RugbyRebels

Big D wrote:

switchskier wrote:Jones needs dropped. Can't complain about Russell when we have this nonsence in the most crucial defensive position on the pitch

That's not just Jones at fault. If Seymour holds the defensive structure, or Dunbar gets out on his man then Jones isn't left on two men.

It's a system failure.

It was still a weak attempt from a big man and it happens too often. The defence takes it's cue from 13 and too often we are narrow or wide at the wrong time.

Frustrating that Wales seem to have our number currently. Felt like there should have been space in behind given how aggressive (offside but getting away with it so fair enough) their defensive line was but none of the little chips or kicks came off. That game was there to be won with one moment of inspiration and one moment of luck but felt like we got neither.

Big D wrote:Watsons hand off on on Moriaty was nice.

Best moment of the game. No idea how he generates such power.

switchskier wrote:

Big D wrote:

switchskier wrote:Jones needs dropped. Can't complain about Russell when we have this nonsence in the most crucial defensive position on the pitch

That's not just Jones at fault. If Seymour holds the defensive structure, or Dunbar gets out on his man then Jones isn't left on two men.

It's a system failure.

It was still a weak attempt from a big man and it happens too often. The defence takes it's cue from 13 and too often we are narrow or wide at the wrong time.

Frustrating that Wales seem to have our number currently. Felt like there should have been space in behind given how aggressive (offside but getting away with it so fair enough) their defensive line was but none of the little chips or kicks came off. That game was there to be won with one moment of inspiration and one moment of luck but felt like we got neither.

I was under the impression Dunbar led the defence from 12 and they go off him and that's why they are always keen to have him in. Happy to be wrong though.

Jones was in that position because Dunbar was slow to get across but he missed the tackle. If Seymour doesn't go early they both make contact with him.

They problem lies deeper than just Jones. Our defensive structure as far back as the last world cup hasnt worked. Even decent defenders like the other centres have been at sea at times.

I am not defending Jones defensive abilities, he does need to work on them. All I am saying is it is not all his fault.

On the plus side, England showed it is possible to get around the South African defence.

Big D wrote:On the plus side, England showed it is possible to get around the South African defence.

SA will deep dick us if we play like we did today.

ARM wrote:Didn’t see the game. Worth watching? Doesn’t sound like it.

But let me guess...Scotland, once again, fail in trying to re-write the rules of modern rugby by thinking they can compete when they lose all the collisions by picking a lightweight team.

Actually no, I think we failed to speed up the game enough. Part of that seemed to be us (Price) trying to be (over) methodical and part is that it is very hard to play open attacking rugby with Mathieu Raynal as referee.

Wasnt a great game at all with very few linebreaks. Incidentally, while there is an argument that Horne's try should have stood (didnt look to lose contact with the ball til after it was down), why is he not catching that?

I have a big issue with TMO saying players losing the ball forward when they go backwards. Jackson against Munster and Horne. It’s clear that the ball continues to go backwards and then a try gets scored when Horne lands on it.

TMO ruin the game. Look at the arse that decided a shoulder charge to the neck isn’t even a penalty.

I only managed to see bits and pieces of the game. Looked like a whole lot of dodgy kicking and plodding about it in our own half. It all looked a bit flat? I thought all the chat was that we were fired up after getting humiliated by them before.

I'm torn on Jones. I can see the argument here (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/46085042) that the Davies try wasn't particularly his fault, but I find it hard to trust him in defence.

When did the Watson/Moriarty thing happen? Sounds like the only bit of the game worth looking up.

How did the backrow go? Sounds like our options for adding a bit of power in the pack are still very limited with Thomson, Denton, Bradbury all injured.

Russel had a good game for Racing. Involved in 3 of their 4 tries.

Scotsman ratings below look pretty good to me. Interesting to see that there was pretty much nothing to say about Toolis, I thought that we missed Gilchrist. A bit high for Hastings and Price, thought Horne added a bit of zip when he came on.

15. Blair Kinghorn

Good tactical kicking led to a strong field position to set up Scotland’s first try. 6

14. Tommy Seymour

The Glasgow wing showed strong running and decision making. 6

13. Huw Jones

Should have done better in defence and was a weak link for Scotland. He missed the tackle on George North which allowed the Wales wing to score the opening try, made a similar error for the second and did not get to show off his attacking skills. 4

12. Alex Dunbar

Broke well and showed good strength and pace as Scotland favoured a running game. 6

11. Lee Jones

Made a try-saving tackle on North early in the match and keen to come off his wing. 6

10. Adam Hastings

Showed no sign of nerves as he landed his first points for Scotland from the penalty tee and slotted an excellent conversion. Good maturity and vision with his tactical kicking. 6

9. Ali Price

Nippy service and a solid game from the Scotland scrum-half. 6

1. Allan Dell

Put under pressure by the inexperienced Wales front row at scrum time. 6

2. Stuart McInally

Bundled over the line after a catch and drive to score Scotland’s first try. 7

3. Willem Nel

Good work in the breakdown, especially in launching a Scotland attack early in the first half. Coughed up the ball at key moments in the loose. 6

4. Ben Toolis

A steady performance from the Australian-born lock. 6

5. Jonny Gray

Struggled in the loose as Scotland tried to build momentum. Driven towards the line but could not score a try for the visitors as it was chalked off for a double movement. 6

6. Jamie Ritchie

His huge tackle on Wales prop Smith paved the way for Scotland’s first points from the boot of Hastings. 6

7. Hamish Watson

A solid game for the Scotland flanker. 6

8. Ryan Wilson

Worked well with Gray in the loose. 6

SUBSTITUTES

Scotland changed their entire front row midway through the second half and the fresh legs almost snared a second try for the Scots, through Peter Horne. Darcy Graham won his first cap.

