Match preview and thread: IRE v SCO (Sat 10th Mar 14:15) TV3, ITV & FR2.

prawnsambo

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Rob Kearney|15|Stuart Hogg
Keith Earls|14|Blair Kinghorn
Garry Ringrose|13|Huw Jones
Bundee Aki|12|Peter Horne
Jacob Stockdale|11|Sean Maitland
Jonathan Sexton|10|Finn Russell
Conor Murray|9|Greig Laidlaw
Cian Healy|1|Gordon Reid
Rory Best|2|Stuart McInally
Tadhg Furlong|3|Simon Berghan
James Ryan|4|Grant Gilchrist
Devin Toner|5|Jonny Gray
Peter O'Mahony|6|John Barclay
Dan Leavy|7|Hamish Watson
CJ Stander|8|Ryan Wilson
{colsp=3}Replacements||
Sean Cronin|16|Fraser Brown
Jack McGrath|17|Jamie Bhatti
Andrew Porter|18|Willem P Nel
Iain Henderson|19|Tim Swinson
Jordi Murphy|20|David Denton
Kieran Marmion|21|Ali Price
Joey Carbery|22|Nick Grigg
Jordan Larmour|23|Lee Jones

Referee: Wayne Barnes

Day four. After Emma wreaked havoc on our streets and road networks and kept us shivering in our houses huddled around the last remaining candle, we emerge blinking into the watery sunlight to contemplate the next step on the long and winding road to the culmination of the six nations on St. Patrick's day. Before we face perfidious Albion in their fortress in Twickenham there is the small matter of Gregor Townsend's rampaging Scots who, having driven the withered red rose, bloody and bowed back across the border, venture out from their lair to see if they can progress from stout defender to conquering champion. Will Huw Jones cross the Irish whitewash? Will Finn Russell unlock our defence with pin-point passes?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S39kGkOQIzo

Hopefully not. This Irish team are no strangers to the wit and width of Scotland's attack. In the shape of Glasgow, Leinster spanked them in the Champions Cup and Munster sent them home without even a losing bonus point to soften the blow. But the league isn't the Six Nations and the Champions Cup is forgotten for now. This is the business of the season and there's something in this game for everyone. The Scots still have skin in the game if other results favour them, so there are no easy games in the 6N.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n44qdkMWCLI

The question is whether Ireland have the firepower and the wit where England were witless and powerless, to stop the Scots in their tracks. Will we sacrifice the ruck to the defensive gods as England did? Not bloody likely. With Peter O'Mahony, Dan Leavy and CJ Stander in the back row, Ireland have the balance and grunt to take on the Scots at their own game and starve them of possession. With the return of Garry Ringrose to his favoured position, perhaps we may see something like this on Saturday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpUQbFi6I90

The rise of James Ryan continues with another start in the six nations and with Big Dev at his side, hopefuly the Irish lineout will have a better day at the office than it did this time last year. Jonny Sexton and Keith Earls are set to start despite malicious and fear-mongering rumours spread by partyjungle and his friend's friend. Nordi Murphy and Jordan Larmour come onto the bench in place of Jack Conan and Fergus McFadden who will be made to wacth from the naughty step. Tadhg Furlong returns to his rightful spot after recovering from a tight hamstring while Iain Henderson waits impatiently on the bench. Other than that, it's much the same team that saw off Wales, albeit shakily at the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWUwV3IPlRc

So what do we want? More of the above if Scotland try those long bridge passes in the wrong place at the wrong time, trying to emulate their success against England. Jacob Stockdale would like nothing better than to hit double figures courtesy of gift-wrapped opportunities as Scotland struggle against a suffocating defence. So pressure them at the rucks, push them back in attack and be ready to sweep up aything that gets kicked over or passed wide to get around us. And no stupid mistakes please. Oh, and did I mention that I wanted to see more of this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaLXDzqdr1M

There are no easy games in the six nations, but there are very few away wins either. Ireland by a couple of scores would extend my lifespan by a couple more minutes and a bonus point would be vey nice thank you.

errlloyd

Some say that Scott Spedding still goes from shop to shop in Lyon trying to buy that dummy.

prawnsambo

Interesting to see Jared Payne and Dwayne Peel at squad training.

