The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

I'd go pretty much full team. Maybe stick Fagerson Z and Turner on the bench, and Richie Gray. They didn't play last week so barring any knocks, I'd look for three games in a row from people

[Tichtheid]

Now I’ve watched the game again in full, I counted five late, high or off the ball hits in the first half from Tonga, three of which were penalised. The second half had exactly the same count.

The one late on on Kinghorn looked as bad as the Ritchie one but it wasn’t even checked, the off the ball hit on Steyn was only checked and penalised because the producer showed it on the screens at the stadium and on the tv replays.

Whitehouse is the proverbial chocolate fireguard

[Big D]

Now I’ve watched the game again in full, I counted five late, high or off the ball hits in the first half from Tonga, three of which were penalised. The second half had exactly the same count.

The one late on on Kinghorn looked as bad as the Ritchie one but it wasn’t even checked, the off the ball hit on Steyn was only checked and penalised because the producer showed it on the screens at the stadium and on the tv replays.

Whitehouse is the proverbial chocolate fireguard

Whitehouse and Dickson are terrible. The two Aussie refs are crap too. Of the four refs we have, the best one (Barnes) is refereeing what should be a straight forward game. Would far rather he did the Ireland game.

I also think it is about time we stop the "ach those pesky PI players are so physical with their tackling" acceptance of illegal tackles. Several of those shots were cheap shots and should be called out as such. There was one where Darge was wellied off the ball too. I have no issue with physical legal tackles but some of those weren't close.

[Tichtheid]

I also think it is about time we stop the "ach those pesky PI players are so physical with their tackling" acceptance of illegal tackles. Several of those shots were cheap shots and should be called out as such. There was one where Darge was wellied off the ball too. I have no issue with physical legal tackles but some of those weren't close.

Agreed, as several people said yesterday, the Ire SA game was really physical, but had none of the cheap off the ball shots or shoulder to face "tackles"

[Big D]

Thinking back to 2019 which was a very similar position but swapping Samoa, Russia and Japan for Tonga, Romania and Ireland, there were 12 personal plus one position change between Russia and Japan and two weeks between second and forth pool games. We were average v Samoa, saw off a poor Russia and then crap v Japan. We need to find away to be up a level or three from yesterday. For me that is trying to getting some fluency in our play.

Playing Finn would be a risk, but the bigger risk for me is a repeat of 2019 where we just don't show anywhere near our best in the last game.

[KingBlairhorn]

Now I’ve watched the game again in full, I counted five late, high or off the ball hits in the first half from Tonga, three of which were penalised. The second half had exactly the same count.

The one late on on Kinghorn looked as bad as the Ritchie one but it wasn’t even checked, the off the ball hit on Steyn was only checked and penalised because the producer showed it on the screens at the stadium and on the tv replays.

Whitehouse is the proverbial chocolate fireguard

I am currently putting all of my rugby-supporting psychological wellness eggs in one basket - that is, we have been dreadfully unlucky with the refereeing thus far which will balance out with us being exceptionally fortunate against Ireland.

[Simian]

I also think it is about time we stop the "ach those pesky PI players are so physical with their tackling" acceptance of illegal tackles. Several of those shots were cheap shots and should be called out as such. There was one where Darge was wellied off the ball too. I have no issue with physical legal tackles but some of those weren't close.

Agreed, as several people said yesterday, the Ire SA game was really physical, but had none of the cheap off the ball shots or shoulder to face "tackles"

I’m not convinced it’s fair these days to say this is a problem with PI teams. Tonga are particularly bad for it (and always have been, imo) and, yeah, agree the number of cheap shots the other day was pretty wild (I also rewatched the game this morning).

I was pleased to see GT comment on it as strongly as he did. We’ve played two games and really should have played one and a half of them against fourteen.

Leaving aside vested interests, the difference in the threshold for reds between the warm ups and last two rounds seems pretty striking. I’d have thought, given the current climate, that the initial outcome of the OF disciplinary hearing was a weird anomaly rather than a clue to what was coming, tbh.

[Simian]

As an aside, we’re seeing the bunker system replace citings, haven’t we? I wonder if enthusiasm for the bunker system before the tournament would have been tempered if that had been clear when it was announced?

[Slick]

I also think it is about time we stop the "ach those pesky PI players are so physical with their tackling" acceptance of illegal tackles. Several of those shots were cheap shots and should be called out as such. There was one where Darge was wellied off the ball too. I have no issue with physical legal tackles but some of those weren't close.

