RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:Is there actually any expectation that the team is announced today? Since seeing that team sheet this morning I've been checking the SRU page pretty incessantly and just realised it might not even be out today.

Chunks Baws wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51289567

"Dave has pushed me to work on a lot of areas of my game," he says. "I've always been quite confident in myself and backed my ability but I've worked on areas that I probably haven't worked on before.

"One of the main things is my handling under pressure. Nowadays defences are putting a lot more pressure on with a lot more line speed so being able to get the ball in and out of your hands quickly under pressure, especially in the wide channels is important.

"On the defensive side, I think contrary to what many people believe I've always been a good defender. I get in good positions and the main issue I've had is tackle selection.

"I've maybe not stayed in the fight long enough or gone too high and I've been working on that. With [new Scotland defence coach] Steve Tandy coming in I really like his defensive system, I feel like it suits me."

Obviously any player will always try to put a positive spin on these things but he seems quite honest in this article and there are some promising bits. The defensive alignment thing is an interesting one. I remember him getting absolutely caned for (what seemed like) a bunch of defensive errors against Wales (I think) a couple of years back.

That rugby nerd/blogger guy thedeadballarea did a really good piece following that on how his positioning was actually great but the defensive system had holes that Wales exploited. Truth is without watching most games a couple of times or simply following one player at a time it can be very hard to get an accurate picture of their contribution

That was a really good article. That was when I went from thinking that Taylor was a bit shit to thinking he was a completely useless fud. I think that was the article that highlighted we used no "sweeper". Other teams would have the scrum half sweep behind to cover the back pitch in case the first line was beaten, we didn't. It made us look like fucking amateurs.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Chunks Baws wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51289567



Obviously any player will always try to put a positive spin on these things but he seems quite honest in this article and there are some promising bits. The defensive alignment thing is an interesting one. I remember him getting absolutely caned for (what seemed like) a bunch of defensive errors against Wales (I think) a couple of years back.

That rugby nerd/blogger guy thedeadballarea did a really good piece following that on how his positioning was actually great but the defensive system had holes that Wales exploited. Truth is without watching most games a couple of times or simply following one player at a time it can be very hard to get an accurate picture of their contribution

That was a really good article. That was when I went from thinking that Taylor was a bit shit to thinking he was a completely useless fud. I think that was the article that highlighted we used no "sweeper". Other teams would have the scrum half sweep behind to cover the back pitch in case the first line was beaten, we didn't. It made us look like fucking amateurs.

I'm a lot less analytical when it comes to the rugby than I used to be but this seems correct. I've noted on here plenty of times - once our defensive line was broken, that was it. A try almost always followed as there was little to no second opportunity to tackle the line breaker. Even a half break with an offload - once it was breached, that was it.

Cameo wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Chunks Baws wrote:
That was a really good article. That was when I went from thinking that Taylor was a bit shit to thinking he was a completely useless fud. I think that was the article that highlighted we used no "sweeper". Other teams would have the scrum half sweep behind to cover the back pitch in case the first line was beaten, we didn't. It made us look like fucking amateurs.

I'm a lot less analytical when it comes to the rugby than I used to be but this seems correct. I've noted on here plenty of times - once our defensive line was broken, that was it. A try almost always followed as there was little to no second opportunity to tackle the line breaker. Even a half break with an offload - once it was breached, that was it.

To be fair, the article wasn't that black and white. It was saying that the traditional way is to have the scrum half sweeping but more and more teams now (including Scotland) don't. The theory is it should lead to less line breaks, although once the line is broken you are in more trouble. For Scotland, it just doesn't work as we haven't cut down on line breaks and aren't great scrambling.

Horne might help with that.

whatisthejava wrote:So big questions for next week

Who gets swooped out.

Bradbury for Haining
Graham for kinghorn
Is prob my only two

General Zod wrote:Nice re-tweet, Gregor...

https://mobile.twitter.com/gregortownsend?lang=en

Big D wrote:Russell has apparently done an interview with Mark Palmer.

Can't imagine anything good will come from it.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Big D wrote:Russell has apparently done an interview with Mark Palmer.

Can't imagine anything good will come from it.

If it is indeed Toony v Finn then there's only one winner. Toony's position was untenable as soon as we were knocked out of the RWC anyway.

