The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[charltom]

I've just bought tickets for France-Scotland.

Can't believe how good value they are compared to what I've got used to.

[SaintK]

The RFUs love of a 'not quite good enough Kiwi' predates our love of 'quite good but not as good as theirs Saffers'.

How old is Sean Lineen nowadays?

Bit older than Chainsaw Laney and the Leslie brothers I’d guess

[Punter15]

The RFUs love of a 'not quite good enough Kiwi' predates our love of 'quite good but not as good as theirs Saffers'.

How old is Sean Lineen nowadays?

No idea, but younger than Jamie Salmon probably. Finish the Daily Mail crossword early today did we?

[Kawazaki]

The RFUs love of a 'not quite good enough Kiwi' predates our love of 'quite good but not as good as theirs Saffers'.

How old is Sean Lineen nowadays?

Bit older than Chainsaw Laney and the Leslie brothers I’d guess

This guy played for Scotland too (obviously after this photo was taken).

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby
6m ·
Scotland international tighthead D’arcy Rae has penned a two-year extension after starting the season in impressive form for both club and country

He's been Edinburgh's best tighthead this season* and if he doesn't get into the 6N squad ahead of the likes of Millar-Mills then I just don't understand what they are looking for.

*Paul Hill has gone quite well, though.

[Yr Alban]

Edinburgh Rugby
6m ·
Scotland international tighthead D’arcy Rae has penned a two-year extension after starting the season in impressive form for both club and country

He's been Edinburgh's best tighthead this season* and if he doesn't get into the 6N squad ahead of the likes of Millar-Mills then I just don't understand what they are looking for.

*Paul Hill has gone quite well, though.

I’ve actually been surprised with Millar-Mills, who has done a decent job off the bench in several games. Wouldn’t want him starting though.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh Rugby
6m ·
Scotland international tighthead D’arcy Rae has penned a two-year extension after starting the season in impressive form for both club and country

He's been Edinburgh's best tighthead this season* and if he doesn't get into the 6N squad ahead of the likes of Millar-Mills then I just don't understand what they are looking for.

*Paul Hill has gone quite well, though.

Yeah, the Edinburgh first three for me all have their merits (Hill, Rae, Sebastian) and I'm genuinely unsure who I'd have as first choice. Obviously I want the two Scots in there fit and firing as we need backup to Fagerson at international level.

Hopefully Blythe-Lafferty will push his way through in the next year.

[Yr Alban]

Edinburgh Rugby
6m ·
Scotland international tighthead D’arcy Rae has penned a two-year extension after starting the season in impressive form for both club and country

He's been Edinburgh's best tighthead this season* and if he doesn't get into the 6N squad ahead of the likes of Millar-Mills then I just don't understand what they are looking for.

*Paul Hill has gone quite well, though.

Yeah, the Edinburgh first three for me all have their merits (Hill, Rae, Sebastian) and I'm genuinely unsure who I'd have as first choice. Obviously I want the two Scots in there fit and firing as we need backup to Fagerson at international level.

Hopefully Blythe-Lafferty will push his way through in the next year.

I think we’re all praying that OBL will be the real deal. Would provide us with an instant succession plan for Zander, and anyone else we unearth is just a bonus.

[Jock42]

I’ve worked a bit with his Dad - he couldn’t have been prouder seeing him run out for England in Rome. It’s a funny one - someone born in England to two non-English parents wanting to play for England over the other country is very much the exception to the rule, but there doesn’t seem to have ever really been any doubt in Smith’s mind as to which camp he was in.

My father was 1st generation English to 2 Irish parents. Never considered himself anything other than English. Most of his sisters count themselves as English (other than the actual Irish 1) with a bit of Irish to varying degrees.