Agreed, as several people said yesterday, the Ire SA game was really physical, but had none of the cheap off the ball shots or shoulder to face "tackles"

I’m not convinced it’s fair these days to say this is a problem with PI teams. Tonga are particularly bad for it (and always have been, imo) and, yeah, agree the number of cheap shots the other day was pretty wild (I also rewatched the game this morning).

I was pleased to see GT comment on it as strongly as he did. We’ve played two games and really should have played one and a half of them against fourteen.

Leaving aside vested interests, the difference in the threshold for reds between the warm ups and last two rounds seems pretty striking. I’d have thought, given the current climate, that the initial outcome of the OF disciplinary hearing was a weird anomaly rather than a clue to what was coming, tbh.

Samoa were also cheap shotting a lot at the weekend and have that similar quite nasty side - it's odd because everyone says what an awesome bunch they are off the pitch. Fiji have always been much further down the scale and still are.

[Slick]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

[Tichtheid]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

I thought he really did look out of it a couple of times in that game, definitely not just losing concentration, it looked much more

[Slick]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

I thought he really did look out of it a couple of times in that game, definitely not just losing concentration, it looked much more

Totally agree, was quite disturbing. I saw somewhere that he threw up on the pitch a couple of times as well.

[Simian]

Agreed, as several people said yesterday, the Ire SA game was really physical, but had none of the cheap off the ball shots or shoulder to face "tackles"

I’m not convinced it’s fair these days to say this is a problem with PI teams. Tonga are particularly bad for it (and always have been, imo) and, yeah, agree the number of cheap shots the other day was pretty wild (I also rewatched the game this morning).

I was pleased to see GT comment on it as strongly as he did. We’ve played two games and really should have played one and a half of them against fourteen.

Leaving aside vested interests, the difference in the threshold for reds between the warm ups and last two rounds seems pretty striking. I’d have thought, given the current climate, that the initial outcome of the OF disciplinary hearing was a weird anomaly rather than a clue to what was coming, tbh.

Samoa were also cheap shotting a lot at the weekend and have that similar quite nasty side - it's odd because everyone says what an awesome bunch they are off the pitch. Fiji have always been much further down the scale and still are.

Yeah, but not to the same degree (imo). And, as long as I’ve watched rugby, Tonga have been a dirty side. Samoa, not so much. And agree about Fiji

[Simian]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

I thought he really did look out of it a couple of times in that game, definitely not just losing concentration, it looked much more

Totally agree, was quite disturbing. I saw somewhere that he threw up on the pitch a couple of times as well.

Totally missed this (tho I did think he had a poor second half). When did it happen?

[Simian]

Who do folk think we should start at nine against Ireland?

We had three good options (and a fourth if needed) but all seem off their games, imo

Price hasn’t been playing as badly as some say (imo) but is a long way off his best form

White has looked uncharacteristically ponderous since he came back from his injury and keeps looking to force quick throw ins (to the point where this has to be a coaching decision, imo)

Horne looks fine on set plays and brilliant in broken play but makes poor decisions (imo) when picking out runners and is a wee gobshite who pisses off referees.

I’d still stick with white because I think he’s doing what gets him picked (ie he fits a top down thing) but it’s a tough call

For the Ireland game, I also think the back row is a huge call. If we’re going to go ‘safety first’ (and it looks like we are - don’t go for a TO unless it’s nailed on), then a 7 plus Dempsey and MF seems the best call to me. It just seems wild to push one of our top performing back three to the bench when they’ve been our two most consistent forwards? So, for me, comes down to whether we’re going to attack their ball at the breakdown or not. (This is assuming JR is available. If not, picks itself)

Wings and lock are surprisingly difficult calls. Back three, Steyn has a decent kicking game and concerns about his defence are (to me) misplaced (system not him). Not much in it between Cummings and Gilchrist for me. (The thing that made Cummings stand out to me when he came through - great running lines - has just vanished from his game!)

[Slick]

I thought he really did look out of it a couple of times in that game, definitely not just losing concentration, it looked much more

Totally agree, was quite disturbing. I saw somewhere that he threw up on the pitch a couple of times as well.

Totally missed this (tho I did think he had a poor second half). When did it happen?

Can't remember exactly when but 1st half and a ruck around their 22.

[Big D]

Who do folk think we should start at nine against Ireland?

