Battle of the Celts: Ireland v Scotland, Sat Dec 5th, KO @ 2:15pm

feckwanker · Post by **feckwanker** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:38 am

Who?

Ireland

versus

Scotland

Where?

When?
Saturday December 5th, 2020. Kick off at 14:15.

Le referee?
Don't know yet actually.

feckwanker · Post by **feckwanker** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:39 am

Very real chance Scotland will win this one.

earl the beaver · Post by **earl the beaver** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:43 am

We do know the red don't we? Announced yesterday as Carley?

Mullet 2 · Post by **Mullet 2** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:43 am

The two sides are level on the all time head to head.

This struck me as funny because in the group of players I'm in lads my age and younger think that is a funny stat that falters Scotland

But my brother and his mates who are 8 and 9 years older think the reverse. What a difference a decade makes.

iarmhiman · Post by **iarmhiman** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:46 am

I remember we could just never beat them, home or away.

We always got tonked over there and lossed narrowly to them at home.

Their team under Telfer was very clever. Always offside and brilliant at slowing down ruck ball

redderneck · Post by **redderneck** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:11 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:46 am I remember we could just never beat them, home or away.

We always got tonked over there and lossed narrowly to them at home.

Their team under Telfer was very clever. Always offside and brilliant at slowing down ruck ball

Equally ruthless at speeding up their own. Joy to watch when not on receiving end. Second only to ABs at it.

I am of that generation who had pints-induced feverish dreams of John Rutherford and the scrumhalf of their choosing, usually Laidlaw, torturing us. Followed closely by Craig Chalmers and the scrumhalf of their choice, usually Armstrong, doing a passable imitation of their predecessors.

My totally unproven hunch remains that the killer for those ugly, ugly years, was that Scotland had a bigger core of players who were clearly fitter than us. So if they could add pace to games, we would blow out of our arses.

feckwanker · Post by **feckwanker** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:31 pm

Are there many Scottish posters left on here?

Mullet 2 · Post by **Mullet 2** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:40 pm

Seems they have broken away and showed an independent streak.....for once

EverReady · Post by **EverReady** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 1:41 pm

Scotland were my second team. I loved them as a young fella. They are going to beat us like a red haired step child this week

Zico · Post by **Zico** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 2:56 pm

I reckon we'll beat Scotland, just.

Another game I couldn't give a shite about though.

Even in AIs against weak teams there's usually some interest in seeing how the next rung of players perform in the team system. This year, after 8 games, I have no clear picture of what the team system is or where most players are in selection pecking order. Are we experimenting or is this how we play now and these are the guys in the jersey for the 6N?

iarmhiman · Post by **iarmhiman** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:22 pm

I think we'll beat them as well.

We're still better than them in the forwards. They have a very good backline.

Flametop · Post by **Flametop** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:59 pm

In terms of squad development, I reckon Rory Best is in with a shout to start.

lilyw · Post by **lilyw** » Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:35 pm

Mullet 2 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:43 am The two sides are level on the all time head to head.

This struck me as funny because in the group of players I'm in lads my age and younger think that is a funny stat that falters Scotland

But my brother and his mates who are 8 and 9 years older think the reverse. What a difference a decade makes.

Roy f****g Laidlaw.

Ruined an entire decade for me.

feckwanker · Post by **feckwanker** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:55 pm

Are there really no Scots on PR anymore? What happened? All still at NPR?

Mullet 2 · Post by **Mullet 2** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:00 pm

A rumour went around PR were going to charge

Nolanator · Post by **Nolanator** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:31 pm

feckwanker wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:55 pm Are there really no Scots on PR anymore? What happened? All still at NPR?

Yep, they're quite active over there.

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:32 pm

Nolanator wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:31 pm
feckwanker wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:55 pm Are there really no Scots on PR anymore? What happened? All still at NPR?
Yep, they're quite active over there.

