NPR

So what’s the best result for us tonight?

Ireland losing so it’s a straight shoot out when we need lay them?

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 8:53 am So what’s the best result for us tonight?

Ireland losing so it’s a straight shoot out when we need lay them?

Yeah. If they win, then it’s a nailed on certainty that we’ll beat them and go out on BPs or points difference.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 12:40 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Sep 21, 2023 11:21 am Got to say, I'm feeling pretty flat with this tournament at the moment.

Disappointing match with SA, a long wait for the next game and an air of inevitability about what comes now.

Not to mention that the tournament so far has been largely rubbish and dominated by cards.

Really need Sunday to lift it for me.

Scotland and Fiji are the only teams who try anything that isn't purely kick kick kick kick kick kick maul kick kick kick kick scrum kick kick kick maul kick.

Booooring.

I'm the same. Partly due to the group situation but also no doubt caused by the fact that many teams will have played 3 games by the time we play our second.

It’d be very Scottish to beat the eventual winner in the pool stage and not get to the quarter finals.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 8:53 am So what’s the best result for us tonight?

Ireland losing so it’s a straight shoot out when we need lay them?

SA winning 8-0 I think.

Match preview part 2 for the game v Tonga:

https://www.scottishrugbyblog.co.uk/202 ... -to-heads/

Completely different subject, but just been to the open day at the Royal Observatory, was absolutely brilliant. Think next year I’ll book a day with the kids then a day on my own to listen to the lectures.

All the scientists so generous with the kids. We ended up the 4 of us sitting round with the chief scientist of the Euclid telescope talking about the launch and the first images.

Plus my 5 year old daughter won the science competition by a mile

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 1:53 pm Completely different subject, but just been to the open day at the Royal Observatory, was absolutely brilliant. Think next year I’ll book a day with the kids then a day on my own to listen to the lectures.

All the scientists so generous with the kids. We ended up the 4 of us sitting round with the chief scientist of the Euclid telescope talking about the launch and the first images.

Plus my 5 year old daughter won the science competition by a mile

Nice! It was Doors Open Day today, wasn't it?

I wandered to a cargo bike demo & try thing in Bruntsfield - they're surprisingly easy to handle. The whole thing was about the most middle-class thing I've seen, which is saying something for Edinburgh.

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:17 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 1:53 pm Completely different subject, but just been to the open day at the Royal Observatory, was absolutely brilliant. Think next year I’ll book a day with the kids then a day on my own to listen to the lectures.

All the scientists so generous with the kids. We ended up the 4 of us sitting round with the chief scientist of the Euclid telescope talking about the launch and the first images.

Plus my 5 year old daughter won the science competition by a mile

Nice! It was Doors Open Day today, wasn't it?

I wandered to a cargo bike demo & try thing in Bruntsfield - they're surprisingly easy to handle. The whole thing was about the most middle-class thing I've seen, which is saying something for Edinburgh.

Nice one, I did that years ago as an adult and it was brilliant. I also did Royal College of Surgeons and Edinburgh Uni medical school one year on the same day, both very good too.

We did Edinburgh bus depot on Allendale Street this year with our (also five year old) daughter. Genuinely fantastic, they really pulled out all the stops. Face painting, a ride in the bus through the bus wash, bouncy castles galore, vintage buses etc. All brilliantly organised, I highly recommend it for next year.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:30 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:17 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 1:53 pm Completely different subject, but just been to the open day at the Royal Observatory, was absolutely brilliant. Think next year I’ll book a day with the kids then a day on my own to listen to the lectures.

All the scientists so generous with the kids. We ended up the 4 of us sitting round with the chief scientist of the Euclid telescope talking about the launch and the first images.

Plus my 5 year old daughter won the science competition by a mile

Nice! It was Doors Open Day today, wasn't it?

I wandered to a cargo bike demo & try thing in Bruntsfield - they're surprisingly easy to handle. The whole thing was about the most middle-class thing I've seen, which is saying something for Edinburgh.

Nice one, I did that years ago as an adult and it was brilliant. I also did Royal College of Surgeons and Edinburgh Uni medical school one year on the same day, both very good too.

We did Edinburgh bus depot on Allendale Street this year with our (also five year old) daughter. Genuinely fantastic, they really pulled out all the stops. Face painting, a ride in the bus through the bus wash, bouncy castles galore, vintage buses etc. All brilliantly organised, I highly recommend it for next year.

