Rugby Union

[ajwffc]

DVDM banned for three games, so his 6 nations is over. Once again it's pretty clear that one if the main factors in rugby that decides red cards, ban length and citings is who you are and who you play for, rather than what you've actually done.
 

The Italy Ireland game was a great example. Two identical tackles one gets a red and a ban and nothing happened with the other.

[ajwffc]

Even the Duhan van der Merwe case is a good example as one of the London Irish players slides into his head when he was on the ground and not a thing has been said about it

[peasy23]

DVDM banned for three games, so his 6 nations is over. Once again it's pretty clear that one if the main factors in rugby that decides red cards, ban length and citings is who you are and who you play for, rather than what you've actually done.
 

Read various tweets from folk all defending him, if the defender is actually dropping to a height that he should be to make a legal tackle then he doesn't get hit in the face, and it was an attempt at a hand off that was a fraction of a second out. Do we know who was on the panel?

The game in Rome is really giving me the fear now given how far the performances have dropped since the England game, and a lot of players now out with injury too.

[come on shire]

On 07/03/2022 at 16:36, honestly united said:

I dont know if it was the tactics, but we had a quality backline in Johnson, Steyn, Forbes, McKay and SMith, yet constantly kicked the ball away even though we made yards with ball in hand. I dont know if it was all down to Weir, but we have looked a different team when Thompson starts

If the tactics are to kick then the players will do what they're told I guess.  It wasn't all down to Weir.  Duncy is a sensible head who simply doesn't do what he's not capable of.  Thompson is the next Finn tbh, just without the maverick.  Within 5 years he'll be cigaring it in England or France.  

[come on shire]

3 hours ago, peasy23 said:

Read various tweets from folk all defending him, if the defender is actually dropping to a height that he should be to make a legal tackle then he doesn't get hit in the face, and it was an attempt at a hand off that was a fraction of a second out. Do we know who was on the panel?

The game in Rome is really giving me the fear now given how far the performances have dropped since the England game, and a lot of players now out with injury too.

I'm not too fussed that Duhan is out for the next 2 games.  There's something far more wrong than we thought if we need him for Rome and there's no pressure in Dublin as we'll either be defending in our 22 or waiting for conversions to be kicked behind our posts all game regardless if he was playing.

For that reason too I'd start both games with either Hastings or Thompson at 10 with the other on the bench.  Finn's picked up 2 cards in 3 6 Nations games.  He's talented on his day but also just plain self indulgent.  He shouldn't be beyond getting dropped for a bit.

If we do lose in Rome then at least the SRU will soon realise it'll be the 3rd poor 6 Nations in a row for us since getting booted at the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup with just 18 months till the next World Cup with Ireland and South Africa.  Maybe they'll make changes to the coaching...

 

Edited March 9, 2022 by come on shire

[ajwffc]

I'm not too fussed that Duhan is out for the next 2 games.  There's something far more wrong than we thought if we need him for Rome and there's no pressure in Dublin as we'll either be defending in our 22 or waiting for conversions to be kicked behind our posts all game regardless if he was playing.
For that reason too I'd start both games with either Hastings or Thompson at 10 with the other on the bench.  Finn's picked up 2 cards in 3 6 Nations games.  He's talented on his day but also just plain self indulgent.  He shouldn't be beyond getting dropped for a bit.
If we do lose in Rome then at least the SRU will soon realise it'll be the 3rd poor 6 Nations in a row for us since getting booted at the pool stage of the 2019 World Cup with just 18 months till the next World Cup with Ireland and South Africa.  Maybe they'll make changes to the coaching...
 

I don't see any nation making changes to the coaching team this close to the world cup.

[Detournement]

Thompson has been pish recently. He is nowhere near ready to start at Test level.

The big problems have been in the centres and protecting our own ball at the breakdown. We aren't playing a fast enough game to disorganise the opposition defence but we are playing loose enough to lose our own structure.

[honestly united]

I still dont know what Johnson did wrong in the first game to get dropped. Even given how pish Glasgow were on Saturday, Johnson still looked good.

Thompson and Dobbie are both suffering from 2nd season syndrome, and also being dropped when playing well to give Horne and Weir game time.

For Italy I am hoping for Fagerson Turner Schoeman Gray Gilchrist Watson Darge Fagerson, price Russell, Graham, Jonson, Tuipoluto, Steyn, Hogg - subs bergham, mcinally, Nel, Hodgson, Bradbury, White, Hastings, Bennett

[Genuine Hibs Fan]

21 hours ago, Detournement said:

Thompson has been pish recently. He is nowhere near ready to start at Test level.

The big problems have been in the centres and protecting our own ball at the breakdown. We aren't playing a fast enough game to disorganise the opposition defence but we are playing loose enough to lose our own structure.

This is, much more succinctly than I could do it, exactly how I feel about our attacking issues atm. Time for Harris to take a step back? If our defence is as good as it's meant to be surely subbing in a centre who is a decent rather than outstanding defender (Bennett never let us down in that regard as far as I remember and at least looked a threat against France) shouldn't make that big a difference.  

