The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Slick]

Excitement is starting to kick in for Saturday.

Just for the record, I fully expect us to beat one of either South Africa or Ireland in the world cup group.

It'll end up in a 3 way tie and we'll go out on points difference (or whatever the determining factor is). It's the only way to do it properly Scottish.

We should be beating that team fairly comfortably at home with what we are putting out

[Biffer]

I think that’s absolute bollocks to be honest, it’s just some malicious weirdo making stuff up.

Yeah, it's all the Irish posters banging on about it on PR, they fucking hate Hogg so they pile in on any rumour no matter how much bullshit is involved.

[SaintK]

These rumours have been doing the rounds. Sounds like total bollocks to me. As I said before, Scottish rugby is very small and I haven’t heard anything about any of this from anyone connected with the game

Just asked my mate who is working with the Scottish squad. Not a dickie bird in camp!

[clydecloggie]

These rumours have been doing the rounds. Sounds like total bollocks to me. As I said before, Scottish rugby is very small and I haven’t heard anything about any of this from anyone connected with the game

Just asked my mate who is working with the Scottish squad. Not a dickie bird in camp!

He did his interview with Ugo Monye from his own back garden talking in depth about how he discussed things with his wife and how being there more for his kids was at the heart of his thinking - hard to reconcile with some dicky bullshit story.

[weegie01]

These rumours have been doing the rounds. Sounds like total bollocks to me. As I said before, Scottish rugby is very small and I haven’t heard anything about any of this from anyone connected with the game

Just asked my mate who is working with the Scottish squad. Not a dickie bird in camp!

He did his interview with Ugo Monye from his own back garden talking in depth about how he discussed things with his wife and how being there more for his kids was at the heart of his thinking - hard to reconcile with some dicky bullshit story.

It would honestly not surprise me if someone heard he did some riding (at the Common Riding) and went off on a tangent, and the story grew legs.

[Slick]

I think that’s absolute bollocks to be honest, it’s just some malicious weirdo making stuff up.

Yeah, it's all the Irish posters banging on about it on PR, they fucking hate Hogg so they pile in on any rumour no matter how much bullshit is involved.

Looking at social media it’s entirely Irish and Welsh going on about it

[Big D]

Not looking at the rumours bht can guess from what has been posted. What goes on between a man and his wife is really there business. No one knows the ins and outs of what happens behind closed doors.

If something illegal, an abuse of power, abuse of position etc then that is different. But allegedly caught shagging is hardly earth shattering news for employers.

[SomersetJock]

Both my brother and mate heard various story’s about Hoggy at Langholm Commonriding last week. None of them the same and all of them 100% fact according to the teller.

There are many nonsense tales told in the Borders at that special time of year when you spend all day drinking warm beer from plastic cups and the air is tainted with the smell of horse$h!t !

All to be taken with a very large pinch of salt !

[Biffer]

Both my brother and mate heard various story’s about Hoggy at Langholm Commonriding last week. None of them the same and all of them 100% fact according to the teller.

There are many nonsense tales told in the Borders at that special time of year when you spend all day drinking warm beer from plastic cups and the air is tainted with the smell of horse$h!t !

All to be taken with a very large pinch of salt !

Also, how many of the lads in the borders style their look on Hogg. ‘Saw a fella winchin a lassie, looked a bit like Hoggy’.

[charltom]

Just been playing with the World Rugby rankings calculator.

If Argentina beat SA and Scotland beat France by 15+, not much changes... but if then Scotland beat France by 15+ away, Scotland would go into the RWC ranked 3rd! Yes, I know that's unlikely...

[Biffer]

Quick question gents - good pubs Glasgow City Centre for the game tomorrow? I'm presuming Waxy O'Connors will show it, anywhere more Merchant City area? Heading out to the velodrome for about five thirty.

[robmatic]

Just been playing with the World Rugby rankings calculator.

If Argentina beat SA and Scotland beat France by 15+, not much changes... but if then Scotland beat France by 15+ away, Scotland would go into the RWC ranked 3rd! Yes, I know that's unlikely...

I think if we hump France home and away, a ranking of third looks fair enough to be honest!

[clydecloggie]

Quick question gents - good pubs Glasgow City Centre for the game tomorrow? I'm presuming Waxy O'Connors will show it, anywhere more Merchant City area? Heading out to the velodrome for about five thirty.

The Raven always has the games on, nice wee pub with a good beer selection (but just west of the Merchant City).

Maybe Merchant Square has their massive screen operating for this one?

[Big D]

20mins but worth the watch.

[Slick]

Has anyone watched the Sqidge video on Scotlands attack? Just watched and thought it was great

[Big D]

Ropey kick chase - check
Being second to every ball on the ground - check
Sloppy ball handling- check
Not working hard enough in defence* - check

Must be world cup season.

* for their second try Watson was beaten for pace but that was partly down to not working hard enough to get in position.

[Big D]

White got injured because Watson didn't dive on the ball half way up the park. Might sound harsh but it's true.

