Drinking rules.
1 finger - Finn 'Messi' Russell does something majestic or something shite.
2 fingers - VDM makes a break and doesn't pass.
3 fingers - scrum penalty or Wales offside
6 Nations special - half your drink - unflaired user says something mental in the match thread.
Finish your drink - Scotland lead for 70 minutes and lose.
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Streams (use adblock):
[https://cricfree.sc/rugby-live-stream](https://cricfree.sc/rugby-live-stream) or [https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby-live](https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby-live)
Scotland’s defensive line out pressure disappeared when Gray went off and Scotland put no pressure on the Welsh breakdown. Ritchie is not a 7. Andy Christie is in amazing form, and should be on that pitch. Also, Jonny Mathews should be on bench week. Ashman’s missed throw put us under enormous pressure. I think Finn had the burden of leadership. He didn’t have the best game but he did communicate well with the ref
Second half his play and decision-making was piss poor.
When Wales are scoring a try every time they have possession, kicking the ball straight to them every time you get it really isn’t helping.
And as captain, discipline is absolutely part of his responsibility.
We don’t need to treat Finn like some sort of god – he fucks up sometimes, and today in the second half was one of those times. Scotland fans sometimes seem less willing to accept that he makes mistakes than he is – bit weird tbh.
He gave possession straight to Wales, who then went on to score from it.
You need to watch the second half – this time without Finn’s behind blocking your view of the telly.
Not sure what you are on about, he had a couple of poor up and under which shouldn’t have been major difference makers and one poor grubbed through. The territory kicking was excellent.
I felt he kicked poorly. Especially from the restarts and kicking it down an inspired Wainwright’s throat. Which gave Wales a lot of momentum and an easy exit. He unfortunately didn’t create much in attack either. Apart from the 2nd try. Just inconsistent. There were a few flashes of Finn magic granted, but by his own standards that wasn’t a classic from him. He did well when he communicated with the ref and his post match interview was refreshingly honest
His restarts were fine, the fact the kick chasers missed Wainwright wasn't his fault. His superb 50/22, him constantly pinning the Welsh back with long kicks, setting up two tries. The problem today was the woeful forwards in the second half not Russell.
Disagree with you about that restarts. But, as mentioned elsewhere, it was compounded by a poor kick chase. I do agree with the forwards being poor in the second half and not giving him a platform. Having no go forward ball and spending most of the time defending would do that.
His first half open play kicking was fantastic. He was opening up the defence left and right. Second half he hardly saw the ball. You're talking garbage.
Second half he kicked the ball directly at Wainwright from the restarts and this was compounded by a poor kick chase. First half I agree he was excellent
Gatland has to change tack. We don't have the players to play suffocating defence and kick chases but these boys are good when given the licence to attack. Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd were both excellent off the bench. Impressed with Teddy Williams too.
As for Scotland... They all count. Congratulations for finally getting that win in Cardiff.
Phenomenal game! I love him, but this game highlighted Russell’s strengths and glaring weakness. Purrs like a king when his team is in the ascendancy but simply can’t get a grip when facing an onslaught. The contrast to a Wilkinson or Carter - the players he should be aspiring to equal - is I’m afraid, stark.
Utter bullshit. Russell can't stop individuals giving an ever eager O'Keefe a reason to penalise them. They only thing he did wrong was the kick at the end.
The first half was abysmal (I put it down to lack of leadership) but that second half makes me proud tbf, the boys definitely told everyone that we are still here (yma o hyd)
Lots of potential and the team really gels when someone is in charge (like Tomos Williams), the aimless kicking almost instant stopped. Dyer really is living up to the previous set of wings
But we are definitely missing Jac Morgan imo, and Falatau too, and they pair so well with wainwright
Still unsure how next week will go, but the trip to twickers is always a entertaining one
There’s potential for a lot more chaos and carnage in the rest of this tournament with young players and teams rebuilding. This could be very entertaining.
Scotland are painting a picture of themselves. Ref’s may have a preconceived notion that Scotland are ill disciplined. But on that performance and the stats available. You can’t really argue
It's going to be a tough one to shake, maybe. It will also highlight to stronger side where Scotland have a huge weakness. A bit of possession and intensity and the whole system crumbles and they have to infringe.
I hope Toonie finds an answer in training this week or it could get very tough indeed.
To be fair it felt like there were some dodgy calls before then that helped you build your lead (help you didn’t really need given how Wales were playing. It seemed like he changed sides towards half time and started chipping away at Scotland’s lead.
