Scotland 2014 Six Nations Thread

[Big Ewis]

Eh wtf while I'm at it. I like Scotland, but I don't think they'll do well this year. They've got a tough calendar:

1 at Ireland
2 vs England
3 at Italy
4 vs France
5 at Wales

So that's 3 away games, two home games. So let's just say there's a big chance they'll lose in Ireland and Wales to start and finish their run. In between, Italy in Rome may prove a bit too tough. Finally their home games are against England and France. I actually think they might get a surprise win against either England or France, for some reason I have a feeling they might get England it's a long time due and England aren't at their strongest this year.

It seems the best they can possibly get is 2 victories, realistically. That would be beating Italy away and then either of France or England at Murrayfield. I don't think they can beat both France and England, and I'm positive they can't win in Cardiff, and really don't see them beating Ireland at home.

I'm quite eager to see what they can manage this year though as 2013 has been a very mitigated year for them. Good result in the 6N, a very good match against the Boks in Joburg, a Hollywood clutch finish against the Italians that same tournament, and then a handsome result against a feisty Japanese squad and a very solid performance against the Aussies in November.
But then the 28-0 against the Boks and a terrible result in Twickenham to open up the 6N...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Can't see them even coming close to England. Our last 6 nations we looked like we could lose all of our games yet we still walked all over the Scots. I think they will beat Italy and that will be it.

 

[Big Ewis]

Can't see them even coming close to England. Our last 6 nations we looked like we could lose all of our games yet we still walked all over the Scots. I think they will beat Italy and that will be it.

Well hopefully ure wrong. But if fate is to be such then so shall it be that destiny will fulfill itself as fate claims its rightful place amongst the things to be. As fate...

 

[g6mcg]

Scotland have a pack that can sometimes be effective at hampering the opposition, but never looks like really securing possession. I can't see us coming close to Ireland or Wales away, and don't think even a real deluge will help against France or England at home. No real hope away to Italy either, but if we have a good day we should have a reasonable chance - I reckon our backline is superior to theirs, it's whether we can deal with their forwards.

Not entirely sure why I'm so pessimistic this year, usually I expect us to be reasonably competitive, but then to manage to lose games due to a frequent failing to do the basics (How many Scottish attacks have we seen thwarted by knock ons and dire passes?), but this year I doubt we'll be near enough for that to matter.

 

[g6mcg]

Here's the squad according to the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25744819

Scotland squad
Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).
Injured list: Al Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) and Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).

Edit: I assume they mean Johnnie Beattie!

 

[Big Ewis]

Scotland have a pack that can sometimes be effective at hampering the opposition, but never looks like really securing possession. I can't see us coming close to Ireland or Wales away, and don't think even a real deluge will help against France or England at home. No real hope away to Italy either, but if we have a good day we should have a reasonable chance - I reckon our backline is superior to theirs, it's whether we can deal with their forwards.

Not entirely sure why I'm so pessimistic this year, usually I expect us to be reasonably competitive, but then to manage to lose games due to a frequent failing to do the basics (How many Scottish attacks have we seen thwarted by knock ons and dire passes?), but this year I doubt we'll be near enough for that to matter.

I've got to agree with everything you've said here. But I do see a scenario where they really contest with their forwards (we've seen it in 2013) and the passing game makes it to destination just a few times (we've seen good sequences on attack, even during that 0-28 loss against the Boks). Scotland has some quality backs, no doubt.

Based on how England really battered Scotland with their forwards last year in Twickenham, it's difficult to see Scotland doing it but I'll leave it out there as a possibility still.
And hey France can be France and take a shhit in stead of looking for a plan B and sink deeper into their own crap and Scotland play a good game at home and take advantage ?...

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

im really happy to see Dougie fife in the team he's been in amazing form for edinburgh this season he really deserves his international place

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Here's the squad according to the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/25744819

Scotland squad
Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).
Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).
Injured list: Al Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) and Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby).

Edit: I assume they mean Johnnie Beattie!

yeah his actual name is john but he likes to be called Johnnie instead of john

 

[g6mcg]

I've got to agree with everything you've said here. But I do see a scenario where they really contest with their forwards (we've seen it in 2013) and the passing game makes it to destination just a few times (we've seen good sequences on attack, even during that 0-28 loss against the Boks). Scotland has some quality backs, no doubt.

