[RWC2023] Ireland vs Scotland (07/10/2023)

[Jimbo]

unfortunately have to agree. I maintain that they can do it but *can* is doing a lot of work here

There always a chance if Ireland have a bad day and Scotland have a very good game and 'could' but I'm not sure the Scottish team have the experience etc to shine in what is essentially a knockout game, conversely I think Ireland are too focussed to lose to Scotland here.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Yeah, despite what Rassie and Foster would have you believe the pressure is all on Scotland here. Ireland don't have to do anything they haven't done before while Scotland need to answer a lot of questions.

 

[OldSchoolRugga]

Scotland will come out firing, but I think Ireland will be too strong, and Scotland will be out.

 

[Groundhog]

Yes apparently team will remain unchanged bar Sheehan to start and Conan to the bench. McCloskey Earls or O'Brien a toss up for Henshaw's spot if he doesn't pass fit.

 

[miccloarch]

I'll be cheering for a high scoring game, Scotland to win by 20+ but both sides to score 4 tries.


ETA: Hang on, no, that'd mean Ireland go home, bugger, looks like SA are already confirmed in the QFs.
Given that, I'll be a little torn in my support - I like both teams, naturally I'd support the underdog, but then, Ireland have a (much) better chance of being the NH team to go deep into the tourney and keep the KO stages more interesting for me. Scotland are more British, but I myself am more Irish (too remote to count for anything).
Re: Finn Russell, as he's a Bath player this season - I want him coming to us happy and confident, on the other hand, it'd be nice to get him a couple of weeks earlier.


ETA2: For clarification, in the case of a tie between three or more Teams at the end of the pool phase, once the highest ranked Team has been determined following the above criteria, to determine the next higher ranked Team the process would repeat, starting at the first criterion.
So, back to my original wish then, Scotland to win by 20+ but both sides to score 4 tries.

I was confused about this as well, I've been thinking and telling people all week SA are already through. It's very counterintuitive.

In fact it's bizarre. If both teams have already scored their 4 tries and Scotland are winning by, say, 19 points with time running out, Ireland will have no choice but to let Scotland score again to eliminate SA. Highly unlikely scenario, but possible. Now I see why Bok fans are nervous lol.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

All streaks come to an end.
And remember; smile cause it happened.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

All streaks come to an end.
And remember; smile cause it happened.

And it will end at 25 with Johnny Sexton walking into the light*.

*To bully school coaches into ensuring his son is on the top team and getting the best opportunities.

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

James Ryan out.

Hendo in with Mcarthy on bench? Not sure who calls lineouts if hendo goes off

 

[Zed]

Yeah, despite what Rassie and Foster would have you believe the pressure is all on Scotland here. Ireland don't have to do anything they haven't done before while Scotland need to answer a lot of questions.

Really? 6th place in the world vs 1st place. Ireland never made it out the quarters and potentially face not making it out of the pool. Scotland are expected to lose and Ireland are expected to win. According to a lot of rugby pundits the World Cup is Irelands to lose. That's a lot of pressure. Some teams thrive in those circumstances, but we've seen others crumble. All 4/5 times the ABs lost in World Cups they were heavy favoruites to win that game and win the WC. Pressure can be a *****... That said I do think Ireland will be up for this and I reckon it could be a 15/20 point win for Ireland. Ireland need to score first and build up a lead, then the pressure will be off.

 

[Umaga's Witness]

My head says we should go through but have this horrible feeling they are really going to put it to us (although did in the 6N about this fixture). To be honest if they do put it to us and we go out, were we really ever going to beat NZ, Wales, SA/France anyway.

Thought Dan Sheehan's comments were the right tone - treat this as a normal game rather than get emotionally hyped. If we do, can't see us beating NZ.

I also think the first score is massive here. It is a big uphill task if Scotland find themselves [10] points behind early on. Think our bench is massive also.

Nervous nelly, is that you?

What makes you think you would not beat NZ, france, or South Africa. Or scotland.

 

[duncanb]

Expect a really open game for this one, mainly due to Scotlands needs.
Think Ireland will win however may have an early scare or two.
Each tournament there is a group of death and unfortunate for Scotland they got it this cycle.
However they did put a poor one in v Boks.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Really? 6th place in the world vs 1st place. Ireland never made it out the quarters and potentially face not making it out of the pool. Scotland are expected to lose and Ireland are expected to win. According to a lot of rugby pundits the World Cup is Irelands to lose. That's a lot of pressure. Some teams thrive in those circumstances, but we've seen others crumble. All 4/5 times the ABs lost in World Cups they were heavy favoruites to win that game and win the WC. Pressure can be a *****... That said I do think Ireland will be up for this and I reckon it could be a 15/20 point win for Ireland. Ireland need to score first and build up a lead, then the pressure will be off.

