posted Feb 4, 2009

All my optimism gone. First game lost before it has even started due to clueless selections. Leaving out form players, others not match fit. This is exactly the same as last year.

Hadden is a complete and utter idiot. The sooner he goes the better. I am sick of the sight of him. For as long as he is in charge then we are not going to get anywhere

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posted Feb 4, 2009

I understand your feelings Davidoff, I really do as I'm of the same opinion, but c'mon buddy, you know you're going to be optimistic before kick off, it's the Scottish way....
Let's hope JW has been outstanding in training and shows what he can do and proves Hadden right.

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posted Feb 4, 2009

Although I'm hoping for a Wales win if Scotland can expose the following area I think they'll do well;

Lineout - the Welsh lineout is probably the worst i've seen in professional rugby. We all want to see a flowing game but if Scotland want to win I'd expect so see the ball being smacked into the corners for the first half.

They'll need Accurate kicking. Although the Welsh lineout is poor, Wales are quite strong in loose/open play so they will need to make sure they nail the kicks.

Mike Phillips - Phillips is an unquestionable talent but he has too short a fuse. You're never suprised to see him have 10 in the bin so expect Blair to be ruffling his feathers.

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posted Feb 4, 2009

I am optomistic its our Scottish duty - not sure about the selection tho - Thom Evans had to be a must - Webster has never delivered. Morrison??? never sure about him - can Cairns or the other Evans play comfortably at inside or bring Southwell inot the centres - Half backs fine - Blair is the best in 6N if not the world - Front row - fine - would rather have Murray tho - why is Jason White in the second when he is a six and Taylor who plays 2nd row in France playing six????? Would have put big Strokosh in the back row - I have high hopes we may do well - England will be no pushover but this could be a year we win at Twickers

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posted Feb 4, 2009

Really hard to think about Scotland's prospects when you're preoccupied with game no.1 against Wales, see how that goes before getting carried away. I don't think there's anyone we have no chance against, even despite the fact we're away against England and France, but we're shooting ourselves in the foot if we don't pick the strongest team, strength in depth or not. I think this year's an opportunity to throw caution to the wind, keep Paterson on the bench and try and win games by scoring tries. That was the key with the 1999 team, they were scoring about four tries a game on average I think so that says it all. A much better team then, players like Townsend and Tait having participated in a Lions series win in 97, so foolish to compare the two sides. Fabscotfan made two good points, one being this is a chance to force yourself into contention for the Lions and two being that it dosen't pay to pick players on reputation, which is possibly what's happened here.

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posted Feb 5, 2009

Pity about Murray and Hines but Hadden can't do much about that. I think the game revolves around Hogg, Taylor and Barclay knocking back Williams, Powell and Jones. If we can stop the Welsh back row providing the continuity of possession, we have a good chance. Would like to have seen both the Evans boys playing.

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posted Feb 5, 2009

I can't see Scotland partying like it's 1999...
A dour performance against Wales will end in a narrow defeat.
A similar line up will put up a plucky performance in France only to lose their way in the final 20 mins.
A more attack-minded team will then get slaughtered by England and Ireland but manage a win over Italy.
Time up for Hadden. But do we really want Andy Robinson in charge???

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posted Feb 5, 2009

Catherina's right - Hadden has to get up the table this year. We need to get past the idea that narrow defeat or heroic failure will do. Same applies to Glasgow and Edinburgh. If we don't improve results wise, it's taxi for Frank time. Robinson might be OK without too much pressure of expectation on him, but wouldn't it be great to attract someone like Jake White or Nick Mallett to Murrayfield? On the other hand, why would they want to come to a union that will tie their hands and tries to tell us that we're a small country with fewer players than wherever, so we're lucky to get what we get? Dream on - there's still Sunday. And another thing - why Sunday? BBC - why Sunday?/

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posted Feb 5, 2009

I want to give some credit to Hadden who I feel has brought us quite some way. He has done a lot of work on our physicality (to a degree where our pack matched if not outplayed the South Africans).

Key disagreements are clear -
Evans and Strokosch should be playing. Evans is a much quicker and more balanced runner than Webster and so a better winger. Strokosch - the man was a hero for us last year and should at least be in the match 22. That said, backrow is our strongest unit with many quality players.

Optimistic to see hour our front row does (even without Murray and Hines which are blows).

ps Southwell is in there for his punting as I suspect Godman will be passing a lot of the clearing duties to Southwell......

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posted Feb 6, 2009

Problem with Scotland lately has been you don't know which side is going to turn up.

I still believe however that their best chance of beating Wales is by frustrating them. Patterson needs to be in World Cup form with his kicking and their scrum half needs to be as insightful and smart as he has ever been.
If they can keep a tight defensive operation and keep that scoreboard ticking over, they have a chance of sneaking a result.

That said, I believe if Wales keep their own discipline (don't give away cheap points through giving Paterson easy kicks at goal), are patient and efficient, not wasting chance, they will win quite comfortably.

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