6N starting team

[OptimisticJock]

Delighted to get the win but fear we over reacted to last week. We'll not beat the very best with such predictable carries side to side waiting til they give away a penalty. Gutsy though as would have been easy to implode at a couple of points.

I think that was worse this week than last by Finn but wouldnt have taken him off. That is the first game i've ever seen him not looking confident and we need him if we are to have any chance in 2 weeks.

Russell needs to GTF until he scews the nut. Scotland will be destroyed by England if he plays like That, Russell kept France in it and was a large factor last week.

[Tobylerone]

I think Russell should have been hooked earlier.

I hear Racing are reviewing his contract..

[Spiffy]

Great win! Russell was abismal yet again, he really needs to calm down. Well done Toonie for calling it and shifting Grieeeeeeg out.

Must be galling for Scottish fans to see Russell running around with a big grin plastered on his face every time he fekks something up.
Great win. The team showed a lot of spirit.
Yes - Good call to bring Russell off and give the powerful Denton a run.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Interesting to see that Toony cited Laidlaw's kicking as being the reason he was kept on. I'd argue he was better in every respect at 10 than Russell today.

It's sad to see but someone should have reeled Russell in and set him right months ago. He has got to execute the basics and he has got to play what is in front of him.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m very confused about 9/10/12 now.

Laidlaw didn’t actually run anything from 10 enough to really judge if he would be a good choice to start.

And yes Spiffy. Yes it is.

[Big D]

Delighted to get the win but fear we over reacted to last week. We'll not beat the very best with such predictable carries side to side waiting til they give away a penalty. Gutsy though as would have been easy to implode at a couple of points.

I think that was worse this week than last by Finn but wouldnt have taken him off. That is the first game i've ever seen him not looking confident and we need him if we are to have any chance in 2 weeks.

Nah. Last week was bad and Finn needs that kick up the arse. The team needs to see he's not untouchable. GT did it to Hogg for Glasgow too.

I think we'll look back on this as a good win and an ok performance. But the win was the important part.

I thought a few of the forwards had quiet days.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hogg needs to be the permanent kicker to touch.

I’ve been wondering why he doesn’t for ages now. He’s got the best range on the team, and doesn’t seem to miss touch unless he’s trying to.

Hamstring issues IIRC. Glasgow & Scotland seem to avoid having Hogg when play is paused/a pen unless essential. I'm pretty sure he went on record a while ago and said those long pot shots at goal play havoc on his kicking leg.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I’m very confused about 9/10/12 now.

Laidlaw didn’t actually run anything from 10 enough to really judge if he would be a good choice to start.

And yes Spiffy. Yes it is.

That's part of the problem. The team inherently expects everything to go through Finn at first receiver.

Either way Laidlaw's option taking is superior to Finns. He will not play a desperate offload or a hail mary pass unless he absolutely has no better option.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Really pleased at how that was closed out. Seemed to grow into it, as France started to make some errors. International rugby is so brutal. It’s the little things, felt sorry for Beauxis, who I thought was having a good game, Knocking on under no pressure near the end there.

Thought the French were excellent in the first half. We had a much more controlled 2nd. Kind of thing I’m used to watching sides do do us. Laidlaw was great. As was Jones.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Hogg needs to be the permanent kicker to touch.

I’ve been wondering why he doesn’t for ages now. He’s got the best range on the team, and doesn’t seem to miss touch unless he’s trying to.

Hamstring issues IIRC. Glasgow & Scotland seem to avoid having Hogg when play is paused/a pen unless essential. I'm pretty sure he went on record a while ago and said those long pot shots at goal play havoc on his kicking leg.

Cheers Greg, that makes a fair bit of sense. Didn’t know that.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Take solace in the fact that you often are.

How’s it going Greg?

Give the thread a re-read.

No

[Big D]

Really pleased at how that was closed out. Seemed to grow into it, as France started to make some errors. International rugby is so brutal. It’s the little things, felt sorry for Beauxis, who I thought was having a good game, Knocking on under no pressure near the end there.

Thought the French were excellent in the first half. We had a much more controlled 2nd. Kind of thing I’m used to watching sides do do us. Laidlaw was great. As was Jones.

Thought Dentons impact helped. He made a decent bit of ground in close quarters.

Unusual to only use 4 subs too.

[Spiffy]

I’m very confused about 9/10/12 now.

Laidlaw didn’t actually run anything from 10 enough to really judge if he would be a good choice to start.

