The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Blackmac]

I don't think any of us have commented on how good it is to see Gray Snr back in the team.

[And 1 guest]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

[Slick]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

They were gash. We will pump them

[clydecloggie]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

They were gash. We will pump them

That's what I was thinking. We have nothing to fear from the teams that played today. Seriously poor rugby from both.

[Deveron Boy]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

They were gash. We will pump them

Agree with first part of that statement, second part sadly not so sure.. we ‘should’ pump them.

[Yr Alban]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

No, we’re not. But what else aren’t we good at? Winning games away from home. What are we worst of all at? Winning at Twickenham.

The most encouraging thing I took away from yesterday was that for the first time in many, many years, we seem to be winning the psychological battle with ourselves. We walked onto England’s patch and didn’t give them a sniff. We went into the final stages with a fragile lead and, despite the DG attempt, never looked likely to lose it. Even more encouragingly, we had iron discipline, YC apart, and very few unforced errors.

This could, of course, be another false dawn- we’ve seen plenty. But if we bring that game and mindset to the game v Wales, we’ll win.

[clydecloggie]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

No, we’re not. But what else aren’t we good at? Winning games away from home. What are we worst of all at? Winning at Twickenham.

The most encouraging thing I took away from yesterday was that for the first time in many, many years, we seem to be winning the psychological battle with ourselves. We walked onto England’s patch and didn’t give them a sniff. We went into the final stages with a fragile lead and, despite the DG attempt, never looked likely to lose it. Even more encouragingly, we had iron discipline, YC apart, and very few unforced errors.

This could, of course, be another false dawn- we’ve seen plenty. But if we bring that game and mindset to the game v Wales, we’ll win.

They beat Wales away 4 months ago, and England away yesterday. Confidence will be sky high for next week, and they will have belief that they can close out a tight game.

I think this team has graduated from "If we play well, we have a chance" to "If we play well, we'll win" - and that's a huge difference.

[Openside]

Is see the PR ratings have Hogg at 7. Equally our poorest back. That's how much I value the so called experts. He was magnificent.

That is utterly bonkers that 65m kick to the England 5m for Morale was worth a 9 on its own.

Hiya OS. This is where you’ll generally find me.

Erm all clear now

[Caley_Red]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

No, we’re not. But what else aren’t we good at? Winning games away from home. What are we worst of all at? Winning at Twickenham.

The most encouraging thing I took away from yesterday was that for the first time in many, many years, we seem to be winning the psychological battle with ourselves. We walked onto England’s patch and didn’t give them a sniff. We went into the final stages with a fragile lead and, despite the DG attempt, never looked likely to lose it. Even more encouragingly, we had iron discipline, YC apart, and very few unforced errors.

This could, of course, be another false dawn- we’ve seen plenty. But if we bring that game and mindset to the game v Wales, we’ll win.

They beat Wales away 4 months ago, and England away yesterday. Confidence will be sky high for next week, and they will have belief that they can close out a tight game.

I think this team has graduated from "If we play well, we have a chance" to "If we play well, we'll win" - and that's a huge difference.

I agree, I needed to see it done a second time and to do it at Twickenham was a gigantic leap. I'll also have to revise my view on Townsend, beating Wales in Cardiff and England at Twickenham represents a substantial step forward.

I'm actually not all that concerned about this Wales game, first time I've felt like that (ex-Italy) in many years.

[Biffer]

(it wasn’t actually in Cardiff)

[robmatic]

While we are all purring after a great performance yesterday, we have a serious game against the Welsh next week. Their back row is a real worry.

I hate the thought that we will be favourites. We're really not good at that

They were gash. We will pump them

Agree with first part of that statement, second part sadly not so sure.. we ‘should’ pump them.

This is the next psychological issue to get past. Lazy performances when overconfident.

[Tichtheid]

They were gash. We will pump them

Agree with first part of that statement, second part sadly not so sure.. we ‘should’ pump them.

This is the next psychological issue to get past. Lazy performances when overconfident.

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

[robmatic]

Agree with first part of that statement, second part sadly not so sure.. we ‘should’ pump them.

This is the next psychological issue to get past. Lazy performances when overconfident.

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

I am mostly thinking about some horrible Embra results when I say this.

[zt1903]

This is the next psychological issue to get past. Lazy performances when overconfident.

