The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Tichtheid]

Tom Stoltman on the pitch at Murrayfield was a sense of a missed opportunity.

Give it to Big Tam, let him trundle 50m up the park, pinging tiddly wee 17 stone backrowers off like toddlers and let loose the backs

I said that at the time. Just tell him when the weight of the ten tacklers hanging on gets too much for him to make sure he presents the ball on the correct side.

I remember when rugby went pro there was talk of converting Highland Games competitors, but I'm not sure how many actually made the leap over.

We had a retired pro sprinter as a coach for a bit.

[C T]

That was a very nervous Murrayfield for a time there, and one of the most worrying 5 tries to 1 game I've been to.

But I am feeling positive. Great for Jones to show he is excellent in his own right. Our defence only conceeded an intercept try.

I imagine Finn having a bit of a shocker this week will only help him next week.

Big test next week, but that's kind of the point.

[Yr Alban]

That was a very nervous Murrayfield for a time there, and one of the most worrying 5 tries to 1 game I've been to.

But I am feeling positive. Great for Jones to show he is excellent in his own right. Our defence only conceeded an intercept try.

I imagine Finn having a bit of a shocker this week will only help him next week.

Big test next week, but that's kind of the point.

It’s been a bugbear of mine for many years that we play a different Italy from the Italy played by the other teams. Italy have more wins v Scotland than all the other teams combined, and they raise their game against us every year. There have been signs recently that maybe Italy are starting to believe they can compete with the other teams too. This would be a welcome development, as I’m really tired of being the only team Italy believe they can beat.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

That was a very nervous Murrayfield for a time there, and one of the most worrying 5 tries to 1 game I've been to.

But I am feeling positive. Great for Jones to show he is excellent in his own right. Our defence only conceeded an intercept try.

I imagine Finn having a bit of a shocker this week will only help him next week.

Big test next week, but that's kind of the point.

It’s been a bugbear of mine for many years that we play a different Italy from the Italy played by the other teams. Italy have more wins v Scotland than all the other teams combined, and they raise their game against us every year. There have been signs recently that maybe Italy are starting to believe they can compete with the other teams too. This would be a welcome development, as I’m really tired of being the only team Italy believe they can beat.

I hope so too - makes for a better 6N. They will definitely believe they can beat Wales next weekend, based on Friday night's performance.

[Slick]

As a bit of an aside, just back from a ceilidh and the number of people I spoke with who watched the game today but only ever watch the 6N was an amazing. Losing free to air coverage would be a disaster

[fishfoodie]

That was a very nervous Murrayfield for a time there, and one of the most worrying 5 tries to 1 game I've been to.

But I am feeling positive. Great for Jones to show he is excellent in his own right. Our defence only conceeded an intercept try.

I imagine Finn having a bit of a shocker this week will only help him next week.

Big test next week, but that's kind of the point.

It’s been a bugbear of mine for many years that we play a different Italy from the Italy played by the other teams. Italy have more wins v Scotland than all the other teams combined, and they raise their game against us every year. There have been signs recently that maybe Italy are starting to believe they can compete with the other teams too. This would be a welcome development, as I’m really tired of being the only team Italy believe they can beat.

I hope so too - makes for a better 6N. They will definitely believe they can beat Wales next weekend, based on Friday night's performance.

Absolutely !!!

For years other sides have been able to lazily assume that Italy would just loose the head, or cough up too many penalties, or just generally give you that opening in the last 30 minutes that would enable you to brush all the dumb shit you'd done in the previous 50 mins to prevail .... the last few years Italy has pretty much eradicated that from their game !!!

... they still have that lack of depth that leaves them vulnerable, but you just need to look at their U20 side to see that even that isn't going to last for much longer.

[Yr Alban]

It’s been a bugbear of mine for many years that we play a different Italy from the Italy played by the other teams. Italy have more wins v Scotland than all the other teams combined, and they raise their game against us every year. There have been signs recently that maybe Italy are starting to believe they can compete with the other teams too. This would be a welcome development, as I’m really tired of being the only team Italy believe they can beat.

I hope so too - makes for a better 6N. They will definitely believe they can beat Wales next weekend, based on Friday night's performance.

Absolutely !!!

For years other sides have been able to lazily assume that Italy would just loose the head, or cough up too many penalties, or just generally give you that opening in the last 30 minutes that would enable you to brush all the dumb shit you'd done in the previous 50 mins to prevail .... the last few years Italy has pretty much eradicated that from their game !!!

... they still have that lack of depth that leaves them vulnerable, but you just need to look at their U20 side to see that even that isn't going to last for much longer.

Yeah. They still have the issue that Scotland have (only two pro teams) but their age group sides are stronger than ours now.

[Slick]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

[Punter15]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Superb. Well done wee man.

[Blackmac]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Wow. Good for him.

[topofthemoon]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Well done mini Slick!

[Tichtheid]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Congrats Slicklet

[Yr Alban]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Well done him!