[Genuine Hibs Fan]

Gray not fit enough by the looks of things. Not too bad otherwise. Darge and Watson should be fun, glad Steyn is getting a chance. Johnson coming in at least improves things a little in the centre, Sione and Harris hasn't really worked together. Would maybe have preferred Sione and a more ambitious 13 against Italy though

 

[Detournement]

Tuipuluto is Townsend playing fantasy rugby. The same as Du Preez and Blade Thompson. Johnson should never have been dropped off the back of winning the last four Tests he started. 

 

[honestly united]

1 hour ago, Genuine Hibs Fan said:

Gray not fit enough by the looks of things. Not too bad otherwise. Darge and Watson should be fun, glad Steyn is getting a chance. Johnson coming in at least improves things a little in the centre, Sione and Harris hasn't really worked together. Would maybe have preferred Sione and a more ambitious 13 against Italy though

 

Happy enough with that, would have preferred Tuiplotu at 13 over Harris. if we dont win comfortably with that team questions need asked. - and no f'ing Kinghorn is pleasing

[Savage Henry]

1 hour ago, Detournement said:

Tuipuluto is Townsend playing fantasy rugby. The same as Du Preez and Blade Thompson. Johnson should never have been dropped off the back of winning the last four Tests he started. 

 

Hutchinson is due a recall for one game and then dropped for two years, surely?

[Mark Connolly]

Think folk are being pretty harsh on Harris tbf.

He has been excellent for Scotland over the last couple of years

[honestly united]

1 hour ago, Mark Connolly said:

Think folk are being pretty harsh on Harris tbf.

He has been excellent for Scotland over the last couple of years

For me its horses for courses, if we were playing anyone else Harris would be the obvious choice at 13 as were are much more solid defensively.

However we are playing Italy where we should be looking to run up a score as the final positions could be dependent on bonus points and I would rather we were looking at using our best attacking option to try and get 4 tries rather than just focusing on ensuring we grind out a win. Obviously we shouldn't be going gun-ho and expecting a win (Scotland fans should never expect a win) as we will have to work hard for it - although unleashing Tuiplotu with a half hour to go against tiring Italian back line could be interesting

[aDONisSheep]

53 minutes ago, honestly united said:

For me its horses for courses, if we were playing anyone else Harris would be the obvious choice at 13 as were are much more solid defensively.

However we are playing Italy where we should be looking to run up a score as the final positions could be dependent on bonus points and I would rather we were looking at using our best attacking option to try and get 4 tries rather than just focusing on ensuring we grind out a win. Obviously we shouldn't be going gun-ho and expecting a win (Scotland fans should never expect a win) as we will have to work hard for it - although unleashing Tuiplotu with a half hour to go against tiring Italian back line could be interesting

I understand the sentiment, but I'm the complete opposite, I think you win the game, then you worry about the score.

I know Italy are the weakest team in the competition, but they are not as bad as is being made out.  They have some proper talent, that I'd like to see subdued before we think about bonus points.

I genuinely think that Italy are building.  I think Lamaro is the Italian Watson i.e. vastly underrated.  If I'm being honest, he might well be the best flanker in the competition.  I think Garbrisi is finally getting some help from Braley and I love watching Ioane out wide (he's like Teddy Thomas with additional work ethic)  [OK, I exagerate, he's not Teddy Thomas, who I think is suuuuupeeerb but a bit lazy], but he's a very good player all the same.

Gone are the days of Italy's push and shove up front only approach.  Scotland have had two bruising encounters one v Wales where we go bored to death up front and the other where even though I think we played well, France were just better, we need to get back on the winning horse.  Those, games must have dented confidence in the game plan etd.  Italy have nothing to lose, they are expected to get beat, so let's make sure that they do, first, then turn on the razzamatazz later.

Italy fronted up v Ireland (which is no mean feat) and were getting some good front foot ball (until the sending off).  Scotland are no-ireland up front, we need to be careful.

I'm genuinely nervous about tomorrow, it has disaster written all over it.  Italy got some shyt officiating last week, will the opposite happen this week?  

Yours, 

aDONis

[GAD]

Yeah, I'm pretty nervous about tomorrow as well. I think it's Luke Pearce refereeing, who tried to shaft us other there before (the "I've got a feeling he dropped it" one was a belter), so I expect we will be up against it on that front and things could get very tense. I'm OK with the team we've picked, I agree we probably need to start as solidly as possible and make sure we keep Italy out before going for it a bit more in the second half. Can see Hastings, Russell and Tuipoloto as the midfield later in the game if things are going well.

[Gianfranco]

It’s a strong looking starting line up. I’m always nervous when it comes to Scotland but surely we’ll have too much for the Italians.

[aDONisSheep]

27 minutes ago, Gianfranco said:

It’s a strong looking starting line up. I’m always nervous when it comes to Scotland but surely we’ll have too much for the Italians.

I agree, but I've never recovered from Goodman and Cusiter game... 

I was particularly sad, because I was (and still am) a big fan of Cusiter.

Yours, I'm not crying, I've got erm something in my eyes!

aDONis

[John Lambies Doos]

Tomorrow will be very difficult imo. Justifiably we are firm favourites but never have it easy in Rome. I do think we will sneak the BP and win by 10-12 points...but it will be close enough up to the 60min mark.
If Italy can sort out their discipline and stop dropping in final 3rd, they will be a handful