Scotland v Italy

Losty Dublin

A fear I'd have for Scotland is that they have often struggled to kill off games. Thy've become a lot more adept at keeping the score in their favour in the last 18 months but they still aren't at that stage just yet where you know that they'll hold you down for the 80.

But and this is a big BUT, they are playing some really poor football and they are making needless errors. The Italians have the scrums and they can put pressure on. The first 15 minutes of the second half will decide this game and not the last 15.

Utah_Saint

Should that be a yellow

Faugheen

That’s a blatant yellow card.

razorblunt

Patterson trying to argue it’s not even a penalty.

Bridge93

This is a properly embarrassing refereeing display

munsterlegend

Italy are as bad as ever. Can hardly pass the ball to each other.

razorblunt

Not even worth a check?

Incredible that the linesman can see that but not the bad lineouts

Utah_Saint

razorblunt wrote: »

Patterson trying to argue it’s not even a penalty.

Ref not protecting players. End up with whiplash. Cheap shot from behind

Burkie1203

That's a knock on

Stheno

How is that a try?

ScrubsfanChris

ALL Scotland have to do is kick the ball away and wait for Italy to do something stupid to hand it back.

munsterlegend

Looked a bit dodgy that try alright. Didn’t look like he had much downward pressure control. Need a zoom in closer look.

FrancieBrady

Cast iron knock on to me.

razorblunt

Hayward has gone well.

Bridge93

Such a stupid attempted offload. Hold onto it for **** sake

munsterlegend

No knock on there. That ref is a clown sometime alright.

razorblunt

That’s not a knock on.

Stheno

That ball went backwards.

Is this ref just not at the races?

corny

Never seen such a one sided performance from a ref. He seems eager to side with Scotland.

Bridge93

Ref is on the take. A total disgrace

munsterlegend

This ref makes calls when not even sure. Must have gone to Wayne Barnes English school of referees.

Mushy

As poor as Italy have been, they can feel very aggrieved here

Losty Dublin

Luke Pearce is trying to create a little drama here.

KaneToad

Ref trying to win the MOTM. He should have a go at being anonymous, the game isn't about him...

Utah_Saint

Forward offload

munsterlegend

Italy are atrocious to be fair.

ScrubsfanChris

Another forward pass

Southdubin6

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Another forward pass

That wasnt forward.

vienne86

And now the floodgates could open. Italy are awful.

Gidea

that little pop looked forward

razorblunt

Mcinally off his feet at the main ruck, italy pinged for that earlier.
They just can’t catch a break.

Subpopulus

Kinghorn could be this years Stockdale.

razorblunt

I think italy should really stop persisting with Allen now. An absolutely nothing player.

Gidea

Definitely forward on the replay

ScrubsfanChris

Southdubin6 wrote: »

That wasnt forward.

Looked like it to me (and others) another that should have been checked at the very least

munsterlegend

This ref and the Italian scrum is a joke at this stage.

Harry Palmr

Has Italy developed at all since they joined the six nations?

Losty Dublin

Four converted tries ahead; that's effectively the lead now. Scotland haven't really been tested yet and at this extent its unlike to happen. Time to rest up the main players.

Mad_maxx

Is that darragh maloneys South Dublin cousin commentating for TV 3?

Southdubin6

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Looked like it to me (and others) another that should have been checked at the very least

I think it was marginally ok. Should of went to the TMO but felt it was good.

Clegg

The Italian underage sides are getting better and Benneton are 2nd in their Pro 14 pool. It's not like Italian rugby is suffering at every level. But no matter what they do the test side seems incapable of improving. Yes they're missing Polledri and Minnozi, two excellent players but they won't close that gap alone. All over the park the Italians are deficient. They show nothing in attack, once Scotland go beyond a few phases Italy's defensive structure goes to pot.

ScrubsfanChris

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Has Italy developed at all since they joined the six nations?

They have, unfortunately all the other teams have improved at the same rate or better

Trampas

Must be hard when you’re playing the ref also

munsterlegend

Not sure what O Gara was thinking at half time saying Scotland would struggle to get the bonus point.

prawnsambo

Trampas wrote: »

Must be hard when you’re playing the ref also

The ref isn't opening gaps in the defense and waving Scottish players through them.

nice_guy80

Refereeing is diabolical
Scottish player clearly didn't release there before clamping on the ball

razorblunt

Clegg wrote: »

The Italian underage sides are getting better and Benneton are 2nd in their Pro 14 pool. It's not like Italian rugby is suffering at every level. But no matter what they do the test side seems incapable of improving. Yes they're missing Polledri and Minnozi, two excellent players but they won't close that gap alone. All over the park the Italians are deficient. They show nothing in attack, once Scotland go beyond a few phases Italy's defensive structure goes to pot.

I’ve seen nothing from the centers to suggest they’re better than Campagnaro

lertsnim

Who's the Virgin Media main commentator for this game?

munsterlegend

Yes the ref has been poor. But in terms of lines of running and handling skills there is only one team out there.

razorblunt

prawnsambo wrote: »

The ref isn't opening gaps in the defense and waving Scottish players through them.

No but it’s not a level playing field and the pressure isn’t ever released on italy so inevitably they’ll make more mistakes.

Kerr and Toolis wrecked that maul.
Ritchie kills the ball straight after. Either should have been yellow.


Ritchie hasn’t clear released all half. 2 in 2 minutes now