NPR

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:00 pm I think I’m starting to get optimistic about this one, which is never great!

Can anyone who watches prem rugby tell me about Reece-Zammitt as a defender. He looks very lightweight (although clearly very fast) which has me salivating at the prospect of us sending Duhan down his wing, particularly on turnover ball. I have visions of him trampling LRZ like Mike Catt under Lomu!

I heard a good stat on one of the podcasts this week (think it was the Scottish rugby blog) that Wales made the second most tackles in tournament history last week. As pointed out by Kevin Millar, some of their forwards are getting a little long in the tooth, can they handle the six day turnaround from such a huge effort? Especially so if we dominate possession and territory with a smart kicking game like we did last week?

I'm the opposite. A feeling of dread is creeping up on me, but I've had a shit week at work and I'm knackered. I'm sure a few beers will pick me up.

Begbie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:42 pm
I'm the opposite. A feeling of dread is creeping up on me, but I've had a shit week at work and I'm knackered. I'm sure a few beers will pick me up.

That's been my default position for so long I can't shrug it off this week either.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:00 pm I think I’m starting to get optimistic about this one, which is never great!

Can anyone who watches prem rugby tell me about Reece-Zammitt as a defender. He looks very lightweight (although clearly very fast) which has me salivating at the prospect of us sending Duhan down his wing, particularly on turnover ball. I have visions of him trampling LRZ like Mike Catt under Lomu!

I heard a good stat on one of the podcasts this week (think it was the Scottish rugby blog) that Wales made the second most tackles in tournament history last week. As pointed out by Kevin Millar, some of their forwards are getting a little long in the tooth, can they handle the six day turnaround from such a huge effort? Especially so if we dominate possession and territory with a smart kicking game like we did last week?

6'3" and 14 stone. Defends pretty well from what I've seen

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:41 pm

westport wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:27 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 2:09 pm
Does he not see himself as a 10/12?

He said when he signed that he and Cockers wanted him to concentrate in the centre

Sure but the point i was crudely making was that in theory he should have the skills to fill the 2nd 5/8th role.

He does. At Quins when he plays 12 he has to crash it more than he'd like as him being at 12 means we've no real midfield carriers, and we prefer him at 13. With Harris at 13 he has his "out" and I would expect him to be the classic 5/8th there.

Whether he's good enough to be an international I dunno.

Soapy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:45 pm

Begbie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:42 pm
I'm the opposite. A feeling of dread is creeping up on me, but I've had a shit week at work and I'm knackered. I'm sure a few beers will pick me up.

That's been my default position for so long I can't shrug it off this week either.

Me too. Despite their injuries this Welsh side don't look any weaker than the one that started last week, and they will put us under far more pressure than a very poor England managed last week. They'll be a lot better at the aerial game.

We need Finn to be accurate from the kicking tee. I don't think we can afford to miss any point scoring chances.

And 1 guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:56 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:45 pm

Begbie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:42 pm
I'm the opposite. A feeling of dread is creeping up on me, but I've had a shit week at work and I'm knackered. I'm sure a few beers will pick me up.

That's been my default position for so long I can't shrug it off this week either.

Me too. Despite their injuries this Welsh side don't look any weaker than the one that started last week, and they will put us under far more pressure than a very poor England managed last week. They'll be a lot better at the aerial game.

We need Finn to be accurate from the kicking tee. I don't think we can afford to miss any point scoring chances.

Pretty much how I'm feeling at the moment.

Alternating between extremely cautious optimism and sick dread.

dkm57 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:37 pm Alternating between extremely cautious optimism and sick dread.

This.

dkm57 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:37 pm Alternating between extremely cautious optimism and sick dread.

Yep. I'm never sure if that's genetic predisposition or decades of habit.

It's just the sick dread for me. Time for some rum I think.

Begbie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 5:23 pm It's just the sick dread for me. Time for some rum I think.

I've recently discovered Dead Mans Fingers, could go a couple the night as a wee warm up. Nae such luck though

We are Scotland fans. It's virtually impossible to get overly optimistic.

I've watched the game again. for the 3rd time, why wouldn't you. To be truthful I am actually pretty embarrassed about my initial post game assessment of Russell. The yellow card and penalty/conversion misses aside he is actually quite sublime. Possibly the most compossed display for a while in the team.

Na, to fuck with the pessimism - we’re going to pump them tomorrow. BP win with a hat trick for wee Darcy.

I have shaken off The Fear. Really confident about tomorrow.

The difference is that this team has something that Scotland hasn’t had in ages. Composure.

10-point win or thereabouts.

Tattie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 8:14 pm Na, to fuck with the pessimism - we’re going to pump them tomorrow. BP win with a hat trick for wee Darcy.

I'm with Tattie. All over this

Good to see guys having confidence. With us it's well placed.

You're winning by loads

We know your game, that'll no wash with us

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 9:09 pm I have shaken off The Fear. Really confident about tomorrow.

The difference is that this team has something that Scotland hasn’t had in ages. Composure.

10-point win or thereabouts.

You’re right about the composure. Last week suggested that for once we have a team whose heads are in the right place. This is encouraging, as it’s basically how Wales kept on beating us for years.

The mocker gods aren't fooled easily. We have decades of gallant defeats, abject collective brain-farts, last minute snatches of defeat from the jaws of victory and highly suspect player selections behind us. We are simply much more experienced in cocking things up so will not be fooled into expecting a win.

I think that for two decades we've been poor. That isn't my first choice of word but swearing is for angry, at this point it's resignation.

For years now we've built up our hopes based on one or two wins or one or two genuinely good players, whilst way, way over hyping some pretty average players when it comes to international standard.

