[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 1: Scotland vs. England (06/02/2016)

[AzaMatt]

got a feeling this will be a long and tedious match due to the weather, scotland seem to like running the ball and being a bit adventurous but will be dragged into a forward bashing game. cant see them coming out on top at all, england will just strangle them

 

[j'nuh]

I would say it's generally considered a good principle to have a decent idea of who all the opposition players are before gobbing off...

It's a good Scottish side. Player for player, I'd struggle to say which is better. But most of those Scots have played in sides that have consistently lost to England, and most of the English players have played in sides that have consistently beaten Scotland, so my eyes would seem to deceive me.

I don't get the same sense. Our front 5 trumps theirs and they lack a wrecking ball like Vunipola. We should dominate in the lineout. Laidlaw's the type to tip a game in your balance if the teams are roughly equal to one another, but won't produce a piece of magic to get Scotland out of a tight hole if they are up against it. Bennett and Hogg are (at least in the past, not sure about this season) the two to look out for.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Yeah going to be one for the forwards looking at the weather, reckon no more than a try each, possibly 2.

Now Borthwick is back in the England set up will we have the honour of seeing his scabby nose in a post match interview after the game?

His nose must have healed by now...? Or was it a birthmark?

I'll be interested to see what Borthwick and that old Newky prop have done to the scrum, line out and forwards overall.

They were never that bad under Lancaster, with a couple of notable exceptions. I thought Rowntree did a good job.

 

[Tony Manx]

His nose must have healed by now...? Or was it a birthmark?

I'll be interested to see what Borthwick and that old Newky prop have done to the scrum, line out and forwards overall.

They were never that bad under Lancaster, with a couple of notable exceptions. I thought Rowntree did a good job.

I agree that Rowntree did a good job and he should have remained with that Borthwick dick as line out specialist if he had to be involved at all!

But to be fair to scabnose, he really has had no time to make ANY difference in technical terms with, what, four/five days with 3/4 hour sessions?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I agree that Rowntree did a good job and he should have remained with that Borthwick dick as line out specialist if he had to be involved at all!

But to be fair to scabnose, he really has had no time to make ANY difference in technical terms with, what, four/five days with 3/4 hour sessions?

Depends, it's easier to get someone from being bad to decent than from decent to very good. While it will be nice to dominate the scrum, in reality parity should be fine.

 

[Crapspray]

I don't get the same sense. Our front 5 trumps theirs and they lack a wrecking ball like Vunipola. We should dominate in the lineout. Laidlaw's the type to tip a game in your balance if the teams are roughly equal to one another, but won't produce a piece of magic to get Scotland out of a tight hole if they are up against it. Bennett and Hogg are (at least in the past, not sure about this season) the two to look out for.

See, that's where I'm worrying the most. I agree the front five will probably get the nudge in the scrum, but we only have two full-time jumpers in the pack and they're not exactly Croft-tier. Add to that Hartley's mediocre throwing last time he played for England (low 80s) and we may struggle to secure ball. Not good if the weather is poor and Jones is set on 10-man rugby.

Maybe it'll be mauling off first and second jumper all game, which would work, but I was hoping that Borthwick's lineout anorak would see England start throwing longer again. Plus, you know, there's a half-decent set of backs on the pitch too.

All that said, I'm looking forward to seeing what Vunipola does. Vice-Captaincy could be the making of him, and with the Jockanese choosing light flankers he could have a field day. If only Ewers was fit; we really could've gone for a power-game with him, Binny, and Clifford making up the back row.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Ewers-Clifford-Binny has 21 caps overall (all Billy's).

Compare and contrast to 126 of the back row chosen and I'm happy with the choice- though Ewclifola would be fun to watch. More so than Harobola anyway...

 

[Crapspray]

Ewers-Clifford-Binny has 21 caps overall (all Billy's).

Compare and contrast to 126 of the back row chosen and I'm happy with the choice- though Ewclifola would be fun to watch. More so than Harobola anyway...

That was pretty much why I said it. Though it would be a good rock to Scotland's scissors as well.

I'm fine with what Eddie's picked. Not exactly enamored with Haskell, obviously, but a good dose of alcohol should calm me down in time for kickoff.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

His nose must have healed by now...?

He opens it up with a scalpel before every game as a superstition.

Only reason I can think it's always there.

 

[Tony Manx]

He opens it up with a scalpel before every game as a superstition.

Only reason I can think it's always there.

Speaking of noses!! Tindall!!!!

 

[smit1099]

This game is intriguing, can Scotland show any glimpse of the performance they showed against Oz in the WC? Will the Jones era give the English fans renewed hope after the Lancaster snore fest? I'd like to see a fast flowing game but it'll probably be a war of attrition due to the weather. What's the odds on Hartley getting sent off on his debut as Captain? Come on England!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Weather is far better than predicted so maybe we will get some running rugby - certainly enhances the Scottish chances!!

Wish they would ditch the bloody flower though!!

 

[Bluemoon]

Brian Moore sounds like he's been smoking 40 a day since the World Cup.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ford you idiot.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Nowell you Beauty

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah launchberry!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Well done Kruis! Cole's bind was weird though in that scrum?

 

[Bluemoon]

Awful defence from Scotland then. 3/4 men missed one attacker there. Scottish defence coach won't be happy.

That try was coming, however.

 

[willutalk]

Our Bath backs need to step up.
Billy V man of the match for me at the moment. Our Second Rows have been playing well. Also rating having Farrell and Ford too.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Russel is a great player, most important player on the Scottish side.