Scotland v Wales

[Donny osmond]

Brilliant. Players I've been critical of in the past - Wilson, Visser - are really standing up and proving me wrong, for which apologies to those fine gents. Need to keep building but its all looking good.

They're still doing stupid shit, but making some real contributions too.

One thing that really grabbed me was attacking the rucks yet paying close attention to Lacey. Barclay in particular who can, on a bad day, get on the wrong side of refs in this regard. Really liked him as captain.

A mention for Pyrgos too who I thought was brought on too early but mostly controlled things nicely. Price will develop, he's such a threat with the ball.

Yeah there's lots of mistakes, and a reality to the 2 wins so far that neither ireland nor wales are firing on all cylinders so far in this tournament... even so, 2 well worked and well deserved wins.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

I can't believe we haven't at least spoken in training about Charteris.

He adds nothing, acording to one of your compatriots earlier in this thread

In fairness we are not alone in having lads retract bollocks... look at the fred on the WMB. Bonus point eh lads?

[switchskier]

I can't believe we haven't at least spoken in training about Charteris.

He adds nothing, acording to one of your compatriots earlier in this thread

In fairness we are not alone in having lads retract bollocks... look at the fred on the WMB. Bonus point eh lads?

If I remember he also queried whether he adds anything outside of maul defence. He was brilliant at that but didn't notice him otherwise.

[Mikey Brown]

Totally agree, at the same time we've got serious room to improve yet scoring tries and actually fucking winning sometimes?!

Reducing a few key errors (that we make over and over) and some solidity at 1/3/8 could really make this team tick.

[Donny osmond]

Totally agree, at the same time we've got serious room to improve yet scoring tries and actually fucking winning sometimes?!

Reducing a few key errors (that we make over and over) and some solidity at 1/3/8 could really make this team tick.

Yup. Taking scoring chances and winning home games, with more improvements to make in individual performances, is a brilliant foundation to build on for Toony.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

He adds nothing, acording to one of your compatriots earlier in this thread

In fairness we are not alone in having lads retract bollocks... look at the fred on the WMB. Bonus point eh lads?

If I remember he also queried whether he adds anything outside of maul defence. He was brilliant at that but didn't notice him otherwise.

In fairness, I was using it as a vehicle to be a cheeky cunt and have a childish dig, it wasn't necessary at all really.. just you know... 10 years. 10 long, long years.

[switchskier]

In fairness we are not alone in having lads retract bollocks... look at the fred on the WMB. Bonus point eh lads?

If I remember he also queried whether he adds anything outside of maul defence. He was brilliant at that but didn't notice him otherwise.

In fairness, I was using it as a vehicle to be a cheeky cunt and have a childish dig, it wasn't necessary at all really.. just you know... 10 years. 10 long, long years.

You see mine was just a too subtle way of saying that Chargers is still a bit of a carthorse that doesn't add much outside of maul defence. Also ask is perhaps the 6th best lock available to the lions.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

If I remember he also queried whether he adds anything outside of maul defence. He was brilliant at that but didn't notice him otherwise.

In fairness, I was using it as a vehicle to be a cheeky cunt and have a childish dig, it wasn't necessary at all really.. just you know... 10 years. 10 long, long years.

You see mine was just a too subtle way of saying that Chargers is still a bit of a carthorse that doesn't add much outside of maul defence. Also ask is perhaps the 6th best lock available to the lions.

Haha, subtle dig by half back is too subtle.

Looks like Ireland have this.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Not getting ahead of myself - just looking at the rankings alone. If we win next week and Ireland lose, we could be 4th.... Come RWC time ideally we'd avoid England, NZ & SA. i know SA are in a bad place ATM but they're one of the few teams who can just plain steamroller us.

[ARM]

The team and Finn were flakey as fck for the first 20 mins.

But what a difference in the second half.
We're still a bit underpowered (which is going to be a problem at Twix) but our backs are deadly when Finn switches on billy big baws mode

Love Hamish Watson.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm also confused what we do about Visser's nonsense performance. He has made a career from being absolutely terrified of contact. It works in attack but not so much in defence. Well that was my summary at half time, then he suddenly learned how to contest high balls, popped up to give a beautiful pass, pissed all over North, made a try-saving tackle and then scored that beauty at the end.