I never thought we were hard done by in the Lions selection, maybe one or two, but if the ones from the 50/50 selections are getting gubbed, you pick the guys who are winning. (Having said that, I have a whole schtick I'd happily see shoved up Rowntree's arse when it comes to tighthead selection in South Africa, Euan Murray was the best 3 in the game then, but I should let that go)

I still get that hope fear every January, but I've learned to temper it, I used to go to Murrayfield as a kid expecting to beat Wales, but as an adult I've seen an imp like Arwel Thomas break our hearts.

I don't like Biggar, he's a moaning-pussed git who barks at the ref, but there are other Welsh players I really like, Tips is brilliant, Peak Faletua is Lions material, AWJ is the archetypal old warhorse, Liambility is the player you want in your side.

I really don't know, if our pack show up, we'll win, I hope our props get a chance to show what they are made of in the tight.

Saw this on the twitter

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:27 am Saw this on the twitter

It’s interesting, it shows where our depth weaknesses really lie, particularly for the next World Cup. At hooker it’s unlikely both Brown and McInally will make it so it’s probably a good point to be giving Turner some good experience in any case. We need to start to blood one more in over the next few years with Ashman possibly the most likely. We are stacked at loosie, particularly with Schoeman coming in soon. We also need one tight head to push on with Nel in his final or penultimate year you would think.

I wouldn’t say I am hugely worried about any other position with at least one very good incumbent, one international standard replacement and at least one very good young player coming through.

Really hitting home this morning how shit things are at the moment. Edinburgh should be jumping but all is quiet. Welsh mates should be arriving for our 26th consecutive game meeting up.

God I miss 6Nations weekends.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:42 am

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:27 am Saw this on the twitter

It’s interesting, it shows where our depth weaknesses really lie, particularly for the next World Cup. At hooker it’s unlikely both Brown and McInally will make it so it’s probably a good point to be giving Turner some good experience in any case. We need to start to blood one more in over the next few years with Ashman possibly the most likely. We are stacked at loosie, particularly with Schoeman coming in soon. We also need one tight head to push on with Nel in his final or penultimate year you would think.

I wouldn’t say I am hugely worried about any other position with at least one very good incumbent, one international standard replacement and at least one very good young player coming through.

Nel is 35 in April, will be 37 at the next World Cup. I wouldn’t put it past him to still be going. He had a long spell on the sidelines so the body hasn’t had the full battering of that length of career.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 9:10 am Really hitting home this morning how shit things are at the moment. Edinburgh should be jumping but all is quiet. Welsh mates should be arriving for our 26th consecutive game meeting up.

God I miss 6Nations weekends.

My hometown club has a long standing fixture with an Irish side on the weekend of the international, I think it's the oldest Scot/Irish club fixture, this year would have been, I think, the 69th game between the two.

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 10:20 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:42 am

Niegs wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 7:27 am Saw this on the twitter

It’s interesting, it shows where our depth weaknesses really lie, particularly for the next World Cup. At hooker it’s unlikely both Brown and McInally will make it so it’s probably a good point to be giving Turner some good experience in any case. We need to start to blood one more in over the next few years with Ashman possibly the most likely. We are stacked at loosie, particularly with Schoeman coming in soon. We also need one tight head to push on with Nel in his final or penultimate year you would think.

I wouldn’t say I am hugely worried about any other position with at least one very good incumbent, one international standard replacement and at least one very good young player coming through.

Nel is 35 in April, will be 37 at the next World Cup. I wouldn’t put it past him to still be going. He had a long spell on the sidelines so the body hasn’t had the full battering of that length of career.

Fingers crossed. I hope he moves into a player coach role over the next few years, as he is a real technician. If Edinburgh got 5+ bench appearances a season plus a good coach that would be an excellent outcome I would think.

Was there not mention of him doing some coaching fairly recently?

Jock42 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:49 pm Has it been mentioned that Adamson has his first 6N match as ref and Davidson her first pro14?

It was possibly best left unmentioned

Ah well, the bad feeling I had all week wasn't wrong. Nice to know I still have my touch.

Fuck off Fagerson you dumb prick.

What the fuck is wrong with us that we can't back a result up.

We threw that away multiple times. Wales were shit, we just kept inviting them back in.

An utter load of shite.

Every single involvement from Gary Graham in that game was bad. That was the worst individual performance I've ever seen from a Scottish player.

FUCK!!!!

Fuck fuck fuck

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 13, 2021 6:42 pm What the fuck is wrong with us that we can't back a result up.

We threw that away multiple times. Wales were shit, we just kept inviting them back in.

An utter load of shite.

This. All this.

Wales came back in that game before the red, it should have been fairly wrapped by then, as they were utterly shite.

After the red there was complete and utter panic in defence. Very poorly prepared.

If England snatched a pen at the end of the game last week I would still have been in the Toony out camp. Just too many poor performances to follow up a decent or good one

Now France away then Ireland.

A completely normal, run of the mill, no step forward season awaits

Granted its a couple of min after full time but its the same old shit. Can't handle a tiny bit of expectation.

Price is an experienced international and he is kicking the ball away 50m from their line in the last 5min when we are a man down.

He and Russell should.have taken control and been looking to win a penalty.

That was the most Scottish result/performance for a while. When we didn’t score from 2 yards out at 17-8 up I knew we’d lose. After the elation of last week it’s back down to earth with a crash

I really wish England had capped Gary Graham. What a horror show from the bearded twat. I'm ashamed I ever hyped the prick.

The obstruction ‘try’ that would have made it 24-8 was a horrible mistake. Passed to the wrong guy, most likely.

Wales very smart in going left to right and back after the red card.

But that was shit. Should never have lost that one.