Didn’t realise until after we were done that there were loads of these things going on today - had we done then I think the buses would have been our other choice.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:49 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:30 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 5:17 pm

Nice! It was Doors Open Day today, wasn't it?

I wandered to a cargo bike demo & try thing in Bruntsfield - they're surprisingly easy to handle. The whole thing was about the most middle-class thing I've seen, which is saying something for Edinburgh.

Nice one, I did that years ago as an adult and it was brilliant. I also did Royal College of Surgeons and Edinburgh Uni medical school one year on the same day, both very good too.

We did Edinburgh bus depot on Allendale Street this year with our (also five year old) daughter. Genuinely fantastic, they really pulled out all the stops. Face painting, a ride in the bus through the bus wash, bouncy castles galore, vintage buses etc. All brilliantly organised, I highly recommend it for next year.

Didn’t realise until after we were done that there were loads of these things going on today - had we done then I think the buses would have been our other choice.

A lot of them are on again tomorrow. The Observatory is definitely open both days

They'll easily smash Ireland with a BP win anyway

What does that mean for us?

Let’s assume we win the next 2 games with maximum bonus points, what do we need to do against Ireland?

A BP win should secure 2nd place but otherwise a lot of points v Tonga and Romania and just a win might be enough.

No Irish BP though

Eichh

We don't need to beat Ireland with a BP.

Ireland currently on 14. If we win vs Romania and Tonga with a BP, that puts us on ten. If we then beat Ireland without Ireland getting a BP, we're also on 14 and we go through as we won the head to head.

For similar reasons, if SA get a BP vs Tonga, we can't get ahead of them.

Ah thank fuck

Long version on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/topofthemoonGW/stat ... Xg5MA&s=19

Short version, assuming a South Africa BP win v Tonga

If we get 10 points from Tonga and Romania:
- progress with a 5-0 match points win v Ireland;
- progress with a 4-0 match points win v Ireland;
- 5-1 match points win v Ireland leads to a 3-way tiebreaker (Ire, Sco, SA)
if Sco have best points difference, Sco 1st; Ire 2nd
if Ire have best points difference, Ire 1st; SA 2nd
if SA have best points difference, SA 1st; Sco 2nd

If we get 9 points from Tonga and Romania:
- progress with a 5-0 match points win v Ireland.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Sep 23, 2023 1:53 pm Completely different subject, but just been to the open day at the Royal Observatory, was absolutely brilliant. Think next year I’ll book a day with the kids then a day on my own to listen to the lectures.

All the scientists so generous with the kids. We ended up the 4 of us sitting round with the chief scientist of the Euclid telescope talking about the launch and the first images.

Plus my 5 year old daughter won the science competition by a mile

My mate is a technician there, he says it's a really busy day for them but he enjoys showing off the cool stuff they do.

You know what’s really annoying. Both SA and Irish players, coaches and supporters talking about the QF’s and later in the tournament as if its done a land dusted.

The really annoying bit is that it’s difficult to mount a credible comeback to it

Although. Saffers moaning about the Irish lying on the wrong side of rucks is cheering me up no end

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:34 pm Although. Saffers moaning about the Irish lying on the wrong side of rucks is cheering me up no end

It's "surprising" how much less effective their blitz defence is when they're onside too.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:46 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:34 pm Although. Saffers moaning about the Irish lying on the wrong side of rucks is cheering me up no end

It's "surprising" how much less effective their blitz defence is when they're onside too.

I was very frustrated watching them getting pinged for both last night

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:42 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 1:32 pm You know what’s really annoying. Both SA and Irish players, coaches and supporters talking about the QF’s and later in the tournament as if its done a land dusted.

The really annoying bit is that it’s difficult to mount a credible comeback to it

Irish players and coaches have fallen over themselves to say Scotland and Scotland alone matters now. I heard Ferris say we should beat them. He was a bit incredulous when challenged pointing to our recent record. He's right viewed through that prime. It's still a banana skin though and remember we hate Scotland these days so will be well fired up. Wales and Scotland fucked our chances of hosting this world cup so dumping either out will be good in the petty bitterness stakes

Regarding that last part the SRU were clear throughout IIRC. The bid with most money was going to get their vote.

EnergiseR2 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:50 pm Disappointing but we don't forget. That's our way

I get that. But as much as I like to give the SRU a kicking, keeping their word is fair enough imo.

We must be giving away tells in the line out movements. Tonga were able to get up in front of the jumper.

Matthews added to the squad for Macinally, who drops out with a neck injury apparently.

