NPR

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:53 am That’s a bit harsh on Matt Scott, my memory of the game is that our pack took a beating and we were on the back foot against a back line that was on fire, that Saffa attack is woefully underrated because of the monsters in front of them.

Scott made a very obvious error in stepping out of the defensive line and got beaten by de Allende as a result, ending in a try

Mark Bennett missed a tackle against the All Blacks a week ago, he was dropped for Argentina, I wonder if he’ll be in the 6N squad?

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:48 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:53 am That’s a bit harsh on Matt Scott, my memory of the game is that our pack took a beating and we were on the back foot against a back line that was on fire, that Saffa attack is woefully underrated because of the monsters in front of them.

Scott made a very obvious error in stepping out of the defensive line and got beaten by de Allende as a result, ending in a try

Mark Bennett missed a tackle against the All Blacks a week ago, he was dropped for Argentina, I wonder if he’ll be in the 6N squad?

As Townsend demands defensive excellence of his centres you'd have to think Bennett might be in trouble, especially as Townsend didn't fancy him for a while either. Scott had a bad game in attack as well though. And he's 30 with 40 odd caps there's no future payoff there. He's either our best option or he's not an option. And he's been far from the best option since his Edinburgh purple patch.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 9:31 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:48 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:53 am That’s a bit harsh on Matt Scott, my memory of the game is that our pack took a beating and we were on the back foot against a back line that was on fire, that Saffa attack is woefully underrated because of the monsters in front of them.

Scott made a very obvious error in stepping out of the defensive line and got beaten by de Allende as a result, ending in a try

Mark Bennett missed a tackle against the All Blacks a week ago, he was dropped for Argentina, I wonder if he’ll be in the 6N squad?

As Townsend demands defensive excellence of his centres you'd have to think Bennett might be in trouble, especially as Townsend didn't fancy him for a while either. Scott had a bad game in attack as well though. And he's 30 with 40 odd caps there's no future payoff there. He's either our best option or he's not an option. And he's been far from the best option since his Edinburgh purple patch.

Apart from when was really very good for Leicester in their run to the title last season, and the one before, right enough.

It was interesting to me that Scott was playing his best at 12 for Edinburgh, but Tigers often played him at 13, as did Glaws before.
It's interesting to me because it was a very long running debate was to what was his best centre position on the Embra forum.

I laughed the other week when I was watching a Premiership game and Scott was the best player on the park, and on both sides of the ball, the commentators were saying that Scott will no doubt be in Gregor Townsend's plans for the Autumn Internationals.

I actually said "Not. A. Chance." out loud whilst watching on my own.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 9:31 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:48 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:53 am That’s a bit harsh on Matt Scott, my memory of the game is that our pack took a beating and we were on the back foot against a back line that was on fire, that Saffa attack is woefully underrated because of the monsters in front of them.

Scott made a very obvious error in stepping out of the defensive line and got beaten by de Allende as a result, ending in a try

Mark Bennett missed a tackle against the All Blacks a week ago, he was dropped for Argentina, I wonder if he’ll be in the 6N squad?

As Townsend demands defensive excellence of his centres you'd have to think Bennett might be in trouble, especially as Townsend didn't fancy him for a while either. Scott had a bad game in attack as well though. And he's 30 with 40 odd caps there's no future payoff there. He's either our best option or he's not an option. And he's been far from the best option since his Edinburgh purple patch.

Apart from when was really very good for Leicester in their run to the title last season, and the one before, right enough.

It was interesting to me that Scott was playing his best at 12 for Edinburgh, but Tigers often played him at 13, as did Glaws before.
It's interesting to me because it was a very long running debate was to what was his best centre position on the Embra forum.

I laughed the other week when I was watching a Premiership game and Scott was the best player on the park, and on both sides of the ball, the commentators were saying that Scott will no doubt be in Gregor Townsend's plans for the Autumn Internationals.

I actually said "Not. A. Chance." out loud whilst watching on my own.

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 11:14 am Fin Smith currently following the Redpath route of gaining knowledge of the England camp prior to joining the good guys.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:02 pm "Bit part player", you've obviously spent time looking up the numbers, how many starts has he made and how many total appearances over the last two seasons?

I've been following him by watching the games and occasionally reading their forum

But, whatever, he's shite right enough, so don't bother with an answer.

This is dull as fuck. I'm done with trying to explain why players are not keich.

Hope you enjoy the rugby, it's obviously a strain for some folk.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:02 pm "Bit part player", you've obviously spent time looking up the numbers, how many starts has he made and how many total appearances over the last two seasons?

I've been following him by watching the games and occasionally reading their forum

But, whatever, he's shite right enough, so don't bother with an answer.

