Team for France

[General Zod]

He did look like he was trying almost too hard to make things happen.

Thought price did well, but you can't expect to win at that level if your scrum is crap.

[Tobylerone]

Well that was disappointing, and I'm losing patience with Russell, but I thought the result last week owed more to luck than I would've liked and our luck more or less ran out this week.

Russell needs to realize he's there to manage the game plan, not there to make something magic happen every single time he touches the ball.

I watch a lot of Glasgow so have seen a lot of Russell but the more I think about it the more I'm starting to realise he hasn't actually turned up to an international. All those performances he puts in - they're at club level.

Paddy Jackson out played him last week. He manages phase after phase after phase. As you say, Russell tries to go for some hail mary the first time he gets the ball. He still has a lot to learn.

Tooneyism.. We`ll be having even more next season..

[Big D]

So positives....... Watson had another very combative game. Price looked sharp all things considered.

[Tobylerone]

Great desperate defence.. Though Pyper is (thankfully) very reluctant to show a yellow for persistent infringement in 22..

[Cameo]

Get weir on!

I never thought I'd say it...

He's failed to unlock the defence in both games now.

I came on ready to agree that Russel dodnt have a very good game but the I see this bollocks. In what way did he not unlock the ireland defence?? I just dont know what you expect. Come to think of it, was hos flick to Seymour for the second try not unlocking a defence?

As I say I dont think he played well today though his line kicking was v good. As feared we got overpowered a bit. Had a chance to outrun them but I I think the scrum and injuries killed that.

Thought R gray was very good today too

[Matt Ha]

France played well. Thought we lacked leadership in the latter stages as injuries took their toll and so we lacked the composure of last week. Strauss had perhaps was his best game for Scotland (he must be feeling it now).

[whatisthejava]

Straus was very good as was Watson.
The French defense was up in the backs faced and our team struggled to do a lot about it.

[Mikey Brown]

I swear we'd be jizzing all over ourselves if anyone else did that offload, much as I don't think he had his best game. When you know you're beaten in the forwards I can understand the temptation to try some miracle plays but yes, he does have a lot to learn.

Dunbar was busy in rucks for most of the game but I really would have liked to see someone give Russell a hard-line option. He cannot drift around and do his thing with nobody to hold the line.

Incidentally there is an SQ guy at Gloucester who is fantastic at this.

Now, Berghan huh?

I could mention so many of the forwards here but Strauss' commitment towards the end (despite making some errors during the game) was genuinely moving. Hard not to say the same of most of them though. I'm really not that upset with this loss.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Get weir on!

I never thought I'd say it...

He's failed to unlock the defence in both games now.

I came on ready to agree that Russel dodnt have a very good game but the I see this bollocks. In what way did he not unlock the ireland defence?? I just dont know what you expect. Come to think of it, was hos flick to Seymour for the second try not unlocking a defence?

As I say I dont think he played well today though his line kicking was v good. As feared we got overpowered a bit. Had a chance to outrun them but I I think the scrum and injuries killed that.

Thought R gray was very good today too

I'd hardly call it bollocks. Russell wasn't awful but he certainly did not play to his potential and has not done so at international level IMO. Whilst his offload was good Seymour had a tremendous amount of work to do - there were 4 french lads going for that kick. Spedding failed to deal with it, Seymour re-gathered and Swinson ran a great support line.

Russell was an important part of that try but I'd hardly call it unlocking the defence given what Seymour was faced with.

[OptimisticJock]

Reading their team fred on here, they weren't playing this week either.

*drops mic* according to what the kids say.

Please stop doing that. It looks really stupid.

Bolt

[switchskier]

So in many ways that went as expected. We just don't have someone who can regularly knock back the really big runners and get us on the front foot. I worry about vunipola being fit for our trip to Twickenham. I also thought that we missed Wilson today.

However there were some good individual performances as always. Thought that Gray's senior carried really well and that Brown was just amazing over the ball.

[whatisthejava]

2 weeks till Wales. Need to rest some sore bodies. Wales won't run over us the same was as France but again they will try to shut Finn down.

Anyone else noticing how little Seymore is in the game and then he gets a touch and does something worthwhile. A bit like cuthbert but in total reverse.

Cuthbert carried the ball 7 times and made 3m

[Cameo]

I never thought I'd say it...

