Irl v Sco 6Ns 2020

[Ruckedtobits]

Not convinced our backrow will have the ability to win the battle for ball at the breakdown. We've definitely improved the ball-carrying capacity but that's only one side of the game.

Scottish scrum will be solid. Their line-out has been efficient. Their mid-field carries plenty of threat and their back-three have Hogg as the X-factor and two wingers who can take chances.

We bullied their pack totally at RWC19 and many forget the quality of that performance under Schmidt in what we thought was going to be the key Pool game in the World Cup. But Townsend is no fool and is capable of springing a surprise.

This is a game with high expectations of being a comfortable win for Ireland, with the sole media focus being on the quality and variety of our attack. For me the major focus should be on our defence and how we are going to pressure their half-backs in order to control the game.

[Oldschool]

Not convinced our backrow will have the ability to win the battle for ball at the breakdown. We've definitely improved the ball-carrying capacity but that's only one side of the game.

Scottish scrum will be solid. Their line-out has been efficient. Their mid-field carries plenty of threat and their back-three have Hogg as the X-factor and two wingers who can take chances.

We bullied their pack totally at RWC19 and many forget the quality of that performance under Schmidt in what we thought was going to be the key Pool game in the World Cup. But Townsend is no fool and is capable of springing a surprise.

This is a game with high expectations of being a comfortable win for Ireland, with the sole media focus being on the quality and variety of our attack. For me the major focus should be on our defence and how we are going to pressure their half-backs in order to control the game.

A timely and fitting warning particular given our own concerns at HB.

[wixfjord]

Not convinced our backrow will have the ability to win the battle for ball at the breakdown.

What's this based on?

Doris is very good in this area (one of the leading turnover merchants in Pro14), Scotland will also be down Barclay from the RWC game and in that game we won 97% of our rucks.

Scotland are capable of springing a surprise (albeit that has dimmed without Russell) but let's not over hype them either.

[leinsterforever]

Stander and Doris would probably be better on the deck than Ruddock and Conan respectively, so the named backrow is likely better at the breakdown than the Leinster trio of Ruddock, JvdF, Doris or an Ireland backrow of Stander, van der Flier and Conan (if they've ever played together before).

[fourthirtythree]

" Aki has won a whopping 10 jackal turnovers this season, more than any other player in Ireland’s squad." https://www.the42.ie/ireland-six-nation ... 5-Jan2020/ he also has the best tackle success of the centres.
That could be a tipping point in his favour for picking him. I'd also see Murray starting as being a more defensive pick and less likely to turn the ball over - Scotland love turnover ball. In that sense the selection doesn't reek of complacency to me, it has an element of conservatism and containment recognising Scottish threat.

[MylesNaGapoleen]

" Aki has won a whopping 10 jackal turnovers this season, more than any other player in Ireland’s squad." https://www.the42.ie/ireland-six-nation ... 5-Jan2020/ he also has the best tackle success of the centres.
That could be a tipping point in his favour for picking him. I'd also see Murray starting as being a more defensive pick and less likely to turn the ball over - Scotland love turnover ball. In that sense the selection doesn't reek of complacency to me, it has an element of conservatism and containment recognising Scottish threat.

Aki is a great player but he does tend to give penalties away, yellows and didn't he get a red recently for ireland...during the world cup\warm ups?

Not saying he shouldn't be in the starting 15 but it might be prescient to give him a laptop with footage of the refs previous games and how he rules the breakdown. Some refs let some things go, like in-from-the-side or other. Being armed with knowledge on how the ref for our 6N games tends to rule the breakdown would be good.

[Ruckedtobits]

" Aki has won a whopping 10 jackal turnovers this season, more than any other player in Ireland’s squad." https://www.the42.ie/ireland-six-nation ... 5-Jan2020/ he also has the best tackle success of the centres.
That could be a tipping point in his favour for picking him. I'd also see Murray starting as being a more defensive pick and less likely to turn the ball over - Scotland love turnover ball. In that sense the selection doesn't reek of complacency to me, it has an element of conservatism and containment recognising Scottish threat.

Fair point and may certainly be relevant to Aki's selection ahead of Henshaw. It certainly isn't for his distribution.

Watson is the Scottish back-row I fear most and Bradbury is becoming a very physical No 8, if selected.

I don't fear Scotland but we must respect them and earn the right to beat them. That will not come unless our pack control all aspects of the game. Entertaining with off-loads is not the way to beat Scotland this year.

[Ruckedtobits]

Surprised at some of the Scottish selections - but then so will be many Edinburgh players & fans. It reads like a Glasgow Select XV (with some guest appearances). May keep some of the Media warriors happy.

Haining in the back-row will be a new face for our lads but he's a very physical player by all accounts. We should be attacking Sutherland at LHP and their half-backs with ball in hand.

Bring it on. Game to be won in final quarter.

[Twist]

Scottish team;

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter, capt)
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens)
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow)
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)
10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow)
9. Ali Price (Glasgow)

1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh)
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow)
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow)
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow)
6. James Ritchie (Edinburgh)
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
8. Nick Haining (Edinburgh)

Reps:
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh)
17. Allan Dell (London Irish)
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh)
19. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh)
20. Cornell du Preez (Worcester)
21. George Horne (Glasgow)
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton)
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester)

[cormac]

Scottish team;

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter, capt)
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens)
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow)
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)
10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow)
9. Ali Price (Glasgow)

1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh)
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow)
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow)
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow)
6. James Ritchie (Edinburgh)
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
8. Nick Haining (Edinburgh)

Reps:
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh)
17. Allan Dell (London Irish)
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh)
19. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh)
20. Cornell du Preez (Worcester)
21. George Horne (Glasgow)
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton)
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester)

Leinster exposed the defending of those Scottish centres, especially Huw Jones, a couple of months ago. I'd expect Ireland to do the same.

[Twist]

Im not sure why Henshaw is on the bench. Obviously he covers both centre positions, but with an injury in the back three we’re in trouble. Is Ringrose our wing cover?

[ronk]

Im not sure why Henshaw is on the bench. Obviously he covers both centre positions, but with an injury in the back three we’re in trouble. Is Ringrose our wing cover?

Ringrose is good wing cover. And we get strong players in the 23.

In the alternative scenario with Addison or D Kearney then we have cover at centre with Larmour moving, but we arent any better off.

Stockdale and Conway are only coming off if they are hurt anyway.

[CiaranIrl]

Im not sure why Henshaw is on the bench. Obviously he covers both centre positions, but with an injury in the back three we’re in trouble. Is Ringrose our wing cover?

Ringrose is good wing cover. And we get strong players in the 23.

In the alternative scenario with Addison or D Kearney then we have cover at centre with Larmour moving, but we arent any better off.

Stockdale and Conway are only coming off if they are hurt anyway.

Addison covers center better than any of the others cover full back.

[desperado]

2 possessions in first 5 mins. Murray kicks both away - badly. Hopefully not signs of things to come..

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[FLIP]

Referees not understanding scrums and physics non shocker

[RavenhillRaider]

Gutted for Doris. Hopefully he get another chance soon

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[RavenhillRaider]

2 possessions in first 5 mins. Murray kicks both away - badly. Hopefully not signs of things to come..

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Yep and another one!

I hope farrel is prepared to make changes.

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[FLIP]

Dangerous tackle on Stockdale completely ignored

[tingman]

Cooney time.

[desperado]

Cooney time.

+1. Murray is nervy and indecisive.

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