We had three good options (and a fourth if needed) but all seem off their games, imo

Price hasn’t been playing as badly as some say (imo) but is a long way off his best form

White has looked uncharacteristically ponderous since he came back from his injury and keeps looking to force quick throw ins (to the point where this has to be a coaching decision, imo)

Horne looks fine on set plays and brilliant in broken play but makes poor decisions (imo) when picking out runners and is a wee gobshite who pisses off referees.

I’d still stick with white because I think he’s doing what gets him picked (ie he fits a top down thing) but it’s a tough call

For the Ireland game, I also think the back row is a huge call. If we’re going to go ‘safety first’ (and it looks like we are - don’t go for a TO unless it’s nailed on), then a 7 plus Dempsey and MF seems the best call to me. It just seems wild to push one of our top performing back three to the bench when they’ve been our two most consistent forwards? So, for me, comes down to whether we’re going to attack their ball at the breakdown or not. (This is assuming JR is available. If not, picks itself)

Wings and lock are surprisingly difficult calls. Back three, Steyn has a decent kicking game and concerns about his defence are (to me) misplaced (system not him). Not much in it between Cummings and Gilchrist for me. (The thing that made Cummings stand out to me when he came through - great running lines - has just vanished from his game!)

Fagerson hasn't done enough to displace the captain of the side. His recent form has been solid but he hasn't pressed a case for starting IMO.

I'd pick the same team as the SA game except maybe a change at 9 for the experience of Price.

In the back 3 seeing as they all miss tackles I am picking the wings that are game breakers and the best finishers and that's Graham and VdM IMO.

[Big D]

Different sport and not sure how often he'll play but Robert MacIntyre must be in dreamland right now.

Ryder Cup week is oh so special.

[Blackmac]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

If it was the one on their 22, I'm pretty certain he was badly winded. He walked back very gingerly before going down for treatment.

[KingBlairhorn]

Topofthemoon updated the chart on top try scorers on twitter yesterday. Assuming at least one of them plays, whichever of Duhan and Darcy gets a runout against Romania (and I think it will be Duhan as he is more durable) has a strong chance of becoming 3rd or even 2nd all-time try scorer for us. Duhan is on 21 and Darcy on 20 (I think?) - Hogg is probably unassailable this week on 27 but 23 tries gets 3rd and 26 gets second on the list.

[Slick]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

If it was the one on their 22, I'm pretty certain he was badly winded. He walked back very gingerly before going down for treatment.

Hope that's it. Probably is, I've seen nothing else said about it and we all know a winding can make everything else disappear for a few seconds

[Tichtheid]

Did anyone spot a bit in first half when BK just wandered away from play with his back to a ruck? Thought he was just getting into position but he just kept going not looking while play went on around him, it was very odd. He's been very honest about drifting in and out of games but I did wonder if he had taken a crack on the head

If it was the one on their 22, I'm pretty certain he was badly winded. He walked back very gingerly before going down for treatment.

Hope that's it. Probably is, I've seen nothing else said about it and we all know a winding can make everything else disappear for a few seconds

I didn't see what happened to Kinghorn at that point, but I think it was after a collision. Turner had the wind knocked out of him when the Tongan no 5 hit him in the back from behind at a maul very early on, then Steyn had the same when he was hit with a no-arms tackle - the one that the French tv producer eventually brought to Whitehouse's attention, the useless bawbag.

[TheNatalShark]

Hope that's it. Probably is, I've seen nothing else said about it and we all know a winding can make everything else disappear for a few seconds

Always fascinating your body screaming that life is on the edge but your head saying "it'll be fine"

Rugby ball always been perfectly shaped in winding me on a jump tackle from behind

[Slick]

Just realised I'm going to miss most of the Romania game as I'm taking the kids to the Scotland v Spain women's match.

I see they are trying to encourage folk to stay on and watch on a big screen but that seems spectacularly bad planning.

Also, going to the Bath warm up game with inactionman if anyone fancied meeting for a beer.

[Biffer]

Topofthemoon updated the chart on top try scorers on twitter yesterday. Assuming at least one of them plays, whichever of Duhan and Darcy gets a runout against Romania (and I think it will be Duhan as he is more durable) has a strong chance of becoming 3rd or even 2nd all-time try scorer for us. Duhan is on 21 and Darcy on 20 (I think?) - Hogg is probably unassailable this week on 27 but 23 tries gets 3rd and 26 gets second on the list.

Got to think they'll both be close to chasing down Hogg by the end of the 6 Nations.

