Six Nations 2023 General Discussion

I think the point is that loads went right for Scotland, and in the end we weren't in trouble.

More things could have gone right for Ireland and we'd have been out of sight at half time.

Complacency doesn't really seem an issue for this team.

In the end, no we weren't in trouble.

But I certainly wasn't sure how it would end at halftime and nobody else was either no matter what they say. Another try for Scotland and their tails would have been up whereas we would have to take higher risks to expand the game. We probably were capable of it but then again maybe we weren't.

We handled the challenges supremely as it turns out but as the opriginal point says, we cannot be complacent.

Remember we almost gave away a Grand Slam before by losing concentration and disipline, thankfully Jones fell short.

Statistically, Scotland have scored a lot of points in the third quarter, whilst Ireland have sored few. That's over recent matches. That was the point of worry. however, that never materialised.

Next time genuine and knowledgeable fans are worrying on thread, why don't you come on and give them your boundless confidence and positivity. I noticed you were absent when it when the game was live, as most hindsight merchants are.

You're dead right Francie.

If Scotland had scored more points than us they definitely would have won.

Honest to god folks a few of you need to get a grip on the reality of what was said.

Take her handy.

I agree, something very resolute, confident and above all, smart, seems to be emerging. One game at a time though.

I feel a bit durty saying this as an Irish rugby fan, but I believe we are actually deservedly are world number 1.

I look at our WC side of the draw and for the first time I'm not looking at other teams and feel like they don't want to meet us.

Sunday showed who we are and me being disappointed not getting a bonus point shows how good this team is.

I'm not an optimist.

Well, yes, I do think it's a very poor level of competition. Wales and England are ar their worst level is a very long time. Ital have bridged a gap at least but still very far of being a genuine threat. Scotland have benefited from England and Wales demise. More chance of me pumping jennifer lawernce then scotland pumping SA.

Scotland being poor doesn't take away from were ireland are at. Us and France are the only genuine WC contenders from the 6 nations.

They're average. Poor is probably harsh while saying clearly good is going in the opposite direction. Let's just say they won't be winning a 6 nations any time soon.

If they were in the tri nations they wouldn't be winning that any time soon either. They gulf in class is clear. They won't have any chance at competing for the WC. They've improved but the demise of England and Wale has contributed to their overstated ability.

While I don't disagree with this, there have been times when Wales, English and French fans probably viewed us as 'poor' or at best 'average'. Enjoy this for as long as it lasts.

Good side yes, but they have a long way to go to be considered in the top 3 or 4 in the world. I can see Australia improving a lot from Nov, same with the ABs. Will Scotland be a lot better come the world cup? I don't think so, they played close to their limit during the first half against us and scored once.

We match up better against NZ than France. France always have the ability to play a power game, with which they could smother us. NZ don't have that at the moment. Plus I'd say we'd be slightly in their heads, given the sequence of games over the last few years.

And that is what could happen in the WC. There are a small number of teams, Ireland included, who could score 20+ points in a few minutes. Enough to swing a result in their favour. But an injury at the wrong time, a yellow card or a red card or just a few lucky/unlucky bounces, in the knockout stages, you are gone. I am hoping Ireland comes out on the right side, but based on previous World cups, the dread is that we knock out the serious competition and then lose and leave England, Australia, Argentina or Wales with a one-off knockout game to win it all against a team seriously depleted from the previous games.