Scotland v England Sat 24 Feb 4.45pm

[fivepointer]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

[FKAS]

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

Grade two strain of the ACL, reportedly.

Would return in time for the Prem playoffs apparently.

[Banquo]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

[Oakboy]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

[Puja]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

I will be disappointed with anything other than a win.

Before the Scots get here, outraged at the arrogant English, I will note that I am hoping that we have ambitions to be up there with the best sides in the world and, if that's our aim, we should be expecting a win. It's not to say that we would always win or anything, but the like of SA, France, Ireland, NZ would come into every game against Scotland with the expectation of a win and, with our resources, we need to be setting ourselves the same ambition.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

I will be disappointed with anything other than a win.

Before the Scots get here, outraged at the arrogant English, I will note that I am hoping that we have ambitions to be up there with the best sides in the world and, if that's our aim, we should be expecting a win. It's not to say that we would always win or anything, but the like of SA, France, Ireland, NZ would come into every game against Scotland with the expectation of a win and, with our resources, we need to be setting ourselves the same ambition.

Puja

Ambition, yes. But assessing this Scotland side and this England side who should win? That's what I can't make my mind up about. I am in no doubt that our best available team should beat the best available Scottish team but I have doubts about our development as a unit. I think the Scottish unit might have an edge still - unless our coaching crew have got their act together in the two weeks' preparation they've had.

[Mikey Brown]

I am in no doubt that our best available team should beat the best available Scottish team

Why?

[Banquo]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

I would always say to the players to win. Par is winning for me- I wouldn’t say I ‘expect’ to though.

[Banquo]

I am in no doubt that our best available team should beat the best available Scottish team

Why?

Quite. I don’t understand this as a statement.

[Oakboy]

I am in no doubt that our best available team should beat the best available Scottish team

Why?

I just think man-for-man we are better overall. I also think unit-for-unit we edge it. It's the whole team unit that I doubt.

[FKAS]

Still developing, new coaching team, young side , take the positives etc etc

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

I will be disappointed with anything other than a win.

Before the Scots get here, outraged at the arrogant English, I will note that I am hoping that we have ambitions to be up there with the best sides in the world and, if that's our aim, we should be expecting a win. It's not to say that we would always win or anything, but the like of SA, France, Ireland, NZ would come into every game against Scotland with the expectation of a win and, with our resources, we need to be setting ourselves the same ambition.

Puja

I certainly wouldn't expect anything less than a competitive game and we should be looking to win this one. Scotland have got a good cohesive side but if we want to live up to our world cup billing third best in the world this is the type of game we have to win.

[Banquo]

What would you say is par for Scotland (away) at this stage? Would a narrow defeat having played well with a bit of enterprise cut it? Or, taking everything into account, should we expect a win?

I will be disappointed with anything other than a win.

Before the Scots get here, outraged at the arrogant English, I will note that I am hoping that we have ambitions to be up there with the best sides in the world and, if that's our aim, we should be expecting a win. It's not to say that we would always win or anything, but the like of SA, France, Ireland, NZ would come into every game against Scotland with the expectation of a win and, with our resources, we need to be setting ourselves the same ambition.

Puja

I certainly wouldn't expect anything less than a competitive game and we should be looking to win this one. Scotland have got a good cohesive side but if we want to live up to our world cup billing third best in the world this is the type of game we have to win.

World Cup billing of third best is completely misleading, given two of the top 4 teams in the world went out in the quarter finals.

[FKAS]

I will be disappointed with anything other than a win.

Before the Scots get here, outraged at the arrogant English, I will note that I am hoping that we have ambitions to be up there with the best sides in the world and, if that's our aim, we should be expecting a win. It's not to say that we would always win or anything, but the like of SA, France, Ireland, NZ would come into every game against Scotland with the expectation of a win and, with our resources, we need to be setting ourselves the same ambition.

Puja

I certainly wouldn't expect anything less than a competitive game and we should be looking to win this one. Scotland have got a good cohesive side but if we want to live up to our world cup billing third best in the world this is the type of game we have to win.

World Cup billing of third best is completely misleading, given two of the top 4 teams in the world went out in the quarter finals.

Oh hugely flattering to our actual level of ability.

