The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Big D]

So what changes do we expect for next week?

Hooker obviously, will Toonie have the balls to go for Matthews or will he go for Ashman?

Gray is presumably out, but it will be an easy swap for Gilchrist. Youngs makes the bench over Skinner I expect.

Crosbie again presumably out so Dempsey, Richie and Fagerson to start.

No changes in halfbacks, centres nor wings unless Darcy is back (which I don’t think he is). Kinghorn in at fullback if fit but again I don’t think he is, so no changes at all in the backs for me.

Christie has to start if Darge isn't fit. I don't think GT will make many changes but no one except Schoeman in the forwards could have too many arguments if swapped out based on today.

[Blackmac]

Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

Bin definitely got caught up in the occasion and forgot his red whistle

[Jock42]

So what changes do we expect for next week?

Hooker obviously, will Toonie have the balls to go for Matthews or will he go for Ashman?

Gray is presumably out, but it will be an easy swap for Gilchrist. Youngs makes the bench over Skinner I expect.

Crosbie again presumably out so Dempsey, Richie and Fagerson to start.

No changes in halfbacks, centres nor wings unless Darcy is back (which I don’t think he is). Kinghorn in at fullback if fit but again I don’t think he is, so no changes at all in the backs for me.

Ashman's lineout really worries me. Matthews for me but don't know who to bench.

Can't believe I've had to come to work with a sour puss after their first win in Cardiff in 22 years.

[Yr Alban]

So what changes do we expect for next week?

Hooker obviously, will Toonie have the balls to go for Matthews or will he go for Ashman?

Gray is presumably out, but it will be an easy swap for Gilchrist. Youngs makes the bench over Skinner I expect.

Crosbie again presumably out so Dempsey, Richie and Fagerson to start.

No changes in halfbacks, centres nor wings unless Darcy is back (which I don’t think he is). Kinghorn in at fullback if fit but again I don’t think he is, so no changes at all in the backs for me.

Ashman's lineout really worries me. Matthews for me but don't know who to bench.

Can't believe I've had to come to work with a sour puss after their first win in Cardiff in 22 years.

How come we have a bunch of good hookers but none of them can throw?

[robmatic]

Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

There was one advantage that expired around 77min. But we barely had the ball and Ritchie was ineffective.

I thought Ritchie had a decent game

His main problem was that he wasn't getting reffed the same way as Reffell.

[Big D]

Taking away getting on the refs bad side and giving away pens, Turner was pretty good. He hits hard and was getting around the park. We just need to cut the pens out!

[Big D]

Shout out to the sub props. Both did pretty well.

[Big D]

According to ESPN;
Skinner gave away 4 pens
Steyn missed 5/9 tackles
M.Fagerson carried for 3 yards from 7 carries.
Ritchie 0 turnovers.

Some gnarly stats in there.

[Big D]

Gray has a bicep injury. That could be nasty.

[Biffer]

Taking away getting on the refs bad side and giving away pens, Turner was pretty good. He hits hard and was getting around the park. We just need to cut the pens out!

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

[Biffer]

Gray has a bicep injury. That could be nasty.

Gray was likely getting dropped for Gilchrist anyway. Pretty sure GG’s absence hurts the maul defence.

[Slick]

So what changes do we expect for next week?

Hooker obviously, will Toonie have the balls to go for Matthews or will he go for Ashman?

Gray is presumably out, but it will be an easy swap for Gilchrist. Youngs makes the bench over Skinner I expect.

Crosbie again presumably out so Dempsey, Richie and Fagerson to start.

No changes in halfbacks, centres nor wings unless Darcy is back (which I don’t think he is). Kinghorn in at fullback if fit but again I don’t think he is, so no changes at all in the backs for me.

The most irritating thing about next week, and the week after, is that if we had won 0-27 or even more France and England would be coming to Murrayfield shitting it a bit. Now they are coming knowing that they just need to hang in there and exact some pressure and we are folding. It’s incredibly frustrating

[Slick]

Taking away getting on the refs bad side and giving away pens, Turner was pretty good. He hits hard and was getting around the park. We just need to cut the pens out!

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

This

[Slick]

Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

Bin definitely got caught up in the occasion and forgot his red whistle

I said on the other thread I thought he was fine, but it has just been pointed out to me that I had a monumental moan that he was reffing with the momentum throughout the game, which is probably right. But really we should have been easily good enough to change that momentum a lot quicker

[Big D]

Gray has a bicep injury. That could be nasty.