Cameo wrote:

ARM wrote:Didn’t see the game. Worth watching? Doesn’t sound like it.

But let me guess...Scotland, once again, fail in trying to re-write the rules of modern rugby by thinking they can compete when they lose all the collisions by picking a lightweight team.

Actually no, I think we failed to speed up the game enough. Part of that seemed to be us (Price) trying to be (over) methodical and part is that it is very hard to play open attacking rugby with Mathieu Raynal as referee.

Wasnt a great game at all with very few linebreaks. Incidentally, while there is an argument that Horne's try should have stood (didnt look to lose contact with the ball til after it was down), why is he not catching that?

Watched it last night. Whilst you might be on to something, it’s nigh on impossible to generate quick ball when you can’t win the collisions or dominate the breakdown. It’s a recurring theme - when teams like Wales put minimal bodies in to the breakdown, fan out and blitz hard, we struggle. We can often get away with it with Hogg on the park as he is a genuine world class talent. I think it was the 2016 6N when Hogg either scored or assisted >50% of our tries.

switchskier wrote:
7. Hamish Watson

A solid game for the Scotland flanker. 6

8. Ryan Wilson

Worked well with Gray in the loose.

Lol. Watson double the tackles and metres gained than those of Wilson and they get the same score.

Also Gray struggled in the loose but Wilson worked well with Gray in the loose???

Nice to see Dunbar made a linebreak?! What an achievement.

ARM wrote:
Watched it last night. Whilst you might be on to something, it’s nigh on impossible to generate quick ball when you can’t win the collisions or dominate the breakdown. It’s a recurring theme - when teams like Wales put minimal bodies in to the breakdown, fan out and blitz hard, we struggle. We can often get away with it with Hogg on the park as he is a genuine world class talent. I think it was the 2016 6N when Hogg either scored or assisted >50% of our tries.

Scotland needed to put another man into the breakdown, it was pretty clear Wales were desperate to slow our ball down and instead of smashing them off the ball we just left them.

whatisthejava wrote:

ARM wrote:
Watched it last night. Whilst you might be on to something, it’s nigh on impossible to generate quick ball when you can’t win the collisions or dominate the breakdown. It’s a recurring theme - when teams like Wales put minimal bodies in to the breakdown, fan out and blitz hard, we struggle. We can often get away with it with Hogg on the park as he is a genuine world class talent. I think it was the 2016 6N when Hogg either scored or assisted >50% of our tries.

Scotland needed to put another man into the breakdown, it was pretty clear Wales were desperate to slow our ball down and instead of smashing them off the ball we just left them.

I think this combines a few of our ills. We are to gentle into contact as ball carriers, then we don't through enough bodies in or the few that do don't clear out quick enough and then on Saturday it was rinse and repeat.

Head Coach Gregor Townsend has added six players to the Scotland squad for the 2018 Autumn Tests.



Glasgow Warriors quartet Adam Ashe (back-row), Scott Cummings (lock), Nick Grigg (centre) and Stuart Hogg (full-back) are joined by inbound English Premiership pair Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks back-row) and Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors stand-off).

The additions follow injuries sustained by Scarlets back-row Blade Thomson (head) and Harlequins centre James Lang (rib) as they represented their club sides at the weekend, while David Denton (Leicester Tigers) and Matt Scott (Edinburgh) continue their ongoing recovery from head injuries with their respective clubs.

The national team also confirmed Edinburgh trio Ross Ford (hooker), Henry Pyrgos (scrum-half) and Dougie Fife (wing) have been released back to the club.

Strauss and Ashe would be lucky to get many bigger chances than this to come in and make a difference with a bit of physicality.

I really hope at least one of them takes it.

Who is Cummins covering?

Whoops. Didn’t even spot Hogg there. I didn’t even think that was on the cards? When did he last play?

I though Kinghorn had a quietly solid game on Saturday.

After Saturday I am half tempted* to full tombola with Russell at 12 and Hogg at 13.

*Not really

Wow. After an out-of-window 4th international test to generate a quick buck at the expense of our domestic player's welfare we've called up our single most talented and arguably important player for the 6N & RWC who hasn't played a minute of rugby in two months. Bravo. That's my faith in the SRU's stance on player management fully restored.

Is Dean with the squad?

OptimisticJock wrote:Is Dean with the squad?

Don't think so.

The thing that staggered me was the frequency that the ball would come out to the first receiver and then go (via a full physical stop - along with any momentum gained) and turn round to pass behind to Hastings, soul sappingly slow and tedious.

I think that Price (hate picking on individuals) was pedestrian and Jones looked like he was being drawn in towards Dunbar, rather than being there to make the tackle and missing, he was out of position for both tries.

Apart from Watson, no-one else (to me) looked up for it in General...

Of all our injuries who is likely to challenge for a RWC spot?

Marfo? Not sure what is happening with him.
Gray - Looking increasingly like one half of our best second row.
Bradbury/Thomson/Barclay - All possibles.
Taylor - Likely?
Scott/Bennett - Possibles?

I don’t think we’ve ever beaten a Gatland coached team. Two years ago Howler was in charge in Lions year.

Final chance in 6N. At home. Must win.