[RWC2019][Pool A] Round 1 - Ireland vs. Scotland (22/09/2019)

[BobbyM]

Confirmed that Alpha's probable side is indeed the one selected (with Conway and Larmour switching)

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Andrew Conway
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Bundee Aki
11. Jacob Stockdale
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Conor Murray

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best (captain)
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Iain Henderson
5. James Ryan
6. Peter O'Mahony
7. Josh van der Flier
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Niall Scannell
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. Andrew Porter
19. Tadhg Beirne
20. Jack Conan
21. Luke McGrath
22. Jack Carty
23. Chris Farrell

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm actually far happier with that back three switch. Would like to see a different backrow but nous rather than physicality should suit playing Scotland.

No risk on any injuries either. Reckon Kearney, Earls and Carbery are all in line for Japan starts.

I'm excited now, expect to win but if we give Scotland a sniff they can hurt us. Good luck!

 

[General Melchett]

Scotland team confirmed. Looks like Townsend has gone for experience with Seymour, Gilchrist and Wilson keeping out Graham, Cummings and Thomson. Midfield should be better defensively with Johnson and Taylor. Hope Darcy gets his chance at some point.

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Duncan Taylor
12. Sam Johnson
11. Sean Maitland
10. Finn Russell
9. Greig Laidlaw
1. Allan Dell
2. Stuart McInally
3. Willem Nel
4. Grant Gilchrist
5. Jonny Gray
6. John Barclay
7. Hamish Watson
8. Ryan Wilson

Fraser Brown
Gordon Reid
Simon Berghan
Scott Cummings
Blade Thomson
Ali Price
Chris Harris
Darcy Graham

 

[Groundhog]

That's a seriously impressive bench we have too. Must be one of the most explosive benches at the World Cup. I won't lie I'm a bit weary of the Scots, not just because of the Ulster plantations, the latest season of Peaky Blinders and the weird sex dream I had about Nicola Sturgeon. I hope we limit the garryowens from our own territory and don't give their back three any chance to return kicks. Back three alignment we chose makes sense, I just hope Kearney has been teaching Larmour some positioning.

 

[BPM]

I'm looking forward to watching this one. I'm not entirely neutral with an Irish wife, but I'm more interested in a cracking game than the result TBH.

 

[General Melchett]

That's a seriously impressive bench we have too. Must be one of the most explosive benches at the World Cup. I won't lie I'm a bit weary of the Scots, not just because of the Ulster plantations, the latest season of Peaky Blinders and the weird sex dream I had about Nicola Sturgeon. I hope we limit the garryowens from our own territory and don't give their back three any chance to return kicks. Back three alignment we chose makes sense, I just hope Kearney has been teaching Larmour some positioning.

The Scottish accent of the Billy Boys' leader on Peaky Blinders is a shocker. Worse than Mel Gibson on Braveheart.

More importantly, who will be providing the movie star looks now that Kearney isn't playing?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The Scottish accent of the Billy Boys' leader on Peaky Blinders is a shocker. Worse than Mel Gibson on Braveheart.

More importantly, who will be providing the movie star looks now that Kearney isn't playing?

 

[Groundhog]

The Scottish accent of the Billy Boys' leader on Peaky Blinders is a shocker. Worse than Mel Gibson on Braveheart.

More importantly, who will be providing the movie star looks now that Kearney isn't playing?

Haha that's Brendan Gleeson's son, the lad is Irish. Accent is truly woeful. I don't know how some of it made the final cut

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Heaslip and Ferris, for my money the two best Irish backrows of the pro era, are backing Conan over any of those backrows. But so is Eddie O'Sullivan. I'm mad conflicted.

 

[Groundhog]

Heaslip and Ferris, for my money the two best Irish backrows of the pro era, are backing Conan over any of those backrows. But so is Eddie O'Sullivan. I'm mad conflicted.

To be fair Eddie is also a Robnoxious Kearndawg. Agreed with most of what he's said this far.
The music behind the Schmidt interview is truly painful to me.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Schmidt accidentally let it slip that he's looking towards the QF. He's not too concerned by the group, nor should he be.

 

[Groundhog]

Schmidt accidentally let it slip that he's looking towards the QF. He's not too concerned by the group, nor should he be.

He's thinking about starting the drive for five

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

He's thinking about starting the drive for five

Can't wait to see what the kids can do in the semi and final to get them set for 2023.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

No D'Arcy and Laidlaw at 9. Seriously conservative from Townsend, contrary to his stereotype. No Zander or Kinghorn also leaves me scratching my head a bit - all these great youth products that seized their chances at the 6N seem to have been discarded. I dont particularly rate either lineup compared to their peak selections 18 months ago (possibly as much as 5-10 points per game less for both sides).