This is dull as fuck. I'm done with trying to explain why players are not keich.

Hope you enjoy the rugby, it's obviously a strain for some folk.

I literally didn't say any of that though did I.

Scott plays a good number of games for Tigers. He doesn't start their big matches and often isn't in the squad for them. That's what the role he plays for them, when the biggest games come around he's left out. I then followed up with saying it was very credible to reach that level of performance and in that role for a big club. But it's not what an international side should be looking for. None of which is saying he's bad at rugby. Leicester need good players to beat Newcastle on a Friday night so they can play Sarries in a final. My comments on his ability was bad game against SA and at his age and experience with the competition Scotland has he won't get a look in (which you agreed with) and that he had a great stretch for Edinburgh.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:02 pm "Bit part player", you've obviously spent time looking up the numbers, how many starts has he made and how many total appearances over the last two seasons?

I've been following him by watching the games and occasionally reading their forum

But, whatever, he's shite right enough, so don't bother with an answer.

This is dull as fuck. I'm done with trying to explain why players are not keich.

Hope you enjoy the rugby, it's obviously a strain for some folk.

I literally didn't say any of that though did I.

Scott plays a good number of games for Tigers. He doesn't start their big matches and often isn't in the squad for them. That's what the role he plays for them, when the biggest games come around he's left out. I then followed up with saying it was very credible to reach that level of performance and in that role for a big club. But it's not what an international side should be looking for. None of which is saying he's bad at rugby. Leicester need good players to beat Newcastle on a Friday night so they can play Sarries in a final. My comments on his ability was bad game against SA and at his age and experience with the competition Scotland has he won't get a look in (which you agreed with) and that he had a great stretch for Edinburgh.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:00 am I think the issue we have in the centres is Toonie feels we need strong defenders in there. When you look at the first choice back line in terms of defence, you have:
Hogg: pretty poor 1 on 1 defender
Duhan: positionally suspect in defence
Darcy: great positioning and brave as a lion but his size is his size
Finn: robust and clever but not a notable defender
Price: not a good defender, small.

You can kind of see his thinking that we need a defensive organiser and a robust presence in there to shore things up, ergo Harris. Harris may not do anything flashy but he a) organises and b) probably more importantly understands when the line is in trouble. Watch back a match and the number of times he shoots out and kills an opposition attack is crazy. Looking wider at those plays it’s usually because we are in trouble defensively.

All this to say we are exceptionally unlikely to move away from a more defensively focussed and bigger centre partnership of Harris and Tupo under Toonie, regardless of how well someone like Scott or Hutch plays.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:16 pm Looks a pretty handy short term signing for Edinburgh, Tom Cruse, Wasps hooker. Given Cherry and McBurney are injured for a while he’ll see plenty of game time I reckon. Hope it doesn’t stop Paddy getting good game time though.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:44 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:00 am I think the issue we have in the centres is Toonie feels we need strong defenders in there. When you look at the first choice back line in terms of defence, you have:
Hogg: pretty poor 1 on 1 defender
Duhan: positionally suspect in defence
Darcy: great positioning and brave as a lion but his size is his size
Finn: robust and clever but not a notable defender
Price: not a good defender, small.

You can kind of see his thinking that we need a defensive organiser and a robust presence in there to shore things up, ergo Harris. Harris may not do anything flashy but he a) organises and b) probably more importantly understands when the line is in trouble. Watch back a match and the number of times he shoots out and kills an opposition attack is crazy. Looking wider at those plays it’s usually because we are in trouble defensively.

All this to say we are exceptionally unlikely to move away from a more defensively focussed and bigger centre partnership of Harris and Tupo under Toonie, regardless of how well someone like Scott or Hutch plays.

Yes, that was what I was alluding to in my original post about the centres, Harris needs to be there because the back 3 need protected. Finn is a great defender though, even Toony was singing his praises in defence after the weekend.

In Harris, last year against Japan I got bored fairly quickly at the game so decided just to watch Harris for about 20 minutes and the work he does in organising the defence and communicating to the whole team is exceptional. His issue is of course go forward where he is not good enough although I’m sure I remember him cutting some great lines in last years 6N

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:53 pm Did I read on here a rumour that McInally will leave at the end of the season?

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:53 pm Did I read on here a rumour that McInally will leave at the end of the season?

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:46 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:53 pm Did I read on here a rumour that McInally will leave at the end of the season?