For this game, yes really. Scotland have lost as many consecutive matches to us as Ireland have lost world cup QFs and are facing the prospect of not making it out of a world cup for the third time in four attempts. Scotland have to break new ground, Ireland don't. I don't think an underdog tag shields that much.

Pressure ramps up on Ireland (and all teams) next week.

Agree on the last two sentences. To be honest I think a 40 point thrashing is a more likely result than us going out given recent fixtures for both sides. It'll take a really weird game for Scotland to get what they need.

James Ryan out.

Hendo in with Mcarthy on bench? Not sure who calls lineouts if hendo goes off

Is he? Kinsella said he trained fully yesterday and Thornley reporting that he's a doubt. Wouldn't be surprised to see him unless the coaching team don't think he's needed. They benched JGP and Henshaw in similar circumstances in Murrayfield earlier this year, didn't have Beirne for that either.

 

[dirty harry]

The Irish psyche is spilling all over this thread, a lot of confidence, a lot of faith, but you all have 1 eye on 'what if'. I dont think your the only Irish minds set like that this weekend, the players will surely be the same (the actual Irish ones that is lol).

Truth is, Ireland are favourites by a mile, they are in cruise control playing 2 levels of rugby above Scotland, they have the history over them, and should be dominant in pretty much every facet.

I did say pre tournament that if Ireland had lost to SA and were going into this as a winner take all they would no chance beat Scotland, theyd be in peices, but they didnt and IMP looked comfortably better than SA.

Rassie is doing Rassie things, bringing the game into disrepute on a daily basis, and continues to be a stain on rugby union IMO, which only goes to show how nervous he is.


That's not going to help Ireland. But Ireland have to be fine, there is less than a 3% chance Scotland get out to go a good start and maintain a lead, Ireland have to cruise to victory...





Dont they?

 

[O’Doyle Rules]

Nervous nelly, is that you?

What makes you think you would not beat NZ, france, or South Africa. Or scotland.

Because I'm always a nervous wreck game week haha

keep telling the kiwis at work we won't be playing them

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I don't buy into this notion that the Irish will feel that much pressure vs. Scotland. NZ in quarters, well, that will be another matter.
The thing with Scotland is that they are forced to play a style that is not their own. They are a) forced to come out swinging against a team that b) knows that, c) has arguably the best tacticians in the game, both on and off the field and c) has pretty much all the tools to counter them.

I am really trying to picture a game plan that wins it for Scotland and i don't see it. I'm all ears. Early cards or something, but that's not a plan. And even in that case, anxiety favors Ireland, not Scotland. Even the bloody clock will be on Ireland's side.

When i see the Irish fans feeling comfortable against Sco i can see why.

 

[Zac_ETNZ]

What makes you think you would not beat NZ, france, or South Africa. Or scotland.

Well, Foster has lost just about every record the ABs held, so why not lose one more by losing to Scotland? But we're safe for the time being, unless Scotland beat Ireland and SA.

 

[Zac_ETNZ]

Because I'm always a nervous wreck game week haha

keep telling the kiwis at work we won't be playing them

Scotland can look to '91 for motivation against Ireland, when they handed Ireland their only loss in round-robin. I'm rooting for Scotland to win.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Really? 6th place in the world vs 1st place. Ireland never made it out the quarters and potentially face not making it out of the pool. Scotland are expected to lose and Ireland are expected to win. According to a lot of rugby pundits the World Cup is Irelands to lose. That's a lot of pressure. Some teams thrive in those circumstances, but we've seen others crumble. All 4/5 times the ABs lost in World Cups they were heavy favoruites to win that game and win the WC. Pressure can be a *****... That said I do think Ireland will be up for this and I reckon it could be a 15/20 point win for Ireland. Ireland need to score first and build up a lead, then the pressure will be off.

I think the question of pressure is definitely relevant but I have a feeling it will be later in the competition that this will be tested.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Also worth saying that a Scotland who feel the *need* to perform is as likely to hurt themselves as it is Ireland, with Fin Russell calling the shots. Who knows that sorts of new passing and kicking techniques he'll invent on the spot. I can definitely see a scenario where Scotland dig themselves an early hole.