Planet Rugby Forum

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

In rugby terms neither of the countries you mention are small though. They are also more physical than us. "Small team" can mean many things. Going by your logic NZ should be considered a small rugby country.

EJ is doing a press tour, I doubt he went out his way to bring Scotland up. Even then, he has a book coming out. Don't you think Scotland would be mentioned given the last 2 Calcutta cups and the aresholes who abused him?

He said zero worth getting offended about.

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

Point of information :

Population of Scotland 5.8m

Population of Island of Ireland 6.6m.

Gone now.

Big D wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

In rugby terms neither of the countries you mention are small though. They are also more physical than us. "Small team" can mean many things. Going by your logic NZ should be considered a small rugby country.

EJ is doing a press tour, I doubt he went out his way to bring Scotland up. Even then, he has a book coming out. Don't you think Scotland would be mentioned given the last 2 Calcutta cups and the aresholes who abused him?

He said zero worth getting offended about.

I think John Beattie had him on his radio show. Imagine the screeching if he'd refused to talk to a former Scottish rugby player on Radio Scotland about Scottish rugby.

Away from all that pish.

I've just read an interview with Hodge, I had kind of forgotten he was attack coach. Now they're far from the finished article but are starting to put together something decent in attack. Should we be reassessing our opinion of him as a coach?

Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

Don't mean to intrude but Ireland's population is a million more than Scotland's.

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

OptimisticJock wrote:Away from all that pish.

I've just read an interview with Hodge, I had kind of forgotten he was attack coach. Now they're far from the finished article but are starting to put together something decent in attack. Should we be reassessing our opinion of him as a coach?

Not yet. Of course Edinburgh will look better with international talent fit. I'd say he gets some credit but is a work in progress.

Big D wrote:

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

Doesn't say if Wilson is leaving the SRU set up now. Seems like musical chairs on the Titanic when we start shifting unperforming coaches so we don't need to pay out contracts.

I like haggis wrote:

Big D wrote:

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

Doesn't say if Wilson is leaving the SRU set up now. Seems like musical chairs on the Titanic when we start shifting unperforming coaches so we don't need to pay out contracts.

End of season apparently.

Scotland's forward play has been pish lately, but Scotland's back play was pish when a certain Toonie was responsible for it and he turned out alright at Glasgow.

Wilson will step into a strong team culture, that should help a lot.

I'm neither happy nor unhappy about the appointment - let him prove himself.

I like haggis wrote:

Big D wrote:

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

Doesn't say if Wilson is leaving the SRU set up now. Seems like musical chairs on the Titanic when we start shifting unperforming coaches so we don't need to pay out contracts.

To some extent, it shouldn't matter if there is a replacement available. Let Wilson go and work with academies, do coaching clinics etc for the rest of the season.

Let the new guy come in and start shaping what he wants ASAP. Unless there is a chance Townsend might get punted.

clydecloggie wrote:

I like haggis wrote:

Big D wrote:

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

Doesn't say if Wilson is leaving the SRU set up now. Seems like musical chairs on the Titanic when we start shifting unperforming coaches so we don't need to pay out contracts.

End of season apparently.

Scotland's forward play has been pish lately, but Scotland's back play was pish when a certain Toonie was responsible for it and he turned out alright at Glasgow.

Wilson will step into a strong team culture, that should help a lot.

I'm neither happy nor unhappy about the appointment - let him prove himself.

This.

This time next year we could have an all new Scotland coaching team for the AIs.

Wilson - Glasgow
Taylor - going with Rennie?
Blair - joining Wilson?
Toonie?

clydecloggie wrote:

I like haggis wrote:

Big D wrote:

I like haggis wrote:Rennie to Australia confirmed.

BBC saying Danny Wilson will be Glasgow HC. Oh dear.

We should if at all possible get the new forwards coach in now.

Doesn't say if Wilson is leaving the SRU set up now. Seems like musical chairs on the Titanic when we start shifting unperforming coaches so we don't need to pay out contracts.

End of season apparently.