The Thistle Podcast said in one of their newsletters that Ashman is coming north to replace McInally at the end of the season.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:56 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:44 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 8:00 am I think the issue we have in the centres is Toonie feels we need strong defenders in there. When you look at the first choice back line in terms of defence, you have:
Hogg: pretty poor 1 on 1 defender
Duhan: positionally suspect in defence
Darcy: great positioning and brave as a lion but his size is his size
Finn: robust and clever but not a notable defender
Price: not a good defender, small.

You can kind of see his thinking that we need a defensive organiser and a robust presence in there to shore things up, ergo Harris. Harris may not do anything flashy but he a) organises and b) probably more importantly understands when the line is in trouble. Watch back a match and the number of times he shoots out and kills an opposition attack is crazy. Looking wider at those plays it’s usually because we are in trouble defensively.

All this to say we are exceptionally unlikely to move away from a more defensively focussed and bigger centre partnership of Harris and Tupo under Toonie, regardless of how well someone like Scott or Hutch plays.

Yes, that was what I was alluding to in my original post about the centres, Harris needs to be there because the back 3 need protected. Finn is a great defender though, even Toony was singing his praises in defence after the weekend.

In Harris, last year against Japan I got bored fairly quickly at the game so decided just to watch Harris for about 20 minutes and the work he does in organising the defence and communicating to the whole team is exceptional. His issue is of course go forward where he is not good enough although I’m sure I remember him cutting some great lines in last years 6N

Harris has always looked good going forward for Glaws when I've watched them over the last couple of years.

Is our attack focussed on the back three, rather than the midfield, with the centres doing little more than trucking it up and shipping ball wide?
I haven't watched Scotland with that in mind to try and see what is happening, but I don't think Harris receives lots of passes, when you see his pass and run stats on ESPN, they are not stratospheric.

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:46 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:53 pm Did I read on here a rumour that McInally will leave at the end of the season?

The Thistle Podcast said in one of their newsletters that Ashman is coming north to replace McInally at the end of the season.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:40 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:02 pm "Bit part player", you've obviously spent time looking up the numbers, how many starts has he made and how many total appearances over the last two seasons?

I've been following him by watching the games and occasionally reading their forum

But, whatever, he's shite right enough, so don't bother with an answer.

This is dull as fuck. I'm done with trying to explain why players are not keich.

Hope you enjoy the rugby, it's obviously a strain for some folk.

I literally didn't say any of that though did I.

Scott plays a good number of games for Tigers. He doesn't start their big matches and often isn't in the squad for them. That's what the role he plays for them, when the biggest games come around he's left out. I then followed up with saying it was very credible to reach that level of performance and in that role for a big club. But it's not what an international side should be looking for. None of which is saying he's bad at rugby. Leicester need good players to beat Newcastle on a Friday night so they can play Sarries in a final. My comments on his ability was bad game against SA and at his age and experience with the competition Scotland has he won't get a look in (which you agreed with) and that he had a great stretch for Edinburgh.

Season 20/21 - Scott started 18 out of 19 games for Tigers, he missed four rounds of the premiership over the course of the season. He started in 4 Challenge Cup games, including the quarter and semi final, I don't know if he was injured for the final.
That's quite a big bit part for this bit part player.

Season 21/22 - Scott was starting up to and including round 14 of the Premiership and in the Champions Cup, he was mainly on the bench after that with a few more starts, ending with 16 starts from 23 games, another big bit part.

Season 22/23 - Scott has started 5/5 games from the 7 Leicester have played.

It was the dismissal as a "bit part" player I objected to, it's indicative of the unrelenting negativity I see online - there is a thread on this board dedicated to one of the most creative players in world rugby and how he is a flake, Sione Tuipulotu had a good series, but he is called out for dropping a pass that would have put us into a good position against Australia, Ollie Smith scores a lovely try beating two defenders in the process but he is warned that he is lucky he didn't butcher an overlap, I'm not going to go in to all the Kinghorn stuff again, but there's tons of examples, and every week.

I just find it all tiresome, I am aware that this is what people do online and that is what it is. I just wonder, where is the fun? Is the fun really in berating players like we see in match threads, rather than enjoying some of the brilliance on display?

I'm not saying that mistakes shouldn't be mentioned, but I just see and lot of focus on them rather than on the positive side - Nel makes it to 50 caps at the age of 36 and a half, Darcy Graham's finishing is nothing short of world class right now, Walker breaking through to become a genuine back up option to Fagerson, just the first three things that come to mind on just Scotland over the AIs.

Whatever, like I say I'm not going to try and persuade anyone on the more optimistic view, not for a while, I'm tired of it.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:53 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:46 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:53 pm Did I read on here a rumour that McInally will leave at the end of the season?

The Thistle Podcast said in one of their newsletters that Ashman is coming north to replace McInally at the end of the season.