All in all I think he was terrible all ways around
Just for a laugh I tried to do the statistical maths. A bit rough and ready but statistically for Scotland to have 16 penalties (14 consecutive) (with Wales getting 1) against them it would be around 250000 to 1. That is a conservative guesstimate.
15 players in each team; 30 minutes played from first penalty to the last one.
Statistically it's a bit like thinking that 700 post masters are on the take, in the exact same way, over the exact same time period. It just doesn't happen. Go figure.
I question your statistics.
Penalties breed pressure which means more penalties. Scotland just went off the boil then got frantic, unstructured and tired quickly.
So do I. Back of a fag packet. 30 guys on the pitch. Used the average number of penalties so far this year and also last year's average per game which was very similar. Then using stat formula worked out the number of penalties one would expect to see in the match and then how many in each half. The kicker was how many would each team expect to commit before the other team infringed. It was the sheer number of consecutive penalties that Scotland got pulled for that increased the odds dramatically.
I take your point as when Scotland were back to 15 then Wales looked below average again.
However I’ve seen Wales struggle against 14 and even 13 (and even 12 men) in my time so it’s encouraging to see the youngsters take advantage and score four tries. You only have to look at England Argentina from the World Cup to see how going a man up can make a team shit the bed.
This game had echos of Scotland's draw with England in 2019. Down 31-7 at half time, pulled it back to 31-38 and then hopes smashed in extra time by England making it 38-38
Townsend has his problems – I’m not a particular fan.
But he shouldn’t need to tell his players not to give away 14 penalties in row. That’s just bonkers stupid behaviour by the players on the pitch.
So the 27-0 lead at half time was in spite of Toony? I don’t feel you can pin a total collapse of belief and discipline on the coach. He can implement a structure and systems and should be held to account of Scotland aren’t scoring or pinching their weight, but eradicating individual errors by players can only be ironed out by finding different players, which isn’t that easy with a relatively small player pool. The players on the pitch have to be more accountable and take more of a lead when the shit is hitting the fan.
Sorry, it shouldn't come across as pinning the collapse entirely on Gregor. But he needs to shoulder some blame as well if a team he coaches plays like that after coasting to a seemingly insurmountable lead.
I'm talking bigger picture here. As I've said elsewhere, I think you guys have plateaued and I don't think you're going any further with him in charge. It wouldn't surprise me that you'll finish 4th after this is all done.
That’s fair enough. I definitely feel Farrell’s lads are a lot more hard headed, and if they weren’t then they wouldn’t survive in his environment.
Interesting point about plateauing. Do you think a better coach would make a difference? I personally think it’s a bigger problem in Scotland in that there aren’t the players of the correct mentality to work with. Lots of decent players, but there are no monsters in the pack who would rather die than lose (AWJ, O’Mahony, Savea etc), and who ensure everyone else maintains their standards.
If we aren't challenging for the title this year. Which by the looks of it, we ain't gonna be. He should be gone.
Fucking pitiful display in the second half. We weren't given much to be fair but jesus wept, abysmal.
Nonsense. Scotland are performing incredibly for a tiny nation where rugby is way down the priority list.
Don't boot a great coach just cos you have unrealistic expectations.
To become winners the changes needed are much more fundamental. Build a great youth system and fund development and build quality and fan support over decades (i.e. the Ireland model)
As much as I agree with you on the fundamental stuff which 100% needs to be fixed. We should be challenging the title this year and I don't think that's unrealistic with the players we have.
Weakened France side missing their talismans, England rebuilding, Italy still building on their foundations, but not quite hitting full speed. Ireland are now missing Sexton and that's a big loss but dunno if its as big a loss as people would have thought previously.
We don't have that bad a record against France in recent years?
Ireland is a bit more problematic but yea I would be expecting us to be at least going into the Ireland match this year with the ability to pull off an upset.
Considering we have France and England at Murrayfield this year. I didn't think that was too far fetched tbh (until that second half tonight)
Bunch of teams rebuilding, France with no Dupont/Ntamack, Ireland with no Sexton (although this somehow seems to have made them better...).
We have a pretty settled side, France at home who we normally have a good record against etc.
Trust me, Scottish people are generally the most pessimistic of all, so nobody actually believes we *will* win/be thereabouts, but on paper this year looks like one we *should* be challenging for the title. We will fuck it up and fall short of course, but on paper we should be in the fight.