Based on how England really battered Scotland with their forwards last year in Twickenham, it's difficult to see Scotland doing it but I'll leave it out there as a possibility still.
And hey France can be France and take a shhit in stead of looking for a plan B and sink deeper into their own crap and Scotland play a good game at home and take advantage ?...

Haha, a plan based on the opposition being dire is always a good one! It's true that Scotland could put in a very good performance, but I can't see them winning without playing excellently. I admit that's not hugely insightful given that we're one of the weakest teams!

im really happy to see Dougie fife in the team he's been in amazing form for edinburgh this season he really deserves his international place

I agree he's been playing well, and deserves his place, but I can't see him being particularly effective at international level. I reckon Seymour might have a bit more about him, but have no evidence for that.

 

[Big Ewis]

Well let's not make it sound like Scotland is BAD opposition. They're still very much Tier 1, and they'll be at home there. Like I said despite the game in Twickenham and the Boks November one, I like everything Scotland has managed this year (well, last year). And I'm not counting on England being mediocre, I'm just saying it helps they're not all that impressive on paper. I'm sure Scotland will produce a tight game against either France or England at home, and why not take it all 80min later if they manage a big last 15min finale.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Well let's not make it sound like Scotland is BAD opposition. They're still very much Tier 1, and they'll be at home there. Like I said despite the game in Twickenham and the Boks November one, I like everything Scotland has managed this year (well, last year). And I'm not counting on England being mediocre, I'm just saying it helps they're not all that impressive on paper. I'm sure Scotland will produce a tight game against either France or England at home, and why not take it all 80min later if they manage a big last 15min finale.

i believe like most other six nations matches im afraid to say that if we do win then we win by penalties even though last year we scored 7 tries when we usually score about 3 or 4 per six nations but i think scott johnson is a good coach i believe that all our games win or loss will be very close, i think people really underrate us scots. and a question to any london irish fan is Kieran Low any good i only watched him one when he got his debut but didn't make that much off an impact and i was only wondering cause i wasn't sure if he was allowed to play for scotland

 

[Big Ewis]

well your mentioning of tries reminded me that Scotland has gotten better as the year went on. They've been better at the breakdown and better on attack as the year passed. I remember matches where they didn't look threatening on attack (in Paris in particular) and then against the Boks in the Quadrangular or even in the last November tests, despite not scoring a try against the Boks as one example they looked much better with ball in hand; but, as we've touched on it, they've lacked the finishing. But they've shown intent, and I salute that, and have in retrospect had a much, much better year than 2012.

One thing that is completely overlooked is their defense too. Not to take anything away from the Boks, but Scotland just got a bit unlucky against them in November. It was the disaster game that was pending on Scotland and actually happened, like France in NZ test 2. Scotland are better than 0-28, and some people won't see that. They think it's a normal result for them against the World no.2.
But besides the one disaster (which every team is entitled to), they've kept teams to a low total. They've kept Wales to 1 try, Australia to 2, and were even with the Boks last summer with 2 all (+pen try also for Boks) and managed fine resistance against an all-rampant Samoan squad who totally thrashed Italy.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

well like you say playing ireland at the aviva stadium i can not see happening as new zealand nearly lost to a strong ireland team. wales away will seem unlikely that we'll win but not impossible depending on wales form on the day. i do have a feeling we win a match at murrayfield but i have a stronger feeling we make a shock on the boards and win the calcutta cup. and italy after us thrashing them in the last six nations italy does look strong at the stadio olympico but got demolished by australia and scotland close to beating australia even though australia were missing Nick Cummins who looked strong in the november tests, Adam Ashley-Cooper another big miss and Matt Toomua getting injured who was a key player for australia who played against italy. but i still believe scotland can beat italy away

 

[Big Ewis]

