honestly united

yes, its all rugby you get banned for, likely to miss Italy at least

decent start by Glasgow

The line out has been an issue for sometime, bascially as all our hookers tend too be converted back row players rather than specialist hookers. Going back to the SA game in the Autumn, we were a just over a down early in the 2nd half, with a 5m lineout, score and we are back in the game. We lose the lineout and SA clear out the 22. We then lose the lineout again and SA clear into our half. We again lose the lineout SA attack and we give away a penalty just outside our 22 which SA score to put them 11/12 points in the lead. 3 missed lineouts and it swings from us closing the scores to needing 2 tries and chasing the game in a few minutes. It has been better so far in the 6 Nations, but still no where near good enough. Missing Cummings and Grey obviously hasn't helped either

I was looking at some stats that covered the first 3 games, and Duhan and Darcy are both near the top of the charts for defenders beaten and meters made, yet they have hardly been on the end of any good backs moves, they both seem to have created chances out of nothing. What I haven't seen commented on anywhere about the France game is that Finn appears to have changed tactics after 20 minutes and Im wondering if hes done the same as the England draw. First 20 (and the majority of England and Wales games) the plan seemed to be to aimlessly kick everything and hope for the best, whereas once France had ran back the 2 tries, we kept the ball in hand and had a go which co-incided with some of our best play of the championship. For me there was a definite shift in style and wondered if anyone else was getting vibes of Finn saying F' it to the game plan and doing his own thing?

Ball in hand running in broken play kinghorn is very good, anything else and he is a liability

if we hadnt beem kicking the ball away for the first 20 we'd be on top by now

yeah hogg was really reaching for that

great try from Darge, if we can keep ball in hand we can win this

poor kicking and dpoor tackling, could be a long day

Starting 15 is as strong as we can manage at the moment given the injuries, apart from maybe Johnson at 12. First and foremost we should be picking at team to play to our strengths which needs players quick to the breakdown so we can generate quick ball for the backs. Good to see Bennett back in the match day squad, but im pretty worried for this one, hopefully if we can keep it tight the French will either panic and throw a punch or try to run it from their own 22 when winning with the clock red again, or something similar

CVC should look at getting the REC on board and the rest of the European leagues and putting in place promotion / relegation play off to the 6 Nations based on a 2 yearly table (ie playing everyone home and away). Extra money to the REC should improve the teams and be less of issue for the teams dropping down, a strong Spain and Germany would help grow rugby worldwide also. I've always said (much like when Romania were ignored in the 80's only for Italy to get in in hte 90's) that if it was Germany or Spain knocking on the door, rather than Georgia there would be promotion and relegation by now. It will be interesting if Russia become the top team if things change and its quickly the Gazprom 6 nations rather than Guiness. Yes there is a chance somewhere down the line that Scotland could be relegated, but it would be a strong chance of bouncing back up, probably better for it after 2 years of winning. And SA isnt great for the fans either (not to mention our chances of winning), you can hardly make a weekend out of Cape Town or Johannesburg

2 things, firstly how come we looked incapable of playing in wet weather? The number of knock ons compared to Wales was shocking. Surely these players should be used to playing and training in the wet most of the time and be able to adapt? SUrely they must be working on a plan b when the weather, or the opposition dont let us play how we want too. Also on the crowd, yes at the Milenium the noise is something else, but its not a hostile enviroment like you would get at some football matches. If you cant get yourself up for that sort of atmosphere then when will you

2nd part of the first half we have regressed / Wales have come into the game more. I would say its down to the pace as we are not getting the numbers to the breakdown and Wales are winning turnovers or penalties. I know hindsight is a wonderfull thing, but would we have been better starting with Sutherland and Fagerson at prop rather than the slower Nel and SChooeman? And Darge rather than Skinner? We are not controlling the breakdown like we did against England, which has not given platform to work with

Just getting round to ree-watching the game, 20 minutes in we are the better team at 11-6, but there are a few concerns. Russells aim with the kicks to touch is off, and we do seem slower about the park. Although Skinner is playing well (maybe should be in 2nd row inplace of Gilchrist, we are missing the extra pace in the back row (Graham getting turned over in the first minute or so an example). Fagerson is doing well, but Tuiplotu has hardly touched the ball so far.

Not that bad, he is responsible for my most embarrassing rugby moment. I'll not post my self with hom

The guy with the white hair is Gavin Hastings, try was brilliant, but the rest isn't great so far

Yes through a club (my old club) they get so many each year for each away game. As we have been going to Cardiff for a few years they never have an issue getting them. I know you can get tickets on the wru website, or they did have them in previous years. Italy don't sell out so never an issue getting tickets, and flights and tickets are cheaper than train and tickets for Cardiff!!

Really excited for the game tomorrow now I'm on the train down, hoping for a better outcome than my last trip to Cardiff

I think I would rather have gone with Cummings on the bench over 1 of Darge and Bradbury, but its a tough call though. Im not against Skinner at 6, but we fronted up well against England with Ritchie and Watson, so I think we could have copied with Darge and Watson against Wales, would have been more dynamic / mobile

Im not a fan of starting your sub 2nd row in the back row, and from what I have seen Tuipoltu has played all his rugby for Glasgow at outside centre so would have preferred Johnson starting, otherwise fairly pleased with that

The England performance was very much a Scotland of a few years ago - lots of territory and possession, running some good moves without ever really threatening to score, whereas Scotland were clinical and took all the chances that came our way. The difference for Scotland was that we were more patient than we have been, and there was an improvement in discipline, but still room for improvement. England's problem seemed to be that they didnt have anyone in midfield that looked capable of either breaking the line or creating space for others

Thought this was pretty accurate,

Wales have been woeful, hopefully the same Welsh team turn up next week. However for all Irelands dominance they are only 10 points in the lead.

Big yes on Zdob zi Zdub being back for Moldova!

Whoever the BBC get to replace him will not be nearly as good, hopefully its not one to the Irish lot.