Six Nations Round 2- Resurgent Scotland

[Son of Mathonwy]

Jesus christ. Lol. You guys talk a lot about your shared manic Welsh doom-brain but this is fantastic.

I said can, not will.

It’s Mike trying his best to wind us up. He really loves the Welsh and would have loved to have been born in the valleys.

I think he's saying that Sandy's giving the Scots far too much credit when he says "Scotland aren't invincible".

He has a point - Scotland are so obviously not invincible that it really doesn't need saying.

[Mikey Brown]

I said can, not will.

It’s Mike trying his best to wind us up. He really loves the Welsh and would have loved to have been born in the valleys.

I think he's saying that Sandy's giving the Scots far too much credit when he says "Scotland aren't invincible".

He has a point - Scotland are so obviously not invincible that it really doesn't need saying.

Ha. Yes this was it. It hadn’t occurred to me anybody would ever question whether or not Scotland were “invincible”, but I appreciated seeing it. Not trying to wind anyone up.

[whatisthejava]

Rewatched the game, where I am there is snow and a lockdown so it was a nice distraction.

Barnes really fucked you guys over on the breakdown, his interpretation really allowed Ireland that extra half second to commit men after wales had their hands on a ball and should really have got the turnover.

Mind u, he was consistent with you as well but a different interpretation would really have ducked the 14 men team over more

[Sandydragon]

Rewatched the game, where I am there is snow and a lockdown so it was a nice distraction.

Barnes really fucked you guys over on the breakdown, his interpretation really allowed Ireland that extra half second to commit men after wales had their hands on a ball and should really have got the turnover.

Mind u, he was consistent with you as well but a different interpretation would really have ducked the 14 men team over more

It was an interpretation that we weren’t used to and cost us a lot of penalties in the first half. Our lineout and handling errors didn’t help, but we gave away 8 or 9 penalties following the red card before half time which killed us.

However Barnes was consistent in that approach and we should have adapted sooner.

[Sandydragon]

Halohala, Lloyd Williams and Botham called into the squad. I do feel gutted for Kieran Williams who surely deserves an opportunity soon.

[Wallpaperman]

Halohala, Lloyd Williams and Botham called into the squad. I do feel gutted for Kieran Williams who surely deserves an opportunity soon.

Agreed re Kieran Williams, who is having a really good season. He also plays alongside North and Owen Watkin, at least one of whom will play in the centre on Saturday. (I don’t think it’s 100% that North will play due to his eye injury). In all fairness to Halaholo, he is a terrific attacking centre, and would give Scotland something to think about, but on the flip side he is not the man to pick if the team are going to have to make 200 tackles.

Lloyd Williams I understand, as he is a safeish pair of hands, and is an excellent passer. I don’t think Pivac will pick Webb again.

Happy to see Botham in the squad, my only grumble is that they are replacing Lydiate, in which case Shane Lewis-Hughes would have been a better fit.

[Sandydragon]

I suspect the back row will be Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau, which I'm happy with. Probably with Wainwright on the bench.

Hopefully North's eye injury is not significant and he can play. I kind of agree about Halaholo who is an exciting player, but if we are going to allow the other side 75%+ possession then thats a bit redundant. It feels like Webb has pissed on his chips a bit with the Wales coaching staff. For all the fuss of him moving to France and not being available, Privac has been pretty quick to jettison him.

I'm thinking that the front five will probably remain the same for Saturday, the back row will bring in Navidi for Lydiate, and Wainwright to the bench.

Probably Gareth Davies and Biggar at halfbacks.

Halfpenny and LRZ will surely start again and I'd almost bet my mortgage on Liam Williams returning to one of the back 3 slots.

Centres is a bit of a question mark. North will start if fit. Tompkins I suspect will start as he did pretty well after Jonny Williams went off, but Privac may bring in Watkin to bolster defence at 12 and leave Tompkins for impact. Maybe.

[Wallpaperman]

I suspect the back row will be Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau, which I'm happy with. Probably with Wainwright on the bench.

Hopefully North's eye injury is not significant and he can play. I kind of agree about Halaholo who is an exciting player, but if we are going to allow the other side 75%+ possession then thats a bit redundant. It feels like Webb has pissed on his chips a bit with the Wales coaching staff. For all the fuss of him moving to France and not being available, Privac has been pretty quick to jettison him.

I'm thinking that the front five will probably remain the same for Saturday, the back row will bring in Navidi for Lydiate, and Wainwright to the bench.

Probably Gareth Davies and Biggar at halfbacks.

Halfpenny and LRZ will surely start again and I'd almost bet my mortgage on Liam Williams returning to one of the back 3 slots.