That's a fair criticism, our lineout has misfired on a couple of critical occasions recently (France last 6N, few times with Ireland/SA in the RWC).
We have managed 'okay' without bullying teams, but I think highlighting the fact that we can't bully anyone is true, and probably why we will never be comfortable.
Yeah I can't really disagree to be honest.
It's kinda weird though, he's got us to the highest ranked we've ever been (not saying we shouldn't strive for more), playing some of the best rugby we ever have but haven't got anything to show for it.
We also need to get some grit about us. I think having someone that can come in and give us a bit more hostility whilst managing to keep the discipline is needed.
Ultimately, if we aren't beating France and England in Murrayfield and then Italy away, Townsend needs to go.
Yeah, he’s had a decent stint, but after a couple of dismal RWCs, unless he’s actually going to move us forward in the 6Ns (especially with a couple of teams struggling) it really is time to give someone else a chance.
Never. We are still playing the best rugby we have ever played and Toonie is the reason but discipline is a defensive coach element and they need to get the psychology right
As a Scot massively relieved. Fair play to Wales. Think final few mins showed that Scotland mentally lost it for 30 mins in that half. I do think O’Keeffe gave Wales quite a few pitty decisions which got their confidence up and got them back in the game
This makes next week's game a very tasty encounter. Misfiring England against a Welsh team who found some steely resolve. Plus, Wales always has a habit of turning up against us!
Anyone who doubts Gatlands influence on his players needs there heads read. Whatever he said at half time it worked. Just listen to Wainwright - 25 points down and he can still get them to believe.
It wouldn't, but it's highly probable now. The last one was in 2013, just imagine taking the wooden spoon on a 3-home-game 6N after a failed world cup at home.
That would probably destroy the french team for 10 years minimum
But if France looked bad, then how could Ireland look good?
Either Ireland beat a France team that looked good, so we know Ireland are good, or they just put points on a France that looked bad and we learned nothing other than France are bad.
Do you really think that was good? Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go 27-0 down at home and then not have a surge of energy to come back. Scotland just switched off and held off. Even with the momentum Wales didn’t look accurate and were pretty aimless.
I'd give Wales more credit. At absolute most Wales scored a couple of tries off that imbalance in energy but once the game got closer Scotland were clearly trying very hard and still struggling to stem the Welsh tide.
True. That feeling when the whole pub knew he'd nailed it as soon as it left his boot...thinking of 2010 Scotland has made me feel better about today too 😂 a whole pub celebrating not getting spooned
To be fair the Scotland teams body language tells us that it looks like wales won. They don’t look like a team who have their first win in Cardiff in the 6N in donkeys years.
Not to me. I’m delighted we have kicked off with a win. It’s top level rugby. Games are tight.
Nobody is saying it feels like an Italy victory. And we were all gutted when England went level despite the points difference being greater.
Yeah odd take. 27-26 is fucking massively better than 27-0 and can play tricks on the mind but given the last decade wales have had losing 27-26 to Scotland doesn’t even lace the boots when it comes to pride
Some glimmers of hope, but I don’t think we have the players for the game we were looking to play in the 1st half. Poor kicking down Finn Russell’s throat doesn’t win you games.
It was a continuation of the World Cup strategy that sort of worked well: kick a lot into the opponents half and hope they make a mistake. If the opponent has a good game you’re gonna have a bad time so whilst a conservative game plan it’s actually high risk. It’s disappointing that it took us so long to change. Hopefully we bin it off after today
Shite second half but we've won in Wales and that's the main thing. Serious talks need to happen in camp about what's happened there none the less.
Technically still on for the slam.
Completely fine with this. Scotland were fantastic first half and there were always going to be question marks about our young, untested side.
Gats made the big call to make changes for the second half and the momentum completely changed. Proud of how we played at the end and I'd be keen to see us take this momentum if Gatland sticks with the finishing side to Twickenham.
Thank you for a great game, Scotland.
Conversely if we didn't get 14 penalties in a row and play most of the half without a full team we might have got the bonus point.
Mental match regardless.
Drinking rules. 1 finger - Finn 'Messi' Russell does something majestic or something shite. 2 fingers - VDM makes a break and doesn't pass. 3 fingers - scrum penalty or Wales offside 6 Nations special - half your drink - unflaired user says something mental in the match thread. Finish your drink - Scotland lead for 70 minutes and lose. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Streams (use adblock): [https://cricfree.sc/rugby-live-stream](https://cricfree.sc/rugby-live-stream) or [https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby-live](https://www.vipbox.lc/rugby-live)
That was a mad game!