And yes Spiffy. Yes it is.

That's part of the problem. The team inherently expects everything to go through Finn at first receiver.

Either way Laidlaw's option taking is superior to Finns. He will not play a desperate offload or a hail mary pass unless he absolutely has no better option.

Scotland could take a middle of the road approach and play the steady Horne at 10. With Laidlaw at SH. Little Price is a great attacking option but not always a great decision maker - his decision to kick the ball back to France with three minutes to go led to a France lineout close to the Scottish line and a chance to nick the game. All Scotland had to do was hold on to the ball and grind out the clock.

[OptimisticJock]

Really pleased at how that was closed out. Seemed to grow into it, as France started to make some errors. International rugby is so brutal. It’s the little things, felt sorry for Beauxis, who I thought was having a good game, Knocking on under no pressure near the end there.

Thought the French were excellent in the first half. We had a much more controlled 2nd. Kind of thing I’m used to watching sides do do us. Laidlaw was great. As was Jones.

Thought Dentons impact helped. He made a decent bit of ground in close quarters.

Unusual to only use 4 subs too.

Disappointed for Kinghorn he never got on. I don't think anything would have been lost if he's come on on either wing but it's good to see that there's no subs for subs sake. Sure he did that in the AIs too.

[OptimisticJock]

Great win! Russell was abismal yet again, he really needs to calm down. Well done Toonie for calling it and shifting Grieeeeeeg out.

Must be galling for Scottish fans to see Russell running around with a big grin plastered on his face every time he fekks something up.
Great win. The team showed a lot of spirit.
Yes - Good call to bring Russell off and give the powerful Denton a run.

Usually I don't mind, a bit if arrogance like that can be good. Today it was infuriating considering his last couple if games.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I’m very confused about 9/10/12 now.

Laidlaw didn’t actually run anything from 10 enough to really judge if he would be a good choice to start.

And yes Spiffy. Yes it is.

That's part of the problem. The team inherently expects everything to go through Finn at first receiver.

Either way Laidlaw's option taking is superior to Finns. He will not play a desperate offload or a hail mary pass unless he absolutely has no better option.

Scotland could take a middle of the road approach and play the steady Horne at 10. With Laidlaw at SH. Little Price is a great attacking option but not always a great decision maker - his decision to kick the ball back to France with three minutes to go led to a France lineout close to the Scottish line and a chance to nick the game. All Scotland had to do was hold on to the ball and grind out the clock.

Horne has his abyssmal games at 10 too. Plus we're short on options at 12. Dunbar and Taylor are unavailable.

I would not be averse to seeing Laidlaw start at 10 against England if the injury list doesn't change.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I’ve been wondering why he doesn’t for ages now. He’s got the best range on the team, and doesn’t seem to miss touch unless he’s trying to.

Hamstring issues IIRC. Glasgow & Scotland seem to avoid having Hogg when play is paused/a pen unless essential. I'm pretty sure he went on record a while ago and said those long pot shots at goal play havoc on his kicking leg.

Cheers Greg, that makes a fair bit of sense. Didn’t know that.

I think his most recent injury was from kicking the ball standing start in a warm up wasn't it?

[OptimisticJock]

That's part of the problem. The team inherently expects everything to go through Finn at first receiver.

Either way Laidlaw's option taking is superior to Finns. He will not play a desperate offload or a hail mary pass unless he absolutely has no better option.

Scotland could take a middle of the road approach and play the steady Horne at 10. With Laidlaw at SH. Little Price is a great attacking option but not always a great decision maker - his decision to kick the ball back to France with three minutes to go led to a France lineout close to the Scottish line and a chance to nick the game. All Scotland had to do was hold on to the ball and grind out the clock.

Horne has his abyssmal games at 10 too. Plus we're short on options at 12. Dunbar and Taylor are unavailable.

I would not be averse to seeing Laidlaw start at 10 against England if the injury list doesn't change.

Both still unavailable in a fortnight?

I'd be happy enough with Laidlaw at 10 hoping that Price has taken on board the message after being dropped. The same needs done for russell.

[francoisfou]

You Scots must be proud of your team! After those two early tries by Thomas I thought the writing wall, but no, your players re-grouped and came back with vengeance. Gregor Townsend is making a name for himself, but without forgetting that Vern Cotter played his part too.

[Cameo]

Okay, this is getting a bit ridiculous. Russell had a shocker today and a bad game last week. I'm actually worried about what has gone wrong as this is the first time I've seen him where it looks like his confidence is gone but...