I'll be sorry to see him go. I wonder if he'll go to another club, he'll be 33 before the start of next season?

Ashman would be a bit of a coup.

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:38 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:53 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:46 pm

The Thistle Podcast said in one of their newsletters that Ashman is coming north to replace McInally at the end of the season.

I'll be sorry to see him go. I wonder if he'll go to another club, he'll be 33 before the start of next season?

Ashman would be a bit of a coup.

I'm wondering if it's injury related, he has had a torrid time with various injuries the last couple of seasons.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:04 am

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 8:38 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 5:53 pm

I'll be sorry to see him go. I wonder if he'll go to another club, he'll be 33 before the start of next season?

Ashman would be a bit of a coup.

I'm wondering if it's injury related, he has had a torrid time with various injuries the last couple of seasons.

Yeah, that was my line of thinking too.

Maybe he'll become a fulltime pilot!

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:29 pm
For what it’s worth, I think that as Scotland fans we have developed a hugely pessimistic streak just to avoid being hurt too much. I expect most of us here are mid-40s or older. We all grew up with great Scotland teams that challenged and won championships. Unfortunately this was actually an outlier in rugby history. Then the game went pro, we didn’t adapt well at all, and we went to a very dark place indeed for a very long time.

Now we’re back out of that place again, and quite a lot of the time we look decent - decent enough to compete with anyone. But we can’t allow ourselves to believe again, because we’ve been hurt too many times and it’s easier to do without hope than to have it dashed.

I keep coming back to the fact that two extra points v Wales in 2021 would have given us the title. If we could have broken our duck for this century, it might be a wee bit easier. But I guess we keep trying.

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:31 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 7:29 pm
For what it’s worth, I think that as Scotland fans we have developed a hugely pessimistic streak just to avoid being hurt too much. I expect most of us here are mid-40s or older. We all grew up with great Scotland teams that challenged and won championships. Unfortunately this was actually an outlier in rugby history. Then the game went pro, we didn’t adapt well at all, and we went to a very dark place indeed for a very long time.

Now we’re back out of that place again, and quite a lot of the time we look decent - decent enough to compete with anyone. But we can’t allow ourselves to believe again, because we’ve been hurt too many times and it’s easier to do without hope than to have it dashed.

I keep coming back to the fact that two extra points v Wales in 2021 would have given us the title. If we could have broken our duck for this century, it might be a wee bit easier. But I guess we keep trying.

To be fair if we had beaten Wales that puts a whole different frame around the France game and if we say "2 extra points against Wales", France would almost certainly say "if we kicked it out at the end" which is a far easier task.

For me it isn't pessimism but frustration at often seeing the same mistakes over and over and a game plan that feels ineffective against the type of nations that the Townsend lead national side has rarely looked like beating, and then the rare time we do low and behold we make the same mistakes. I really think there is a lot more to give from the group of players we have at our disposal.

Wylie Coyote wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:55 am
I look at our group of players and I think it is the strongest that I can recall, but I also look at the likes of Hogg & Russell, generational talents, and fear their time is now and we are may well squander them.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:08 pm

Wylie Coyote wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:55 am
I look at our group of players and I think it is the strongest that I can recall, but I also look at the likes of Hogg & Russell, generational talents, and fear their time is now and we are may well squander them.

There was a topic came up on the Weedgie board and one game in particular, I looked up our pack - Chunk, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (Capt), Hogg, Taylor

When we had a pack we didn't have the backs of the same calibre. We've had backs for a wee while and our pack looks to be getting a bit better after years of getting beaten up, I'd still like to see more dynamism and street smarts - mainly not getting isolated and turned over.

It may be that Hogg and Russell go by without us making the step up, iirc O'Driscoll and that cohort didn't win as much as they might have, Ireland only really became very good/successful after they'd finished.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 4:40 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 3:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 22, 2022 12:02 pm "Bit part player", you've obviously spent time looking up the numbers, how many starts has he made and how many total appearances over the last two seasons?

I've been following him by watching the games and occasionally reading their forum

But, whatever, he's shite right enough, so don't bother with an answer.

This is dull as fuck. I'm done with trying to explain why players are not keich.

Hope you enjoy the rugby, it's obviously a strain for some folk.

I literally didn't say any of that though did I.

Scott plays a good number of games for Tigers. He doesn't start their big matches and often isn't in the squad for them. That's what the role he plays for them, when the biggest games come around he's left out. I then followed up with saying it was very credible to reach that level of performance and in that role for a big club. But it's not what an international side should be looking for. None of which is saying he's bad at rugby. Leicester need good players to beat Newcastle on a Friday night so they can play Sarries in a final. My comments on his ability was bad game against SA and at his age and experience with the competition Scotland has he won't get a look in (which you agreed with) and that he had a great stretch for Edinburgh.