Scotland's forward play has been pish lately, but Scotland's back play was pish when a certain Toonie was responsible for it and he turned out alright at Glasgow.

Wilson will step into a strong team culture, that should help a lot.

I'm neither happy nor unhappy about the appointment - let him prove himself.

Scotland's back play didn't regress with Townsend as Scotland's forwards did with Wilson. But who knows what an assistant really does.

Townsend was also an up and coming coach, an exciting mind. Wilson is a bit meh.

Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Hellraiser wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

Don't mean to intrude but Ireland's population is a million more than Scotland's.

Was about to argue, but then realised I forgot to add in the population of NI. Fair enough.

Big D wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

In rugby terms neither of the countries you mention are small though. They are also more physical than us. "Small team" can mean many things. Going by your logic NZ should be considered a small rugby country.

EJ is doing a press tour, I doubt he went out his way to bring Scotland up. Even then, he has a book coming out. Don't you think Scotland would be mentioned given the last 2 Calcutta cups and the aresholes who abused him?

He said zero worth getting offended about.

Sorry - not having it. ‘The best small team’ is basically ‘know your place and don’t get any ideas above your station.’ Yes, I quite agree he is having a go on the back of the last two CCs, but I don’t see why I should give him a pass for it.

Steamin Beamin wrote:Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Cockerill.

clydecloggie wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Cockerill.

Would love to see that, but as others have noted when it's been suggested before, hard to imagine him wanting to play second fiddle.

Seems like there's a real dearth of home-grown forwards/defence coaching candidates.

Doc Rob wrote:

Big D wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

In rugby terms neither of the countries you mention are small though. They are also more physical than us. "Small team" can mean many things. Going by your logic NZ should be considered a small rugby country.

EJ is doing a press tour, I doubt he went out his way to bring Scotland up. Even then, he has a book coming out. Don't you think Scotland would be mentioned given the last 2 Calcutta cups and the aresholes who abused him?

He said zero worth getting offended about.

Sorry - not having it. ‘The best small team’ is basically ‘know your place and don’t get any ideas above your station.’ Yes, I quite agree he is having a go on the back of the last two CCs, but I don’t see why I should give him a pass for it.

Have you read the quotes?

"[A lack of size] makes it difficult but you can have one-off success like Japan have had.

"You've got to pool all your resources into being the best 'small' team in the world.

"That means you look at everything you do, at how you can win ball quickly - particularly from set-piece.

"You look at how you can win the ball quickly from the breakdown and you need a consistent programme for four years to be at your best to do that.

"You have to play quick, you have to have a varied attack and it takes a lot of cohesion to play that way."

He is clearly referring to physical size. There is nothing there to be offended about.

Smutley wrote:

clydecloggie wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Cockerill.

Would love to see that, but as others have noted when it's been suggested before, hard to imagine him wanting to play second fiddle.

Seems like there's a real dearth of home-grown forwards/defence coaching candidates.

There are, but we have both Embra and Weeg with both forwards (assistant at Embra) and defences coaches being Scottish, and IIRC one of the Super 6 coaches is Pringle who is forwards biased.

So although there isn't a lot we are starting to see some coming through slowly, plus the likes of Brown, Grant etc starting to coach we will hopefully have a couple to choose from in a few years.

Big D wrote:

Smutley wrote:

clydecloggie wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Cockerill.

Would love to see that, but as others have noted when it's been suggested before, hard to imagine him wanting to play second fiddle.

Seems like there's a real dearth of home-grown forwards/defence coaching candidates.

There are, but we have both Embra and Weeg with both forwards (assistant at Embra) and defences coaches being Scottish, and IIRC one of the Super 6 coaches is Pringle who is forwards biased.

So although there isn't a lot we are starting to see some coming through slowly, plus the likes of Brown, Grant etc starting to coach we will hopefully have a couple to choose from in a few years.

Nathan Hines?

Doc Rob wrote:

dargotronV.1 wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:I don't see any "digs" in what Jones is saying. He's only saying what most of us have been saying and considering how much of a snidey goblin he usually is it's actually fairly boring. Some of the panty wetting on social media is embarrassing.

