NPR

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

Nah mate. Can't wait, confidence in the lads is higher than last week.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:47 am

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

Nah mate. Can't wait, confidence in the lads is higher than last week.

I think I just want it for the team more than anything. Back it up and anything is possible, fuck it up and it will be devastating for them.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:55 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:47 am

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:41 am

Nah mate. Can't wait, confidence in the lads is higher than last week.

I think I just want it for the team more than anything. Back it up and anything is possible, fuck it up and it will be devastating for them.

I'm quite small time, if you offered me beating England away and then losing to everyone but Italy pre tournament I'd take that. Have never been convinced Scotland can win the six nations so it's not much of a disappointment if they don't.

I think this squad will be excited to build on it. They seem like they've their heads screwed on.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:58 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:55 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:47 am

I think I just want it for the team more than anything. Back it up and anything is possible, fuck it up and it will be devastating for them.

I'm quite small time, if you offered me beating England away and then losing to everyone but Italy pre tournament I'd take that. Have never been convinced Scotland can win the six nations so it's not much of a disappointment if they don't.

I think this squad will be excited to build on it. They seem like they've their heads screwed on.

Come on. Wales are gash just now. Even if Scotland had received their usual pumping at Twickenham, they would have been favourites for Saturday. In the current circumstances, it should be a done deal. No compromise. I'm fucking done with despair for a bit.

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:03 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

Not so much for this weekend, but talks of titles etc because of one win sits uneasily with me although I am happy to see people on here doing so as that is partly what being a fan is all about.

The shadow of Ireland fairly easily turning us over two games ago is throwing shade on my longer term optimism.

Wales have some seriously good players though. Their backrow will provide a stiff test but it is a good opportunity for the players to put a real marker down.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:29 am Here. Have I missed injury announcements or were there not any?

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:29 am

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:03 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

Not so much for this weekend, but talks of titles etc because of one win sits uneasily with me although I am happy to see people on here doing so as that is partly what being a fan is all about.

The shadow of Ireland fairly easily turning us over two games ago is throwing shade on my longer term optimism.

Wales have some seriously good players though. Their backrow will provide a stiff test but it is a good opportunity for the players to put a real marker down.

Yes, this is where I am. We should beat Wales on Satirday and I'm fairly confident we will, but the talk of titles opens us up too much

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:46 am Interestingly the SRU aren't allowing Scotland players into the rugby pod. Makes sense I guess don't allow players to get told how well they played before the Wales game?

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:48 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

I will bet you a virtual pint that POM will be available to play against us.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:29 am

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:03 am

Not so much for this weekend, but talks of titles etc because of one win sits uneasily with me although I am happy to see people on here doing so as that is partly what being a fan is all about.

The shadow of Ireland fairly easily turning us over two games ago is throwing shade on my longer term optimism.

Wales have some seriously good players though. Their backrow will provide a stiff test but it is a good opportunity for the players to put a real marker down.

Yes, this is where I am. We should beat Wales on Satirday and I'm fairly confident we will, but the talk of titles opens us up too much

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:30 am Now that the warm glow of the weekend has started to wear off has anyone else shitting it for the weekend.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:59 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:29 am

Yes, this is where I am. We should beat Wales on Satirday and I'm fairly confident we will, but the talk of titles opens us up too much

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

Any talk of titles is clearly premature in the extreme, we all know that but it's nice to dream. After one game our chief rivals are France - Wales were lucky to sneak through against 14 man Ireland and I think they will definitely be turned over by one of England or France. If we beat them this weekend they are out of the running. Of the four that could be our chief rivals at this point, if I had to pick one it would be France. They have an ultra-talented squad, but they are exceptionally green. We saw in the ANC that England were able to use their experience to grind past them, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ireland do the same this coming weekend, especially at home. I am fairly confident the eventual winner of the tournament will not get a slam, and that should give us a little more confidence to dream slightly longer.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:59 am
Any talk of titles is clearly premature in the extreme, we all know that but it's nice to dream. After one game our chief rivals are France - Wales were lucky to sneak through against 14 man Ireland and I think they will definitely be turned over by one of England or France. If we beat them this weekend they are out of the running. Of the four that could be our chief rivals at this point, if I had to pick one it would be France. They have an ultra-talented squad, but they are exceptionally green. We saw in the ANC that England were able to use their experience to grind past them, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ireland do the same this coming weekend, especially at home. I am fairly confident the eventual winner of the tournament will not get a slam, and that should give us a little more confidence to dream slightly longer.

Soapy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:29 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:59 am
Any talk of titles is clearly premature in the extreme, we all know that but it's nice to dream. After one game our chief rivals are France - Wales were lucky to sneak through against 14 man Ireland and I think they will definitely be turned over by one of England or France. If we beat them this weekend they are out of the running. Of the four that could be our chief rivals at this point, if I had to pick one it would be France. They have an ultra-talented squad, but they are exceptionally green. We saw in the ANC that England were able to use their experience to grind past them, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ireland do the same this coming weekend, especially at home. I am fairly confident the eventual winner of the tournament will not get a slam, and that should give us a little more confidence to dream slightly longer.