[Big D]

Topofthemoon updated the chart on top try scorers on twitter yesterday. Assuming at least one of them plays, whichever of Duhan and Darcy gets a runout against Romania (and I think it will be Duhan as he is more durable) has a strong chance of becoming 3rd or even 2nd all-time try scorer for us. Duhan is on 21 and Darcy on 20 (I think?) - Hogg is probably unassailable this week on 27 but 23 tries gets 3rd and 26 gets second on the list.

Impressive when I suspect they've score more against the 6N/4N teams than say USA/Canada/Tonga/Samoa as they tend to be rotated out when it isn't a WC game.

[KingBlairhorn]

Topofthemoon updated the chart on top try scorers on twitter yesterday. Assuming at least one of them plays, whichever of Duhan and Darcy gets a runout against Romania (and I think it will be Duhan as he is more durable) has a strong chance of becoming 3rd or even 2nd all-time try scorer for us. Duhan is on 21 and Darcy on 20 (I think?) - Hogg is probably unassailable this week on 27 but 23 tries gets 3rd and 26 gets second on the list.

Impressive when I suspect they've score more against the 6N/4N teams than say IUSA/Canada/Tonga/Samoa as they tend to be rotated out when it isn't a WC game.

Definitely. They will both, injuries aside, finish their careers well in advance of the current record holders. Duhan is only 28 and Darcy, bafflingly, only 26. Both have 4 years left easily, in Darcy's case he might still be going in 8 years!

[Punter15]

Incidentally, Ian Smith is at #2 and if you haven’t read his book, you really should.

[Poshprop]

Incidentally, Ian Smith is at #2 and if you haven’t read his book, you really should.

Different Ian Smiths. Try scoring Ian Smith played 1924 - 1933 won 32 caps and scored 24 tries Book writing Ian Smith (self confessed slower than your average prop) played 1969 -1972 got 9 caps (1 for Hong Kong I think) and scored 2 tries.

Even the Scots man uses the wrong picture for Ian Smith in their Top 10 Scottish Try Scorers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... gg-4017582

[Biffer]

A more general Scottish thing I thought I'd chuck in here as it's the right audience - There's a group making a serious effort to reopen the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. The New owners of the building, who bought it from the administrators, have been very flexible and are keen to see it reopen; they've donated the projectors that were in the building and are undertaking some maintenance and refurbishment at their own cost. It'd be very easy for them to just look for a hotel investment so it's a great thing on their part. They've agreed an initial 6 month lease while people try to put funding in place, with the prospect of a long term lease (multiple decades) if that's successful.

Filmhouse was a casualty of the pandemic, it was entirely viable prior to 2020. The crowdfunder is over £75k now, please consider donating if you can!

https://filmhouse.org.uk/home

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/filmhou ... -the-doors

[Tichtheid]

A more general Scottish thing I thought I'd chuck in here as it's the right audience - There's a group making a serious effort to reopen the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. The New owners of the building, who bought it from the administrators, have been very flexible and are keen to see it reopen; they've donated the projectors that were in the building and are undertaking some maintenance and refurbishment at their own cost. It'd be very easy for them to just look for a hotel investment so it's a great thing on their part. They've agreed an initial 6 month lease while people try to put funding in place, with the prospect of a long term lease (multiple decades) if that's successful.

Filmhouse was a casualty of the pandemic, it was entirely viable prior to 2020. The crowdfunder is over £75k now, please consider donating if you can!

https://filmhouse.org.uk/home

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/filmhou ... -the-doors

Breast of Duck to them, I used to love the Filmhouse.

From their website I see they have backing from Creative Scotland - they really dropped the ball a few months ago in pulling financial backing for this year's Lammermuir Festival.

[weegie01]

Jersey going under is not just bad news for English rugby, but also Scottish as there are several Scots there, with the likes of Grahamslaw having realistic ambitions to use that as a stepping stone to a higher level.

[Biffer]

Jersey going under is not just bad news for English rugby, but also Scottish as there are several Scots there, with the likes of Grahamslaw having realistic ambitions to use that as a stepping stone to a higher level.

Always likely to happen, they were the very definition of a rich man's plaything.

[Yr Alban]

A more general Scottish thing I thought I'd chuck in here as it's the right audience - There's a group making a serious effort to reopen the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. The New owners of the building, who bought it from the administrators, have been very flexible and are keen to see it reopen; they've donated the projectors that were in the building and are undertaking some maintenance and refurbishment at their own cost. It'd be very easy for them to just look for a hotel investment so it's a great thing on their part. They've agreed an initial 6 month lease while people try to put funding in place, with the prospect of a long term lease (multiple decades) if that's successful.