I guess I've answered my own question there, but don't think for a second I'll stop hammering the 11. Jones 12. Scott 13. Dunbar suggestion.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The team and Finn were flakey as fck for the first 20 mins.

But what a difference in the second half.
We're still a bit underpowered (which is going to be a problem at Twix) but our backs are deadly when Finn switches on billy big baws mode

Love Hamish Watson.

You'd have to think even Vern has clicked on about Hardie after today. Hopefully we will see one of the 6s or 8s feature in the 23 & possibly Dick on the bench.

Taylor played 15 for sarries and scored a try today... he would offer some power in the backs but I'm not sure who you can drop.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I'm also confused what we do about Visser's nonsense performance. He has made a career from being absolutely terrified of contact. It works in attack but not so much in defence. Well that was my summary at half time, then he suddenly learned how to contest high balls, popped up to give a beautiful pass, pissed all over North, made a try-saving tackle and then scored that beauty at the end.

I guess I've answered my own question there, but don't think for a second I'll stop hammering the 11. Jones 12. Scott 13. Dunbar suggestion.

Maitland is a superior all round player - he'll make his tackles, contest balls, ruck.. he knows where to be. He refuses to back himself though which is why Visser is superior in attack.

I'm honestly not sure what you do. Horrible headache for VC.

[Mikey Brown]

Also really hope Denton makes a miraculous return to form.

[Big D]

Dunbar can offer power if we give him the ball. He must only have carried a handful of times.

[switchskier]

Anyone else think that Jones hasn't done much this 6N yet and he's missed a few tackles. I could definitely be convinced by the idea of shifting him one out and bringing in Scott or Taylor to give a bit more go forward on occasion. Perhaps it's best trying against Italy however, assuming we're not in with a shot at the championship by that point.

[Big D]

The lack of stable scrums really hurt the centres in attack. Neither have done a great deal in attack, Jones has been involved to a couple of tries but we've not seen them spark yet.

Taylor has had one game back, out of position, so I wouldn't be in a hurry to see him back yet despite him being a classy operator.

One thing from today, once again we looked the fitter side. Their key players tired. AWJ was fucked after about 60 and disappeared in open play.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Anyone else think that Jones hasn't done much this 6N yet and he's missed a few tackles. I could definitely be convinced by the idea of shifting him one out and bringing in Scott or Taylor to give a bit more go forward on occasion. Perhaps it's best trying against Italy however, assuming we're not in with a shot at the championship by that point.

In fairness to Jones, he got decent ball about twice today, first from a pop in the first 5 minutes, then from running a good support line off of Hoggs little dink through. The rest of the time it seems we always give first phase attack to forwards.

He did get suckered in defence at least once today, but again, they had to defend like mad men for large parts of that match, I'm willing to forgive it.

Would be harsh to drop him really, then again, stern Vern dropped Watson... So fuck knows what is harsh anymore.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Randomly, because I didn't mention it yet, I thought Wilson was superb today.

[Stones of granite]

I have no substantive contribution to make, other than to say, I'm very happy with that outcome.

[Big D]

15+ win too. While since we did that to a top 8 team.

[Mikey Brown]

15+ win too. While since we did that to a top 8 team.

It's strange, I was so focussed on having a two-score margin (pending a complete breakdown and conceding two tries) that it didn't feel like much of a lead until seeing the score at the final whistle.

[whatisthejava]

Great result , great game. Going to have to watch again as lots I missed at murrayfield.

Thought Wales changed tactics at half time and stopped contesting the ball as much as we suddenly got quick ball for the backs.

[Mikey Brown]

Also on Jones it is hard to judge with the lack of ball, but it's true he's made a couple of mistakes and not come looking for short balls much. He's run some good lines and given a couple of great offloads (particularly for Hogg's try last week) too, so hard to say. I can just picture him being very effective roaming about on the wing though. Also to keep banging on about the Dunbar thing it just seems he's able to build up a head of steam and pick his line a little better at 13.

Bennett not even getting on the pitch (is the Beeb correct with that?) seems strange.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

15+ win too. While since we did that to a top 8 team.

It's strange, I was so focussed on having a two-score margin (pending a complete breakdown and conceding two tries) that it didn't feel like much of a lead until seeing the score at the final whistle.

Ha! You aren't alone in that, not on this board, and to be honest Scotland as well I'd imagine. It's a result of what happened to us down there a few years ago I think, any lead seems really fragile.