[2016 RBS Six Nations] Round 5: Ireland vs. Scotland (19/03/2016)

[Wimero]

Scotland to win 6-10pts (William Hill) 8-1 is my bet for the match.

 

[Saint4805]

Swinson set to fulfil the Jim Hamilton shaped hole, we've missed a penalty machine in the row.

Still think Horne plays like a centre at ten (great observation, I know), but maybe that's an effective way to use our abundance of centres! I wonder if we could teach some of them to hook...

Very true. We're also less dependent on Horne's kicking as a 10 because Laidlaw and Hogg can fill that gap

 

[ElRoach]

The lost of Jonnie Gray is probably a lot larger than some may think. I believe some of you have mentioned it though. He puts in a lot of work and I doubt anyone could come in and fill his boots. I really want Scotland to win this one, and I feel that the Irish coach should have tried some new players here. The likes of Keith Earls, Payne, Henshaw are really not doing it in my eyes. Sexton seems to be trying to carry the team by himself with some help from Heaslip. Scotland with their tails up, and Ireland feeling a little better after crushing Italy, this has the makings of a great game of rugby.

 

[ajwffc]

Scotland team
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Harlequins), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (captain - Gloucester), Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh), Ross Ford (Edinburgh), WP Nel (Edinburgh), Richie Gray (Castres), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors), John Barclay (Scarlets), John Hardie (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)

Replacements: Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh), Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors), Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors).

 

[munstermuffin]

Ireland
Zebo
Trimble
Payne
Henshaw
Earls
Sexton
Murray
McGrath
Best
Ross
Ryan
Toner
Stander
O'Donnell
Heaslip

Strauss
Healy
White
Dillane
Ruddock
Reddan
Madigan
McFadden

Things it's seems learnt are Marmion is definitely not fancied.
Jackson is obviously not rated enough despite form.
Josh Van Der Flier can be proud of his first 6 Nations.

 

[Peat]

Reddan for Marmion :lol:

Let's see how the team plays but my gods Marmion must not be rated.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Marmion can't kick for **** and Reddan can kind of.

Dont see see the reasoning behind O'Donnell and Strauss coming in though.

I'd guess they're tactical calls but not having a specialist breakdown man is a strange call when up against Hardie et al...

 

[profitius]

Its not about being not rated. Its that JS knows Reddan better. Look at the bench, they've all played under Schmidt except 1 of them. If Rob Kearney was fit, he would definitely be starting.

 

[munstermuffin]

Marmion can't kick for **** and Reddan can kind of.

Dont see see the reasoning behind O'Donnell and Strauss coming in though.

I'd guess they're tactical calls but not having a specialist breakdown man is a strange call when up against Hardie et al...

I know Tommy isn't a breakdown specialist but reason he was brought in was because we had terrible return for turnovers. And VDF was feeling the effects of higher intensity games.
Strauss wasn't fit last weekend and I think is rated higher than Cronin by Schmidt.

Reddan shouldn't be on bench if we are trying to progress squad then McGrath or Marmion should be benching.

 

[munstermuffin]

Its not about being not rated. Its that JS knows Reddan better. Look at the bench, they've all played under Schmidt except 1 of them. If Rob Kearney was fit, he would definitely be starting.

Marmion has been around camps for extended amounts of time I think it's more he's not rated and that's fair enough but we need to blood in a new 9

 

[profitius]

Marmion has been around camps for extended amounts of time I think it's more he's not rated and that's fair enough but we need to blood in a new 9

Not trusted more like. Age might be the biggest factor because Schmidt tends to prefer over the hill players to players on their way up.

 

[Peat]

The difference between not rated and not trusted seems pretty semantic to me.

 

[profitius]

The difference between not rated and not trusted seems pretty semantic to me.

He might really rate a player but still not play him because he prefers the lesser skilled but more solid option ie Dave Kearney ahead of Zebo. Zebo might be too flamboyant for Herr Schmidt's liking.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The difference between not rated and not trusted seems pretty semantic to me.

