6N weekend!

Must say I’m a little calmer than earlier in the week

The Welsh will make the game a street fight and set out to slow down the game and create a mess of the breakdown. It might not be pretty and to be honest it will be more difficult than the game against England.

How come it will be more difficult? Wales don't have as good players as England and we're at home?

[frodder]

You guys doing a match thread?

[Blackmac]

Great result from the u20s, really dug in against the wind in the second half and really disciplined in the final 20 minutes.

[dkm57]

Well done the laddies, some real potential in those boys.