Some of this criticism is ridiculous. The fact he smiles after mistakes is what normally gives me confidence that he'll try it again and it'll come off. I'm fed up of the idea that our players shouldnt enjoy it. Even when you make mistakes, I've never seen someone get better by getting down on themselves. The thing that worries me today is that the smiles seemed forced. It seemed like all the talk had got to him.

HW's idea that he has needed a kick up the arse for months is balls. When he has played in that time he has produced some of the best flyhalf play I've ever seen from a Scotland ten. It pisses me off that when a ten with flair has a bad or really bad game it is always an attitude problem whereas a conservative one should be persevered with as a safe option.

The idea that Horne is somehow a steady pair of hands is ludicrous. The idea that we have a better chance going forward with Laidlaw at ten is not far off. The only way Russell should not play against England is if Townsend decides their is something more deeply behind this loss off form or his confidence won't come back in time.

And as for Laidlaw, yeah he played alright but he was hardly great. At least two shocking passes and only one of his kicks was anything other than a gimme.

If we want to talk decision making I actually thought the decision to go for that last pen was a mistake though not a clear one. I'd have tried to to keep the pressure on down there rather than let them have a final chance to win it.

[Mikey Brown]

Well Cameo seems pretty angry so I'm flip-flopping again and agreeing with all of that. Horne looked good because he was at 12 where he can pick and choose when to be a playmaker. Laidlaw had a very weird game. Some awful mistakes but a lot of composure at times. He's a great goal-kicker but I feel like we're going backwards if that's why we select him at 10, particularly given Russell's recent kicking has been pretty good.

[General Zod]

Russell wasn’t smiling at the end. In fact, he looked almost gutted.

Hogg smiled during the anthem. So did I. I like it when it’s played like that. Good on him.

[Donny osmond]

Russell is worth persevering with at 10. I dont think Horne is the answer, he looks more comfortable at 12 and played well there today, plus having him at 12 gives Jones a playmaker to play off. I actually like the option of having laidlaw as the backup 10... alright he's not going to rip defences apart but he is going to put us in the right area of the pitch to allow the talent outside him to have a chance.

Russell wasnt unremitting crap today, some of his passing was top draw, it's just his mistakes are sooooo bad. If GT can just get thru to him to chill a bit and not force it all the time, he might turn into a decent player. But if he doesn't, Laidlaw is a pretty good back up.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

[Big D]

Okay, this is getting a bit ridiculous. Russell had a shocker today and a bad game last week. I'm actually worried about what has gone wrong as this is the first time I've seen him where it looks like his confidence is gone but...

Some of this criticism is ridiculous. The fact he smiles after mistakes is what normally gives me confidence that he'll try it again and it'll come off. I'm fed up of the idea that our players shouldnt enjoy it. Even when you make mistakes, I've never seen someone get better by getting down on themselves. The thing that worries me today is that the smiles seemed forced. It seemed like all the talk had got to him.

HW's idea that he has needed a kick up the arse for months is balls. When he has played in that time he has produced some of the best flyhalf play I've ever seen from a Scotland ten. It pisses me off that when a ten with flair has a bad or really bad game it is always an attitude problem whereas a conservative one should be persevered with as a safe option.

The idea that Horne is somehow a steady pair of hands is ludicrous. The idea that we have a better chance going forward with Laidlaw at ten is not far off. The only way Russell should not play against England is if Townsend decides their is something more deeply behind this loss off form or his confidence won't come back in time.

And as for Laidlaw, yeah he played alright but he was hardly great. At least two shocking passes and only one of his kicks was anything other than a gimme.

If we want to talk decision making I actually thought the decision to go for that last pen was a mistake though not a clear one. I'd have tried to to keep the pressure on down there rather than let them have a final chance to win it.

I somewhat agree. When I said Russell needed a kick up the arse I meant subbed to remind him he isn't above being subbed for being poor. I think we need to persevere as the options are not good.

Laidlaw at 10 from the start is a terrible idea. He's slow enough at 9 at times. At least once in their 22 his slowness lead to losing the ball.

Horne is an option but not without his own flaws at 10.

[I R Geech]

I feel with Russell that he just needs a bit more patience. I love what he brings, but wish he wouldn't chase miracle plays every time he gets the ball like it's the last minute and you're 4 points down even though the game is only 5 minutes old.
Do it, yes absolutely, just not all the fecking time! He is our 10, he just needs to calm down a little, and listen to Grieg.