I'm bored waiting for AA to post this so I present you with the Welsh squad. Some talent in there. Strong front row, Rowland has been excellent about the field as has Basham. Probs the best side Pivac could field considering how many are unvailable.
It won't be easy traffic for Manu with Tomkins and Watkin to contend with. Gonna be a good game.
15. Liam Williams,
14. Alex Cuthbert,
13. Owen Watkin,
12. Nick Tompkins,
11. Josh Adams,
10. Dan Biggar (capt),
9. Tomos Williams,
1. Wyn Jones,
2. Ryan Elias,
3. Tomas Francis,
4. Will Rowlands,
5. Adam Beard,
6. Ross Moriarty,
7. Taine Basham,
8. Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Leon Brown, 19. Seb Davies, 20. Jac Morgan, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Jonathan Davies.
Tompkins v Manu is a real worry...still let's hope to see a good game. Can't see using winning though
I remember south of Scotland Vs NZ in 1993. A lot of backs that had run out with sooth training were glad they were sat on the bench when Inga the winga stepped out.
We got pumped. Basil (Brian redpath) spoke at the dinner. Pointed to the badge the said south of Scotland Vs new Zealand 1993 and said "they almost got the score right"
(5-84 was the score).
Hmmm. I still feel like Wales will find a way.
Its not a match I would like to bet on. I do think Wales with suffocate the English attack. they are better at that than Scotland and Scotland made defending against England look fiarly strightforward
Wales also read Scotlands attack well. I cannot see them being any less prepared for this game
Prediction - tight game with Wales to win. Experience to count
Scotland / France? the french are looking ominous but we have good record against them However if France have a good day they could run away with it and I am concerned about some of the injuries we have. Digging a bit deep in a few positions
France by 15
Scotland v France: Scotland have home advantage, they have a very good organised defense and the ability to score against anyone. They have to put in a huge performance to recover some pride, following their loss in Wales. France however have huge class throughout their team and for me are favourites to win. Scotland can win this game, I'd say they've a ~40% chance, every fan from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales will be cheering them on - if Scotland win the tournament becomes extremely exciting!
England v Wales: the England team looks strong and I'd be quite excited if I was a fan of theirs. With home advantage too, I feel they are clear favourites - a Wales win would be a huge upset. I'd give Wales a ~12% chance.
Manu Tuilagi out: Wales up to 17% chance?
5plusn8
Free MemberI think we should run a poll on which day this week Tuilagi injures himself at training. I’m going for Wednesday, for maximum impact.
So close!
Oops! Poor chap
Who had Thursday night in the sweep?
Manu out injured
Poor bloke, he really does have no luck.
I fricken knew it.
Even less confident now.
Too slow
I really like watching France play. They play with a style and flair that I currently wish Wales were capable of. However, today I shall be firmly behind Scotland.
Scotland may not be favourites, but they can win. They need a big performance from everyone, should they go down lightly today then I fear they will struggle to regain any confidence before the World Cup.
I still feel that France may be slightly vulnerable under the high ball (this might be nonsense) - Hogg and Russell will need to do some magic.
Watson out now for Scotland with Covid. Too many 2nd and 3rd choice forwards I fear for Scotland. Possible especially given our recent record against France. Its one of the fascinating things to me - Scotlands bogey teams are Wales and Ireland but we are the bogey team for France and England having beaten them a good few times in recent years
AA - How do you feel about LRZ being dropped? he did get a bit of a schooling last week from the wee man ( be still my beating heart) 🙂
I'm predicting France and England for the wins - but genuinely any of the sides today can win. 6 nations is properly competitive this year
I hope we’re in for an afternoon of exciting rugby, interspersed with hiding behind the sofa.
Scotland have taken a beating with injuries, whole first choice back row out, Giraffe Grey out. Is confidence low after Wales? Or are we going to see some Russell / Hogg magic to upset the French?
France look like they’re building to something special. I love watching them play when things click, it’s like watching ghosts floating through gaps with lovely hands and support play.
If Wales can smother the England attack and they stop within a score it could go either way.
England need to find a way through the blanket defence and nullify Biggar’s tactical kicking.
England need to find a way through the blanket defence
I think that will be a real issue. Scotland couldn't do it with pretty much our first choice attack and guys in form
Scotland / France could be a good game for the neutral. Me I will be behind the sofa as usual
#PrayForTJ and #PrayForTJ’sSofa
🙂
WR has got to sort the scrum out haven't they? I know it's not normal for a ball straight out on the KO, and then a knock on immediately afterwards but we've had 4 minutes of 'play' and the ball's just gone live for the first time proper.
Superb French try.
Edit.
Chasing ghosts now.
Gonna be a long day. We know which France we have and they look "formidable"
This could be a long afternoon
Dupont is just so good
They need to look at that one. And now that should be a penalty try without a doubt. The high tackle kills the momentum.
The reffing is doing us no favours at all. should have been a yellow earlier for a no arms charge into a ruck and also for someone trying to take Schumans head off. anyway we get back into the game with a good try.
Thought this was going to be a disaster but we're making France work for it.
Darge playing a blinder. Cracking player
Arrgghhh anyone got a cat I can kick?
Not out of it yet but could have been five points ahead for the sake of about a cm.
Darge looks good!
Hogg: it wasn't the easiest ball to catch, but he makes so many mistakes once he sees the white line!
I initially thought France were going to breeze it, but clearly Scotland can compete. They need to stop making silly handling errors and to score next to stay in contention though.
Its only a game! I am actually trembling with adrenaline overload here!
I quite like Karl Dickson as a ref. But he's said "not for me" quite a lot. I'm not sure we're getting the run of the green.
C'mon Scotland!
Focus and composure!
This could get messy.
Not after that - clear wrong side at a ruck interfering with the 9 leading to a turnover and a try. awful reffing - 2 of the french tries are reffing errors ( clear forward pass in the build up to the try before the half)
We cannot win if the ref will not give us anything. Awful performance from the ref
And I hate whinging about refs generally
That’s starting to look like a long way back for Scotland.
It’s easy to criticise the ref, but he’s been poor so far.
Dickson's having a ****ing shocker.
Yup - Russell taken out late - play on FFS
French lineout holding the player in the air then folding the lifters round the front.
Although no complaints about pinging our resident penalty magnet, Zander. FFS.
You're starting to sound like a football "fan"...if you hate whining about refs, stop doing it.
Nope =- that was right.
Point taken twodogs but its awful. Darge had his knees on the ground - maul called then a forward pass try given. thats 3 tries from clear reffing errors