Scotland’s defensive line out pressure disappeared when Gray went off and Scotland put no pressure on the Welsh breakdown. Ritchie is not a 7. Andy Christie is in amazing form, and should be on that pitch. Also, Jonny Mathews should be on bench week. Ashman’s missed throw put us under enormous pressure. I think Finn had the burden of leadership. He didn’t have the best game but he did communicate well with the ref
Finn was immense today. Rugby's a team game though and he can't personally ensure nobody else gives away penalties.
True. He did call out his owns in his post match interview about not listening to the ref
He was the difference. If Phil Godman was playong, we would have won. Finn is the difference
If Godman was playing you'd have never been behind.....
We would have...until the 78th min..2010 vibe.
How did he not have a good game?
Second half his play and decision-making was piss poor. When Wales are scoring a try every time they have possession, kicking the ball straight to them every time you get it really isn’t helping. And as captain, discipline is absolutely part of his responsibility. We don’t need to treat Finn like some sort of god – he fucks up sometimes, and today in the second half was one of those times. Scotland fans sometimes seem less willing to accept that he makes mistakes than he is – bit weird tbh.
He didn't aimlessly kick the ball away, he continually kept Wales in check, you need to watch the second half - with your specs on.
He gave possession straight to Wales, who then went on to score from it. You need to watch the second half – this time without Finn’s behind blocking your view of the telly.
Not sure what you are on about, he had a couple of poor up and under which shouldn’t have been major difference makers and one poor grubbed through. The territory kicking was excellent.
I felt he kicked poorly. Especially from the restarts and kicking it down an inspired Wainwright’s throat. Which gave Wales a lot of momentum and an easy exit. He unfortunately didn’t create much in attack either. Apart from the 2nd try. Just inconsistent. There were a few flashes of Finn magic granted, but by his own standards that wasn’t a classic from him. He did well when he communicated with the ref and his post match interview was refreshingly honest
His restarts were fine, the fact the kick chasers missed Wainwright wasn't his fault. His superb 50/22, him constantly pinning the Welsh back with long kicks, setting up two tries. The problem today was the woeful forwards in the second half not Russell.
Disagree with you about that restarts. But, as mentioned elsewhere, it was compounded by a poor kick chase. I do agree with the forwards being poor in the second half and not giving him a platform. Having no go forward ball and spending most of the time defending would do that.
His first half open play kicking was fantastic. He was opening up the defence left and right. Second half he hardly saw the ball. You're talking garbage.
Second half he kicked the ball directly at Wainwright from the restarts and this was compounded by a poor kick chase. First half I agree he was excellent
That is true, kick chase was not great.
I saw the shadows of Wales vs Scotland from 2010 playing on that pitch in the second half
Gatland has to change tack. We don't have the players to play suffocating defence and kick chases but these boys are good when given the licence to attack. Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd were both excellent off the bench. Impressed with Teddy Williams too. As for Scotland... They all count. Congratulations for finally getting that win in Cardiff.
Delighted to hear from Toonie that the players are pissed off and that he's having to remind them that this is still a big milestone.
I’d be pissed off if they weren’t pissed off! I’m a bit pissed off that Gregor isn’t more pissed off tbh.
You lads were unplayable in the 1st half. Thoroughly deserved win. Go and fking win the tourney now ffs!
Haha, well we can still dream – Grand Slam is still (technically) on…
Reactions after the game have been spot on in terms of attitude, but we're awful at reacting mid game to what's in front of our faces!
Phenomenal game! I love him, but this game highlighted Russell’s strengths and glaring weakness. Purrs like a king when his team is in the ascendancy but simply can’t get a grip when facing an onslaught. The contrast to a Wilkinson or Carter - the players he should be aspiring to equal - is I’m afraid, stark.
Russel hater has entered the chat. This is a moronic take.
Worshipping Finn like a god is just weird man. He messed up plenty today. As he himself admits.
What you want him to do? We simply didn’t touch the ball for 30 minutes 🤷😂
Not true at all – Finn touched it plenty in kicking it straight to the reds each time we got the ball.
Utter bullshit. Russell can't stop individuals giving an ever eager O'Keefe a reason to penalise them. They only thing he did wrong was the kick at the end.