Big D wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Big D wrote:Russell has apparently done an interview with Mark Palmer.

Can't imagine anything good will come from it.

If it is indeed Toony v Finn then there's only one winner. Toony's position was untenable as soon as we were knocked out of the RWC anyway.

There are never any winners in this type of situation. Only losers.

General Zod wrote:Doesn’t sound like he’s coming back while Townsend continues to take us from strength to strength.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... -walk-out/

Banquo wrote:

General Zod wrote:Doesn’t sound like he’s coming back while Townsend continues to take us from strength to strength.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... -walk-out/

Pretty sulky stuff

Donny osmond wrote:Without defending GT, who I think isn't right for the head job, I don't think that interview clears FR from anything at all, he just comes across as a petulant spoilt narcissist. Fuck them both.

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Big D wrote:

Banquo wrote:

General Zod wrote:Doesn’t sound like he’s coming back while Townsend continues to take us from strength to strength.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... -walk-out/

Pretty sulky stuff

I'm not sure it all is. Some of it is but some of it isn't. If he was sulky he wouldn't have spoken to the psychologist knowing there was no real reason to. Plus texting him to say he can go home? At least have the decency to call him, or do it face to face. That isn't to.say Russell is blameless, he clearly isn't*.

Every man and his dog knows Townsends tactics have been shite for a while. God forbid the team key play maker and apparent member of the leadership team wants to raise legitimate concerns. A key part of man management is to make your team feel like you are listening even if you don't change the plan.

*No surprise I am not completely against Finn, I was partly on KPs side when the england cricket team were partly mismanaging him.

paddy no 11 wrote:

Donny osmond wrote:Without defending GT, who I think isn't right for the head job, I don't think that interview clears FR from anything at all, he just comes across as a petulant spoilt narcissist. Fuck them both.

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Would agree with you

Unfortunately the question finn asks about gameplan is what all ye supporters on here say after watching Scotland play "what is the gameplan"

Be dropping price too after yesterday didn't have the composure when it mattered

Big D wrote:

Banquo wrote:

General Zod wrote:Doesn’t sound like he’s coming back while Townsend continues to take us from strength to strength.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... -walk-out/

Pretty sulky stuff

I'm not sure it all is. Some of it is but some of it isn't. If he was sulky he wouldn't have spoken to the psychologist knowing there was no real reason to. Plus texting him to say he can go home? At least have the decency to call him, or do it face to face. That isn't to.say Russell is blameless, he clearly isn't*.

Every man and his dog knows Townsends tactics have been shite for a while. God forbid the team key play maker and apparent member of the leadership team wants to raise legitimate concerns. A key part of man management is to make your team feel like you are listening even if you don't change the plan.

*No surprise I am not completely against Finn, I was partly on KPs side when the england cricket team were partly mismanaging him.

paddy no 11 wrote:

Donny osmond wrote:Without defending GT, who I think isn't right for the head job, I don't think that interview clears FR from anything at all, he just comes across as a petulant spoilt narcissist. Fuck them both.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

Would agree with you

Unfortunately the question finn asks about gameplan is what all ye supporters on here say after watching Scotland play "what is the gameplan"

Be dropping price too after yesterday didn't have the composure when it mattered

Banquo wrote:

Big D wrote:

Banquo wrote: Pretty sulky stuff

I'm not sure it all is. Some of it is but some of it isn't. If he was sulky he wouldn't have spoken to the psychologist knowing there was no real reason to. Plus texting him to say he can go home? At least have the decency to call him, or do it face to face. That isn't to.say Russell is blameless, he clearly isn't*.

Every man and his dog knows Townsends tactics have been shite for a while. God forbid the team key play maker and apparent member of the leadership team wants to raise legitimate concerns. A key part of man management is to make your team feel like you are listening even if you don't change the plan.

*No surprise I am not completely against Finn, I was partly on KPs side when the england cricket team were partly mismanaging him.

Some players are just difficult; you have to judge whether their presence ultimately helps or hinders. KP was sent away about a year before this was the case- but he is an utter knob. A lot of coaches are also shyte.

BTW, I should have said petty sulky stuff, reflecting both sides, as neither come out well.