[2025 Six Nations] Scotland vs Ireland - 09/02/25

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I've had this one as Scotland's chance to put our streak to an end for awhile. 1st game in Murrayfield without Sexton since 2017 (although he went off after 20mins in 2019).

I'm still very confident though especially after Saturday, and bringing a 10 game winning streak into a match speaks for itself. Another step up for Prendergast if he starts, first away game and not an easy one.

Scotland will beat us eventually and it could be Sunday but until they do there's nothing to fear. The players also seem to hate each other which plays into our hands, haven't taken Scotland for granted for a long time.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ireland have the easiest team talks these first two weeks

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

View attachment 22795


Ireland have the easiest team talks these first two weeks

This is too accurate. Falls a hair below mastery for the excluaion of Smellis.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This is too accurate. Falls a hair below mastery for the excluaion of Smellis.

Ah, of course!
I almost put Farrell there but didn't think it fit cause he's gone now so settled for the current captain

 

[OllyM97]

Ireland by 10 points. Scotland are not as good as they think they are. Ireland looked the best they have in a while in the second half against England. The Irish pack and bench is superior to the Scottish one. Scotland have to play at their absolute best to win this IMO.

 

[big ginger 8]

Think I'd keep the same team from last week except potentially taking Hansen out but don't expect that. Hoping at least one of Furlong or Bealham is fit. Clarkson has come on a lot but it would be asking a lot of him and I guess Healy as sub tighthead? Less than ideal. Doesn't look like McCarthy will be fit unfortunately given Ahern has been called up.

Expect realistically Sheehan will start at the least.

 

[General Melchett]

Looking forward to the battle of the skinny arms at fly half. I would have had a bit more optimism if Tuipolotu and Cummings had been fit but their replacements are too big of a step down. Scotland were bailed out by a couple of moments of magic from Graham and Kinghorn in the last 20 on Saturday and I think it will be a comfortable day at the office for Ireland.

Would like to see Gregor Brown come in for Jonny Gray and Tom Jordan replace McDowell. I'd also start Dempsey at 8 and have an all Glasgow back row with Darge and Fagerson. Toonie will no doubt make changes that none of us foresaw.

 

[Amiga500]

Scotland are not as good as they think they are.

Is that this week, this year, this decade or this millennium your placing that in the context of?

'Suppose it doesn't really matter which it is really...

 

[AlRums]

Six Nations: Simon Easterby could have Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham available for Ireland's trip to Scotland

Ireland say it is "hoped" that Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham will be fit to face Scotland in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Sunday.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[AlRums]

Is that this week, this year, this decade or this millennium your placing that in the context of?

'Suppose it doesn't really matter which it is really...

He denigrates Scotland at any opportunity, even credited Scotland's win to an Englishman.

It's water off a ducks back to be honest.

 

[OllyM97]

Is that this week, this year, this decade or this millennium your placing that in the context of?

'Suppose it doesn't really matter which it is really...

The last 5/6 years - every year they've hyped themselves up as potential winners and when it's come to it they've not delivered. The amount of hot air about how good Scotland are before every 6N just absolutely grates. This year with the media coverage before the tournament, you wouldn't think England were more favoured to win it than Scotland were. If you listened to pundits pre-tournament, Scotland have got world class players all over the place and England are absolutely useless and not a threat.

 

[Saintjay]

The last 5/6 years - every year they've hyped themselves up as potential winners and when it's come to it they've not delivered. The amount of hot air about how good Scotland are before every 6N just absolutely grates. This year with the media coverage before the tournament, you wouldn't think England were more favoured to win it than Scotland were. If you listened to pundits pre-tournament, Scotland have got world class players all over the place and England are absolutely useless and not a threat.

Possibly as many starting Lions if not more than England currently.

 

[AlRums]

The last 5/6 years - every year they've hyped themselves up as potential winners and when it's come to it they've not delivered. The amount of hot air about how good Scotland are before every 6N just absolutely grates. This year with the media coverage before the tournament, you wouldn't think England were more favoured to win it than Scotland were. If you listened to pundits pre-tournament, Scotland have got world class players all over the place and England are absolutely useless and not a threat.

Is this as well researched as your claim about easy starting home games? Or are you just full of it again?

 

[IT157]

I would like Scotland to win to throw a cat among the pigeons in this tournament. I just think Ireland will be too strong.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Townsend spoke well about the fixture there (payblocked on the IrishTimes so won't bother linking). I must say, I always feel better going into this fixture when someone in the Scotland camp claims they are going to win like it's a certainty like Kinghorn in 2023. Hopefully a player says something this week.

Still a big mental challenge for Scotland this week, they haven't got over the line v us since 2017 or a top 4 team in quite a few attempts also. They need to find something they haven't yet and hope it's enough which is a tough place to be as a settled squad with little (positive) recent changes.

This rivalry seems bitter online in places but it's probably quite a friendly one overall, definitely off the pitch which I experienced in Edinburgh two years ago and presumably after the final whistle blows also. I think fans of either sides falling for soundbites in the media has fed into it.

 

[AlRums]

Townsend spoke well about the fixture there (payblocked on the IrishTimes so won't bother linking). I must say, I always feel better going into this fixture when someone in the Scotland camp claims they are going to win like it's a certainty like Kinghorn in 2023. Hopefully a player says something this week.

Still a big mental challenge for Scotland this week, they haven't got over the line v us since 2017 or a top 4 team in quite a few attempts also. They need to find something they haven't yet and hope it's enough which is a tough place to be as a settled squad with little (positive) recent changes.

This rivalry seems bitter online in places but it's probably quite a friendly one overall, definitely off the pitch which I experienced in Edinburgh two years ago and presumably after the final whistle blows also. I think fans of either sides falling for soundbites in the media has fed into it.

Scotland beat France 2021 and 2023

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Scotland beat France 2021 and 2023

 

[AlRums]

View attachment 22799

 

[TRF_Olyy]

World Cup warmups don't count, come on