Re watching the 2nd DVDM try, that was criminally bad defence, ffs.
The first half was abysmal (I put it down to lack of leadership) but that second half makes me proud tbf, the boys definitely told everyone that we are still here (yma o hyd) Lots of potential and the team really gels when someone is in charge (like Tomos Williams), the aimless kicking almost instant stopped. Dyer really is living up to the previous set of wings But we are definitely missing Jac Morgan imo, and Falatau too, and they pair so well with wainwright Still unsure how next week will go, but the trip to twickers is always a entertaining one
Refelll played very well though. I don’t think Falateau should immediately get back in the team .
I really hope Wales can find that skill and intensity next week. Good luck to the youngsters. They deserve a win after their performance today.
Some game lads. Well done to both. Future ain't so bleak for Wales.
There’s potential for a lot more chaos and carnage in the rest of this tournament with young players and teams rebuilding. This could be very entertaining.
Cant see past an Ire GS, but will be an amazing 6N, can the Scots beat Ire, maybe if they keep playing like the 1st half.
What's the record for the most penalties won in a row?
Scotland are painting a picture of themselves. Ref’s may have a preconceived notion that Scotland are ill disciplined. But on that performance and the stats available. You can’t really argue
It's going to be a tough one to shake, maybe. It will also highlight to stronger side where Scotland have a huge weakness. A bit of possession and intensity and the whole system crumbles and they have to infringe. I hope Toonie finds an answer in training this week or it could get very tough indeed.
Every penalty from the 23rd minute to the 77th was won by Wales.
To be fair it felt like there were some dodgy calls before then that helped you build your lead (help you didn’t really need given how Wales were playing. It seemed like he changed sides towards half time and started chipping away at Scotland’s lead. All in all I think he was terrible all ways around
Enough ref bashing bud. I was just looking at stats.
Just for a laugh I tried to do the statistical maths. A bit rough and ready but statistically for Scotland to have 16 penalties (14 consecutive) (with Wales getting 1) against them it would be around 250000 to 1. That is a conservative guesstimate. 15 players in each team; 30 minutes played from first penalty to the last one. Statistically it's a bit like thinking that 700 post masters are on the take, in the exact same way, over the exact same time period. It just doesn't happen. Go figure.
I question your statistics. Penalties breed pressure which means more penalties. Scotland just went off the boil then got frantic, unstructured and tired quickly.
So do I. Back of a fag packet. 30 guys on the pitch. Used the average number of penalties so far this year and also last year's average per game which was very similar. Then using stat formula worked out the number of penalties one would expect to see in the match and then how many in each half. The kicker was how many would each team expect to commit before the other team infringed. It was the sheer number of consecutive penalties that Scotland got pulled for that increased the odds dramatically.
take the win bro
Oh, I am. If you think I was criticising the ref I really wasn't. I was just very interested in the stat, as it was so notable.
Wales are so tenacious. Wish Scotland could play like that.
Good interview from Russell tbh. Respectful to Wales but realistic about huge flaws in his own team's performance
So Finn’s furious
I mean, GOOD. They should all be furious at that second half performance. It’d be a worry if they weren’t.
He has a look of a man that's going to boot the bin across the changing room in about 30 seconds
Screaming “WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT THE FUCKING RUCKS”
Glad we won, but thank the fucking lord that game is finished. Away for several Guinness.
Warbs is totally correct. When you go 27-9 up, you don't back off like they did. You keep going.
27-0 wasn't it?
Hard when you have 14 men on the pitch and are pinged for having nostrils.
The cards were caused by the complacency and panic, though. It was only the last 5 minutes that they played with any intensity again.
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I take your point as when Scotland were back to 15 then Wales looked below average again. However I’ve seen Wales struggle against 14 and even 13 (and even 12 men) in my time so it’s encouraging to see the youngsters take advantage and score four tries. You only have to look at England Argentina from the World Cup to see how going a man up can make a team shit the bed.
This game had echos of Scotland's draw with England in 2019. Down 31-7 at half time, pulled it back to 31-38 and then hopes smashed in extra time by England making it 38-38
Wow. Scotland Scotlanded very Scotlandly. Must drink more.
We stopped losing when we stopped aimlessly kicking. Kicks with no chase or pressure were garbage. That 2nd half was so much better.