Aye, exactly the same thing. I imagine Schmidt sees McGrath and McCarthy are going to be better than Marmion within 12-18 months which I think is fair enough. 9 isn't a place we need to be progressive at the moment.

 

[Peat]

Aye, exactly the same thing. I imagine Schmidt sees McGrath and McCarthy are going to be better than Marmion within 12-18 months which I think is fair enough. 9 isn't a place we need to be progressive at the moment.

I beg to differ there sir. I make you as having a solitary player worthy of the shirt; Eoin Reddan possesses a far greater similarity to glue than he does to an international rugby player these days. That seems exactly the scenario where a team needs to be progressive.

That none of the provinces have got a project scrum-half in at any recent point is somewhat baffling to me, I have to say.

 

[callingnumber6]

This is the game of the weekend for me. I always look forward to this fixture as these proud celts always have a pop at each other. With Scotland having rediscovered their quick ruck get it wide game with finishing talent out wide there will be tries. Especially if Ireland join in the end of term party. Add Zebo as liability at full back and this will be high scoring. If total points is anywhere close to 50 I will be over. I wouldn't like to call a winner except Ireland have more to lose than Scotland on rankings (7 versus 9 with top 8 getting auto seeding in RWC 2019).

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I beg to differ there sir. I make you as having a solitary player worthy of the shirt; Eoin Reddan possesses a far greater similarity to glue than he does to an international rugby player these days. That seems exactly the scenario where a team needs to be progressive.

That none of the provinces have got a project scrum-half in at any recent point is somewhat baffling to me, I have to say.

As a filthy outsider I can see where you're coming from but as a Leinster fan having watched Connacht as a result of living here the last two years I'd want to see 9. McGrath 21. Reddan, in Leinster, ahead of any Marmion variation and I do think within two years time McCarthy will have enough experience to be a Stringer level 9 with a kicking game at worst. Marmion is decent for the erratic province that Connacht will be but he'll never be consistent enough for the national side.

(I'm not ignoring your opinion because you're a hairy Londoner, just using thE fact as a joke (Peat drinks Whiskey, I know because I met him when Ireland were high and mighty(drink whisky and you'll be cool like me( and Peat))))

- - - Updated - - -

I'm so proud I have the right number of brackets.

 

[Amiga500]

That none of the provinces have got a project scrum-half in at any recent point is somewhat baffling to me, I have to say.

Ulster's persistence with Paul Marshall was a real derliction of duty by dHumph imo.

The fella is about 9 months younger than Pienaar, and while he may be a nice guy, he's not good enough for Ulster, never mind Ireland. This should have been realised about 3/4 years ago and weeP told "thanks lad for your efforts, but we think it'd be best for both parties if you looked elsewhere for next season".


I don't even know if we needed a project. Ian Porter looked ok, if a little slow. But Murray was at times wild slow till around 3 years ago too.

 

[Saint4805]

The lost of Jonnie Gray is probably a lot larger than some may think. I believe some of you have mentioned it though. He puts in a lot of work and I doubt anyone could come in and fill his boots. I really want Scotland to win this one, and I feel that the Irish coach should have tried some new players here. The likes of Keith Earls, Payne, Henshaw are really not doing it in my eyes. Sexton seems to be trying to carry the team by himself with some help from Heaslip. Scotland with their tails up, and Ireland feeling a little better after crushing Italy, this has the makings of a great game of rugby.

It could be seen as an opportunity to try new players but this is a results business and I don't blame Schmidt, given that he is in the media's firing line, for doing what he thinks is best to get the win. A victory should seal third place whereas a defeat would most likely leave Ireland fifth which would be one hell of a fall from grace for the reigning champions.

 

[Gavin]

Not really all that bothered about the game now, same as the Italy match.

Can't wait to get a new backline sorted for the tour to South Africa - actually that might be a baptism of fire - maybe in the Autumn internationals against New Zealand and Australia - actually best not - well then definitely in the 2017 Six Nations.

Also if Paddy Jackson ain't on the SA tour either starting or on the bench I'll give up.