NPR

I was at the DAM, That was awful. Even playing against 13, they were the poorer team.

So no Mish v France. I’m beginning to fear we might get a doing.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 11:08 pm So no Mish v France. I’m beginning to fear we might get a doing.

I’m bracing for more withdrawals this morning. If it’s in the camp….

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 7:50 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 11:08 pm So no Mish v France. I’m beginning to fear we might get a doing.

I’m bracing for more withdrawals this morning. If it’s in the camp….

Yup. This all seems a little bit ridiculous to me.

What happens if there is an outbreak in the England camp given pretty much everything has been scrapped down there? Genuine question, not a reflection on our situation

Karl Dickson took referring to another level.... I thought Berry was bad but this guy is really something

France are good, but this is one of the worst ref performances I have ever seen. 4 of their tries came directly from situations that should have been Scotland penalties. Absolutely shocking performance.

Jaminet jump into Skinner, Baile takling Price head off, holding up the jumper in the air, jackaling why on knees...

This is a hammering taking us back to the dark days.

It's time to talk about Gregor Townsend.

Missed tackles, missed opportunities, the standard idiotic players giving away the same penalties and coaches asking rookie international half backs to run from our own line. Shambles.

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:08 pm Missed tackles, missed opportunities, the standard idiotic players giving away the same penalties and coaches asking rookie international half backs to run from our own line. Shambles.

Gilco and Zander strike again. They never learn

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:00 pm This is a hammering taking us back to the dark days.

It's time to talk about Gregor Townsend.

I'm not sure it is. Yes certain players have been shown up but we haven't been helped by some shit decisions and some horrendous bounces of the ball.

unionfan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:13 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:08 pm Missed tackles, missed opportunities, the standard idiotic players giving away the same penalties and coaches asking rookie international half backs to run from our own line. Shambles.

Gilco and Zander strike again. They never learn

And yet there is never any consequences for them.

unionfan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:50 pm Jaminet jump into Skinner, Baile takling Price head off, holding up the jumper in the air, jackaling why on knees...

Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:14 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:00 pm This is a hammering taking us back to the dark days.

It's time to talk about Gregor Townsend.

I'm not sure it is. Yes certain players have been shown up but we haven't been helped by some shit decisions and some horrendous bounces of the ball.

I mean one bounce of the ball that's just rugby.

The same players give away the same penalties and the same players make the same bad decisions. What's their consequence? Nothing. What's being done about it? Nothing as it always happens. We've gone from super fast rugby to defend and kick and neither work.

Best team for the last 20 years. Will be the best team for the next 10 or so. And what do we have to show for it? One exit at a RWC group stage, another one seems likely next year and maddening six nations defeats in the same way every year too. Now we have the shellackings back for good measure.

It's time to give another coach a chance with this squad. Preferably one focused on discipline.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:17 pm

unionfan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:50 pm Jaminet jump into Skinner, Baile takling Price head off, holding up the jumper in the air, jackaling why on knees...

Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:17 pm

unionfan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:50 pm Jaminet jump into Skinner, Baile takling Price head off, holding up the jumper in the air, jackaling why on knees...

Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

Of course they are but only one mentioned in that winge was correct

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:17 pm

unionfan wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 3:50 pm Jaminet jump into Skinner, Baile takling Price head off, holding up the jumper in the air, jackaling why on knees...

Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

The trope that refs don’t decide games maybe holds true when it’s one decision in a close game, because you can point to lots of other 50/50 decisions that might have had the opposite impact in the game. This was 4 tries directly from situations that were clearly and unambiguously incorrect decisions. That made a very clear difference.

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:17 pm
Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

Of course they are but only one mentioned in that winge was correct

I strongly strongly disagree.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:26 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:17 pm
Oh dear, never mind, didn't make an difference

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

The trope that refs don’t decide games maybe holds true when it’s one decision in a close game, because you can point to lots of other 50/50 decisions that might have had the opposite impact in the game. This was 4 tries directly from situations that were clearly and unambiguously incorrect decisions. That made a very clear difference.

Four?

The Price decision should have been a penalty according to the laws. But sockwithaticket in the match thread is correct that the English Premiership refs just don't allow for players to buy penalties that way. And the Price just ambled about and had the ball taken away. Mistake by the ref? Yes probably. Reason for the try? Ali Price being a tit.

I can't remember any others? The Fickou try was questionable maybe - I don't think clear and obvious forward pass and I'd like to see a potential obstruction again. Also Haining and Price just have to be competent and they don't score that.

Ultimately the players except Darge and the wingers just didn't perform.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:27 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:23 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

Of course they are but only one mentioned in that winge was correct

I strongly strongly disagree.

