Rugby Union

[peasy23]

I still can't get my head round the notion that Lawrence's first touch was nearly an hour into the game!  He was at 12 and brought in to be a wrecking ball.  How can a 12 not get their hands on the ball for nearly an hour.
An England 12 is starved of ball for nearly an hour at TWICKENHAM!  Just let that stat sink in!
Also, about the points, Scotland kept England to their lowest points tally (at Twickenham) for 56 years!  
I'm going to blub again!
Yours
aDONis

Quite easy for him not to get a touch when his 9 and 10 continually kick possession away.

Saw a few comments about the Sarries players being rusty, certainly didn't seem to affect Maitland, thought he was superb on Saturday.

[GAD]

22 minutes ago, peasy23 said:

Quite easy for him not to get a touch when his 9 and 10 continually kick possession away.

Saw a few comments about the Sarries players being rusty, certainly didn't seem to affect Maitland, thought he was superb on Saturday.

Yeah, that whole "Saracens players were rusty" excuse pissed me off a bit. As you said Maitland didn't look rusty, and neither did Itoje. Vunipola didn't look rusty either, he looked overweight and unfit, which is a different thing, and Farrell goes to pieces everytime he faces Russell in a test.

Also, they've been in camp with Jones for weeks. There are loads of really good players who have been playing in the Premiership that England could have picked, especially at number 8. Jones chose to go with these guys, he wasn't forced.

[Left Back]

1 hour ago, GAD said:

Assuming he's not injured, then it looks like it. He's not even going to make the bench for Saturday so might as well play for Edinburgh. Even if Hogg was injured I'd have Maitland ahead of him for fullback every time.

When we caned Australia a few years back Maitland stepped into full back when Hoggy got injured during the warm up.  Played a blinder.  Far better player than Kinghorn but must be getting on a bit now so I wouldn’t be ditching Kinghorn completely.

[GAD]

29 minutes ago, Left Back said:

When we caned Australia a few years back Maitland stepped into full back when Hoggy got injured during the warm up.  Played a blinder.  Far better player than Kinghorn but must be getting on a bit now so I wouldn’t be ditching Kinghorn completely.

Yeah, I was at that game and Maitland was superb. As usual I arrived bang on time for kick off, and spend the first five minutes thinking McGuigan was Hogg and wondering why he and Maitland had switched position.

[Left Back]

6 minutes ago, GAD said:

Yeah, I was at that game and Maitland was superb. As usual I arrived bang on time for kick off, and spend the first five minutes thinking McGuigan was Hogg and wondering why he and Maitland had switched position.

Even McGuigan played well that day.  Think he might have got a couple of tries.  One of my favourite days at Murrayfield.  We were underneath the scoreboard and I have a great selfie of me and my wife with the full-time score just above us.

[Genuine Hibs Fan]

A few points having watched the game back with a cooler head:

• There's a sliding doors moment where Price could have been away for tackling Itoje without the ball prior to the Hill penalty for sealing off right at the beginning
• The Russell yellow doesn't happen if Hogg doesn't go for a counter that was never on, and Harris' resultant kick shouldn't have been brought back
• That aside I was far too harsh on Hogg in the first half. He was excellent in almost everything he did. Most of his counters he was at least reaching the line and making a nuisance/setting for an attack, and he kicked wonderfully
• An England player should have been binned when Russell came back on. Had already given away a string of owns and then three separate infringements in the 22, a couple of which prevented decent chances
• Maitland was better than I thought, maybe his best all round game for Scotland and not a game for wingers getting a lot of ball
• We were playing a 1331 pod formation (mixing it up with just anyone and everyone for closer carries) for a fair bit of the game and having identified that I believe I am now officially a rugby analyst.
• There was a lot of consultation among the leadership group at decision points: with Price, Russell, Gray and Ritchie all chatting with Hogg.

[GAD]

19 minutes ago, Left Back said:

Even McGuigan played well that day.  Think he might have got a couple of tries.  One of my favourite days at Murrayfield.  We were underneath the scoreboard and I have a great selfie of me and my wife with the full-time score just above us.

