Scotland vs Ireland, 4th Feb 2017, Murrayfield, 2:25, RTÉ 2

Rightwing · 03-02-2017 02:03PM

Peregrine wrote: »

I don't think we'll see that many box kicks. They'd need to be very accurate and the kick chase needs to be effective or it's a recipe for disaster.

I don't think Scots are up to much, a defeat in region of 1-10 points would be a moral victory for them. Far more important for us to get a win, not to fall at the first GS hurdle.

Buer · 03-02-2017 02:14PM

wittycynic wrote: »

That's not to say I think there are much better options out there than the ones we've picked, but we are a far cry from the attacking potency of the backline we had in 2009. ROG, Dorce, BOD, Fitzgerald, Bowe, and Kearney in his prime. That was a unit that could open teams up. I just think we should be a little more modest about our attacking ability from 10 outwards because it is not world beating by any stretch of the imagination. Our present strength lies in our pack.

Whatever about the talent in the backline in 2009, they most certainly did not open teams up. 12 tries, 5 of which came against Italy including two intercept tries.

We lived off the pack and a wonderful set piece. They won us that title.

sweetthing · 03-02-2017 02:16PM

PTH2009 wrote: »

Play like we did in Chicago and Dublin last november and we will win 2morrow but It's not going to be easy, Scotland will give it there all

Wins for England and Wales dis weekend too

We won't Play as well as we did against The all Blacks, that Was a once-in-a-generation Styles performance,but we won't need to. Scotland are of course several rungs below The NZ. Our beast of a pack should be able to control The game. Scotland have a few very dangerous Runners, but if we Boss them around upfront we should win handily enough

Clegg · 03-02-2017 02:19PM

wittycynic wrote: »

When I use the term "top class operator" I use it to mean someone who is arguably the best in their position in the world. I don't think we coud reasonably say that Jackson, Henshaw, Ringrose, Zebo, Earls, or Kearney would be realistically considered amongst the very best in the world in their positions. Of those, Zebo probably comes the closest, but I neverthless wouldn't consider him to be one of the top three or four wingers in the world, even if he is excellent.

That's not to say I think there are much better options out there than the ones we've picked, but we are a far cry from the attacking potency of the backline we had in 2009. ROG, Dorce, BOD, Fitzgerald, Bowe, and Kearney in his prime. That was a unit that could open teams up. I just think we should be a little more modest about our attacking ability from 10 outwards because it is not world beating by any stretch of the imagination. Our present strength lies in our pack.

I think it's very reasonable to say Henshaw is one of the best 12's in world rugby. His performances over the last 18 months have been excellent.

Stheno · 03-02-2017 02:19PM

Can someone remind me what we need to get bonus points in the 6N?

TIA

Pudsy33 · 03-02-2017 02:27PM

Stheno wrote: »

Can someone remind me what we need to get bonus points in the 6N?

TIA

4 tries or lose by less than 7 points.

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 02:50PM

Pudsy33 wrote: »

4 tries or lose by less than 7 points.

Is it not losing by seven points or less? As in losing by seven points gets you a losing bonus point.

awec · 03-02-2017 03:00PM

That's correct.

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 03:09PM

Clegg wrote: »

I think it's very reasonable to say Henshaw is one of the best 12's in world rugby. His performances over the last 18 months have been excellent.

I know it's not a world class endorsement, but Henshaw's been on pretty much every potential Lions team I've seen.

awec · 03-02-2017 03:10PM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

I know it's not a world class endorsement, but Henshaw's been on pretty much every potential Lions team I've seen.

Henshaw is probably the most likely of our outside backs to go on the tour. I think he's close to being a certainty whereas the rest are mere hopefuls.

Utopia Parkway · 03-02-2017 03:14PM

Kenny Logan is confident anyway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/03/scotland-have-best-team-since-1999-will-beat-ireland-saturday/

kuang1 · 03-02-2017 03:22PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Kenny Logan is confident anyway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/03/scotland-have-best-team-since-1999-will-beat-ireland-saturday/

There'll be an article like this every year. As sure as PTH2009 gets worried by Italy.

Kenny Logan is betraying a little ignorance of the Irish set up though if he considers POM a loss to our current set up as worthy of a headline.
Headline should read "One of Ireland's possible number 20s out for Scottish game".