Calling us a small team is not getting a dig in? A sideways dig but a dig nonetheless, presumably delivered with the usual EJ smirk. The rest is fair game. Haven't read any of the social media commentary on it so no idea what's being said there.

What will be of interest is how GT responds to the RWC performance.

Who is the S&C coach anyway? Is it Lamont?

That’s how I saw it. He wouldn’t describe Ireland or Wales as ‘small’ teams, I’m sure, and both countries have a smaller population than Scotland (yes, I know we have fewer players, but still).

He’s doing what he does - trolling. Yes, what he says may be accurate, and we may be saying the same. Doesn’t mean he should be given the platform to say it when he has bugger all to do with us, aside from failing to beat us two years running.

I took it he was refering to physical size. And it's true, we don't the hairy-arsed behemoths that some sides have and we know that, if we try and play physically bigger sides at their game, we get beaten up. Japan face the same issues. So what do you do? Build a game plan that suits the game you are physically most able to play and which will nullify the oppositions strengths.

I have no problem with Jones pointing that out - hell he made it work for Japan and Joseph has just taken that forward. If we aren't open to an external coaches view of our strengths, weaknesses, whatever, then we really are screwed. We need to stop being so spikey about criticism ...shows we're worth bothering about.

Does Toony's approach do this? To an extent, but it needs a pragmatic edge, an ability to vary the pace, play in the right parts of the pitch and sucker punch the big boys when they're blowing out their collective hoop. Fundamentally though, it needs players with the vision and mental aptitude to recognise when & where an opponent is vulnerable and, collectively, exploit that. It needs a sort of 'mob mentality'.

I like haggis wrote:

Big D wrote:

Smutley wrote:

clydecloggie wrote:

Steamin Beamin wrote:Who do we fancy for forwards coach then?

Cockerill.

Would love to see that, but as others have noted when it's been suggested before, hard to imagine him wanting to play second fiddle.

Seems like there's a real dearth of home-grown forwards/defence coaching candidates.

There are, but we have both Embra and Weeg with both forwards (assistant at Embra) and defences coaches being Scottish, and IIRC one of the Super 6 coaches is Pringle who is forwards biased.

So although there isn't a lot we are starting to see some coming through slowly, plus the likes of Brown, Grant etc starting to coach we will hopefully have a couple to choose from in a few years.

Nathan Hines?

Forgot about him. Count him under "etc"

Tough year ahead.

I can see 4 must-wins - Italy, France, Argentina, Japan.

All the others are likely losses, but there's always one big performance there, so they might retain the Calcutta Cup or finally get a win in Dublin or Cardiff.
On the flip side, there's also always a turd of a result in there so at least one of the four must-wins will be a loss.

I'm going for losing in Rome and against France but retaining the Calcutta Cup. 5th in the 6N. No joy in the summer Tests. Wins against Japan and Argentina in the autumn.

That's a grand total of 3 wins in 11 games.

I need a second team to support.

I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

That's la la land.

Although apparently we're the first to play South Africa next year, so we have a crack at getting the Raeburn Shield back - the one and only true measure of best team in the world.

clydecloggie wrote:

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

That's la la land.

Although apparently we're the first to play South Africa next year, so we have a crack at getting the Raeburn Shield back - the one and only true measure of best team in the world.

Aye probably!

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

Would suggest we are more likely to win 0 games than 5 plus a "big" win.

Two of the national coaching staff are potentially on their way out, one for sure and GT needs a big 6N.

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/2019/ ... -pro-team/

Interesting article, I'd forgotten about the 6N CVC cash. I'm sold, mind you that doesn't take much when talking about a 3rd pro team. 1st round is on NL I hear too.

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

The worst thing about it is that this 6 nations, on paper, should present a golden opportunity: Ireland and Wales have a new coach and we have England and France at home. However, with GT at the helm the only opportunities I see are losing to France at home for the first time in 6 years and losing in Rome. I am completely exasperated with his Scotland plan, he has made us a much worse outfit than when he took over, a small part of me hopes the 6N is a disaster and he gets turfed. I am contemplating flying to Dunedin for the game versus NZ but don't want to bother wasting my money if the team are still producing performances like Nice '19, Ireland RWC, Wales '18 etc. Not paying a load of cash to watch 30 points rain in in the first 30 and then a stabilization where we lose by 'only' 25.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50395820

Awful news. Great player and lovely fella the time I met him..

