NPR

Begbie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:11 pm Like I said on the 6N thread, I think we'll shit the bed, like we always do in Cardiff.

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:29 pm

Begbie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:11 pm Like I said on the 6N thread, I think we'll shit the bed, like we always do in Cardiff.

That's my worry too. Although compared to two years back, this Welsh side is even worse by some distance and I'm not sure they have it in them to take advantage of a soft Scottish mindset.

C T wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:36 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:29 pm

Begbie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:11 pm Like I said on the 6N thread, I think we'll shit the bed, like we always do in Cardiff.

That's my worry too. Although compared to two years back, this Welsh side is even worse by some distance and I'm not sure they have it in them to take advantage of a soft Scottish mindset.

I'm pretty confident we'll give them a chance to settle, concede a nice soft early try or something. We're quite nice like that.

Begbie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:36 pm

C T wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:36 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:29 pm

That's my worry too. Although compared to two years back, this Welsh side is even worse by some distance and I'm not sure they have it in them to take advantage of a soft Scottish mindset.

I'm pretty confident we'll give them a chance to settle, concede a nice soft early try or something. We're quite nice like that.

Or an early red card.

C T wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 6:16 pm

Begbie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 2:36 pm

C T wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:36 pm

I'm pretty confident we'll give them a chance to settle, concede a nice soft early try or something. We're quite nice like that.

Or an early red card.

Just going to see what the odds are on a red to Zander.

sefton wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:46 pm Cock on the block, Wales for the wooden spoon this year.

sefton wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:46 pm Cock on the block, Wales for the wooden spoon this year.

SomersetJock wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 6:01 pm A very frustrating narrow win for Wales is my prediction.

Couple of early injuries to backs with a 6/2 bench split leading to Horne playing on the wing and Andy Christie playing at centre for over an hour.

Then a couple of yellows for moments of utter stupidity will cripple us.

If it can go wrong it will !

I’m determined to have none of that hope stuff as I head down to Cardiff this year !

ASMO wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:53 pm Honestly i would not be so doom and gloom, Gatland has a track record of overdelivering with limited resources, they are young and pretty fearless, if he tells them just to go out and enjoy it and learn, they might surprise a few teams

Uncle fester wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 10:32 am

ASMO wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2024 12:53 pm Honestly i would not be so doom and gloom, Gatland has a track record of overdelivering with limited resources, they are young and pretty fearless, if he tells them just to go out and enjoy it and learn, they might surprise a few teams

This.
World cup was threading water. It's now he can stamp his mark.

dkm57 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:51 pm This fixture does my head in, so many times we should have gone to Cardiff and come away with a comfortable win, only for 1. Wales to play above themselves or 2. some very dodgy reffing or 3. we lose the hied.

While being cautiously optimistic this time I won't be surprised to be bitterly let down.

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:31 pm

dkm57 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:51 pm This fixture does my head in, so many times we should have gone to Cardiff and come away with a comfortable win, only for 1. Wales to play above themselves or 2. some very dodgy reffing or 3. we lose the hied.

While being cautiously optimistic this time I won't be surprised to be bitterly let down.

You guys are too whipped.

If you don't win by at least a couple of scores, Toonie should be looking for a new gig. He has had years with this team, & the clubs positions says they're streets ahead of the Welsh sides. If he can't put together a side that can beat this Welsh side he shouldn't be a Tier 1 Manager; FULL STOP !

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:31 pm

dkm57 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:51 pm This fixture does my head in, so many times we should have gone to Cardiff and come away with a comfortable win, only for 1. Wales to play above themselves or 2. some very dodgy reffing or 3. we lose the hied.

While being cautiously optimistic this time I won't be surprised to be bitterly let down.

You guys are too whipped.

If you don't win by at least a couple of scores, Toonie should be looking for a new gig. He has had years with this team, & the clubs positions says they're streets ahead of the Welsh sides. If he can't put together a side that can beat this Welsh side he shouldn't be a Tier 1 Manager; FULL STOP !

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:31 pm

dkm57 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:51 pm This fixture does my head in, so many times we should have gone to Cardiff and come away with a comfortable win, only for 1. Wales to play above themselves or 2. some very dodgy reffing or 3. we lose the hied.

While being cautiously optimistic this time I won't be surprised to be bitterly let down.

You guys are too whipped.