He's failed to unlock the defence in both games now.

I came on ready to agree that Russel dodnt have a very good game but the I see this bollocks. In what way did he not unlock the ireland defence?? I just dont know what you expect. Come to think of it, was hos flick to Seymour for the second try not unlocking a defence?

As I say I dont think he played well today though his line kicking was v good. As feared we got overpowered a bit. Had a chance to outrun them but I I think the scrum and injuries killed that.

Thought R gray was very good today too

I'd hardly call it bollocks. Russell wasn't awful but he certainly did not play to his potential and has not done so at international level IMO. Whilst his offload was good Seymour had a tremendous amount of work to do - there were 4 french lads going for that kick. Spedding failed to deal with it, Seymour re-gathered and Swinson ran a great support line.

Russell was an important part of that try but I'd hardly call it unlocking the defence given what Seymour was faced with.

Oh, so by "unlocking the defence" you mean the 10 has to stroll through and put someone unopposed under the posts. I agree, all the 10's in the 6Ns need to be dropped

[Big D]

2 weeks till Wales. Need to rest some sore bodies. Wales won't run over us the same was as France but again they will try to shut Finn down.

Anyone else noticing how little Seymore is in the game and then he gets a touch and does something worthwhile. A bit like cuthbert but in total reverse.

Cuthbert carried the ball 7 times and made 3m

We are also not getting the backs involved enough in the right areas. Dunbar touched the ball twice according to the stats.

Looking at the tackling stats. JGray and Watson both leading the way 15 made 0 missed.

[Cameo]

2 weeks till Wales. Need to rest some sore bodies. Wales won't run over us the same was as France but again they will try to shut Finn down.

Anyone else noticing how little Seymore is in the game and then he gets a touch and does something worthwhile. A bit like cuthbert but in total reverse.

Cuthbert carried the ball 7 times and made 3m

We are also not getting the backs involved enough in the right areas. Dunbar touched the ball twice according to the stats.

Looking at the tackling stats. JGray and Watson both leading the way 15 made 0 missed.

With our lack of big carriers that is an issue

[Mikey Brown]

To be fair though Dunbar put in an immense shift tackling and in the breakdown, I don't know about the numbers but the force he put in was impressive. I've felt for a while he's a better threat with the ball from 13.

[Cameo]

To be fair though Dunbar put in an immense shift tackling and in the breakdown, I don't know about the numbers but the force he put in was impressive. I've felt for a while he's a better threat with the ball from 13.

I agree with all of that

[Donny osmond]

2 weeks till Wales. Need to rest some sore bodies. Wales won't run over us the same was as France but again they will try to shut Finn down.

Anyone else noticing how little Seymore is in the game and then he gets a touch and does something worthwhile. A bit like cuthbert but in total reverse.

Cuthbert carried the ball 7 times and made 3m

We are also not getting the backs involved enough in the right areas. Dunbar touched the ball twice according to the stats.

Looking at the tackling stats. JGray and Watson both leading the way 15 made 0 missed.

...which would be the job of the fly half to achieve, no?

[Mikey Brown]

Fuck it. I was a mess for most of the game so I'm not expecting this to be remotely accurate. Haven't watched it back.

1. Dell - 5 - Good in the loose but on the wrong end of the tight battle
2. Brown - 6 - Similar to Dell, great over the ball but tempted to say loses a mark for some of his throwing
3. Fagerson - 4/5 - Got hammered in the scrums but to be honest that's fine, he'll learn a huge amount and was still handy in the loose.

4. Richie - 8 - He's a serious player now. Finally got his body position going in to contact a lot better, must have been watching Jonny
5. Jonny - 8 - Just class as always

6. Barclay - 6 - Looked lively while he was on. Hardie - 10 - Put more than his body could take in to his 5 minutes. Swinson - 7 - Great job out of position, not an awful option to have when the pack is getting muscled.
7. Watson - 8 - Fought for everything against 13 guys who towered over him
8. Strauss - 8 - Could have made more impact in the first half I feel but really won me over towards the end. Would be surprised if he's moving very easily today

9. Laidlaw - 6 - Service was mostly improved, again. Real shame about the kick. I hope he is on the mend. I'd like to see Price get some more time anyway but still think he would be a fantastic bench option to help close out games like this one.
10. Russell - 6 - Again some great moments mixed with some pretty bad ones, got away with a couple of them though. Hard to know what the nonsense with the conversion was about. Apparently we were the ones rushing it?