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 03:23PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Kenny Logan is confident anyway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/03/scotland-have-best-team-since-1999-will-beat-ireland-saturday/

#Ireland #UnderDogs

dub_skav · 03-02-2017 03:24PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Kenny Logan is confident anyway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2017/02/03/scotland-have-best-team-since-1999-will-beat-ireland-saturday/

I think this is a more fitting input from Logan.

Rightwing · 03-02-2017 03:34PM

kuang1 wrote: »

There'll be an article like this every year. As sure as PTH2009 gets worried by Italy.

Kenny Logan is betraying a little ignorance of the Irish set up though if he considers POM a loss to our current set up as worthy of a headline.
Headline should read "One of Ireland's possible number 20s out for Scottish game".

I can see where he is coming from, as Munster smashed Glasgow (they provide the bulk of Scottish players) in Europe for 9 points, with Glasgow somehow getting a lucky losing bonus point. But our pack still looks like it has the winning of this game.

pickarooney · 03-02-2017 03:37PM

kuang1 wrote: »

There'll be an article like this every year. As sure as PTH2009 gets worried by Italy.

Kenny Logan is betraying a little ignorance of the Irish set up though if he considers POM a loss to our current set up as worthy of a headline.
Headline should read "One of Ireland's possible number 20s out for Scottish game".

He's being a little footloose with the truth.

swiwi_ · 03-02-2017 03:43PM

Pudsy33 wrote: »

4 tries or lose by less than 7 points.

Or to be pedantic you can also score 4 tries and lose by 7 points or less. Then 2 BP if I'm not mistaken.

Teferi · 03-02-2017 04:18PM

Every year for the past 10+ years from pundits - "big year for Scotland, dark horses etc.". Eventually they'll be right because they say the same thing every year.

wittycynic · 03-02-2017 05:13PM

Teferi wrote: »

Every year for the past 10+ years from pundits - "big year for Scotland, dark horses etc.". Eventually they'll be right because they say the same thing every year.

Well I doubt this will be their big year, as they've to go to England and France, places where they've managed just two and four wins respectively in the last 50 years.

Peregrine · 03-02-2017 05:16PM

Every year is Scotland's year.

Until it's not.

ScrubsfanChris · 03-02-2017 05:22PM

Teferi wrote: »

Every year for the past 10+ years from pundits - "big year for Scotland, dark horses etc.". Eventually they'll be right because they say the same thing every year.

"Expect/We hope to see a big improvement from the Italians"

Zzippy · 03-02-2017 05:36PM

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

"Expect/We hope to see a big improvement from the Italians"

BINGO!

*Or drink...

Former Former · 03-02-2017 05:42PM

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

"Expect/We hope to see a big improvement from the Italians"

"But which French team will turn up?"

03-02-2017 05:47PM

It's great that the feeling surrounding the Ireland team has changed. Even when we lose, I feel like there is a lot of positives. Rather than getting my hopes up every year only for them to be completely dashed.

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 06:18PM

Deleted User wrote: »

It's great that the feeling surrounding the Ireland team has changed. Even when we lose, I feel like there is a lot of positives. Rather than getting my hopes up every year only for them to be completely dashed.

Yeah, the consistency is starting to look very... eh... consistent

But seriously, it's that level of consistency no matter who's on the pitch. There may still be occasions when the standards slip a little, but you get a feeling that there's a base level that we don't slip below and that base level seems to improve match by match.

Or something, something, Rob Kearney

Clegg · 03-02-2017 06:21PM

I'm waiting for Jack Conan to leapfrog POM.

Then we'll have a proper moan.

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 06:40PM

Clegg wrote: »

I'm waiting for Jack Conan to leapfrog POM.

Then we'll have a proper moan.

Well I hope he gets a run at some stage. He's certainly had an excellent season so far and a squad call up would be richly deserved. Hard to advocate dropping POM though.

Buer · 03-02-2017 06:42PM

Luke Marshall and Donnacha Ryan have travelled as the injury cover.

CMOTDibbler · 03-02-2017 06:48PM

Buer wrote: »

Luke Marshall and Donnacha Ryan have travelled as the injury cover.

Does that mean there's a concern about certain positions carrying injuries I wonder?

03-02-2017 06:52PM

CMOTDibbler wrote: »

Does that mean there's a concern about certain positions carrying injuries I wonder?

Possibly. Also puts to bed any notion that Ryan is ahead of Henderson.

Scotland vs Ireland, 4th Feb 2017, Murrayfield, 2:25, RTÉ 2

Comments