If you don't win by at least a couple of scores, Toonie should be looking for a new gig. He has had years with this team, & the clubs positions says they're streets ahead of the Welsh sides. If he can't put together a side that can beat this Welsh side he shouldn't be a Tier 1 Manager; FULL STOP !

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:01 pm I think as fans we, well I, get too emotionally invested in sport. It's too important, some get tattoos of their team, some wear their team's shirt around all the time, some have nods to their team at their funeral. We are desperate for our team to win, and that is magnified when the team we are playing has thumbed its nose at us in some way, from a coach who has arrogantly dismissed us, or fans who love nothing more than telling us our team is shite, it becomes more important.

The thought of looking at the teams dispassionately and saying, "Well Scotland is obviously the favourite for this game" gets defenestrated when it comes to our side in the Six Nations. People who decry organised religion and superstition openly talk about mockers and all kind of things we know are absolute bollocks.

On paper Scotland should win in Cardiff and quite convincingly too. The Welsh regions are absolute pish at the moment. The likes of Biggar, AWJ and even Zammit, who can't defend but is a real threat in attack, they are all gone. Their fly half has a handful of caps, their one backrow player who could hold his own, possibly, against the likes of Warburton and Tips is injured.

This is not hubris, Scotland should win.

And yet... we've all been too many times before. Scotland are soft in the head and easily rattled off their game, that is a greater weakness and more damaging than anything to do with players or tactics. That mental toughness more than any one thing, imo, is what drove Ireland to the top spot in the world rankings, even if they fell at the World Cup hurdle. I'd love to see us develop more of that at both club and international level.

SaintK wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:12 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:01 pm I think as fans we, well I, get too emotionally invested in sport. It's too important, some get tattoos of their team, some wear their team's shirt around all the time, some have nods to their team at their funeral. We are desperate for our team to win, and that is magnified when the team we are playing has thumbed its nose at us in some way, from a coach who has arrogantly dismissed us, or fans who love nothing more than telling us our team is shite, it becomes more important.

The thought of looking at the teams dispassionately and saying, "Well Scotland is obviously the favourite for this game" gets defenestrated when it comes to our side in the Six Nations. People who decry organised religion and superstition openly talk about mockers and all kind of things we know are absolute bollocks.

On paper Scotland should win in Cardiff and quite convincingly too. The Welsh regions are absolute pish at the moment. The likes of Biggar, AWJ and even Zammit, who can't defend but is a real threat in attack, they are all gone. Their fly half has a handful of caps, their one backrow player who could hold his own, possibly, against the likes of Warburton and Tips is injured.

This is not hubris, Scotland should win.

And yet... we've all been too many times before. Scotland are soft in the head and easily rattled off their game, that is a greater weakness and more damaging than anything to do with players or tactics. That mental toughness more than any one thing, imo, is what drove Ireland to the top spot in the world rankings, even if they fell at the World Cup hurdle. I'd love to see us develop more of that at both club and international level.

Scotland by 9 it is then

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 3:03 pm

fishfoodie wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:31 pm

dkm57 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 1:51 pm This fixture does my head in, so many times we should have gone to Cardiff and come away with a comfortable win, only for 1. Wales to play above themselves or 2. some very dodgy reffing or 3. we lose the hied.

While being cautiously optimistic this time I won't be surprised to be bitterly let down.

You guys are too whipped.

If you don't win by at least a couple of scores, Toonie should be looking for a new gig. He has had years with this team, & the clubs positions says they're streets ahead of the Welsh sides. If he can't put together a side that can beat this Welsh side he shouldn't be a Tier 1 Manager; FULL STOP !

As much as I like Toony and have backed him every time, I can't argue with that.

SaintK wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:12 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:01 pm I think as fans we, well I, get too emotionally invested in sport. It's too important, some get tattoos of their team, some wear their team's shirt around all the time, some have nods to their team at their funeral. We are desperate for our team to win, and that is magnified when the team we are playing has thumbed its nose at us in some way, from a coach who has arrogantly dismissed us, or fans who love nothing more than telling us our team is shite, it becomes more important.

The thought of looking at the teams dispassionately and saying, "Well Scotland is obviously the favourite for this game" gets defenestrated when it comes to our side in the Six Nations. People who decry organised religion and superstition openly talk about mockers and all kind of things we know are absolute bollocks.