11. Maitland - 6 - Disappointed he didn't put his foot down when it opened up for him on the wing but other than that was very solid. Took a couple of difficult high balls and some good tackles
12. Dunbar - 7 - Not exactly how you want your backs to spend a game but made some serious dents in the French carriers/breakdown.
13. Jones - 5 - Looks rusty I'm afraid. Levels out at 5 for some very astute defence, particularly when under pressure in the first half, but a couple of frustrating knock-ons and mostly absent as an option for Russell. His outside break is insane but he needs to offer something else if we haven't got the ball to play with.
14. Seymour - 7 - Barely got the ball but brilliant work for Swinson's try. Was that awful kick late-on him? I thought it was Jones.
15. Hogg - 7 - Classy try, one of few players to actually worry the French. Shame he didn't get that kick over.

Reid solid, Ford solid, Berghan impressive, Price penalty was really dumb but upped the tempo and we should have been awarded at least two penalties for offside when he took very smart quick-taps, Weir was weir, can't say I really saw Bennett.

[Big D]

2 weeks till Wales. Need to rest some sore bodies. Wales won't run over us the same was as France but again they will try to shut Finn down.

Anyone else noticing how little Seymore is in the game and then he gets a touch and does something worthwhile. A bit like cuthbert but in total reverse.

Cuthbert carried the ball 7 times and made 3m

We are also not getting the backs involved enough in the right areas. Dunbar touched the ball twice according to the stats.

Looking at the tackling stats. JGray and Watson both leading the way 15 made 0 missed.

...which would be the job of the fly half to achieve, no?

Not exclusively and we are not getting into the right areas often enough full stop.

The forwards need to win decent ball which they haven't done consistently over the two games especially the 2nd halves. And when the are not, as I said before in this fred, Hogg and Russell (they are the 2 backs that can kick) now have almost 75 caps between them, they should know when to step back and kick to the corners or how to control a game better than they currently do.

[Matt Ha]

I thought we put in a pretty good performance, which, if a little better, could have resulted in victory. What is slightly worrying, however, is the for two games on the trot now we've been on the backfoot too much, defending too much and not getting enough of the ball.

[Big D]

Fuck it. I was a mess for most of the game so I'm not expecting this to be remotely accurate. Haven't watched it back.

1. Dell - 5 - Good in the loose but on the wrong end of the tight battle
2. Brown - 6 - Similar to Dell, great over the ball but tempted to say loses a mark for some of his throwing
3. Fagerson - 4/5 - Got hammered in the scrums but to be honest that's fine, he'll learn a huge amount and was still handy in the loose.

4. Richie - 8 - He's a serious player now. Finally got his body position going in to contact a lot better, must have been watching Jonny
5. Jonny - 8 - Just class as always

6. Barclay - 6 - Looked lively while he was on. Hardie - 10 - Put more than his body could take in to his 5 minutes. Swinson - 7 - Great job out of position, not an awful option to have when the pack is getting muscled.
7. Watson - 8 - Fought for everything against 13 guys who towered over him
8. Strauss - 8 - Could have made more impact in the first half I feel but really won me over towards the end. Would be surprised if he's moving very easily today

9. Laidlaw - 6 - Service was mostly improved, again. Real shame about the kick. I hope he is on the mend. I'd like to see Price get some more time anyway but still think he would be a fantastic bench option to help close out games like this one.
10. Russell - 6 - Again some great moments mixed with some pretty bad ones, got away with a couple of them though. Hard to know what the nonsense with the conversion was about. Apparently we were the ones rushing it?

11. Maitland - 6 - Disappointed he didn't put his foot down when it opened up for him on the wing but other than that was very solid. Took a couple of difficult high balls and some good tackles
12. Dunbar - 7 - Not exactly how you want your backs to spend a game but made some serious dents in the French carriers/breakdown.
13. Jones - 5 - Looks rusty I'm afraid. Levels out at 5 for some very astute defence, particularly when under pressure in the first half, but a couple of frustrating knock-ons and mostly absent as an option for Russell. His outside break is insane but he needs to offer something else if we haven't got the ball to play with.
14. Seymour - 7 - Barely got the ball but brilliant work for Swinson's try. Was that awful kick late-on him? I thought it was Jones.
15. Hogg - 7 - Classy try, one of few players to actually worry the French. Shame he didn't get that kick over.

