[2015 Six Nations] Scotland vs Ireland (Round 5)

[LiRFCMatt]

My prediction:



Scotland vs Ireland: 12 - 22

Desperate to avoid the wooden spoon, Scotland will need a win. There is no better time for the Scots to host the Irish, but they certainly won't be confident of victory, even if the Joe Schmidt's Irish side doesn't travel well and doesn't beat teams by many points. Both teams are low on confidence, but Scotland took the lead going in to half time away at Twickenham, and could spring a surprise on the Irish, although that in turn could spur the Irish on to play a different style of rugby, a more aggressive, try-scoring style of play. Trying to force a style of play they are unfamiliar with, the Irish could slip up against the Scots and the home side could steal a famous victory. However, I think Schmidt won't care too much for the 6 Nations ***le, and will solely focus on the RWC later this year, so will field the same side as last week, and we will see Ireland grab an uninspiring victory.

 

[Highland Shaun]

IF we play like we did v England then we will certainly give Ireland a good game and with nothing to lose we can go out and express ourselves and hopefully grab a much needed win and avoid wooden spoon.

I for one hope that we don't play our stupid kicking game when in good positions. We done it far to much at Twickenham which was baffling!

 

[TheSaffycen]

I would consider Ireland favourites for the 6 nations. If we had put away the clear chances we had than we would've put 30 points in the first half, and if poite had given the penalty try when we walked over the line. Though they haven't looked as dynamic with ball in hand if Scotland kick long to Bowe, Zebo and Kearney than they will rip them apart.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Having calmed down a bit after the weekend I am actually quite looking forward to this round! I still don't think that the championship means **** apart from adding to players own personal acheivements, whoever wins next week won't be the best team in the championship considering they've all been the best at some stage. (England R1, Ireland Rs 2&3, Wales R4)

Anyway what I'd like to see having reconsidered is:

1. Healy
2. Best
3. Ross
4. Toner
5. O'Connell
6. O'Mahoney
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip if 100% fit, Murphy otherwise
9. Murray
10. Sexton if 100% fit, Mads otherwise
11. Fitzgerald
12. Madigan if playing 10 revert to the used pairing
13. Henshaw
14. Bowe
15. Kearney

16. Cronin*
17. McGrath
18. Moore*
19. Henderson*
20. Murphy/O'Donnell
21. Reddan*
22. Madigan/Keatley
23. Payne*

*On between 55-65 minutes if up by 7+.

Hard to see many Scots making that side, Bennett would be straight in although I'd have Hogg at 13 if that was an option.

 

[big ginger 8]

No Madigan at 12 please, he's fine coming on at 12 in an emergency but starting him (at all really) even in a game where we need points is a bad game.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

No Madigan at 12 please, he's fine coming on at 12 in an emergency but starting him (at all really) even in a game where we need points is a bad game.

I don't understand your pure hatred of the man... Himself and Fitzgerald have been Leinster's only source of attack in the backline in Europe this year, give him the opportunity to play outside Sexton and create space for Henshaw and serious damage could be done in midfield. He's starting 12 week in week out, unlike Henshaw, and doing well definitely the form Irish 12 this season.

 

[big ginger 8]

I don't understand your pure hatred of the man... Himself and Fitzgerald have been Leinster's only source of attack in the backline in Europe this year, give him the opportunity to play outside Sexton and create space for Henshaw and serious damage could be done in midfield. He's starting 12 week in week out, unlike Henshaw, and doing well definitely the form Irish 12 this season.

It's not pure hatred at all, I've said before he's possibly the most talented player in Ireland, he just doesn't really use his talents all that well and is consistently overrated because people see him as a 'flair' player.

He had a good game against the Scarlets other than that I don't really think you can call him a source of attack in the backline. You also expect him to create space for Henshaw, this is something he has consistently shown he cannot do without his pack absolutely dominating. He has the best pass in Ireland but his distribution isn't great He basically only throws the massive wide pass, which doesn't work unless the opposition has been sucked in. That and his step against the grain off his right are basically his default moves. Neither really work without utter domination in the pack, something he got a lot of in that year when he was joint top try scorer in the Pro12. If you ask people to name a performance at European level or above they say the Northampton game, where our pack were all over them, other than that people just deflect.

Form Irish 12 is also a pretty hollow ***le. You for one have constantly being giving out about he should be playing 10 anyway. Apart from that none of Ulster's 12's have been fit enough that they could make that claim, although both Olding and McCloskey have been better when on the pitch. Bundee Aki is Connacht's 12. Thus his competition for ***le of form Irish 12 has been eh Dennis Hurley.

If we want to create space for those outside both Olding and Fitzgerald are better ideas. Really Madigan might have been best off playing 9 where he could have been excellent but it's too late now.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's not pure hatred at all, I've said before he's possibly the most talented player in Ireland, he just doesn't really use his talents all that well and is consistently overrated because people see him as a 'flair' player.

He had a good game against the Scarlets other than that I don't really think you can call him a source of attack in the backline. You also expect him to create space for Henshaw, this is something he has consistently shown he cannot do without his pack absolutely dominating. He has the best pass in Ireland but his distribution isn't great He basically only throws the massive wide pass, which doesn't work unless the opposition has been sucked in. That and his step against the grain off his right are basically his default moves. Neither really work without utter domination in the pack, something he got a lot of in that year when he was joint top try scorer in the Pro12. If you ask people to name a performance at European level or above they say the Northampton game, where our pack were all over them, other than that people just deflect.