Gray was likely getting dropped for Gilchrist anyway. Pretty sure GG’s absence hurts the maul defence.

I think it would be Cummings dropping to the bench
Based on all available evidence our line out gets worse when Gray isn't there. He was a menace on their ball too.

Cummings should be so much better at international level but he's 27 and after 33 caps he needs to avoid drifting into the unfulfilled potential category.

[Big D]

Taking away getting on the refs bad side and giving away pens, Turner was pretty good. He hits hard and was getting around the park. We just need to cut the pens out!

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

[Biffer]

Taking away getting on the refs bad side and giving away pens, Turner was pretty good. He hits hard and was getting around the park. We just need to cut the pens out!

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

[Slick]

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

Finns comments certainly felt like a bit of a challenge to Toony

[Big D]

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

I absolutely agree with the point and in an ideal world we'd drop Turner (2 pens), Fagerson (3) and Skinner (4) but for the first two there are no options that don't significantly weaken the 23 at the moment.

I just can't see GT dropping Turner and Fagerson.

[Big D]

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

Finns comments certainly felt like a bit of a challenge to Toony

I don't think it was only aimed at any one player though. There was something like 10 of 22 players used that conceded penalties. It was ridiculous.

[Big D]

Actually, I wonder if 10 of 22 players is a record for % of team conceding penalties?

[Biffer]

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

I absolutely agree with the point and in an ideal world we'd drop Turner (2 pens), Fagerson (3) and Skinner (4) but for the first two there are no options that don't significantly weaken the 23 at the moment.

I just can't see GT dropping Turner and Fagerson.

There’s a difference with Turner though. As with Brown before him, his penalties are usually critical interventions that massively swing momentum. That is no longer true for Fagerson, for example.

It’s worth remembering that Wales scored a grand total of 0 points against 15 men. Discipline is critical.

[Big D]

Just watching the start of the second half between gins.

The first pen on Turner is tight. He's on the ball then gets cleaned out to the side with 16 on top of him and the ball is available for the 9. Concedes a penalty for apparently slowing it down.

Wales kick to line out Fagerson doesn't roll away quick enough, wasnt even trying to be fair.Wales kick to line out. Maul defence a shambles. Turner does what Turner does. Just dull.

Two min later.

Skinner high tackle. Quick tap penalty gives Wales real momentum. Wales knock on, Scotland scrum pen (Ashman standing up). Wales kick to corner. Skinner penalty for contact in the air (seems marginal tbh). Wales eventually score after a tap.

About 5min of elapsed time. 6 pens, 2 tries and gave them all the momentum. Awful from Scotland and the two penas brothers and Skinner.

[Yr Alban]

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

I absolutely agree with the point and in an ideal world we'd drop Turner (2 pens), Fagerson (3) and Skinner (4) but for the first two there are no options that don't significantly weaken the 23 at the moment.

I just can't see GT dropping Turner and Fagerson.

There’s a difference with Turner though. As with Brown before him, his penalties are usually critical interventions that massively swing momentum. That is no longer true for Fagerson, for example.

It’s worth remembering that Wales scored a grand total of 0 points against 15 men. Discipline is critical.

That’s not quite true. The first Wales try was scored with 15 v 15. The YCs did entirely change the game though - I checked, and we had 14 men for 23 minutes of the second half (save for 90 secs in the middle).

[Biffer]

Just watching the start of the second half between gins.

The first pen on Turner is tight. He's on the ball then gets cleaned out to the side with 16 on top of him and the ball is available for the 9. Concedes a penalty for apparently slowing it down.

Wales kick to line out Fagerson doesn't roll away quick enough, wasnt even trying to be fair.Wales kick to line out. Maul defence a shambles. Turner does what Turner does. Just dull.

Two min later.

Skinner high tackle. Quick tap penalty gives Wales real momentum. Wales knock on, Scotland scrum pen (Ashman standing up). Wales kick to corner. Skinner penalty for contact in the air (seems marginal tbh). Wales eventually score after a tap.

About 5min of elapsed time. 6 pens, 2 tries and gave them all the momentum. Awful from Scotland and the two penas brothers and Skinner.

Yeah the first one in the sequence was flat wrong, Turner was cleared out to the side and the ball was available. No excuse for the reaction in the next few minutes though.