Reid solid, Ford solid, Berghan impressive, Price penalty was really dumb but upped the tempo and we should have been awarded at least two penalties for offside when he took very smart quick-taps, Weir was weir, can't say I really saw Bennett.

Marks are mostly for good defensive work really. Maybe should be harsher but can't bring myself to do it:

1. Dell - 5 - Set piece gubbed despite not giving away pens.
2. Brown - 6 - 8 in defence, 5 at the set piece, 5 in attack so a 6.
3. Fagerson - 4 - tough shift, will improve.
4. Richie - 7 - Part of a scrum that was shat on. Never really put pressure on their line out. Good defence, cleared rucks well and made good ground with the ball.
5. Jonny - 6 - As big bro above but without the effective carrying.
6. Barclay - 6 - Did Ok. Hardie - 0 - Sicknote who hasn't learned how to tackle despite repeatedly taking head knocks from tackling . Swinson - 6 - Part of a pack that struggled in the 2nd half, great support for the try and valiant effort out of position.
7. Watson - 8 - Ferocious in defence and carried in contact well.
8. Strauss - 7 - Very industrious in attack, missed a few tackles though.
9. Laidlaw - 6 - Didn't do a lot wrong or that well.
10. Russell - 6 - mixed some sublime with some ridiculous. Just like Toony.
11. Maitland - 6 - Has been solid this 6N. Now definite 2nd in the wing pecking order behind Tommy S.
12. Dunbar - 6 - Defence great, non existent in attack.
13. Jones - 6 - Nice assist for Hoggs try, worked hard in defence. Couple of errors.
14. Seymour - 6 - Quiet game, nicely weighted kick for the try.
15. Hogg - 6 - Scored one, but missed Fickou twice in the passage of play before his try. Needs to realise he doesn't need to run everything back.

Subs:
Price - 6 - Couple of rookie mistakes, including the shove which would have given us a chance to ease the pressure.
Reid and Berghan - Both were really poor IMO. Maybe a 4 for Reid and 3 for Berghan.

[Donny osmond]

We are also not getting the backs involved enough in the right areas. Dunbar touched the ball twice according to the stats.

Looking at the tackling stats. JGray and Watson both leading the way 15 made 0 missed.

...which would be the job of the fly half to achieve, no?

Not exclusively and we are not getting into the right areas often enough full stop.

The forwards need to win decent ball which they haven't done consistently over the two games especially the 2nd halves. And when the are not, as I said before in this fred, Hogg and Russell (they are the 2 backs that can kick) now have almost 75 caps between them, they should know when to step back and kick to the corners or how to control a game better than they currently do.

This much is true. I dont mean to suggest I would single Russell out for criticism.

I thought the result against ireland papered over some pretty deep problems in the performance that, without a result were much more easy to focus on after the France game. Most getting hands on the ball and controlling possession, which is more down to the fwds and 9 rather than 10.

Russell still needs to improve mind.

[Mikey Brown]

Fuck it. I was a mess for most of the game so I'm not expecting this to be remotely accurate. Haven't watched it back.

1. Dell - 5 - Good in the loose but on the wrong end of the tight battle
2. Brown - 6 - Similar to Dell, great over the ball but tempted to say loses a mark for some of his throwing
3. Fagerson - 4/5 - Got hammered in the scrums but to be honest that's fine, he'll learn a huge amount and was still handy in the loose.

4. Richie - 8 - He's a serious player now. Finally got his body position going in to contact a lot better, must have been watching Jonny
5. Jonny - 8 - Just class as always

6. Barclay - 6 - Looked lively while he was on. Hardie - 10 - Put more than his body could take in to his 5 minutes. Swinson - 7 - Great job out of position, not an awful option to have when the pack is getting muscled.
7. Watson - 8 - Fought for everything against 13 guys who towered over him
8. Strauss - 8 - Could have made more impact in the first half I feel but really won me over towards the end. Would be surprised if he's moving very easily today

9. Laidlaw - 6 - Service was mostly improved, again. Real shame about the kick. I hope he is on the mend. I'd like to see Price get some more time anyway but still think he would be a fantastic bench option to help close out games like this one.
10. Russell - 6 - Again some great moments mixed with some pretty bad ones, got away with a couple of them though. Hard to know what the nonsense with the conversion was about. Apparently we were the ones rushing it?