[Begbie]

This is fuckin awful.

[Big D]

This is fuckin awful.

Warning signs are there. We were poor and ill prepared for the last world cup and got embarrassed.

Early days yet but they need a shake.

[SomersetJock]

Back to that old problem of following one cockup with another and then another.

Some really brainless stuff from every player !

[I like neeps]

Not the first time Zander has done that.

[KingBlairhorn]

Rory Darge take a bow!

[SomersetJock]

Wow

There was nothing to suggest that second half was possible after 40 mins. Some players really put their hands up eventually !

[Big D]

Good second half against a second string French side.

First half wasn't close to acceptable but given its preseason and the second half performance does provide mitigation.

7 penalties from Fagerson and Gray skew the penalty count but we can't afford daft penalties and suspensions.

[Slick]

Phew.

We could put the crap first half down to first run out for a while if it wasn’t an issue we had already, that’s got to change. Don’t know how, it’s mental I suppose.

Felt in the first half that everyone was looking at the skipper to do everything, no one else taking responsibility. Finn put in a huge number of tackles today as well.

Sadly I think Hamish is going backwards and we have to stick with Darge.

I’m seriously worried about our defence out wide but hopefully a couple of games will tighten it up.

On the upside though, that back 3 is such a threat. BK has now become a player that opposition coaches will be putting together special plans for, but how can they when they already need plans for the other 2. My only very slight criticism of Blair going forward is that he has to learn sometimes that going to ground and recycling the ball is an OK option, doesn’t always need an offload

[Slick]

Also, Finns interaction with the ref was a million times better than Ritchie

[Big D]

Looks like Dalziel has a plan for maul defence too which will be needed.

[KingBlairhorn]

Also, Finns interaction with the ref was a million times better than Ritchie

Agreed, I thought he was really good actually. Getting the boys up for the scrum at the end whilst really talking to the ref (“exact same again boys and it’s a penalty”) and little bits like that were really good too.

[SomersetJock]

I’m going to break my own rules here and moan about one of our players. Proper fuck@d off with Zander after that one. When is he going to learn to cut that crap out. Completely unnecessary and he’s a lucky boy we have such a shortage of tightheads as he fully deserves to be dropped and miss the W/C.

[SomersetJock]

Looks like Dalziel has a plan for maul defence too which will be needed.

Thought the maul defence was excellent as wel. I celebrated like we had won a penalty when the French went for the corner at the end rather than another scrum.

[Yr Alban]

Currently on holiday in the US. Very bizarre to begin the day with wins for both Hearts and Scotland by the time I had finished my breakfast!

It is disappointing that Zander still can’t bloody control himself. The risk of him copping a longer ban is worrying me.

[Simian]

Also, Finns interaction with the ref was a million times better than Ritchie

Yup.

[Jock42]

Not long finished watching. Thought the WC was fucked at HT but that was a pretty impressive 2nd half. Not sure what was said at the break but it clearly worked. Zander is one lucky boy if he makes the WC now but he needs a rocket up his arse either way. Finn and Blair were great, I've always been a big fan of Horne but his speed really suits Scotland. It's now Darge over Watson for me and does anyone know of Gray had France on his coupon?

[Yr Alban]

So what happens if Zander cops a long ban? Do we start with Nel and bring Murphy Walker off the bench?

[westport]

Can we start the next game with what was said at half time

[SomersetJock]

So what happens if Zander cops a long ban? Do we start with Nel and bring Murphy Walker off the bench?

By the end of the tournament the whole world will be raving about the sensational emergence of Murphy Walker and we will have a vague memory of Matt having a big brother in the squad

[dpedin]

So what happens if Zander cops a long ban? Do we start with Nel and bring Murphy Walker off the bench?

By the end of the tournament the whole world will be raving about the sensational emergence of Murphy Walker and we will have a vague memory of Matt having a big brother in the squad

Nel certainly tightened up the scrum when he came on, never looked like we were a forward down and he held his side up well. Problem is he is 37 and will never last 80 mins of international rugby. However 40mins of Nel is still a big bonus.

[Slick]

I see Toony was trying to semi excuse Zamders brain fart but having watched it a few times again this morning, there really is no mitigation, absolutely stupid and dangerous

Also, thought the new way of dealing with it worked really well and will save us some Irish crowd drama

[Big D]

So what happens if Zander cops a long ban? Do we start with Nel and bring Murphy Walker off the bench?

I would be shocked if it is longer than 6 weeks.

Based on last week Murphy might not make the squad.

[Big D]

I see Toony was trying to semi excuse Zamders brain fart but having watched it a few times again this morning, there really is no mitigation, absolutely stupid and dangerous

Also, thought the new way of dealing with it worked really well and will save us some Irish crowd drama

That is GT playing defence on public relations. It was stupid and unnecessary. I don't think it was as bad as the French player made it.

Should be a 6 week entry point and wouldn't be surprised either way if they bring it down to 3/4 or leave at 6.