come on shire

What a day at Murrayfield. Great win. After last weekend I think we needed a BP win to still have a shot at the title but it was very important to recover from Cardiff or else the critics and relegation merchants would perk up. Greig Laidlaw was like a conductor with his orchestra. In these better times his cool head leadership philosophy is 2nd to none. I'd even consider having Ali at 9 and Greig mentoring him at 10. Greig had his first handful of caps at 10 when Chris Cusiter was at 9 including when we beat Oz on their own patch in 2012. However the forward pack were just as instrumental in getting the win especially Gray and Gilchrist. At the end when the ref turned over the maul to us was what won us the game. Forwards take a bow. Finn was very self indulgent again. He can do something to just about cost you a game but on the other hand he can win you a game when on form. He's like Niko's Scottish cousin. On a final note, it's a very forward and physically orientated France team these days but Teddy Thomas is one of the greatest wingers to ever have visited Murrayfield. Serge Blanco-esque.

The dive was early but he was too obsessed with the try line and forgot about the guy who was just to his right who'd have scored a try. Gatland said in the build-up that he thinks Wales are the fitter team. Not sure if I agree with that. They're being suffocated.

Wales were very unlucky but to me there was no CLEAR downward pressure. We're now into the last 20mins and Wales seem to be huffing and puffing a bit. I think the 2 early tries have given the Welsh a wee bit too much to do.

One of the finest No8's in the world but at f/t today will have lost 97 international matches. We have Keith Earls to thank for that last ditch tackle as Italy were close to a try BP. Just incase Scotland's trip to Rome is a wooden spoon decider. Though Ireland have lost Robbie Henshaw and Tagdh Furlong which may help going to Dublin...

Last night, whilst not disappointing, was certainly frustrating. We coughed the ball up in the Dragons danger zone too often but fair play to the Dragons as they would possibly target this with our injuries and internationalists away. What has to be remembered is the Dragons are limited but they make themselves very stuffy to beat on their own patch where other teams can struggle on the 'challenging' surface. Also, their only 2 Welsh internationalists, Tyler Morgan(?) and Hallam Amos, weren't picked for Twickers as they're just back from injury so played last night. This meant Dragons were at full strength. If I had been offered Glasgow to be unbeaten domestically barring 1 defeat and a draw so far I'd have bitten the proverbial hand off. Next week's a break week in the 6N so hopefully a few more guys are released for the Cheetahs visit on Friday night. As for the internationals Scotland MUST bounce back tomorrow. France traditionally suffer from travel sickness and we need to prove that last Saturday was just a bad day at the office. The French will be bigger and more physical but we're more mobile imo so if we can keep the scrum up we can hopefully get our backs to run them ragged. My main concern is another hiding for the Under 20's though...

Tomorrow night will be a banana skin for Glasgow. For a start the Rodney Parade pitch is hardly beautiful and the Dragons have the experience of Zane Kirchner starting at fly half with Gavin Henson on the bench. Then they have Hallam Amos starting at full back who's always a threat. Our team is very strong and the game is very winnable but we'll need to be careful.

If lunchtime firewalls are down in the office lol then check out Glasgow Warriors website. They've announced the team to play the Dragons. Ratu Tagive makes his first start after long-term injury.

I know the joys of watching Scotland can be time consuming lol but let's not forget there's also club rugby this weekend too. Edinburgh are at home to Leinster on Friday night with a 7:35pm k/o live on BBC Alba. However, as a Warriors fan I'll be watching our game away vs the Dragons on Friday night with a 7:35pm k/o live on BBC 2 Wales.

"Got a problem with Southern Hemisphere teams?? Then call the Scotland rugby team!! These guys will thump the Sourthern Hemisphere problem in a jiffy!" *Please note: This product is useless for anything else. Seriously though, I watched back Glasgow vs Exeter when we finally got it together in Europe. We can take the league by storm, we have our moments in Europe and making improvements imho, but as soon as these same guys stick on a Scotland top especially during the 6N time, we just fall apart. Maybe a witchdoctor is needing called. That was an absolute mess vs Wales. However, we can prove it was just a one-off by beating France at home on Sunday. Well, we MUST beat them...

Absolutely spot on. I think the user "Inanimate Carbon Rod" also has such a device instead of a brain with his comment. I'm a rugby fan first but voted Yes and also vote SNP, whilst I know a few folk who attend Hampden regularly who voted No and despise the SNP. It's about what's more practical re transport links and large numbers of fans getting to and fro safely and quickly. However, there are a few who must infuse football with politics sadly.

I'd imagine the footy fans would like it for the far easier transport links with buses and trams readily available and a short walk to Haymarket. Also, to watch national football in your country's capital will be nice too I'd imagine. However, the far more important aspect to me is that I want the SRU to get some sort of benefit to the football team moving in. The finance generated would surely go towards grassroots rugby and finally getting a much needed 3rd pro team. On that basis, it's a no-brainer to let the football team in.

Wales have no Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton or Jake Ball for Saturday. Toby Faletau being out for them will also be a blow. Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar are both out at half back with Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, George North and Hallam Amos out further back. I think on paper they have the more key injuries. If our front row can be galvanised under pressure and keep the scrum steady and allow our backs to get fast ball then we CAN win in Cardiff for the 1st time since 2002. Nice dry weather would be very handy too. I'd rather have Barclay or Wilson at the back of the scrum. Even Ashe if he was picked. Dents competed with Johnnie Beattie for the No.8 shirt when the wooden spoon was a battle between Italy and ourselves almost exclusively. Great servant but too one dimensional and the previous 3 guys have more to their game imho.

Fair point. May I recommend to steer clear of the 6 Nations starting this weekend then? You see, there's a chap called John Inverdale...