[charltom]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

That's awesome!

[Jock42]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

[clydecloggie]

Put him in the stands at Murrayfield and let him take a pop at James Lowe this weekend. That'll sort the fucker out.

[KingBlairhorn]

Put him in the stands at Murrayfield and let him take a pop at James Lowe this weekend. That'll sort the fucker out.

Haha, Clydecloggie keeping it real with this reaction, I had a proper snort!

Well done Slick junior.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

That's tremendous! Well done wee Slick!

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

[TheNatalShark]

Were there any injury concerns from the match?

If not, feels like first time in a long time

[inactionman]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Good man!

[Big D]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Well done Slick Junior!

[Paddington Bear]

That’s brilliant Slick, a lovely piece of news

[Tichtheid]

AC/DC are playing Murrayfield in August.

It's almost enough to make me want to go to a huge stadium gig. Almost. I bet it will be brilliant, though.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

The Italian defence are actually pretty lucky there. There are three Scottish attackers (McDowall, Darge and Darcy(?)) and two defenders. The defenders should jam in to make the tackles so first should take McDowall, the second should take Darge and then Darcy runs in unopposed. The second widest Italian defender either doesn’t see McDowall or gets himself too wide and can’t make the tackle so decides to go early and jam Darge. As a result he almost kills the move. Russell plays the percentages and the Italians almost get lucky by going the other way.

[I like neeps]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Congrats Slick and family!

[SaintK]

Hope you don’t mind me sharing, but bursting a bit with pride….

My 8 year old son just became the Scottish National Field Archery Champion (this has a handicap type thing)the Scottish National Novice Champion and Scottish National Junior Champion.

Unbelievable scenes, he was over the moon with his Junior medal and Easter Egg and we were getting ready to leave when they called him back to present the other 2 trophies!

Brilliant!!! Well done Slick Jnr

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

The Italian defence are actually pretty lucky there. There are three Scottish attackers (McDowall, Darge and Darcy(?)) and two defenders. The defenders should jam in to make the tackles so first should take McDowall, the second should take Darge and then Darcy runs in unopposed. The second widest Italian defender either doesn’t see McDowall or gets himself too wide and can’t make the tackle so decides to go early and jam Darge. As a result he almost kills the move. Russell plays the percentages and the Italians almost get lucky by going the other way.

Good analysis, thanks, that's helpful. I did think to myself that Finn wouldn't be expecting such a large gap after only a couple of phases (i.e. defensive system failure), so made the sensible/percentage play. Just as well Darge was able to do what he did, and not get done for a double-movement (I don't think there was, but some refs might have had a different view).

[Dogbert]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

One wonders if McDowall had scored , instead of Darge , whether the perception of McDowalls performance would have changed.

The Scotland game on Saturday was his first game for six weeks after his suspension, hes short of match fitness , in the same way that both Dempsey & Gray were, and I think it showed, for both McDowall & Gray

[Slick]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

The Italian defence are actually pretty lucky there. There are three Scottish attackers (McDowall, Darge and Darcy(?)) and two defenders. The defenders should jam in to make the tackles so first should take McDowall, the second should take Darge and then Darcy runs in unopposed. The second widest Italian defender either doesn’t see McDowall or gets himself too wide and can’t make the tackle so decides to go early and jam Darge. As a result he almost kills the move. Russell plays the percentages and the Italians almost get lucky by going the other way.

Good analysis, thanks, that's helpful. I did think to myself that Finn wouldn't be expecting such a large gap after only a couple of phases (i.e. defensive system failure), so made the sensible/percentage play. Just as well Darge was able to do what he did, and not get done for a double-movement (I don't think there was, but some refs might have had a different view).

I think there is probably a bit of it being a new partnership as well. You'd think if it was Sione he'd be getting that ball and scoring - that's not a criticism of McDowall, just that Sione and Fin seem to have that understanding that comes with playing each other and Sione is renowned as a talker. It might also be that Fin was just a bit off it on Saturday.

[Yr Alban]

The Italian defence are actually pretty lucky there. There are three Scottish attackers (McDowall, Darge and Darcy(?)) and two defenders. The defenders should jam in to make the tackles so first should take McDowall, the second should take Darge and then Darcy runs in unopposed. The second widest Italian defender either doesn’t see McDowall or gets himself too wide and can’t make the tackle so decides to go early and jam Darge. As a result he almost kills the move. Russell plays the percentages and the Italians almost get lucky by going the other way.

Good analysis, thanks, that's helpful. I did think to myself that Finn wouldn't be expecting such a large gap after only a couple of phases (i.e. defensive system failure), so made the sensible/percentage play. Just as well Darge was able to do what he did, and not get done for a double-movement (I don't think there was, but some refs might have had a different view).

I think there is probably a bit of it being a new partnership as well. You'd think if it was Sione he'd be getting that ball and scoring - that's not a criticism of McDowall, just that Sione and Fin seem to have that understanding that comes with playing each other and Sione is renowned as a talker. It might also be that Fin was just a bit off it on Saturday.