Centres is a bit of a question mark. North will start if fit. Tompkins I suspect will start as he did pretty well after Jonny Williams went off, but Privac may bring in Watkin to bolster defence at 12 and leave Tompkins for impact. Maybe.

Agreed re the back row. He might put MacLeod on the bench ahead of Wainwright.

Webb gave an interview after he was dropped where he said something along the lines of preferring to support his family during lockdown than be in isolation as the number 3 scrum half. He also praised the positive coaching at the Ospreys in the same interview - I think that’s it between him and Pivac.

I also think that they will look to play the same front 5. Beard’s place might have come under threat if they weren’t making so many changes elsewhere in the team. Ball would give them more of a carrying option and better ruck clearance than either Beard or Rowlands, but that would be at the cost of further weakening the lineout. For what it’s worth I thought Rowlands was very busy when he came off the bench.

Definitely the same half backs. It will be interesting to see who gets the bench spots. Sheedy didn’t do anything wrong on Sunday but they might have a look at Evans and Lloyd Williams.

Not sure about North, Gethin Jenkins didn’t comment on his injury when asked about it at the press conference yesterday, Hopefully he is fit. Not sure that Pivac will pick Tompkins as a starter (especially at 12) and Watkin might get the nod at 12, with Tompkins on the bench again. I’d be very surprised if Halaholo made the 23.

Back three as you suggest, although Rees-Zammit looked in a lot of pain after his wrist injury near the end of the game on Sunday.

I think the team is announced at noon tomorrow, so we’ll soon find out !

[Sandydragon]

I'd missed that interview with Webb, that does explain a lot and I agree, I think thats his international career, barring a number of injuries, pretty much over.

[Numbers]

I suspect the back row will be Navidi, Tipuric and Faletau, which I'm happy with. Probably with Wainwright on the bench.

Hopefully North's eye injury is not significant and he can play. I kind of agree about Halaholo who is an exciting player, but if we are going to allow the other side 75%+ possession then thats a bit redundant. It feels like Webb has pissed on his chips a bit with the Wales coaching staff. For all the fuss of him moving to France and not being available, Privac has been pretty quick to jettison him.

I'm thinking that the front five will probably remain the same for Saturday, the back row will bring in Navidi for Lydiate, and Wainwright to the bench.

Probably Gareth Davies and Biggar at halfbacks.

Halfpenny and LRZ will surely start again and I'd almost bet my mortgage on Liam Williams returning to one of the back 3 slots.

Centres is a bit of a question mark. North will start if fit. Tompkins I suspect will start as he did pretty well after Jonny Williams went off, but Privac may bring in Watkin to bolster defence at 12 and leave Tompkins for impact. Maybe.

Agreed re the back row. He might put MacLeod on the bench ahead of Wainwright.

Webb gave an interview after he was dropped where he said something along the lines of preferring to support his family during lockdown than be in isolation as the number 3 scrum half. He also praised the positive coaching at the Ospreys in the same interview - I think that’s it between him and Pivac.

I also think that they will look to play the same front 5. Beard’s place might have come under threat if they weren’t making so many changes elsewhere in the team. Ball would give them more of a carrying option and better ruck clearance than either Beard or Rowlands, but that would be at the cost of further weakening the lineout. For what it’s worth I thought Rowlands was very busy when he came off the bench.

Definitely the same half backs. It will be interesting to see who gets the bench spots. Sheedy didn’t do anything wrong on Sunday but they might have a look at Evans and Lloyd Williams.

Not sure about North, Gethin Jenkins didn’t comment on his injury when asked about it at the press conference yesterday, Hopefully he is fit. Not sure that Pivac will pick Tompkins as a starter (especially at 12) and Watkin might get the nod at 12, with Tompkins on the bench again. I’d be very surprised if Halaholo made the 23.

Back three as you suggest, although Rees-Zammit looked in a lot of pain after his wrist injury near the end of the game on Sunday.

I think the team is announced at noon tomorrow, so we’ll soon find out !

He had his hand trodden on, it looked like thy were putting his fingers back into place after dislocation to me so there shouldn't be an issue, if he can't play North would have move back to the wing wouldn't he?

[Sandydragon]

Hopefully LRZ is fine, if both he and North aren't available then it begins to get a bit thin, although keep thinking happy thoughts.

[Numbers]

If Tompkins turns out to be unfit we will have to have Halaholo on the bench to cover centre, that's if he isn't picked ahead of Owen Watkin who is a 13 by trade.

[morepork]

If Tompkins turns out to be unfit we will have to have Halaholo on the bench to cover centre, that's if he isn't picked ahead of Owen Watkin who is a 13 by trade.