[Jock42]

As a wider question, it's an interesting one - when there are so many very good players in other positions, particularly the back row, why is fly half such a difficult one to find true world class? Even teams with vast resources of players like New Zealand, South Africa, France and England don't exactly churn out Dan Carters or Johnny Wilkinsons. Ireland are struggling to replace Sexton who was in place for centuries. Wales don't have anyone like Biggar, far less Jonathan Davies.

Scotland have Finn and he's been head and shoulders above anyone else in the pro era.

Easier to play back row than 10. 10 requires a huge amount of technique, tactical thinking etc as well as usual rugby skills.

New Zealand have had Richie Mo'unga who not Carter is unbelievable and before that Barrett who whilst flawed did have a very good 5-6 year spell, and Handre Pollard has surely been South Africa's best 10 in a long time. I don't think they struggle too much.

As an ex 10 I'd like to commend you on your observations. Also need to be terribly good looking which makes them difficult to find

I thought you were off the drink?

[Slick]

Easier to play back row than 10. 10 requires a huge amount of technique, tactical thinking etc as well as usual rugby skills.

New Zealand have had Richie Mo'unga who not Carter is unbelievable and before that Barrett who whilst flawed did have a very good 5-6 year spell, and Handre Pollard has surely been South Africa's best 10 in a long time. I don't think they struggle too much.

As an ex 10 I'd like to commend you on your observations. Also need to be terribly good looking which makes them difficult to find

I thought you were off the drink?

[Jock42]

That's a good bit of business by Embra. Think I'll give the Vannes match live a miss though, will watch panmure, get pished, then watch Embra get pumped away.

[Tichtheid]

That's a good bit of business by Embra. Think I'll give the Vannes match live a miss though, will watch panmure, get pished, then watch Embra get pumped away.

Unfortunately the Embra game isn’t on Premier this weekend, we’d have to buy a pass from EPRC TV, which I’m not going to do on top of the other subscriptions I have.
Embra have to be in the big cup to guarantee every game being covered on PS

I’ll be watching my local club instead

[Jock42]

That's a good bit of business by Embra. Think I'll give the Vannes match live a miss though, will watch panmure, get pished, then watch Embra get pumped away.

Unfortunately the Embra game isn’t on Premier this weekend, we’d have to buy a pass from EPRC TV, which I’m not going to do on top of the other subscriptions I have.
Embra have to be in the big cup to guarantee every game being covered on PS

I’ll be watching my local club instead

I've not checked but I'm assuming it's on the app like the Bayonnois match.

ETA: it's not.

[Slick]

Think we are going to lose most of the club fixtures this weekend. Had a nice day at Accies planned but that's gone already

[Tichtheid]

Think we are going to lose most of the club fixtures this weekend. Had a nice day at Accies planned but that's gone already

Aye, the ground here is pretty solid at the moment.

[robmatic]

That's a good bit of business by Embra. Think I'll give the Vannes match live a miss though, will watch panmure, get pished, then watch Embra get pumped away.

Unfortunately the Embra game isn’t on Premier this weekend, we’d have to buy a pass from EPRC TV, which I’m not going to do on top of the other subscriptions I have.
Embra have to be in the big cup to guarantee every game being covered on PS

I’ll be watching my local club instead

I decided it is not worth shelling out to watch games in the group stages. There's basically no chance that both teams will be going for it.

[SomersetJock]

That's a good bit of business by Embra. Think I'll give the Vannes match live a miss though, will watch panmure, get pished, then watch Embra get pumped away.

Unfortunately the Embra game isn’t on Premier this weekend, we’d have to buy a pass from EPRC TV, which I’m not going to do on top of the other subscriptions I have.
Embra have to be in the big cup to guarantee every game being covered on PS

I’ll be watching my local club instead

I decided it is not worth shelling out to watch games in the group stages. There's basically no chance that both teams will be going for it.

They really have screwed up what was an excellent competition not too many years ago

[Tichtheid]

Unfortunately the Embra game isn’t on Premier this weekend, we’d have to buy a pass from EPRC TV, which I’m not going to do on top of the other subscriptions I have.
Embra have to be in the big cup to guarantee every game being covered on PS

I’ll be watching my local club instead

I decided it is not worth shelling out to watch games in the group stages. There's basically no chance that both teams will be going for it.