Sangre

Not going to put your reputation on the line with a firm prediction? You'd make a great journalist.

molloyjh

I think it says a lot about this Irish team that it is missing guys like Scannell, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, Jackson, Henshaw and Farrell and yet still the weakest part of the 23 is Joey Carbery, a kid with a big future who was already part of the team to beat NZ.

Target Russell with any combination of POM, Leavy, Stander, Sexton and Aki and we should be able to shut down their back line. Do that and it'll be up to their pack. And our pack is better.

prawnsambo

molloyjh wrote: »

I think it says a lot about this Irish team that it is missing guys like Scannell, Ruddock, SOB, VDF, Jackson, Henshaw and Farrell and yet still the weakest part of the 23 is Joey Carbery, a kid with a big future who was already part of the team to beat NZ.

Target Russell with any combination of POM, Leavy, Stander, Sexton and Aki and we should be able to shut down their back line. Do that and it'll be up to their pack. And our pack is better.

Vital to slow their ball down though. Look at those clips above, especially the Maitland try and see how disjointed the English defence was. It became a rabble very quickly and that's all down to how quick the Scots were able to recycle.

fitz

Nice to see the return of a good table in a preview. Solid work.

molloyjh

prawnsambo wrote: »

Vital to slow their ball down though. Look at those clips above, especially the Maitland try and see how disjointed the English defence was. It became a rabble very quickly and that's all down to how quick the Scots were able to recycle.

Yeah, we have the forwards to be able to do that and still spare a back row to torment Russell I think. Healy, Best, Furlong, Ryan and 2 of our 3 back rows should be able to make enough of a mess of the breakdowns. Imagine them having to battle Best, POM and Stander at a breakdown while Russell has Leavy and Aki coming at him when he does get the ball?

joseywhales

Who gets the first intercept ringrose or Stockdale?

prawnsambo

joseywhales wrote: »

Who gets the first intercept ringrose or Stockdale?

By rights it should be Ringrose, being closer to the source. But Stockdale would be in with a chance if they try to get around us with bridge passes. Although, then again, they've probably been shown clips of that last try every day for the last week or so as a bedtime horror story.

Neil3030

joseywhales wrote: »

Who gets the first intercept ringrose or Stockdale?

Ringer, all day.

[Deleted User]

You heard it here first.

Ireland 36 | 11 Scotland

aloooof

prawnsambo wrote: »

By rights it should be Ringrose, being closer to the source. But Stockdale would be in with a chance if they try to get around us with bridge passes. Although, then again, they've probably been shown clips of that last try every day for the last week or so as a bedtime horror story.

I think I've heard the phrase "bridge passes" more in the last 2 weeks than in the previous 222.

prawnsambo

Venjur wrote: »

You heard it here first.

Ireland 36 | 11 Scotland

Gregor Townsend says he's not afraid of losing, but he's terrified of being hockeyed. Would that count as a hockeying?

[Deleted User]

prawnsambo wrote: »

Gregor Townsend says he's not afraid of losing, but he's terrified of being hockeyed. Would that count as a hockeying?

This will be him recovering just after we score our fourth try on 36 minutes:

paulie21

Well my confidence has taken a dent when I seen Barnes was referee

Teferi

A note on Barnes: A lot of Scots on Scottish Rugby Twitter seem to reckon he'll benefit us more than them. If both sides are unhappy, it's probably even enough.

sydthebeat

paulie21 wrote: »

Well my confidence has taken a dent when I seen Barnes was referee

Barnes is grand, he wouldnt have allowed half that messing on the ground that Nigel did against England.

that suits us as we play a game heavily based upon ruck security

prawnsambo

Yeah, I wouldn't be too concerned about Barnes. Scotland are probably worried because they won't get any leeway for messing in rucks and although we like to try and get turnovers there, we usually pick our moments and don't go after everything regardless.

Edit: Snap with sydthebeat.

bilston

paulie21 wrote: »

Well my confidence has taken a dent when I seen Barnes was referee

Barnes is a good referee. He will police the breakdown properly.

One thing that I believe annoys people about Barnes is that he isn't afraid to give a big penalty at a decisive moment, unlike Owens who will do everything to avoid it. The problem with that is that if you're the side that concedes that penalty you're likely to be pissed.

Oh and there's also they way he walks.