Filmhouse was a casualty of the pandemic, it was entirely viable prior to 2020. The crowdfunder is over £75k now, please consider donating if you can!

https://filmhouse.org.uk/home

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/filmhou ... -the-doors

Really glad to hear this. Was slightly amazed they still managed to run the film festival this year. I will sling them a few quid.

[KingBlairhorn]

Incidentally, Ian Smith is at #2 and if you haven’t read his book, you really should.

Different Ian Smiths. Try scoring Ian Smith played 1924 - 1933 won 32 caps and scored 24 tries Book writing Ian Smith (self confessed slower than your average prop) played 1969 -1972 got 9 caps (1 for Hong Kong I think) and scored 2 tries.

Even the Scots man uses the wrong picture for Ian Smith in their Top 10 Scottish Try Scorers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... gg-4017582

I recently had a moment very similar to this Ian Smith confusion. I was at a dinner party with some friends of my wife and when talking about rugby one of them piped up with my dad played for Scotland, his name is Tom Smith.

I just about lost my shit, but it turns out he was a different Tom Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Smith ... born_1953)

Still cool though!

[Tichtheid]

Incidentally, Ian Smith is at #2 and if you haven’t read his book, you really should.

Different Ian Smiths. Try scoring Ian Smith played 1924 - 1933 won 32 caps and scored 24 tries Book writing Ian Smith (self confessed slower than your average prop) played 1969 -1972 got 9 caps (1 for Hong Kong I think) and scored 2 tries.

Even the Scots man uses the wrong picture for Ian Smith in their Top 10 Scottish Try Scorers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... gg-4017582

I recently had a moment very similar to this Ian Smith confusion. I was at a dinner party with some friends of my wife and when talking about rugby one of them piped up with my dad played for Scotland, his name is Tom Smith.

I just about lost my shit, but it turns out he was a different Tom Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Smith ... born_1953)

Still cool though!

I see that Tom Smith was born in Macmerry.

When we were kids we had this silly childish joke -

Q. What made Macmerry?
A. Aberlady.

[Biffer]

A more general Scottish thing I thought I'd chuck in here as it's the right audience - There's a group making a serious effort to reopen the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. The New owners of the building, who bought it from the administrators, have been very flexible and are keen to see it reopen; they've donated the projectors that were in the building and are undertaking some maintenance and refurbishment at their own cost. It'd be very easy for them to just look for a hotel investment so it's a great thing on their part. They've agreed an initial 6 month lease while people try to put funding in place, with the prospect of a long term lease (multiple decades) if that's successful.

Filmhouse was a casualty of the pandemic, it was entirely viable prior to 2020. The crowdfunder is over £75k now, please consider donating if you can!

https://filmhouse.org.uk/home

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/filmhou ... -the-doors

Really glad to hear this. Was slightly amazed they still managed to run the film festival this year. I will sling them a few quid.

Yeah, the International Festival (the posh one with opera and classical music) took the banner on and showed a few films to just keep the name out there, but it's not a long term solution. It wasn't a full film festival by any stretch of the imagination.

[Yr Alban]

Incidentally, Ian Smith is at #2 and if you haven’t read his book, you really should.

Different Ian Smiths. Try scoring Ian Smith played 1924 - 1933 won 32 caps and scored 24 tries Book writing Ian Smith (self confessed slower than your average prop) played 1969 -1972 got 9 caps (1 for Hong Kong I think) and scored 2 tries.

Even the Scots man uses the wrong picture for Ian Smith in their Top 10 Scottish Try Scorers

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... gg-4017582

I recently had a moment very similar to this Ian Smith confusion. I was at a dinner party with some friends of my wife and when talking about rugby one of them piped up with my dad played for Scotland, his name is Tom Smith.

I just about lost my shit, but it turns out he was a different Tom Smith: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Smith ... born_1953)

Still cool though!

I was amused to find out that the Ian Smith whose try scoring record Hoggy broke was born in Australia, brought up in NZ, and living in England when he was capped (qualifying through parentage). Which perhaps tells you that there is nothing new under the sun.

[robmatic]

Jersey going under is not just bad news for English rugby, but also Scottish as there are several Scots there, with the likes of Grahamslaw having realistic ambitions to use that as a stepping stone to a higher level.

Yeah, I think especially for the front rows, going to play in the Championship is a very useful apprenticeship for Scottish players and Jersey has proven to be a good option for them in recent seasons.

[topofthemoon]

Match preview part 1 for Scotland v Romania:

https://www.scottishrugbyblog.co.uk/202 ... view-pt-i/