They really have screwed up what was an excellent competition not too many years ago

They have, but the French teams have always been putting out fourths in this competition - the Racing side travelling to Glasgow tonight are not first choices. I haven't been following Vannes so I won't be able to comment on them, but I imagine their focus will be on survival in the Top14

[Yr Alban]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

[inactionman]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

The clickbait is targeting you specifically - the ads are 'tailored' to you so it's all pretty self-selecting.

I keep getting ads for articles detailing what gaffe Joe Marler has committed this week, so you're doing better than me.

[Yr Alban]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

The clickbait is targeting you specifically - the ads are 'tailored' to you so it's all pretty self-selecting.

I keep getting ads for articles detailing what gaffe Joe Marler has committed this week, so you're doing better than me.

Yeah, I know this. I guess what surprises me is how bloody many of these headlines there are. I try not to actually click on them.

[Yr Alban]

I do own a hoody that was marketed at me by FB. It says ‘I may live in Wales, but on game day my heart and soul belong to Scottish rugby.’ On the one hand, that level of targeting is disturbing (exactly how many people are going to buy this garment?) but on the other hand, shut up and take my money…

[inactionman]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

The clickbait is targeting you specifically - the ads are 'tailored' to you so it's all pretty self-selecting.

I keep getting ads for articles detailing what gaffe Joe Marler has committed this week, so you're doing better than me.

Yeah, I know this. I guess what surprises me is how bloody many of these headlines there are. I try not to actually click on them.

They're bloody incessant. I was actually hoping this new-fangled AI might help, and start to identify articles that I might actually want to read but wouldn't necessarily have been aware of given my browsing habits.

Instead, the AI writes the articles and the dumb-as-bricks matching algorithm bombards me with them. And every time I click on the 'you'll never guess who Steve Borthwick has been keeping an eye on' I just reinforce it.

[Slick]

I do own a hoody that was marketed at me by FB. It says ‘I may live in Wales, but on game day my heart and soul belong to Scottish rugby.’ On the one hand, that level of targeting is disturbing (exactly how many people are going to buy this garment?) but on the other hand, shut up and take my money…

brilliant

[Yr Alban]

The clickbait is targeting you specifically - the ads are 'tailored' to you so it's all pretty self-selecting.

I keep getting ads for articles detailing what gaffe Joe Marler has committed this week, so you're doing better than me.

Yeah, I know this. I guess what surprises me is how bloody many of these headlines there are. I try not to actually click on them.

They're bloody incessant. I was actually hoping this new-fangled AI might help, and start to identify articles that I might actually want to read but wouldn't necessarily have been aware of given my browsing habits.

Instead, the AI writes the articles and the dumb-as-bricks matching algorithm bombards me with them. And every time I click on the 'you'll never guess who Steve Borthwick has been keeping an eye on' I just reinforce it.

You’d have thought that, as a species, we’d use AI to automate menial tasks so that we had more time to be creative and express ourselves. What has actually happened is that AI is doing the writing and the art. Sometimes I wonder if we deserve extinction.

[SomersetJock]

I do own a hoody that was marketed at me by FB. It says ‘I may live in Wales, but on game day my heart and soul belong to Scottish rugby.’ On the one hand, that level of targeting is disturbing (exactly how many people are going to buy this garment?) but on the other hand, shut up and take my money…

Oohhh, I want one

[robmatic]

I decided it is not worth shelling out to watch games in the group stages. There's basically no chance that both teams will be going for it.

They really have screwed up what was an excellent competition not too many years ago

They have, but the French teams have always been putting out fourths in this competition - the Racing side travelling to Glasgow tonight are not first choices. I haven't been following Vannes so I won't be able to comment on them, but I imagine their focus will be on survival in the Top14

Everyone is at it now though, not just the French.