Seeing how Italy barely got over and conceded 32points at home to a 12man *FIJI*, looked Tier 3 against Australia and lost easily to an Argentinian side which got thrashed in Twickers and Cardiff badly prior - all that after a terrible summer Quadrangular...albeit only losing by a point to the very Scotland we're debating...
But here's the thing from Italy's perspective: they're NOT winning Cardiff, Paris or Aviva. Just not gonna happen. Simply. And they've got just two home games. Whether they can scare England again the last weekend of the tournament or not and build on their last match against them (Twickers 2013) and find their mega-Rome-form.......not even the universe knows - but they do certainly know the most probable win, in sense, is Scotland in Rome.
They'll look to beat Scotland up with their forwards, bully them in the scrum, perhaps even collect another 7 points from there - take advantage of all the strengths they possess that Scotland doesn't. They might really show up that afternoon.
Italy could seriously go winless this year.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

lol i forgot about the italy November tests, they did very badly so i suppose i shouldn't expect an italian win at rome against scotland. but what i was thinking is since scotland lost the last two meeting against italy in rome. i also suppose we dont have a bad injury status the only main loss is tim visser but since Fife is doing well for edinburgh i think we wouldn't have a major worry for the wings, i suppose Euan Murray will be a big loss for the front row but im also sure we wouldn't have trouble finding another tighthead-prop to replace him, al kellock is definately not a major loss as we have Richie Gray, Johnny Gray, Grant Girchrist (who is also playing well for edinburgh) and jim hamilton in the second row so we wouldn't have a problem with his loss. and Peter Horne i dont even know who he is

 

[Big Ewis]

lol i forgot about the italy November tests, they did very badly so i suppose i shouldn't expect an italian win at rome against scotland. but what i was thinking is since scotland lost the last two meeting against italy in rome. i also suppose we dont have a bad injury status the only main loss is tim visser but since Fife is doing well for edinburgh i think we wouldn't have a major worry for the wings, i suppose Euan Murray will be a big loss for the front row but im also sure we wouldn't have trouble finding another tighthead-prop to replace him, al kellock is definately not a major loss as we have Richie Gray, Johnny Gray, Grant Girchrist (who is also playing well for edinburgh) and jim hamilton in the second row so we wouldn't have a problem with his loss. and Peter Horne i dont even know who he is

:lol: that made me crack up. Just the way it comes out of nowhere there.

Anyways, yes, as France found out, Italy *CAN BE* - can be a very different animal at home. Personally, I hope they find their form against England rather than against Scotland. Not just because I'm French and anti-English and all those clichés, but because it's time they take down England, esp. given last year's match in Twickers, it sort of follows their progress, it would be nice that they end their tournament with that. They'll have beaten every 6N team if they did...except themselves though. Italy hasn't ever beaten Italy...we'll have to wait for that one, I fear...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

:lol: that made me crack up. Just the way it comes out of nowhere there.

Anyways, yes, as France found out, Italy *CAN BE* - can be a very different animal at home. Personally, I hope they find their form against England rather than against Scotland. Not just because I'm French and anti-English and all those clichés, but because it's time they take down England, esp. given last year's match in Twickers, it sort of follows their progress, it would be nice that they end their tournament with that. They'll have beaten every 6N team if they did...except themselves though. Italy hasn't ever beaten Italy...we'll have to wait for that one, I fear...

I think Italy doing things that are phenomenally stupid could count as Italy beating Italy. Mauro Bergamasco as a scrum half anyone?

 

[LittleGuy]

I think Italy doing things that are phenomenally stupid could count as Italy beating Italy. Mauro Bergamasco as a scrum half anyone?

I posted those highlights in the italy thread coincidentally check them out...if you dare!! LOL.

On an aside I forgot to PM you about your Firefox issues, did you get them sorted out bud?

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I posted those highlights in the italy thread coincidentally check them out...if you dare!! LOL.

On an aside I forgot to PM you about your Firefox issues, did you get them sorted out bud?

Yeah it seems to have fixed itself.

 

[Big Ewis]

wow, ragerancher and LittleGuy just took a small shhit on the thread...I'm disgusted with it now. It was a perfect creation of impeccable design.
Ah well you might be right ragerancher. Italy may have very well already beaten Italy....so, that's that, the last team for them is England. Watch out !!....