Is it still flooded with lame Welsh spammy trolls or have they all migrated back here?

Nolanator · Post by **Nolanator** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:38 pm

Floppykid wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:32 pm
Nolanator wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 3:31 pm
feckwanker wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:55 pm Are there really no Scots on PR anymore? What happened? All still at NPR?
Yep, they're quite active over there.
Is it still flooded with lame Welsh spammy trolls or have they all migrated back here?

No idea, I barely log in over there any more, and definitely don't pay any attention to the Brexit-type threads.

Edinburgh01 · Post by **Edinburgh01** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:31 pm

lilyw wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:35 pm
Mullet 2 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:43 am The two sides are level on the all time head to head.

This struck me as funny because in the group of players I'm in lads my age and younger think that is a funny stat that falters Scotland

But my brother and his mates who are 8 and 9 years older think the reverse. What a difference a decade makes.
Roy f****g Laidlaw.

Ruined an entire decade for me.

Laidlaw has what I believe is quite advanced dementia.

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:58 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:22 pm I think we'll beat them as well.

We're still better than them in the forwards. They have a very good backline.

Not sure if we have the better pack now tbh , I guess we’ll find out on Saturday. Sutherland(injured?), McInally, Ritchie and Watson are all probably better than what we have in their respective positions. Zander is on the rise as a th and would push Porter for a starting spot while on form Gray is well ahead of Ryan

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 7:09 pm

I think Scotland are going to win.

redderneck · Post by **redderneck** » Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:09 pm

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 6:31 pm
lilyw wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 5:35 pm
Mullet 2 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 11:43 am The two sides are level on the all time head to head.

This struck me as funny because in the group of players I'm in lads my age and younger think that is a funny stat that falters Scotland

But my brother and his mates who are 8 and 9 years older think the reverse. What a difference a decade makes.
Roy f****g Laidlaw.

Ruined an entire decade for me.
Laidlaw has what I believe is quite advanced dementia.

Heard that recently (on here I guess). Not on my worst enemy would I wish that. He was one hell of a scrumhalf in his day.

Edinburgh01 · Post by **Edinburgh01** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:00 am

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 30, 2020 3:22 pm I think we'll beat them as well.

We're still better than them in the forwards. They have a very good backline.

If Sutherland was fit, I'd almost put that the other way round.

Sutherland and Fagerson and any one of three hookers are now up with the best front rows around. With them starting as a scrummaging unit the front 5 are as good as anyone. Kebble has improved his technique recently, but still relies on brute strength too much. It usually works at Pro14, at this level though he is up against players just as strong with better technique so is a big drop from Sutherland. Ritchie and Watson on the flanks can take on anyone, 8 remains a weakness. Lineout can be variable however.

The best Scotland backline, playing loose are good if they get ball. But the creative players are injured or out of favour, plus Townsend has gone very conservative. If you have watched the recent matches, Price is a running scrum half who puts pace on the ball, but has been playing like Laidlaw lite. With the stand off and centres we have been putting out, teams know there is little running threat inside so can drift onto the back three and snuff out their potential. Plus Hogg, having been made captain seems to think it is his job to win games on his own and as a consequence is trying too hard and being less effective as a result.

Scotland can put out a good first team, but lack of depth shows very quickly with a few injuries.

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:23 pm

I’d agree with your assessment of the forwards Edinburgh, as I alluded to in my earlier post . A lot has changed since the RWC when we had a big edge in that department. Ritchie and Zander have both developed very well since then and you have enough players to cause us trouble on our own ball . Sutherland will be a loss for sure but your forwards are playing with far more cohesion than ours so I don’t see us having any overall advantage up front . We also have the issue of a few of our starting pack being either past their best now or struggling for form

Regarding Hogg, he’s still a quality player but it looks like he might have lost a half yard of that explosive pace . He’s probably trying things that his body isn’t quite capable of doing anymore. A bit young at 28 you would think but he has a lot of miles on the belt

YOYO · Post by **YOYO** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:52 pm

To make this thread spicy we need a few Scots supporters.
Anybody on the forum care to become temporary Scots supporters and give it to us? Oh excuse me, I see Edinburgh01 is here. Good stuff.