[Biffer]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

The clickbait is targeting you specifically - the ads are 'tailored' to you so it's all pretty self-selecting.

I keep getting ads for articles detailing what gaffe Joe Marler has committed this week, so you're doing better than me.

Yeah, I know this. I guess what surprises me is how bloody many of these headlines there are. I try not to actually click on them.

Click on the cross on the post and then tell it to hide for 30 days. It'll change your tailoring after you do it a few times.

[Tichtheid]

Matt Currie's 50th appearance for Embra

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Matt Currie's 50th appearance for Embra

Pretty full-blooded side, no? Hoping Skinner shows some form after injury.

[Slick]

Just got a ticket for the Calcutta Cup game!

[I like neeps]

Right now I seem to get a clickbait headline about how many ‘foreign’ players Scotland have every time I open FB. (Yes, I know, simple solution, but there’s people I only interact with on there). Coming from four or five different sources. Why is it only ever us who get shit for this? Four of Ireland’s starting backs are imported, three of them as project players, and nobody seems to pay any attention.

The same sources run headlines about how long it is since Scotland won a title. What do they expect us to do exactly?

The clickbait articles aren't worth reading.

But Scotland get more grief than Ireland (who still get some criricism) because like half of our squad was born outside of Scotland. There's nuance etc etc but as clickbait it works.

[inactionman]

Just got a ticket for the Calcutta Cup game!

Reckon it'll be a cracker, enjoy mate.

I tried to pick up tickets through my old club's ballot but they were snapped up in minutes - much more popular than the France game for some reason, I think most people are expecting a decent match.

[Tichtheid]

Matt Currie's 50th appearance for Embra

Pretty full-blooded side, no? Hoping Skinner shows some form after injury.

Pretty much yeah. The only non-full internationals are Goosen, who would be in other circumstances, Venter, who will be in about a year's time and Shiel and Mosese Tuipulotu. Scotland have fielded much weaker teams, we are playing a side anchored at the bottom of the Top14.

I don't think Everitt should be out of the woods yet, not after one victory at home in a fixture we often win.

If we don't get a good win tomorrow there must still be serious questions asked.

[Tichtheid]

Just got a ticket for the Calcutta Cup game!

Nice.

I really hope we can get another win there.

[Jock42]

Matt Currie's 50th appearance for Embra

Pretty full-blooded side, no? Hoping Skinner shows some form after injury.

Pretty much yeah. The only non-full internationals are Goosen, who would be in other circumstances, Venter, who will be in about a year's time and Shiel and Mosese Tuipulotu. Scotland have fielded much weaker teams, we are playing a side anchored at the bottom of the Top14.

I don't think Everitt should be out of the woods yet, not after one victory at home in a fixture we often win.

If we don't get a good win tomorrow there must still be serious questions asked.

Tbh even with a good win I'd still be hanging his coat on the shoogly peg. Their away form, as you know, is horrendous. Will take more than a pumping of a team I'm assuming aren't interested in this game to get me onside.

[Slick]

Just got a ticket for the Calcutta Cup game!

Nice.

I really hope we can get another win there.

I saw us win there as a young lad in 1983, standing on a milk crate surrounded by extremely pissed Glaswegians (my dads old club). I think this might be the last chance for me to see it again!

[C T]

Just got a ticket for the Calcutta Cup game!

Nice.

I really hope we can get another win there.

I saw us win there as a young lad in 1983, standing on a milk crate surrounded by extremely pissed Glaswegians (my dads old club). I think this might be the last chance for me to see it again!

Sounds like a great memory!

If we do win this one, then in 2 years time the pundits will need to say "England haven't beaten Scotland at Twickenham for 10 years."

Reckon we might be in trouble this time though.

[Jock42]

Can be a Glasgow (Caley Red) fan guilt free when they're not playing Embra.


Full 5pts on the way judging by this start.