Season 20/21 - Scott started 18 out of 19 games for Tigers, he missed four rounds of the premiership over the course of the season. He started in 4 Challenge Cup games, including the quarter and semi final, I don't know if he was injured for the final.
That's quite a big bit part for this bit part player.

Season 21/22 - Scott was starting up to and including round 14 of the Premiership and in the Champions Cup, he was mainly on the bench after that with a few more starts, ending with 16 starts from 23 games, another big bit part.

Season 22/23 - Scott has started 5/5 games from the 7 Leicester have played.

It was the dismissal as a "bit part" player I objected to, it's indicative of the unrelenting negativity I see online - there is a thread on this board dedicated to one of the most creative players in world rugby and how he is a flake, Sione Tuipulotu had a good series, but he is called out for dropping a pass that would have put us into a good position against Australia, Ollie Smith scores a lovely try beating two defenders in the process but he is warned that he is lucky he didn't butcher an overlap, I'm not going to go in to all the Kinghorn stuff again, but there's tons of examples, and every week.

I just find it all tiresome, I am aware that this is what people do online and that is what it is. I just wonder, where is the fun? Is the fun really in berating players like we see in match threads, rather than enjoying some of the brilliance on display?

I'm not saying that mistakes shouldn't be mentioned, but I just see and lot of focus on them rather than on the positive side - Nel makes it to 50 caps at the age of 36 and a half, Darcy Graham's finishing is nothing short of world class right now, Walker breaking through to become a genuine back up option to Fagerson, just the first three things that come to mind on just Scotland over the AIs.

Whatever, like I say I'm not going to try and persuade anyone on the more optimistic view, not for a while, I'm tired of it.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:26 pm Rumours that Russell off to Bath next season!!

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 3:59 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:08 pm

Wylie Coyote wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 11:55 am
I look at our group of players and I think it is the strongest that I can recall, but I also look at the likes of Hogg & Russell, generational talents, and fear their time is now and we are may well squander them.

There was a topic came up on the Weedgie board and one game in particular, I looked up our pack - Chunk, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (Capt), Hogg, Taylor

When we had a pack we didn't have the backs of the same calibre. We've had backs for a wee while and our pack looks to be getting a bit better after years of getting beaten up, I'd still like to see more dynamism and street smarts - mainly not getting isolated and turned over.

It may be that Hogg and Russell go by without us making the step up, iirc O'Driscoll and that cohort didn't win as much as they might have, Ireland only really became very good/successful after they'd finished.

Compare the pack now to the pack then and it’s not so much talent that’s the difference as the absence of right nasty bastards now.

O’Driscoll only won two six nations, the second of them at the age of 35.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 7:00 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 3:59 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 12:08 pm


There was a topic came up on the Weedgie board and one game in particular, I looked up our pack - Chunk, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (Capt), Hogg, Taylor

When we had a pack we didn't have the backs of the same calibre. We've had backs for a wee while and our pack looks to be getting a bit better after years of getting beaten up, I'd still like to see more dynamism and street smarts - mainly not getting isolated and turned over.

It may be that Hogg and Russell go by without us making the step up, iirc O'Driscoll and that cohort didn't win as much as they might have, Ireland only really became very good/successful after they'd finished.

Compare the pack now to the pack then and it’s not so much talent that’s the difference as the absence of right nasty bastards now.

O’Driscoll only won two six nations, the second of them at the age of 35.

I was going to make the BOD comparison, though to be fair, Ireland were in a better situation generally when he retired. The ‘generational talent’ sometimes looks better because they are so much better than those around them.

We actually have Andy Murray’s problem now. If he had appeared 10 years earlier, he’d probably have collected a heap of major titles, but he had the misfortune to play alongside three of the greatest players ever to have picked up a racket. Murray was a great player, just not quite at that level. The fact that he did actually collect three majors was a feat in itself. Scotland have the problem that to win a 6N, we have to get past Ireland, who now play consistently at a higher level and have a conveyor belt of talent, and who play a type of game we seem to find impossible to counter (though Australia seemed to manage).

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:26 pm Rumours that Russell off to Bath next season!!

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:18 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:26 pm Rumours that Russell off to Bath next season!!

Pretty sure he will stay in France, somewhere. He talked about getting residency and bringing his kid up there, seems to love it

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:18 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Nov 23, 2022 6:26 pm Rumours that Russell off to Bath next season!!

Pretty sure he will stay in France, somewhere. He talked about getting residency and bringing his kid up there, seems to love it