Caley_Red wrote:

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

The worst thing about it is that this 6 nations, on paper, should present a golden opportunity: Ireland and Wales have a new coach and we have England and France at home. However, with GT at the helm the only opportunities I see are losing to France at home for the first time in 6 years and losing in Rome. I am completely exasperated with his Scotland plan, he has made us a much worse outfit than when he took over, a small part of me hopes the 6N is a disaster and he gets turfed. I am contemplating flying to Dunedin for the game versus NZ but don't want to bother wasting my money if the team are still producing performances like Nice '19, Ireland RWC, Wales '18 etc. Not paying a load of cash to watch 30 points rain in in the first 30 and then a stabilization where we lose by 'only' 25.

Just like the golden opportunity last time, when we started against Italy and Ireland at home. We will be dark horses for the umpteenth time in a row...

Big D wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50395820

Awful news. Great player and lovely fella the time I met him..

Ffs, why does it always seem to be the good wit kant?

Big D wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50395820

Awful news. Great player and lovely fella the time I met him..

Ahh man, that's f**king awful news. What a player he was

Caley_Red wrote:

Alba wrote: I love Scotland fans, relentless optimism!

I think we will have a better 6N, with 3 wins in total against Italy and France for sure, and a win against either of Wales or Ireland due to their coach losses. Ireland up first should be seen as a real opportunity to catch them cold, because I don't think they will have much of a dip, their squad is still packed with quality. Wales on the other hand I think might be coming onto some lean years (for them at least), Gatland elevated that team well beyond their collective means. Will they be poor this tournament? Possibly not, the Gatland mindset will take time to shift.

3 losses in the summer, although perhaps one close game against the SAFAs. Two wins in the autumn.

So, 5 wins. Win any of the SAFA, England, NZ matches plus the 5 above and I think that's a very good season for us.

The worst thing about it is that this 6 nations, on paper, should present a golden opportunity: Ireland and Wales have a new coach and we have England and France at home. However, with GT at the helm the only opportunities I see are losing to France at home for the first time in 6 years and losing in Rome. I am completely exasperated with his Scotland plan, he has made us a much worse outfit than when he took over, a small part of me hopes the 6N is a disaster and he gets turfed. I am contemplating flying to Dunedin for the game versus NZ but don't want to bother wasting my money if the team are still producing performances like Nice '19, Ireland RWC, Wales '18 etc. Not paying a load of cash to watch 30 points rain in in the first 30 and then a stabilization where we lose by 'only' 25.

We've shown nothing to suggest it won't be a disaster. We'll be battling for the spoon, again. But like you say, we'd probably be shot of Toony if it is.

Big D wrote: Have you read the quotes?

"[A lack of size] makes it difficult but you can have one-off success like Japan have had.

"You've got to pool all your resources into being the best 'small' team in the world.

"That means you look at everything you do, at how you can win ball quickly - particularly from set-piece.

"You look at how you can win the ball quickly from the breakdown and you need a consistent programme for four years to be at your best to do that.

"You have to play quick, you have to have a varied attack and it takes a lot of cohesion to play that way."

He is clearly referring to physical size. There is nothing there to be offended about.

I think on reflection, you are probably right.

Still though, Eddie Jones

Steamin Beamin wrote:

Big D wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50395820

Awful news. Great player and lovely fella the time I met him..

Ahh man, that's f**king awful news. What a player he was

Really gutted. Knew him from my DHSFP days. What a front row choice they had then, with him, Danny Herrington and John Manson. Poor Danny must have been the strongest man I ever met and also went far too young.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50476008

What a shite list. Where is fud? Bawbag? Pish?

Steamin Beamin wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-50476008

What a shite list. Where is fud? Bawbag? Pish?

https://www.bawbags.com/