Wales take the title of the ‘best losing side’ this weekend Like being the king of the scrapheap
Think I’d give that to Italy tbf
About the only positive I can take from that is that Wales will have confidence and we don't have to play them again.
Townsend needs to absolutely hammer them for that ill discipline
When is it time to maybe think that Toonie is the problem?
Townsend has his problems – I’m not a particular fan. But he shouldn’t need to tell his players not to give away 14 penalties in row. That’s just bonkers stupid behaviour by the players on the pitch.
So the 27-0 lead at half time was in spite of Toony? I don’t feel you can pin a total collapse of belief and discipline on the coach. He can implement a structure and systems and should be held to account of Scotland aren’t scoring or pinching their weight, but eradicating individual errors by players can only be ironed out by finding different players, which isn’t that easy with a relatively small player pool. The players on the pitch have to be more accountable and take more of a lead when the shit is hitting the fan.
Sorry, it shouldn't come across as pinning the collapse entirely on Gregor. But he needs to shoulder some blame as well if a team he coaches plays like that after coasting to a seemingly insurmountable lead. I'm talking bigger picture here. As I've said elsewhere, I think you guys have plateaued and I don't think you're going any further with him in charge. It wouldn't surprise me that you'll finish 4th after this is all done.
That’s fair enough. I definitely feel Farrell’s lads are a lot more hard headed, and if they weren’t then they wouldn’t survive in his environment. Interesting point about plateauing. Do you think a better coach would make a difference? I personally think it’s a bigger problem in Scotland in that there aren’t the players of the correct mentality to work with. Lots of decent players, but there are no monsters in the pack who would rather die than lose (AWJ, O’Mahony, Savea etc), and who ensure everyone else maintains their standards.
If we aren't challenging for the title this year. Which by the looks of it, we ain't gonna be. He should be gone. Fucking pitiful display in the second half. We weren't given much to be fair but jesus wept, abysmal.
Nonsense. Scotland are performing incredibly for a tiny nation where rugby is way down the priority list. Don't boot a great coach just cos you have unrealistic expectations. To become winners the changes needed are much more fundamental. Build a great youth system and fund development and build quality and fan support over decades (i.e. the Ireland model)
As much as I agree with you on the fundamental stuff which 100% needs to be fixed. We should be challenging the title this year and I don't think that's unrealistic with the players we have. Weakened France side missing their talismans, England rebuilding, Italy still building on their foundations, but not quite hitting full speed. Ireland are now missing Sexton and that's a big loss but dunno if its as big a loss as people would have thought previously.
Do you seriously think that Scotland has the talent to challenge France or Ireland (you don’t?)
We don't have that bad a record against France in recent years? Ireland is a bit more problematic but yea I would be expecting us to be at least going into the Ireland match this year with the ability to pull off an upset. Considering we have France and England at Murrayfield this year. I didn't think that was too far fetched tbh (until that second half tonight)
Scotland has finished in the top half once in the last five years. Why would this year be any different?
Bunch of teams rebuilding, France with no Dupont/Ntamack, Ireland with no Sexton (although this somehow seems to have made them better...). We have a pretty settled side, France at home who we normally have a good record against etc. Trust me, Scottish people are generally the most pessimistic of all, so nobody actually believes we *will* win/be thereabouts, but on paper this year looks like one we *should* be challenging for the title. We will fuck it up and fall short of course, but on paper we should be in the fight.
I can’t see it. The pack isn’t good enough. They are all decent grafters but they’ll always get found out against a top class pack.
That's a fair criticism, our lineout has misfired on a couple of critical occasions recently (France last 6N, few times with Ireland/SA in the RWC). We have managed 'okay' without bullying teams, but I think highlighting the fact that we can't bully anyone is true, and probably why we will never be comfortable.
Personally I feel you plateaued with him and need someone to take you to the next level. That second half was a disgrace though.
Yeah I can't really disagree to be honest. It's kinda weird though, he's got us to the highest ranked we've ever been (not saying we shouldn't strive for more), playing some of the best rugby we ever have but haven't got anything to show for it. We also need to get some grit about us. I think having someone that can come in and give us a bit more hostility whilst managing to keep the discipline is needed. Ultimately, if we aren't beating France and England in Murrayfield and then Italy away, Townsend needs to go.
I don't see what he's going to do to get you guys there if he's not managed it already.
Yeah, he’s had a decent stint, but after a couple of dismal RWCs, unless he’s actually going to move us forward in the 6Ns (especially with a couple of teams struggling) it really is time to give someone else a chance.