Form Irish 12 is also a pretty hollow ***le. You for one have constantly being giving out about he should be playing 10 anyway. Apart from that none of Ulster's 12's have been fit enough that they could make that claim, although both Olding and McCloskey have been better when on the pitch. Bundee Aki is Connacht's 12. Thus his competition for ***le of form Irish 12 has been eh Dennis Hurley.

If we want to create space for those outside both Olding and Fitzgerald are better ideas. Really Madigan might have been best off playing 9 where he could have been excellent but it's too late now.

He's doing it in a side that has nothing near domination in the pack, he ruled the Wasps game from 12 and, again, is in Leinster's only competent pairing this season doing this outside a horribly out of form (or just old and past it) 10. I'm not one for throwing players out of position, when challenged it doesn't work ask any England fan! Give Madigan a dominant pack and Johnny Sexton pulling strings and you will see him create plenty of space in the tight as well as for his outside centre, we have perfect precedent for this with Leinster in 2013. Olding is the long term option and I hope to see him push for the World Cup. Right now, however,when Ireland need to add an extra dimension to their game Madigan is needed, as much to avoid playing a 13 at 12 and 15 at 13 as much as anything else. Madigan is a top class player and will fit into the side seamlessly.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

The only thing that gives me any hope england can win overall is that Ireland have not put in big wins so far this 6N. Hopefully any Ireland win will be by less than 10 points, which gives England a chance to win overall without needing to demolish France.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

The only thing that gives me any hope england can win overall is that Ireland have not put in big wins so far this 6N. Hopefully any Ireland win will be by less than 10 points, which gives England a chance to win overall without needing to demolish France.

They also haven't travelled well under Schmidt, which gives us more hope.

 

[munstermuffin]

@Cmac/BG8. Just to add in. I'm a huge fan of Madigan as a 12. I think he hasn't got the focus for 10 at international level. The kick at end vs Wales where he put it dead (luckily Barnes pulled it back) showed that. As a 12 I'm not against it but probably swayed to BG8 side. The other side is 13 is the hardest defensive position. Henshaw has been 1 of our worst defenders believe it or not. He's missed a truck load of tackles and made a fair few too but defensively would they hold strong in games? Maybe the would I don't know. Like Cmac you say Madigan has been slowed by Jimmy G at 10 but Madigan hasn't been outstanding for a lot more reasons. His form has dipped too and I think he is suffering hugely from the fact no one seems to know where to utilise his talents. And with Sexton coming back Madigan now know's he is unlikely to ever be the #1 10 in Leinster colours so does that mean he should concentrate on being a 12 solely I wonder?

Regards my team on Saturday I'd consider (although unlikely)
McGrath
Best
Ross
Toner
POC
POM
SOB
Murphy
Murray
Sexton
Zebo
Hanshaw
Fitzgearld/Earls
Bowe
Payne

Cronin
Healy
Moore
Henderson
TOD
Reddan
Madigan
Fitzgearld/Earls

 

[munstermuffin]

Well word on street is.
McGrath
Best
Ross
Toner
POC
POM
Sob
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Zebo
Henshaw
Payne
Bowe
Kearney.

Rumours are Fitz or Earls may be at 11/23 but unlikely. Heard Henderson may start too but again unlikely.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Well word on street is.
McGrath
Best
Ross
Toner
POC
POM
Sob
Heaslip
Murray
Sexton
Zebo
Henshaw
Payne
Bowe
Kearney.

Rumours are Fitz or Earls may be at 11/23 but unlikely. Heard Henderson may start too but again unlikely.

Zero surprises here, would be very un-Schmidt to not go with the slightly conservative, consistent selection.

 

[ajwffc]

Scotland team
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 31 caps, 9 tries, 1 pen, 48 points

14 Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby); 5 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors); 6 tries, 2 tries, 10 points
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby); 24 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
11 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors); 16 caps, 6 tries, 30 points

10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 8 caps, 1 con, 2 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester); 38 caps, 3 tries, 40 cons, 80 pens, 335 points

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors); 21 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby); 84 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors); 65 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Jim Hamilton (Saracens); 60 caps, 1 try, 5 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); 12 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors); 4 caps
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 10 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby); 24 caps

Substitutes
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); 7 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors); 11 caps
20 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors); 14 caps, 1 try, 5 points
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby); 4 caps
22 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby); 3 caps
23 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 17 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

 

[munstermuffin]

Is Barclay out of contention completely?

 

[g6mcg]

Is Barclay out of contention completely?

Fairly sure he wasn't named in squad. Hasn't been in for quite a while IIRC. No idea why!

 

[collace]

I had heard that Healy will be in for McGrath and Fitzgerald will be in for Zebo - not sure how big a pinch of salt you want to take that with!

 

[ajwffc]

Fairly sure he wasn't named in squad. Hasn't been in for quite a while IIRC. No idea why!

From what I have seen/read when Cotter first took over he watched how the experienced players conducted themselves in training and he was not happy with some of their effort or lack of.

 

[LiRFCMatt]

Hearing more and more that Fitzgerald is in for Zebo.

 

[big ginger 8]

Healy and Fitzgerald in.

McGrath has built up a few ****les. Again has been giving a lot of praise to him.
Most of Schmidt's experience with Fitzgerald has been on the wing.