Much as I loved Saturday's performance and results, after so many years of raised and dashed hopes, I'll only be confident that we'll beat Wales if the scoreboard is in our favour when the ref blows the final whistle on Saturday.

Scottish rugby induced post-traumatic stress has destroyed my abilities to be optimistic. A good 6N might move me to "cautiously hopeful".

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:45 am In domestic news Embra have signed a "23" year old prop with immediate effect.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:00 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:59 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

Any talk of titles is clearly premature in the extreme, we all know that but it's nice to dream. After one game our chief rivals are France - Wales were lucky to sneak through against 14 man Ireland and I think they will definitely be turned over by one of England or France. If we beat them this weekend they are out of the running. Of the four that could be our chief rivals at this point, if I had to pick one it would be France. They have an ultra-talented squad, but they are exceptionally green. We saw in the ANC that England were able to use their experience to grind past them, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ireland do the same this coming weekend, especially at home. I am fairly confident the eventual winner of the tournament will not get a slam, and that should give us a little more confidence to dream slightly longer.

That was the France C-team. Ireland don't stand a chance in Paris. I do fancy France for the slam. Although it does depend on how well England recover - the Twickenham game is France's biggest (and frankly, only) challenge.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:03 pm

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:00 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:59 am

Any talk of titles is clearly premature in the extreme, we all know that but it's nice to dream. After one game our chief rivals are France - Wales were lucky to sneak through against 14 man Ireland and I think they will definitely be turned over by one of England or France. If we beat them this weekend they are out of the running. Of the four that could be our chief rivals at this point, if I had to pick one it would be France. They have an ultra-talented squad, but they are exceptionally green. We saw in the ANC that England were able to use their experience to grind past them, and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Ireland do the same this coming weekend, especially at home. I am fairly confident the eventual winner of the tournament will not get a slam, and that should give us a little more confidence to dream slightly longer.

That was the France C-team. Ireland don't stand a chance in Paris. I do fancy France for the slam. Although it does depend on how well England recover - the Twickenham game is France's biggest (and frankly, only) challenge.

I wouldn’t call that a c-team by any stretch of the imagination. They had a few out but they weren’t exactly decimated.

It’s in Dublin, no?

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:00 pm
Same here. Wales aren't as bad a some are making out and plenty of their squad have experience of beating us year after year. This is a big game for showing we've sorted out our mental fragility.

I still feel like Ireland will be too much for us, again. France are rightly favourites and will want a bit of payback for last year. We'll probably save our worst performance for Italy.

Soapy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:43 pm

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:00 pm
Same here. Wales aren't as bad a some are making out and plenty of their squad have experience of beating us year after year. This is a big game for showing we've sorted out our mental fragility.

I still feel like Ireland will be too much for us, again. France are rightly favourites and will want a bit of payback for last year. We'll probably save our worst performance for Italy.

Every match against the other home nations will remain a huge mental challenge until we develop confidence from winning regularly. Wales haven't been in a great place but historically Scotland are just the team to play when needing a morale boosting win. We've been very hospitable hosts in that regard.

I've a similar feeling about our chances against Ireland. In fact, I feel we are more likely to beat France than Ireland given the mentalities and recent experiences of playing French and Irish teams at club and international level. Ireland/Leinster/Munster/Ulster lack the French flair but all consistently deliver performances that Scottish teams regularly come up short against. France like Scotland have the vulnerability that they have yet to prove that they have the mental fortitude to regularly deliver the wins that reflect their potential.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:09 pm Scotland are now on 4 6N wins in a row - including Wales and England away, and France at home. Sure, they need to back it up, but the inconsistency tag is slowly fading. What's more - both the Wales and England games were tight affairs on the scoreboard, yet while every single Scotland fan was hiding behind the settee and preparing for the usual disappointment, the players on the pitch didn't seem worried for a second, and calmly closed out those matches. It's that newfound maturity that makes me think we won't have too much trouble beating Wales on Saturday.

I still think France in Paris will be a nigh-on impossible quest, and I never fancy us against Ireland. But this Wales team? Should be a banker.

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:01 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:45 am In domestic news Embra have signed a "23" year old prop with immediate effect.

Fuckin hell, 23, tough paper round.

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:01 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:45 am In domestic news Embra have signed a "23" year old prop with immediate effect.

Fuckin hell, 23, tough paper round.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:03 pm

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:00 am

That was the France C-team. Ireland don't stand a chance in Paris. I do fancy France for the slam. Although it does depend on how well England recover - the Twickenham game is France's biggest (and frankly, only) challenge.

I wouldn’t call that a c-team by any stretch of the imagination. They had a few out but they weren’t exactly decimated.

It’s in Dublin, no?

The French team that played in the final against England? It absolutely was a heavily weakened team:

France: Dulin; Raka, Moefana, Danty, Villière; Jalibert, Couilloud; Kolingar, Bourgarit, Aldegheri, Geraci, Pesenti, Woki, Jelonch, Tofofua. Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Atonio, Ducat, Macalou, Bezy, Carbonel, Barassi.