Punter15 · Post by **Punter15** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:09 pm

I think we’ll do it. Should have won last time out and Ireland have kept going backwards since. Just need to stop shitting the bed in their 22 and give it a bloody lash.

And get Huw Jones back.

Mullet 2 · Post by **Mullet 2** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:20 pm

Fúck off new lad

Floppykid · Post by **Floppykid** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:27 pm

I think the Irish team are at a low ebb confidence wise, older players are looking older game by game, the pack we have is as ordinary as it's been in a long time.

Scotland should take this if they really are any use.

iarmhiman · Post by **iarmhiman** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:52 pm

People writing Ireland off and bigging Scotland up will probably mean an Ireland win.

Hellraiser · Post by **Hellraiser** » Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:30 pm

iarmhiman wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 10:52 pm People writing Ireland off and bigging Scotland up will probably mean an Ireland win.

Probably due to Scotland shitting the bed as usual rather than us actually doing anything worthwhile.

Edinburgh01 · Post by **Edinburgh01** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:43 am

But it looks like midfield options will improve when we get our new SQ 10 from Munster. https://www.the42.ie/ben-healy-munster- ... =shortlink

Anonymous 1 · Post by **Anonymous 1** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:03 am

Cripple pillow fight

Bogbunny · Post by **Bogbunny** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:26 am

Anonymous 1 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:03 am Cripple pillow fight

Harsh. More like senile dementia on the Irish side.

redderneck · Post by **redderneck** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:24 pm

Our only chance is if Hamish Watson get so dazzled by the array of Irish orifices available to him to manshame at the breakdown, he loses the plot entirely.

As porter suggests on the other thread, few quid on him for MOM wouldn't go astray.

Let's not play a recognised 7 against Scotland. Sick and tired of cruising along, flawlessly, eh? Lets give ourselves a challenge for a change.

HighKingLeinster · Post by **HighKingLeinster** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:32 pm

Anonymous 1 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 10:03 am Cripple pillow fight

2 epileptics fighting over a piece of spaghetti

Edinburgh01 · Post by **Edinburgh01** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:26 pm

redderneck wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:24 pm Our only chance is if Hamish Watson get so dazzled by the array of Irish orifices available to him to manshame at the breakdown, he loses the plot entirely.

As porter suggests on the other thread, few quid on him for MOM wouldn't go astray.

Let's not play a recognised 7 against Scotland. Sick and tired of cruising along, flawlessly, eh? Lets give ourselves a challenge for a change.

Watson is not even on the bench. As he has not been indicated to be injured, this is a real wtf?

For the first time since God was a boy Scotland have a bench where 6 are as good as (or arguably better than) the starters.

We'll still lose.

Flametop · Post by **Flametop** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:34 pm

No fûcking way are we letting Scots posters away with saying they are shitter than us.

Conspicuous · Post by **Conspicuous** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:45 pm

Watson’s omission is a strange one if it’s simply for the sake of rotation. Still a strong Scottish side though with Sutherland back . I see Jaco van der Welt is making his debut this weekend, didn’t realise he was Scottish qualified

lorcanoworms · Post by **lorcanoworms** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:47 pm

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:43 am But it looks like midfield options will improve when we get our new SQ 10 from Munster. https://www.the42.ie/ben-healy-munster- ... =shortlink

He's a very exciting young oh at the minute, feel sure he will revert to ignoring overlaps in favour of drop goals.

YOYO · Post by **YOYO** » Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:10 pm

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:43 am But it looks like midfield options will improve when we get our new SQ 10 from Munster. https://www.the42.ie/ben-healy-munster- ... =shortlink

Doubt it will happen. We all rate him on here.