Hmmmm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:31 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:26 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:19 pm

Wrong refereeing decisions do make a difference. Nobody is saying France aren't the massively better team but wrong decisions are wrong decisions.

The trope that refs don’t decide games maybe holds true when it’s one decision in a close game, because you can point to lots of other 50/50 decisions that might have had the opposite impact in the game. This was 4 tries directly from situations that were clearly and unambiguously incorrect decisions. That made a very clear difference.

Four?

The Price decision should have been a penalty according to the laws. But sockwithaticket in the match thread is correct that the English Premiership refs just don't allow for players to buy penalties that way. And the Price just ambled about and had the ball taken away. Mistake by the ref? Yes probably. Reason for the try? Ali Price being a tit.

I can't remember any others? The Fickou try was questionable maybe - I don't think clear and obvious forward pass and I'd like to see a potential obstruction again. Also Haining and Price just have to be competent and they don't score that.

Ultimately the players except Darge and the wingers just didn't perform.

The first try was good IMO.
The second try came directly from a line out where they held the jumper in the air and prevented a contest.
The third also came from a jumper held in the air.
The fourth came from the Ali Price incident where, despite price ‘milking it’ the player both didn’t roll away and then stood up and impeded the pass.
The fifth came from a French turnover and kick where the jackler clearly had his knee on the ground and then the next phase a maul was called when our defender had his knee on the ground.

Each of those was within one or two phases of a try.

I think France were excellent in broken play, but much of the broken play was caused by the shit reffing.

You cant gift a team like France at least 3 tries which is what we did.

Not many players approaching pass marks for me. Darge, Schoeman, Bennett maybe Bradbury and VdM and that is it.

Graham missed too many tackles and our centres are a liability going forward.

Haining and Price the worst of the bunch.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:18 pm

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:14 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:00 pm This is a hammering taking us back to the dark days.

It's time to talk about Gregor Townsend.

I'm not sure it is. Yes certain players have been shown up but we haven't been helped by some shit decisions and some horrendous bounces of the ball.

I mean one bounce of the ball that's just rugby.

The same players give away the same penalties and the same players make the same bad decisions. What's their consequence? Nothing. What's being done about it? Nothing as it always happens. We've gone from super fast rugby to defend and kick and neither work.

Best team for the last 20 years. Will be the best team for the next 10 or so. And what do we have to show for it? One exit at a RWC group stage, another one seems likely next year and maddening six nations defeats in the same way every year too. Now we have the shellackings back for good measure.

It's time to give another coach a chance with this squad. Preferably one focused on discipline.

Totally agree about the discipline. Fagerson and Gilchrist are just astonishing.

Fool me once (delayed bringing down of a player) shame on me, fool me twice then I must play for Scotland in the tight 5.

Completely fed up of avoidable and costly penalties.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:38 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:31 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:26 pm

The trope that refs don’t decide games maybe holds true when it’s one decision in a close game, because you can point to lots of other 50/50 decisions that might have had the opposite impact in the game. This was 4 tries directly from situations that were clearly and unambiguously incorrect decisions. That made a very clear difference.

Four?

The Price decision should have been a penalty according to the laws. But sockwithaticket in the match thread is correct that the English Premiership refs just don't allow for players to buy penalties that way. And the Price just ambled about and had the ball taken away. Mistake by the ref? Yes probably. Reason for the try? Ali Price being a tit.

I can't remember any others? The Fickou try was questionable maybe - I don't think clear and obvious forward pass and I'd like to see a potential obstruction again. Also Haining and Price just have to be competent and they don't score that.

Ultimately the players except Darge and the wingers just didn't perform.

The first try was good IMO.
The second try came directly from a line out where they held the jumper in the air and prevented a contest.
The third also came from a jumper held in the air.
The fourth came from the Ali Price incident where, despite price ‘milking it’ the player both didn’t roll away and then stood up and impeded the pass.
The fifth came from a French turnover and kick where the jackler clearly had his knee on the ground and then the next phase a maul was called when our defender had his knee on the ground.

Each of those was within one or two phases of a try.

I think France were excellent in broken play, but much of the broken play was caused by the shit reffing.

France only blatantly held the jumper up once. The third try was pure illdiscipline.

We'll agree to disagree about Price. Woki got up after Price had tried to buy the penalty and then Price just stopped playing - he had time to pass but he picked the ball up took a step and got stripped. That's not acceptable scrum half play.

Don't remember the fifth.

OUCH!!

One hell of a French team.

On the plus Darge was a revelation

Reading on twitter the players are getting a pass because of the ref. Completely flawed thinking.

Small things are annoying me too. We have Bradbury, an ex 7s player who us quick.having to hit it up tight and Haining who is a 6, poor hands and slow attacking in the wide channels at times.