11. Maitland - 6 - Disappointed he didn't put his foot down when it opened up for him on the wing but other than that was very solid. Took a couple of difficult high balls and some good tackles
12. Dunbar - 7 - Not exactly how you want your backs to spend a game but made some serious dents in the French carriers/breakdown.
13. Jones - 5 - Looks rusty I'm afraid. Levels out at 5 for some very astute defence, particularly when under pressure in the first half, but a couple of frustrating knock-ons and mostly absent as an option for Russell. His outside break is insane but he needs to offer something else if we haven't got the ball to play with.
14. Seymour - 7 - Barely got the ball but brilliant work for Swinson's try. Was that awful kick late-on him? I thought it was Jones.
15. Hogg - 7 - Classy try, one of few players to actually worry the French. Shame he didn't get that kick over.

Reid solid, Ford solid, Berghan impressive, Price penalty was really dumb but upped the tempo and we should have been awarded at least two penalties for offside when he took very smart quick-taps, Weir was weir, can't say I really saw Bennett.

Marks are mostly for good defensive work really. Maybe should be harsher but can't bring myself to do it:

1. Dell - 5 - Set piece gubbed despite not giving away pens.
2. Brown - 6 - 8 in defence, 5 at the set piece, 5 in attack so a 6.
3. Fagerson - 4 - tough shift, will improve.
4. Richie - 7 - Part of a scrum that was shat on. Never really put pressure on their line out. Good defence, cleared rucks well and made good ground with the ball.
5. Jonny - 6 - As big bro above but without the effective carrying.
6. Barclay - 6 - Did Ok. Hardie - 0 - Sicknote who hasn't learned how to tackle despite repeatedly taking head knocks from tackling . Swinson - 6 - Part of a pack that struggled in the 2nd half, great support for the try and valiant effort out of position.
7. Watson - 8 - Ferocious in defence and carried in contact well.
8. Strauss - 7 - Very industrious in attack, missed a few tackles though.
9. Laidlaw - 6 - Didn't do a lot wrong or that well.
10. Russell - 6 - mixed some sublime with some ridiculous. Just like Toony.
11. Maitland - 6 - Has been solid this 6N. Now definite 2nd in the wing pecking order behind Tommy S.
12. Dunbar - 6 - Defence great, non existent in attack.
13. Jones - 6 - Nice assist for Hoggs try, worked hard in defence. Couple of errors.
14. Seymour - 6 - Quiet game, nicely weighted kick for the try.
15. Hogg - 6 - Scored one, but missed Fickou twice in the passage of play before his try. Needs to realise he doesn't need to run everything back.

Subs:
Price - 6 - Couple of rookie mistakes, including the shove which would have given us a chance to ease the pressure.
Reid and Berghan - Both were really poor IMO. Maybe a 4 for Reid and 3 for Berghan.

Is it my imagination or did Berghan improve the scrum a lot? Though even if we got the calls that could mean absolutely anything. Will admit I didn't notice him anywhere else.

[Big D]

...which would be the job of the fly half to achieve, no?

Not exclusively and we are not getting into the right areas often enough full stop.

The forwards need to win decent ball which they haven't done consistently over the two games especially the 2nd halves. And when the are not, as I said before in this fred, Hogg and Russell (they are the 2 backs that can kick) now have almost 75 caps between them, they should know when to step back and kick to the corners or how to control a game better than they currently do.

This much is true. I dont mean to suggest I would single Russell out for criticism.

I thought the result against ireland papered over some pretty deep problems in the performance that, without a result were much more easy to focus on after the France game. Most getting hands on the ball and controlling possession, which is more down to the fwds and 9 rather than 10.

Russell still needs to improve mind.

I'll preface this with I have had issues with Laidlaws play so this may colour my logic. But I thought he got too much credit for the team getting back into it last week. The Irish level dropped off and the forwards edged back into it. It was a team effort.

The forwards seem to react better unsurprisingly when they get quicker service. The default seems to be to slow it down, which then creates issues.