We do need a win though as we've got no chance Vs Ireland and France will still be very tough.

[p/d]

I certainly wouldn't expect anything less than a competitive game and we should be looking to win this one. Scotland have got a good cohesive side but if we want to live up to our world cup billing third best in the world this is the type of game we have to win.

World Cup billing of third best is completely misleading, given two of the top 4 teams in the world went out in the quarter finals.

Oh hugely flattering to our actual level of ability.

We do need a win though as we've got no chance Vs Ireland and France will still be very tough.

Hoping that's not part of the team talk!

[FKAS]

World Cup billing of third best is completely misleading, given two of the top 4 teams in the world went out in the quarter finals.

Oh hugely flattering to our actual level of ability.

We do need a win though as we've got no chance Vs Ireland and France will still be very tough.

Hoping that's not part of the team talk!

"Lads I'm not gonna lie, we're fucked here. Try and keep your discipline, put some big shots on them and if you think see a gap might as well go for it so at least go down swinging."

Practically Churchillian.

[p/d]

To be honest I think all teams are beatable and we have the players to turn over Ireland. However I’m not as confident as Puja that there are definite signs of our attacking threat anywhere near where it would need to be.

But hey-ho forever the optimist, next week we will be one step closer to the grand slam

[bruce]

The hard stuff starts now. Italy and Wales are the 6Ns weakest teams so from now on we'll be up against far stiffer opposition. Good thing too. We need to find out where we are.

2 or 3 points better than the 2 weakest teams.

[ad_tigger]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

[Oakboy]

Lawrence reportedly available having switched from rehab to full training.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

Felix Jones at least has very recent experience seeing how SA completely shut Russell and the Scottish momentum down in the World Cup. Of course repeating that himself with a different group of players isn’t going to be easy.

[Oakboy]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

Felix Jones at least has very recent experience seeing how SA completely shut Russell and the Scottish momentum down in the World Cup. Of course repeating that himself with a different group of players isn’t going to be easy.

And, if SB is considering picking Tuilagi and/or Lawrence he would have had extra work. It makes me think that Spencer for Mitchell should be the only change in the 23 for this match.

[twitchy]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

Felix Jones at least has very recent experience seeing how SA completely shut Russell and the Scottish momentum down in the World Cup. Of course repeating that himself with a different group of players isn’t going to be easy.

This is the mother of all understatements.

[p/d]

I would hope out of those available it will be the 23 'they feel' best to beat Scotland.

and if they know what's good for 'em it will include CCS, Dan & Freeman..........and Martin

[Puja]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

Felix Jones at least has very recent experience seeing how SA completely shut Russell and the Scottish momentum down in the World Cup. Of course repeating that himself with a different group of players isn’t going to be easy.

And, if SB is considering picking Tuilagi and/or Lawrence he would have had extra work. It makes me think that Spencer for Mitchell should be the only change in the 23 for this match.

Agreed on Lawrence, who hasn't had sufficient time to train. I am torn on Tuilagi, who has at least had the full two weeks, but has no match fitness. Then again, Dingwall's apparently missed some sessions last week to manage aches and pains, so I don't know.

I'd still like IFW ahead of Daly on sheer finishing ability, I think, but aside from that I think I'd agree with you. The defence was a completely different animal against Wales than it was against Italy and, if we don't fuck about with the selection too much, I'm expecting/demanding another step-change in organisation and quality again this week. Send Lawrence down to Welford Road to get some minutes in him and put Manu on the bench.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I’m nervous about this one. Finn Russell versus a very new and hitherto permeable blitz defence could easily go quite badly wrong for us. We’ll need a lot of control and pressure up front to stop that from happening.

Felix Jones at least has very recent experience seeing how SA completely shut Russell and the Scottish momentum down in the World Cup. Of course repeating that himself with a different group of players isn’t going to be easy.

This is the mother of all understatements.

I'm not sure how you'd make it more obvious it's quite a big ask, but seems like the defence is coming together at least.

That tosser Charlie Morgan has clearly seen my comment and gone and written an article about it, as he tends to do, then gone and posted it yesterday.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... x-nations/

Incidentally has the 12ft ladder thing stopped working for anyone else?