Rambo injured, Johnny Mathews has been called up

The old ankle injury makes me slow to the breakdown these days

I think we were fine today.

Things are not quite clicking like they did in much of the 6N so I’m going to go against my instincts and suggest we should be playing out best team next week just to try and get those combinations going. Lineout still not great. I’d be very tempted to start Horne at 9 if we do go close to full noise against Romania, though he made a big difference when he can on

I’m not completely devoid of hope

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:02 pm Lineout still not great.

I wonder if that was down to the ball, as per the number of drops we've seen in games?

There were quite a few throws that went right through the jumper's hands, the lift and the throw were fine, it was the catch that was off

I don't know for sure if the ball is a problem, but I've seen it suggested in several places that it is

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:17 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:02 pm Lineout still not great.

I wonder if that was down to the ball, as per the number of drops we've seen in games?

There were quite a few throws that went right through the jumper's hands, the lift and the throw were fine, it was the catch that was off

I don't know for sure if the ball is a problem, but I've seen it suggested in several places that it is

Line out is definitely not my area of tiny expertise, but it has been dodgy for a long time now.

Re the ball. I made the comment the other night that there must be something very different about it as there has been loads of handling errors across the board in all conditions. Far more than you would expect at this level

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:17 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 7:02 pm Lineout still not great.

I wonder if that was down to the ball, as per the number of drops we've seen in games?

There were quite a few throws that went right through the jumper's hands, the lift and the throw were fine, it was the catch that was off

I don't know for sure if the ball is a problem, but I've seen it suggested in several places that it is

So are we not provided with a number of match day balls to train with prior to the start of the World Cup and if we are are we training and preparing for matches at the same time they are meant to be played as humidity and lighting conditions will play a part in dictating the small margins that need small adjustments as the game goes on ie taping the hands to improve handling as the ball gets wetter.

FWIW, I think that this is part of the top 5% that Scotland are missing that the real attention to detail that isn't there and causes the usual 20 minute fall off.

I agree that we are missing that top 5% of detail, but on the ball thing, Ireland, for example, are usually very good at the details, especially the lineout and they had a good few problems last night

Our lineout started out pretty good to begin with today

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Reported further up

Feeling grumpy. If we’d had a real draw rather than the utter farce we did get, we could easily have got Wales’s group. Despite today’s result, I’m confident we are better than Wales right now, and yet they have sauntered into the quarters and we are 99% going home after the groups.

My team for Romania

Bhatti, Ashman, Sebastian, Skinner, Gilchrist (capt), Crosbie, Watson, Fagerson

Price, Healy, vd Merwe, Redpath, Harris, Graham, Smith

Mathews, Sutherland, Nel, Cummings, Darge, Kinghorn, Jones, Horne

I doubt Ritchie will make the Ireland game, Tonga really went out to rough up the opposition so I would rest as many as we can.

Gilcho can play his way into starting v Ireland
I’m not sure about the wingers, Graham looked back to his best, it’s worth the risk to give him more game time, I think
Duhan is another I’m not sure on, rest him and play Steyn?

Ritchie has a 12 day stand down so should hopefully be back for Ireland.

I think we should go relatively strong especially in the backs. We haven't looked as smooth in attacking play as we perhaps should for this stage of the WC and it needs to be clicking v Ireland or there is zero chance we pull it off.

Ashman is on the promotional material so likely starts:
Schoeman
Ashman
Sebastian
GG
Skinner
Crosbie
Watson
Fagerson
White
Russell
Graham
Huwipolotu
VdM
Kinghorn

Turner
Bhatti
Nel
Cummings
Darge
Horne
Healy
Redpath

Big D wrote: ↑Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:25 am Ritchie has a 12 day stand down so should hopefully be back for Ireland.

I think we should go relatively strong especially in the backs. We haven't looked as smooth in attacking play as we perhaps should for this stage of the WC and it needs to be clicking v Ireland or there is zero chance we pull it off.

Ashman is on the promotional material so likely starts:
Schoeman
Ashman
Sebastian
GG
Skinner
Crosbie
Watson
Fagerson
White
Russell
Graham
Huwipolotu
VdM
Kinghorn

Turner
Bhatti
Nel
Cummings
Darge
Horne
Healy
Redpath

I agree with most of this. Before SA I felt we needed to protect the big players but it's all or nothing now and it's not quite clicking, close, but not quite. I think we just have to risk the injuries to have what will essentially be an opposed training run with the starting team.