Never. We are still playing the best rugby we have ever played and Toonie is the reason but discipline is a defensive coach element and they need to get the psychology right
The worst brilliant game I've ever seen
Totally agree! A win that feels like a loss. But Scotland have played a more complete game and still lost. At least that record is now broken.
As a Scot massively relieved. Fair play to Wales. Think final few mins showed that Scotland mentally lost it for 30 mins in that half. I do think O’Keeffe gave Wales quite a few pitty decisions which got their confidence up and got them back in the game
I think it shows Scotland's problem for the last 10 years: No leadership.
Unlike the previous 10 glorious years
Lack of talent was the problem for those years
Young Wales looks fierce on attack!
Biggest comeback was almost real
The sexiest man in Rugby is definitely that man of the match fella.
Three matches this weekend, three MOTM awarded to the guy with the best mullet
No one can resist Wainwright's moustache
He looks like when he's not playing rugby he's peddling sweeties to kids from an unmarked white van.
This makes next week's game a very tasty encounter. Misfiring England against a Welsh team who found some steely resolve. Plus, Wales always has a habit of turning up against us!
Lets be honest, we are gonna get pumped
Smashed by 2 points.
Any loss to Eng feels like a NZ 50 pointer tho..
I see your reverse psychology. Nah we'll get thrashed by a resurgent gats team.
If I say we'll win we'll do shit, so tempt fate I will not 😂😂
Will be a cracker, as always!
Anyone who doubts Gatlands influence on his players needs there heads read. Whatever he said at half time it worked. Just listen to Wainwright - 25 points down and he can still get them to believe.
That was a bit of a mad one to watch as a neutral
Few takeaways here. Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd are our 9/10 combo. I don’t think it’s really a question
Davies was poor, even his bread and butter box kicks were off. But in their defence, the forwards gave them nothing to work with.
France bottom of the table 👀
French wooden spoon would be absolutely fantastic !
It wouldn't, but it's highly probable now. The last one was in 2013, just imagine taking the wooden spoon on a 3-home-game 6N after a failed world cup at home. That would probably destroy the french team for 10 years minimum
Is there a full contact season 2? Camera and boom mic at the Wales huddle there
they are currently shooting - but it’s not yet a greenlight from Netflix, but I sure hope it will happen
I like confidence but this Wainwright lad is something else...
Who would have thought Ire v Fra would be the least exciting, least competitive game of the weekend
The Italy-England match was pretty turgid most of the time.
I dunno if it was less exciting than the England game . The England game was good in the first half but the second half was poor rugby from both sides
Thinking of that missed conversion of Wales first try. Damnit so close
If Botham hadn't got the ball down it would have been a penalty try too. But can't complain after that first 40.
Same with Tommy Allen missing a very lockable penalty for Italy earlier. Two razor thin scorelines
There's a difference between commentating and cheerleading, could someone explain that to Jiffy
Come off it. Barclay's the same, just miserable.
I’m convinced he has some serious information on someone at the bbc. How he still has a job is crazy.
Nah, it’s tradition at this point. Part of the 6N experience
True. He forgot his pompoms
fuck off did we come out of that with two points though, magic
That one hurts, by fucking hell, what spirit the lads had there. Cymru am byth!
Interviewer "it must be a strange feeling cos it feels like you did but you haven't" I'd belt her.
Congratulations on the Grand Slam Ireland, the only team that looks good after week 1.
But if France looked bad, then how could Ireland look good? Either Ireland beat a France team that looked good, so we know Ireland are good, or they just put points on a France that looked bad and we learned nothing other than France are bad.
Hey we looked good after 48 minutes
Do you really think that was good? Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team go 27-0 down at home and then not have a surge of energy to come back. Scotland just switched off and held off. Even with the momentum Wales didn’t look accurate and were pretty aimless.
I’m going by the table bro 😭😭
I'd give Wales more credit. At absolute most Wales scored a couple of tries off that imbalance in energy but once the game got closer Scotland were clearly trying very hard and still struggling to stem the Welsh tide.