Yeah, it was a great day. There were 8 of us there including my dad and my mates dad because we always do a big day out for one of the Autumn games, since the 6 nation's are now too difficult to get tickets for. Tynecastle arms before and after because the old boys like it there. Scotland were playing football that night as well and also won if I remember correctly. A rare win under McLeish.

Edited February 8, 2021 by GAD

[Left Back]

23 minutes ago, Genuine Hibs Fan said:

A few points having watched the game back with a cooler head:

• There's a sliding doors moment where Price could have been away for tackling Itoje without the ball prior to the Hill penalty for sealing off right at the beginning
• The Russell yellow doesn't happen if Hogg doesn't go for a counter that was never on, and Harris' resultant kick shouldn't have been brought back
• That aside I was far too harsh on Hogg in the first half. He was excellent in almost everything he did. Most of his counters he was at least reaching the line and making a nuisance/setting for an attack, and he kicked wonderfully
• An England player should have been binned when Russell came back on. Had already given away a string of owns and then three separate infringements in the 22, a couple of which prevented decent chances
• Maitland was better than I thought, maybe his best all round game for Scotland and not a game for wingers getting a lot of ball
• We were playing a 1331 pod formation (mixing it up with just anyone and everyone for closer carries) for a fair bit of the game and having identified that I believe I am now officially a rugby analyst.
• There was a lot of consultation among the leadership group at decision points: with Price, Russell, Gray and Ritchie all chatting with Hogg.

I’ve watched it back and still can’t figure out why Price was under such pressure with the box kicks early doors.  The setup looks fine, decent length in the ruck but Itoje picked off a couple.  Could just be one of those things but I’d hope Toony is figuring out why it happened.

[Mark Connolly]

5 minutes ago, Left Back said:

I’ve watched it back and still can’t figure out why Price was under such pressure with the box kicks early doors.  The setup looks fine, decent length in the ruck but Itoje picked off a couple.  Could just be one of those things but I’d hope Toony is figuring out why it happened.

It was because England hadn't committed anyone to those rucks, which meant their offside line effectively stayed at the point of the tackle itself, similar to the whole "no ruck" thing Italy confused England with a few years back. We had actually won the ball so quick that a box kick was a poor option anyway, made worse by them not committing anyone.

We sorted it during the game, by starting to go one out to set up another ruck then kicking off slower. Price had managed it himself to an extent, but it's one of Steele's real strengths, and that really showed in the last 10 when he gave May, Daly and Malins absolute nightmares.

[Left Back]

23 minutes ago, Mark Connolly said:

It was because England hadn't committed anyone to those rucks, which meant their offside line effectively stayed at the point of the tackle itself, similar to the whole "no ruck" thing Italy confused England with a few years back. We had actually won the ball so quick that a box kick was a poor option anyway, made worse by them not committing anyone.

We sorted it during the game, by starting to go one out to set up another ruck then kicking off slower. Price had managed it himself to an extent, but it's one of Steele's real strengths, and that really showed in the last 10 when he gave May, Daly and Malins absolute nightmares.

It was noticeable Steele had way more time.  Gave me the fear in the early part of the game though.  Was screaming for Price to send it back to Hoggy to get the howitzer out and take the pressure off.

[honestly united]

13 hours ago, ajwffc said:

𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲

𝗜𝗻: George Taylor, Charlie Shiel & D'arcy Rae.

𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀: Ewan Ashman, Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Dobie & Rufus McLean.

George Taylor is banned for 3 games so wont be getting a game with Edinburgh - probably just coming in to hold the pads

 

And today's huge transfer news Brandon Thompson is off to the Cheetahs on a deal starting 1st March - I felt sorry for him as he looked a player under Townsend when he arrived initially on loan and I was excited when he signed a full time deal as he is Scottish qualified, however hardly got a look in under Rennie who took over before he arrived permanently which seemed to dent his confidence and he looks a shadow of the player he was when he first arrived. Hopefully a return to SA and game time will up his confidence.