Finn definitely seemed a bit out of sorts. He hasn’t been flaky for a long time, but the interception he threw was terrible, and handed Italy a route back into the match when they hadn’t looked remotely likely to score a try up to that point.

[Slick]

Just looking back at the highlights from Saturday (more interesting that submitting my work expenses). On the first try, McDowall is clean through and would have been untouched a huge hole, yet Finn pulls the pass to Darge. Obviously Darge does a great job and finishes, so all good, but I wonder why Finn didn't see the easier option? I know it all happens at 100mph and there is no way even the best players make the right decision every time, and it's certainly no criticism as I couldn't think that quickly. Just seemed odd - maybe the sightlines we get on the telly make it much more obvious (the head-on view especially).

The Italian defence are actually pretty lucky there. There are three Scottish attackers (McDowall, Darge and Darcy(?)) and two defenders. The defenders should jam in to make the tackles so first should take McDowall, the second should take Darge and then Darcy runs in unopposed. The second widest Italian defender either doesn’t see McDowall or gets himself too wide and can’t make the tackle so decides to go early and jam Darge. As a result he almost kills the move. Russell plays the percentages and the Italians almost get lucky by going the other way.

Good analysis, thanks, that's helpful. I did think to myself that Finn wouldn't be expecting such a large gap after only a couple of phases (i.e. defensive system failure), so made the sensible/percentage play. Just as well Darge was able to do what he did, and not get done for a double-movement (I don't think there was, but some refs might have had a different view).

I’ve just seen another angle on that play where it looks like McDowall overran it

[Big D]

6/2 split this week?

[westport]

Posh Boy Sam called up to the squad

[S/Lt_Phillips]

6/2 split this week?

Ireland didn't last week against England, so I'd guess they won't this week either. Not sure there's any need for Scotland to go 6/2?

If Scotland do go for 6/2 then the second backs replacements would likely be Jordan due to his versatility, and I'd rather see Jordan start.

[Tichtheid]

6/2 split this week?

Ireland didn't last week against England, so I'd guess they won't this week either. Not sure there's any need for Scotland to go 6/2?

If Scotland do go for 6/2 then the second backs replacements would likely be Jordan due to his versatility, and I'd rather see Jordan start.

There's two ways to look at going 6/2 -
1. Do a Springboks and overwhelm the opposition up front, then keep it going with the subs. That's not going to happen.
2. Imagine we are going to get battered up front and end up with lots of injuries. I can't see that happening either tbh.

Our strengths lie in our backs. Rowe covers back three, Horne is obviously cover for 9 and TJ or McDowall cover centre (I'd look to start Jordan)

[Punter15]

6/2 split this week?

Ireland didn't last week against England, so I'd guess they won't this week either. Not sure there's any need for Scotland to go 6/2?

If Scotland do go for 6/2 then the second backs replacements would likely be Jordan due to his versatility, and I'd rather see Jordan start.

There's two ways to look at going 6/2 -
1. Do a Springboks and overwhelm the opposition up front, then keep it going with the subs. That's not going to happen.
2. Imagine we are going to get battered up front and end up with lots of injuries. I can't see that happening either tbh.

Our strengths lie in our backs. Rowe covers back three, Horne is obviously cover for 9 and TJ or McDowall cover centre (I'd look to start Jordan)

Start Jordan, and also start Horne for a super high tempo running game that knackers their front 5.

[Slick]

Ireland didn't last week against England, so I'd guess they won't this week either. Not sure there's any need for Scotland to go 6/2?

If Scotland do go for 6/2 then the second backs replacements would likely be Jordan due to his versatility, and I'd rather see Jordan start.

There's two ways to look at going 6/2 -
1. Do a Springboks and overwhelm the opposition up front, then keep it going with the subs. That's not going to happen.
2. Imagine we are going to get battered up front and end up with lots of injuries. I can't see that happening either tbh.

Our strengths lie in our backs. Rowe covers back three, Horne is obviously cover for 9 and TJ or McDowall cover centre (I'd look to start Jordan)

Start Jordan, and also start Horne for a super high tempo running game that knackers their front 5.

They are too good to fall into a trap like that

[Slick]

Just listened to the BBC podcast, they were an awful lot happier with Saturday than us miserable gits

[Punter15]

There's two ways to look at going 6/2 -
1. Do a Springboks and overwhelm the opposition up front, then keep it going with the subs. That's not going to happen.
2. Imagine we are going to get battered up front and end up with lots of injuries. I can't see that happening either tbh.

Our strengths lie in our backs. Rowe covers back three, Horne is obviously cover for 9 and TJ or McDowall cover centre (I'd look to start Jordan)

Start Jordan, and also start Horne for a super high tempo running game that knackers their front 5.

They are too good to fall into a trap like that

Anyway, we’re going to win. I have a feeling*



*maybe also be a UTI