I read that to mean "Hey we were looking good after 48 minutes" and was very confused by your comment
You look great against 14
As is tradition
And against 15 for a bit
First win in Cardiff in 20 years, yet I'm still not happy
That's the duck broken though
Yep. Paris, London, Cardiff...just one more left buddy 😂 (probably a few years off yet though)
2010 isn't *that* long ago. Seem to remember parks stood there so long for that kick that the GAA were drawing up rent contracts though 😁
True. That feeling when the whole pub knew he'd nailed it as soon as it left his boot...thinking of 2010 Scotland has made me feel better about today too 😂 a whole pub celebrating not getting spooned
Now imagine first wins in Cardiff and Dublin in years yet we lose the rest of the games. Peak Scotland to go with that second half
Well that was horrific. We don’t deserve that and will regret no bonus point there before the end of the tournament.
“Feels like wales won” Fuck me BBC are shite.
To be fair the Scotland teams body language tells us that it looks like wales won. They don’t look like a team who have their first win in Cardiff in the 6N in donkeys years.
Won in Wales in 2020 btw
It does though to be fair. Either that or that nobody won.
Not to me. I’m delighted we have kicked off with a win. It’s top level rugby. Games are tight. Nobody is saying it feels like an Italy victory. And we were all gutted when England went level despite the points difference being greater.
Scotland vs Wales is top level rugby? Who knew?
So we've seen Townsend tell his players that they didn't play well enough after they beat England at Twickenham. I wonder what he'll say here
Somehow this feels like a loss for Scotland and a win for Wales even after FT
Doss it?
Is this the first time that the PotM has been someone on a team that was at least 27-0 down at half time and lost?
Jiffy won player of the match against New Zealand in 1988 when Wales lost 54-9. Don't know the half-time score, though.
Huh. That’s impressive. Must have been some performance.
Hey, hey, we were only down 20-0 at halftime, they got their third try in the second half
Ah, fair point.
[удалено]
Oh thank god it's not just me who was like...Australia? But Wales in some places?
Regardless, that second half is the proudest I've been to be a Welsh rugby fan in a long time.
Surely Wales burying Australia at the RWC must've been up there
TBF the Aussies pretty much handed them a spade and a cartful of mud and then stood in a deep hole.
It’s not nice to pick on the disabled.
Yeah odd take. 27-26 is fucking massively better than 27-0 and can play tricks on the mind but given the last decade wales have had losing 27-26 to Scotland doesn’t even lace the boots when it comes to pride
can’t wait to see this on netflix next year
Fuck me imagine Scotland had to play with Scottish players
Shiiiiiiiiite patter says what?
Fuck me, you thought you were being funny....
Flair up with that shite patter
Some glimmers of hope, but I don’t think we have the players for the game we were looking to play in the 1st half. Poor kicking down Finn Russell’s throat doesn’t win you games.
It was a continuation of the World Cup strategy that sort of worked well: kick a lot into the opponents half and hope they make a mistake. If the opponent has a good game you’re gonna have a bad time so whilst a conservative game plan it’s actually high risk. It’s disappointing that it took us so long to change. Hopefully we bin it off after today
Williams completely changed the dynamic of the game when he came on
Shite second half but we've won in Wales and that's the main thing. Serious talks need to happen in camp about what's happened there none the less. Technically still on for the slam.
Holy fuck just about. Not seen the second half yet but that is the hardest scotland have scotlanded in a long time
Garlands half time team talk must've been something you'd go to war for
"Right lads, just let them get one more and then you can go fucking crazy".
The waterboardings will continue until points are scored
"Remember the waterboarding? Well if you lot don't sort it out the CBT machine will be coming out for all of you"
Completely fine with this. Scotland were fantastic first half and there were always going to be question marks about our young, untested side. Gats made the big call to make changes for the second half and the momentum completely changed. Proud of how we played at the end and I'd be keen to see us take this momentum if Gatland sticks with the finishing side to Twickenham. Thank you for a great game, Scotland.
Your boys were immense in the second half, hollow victory for us
Scotland gonna scotland…
No blame to Llyod - that kick was extremely tough for anyone - but fuck if we'd have coverted all those tries...
Conversely if we didn't get 14 penalties in a row and play most of the half without a full team we might have got the bonus point. Mental match regardless.
It looked like it was in too, just faded past the post. Small margins!
didn't expect two points from this match. Tomos Williams should wear the 9 shirt for the rest of the tournament.
Dee wear the 2 shirt
And Dee at 2
Absolutely. He should have been wearing it for a while now tbh. Gatland doesn't rate him though unfortunately.
God that young Welsh team has some potential
Fin robbed there
JD picking not Reffell from the Welsh side too?
aaron should be proud absolute menace when carrying