I think Toony goes with what he knows. Strauss was a great servant for the Warriors but never matched the form in a Scotland top imho. Visser is great going forward but his tackling is still the fly in the ointment perhaps? Denton was the starting No.8 in a Scotland team that made the wooden spoon their own in the 6N. Wilson and Barclay much better options. Denton is just a squad player imo.

I think Stade rested lots of players as the French sides traditionally do for that tournament. Edinburgh should hopefully be in the Champions Cup next season but for the first time in a few years they will be playing far stronger sides who will be competitive. It'll be an acid test for them.

I thought it was absolutely dreadful. I watched it for the first time in a few years at a friend's flat as I was there for a Hogmanay gathering. However, I find football humour a bit naff if I'm being honest. I traditionally stay away from Only an Excuse? and Soccer AM.

That's if he stays fit. Absolutely cracking player. He'll worry me should he play against us in the last game in Rome. However he's made of glass it seems.

Also, it's just been announced that Peter Murchie's retired with immediate effect.

The way things are going I'd be asking Bobo Balde, once a tank at the back of the Celtic defence if he'd fancy a game of rugby. Failing that, it could well be that we'll be getting props made on Blue Peter from cardboard and sticky tape to help make up the Scottish front row. As for Glasgow, having Callum Gibbins and Scott Cummings out for that length of time is very disappointing too. Just my luck that I booked the Ulster away game at the start of March then we get this news. I was hoping that Gibbins being on form that night could see us beat Ulster on their own patch. The positive news is that we have the likes of Kiran McDonald, Matt Smith and Matt Fagerson coming through and Adam Ashe back from injury. This gives them the chance to make their mark and make it difficult for the likes of Gibbins and Cummings to just walk back into the team when they've recovered. As for tomorrow it's a massive game. Ulster and Connacht have both lost over in Parma this season and last season they made us work hard to hold on to the lead at the end. A major banana skin so we'll have to be careful.

Delighted with that win and a world away from that 'performance' at Murrayfield last Saturday. I thought our defence was outstanding today and defended Edinburgh's mauls well too. It was a scrappy game and it's a rare day when these 2 sides produce a classic. However Edinburgh will normally raise their game for the derbies and both sets of players will know each other inside out and might also be good mates too. Therefore they will cancel each other out. Especially true in a country with only 2 pro teams. I thought the game was in doubt when the fire alarm went off. The rumour I heard was that it was someone smoking in a disabled toilet in the north stand.

I'd say we have the stronger backs and bench but Edinburgh edge the forward pack. I'm worried that Rennie's been smoking funny things with dropping Finn for Horne. I just don't rate Horne as a 10 and this game is too important. If he wants to tinker for a view to next season then we have 2 European games coming up that are now just glorified friendlies. I also think Tommy's off form atm so I think Niko's deserving of a start now tbh. I trust Rennie but I'm a wee bit surprised and not in a good way tbh...

Fantastic news having Jonny commit so soon after Ali Price did likewise. With Finn going I hope Adam Hastings can become another stalwart in Jonny and Ali's mould. However, we still need to bring in another 10 to compete with Hastings and cover internationals (Hastings will be in the Scotland squad sooner than we think imo) and allow Pete Horne to cover centre where he is strongest. As for Saturday, we scored 4 tries and could have won the game fair and square. What cost us was the 2 quickfire tries at the start of the 2nd half. The first of those was especially bad as we allowed their dangerman Nadolo to build up a head of steam and run the length of the park. We still need to get a bit more savvy in Europe. On the other hand, we go to Edinburgh on Saturday as the only domestically unbeaten sports team in Scotland. Hopefully we can build further.

When we had that push deep in their 22 before Turner was yellow carded that was a crucial spell. If we had breached their try line at that point we'd then have natural momentum and Montpellier would go 'night night'. Imo the Montpellier maul was very powerful and defo heading over. Looking at the replay he was clinging on at the side and pulled it down hoping he'd get away with it. If we had accepted a try we'd have made it a tough angle for the conversion and kept 15 players on the park. You can't be a man down for a total of 20 mins vs decent sides and expecting to win games. Priority is the Edinburgh away game but it'll be important to salvage a bit of pride in France this Saturday.

Well I thought we were absolutely awful on Friday night from the 20 minute mark onwards. It was a daft yellow card for Turner which changed the tide of the game as the French were on the ropes up until that point. Then Jonny Gray got binned for a desperate attempt to keep them off the try line when they had the bit between their teeth. To collapse a maul in front of the ref was stupidity. I thought in the 2nd half the ref was awful. He lost control imo and became very inconsistent. However, when our line out success is less than 50% and we concede 14 penalties then we only have ourselves to blame.

I was at the game vs Cardiff on Friday night. Didn't play exceptionally well by any means but we were clinical when needed to be and got the BP win. Once again another piece of magic from Niko at the end. I thought the red card was harsh. A yellow would have sufficed but haven't watched the game back yet to hear Nigel on the TV. However the extra man did help especially when they got a yellow card towards the end. I thought Danny Wilson made a huge mistake in taking Nick Williams off the park after the red. He's a huge unit at the back of the scrum and as a ball carrier. Loving the team for tomorrow night though. Showing that we're not giving up. Traditionally the French teams aren't the best travellers but we need to make sure it stays that way despite it being a potentially tough game. Only a win will do (preferably with a BP). If we get the win our Euro campaign will still be in intensive care but we won't have to call the priest in just yet. That would end Montpellier's interest and their team selection will probably show that when we go there the week after. Basically, so much riding on tomorrow night. Looking forward to going to cheer the guys on. Mon eh Warriors!