Interested Observer

Teferi wrote: »

A note on Barnes: A lot of Scots on Scottish Rugby Twitter seem to reckon he'll benefit us more than them. If both sides are unhappy, it's probably even enough.

I'm not really a fan of his at all but I think those Scottish fans our right. He's a fussy ref and we're a very structured team. He won't let them away with half of what they were away with against England at the rucks.

irishbucsfan

CORRUPT Wayne Barnes will be out for revenge for his loser countrymen!!! Sad!

PTH2009

amazing write up and really looking forward to the game. Sat 2.15 can't come quick enough. Sadly working Sat night til 11pm but plan to head straight for drink after if we are victorious and it would be even sweeter if England lost or didn't get the BP and we won with it

bilston

I'm way too confident about this game.

How many Scots would get into our side.

None of their tight 5, you might squeeze Barclay into our back row.

Neither of their backs would make our team.

You'd take Huw Jones and you'd take Hogg.

What about Maitland v Stockdale? Not sure. If you're Scottish you'll probably say Maitland. But I'm Irish so I would take Stockdale.

So basically 3/4 Scots would get into a composite XV. Not that that means a lot.

Dubinusa

Great opening Mr Sambo. I'm still nervous about this game. Glad to see Toner, he is unbelievable driving the maul. That could be our big advantage.

[Deleted User]

bilston wrote: »

I'm way too confident about this game.

How many Scots would get into our side.

None of their tight 5, you might squeeze Barclay into our back row.

Neither of their backs would make our team.

You'd take Huw Jones and you'd take Hogg.

What about Maitland v Stockdale? Not sure. If you're Scottish you'll probably say Maitland. But I'm Irish so I would take Stockdale.

So basically 3/4 Scots would get into a composite XV. Not that that means a lot.

Jonny Grey is very good. Could take him over Toner or Ryan.

Could easily take Huw Jones over Bundee or Ringrose

Blair Kinghorn has the potential to be world class. Could take him over Stockdale.

[Deleted User]

I would like discuss this though from the other thread

Cowboy848 wrote:

Nothing to do with his ridiculous gloating whilst in the Irish jersey. He should be shot for some of the faces he pulled whilst representing our country.

What faces was Kearney pulling exactly? You can't compare to the best of the best, NZ, when they have the likes of Israel Dagg pulling the best faces in world rugby. Maybe when can compete when James Lowe qualifies.

prawnsambo

partyjungle wrote: »

I would like discuss this though from the other thread

What faces was Kearney pulling exactly? You can't compare to the best of the best, NZ, when they have the likes of Israel Dagg pulling the best faces in world rugby. Maybe when can compete when James Lowe qualifies.

I'm intrigued by the need to shoot him for making faces. Is that a thing now?

joseywhales

partyjungle wrote: »

bilston wrote: »

I'm way too confident about this game.

How many Scots would get into our side.

None of their tight 5, you might squeeze Barclay into our back row.

Neither of their backs would make our team.

You'd take Huw Jones and you'd take Hogg.

What about Maitland v Stockdale? Not sure. If you're Scottish you'll probably say Maitland. But I'm Irish so I would take Stockdale.

So basically 3/4 Scots would get into a composite XV. Not that that means a lot.

 
Jonny Grey is very good. Could take him over Toner or Ryan.

Could easily take Huw Jones over Bundee or Ringrose

Blair Kinghorn has the potential to be world class. Could take him over Stockdale.

I'd give you one, 
Two is not true at all, Bundee and Ringrose are up there with the best in the world talent wise.
Three is not enough rugby to decide.

I think we will struggle if we are not ahead by half time, dont like us chasing games.

salmocab

prawnsambo wrote: »

I'm intrigued by the need to shoot him for making faces. Is that a thing now?

Well it’s bad form to practice for the world gurning championships during a match on company time, very unprofessional.

The Black Stags

partyjungle wrote: »

I would like discuss this though from the other thread

Cowboy848 wrote:

Nothing to do with his ridiculous gloating whilst in the Irish jersey.  He should be shot for some of the faces he pulled whilst representing  our country.

What faces was Kearney pulling exactly? You can't compare to the best of the best, NZ, when they have the likes of Israel Dagg pulling the best faces in world rugby. Maybe  when can compete when James Lowe qualifies.

https://imgur.com/a/8SQd3