[Yr Alban]

Isn’t it great that although we are dissecting everything that went wrong, Scotland still won the game?

[Blackmac]

Just read that wales didn’t concede a single penalty between the 9th minute and the last play. Surely that’s not true?

Bin definitely got caught up in the occasion and forgot his red whistle

I said on the other thread I thought he was fine, but it has just been pointed out to me that I had a monumental moan that he was reffing with the momentum throughout the game, which is probably right. But really we should have been easily good enough to change that momentum a lot quicker

To be fair to him, it would be expected that a team full of fucking idiots would be giving away a lot of penalties under pressure. As I've said for years, the mental weakness of the team is appalling. I wouldn't trust any of them to walk my bloody dog without losing it.

[Blackmac]

Isn’t it great that although we are dissecting everything that went wrong, Scotland still won the game?

Yeah, but once again we are the laughing stock of the rugby world. Everyone has forgotten how precise and professional we were for the first 50 odd minutes because of our appalling mental weakness.

[Tichtheid]

I've just seen someone online describe today as a "victory from the jaws of defeat - shambolic"

Eh dear.

[topofthemoon]

It’s not the first time that five minutes of Turner bein a mind numbing fucking idiot has been the catalyst in a complete fucking team collapse. He’s one of the most experienced guys in the side and regularly can’t be trusted .

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

Turner's trying to fix a problem caused by the rest of his pack crapping out on their maul defence (in part caused by Wales getting away with driving in ahead of the lineout jumper) and gets run over because the maul is moving so fast and there's barely anyone there to help out. Easy to say just let them score but I doubt there's a forward playing Test rugby who would be able to be that cool headed and rational in that situation.

The difference between Brown and McInally during the Townsend era was about 0.35 of a penalty per 80 minutes. McInally played almost 761 minutes more than Brown during this period.

Average penalty count during the 74 matches of the Townsend era prior to today was 10.4 per game. For the 74 matches prior to that it was 11.1

We've no perfect players so it's always about weighing upside v downside for selection. For me, Turner's upsides (work around the park - quantity and quality, scrummaging) outweigh his downsides (penalties per 80 mins being a bit higher - partially caused by being so involved, throwing in lapses - although I don't think many of the alternatives bar possibly Cherry are much better in this respect) by a good bit more than our other options at hooker.

[topofthemoon]

Just watching the start of the second half between gins.

The first pen on Turner is tight. He's on the ball then gets cleaned out to the side with 16 on top of him and the ball is available for the 9. Concedes a penalty for apparently slowing it down.

Wales kick to line out Fagerson doesn't roll away quick enough, wasnt even trying to be fair.Wales kick to line out. Maul defence a shambles. Turner does what Turner does. Just dull.

Two min later.

Skinner high tackle. Quick tap penalty gives Wales real momentum. Wales knock on, Scotland scrum pen (Ashman standing up). Wales kick to corner. Skinner penalty for contact in the air (seems marginal tbh). Wales eventually score after a tap.

About 5min of elapsed time. 6 pens, 2 tries and gave them all the momentum. Awful from Scotland and the two penas brothers and Skinner.

First penalty on Turner is just the ref not seeing what's actually happened (Dee dragging Turner over onto Wales' side of the ruck) but instead somehow seeing that as Turner diving over to slow the ball of his own accord. There was similar for the last penalty in the first half when BOK told Skinner he just saw him dive straight over a ruck and that there was no Welshman there when Wainwright had put his hands on the ball and then stepped to the side bullfighter style as Skinner came in.

The lineout pen against Skinner (which came in from the AR) was pathetically soft. Welsh jumper was straight up and down, Skinner didn't pull his arm and very nearly stole the ball.

[Biffer]

None of the hookers can. He's also one of the nore dominant defenders in the team. Half his tackles were dominant tackles today. He did miss too many as well right enough.

He is far from perfect but he's the best option we have at hooker.

And by leaving him there we are teaching the younger hookers in the squad that they don’t need to fix their own problems.

No consequences for poor discipline, over and over again.

Townsend has always done that. McInally had far better discipline than Brown, but GT picked Brown. It’s in the nature of GT’s leadership that discipline doesn’t matter.

Turner's trying to fix a problem caused by the rest of his pack crapping out on their maul defence (in part caused by Wales getting away with driving in ahead of the lineout jumper) and gets run over because the maul is moving so fast and there's barely anyone there to help out. Easy to say just let them score but I doubt there's a forward playing Test rugby who would be able to be that cool headed and rational in that situation.

