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

[Peat]

Sir, you are a tosser with quite an imagination it would seem. That's quite a fairytale ending you have fabricated there along with the rather unfounded suggestion that the general consensus in Scotland is that England aren't good at rugby.

The words Richard and head come to mind. I f England are no good what do you call the lower ranks. You play well with other things it would seem, let's see if you can free your hands long enough to beat us. In that instance I will admit England must be cr*p.

Guess I had to say this some time.

People, I get that emotions run high during the 6N. I get that banter is part of why many love the game and coming on here. I get that salty language is intrinsic to rugby.

But if conversations end up offering nothing but personal insults and bad feeling, as here, those people will get banned.

Talk about the game, not each other.

 

[Thingimubob]

The words Richard and head come to mind. I f England are no good what do you call the lower ranks. You play well with other things it would seem, let's see if you can free your hands long enough to beat us. In that instance I will admit England must be cr*p.

Well. Think you've misunderstood Saint4805 a bit there mate...

He's saying that the idea that Scottish people think that the English aren't any good at rugby is unfounded

Probably a good idea to actually read the post properly before slinging out the insults.

 

[TommiG88]

Well. Think you've misunderstood Saint4805 a bit there mate...

He's saying that the idea that Scottish people think that the English aren't any good at rugby is unfounded

Probably a good idea to actually read the post properly before slinging out the insults.

Although he did call another poster a tosser for a jokey post. His argument was void from that point.

Back to the game; the squad looks ok. I really hope Itoje is in the 23, shame about bloody Devoto.

 

[AzaMatt]

im gonna predict scotland to get the first try but england pull away from them in the second half to a sizable lead but not a ridiculous one, maybe 10-15 points

 

[j'nuh]

Screw false modesty and "we're rebuilding" "we've a new coach" "Scotland are always improving" - if we lose this then Jones is a ****ehawk.

Johnno and Lancaster both came 2nd in their first Six Nations tournaments, beating Scotland along the way. Anything less is a failure.

tbf, Scotland looked as good as I've ever seen them in the WC.

But I agree, Scotland still have a bit to go to be more than just competitive, and it would be a major setback for Jones so early on if he were to lose.

 

[Every Time Ref]

After a few days of grumbling about the England squad, the existence of the match thread has got me excited and patriotic.

Glad we've got Scotland first up.

 

[Which Tyler]

Back to the game; the squad looks ok. I really hope Itoje is in the 23, shame about bloody Devoto.

Yeah, real shame to see a promising, talented youngster given a chance in a position where the only alternatives are a bunch of proven failures at this level. No-one wants to see that sort of thing happen.

What he really needed to do, was to give a chance to a promising, talented youngster in a position of relative strength with a bunch of proven successes* at this level damn him!

*

​

Yes, yes, I know, they're largely injured or out of form.

 

[TommiG88]

Yeah, real shame to see a promising, talented youngster given a chance in a position where the only alternatives are a bunch of proven failures. No-one wants to see that sort of thing happen.

Exactly, why pick a player who barely gets playing time for a struggling Premiership side.

 

[stus768]

Exactly, why pick a player who barely gets playing time for a struggling Premiership side.

Pick a playing style and choose players to suit it. One of lancasters problems at IC was the players were so different the game plan changed with each one. If Jones has decided to go for a ball player then he's covered by like for like with Henry slade, Owen Farrell and Devoto.

 

[TommiG88]

Pick a playing style and choose players to suit it. One of lancasters problems at IC was the players were so different the game plan changed with each one. If Jones has decided to go for a ball player then he's covered by like for like with Henry slade, Owen Farrell and Devoto.

Jones has also said he sees Tuilagi as a possible 12. From what I've seen of Devoto this season, he has been nothing more than average and behind Eastmond in the bath pecking order.

I would have much preferred Hill at 12, at least he's getting game time in an exciting Exeter team. Farrell isn't a 12 and never should be considered as one.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pretty going to be A premiership V championship game.

Only one winner.

#weartherose, #CarryMeHome, #MakeThemGiants, #NumberOneRugbyTeam, #BestAround.

 

[Peat]

Yeah, real shame to see a promising, talented youngster given a chance in a position where the only alternatives are a bunch of proven failures at this level. No-one wants to see that sort of thing happen.

What he really needed to do, was to give a chance to a promising, talented youngster in a position of relative strength with a bunch of proven successes* at this level damn him!

*

​

Yes, yes, I know, they're largely injured or out of form.

Not successful enough for my tastes, our locks. Plenty of decent players, but not too many that will leave the rest green with envy.

 

[Maverick1987]

Not successful enough for my tastes, our locks. Plenty of decent players, but not too many that will leave the rest green with envy.

I think others especially in the NH would be quite envious this season about Eddies choice of locks . Kruis and Itoje have been awesome for Sarries and Launchbury and Lawes are proven quality . You know when your worst lock this year has been Lawes you have some good choice . Bear in mind we have left Attwood and Slater out .

Ps. Sorry if I've misunderstood what you have said

 

[TRF_Olyy]

You know when your worst lock this year has been Lawes you have some good choice .

Really?
He's been pretty poor and increasingly bone headed recently.
Wouldn't make my 23, and with Attwood and Slater fit wouldn't make my EPS either.

Can't imagine (m)any top side being jealous of us over him.