Willis Halaholo? How long has he been there? Whatever the residency requirement is I guess...

[Sandydragon]

If Tompkins turns out to be unfit we will have to have Halaholo on the bench to cover centre, that's if he isn't picked ahead of Owen Watkin who is a 13 by trade.

Willis Halaholo? How long has he been there? Whatever the residency requirement is I guess...

He qualified 2 years ago (ish) but then got injured and missed his opportunity.

[Sandydragon]

North is out following his eye injury.

Likely centre partnership is Tompkins and Watkin.

[normanski]

North is out following his eye injury.

Likely centre partnership is Tompkins and Watkin.

That’s a blow. We could have done with his midfield threat to subdue the Scots.

[Son of Mathonwy]

North is out following his eye injury.

Likely centre partnership is Tompkins and Watkin.

That’s a blow. We could have done with his midfield threat to subdue the Scots.

Oh, ffs. Just when I was starting to get confident about something we're doing.

My gut says play Halaholo but presumably there must be some reason he wasn't in the squad to begin with, so I expect we'll have Tompkins and Watkins. H might well be on the bench though. Another player down, does that mean they'll call 4 to the squad . . . ??

[Sandydragon]

Hopefully North will be back for the English game. That is a lot of injuries from just one game. Hopefully an unfortunate fluke and not reflective of conditioning or anything like that.

[Wallpaperman]

Hopefully North will be back for the English game. That is a lot of injuries from just one game. Hopefully an unfortunate fluke and not reflective of conditioning or anything like that.

It was always going to be a physical game. Making 240 tackles was bound to leave some sore bodies. I’d bet that some of those playing on Saturday won’t be 100% fit.

Turning to the injuries, those to Tomos Williams and Danny Lydiate were pure bad luck, especially to have 2 players get injured in non-contact situations. Jonny Williams and Hallam Amos would probably be available for selection (as is Jonny Sexton) if it weren’t for the short turnaround between the 2 games.

[Tobylerone]

Just a thought re. your on field medics. A little optimistic?

It was pretty obvious (to me) from the multiple replays (!) that Lydiate`s injury was unlikely to be the "run it off" type. So I was surprised that they wrapped six feet of elastoplast round it and hoped for the best.

Anscombe had a similar experience in his last game for Wales, the second injury seemed more traumatic than the first.

Something of a contrast to the head injury protocols ?

[Sandydragon]

Just a thought re. your on field medics. A little optimistic?

It was pretty obvious (to me) from the multiple replays (!) that Lydiate`s injury was unlikely to be the "run it off" type. So I was surprised that they wrapped six feet of elastoplast round it and hoped for the best.

Anscombe had a similar experience in his last game for Wales, the second injury seemed more traumatic than the first.

Something of a contrast to the head injury protocols ?

I also thought it was a bit optimistic on Sunday to expect him to continue when he looked in pretty poor shape. I suppose unlike a head injury the player gets to have a vote on whether he feels he can run it off.

[whatisthejava]

It was always going to be a physical game. Making 240 tackles was bound to leave some sore bodies. I’d bet that some of those playing on Saturday won’t be 100% fit.

I remember Frank Hadden talking about how making over 100 tackles in a game was huge. That was only 15 years ago, game really has changed so much since then

[whatisthejava]

It was pretty obvious (to me) from the multiple replays (!) that Lydiate`s injury was unlikely to be the "run it off" type. So I was surprised that they wrapped six feet of elastoplast round it and hoped for the best.

Yup, it was weird, it looked proper fucked and then he played on

I know the sub is a little cold but who knows how much worse it is now because of those extra few mins

[normanski]

The loss of one third of your starting 15 and the rest some with very sore bodies would be a big blow to any international side, especially playing six days later.

This adversity makes Wales the underdogs and it’s a big ask for the replacements to step up to the plate. Fortunately we do have a little strength in depth and hopefully they can meld seamlessly with the rest of the team.

Hopefully Scotland will grow over confident as a result and succumb to a backs-to-the-wall display by Wales.

[Wallpaperman]

The loss of one third of your starting 15 and the rest some with very sore bodies would be a big blow to any international side, especially playing six days later.

This adversity makes Wales the underdogs and it’s a big ask for the replacements to step up to the plate. Fortunately we do have a little strength in depth and hopefully they can meld seamlessly with the rest of the team.

Hopefully Scotland will grow over confident as a result and succumb to a backs-to-the-wall display by Wales.

Aaaarggh. Navidi is out, too. My confidence is slowly ebbing away. No Macleod, either, so Wainwright starts at 6 and Botham is on the bench. Tompkins and Watkin in the centre, and Liam Williams is back.