The difference between Brown and McInally during the Townsend era was about 0.35 of a penalty per 80 minutes. McInally played almost 761 minutes more than Brown during this period.

Average penalty count during the 74 matches of the Townsend era prior to today was 10.4 per game. For the 74 matches prior to that it was 11.1

We've no perfect players so it's always about weighing upside v downside for selection. For me, Turner's upsides (work around the park - quantity and quality, scrummaging) outweigh his downsides (penalties per 80 mins being a bit higher - partially caused by being so involved, throwing in lapses - although I don't think many of the alternatives bar possibly Cherry are much better in this respect) by a good bit more than our other options at hooker.

The thing that numbers don’t show is the timing and critical effect of those penalties though. Turner’s tend to be important, same as Brown’s did. Turner trying to ‘fix’ a problem by going down on one knee and straight into the legs of a maul two yards from the try line can’t be characterised as anything other than really fucking stupid.

[dpedin]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

[Yr Alban]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

I am disappointed that Crosbie got injured. He eas at the heart of our two best performances last year (England and Wales) and then got dropped for no apparent reason. He is the closest thing we have to a really gnarly player in the forwards. I would bring Bradbury back in, but Toony clearly doesn’t like him. This is one of the frustrating things about sticking with Toony - the players he doesn’t like much (such as Bradbury and Hutchinson) never get a chance to show what they can do.

[Big D]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

It's the same players though. Even crediting Turner as unlucky for the 1st pen his actions for the second could only lead to an obvious maul collapse. His TH colleague gave away an unnecessary penalty before that when we were defending ok and threatening a turnover at that ruck.

One of the noticeable differences was Wainwright and especially Reffell were at the rucks way quicker than their Scottish counterparts. Refs often let those arriving 1st away with more (see attackers regularly sealing off rucks as an example).

Thought Hepburn and EM-M did well when they came on.

[Biffer]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

I disagree, Turner was a fucking idiot and deserves to be called that. His yellow card wasn’t anything to do with ref interpretation, in fact the ref fucked up in a way that decided the outcome. He should have awarded a penalty try for that, which it turns out would have won the game for Wales.

[topofthemoon]

[Big D]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

I disagree, Turner was a fucking idiot and deserves to be called that. His yellow card wasn’t anything to do with ref interpretation, in fact the ref fucked up in a way that decided the outcome. He should have awarded a penalty try for that, which it turns out would have won the game for Wales.

Would have been a significant refereeing error. Try was scored and wouldn't have been in a better position if Turner hadn't committed an offence so there is no basis for a penalty try.

[topofthemoon]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

I disagree, Turner was a fucking idiot and deserves to be called that. His yellow card wasn’t anything to do with ref interpretation, in fact the ref fucked up in a way that decided the outcome. He should have awarded a penalty try for that, which it turns out would have won the game for Wales.

Penalty try is awarded when foul play prevents a try being scored (or scored in a more advantageous position). Try was scored so it was 100% the correct decision by the ref.

[Yr Alban]

It is difficult to be critical of Turner or others when the ref had obviously decided that Scotland were committing penalties when we obviously weren't or at least we weren't doing anything different to Reffell or Wainright at the breakdown! I wouldn't be too harsh on them, next week is a different ref and it could all be completely different. France are a different kettle of fish to Wales and we need to pick a team that will match their huge front 5 and compete against the likes of Adlritt et al. We will need our big guys to front up and we need experience in the pack for this one. I dont think we got our back row mix right against Wales. Crosbie I liked and thought he stood up and carried well but neither Fagerson nor Ritchie did what they were chosen to do. I hope Dempsey is fully fit and I would stat him and either Darge or Christie for 7 spot. Otherwise GC for Gray and hopefully Nel on the bench and I would go again. Backs played well until they decided the game was won and stopped aggressive defence.

I disagree, Turner was a fucking idiot and deserves to be called that. His yellow card wasn’t anything to do with ref interpretation, in fact the ref fucked up in a way that decided the outcome. He should have awarded a penalty try for that, which it turns out would have won the game for Wales.

Penalty try is awarded when foul play prevents a try being scored (or scored in a more advantageous position). Try was scored so it was 100% the correct decision by the ref.

There is also the possibility that if he had awarded a PT, he might have been less inclined to send Turner to the bin. Which is what kick-started the Wales revival.