 

Edited February 9, 2021 by honestly united

[Mark Connolly]

50 minutes ago, honestly united said:

George Taylor is banned for 3 games so wont be getting a game with Edinburgh - probably just coming in to hold the pads

 

And today's huge transfer news Brandon Thompson is off to the Cheetahs on a deal starting 1st March - I felt sorry for him as he looked a player under Townsend when he arrived initially on loan and I was excited when he signed a full time deal as he is Scottish qualified, however hardly got a look in under Rennie who took over before he arrived permanently which seemed to dent his confidence and he looks a shadow of the player he was when he first arrived. Hopefully a return to SA and game time will up his confidence.

 

He's a stick on to have a stormer (or a cheetah) next time we play them. That conversion against the Dragons broke him.

[Savage Henry]

18 hours ago, AngusTheBull said:

Agree with all of this, particularly on Finn Russell. Have always thought he is one of these players who suffers from his highlights reel in that if he isn’t doing ‘mad Finn things’ every 5 minutes people think he’s had an off-game. It does seem like if he does 9/10 things correctly, there’s always a lot more focus than other 10’s on the one thing that didn’t come off.

As mentioned, he had a solid, professional, sensible performance (drop goal aside), the sort of performance which if it came from Sexton or Farrell would be getting lauded by the media as the sort of savvy showing at a tough away venue that gets you lions starts.

As for his place kicking, well it’s never been a particular strength and is not really why he’s in the team. If it turns out that Redpath could kick, now that would be great.

Anyone remember Chris Patterson’s kicking when he first came into the team?  Or even Kenny Logan’s?   Absolutely feeble.  It us something he can excel at.  And if not, they’ll just need to score more tries.  

[AngusTheBull]

14 hours ago, Left Back said:

I’ve watched it back and still can’t figure out why Price was under such pressure with the box kicks early doors.  The setup looks fine, decent length in the ruck but Itoje picked off a couple.  Could just be one of those things but I’d hope Toony is figuring out why it happened.

It was noticeable how much more use of the caterpillar ruck Steele made when he came on, and though it's one of my pet hates it did work well.

In one of the early box kicks, not sure if it was one Itoje got a hand to or just missed, Z. Fagerson was at the edge of the ruck as a pillar/blocker and didn't really make any impact. Itoje didn't have to move or make any effort to get round him at all and had basically had a free run at Price. But kudos to Price for getting the problem sorted fairly swiftly after that anyway.

[Mark Connolly]

16 minutes ago, AngusTheBull said:

It was noticeable how much more use of the caterpillar ruck Steele made when he came on, and though it's one of my pet hates it did work well.

In one of the early box kicks, not sure if it was one Itoje got a hand to or just missed, Z. Fagerson was at the edge of the ruck as a pillar/blocker and didn't really make any impact. Itoje didn't have to move or make any effort to get round him at all and had basically had a free run at Price. But kudos to Price for getting the problem sorted fairly swiftly after that anyway.

Remember Turner getting a yellow for that in the 1872 Cup when he killed Grant Gilchrist

[GAD]

I always say I hate stuff like caterpillar rucks, box kicking, rolling mauls, and using scrums to eat up time and milk penalties, but I've come to realise I only hate it when teams are doing it to us.

[Left Back]

16 minutes ago, GAD said:

I always say I hate stuff like caterpillar rucks, box kicking, rolling mauls, and using scrums to eat up time and milk penalties, but I've come to realise I only hate it when teams are doing it to us.

The one thing England did do very well at the weekend was eat up the time they were down to 14.  Once scrum took about 5 minutes.  We weren't helping ourselves of course with Price putting his effort into trying to get a scrum penalty rather than get it in and out quickly to take advantage of the extra back.

[John Lambies Doos]

Any word on injuries for this week? Didn't hear anything so assume we have full squad?

[Genuine Hibs Fan]

29 minutes ago, GAD said:

I always say I hate stuff like caterpillar rucks, box kicking, rolling mauls, and using scrums to eat up time and milk penalties, but I've come to realise I only hate it when teams are doing it to us.

Exactly. When we were playing big sexy rugby and getting killed with it I hated it. Now we're playing big savvy rugby I love it. I hold out hope for the next evolution to big sexy savvy rugby

[honestly united]

18 minutes ago, John Lambies Doos said:

Any word on injuries for this week? Didn't hear anything so assume we have full squad?

For a change I dont think we had any injuries, only update was that Maitland and Ritchie were taken off due to fatigue, no injuries were mentioned