And for Italy:

FRANCE
Brice Dulin; Teddy Thomas, Arthur Vincent, Gaël Fickou, Gabin Villière; Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Dupont; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Mohamed Haouas, Bernard Le Roux, Paul Willemse, Dylan Cretin, Charles Ollivon (capt), Gregory Alldritt.

Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Francois Gros, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Baptiste Serin, 22 Louis Carbonel, 23 Damian Penaud.


Huge difference.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:09 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:43 pm

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 12:00 pm
Same here. Wales aren't as bad a some are making out and plenty of their squad have experience of beating us year after year. This is a big game for showing we've sorted out our mental fragility.

I still feel like Ireland will be too much for us, again. France are rightly favourites and will want a bit of payback for last year. We'll probably save our worst performance for Italy.

Every match against the other home nations will remain a huge mental challenge until we develop confidence from winning regularly. Wales haven't been in a great place but historically Scotland are just the team to play when needing a morale boosting win. We've been very hospitable hosts in that regard.

I've a similar feeling about our chances against Ireland. In fact, I feel we are more likely to beat France than Ireland given the mentalities and recent experiences of playing French and Irish teams at club and international level. Ireland/Leinster/Munster/Ulster lack the French flair but all consistently deliver performances that Scottish teams regularly come up short against. France like Scotland have the vulnerability that they have yet to prove that they have the mental fortitude to regularly deliver the wins that reflect their potential.

Scotland are now on 4 6N wins in a row - including Wales and England away, and France at home. Sure, they need to back it up, but the inconsistency tag is slowly fading. What's more - both the Wales and England games were tight affairs on the scoreboard, yet while every single Scotland fan was hiding behind the settee and preparing for the usual disappointment, the players on the pitch didn't seem worried for a second, and calmly closed out those matches. It's that newfound maturity that makes me think we won't have too much trouble beating Wales on Saturday.

I still think France in Paris will be a nigh-on impossible quest, and I never fancy us against Ireland. But this Wales team? Should be a banker.

Tattie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:57 pm Christ, watching the first 10 minutes of that Italy game is worse than I remember. What the fuck was Cussiter thinking? especially the second one, that pass was never on.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:16 pm

Tattie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:57 pm Christ, watching the first 10 minutes of that Italy game is worse than I remember. What the fuck was Cussiter thinking? especially the second one, that pass was never on.

It also had at least one more crazy pass that was there to be picked off - some idiotic slow loop out to the wing with the entire Italian line blitzing up.

At least not even the most moronic PR intern will suggest taking inspiration from that piece of kit for future Macron wear. So on balance, it was a highly beneficial 10 minutes for Scottish rugby

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 1:06 pm Wales aren’t in a good place, despite Sunday, but they still have good players and they know how to beat us. They demonstrated this last time they played at BTM, when even they couldn’t quite believe they had won. We’ll need to play as well as we did in game 1. I am more confident of our doing this than I usually am, though.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:16 pm

Tattie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:57 pm Christ, watching the first 10 minutes of that Italy game is worse than I remember. What the fuck was Cussiter thinking? especially the second one, that pass was never on.

It also had at least one more crazy pass that was there to be picked off - some idiotic slow loop out to the wing with the entire Italian line blitzing up.

At least not even the most moronic PR intern will suggest taking inspiration from that piece of kit for future Macron wear. So on balance, it was a highly beneficial 10 minutes for Scottish rugby

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:53 pm

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:16 pm

Tattie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 2:57 pm Christ, watching the first 10 minutes of that Italy game is worse than I remember. What the fuck was Cussiter thinking? especially the second one, that pass was never on.

It also had at least one more crazy pass that was there to be picked off - some idiotic slow loop out to the wing with the entire Italian line blitzing up.

At least not even the most moronic PR intern will suggest taking inspiration from that piece of kit for future Macron wear. So on balance, it was a highly beneficial 10 minutes for Scottish rugby

Me and my mate got to our seats 6 minutes late for that game. Asked the guy next to me what was up with the scoreboard. Then they scored the third one. We left.

Openside wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:59 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 5:53 pm

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 3:16 pm

It also had at least one more crazy pass that was there to be picked off - some idiotic slow loop out to the wing with the entire Italian line blitzing up.

At least not even the most moronic PR intern will suggest taking inspiration from that piece of kit for future Macron wear. So on balance, it was a highly beneficial 10 minutes for Scottish rugby

Me and my mate got to our seats 6 minutes late for that game. Asked the guy next to me what was up with the scoreboard. Then they scored the third one. We left.

I played one of the Scotland players that day into our golf club he wasn't happy to talk about that match.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:58 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:48 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 10:41 am

Aye, the title is for France. But on the quality of the Calcutta Cup game compared to what our red and green friends served up, Scotland should finish second with 4 wins. Especially since we can assume chief bogeyman POM won't be playing in the Scotland v Ireland game.

I will bet you a virtual pint that POM will be available to play against us.

Week 4 is it? You'd think POM would get a 3-week ban? Bet is on