On paper Scotland should win in Cardiff and quite convincingly too. The Welsh regions are absolute pish at the moment. The likes of Biggar, AWJ and even Zammit, who can't defend but is a real threat in attack, they are all gone. Their fly half has a handful of caps, their one backrow player who could hold his own, possibly, against the likes of Warburton and Tips is injured.

This is not hubris, Scotland should win.

And yet... we've all been too many times before. Scotland are soft in the head and easily rattled off their game, that is a greater weakness and more damaging than anything to do with players or tactics. That mental toughness more than any one thing, imo, is what drove Ireland to the top spot in the world rankings, even if they fell at the World Cup hurdle. I'd love to see us develop more of that at both club and international level.

Scotland by 29 it is then

Jock42 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:17 pm

SaintK wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:12 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:01 pm I think as fans we, well I, get too emotionally invested in sport. It's too important, some get tattoos of their team, some wear their team's shirt around all the time, some have nods to their team at their funeral. We are desperate for our team to win, and that is magnified when the team we are playing has thumbed its nose at us in some way, from a coach who has arrogantly dismissed us, or fans who love nothing more than telling us our team is shite, it becomes more important.

The thought of looking at the teams dispassionately and saying, "Well Scotland is obviously the favourite for this game" gets defenestrated when it comes to our side in the Six Nations. People who decry organised religion and superstition openly talk about mockers and all kind of things we know are absolute bollocks.

On paper Scotland should win in Cardiff and quite convincingly too. The Welsh regions are absolute pish at the moment. The likes of Biggar, AWJ and even Zammit, who can't defend but is a real threat in attack, they are all gone. Their fly half has a handful of caps, their one backrow player who could hold his own, possibly, against the likes of Warburton and Tips is injured.

This is not hubris, Scotland should win.

And yet... we've all been too many times before. Scotland are soft in the head and easily rattled off their game, that is a greater weakness and more damaging than anything to do with players or tactics. That mental toughness more than any one thing, imo, is what drove Ireland to the top spot in the world rankings, even if they fell at the World Cup hurdle. I'd love to see us develop more of that at both club and international level.

Scotland by 29 it is then

Fixed. Get it right round this lot.

Jock42 wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:17 pm

SaintK wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:12 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 30, 2024 5:01 pm I think as fans we, well I, get too emotionally invested in sport. It's too important, some get tattoos of their team, some wear their team's shirt around all the time, some have nods to their team at their funeral. We are desperate for our team to win, and that is magnified when the team we are playing has thumbed its nose at us in some way, from a coach who has arrogantly dismissed us, or fans who love nothing more than telling us our team is shite, it becomes more important.

The thought of looking at the teams dispassionately and saying, "Well Scotland is obviously the favourite for this game" gets defenestrated when it comes to our side in the Six Nations. People who decry organised religion and superstition openly talk about mockers and all kind of things we know are absolute bollocks.

On paper Scotland should win in Cardiff and quite convincingly too. The Welsh regions are absolute pish at the moment. The likes of Biggar, AWJ and even Zammit, who can't defend but is a real threat in attack, they are all gone. Their fly half has a handful of caps, their one backrow player who could hold his own, possibly, against the likes of Warburton and Tips is injured.

This is not hubris, Scotland should win.

And yet... we've all been too many times before. Scotland are soft in the head and easily rattled off their game, that is a greater weakness and more damaging than anything to do with players or tactics. That mental toughness more than any one thing, imo, is what drove Ireland to the top spot in the world rankings, even if they fell at the World Cup hurdle. I'd love to see us develop more of that at both club and international level.

Scotland by 29 it is then

Fixed. Get it right round this lot.

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

clydecloggie wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:09 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

Fagerson, Christie, Dempsey would be a nice back row with Crosbie at 20 if Darge and Ritchie are deemed not fit enough. It would even be a nice back row if those two were fully fit.

Only reason I'm starting Christie (well, apart from his form) is that he is a more out-and-out 7 compared to Crosbie.

Jock42 wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:06 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

I'd start Horne regardless.

Slick wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:18 am

Jock42 wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:06 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

I'd start Horne regardless.

For this game I’d be very tempted by that. We really want to get the pace up early and rattle the young Welsh team. If we allow them in the game it could be a long afternoon

Jock42 wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:06 am

Tichtheid wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:55 am It looks like there are no further injury worries, Nel is out for Saturday but Sebastian is in full training. White is fit, the only doubt is over Darge, where we have a good few players at the same level.

I'd start Horne regardless.

Slick wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 10:46 am Presumably the team is announced today?