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

Tend to agree, the team is a long way from having any basis for overconfidence. This is normally a thing we fans suffer from.

I did think Wales and Ireland were pretty poor yesterday. We shouldn’t fear either at home.

[Openside]

This is the next psychological issue to get past. Lazy performances when overconfident.

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

Tend to agree, the team is a long way from having any basis for overconfidence. This is normally a thing we fans suffer from.

I did think Wales and Ireland were pretty poor yesterday. We shouldn’t fear either at home.

Without a crowd how much is 'home' a factor?

[zt1903]

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

Tend to agree, the team is a long way from having any basis for overconfidence. This is normally a thing we fans suffer from.

I did think Wales and Ireland were pretty poor yesterday. We shouldn’t fear either at home.

Without a crowd how much is 'home' a factor?

True

[Yr Alban]

(it wasn’t actually in Cardiff)

It wasn’t, but it was an away game in Wales. Not our fault that the WRU had given up the MS for the treatment of Covid patients! I’m sure some commentators will keep on saying how long it is since we won in Cardiff - they did the same when we beat them in 2017 about Gatland not being in charge for that game. But it’s the result that goes in the books.

[Slick]

That should be much less of an issue now, it's not an attitude I associate with Glasgow, certainly not with Exeter or Saracens, Finn is Finn.
The Embra players in the side, Sutherland, Cherry, Ritchie, Watson - they are all hard-bitten grafters, vdM could probably still look for more work but he carries like number 8. If wee Darcy comes back in he's only going to give 100% for as many minutes as he's on the park.

I can't see Toonie letting them get beyond themselves.

Tend to agree, the team is a long way from having any basis for overconfidence. This is normally a thing we fans suffer from.

I did think Wales and Ireland were pretty poor yesterday. We shouldn’t fear either at home.

Without a crowd how much is 'home' a factor?

I think it’s still a fairly big factor, albeit obviously not quite as big without the crowds. Familiarity with the set up, stadium and just being in Edinburgh I think makes a difference

[westport]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

[clydecloggie]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

[Yr Alban]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

[I like neeps]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

Does he? Kinghorn absolutely needs to show some year on year improvement. 100 Edinburgh caps, 10+ Scotland games and he's at best stagnating but maybe more realistically regressing. He's not a promising player now, he needs to deliver.

[Biffer]

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

Does he? Kinghorn absolutely needs to show some year on year improvement. 100 Edinburgh caps, 10+ Scotland games and he's at best stagnating but maybe more realistically regressing. He's not a promising player now, he needs to deliver.

Edinburgh have a game this weekend as well.

[Slick]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

It’s a fairly hefty kick up the arse. Pretty amazing as well that he he has gone from a shoe in somewhere in the back 3 to 4th choice across it in a few months.

I hope he does come back, he has all the skills

[Openside]

Tend to agree, the team is a long way from having any basis for overconfidence. This is normally a thing we fans suffer from.

I did think Wales and Ireland were pretty poor yesterday. We shouldn’t fear either at home.

Without a crowd how much is 'home' a factor?

I think it’s still a fairly big factor, albeit obviously not quite as big without the crowds. Familiarity with the set up, stadium and just being in Edinburgh I think makes a difference

You may well be right, but it is curious that Scotland choose a crowdless Twix to offload a 38 year monkey.

[robmatic]

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲
𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.
𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

I suspect Cockers probably had a word to get him back.

[I like neeps]

Seems Hogg has been a decisive voice in Redpath coming home. I really like Hogg as a captain, passionate and clearly popular with the players.

Read up on so much Redpath comment, really think we've got an absolute gem. The hype was more than justified.

[clydecloggie]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

[Yr Alban]

Without a crowd how much is 'home' a factor?

I think it’s still a fairly big factor, albeit obviously not quite as big without the crowds. Familiarity with the set up, stadium and just being in Edinburgh I think makes a difference

You may well be right, but it is curious that Scotland choose a crowdless Twix to offload a 38 year monkey.

Perhaps. But remember that England needed a converted try with the clock red to prevent it from happening last time, and that was with the stadium full.

[Yr Alban]

Kinghorn! Not entirely unexpected - he's the 4th-choice winger now and probably 4th-choice full-back as well (Maitland and Jones more likely to be put there, you'd think). Just shows hoe strong our squad is at the moment.