I always say Scotland cant beat superior packs with conservative play, it has to be 100mph stuff, death or glory. Get into a slower paced chess match with Ireland (as this selection possibly suggests) and I can see Scotland keeping the scoreline respectable, but ultimately not ever look like challenging for a win from minute 1. I think Ireland will not impress either, but this game isn't about impressing for them. Its about pulling out a win by hook or my crook and looking straight at the QF in everything they do in the next few weeks.

Oh well, at least Schmidt agreed with me on Toner. (he had to disagree with me on Best as alternative hookers consistently blew their chances).

Ireland by 13 (and to knock Finn out of the comp with some borderline play)

 

[Umaga's Witness]

looks like a very strong irish team, though i'm not overly familiar with porter carty farrell and conway.

Our game is based around possession, I really doubt we'd be happy with wet and windy.

your game doesn't have to be based on possession though. you've got teh skills in wet and windy conditions to put any team in the world under massive pressure. though you are mising some of the guys tht are so good at chasing and challenging high kicks. how do the selcted 14 adn 15 fare?

No D'Arcy and Laidlaw at 9. Seriously conservative from Townsend, contrary to his stereotype. No Zander or Kinghorn also leaves me scratching my head a bit - all these great youth products that seized their chances at the 6N seem to have been discarded. I dont particularly rate either lineup compared to their peak selections 18 months ago (possibly as much as 5-10 points per game less for both sides).

I always say Scotland cant beat superior packs with conservative play, it has to be 100mph stuff, death or glory. Get into a slower paced chess match with Ireland (as this selection possibly suggests) and I can see Scotland keeping the scoreline respectable, but ultimately not ever look like challenging for a win from minute 1. I think Ireland will not impress either, but this game isn't about impressing for them. Its about pulling out a win by hook or my crook and looking straight at the QF in everything they do in the next few weeks.

Oh well, at least Schmidt agreed with me on Toner. (he had to disagree with me on Best as alternative hookers consistently blew their chances).

Ireland by 13 (and to knock Finn out of the comp with some borderline play)

the oddest thing to me is the game plan scotland try to employ would benefit massively, as in be twice as good or more, from a halfback who can clear the ball quickly.

I'm looking forward to watching this one. I'm not entirely neutral with an Irish wife, but I'm more interested in a cracking game than the result TBH.

as in you want scotland to win so you can get one over your wife?

 

[BPM]

No - I'll be supporting Ireland, but if Scotland deservedly win a great game of rugby, I won't be disappointed.

 

[big ginger 8]

looks like a very strong irish team, though i'm not overly familiar with porter carty farrell and conway.

your game doesn't have to be based on possession though. you've got teh skills in wet and windy conditions to put any team in the world under massive pressure. though you are mising some of the guys tht are so good at chasing and challenging high kicks. how do the selcted 14 adn 15 fare?

People love saying we're really suited to the rain but I'm not sure what evidence there is to support that. Certainly the last game we had where it was pouring wasn't great...

People think we play a kicking game because we tend to utilise it well. Stats show we don't really kick that much. As I say our game is based around possession and considering we should be the stronger team than Scotland the original suggestion that we would be delighted by rain is fairly offbase. We're in a position where we'd much rather the weather doesn't limit us rather than that it does limit them.

Conway is a very good chaser and a decent kicker Larmour has improved a lot in those areas but is still no Kearney. Still of he gets any space he can be lethal.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

looks like a very strong irish team, though i'm not overly familiar with porter carty farrell and conway.

Porter is a young bull of a tightness with best in the world potential, he could challenge Furlong for the start come the next world cup if he progresses. Really impressive jackal for a big man too.

Farrell is a big lump of a centre, has had big games at international level but I'd be worried about his speed, and particularly lateral speed in D, if he's required to play many minutes.

Carty isn't great at this level, I'd be very worried if he gets much time in the tier 1 tests this tournament.

Most the backs are forced selections due to ****ly injuries.

 

[Groundhog]

Porter is a young bull of a tightness with best in the world potential, he could challenge Furlong for the start come the next world cup if he progresses. Really impressive jackal for a big man too.

Farrell is a big lump of a centre, has had big games at international level but I'd be worried about his speed, and particularly lateral speed in D, if he's required to play many minutes.

Carty isn't great at this level, I'd be very worried if he gets much time in the tier 1 tests this tournament.

Most the backs are forced selections due to ****ly injuries.

You forgot Conway dullard. To be fair to Carty he's had very little meaningful time at this level and when he's played he's been quite good. Doesn't mean I'd want him starting a big game mind.

 

[Rinkadink]

#Justice4Carty

Can't see Scotland winning this one in all honesty.