Scotland v England Sat 24 Feb 4.45pm

[fivepointer]

Mitchell injured, replaced by Randall.

[Banquo]

Bugger

[Puja]

Piss. The one player we really couldn't afford to lose. Care was actually pretty good coming on against Wales, but I'm not thrilled about him starting.

Puja

[Banquo]

ewels???

[p/d]

ewels???

He went off and worked on ‘being a better player’

[Tom Moore]

ewels???

He went off and worked on ‘being a better player’

I strongly doubt it will have worked.

[Which Tyler]

ewels???

He went off and worked on ‘being a better player’

I strongly doubt it will have worked.

Then you haven't watched him play rugby this year.


At club level, he's finally looking like the player we all hoped he'd become from 5-6 years ago. Which doesn't mean I want to see him in an England shirt, but you'll struggle to find nyone who's seen him say he hasn't become a better rugby player over the last 12 months.

[FKAS]

It's a real blow, Mitchell has stepped up well into the 9 shirt. JvP has started running but it nowhere close to returning. After that the cupboard is pretty bare.

[p/d]

Aneurin Thomas. The future.

[Mikey Brown]

Maybe we can start the Ford at 9 discussion again. Get Fin Smith some minutes.

[FKAS]

Maybe we can start the Ford at 9 discussion again. Get Fin Smith some minutes.

There was that ten minute period a couple of seasons back Vs Saints where Ford played 9 and 10 whilst Wigglesworth was in the sin bin. Same game he returned the goal line drop out for a drop goal. His passing and box kicking was good then plus it he plays 9 and 10 we can field three centres. Have all of Dingwall, Manu and Lawrence out there. Eddie would have approved.

[Oakboy]

What is Spencer doing in the squad? Will he make the bench and get any game time v Scotland? IMO, Randall is a joke in comparison and Care for 80 minutes is not far behind.

[p/d]

What is Spencer doing in the squad? Will he make the bench and get any game time v Scotland? IMO, Randall is a joke in comparison and Care for 80 minutes is not far behind.

Spencer will start.

Care on bench. Randall injury cover

[Oakboy]

What is Spencer doing in the squad? Will he make the bench and get any game time v Scotland? IMO, Randall is a joke in comparison and Care for 80 minutes is not far behind.

Spencer will start.

Care on bench. Randall injury cover

I hope so but, in that case, there is little logic in Care having been on the bench ahead of him. I suppose it is similar to the planned FH situation.

[FKAS]

What is Spencer doing in the squad? Will he make the bench and get any game time v Scotland? IMO, Randall is a joke in comparison and Care for 80 minutes is not far behind.

Spencer will start.

Care on bench. Randall injury cover

I hope so but, in that case, there is little logic in Care having been on the bench ahead of him. I suppose it is similar to the planned FH situation.

Care is a better impact option off the bench. Always has been his forte at International level. Plus as demonstrated Vs Wales he's got the experience to know how to manage out a game.

Not sure Care can do more than 30 mins at international level now so Spencer might well get the start.

[Mikey Brown]

That sounds about right.

Would be very interesting to see how Spencer goes if he gets another run.

[Oakboy]

Spencer will start.

Care on bench. Randall injury cover

I hope so but, in that case, there is little logic in Care having been on the bench ahead of him. I suppose it is similar to the planned FH situation.

Care is a better impact option off the bench. Always has been his forte at International level. Plus as demonstrated Vs Wales he's got the experience to know how to manage out a game.

Not sure Care can do more than 30 mins at international level now so Spencer might well get the start.

Care may be a good impact player off the bench but I'm not sure anybody can claim he is a better one than Spencer based on any recent available evidence.

[16th man]

Anyone else worried that we're coming up on what could be quite a chastening weekend?

Ireland will follow up the demonstration of what an efficient team can so to Italy, with a dismantling of Wales, then Scotland are better able to show just how much our errors in attack and defence can be exploited by a half decent team, than either Italy or Wales were.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm struggling to be too excited about Scotland's form so far. I'm sure there will be moments that England get exposed but I really couldn't call the result. I'd hope for a reaction to letting that France game slip away, but I'm not holding my breath.

England have been very fortunate to be able to ease their way in to this new era with the two worst teams first up.

[Which Tyler]

Scotland have the capacity to cut us a new one.
They also have the capacity to role over and have their tummy tickled.

It's like the France of my early days in rugby

[Oakboy]

I think we can beat Scotland if we start well which we have not done so far, according to the scoreboard anyway. We need to be ruthless in taking chances and we need to do more than just kick the ball down the throat of the opposition.

The reputation of our coaching crew is on the line. They could not have asked for a better timetable. Two wins against the weakest teams follwed by a fortnight in camp must be the best preparation possible - if they are good enough. I think the players are.

[fivepointer]

Mitchell out of the rest of the 6N's.

[twitchy]

We always seem to get these momentum killing injuries for the 6N.

[Puja]

Anyone else worried that we're coming up on what could be quite a chastening weekend?

Ireland will follow up the demonstration of what an efficient team can so to Italy, with a dismantling of Wales, then Scotland are better able to show just how much our errors in attack and defence can be exploited by a half decent team, than either Italy or Wales were.

I'm actually feeling vaguely confident. Doing the m-b-ms gave me a chance to look at what we're doing and building, and the scaffolding there could turn into something really quite impressive. It's ambitious at least. With two weeks to build on the match practice of our first games, I think there's potential that we could put them to the sword.

Of course there's also potential that the plans are too top-heavy to ever fly, the coaches aren't as clever as they think, and the whole thing is unworkable and falls apart. Guess we'll see on Saturday?

Puja

[Oakboy]

Mitchell out of the rest of the 6N's.

Grade two strain of the ACL, reportedly.