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

Does he? Kinghorn absolutely needs to show some year on year improvement. 100 Edinburgh caps, 10+ Scotland games and he's at best stagnating but maybe more realistically regressing. He's not a promising player now, he needs to deliver.

I think that’s a wee bit harsh. He’s hardly the first player to make a splash in his first few games and then go off the boil a bit after that. No, he isn’t a promising youngster any more, but he has just turned 24, so he isn’t over the hill either. NZ tend to trade in their back 3 players when they hit their mid to late 20s, but that’s with a queue of speedy young players coming up behind. We don’t have player resources like that, so it’s a given that Kinghorn will be back sooner or later.

He’s a natural talent and I am sure he will rediscover his form in time.

[C T]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I like that 7.7% grandslam chance in relation to the 100 to 1 bet I put on that happening before the tournament started.

I didn't think it would happen (and still don't), but wasn't really feeling it this year so thought I'd chuck on a bet to raise the interest a bit.

[Yr Alban]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I like that 7.7% grandslam chance in relation to the 100 to 1 bet I put on that happening before the tournament started.

I didn't think it would happen (and still don't), but wasn't really feeling it this year so thought I'd chuck on a bet to raise the interest a bit.

I think we have a decent chance at the Triple
Crown (given we’ve just won the hardest match). We’ll have to play like we did on Saturday in every match though. The GS would require beating France away, and although that isn’t an impossible task, if we did then it would be comfortably our best season in the history of the tournament.

It’s a cliche, but we have to take it one game at a time. Win v Wales and we have a chance of meaningful silverware v Ireland. Anything else can wait!

[I like neeps]

Indeed. He still has a big international future ahead of him, but he needs time to regain his form.

Does he? Kinghorn absolutely needs to show some year on year improvement. 100 Edinburgh caps, 10+ Scotland games and he's at best stagnating but maybe more realistically regressing. He's not a promising player now, he needs to deliver.

I think that’s a wee bit harsh. He’s hardly the first player to make a splash in his first few games and then go off the boil a bit after that. No, he isn’t a promising youngster any more, but he has just turned 24, so he isn’t over the hill either. NZ tend to trade in their back 3 players when they hit their mid to late 20s, but that’s with a queue of speedy young players coming up behind. We don’t have player resources like that, so it’s a given that Kinghorn will be back sooner or later.

He’s a natural talent and I am sure he will rediscover his form in time.

I agree he's not the first player to make a splash and then regress to the mean. The recent form isn't unusual as it's been going on two three seasons. What is unusual was his breakout season which isn't being even almost being repeated.

Kinghorn needs to improve, there's not getting in the team over Hogg and there's being released from a squad instead of Byron McGuigan.

[Biffer]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I think what you can see there is how tight it is. The France odds being lower than you might expect is because they have to go to both London and Dublin.

I’m also entertained by Irish, English and Italian grand slam odds apparently being non-zero.

[Caley_Red]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I reckon that's implied odds derived from the flow of money (relative to some actuarial breakdown point or fixed margin) which is even more concerning: Scotland fans piling in after game 1 and not reflective of bookies' odds

[Biffer]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I reckon that's implied odds derived from the flow of money (relative to some actuarial breakdown point or fixed margin) which is even more concerning: Scotland fans piling in after game 1 and not reflective of bookies' odds

Don’t think so, I think they do it from stats of past results etc. Hence the low chance of a French GS, they’ve not won a 6N GS playing those two games away.

[Caley_Red]

Geez some peace...favourites to win the whole thing according to some stattos.

They must have an automatic France devaluation algorithm in there somewhere and lost their Excel column with Scotland v Ireland results.

I reckon that's implied odds derived from the flow of money (relative to some actuarial breakdown point or fixed margin) which is even more concerning: Scotland fans piling in after game 1 and not reflective of bookies' odds

Don’t think so, I think they do it from stats of past results etc. Hence the low chance of a French GS, they’ve not won a 6N GS playing those two games away.

Long France, short Scotland it is

[Slick]

Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

[dkm57]

A slight change from most years when I hope we can scrape a win. This year I know we should win but from bitter past experience I'll still be watching in hope rather expectation.

[Jock42]

Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

Nah mate. Can't wait, confidence in the lads is higher than last week.