 

[Maverick1987]

Really?
He's been pretty poor and increasingly bone headed recently.
Wouldn't make my 23, and with Attwood and Slater fit wouldn't make my EPS either.

Can't imagine (m)any top side being jealous of us over him.

Yeh I agree he's been poor this year but on form he'd get into everyone else's squad in the 6N . Can't really speak for the SH because I don't really know what their depth is like

 

[Peat]

I think others especially in the NH would be quite envious this season about Eddies choice of locks . Kruis and Itoje have been awesome for Sarries and Launchbury and Lawes are proven quality . You know when your worst lock this year has been Lawes you have some good choice . Bear in mind we have left Attwood and Slater out .

Ps. Sorry if I've misunderstood what you have said

You ever watch a player and are like "Jesus they're good, I wish they played for us?"

Not a considered and rational "Yes, he'd strengthen our team", but a reflexively, emotional-based reaction of "It would be awesome if he was playing for England".

I can't imagine any of England's locks bar maybe Launchbury provoking that sort of thinking. We've got a lot of very good locks, a lot that would strengthen other teams (Courtney Lawes would get his game for a fair few nations), but not many that are so great they make people go "Wow". And having a lot of very good locks is cool, but not as cool as "Wow" locks.


My point would have probably been clearer if I'd talked about international quality vs World Class. A lot of international class (or presumed international class) locks but only one guy who'd reach the World Class discussion.

 

[Maverick1987]

You ever watch a player and are like "Jesus they're good, I wish they played for us?"

Not a considered and rational "Yes, he'd strengthen our team", but a reflexively, emotional-based reaction of "It would be awesome if he was playing for England".

I can't imagine any of England's locks bar maybe Launchbury provoking that sort of thinking. We've got a lot of very good locks, a lot that would strengthen other teams (Courtney Lawes would get his game for a fair few nations), but not many that are so great they make people go "Wow". And having a lot of very good locks is cool, but not as cool as "Wow" locks.


My point would have probably been clearer if I'd talked about international quality vs World Class. A lot of international class (or presumed international class) locks but only one guy who'd reach the World Class discussion.

Yeh not unfair to say that to be fair . Thanks for clearing that up . Although I will say that talking from a purely Northern Hemisphere point of view now the only lock I'd love to play for England is Alun Wyn Jones and maybe Jonny Gray . Other than that I'd take our locks all day . I watch lots of Pro12 and haven't seen any young locks with the same sort of quality that someone like Itoje has . What locks would you love to see in an England shirt from the NH ?

I know everyone would love a Retalick, an Etzebeth or a De Jäger though but as it stands I'm really pleased with our locks it's definitely our strongest area

 

[Peat]

I'd agree we have the best set of locks in the NH and there's not too many I'd take but that only means the others need to improve as well I'd agree it's one of our stronger areas and that's been part of the reason I've argued for Itoje at 6, but in the cold light of day, it's still not strong enough for me and maybe lock is the right place for him (provided he and Launchbury don't leave a gap at line out time, which I've no strong argument for happening, merely I don't have a strong argument against).

For the sake of completeness - I'm deeply envious of Jonny Gray, who looks like the player we thought we saw in Attwood. I'm very interested in how good Henderson will be after a run at lock at international level, he should be monumental but it's an open question. I'd be idly curious as to how Josh Furno went in an England shirt although not exactly envious. And of course AWJ is one hell of a player, although I don't have quite the same envy I do of him as I do of Gray, despite AWJ being the better player at this point.

Apparently there's a young Scottish lock called Scott Cummings who's worth looking out for this U20 tournament. If he's as good as hype says, I'd like him too. Scotland have pretty good locks actually, it seems to be a speciality of theirs at the moment.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

I'd agree we have the best set of locks in the NH and there's not too many I'd take but that only means the others need to improve as well I'd agree it's one of our stronger areas and that's been part of the reason I've argued for Itoje at 6, but in the cold light of day, it's still not strong enough for me and maybe lock is the right place for him (provided he and Launchbury don't leave a gap at line out time, which I've no strong argument for happening, merely I don't have a strong argument against).

For the sake of completeness - I'm deeply envious of Jonny Gray, who looks like the player we thought we saw in Attwood. I'm very interested in how good Henderson will be after a run at lock at international level, he should be monumental but it's an open question. I'd be idly curious as to how Josh Furno went in an England shirt although not exactly envious. And of course AWJ is one hell of a player, although I don't have quite the same envy I do of him as I do of Gray, despite AWJ being the better player at this point.

Apparently there's a young Scottish lock called Scott Cummings who's worth looking out for this U20 tournament. If he's as good as hype says, I'd like him too. Scotland have pretty good locks actually, it seems to be a speciality of theirs at the moment.

Really not heard that much from him apart from getting a few games with Glasgow and scoring in one off them.

But i do feel that this would be Scotland's best chance to beat England but will it happen i don't know. It depends if Eddie Jones impact will be a massive one and if Scotland can keep they're world cup form going.

 

[spartan32]

Well I certainly hope England win, and on any other 6 nations occasion I would expect just that. But this one is a little different. The scots are better then they have been in a long time and they did manage to take the Australians, who smashed us, to the wire, and they are at home. add the fact that we are rebuilding and I think this may not be as straight forward as some may think. Man for man we are certainly a stronger, fitter and faster outfit, but these things are never won on paper.

That being said I'll say England by 14, and no tries for the scots. Ooo that arrogance feels good.