Surely the Tuipolota experiment is finished. I'm getting sick of trying to see where Townsend is such a rugby genius that he appears to see things us mere mortals don't, and that is one of them.

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:51 pm Reading on twitter the players are getting a pass because of the ref. Completely flawed thinking.

Bizarrely I thought that was one of the better displays from a lot of players but we were just completely outgunned by the French combined with some shit selections.

France (-7) and Wales (+13) was easy money.

Is any of it worth watching in full, even up to HT? Highlights look a mess.

OK, so having not looked at any comments post game having been there…

France were better, but we were not bad. That 5 minutes before and after half time killed us.

Darge was superb. Darcy did well. Bennet was excellent when he came on.

Backs still looked unbalanced. Why on Earth is Hastings not involved.

I’m not one for moaning about this, but the ref seemed seriously off the pace. Really bad

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:35 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:51 pm Reading on twitter the players are getting a pass because of the ref. Completely flawed thinking.

Bizarrely I thought that was one of the better displays from a lot of players but we were just completely outgunned by the French combined with some shit selections.

Agree. Don’t think we were awful. France were excellent, at least one idiotic selection, and an appalling reffing display

Look how far away from the ruck Price was when the ball was punched from him. Nothing to do with Dickson that just bad bad rugby.

Probably going to get a virtual kicking for this (and things will feel better in the morning) but I’m just a little (huge) bit fed up with it all. The best group of players Scotland have had in at least a generation, wasted. Unforced error after unforced error after bad decision after lack of composure after etc etc etc. week in week out.

They’re not really measurably that much better or more successful now than when they were a team full of mediocre players who dropped the ball every 5 minutes and couldn’t buy a try. An entire team of sports psychologists is required as they just don’t have the winning mentality. One or two good wins a year followed by dross is just not good enough.

Depressed.

ETA not saying Scotland deserved anything out of the game as France were worthy winners but why make things so difficult by gifting the opposition so many points?

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:28 pm

Blackmac wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:35 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:51 pm Reading on twitter the players are getting a pass because of the ref. Completely flawed thinking.

Bizarrely I thought that was one of the better displays from a lot of players but we were just completely outgunned by the French combined with some shit selections.

Agree. Don’t think we were awful. France were excellent, at least one idiotic selection, and an appalling reffing display

I thought 9-14 except for Duhan were poor. Graham (and Hogg for that matter) was missing tackles for fun and Price was directly responsible for 2 tries. The centres both can't give a pass and it killed us today. There was a 3 on 2 that Tuipolotu blew that would have put Duhan into space with a player outside him. We can't afford to make those mistakes.

Forwards battled hard but Fagerson and GG continued their long history of giving away stupid penalties. Haining was loitering on the wing and he blew a good chance and was found wanting in defence. I don't get why we have a quick 8 who has played 7s yet have the slow Haining out wide.

We handed them chances that they took and blew opportunitues when a available.

France's first try was an aimless kick and several missed tackles. Graham, Darge and Price all miss DuPont.

2nd try we leave a huge space for the kick.

After Duhan collects the kick that Jaminet misses Harris bombs a 3 on 2 by immediately putting the ball under one arm. Hogg and Graham were outside him. We wouldn't have scored but we'd have made a lot more ground amd with Graham you never know he might have scored.

After about 35min Finn keeps it rather than putting VdM on the outside of Fickou. Price then makes a howling arse of picking it up and gets emptied killing all momentum. We manage to keep it and create an overlap for Haining to try a 2m spin pass to a too flat VdM.

We then have the helter skelter that VdM bails them out that creates the Harris/Hogg bombed try. The killer is we go scrum pen, Gilchrist pen and Fickou runs around Haining and Price from the goal post to score in the corner.

Then we have Price fucking up and he trotts back when Hogg and Duhan were busting a gut.

There were some good things but shipping 6 tries 3 of which were predominantly our own fault isn't good rugby.

Tuipolotu is the least international ready of all 5 options at 12 that have been in the squads this 6N

France were just better

England are shit and we beat them

Wales are shit and that showed our frailties

We will beat Italy. We won’t beat Ireland

2 out of 5 feels a bit rubbish

TheNatalShark wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:21 pm Is any of it worth watching in full, even up to HT? Highlights look a mess.

Don't do it. I avoided the score just to watch Scotland's impression of a Russian Combat Logistical Patrol.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:29 pm

Look how far away from the ruck Price was when the ball was punched from him. Nothing to do with Dickson that just bad bad rugby.

That clip is why it was a penalty. If the French defender hadn’t slowed the ball by not rolling away and then hadn’t impeded the pass then that situation never happens. Price gets caught because the pass is an intercept waiting to happen. He has to turn back and gets caught.