The rugby

[Slick]

Scottish fans showing their class, booing the kicker at penalties and (hopefully more) conversions.

And you are showing yours.

 

[Poacher]

And you are showing yours.

Working class I may be, but at least my parents taught me some manners.

 

[Slick]

Enjoy our night mate.

 

[AndyRM]

When I was younger and living in Edinburgh, it was considered really bad form to make any noise when a kick was being taken. That's changed for whatever reason and I really don't see the problem with it.

Personally I thought the ref had an absolute shocker yesterday. Let Ireland get away with everything, especially at the breakdown and scrums.

 

[T4tomo]

I have always thought that crowds should be allowed to boo the kickers without it being considered unsporting. It's not as if they are encouraging the opposition the rest of the match and they're not interfering with play. Part of the pressure, and they are professionals.

A lot of kickers prefer a noisy stadium as opposed to a pin drop silent one anyway.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Let Ireland get away with everything

Some observers might point out that another referee would have doled out a couple of yellow cards for repeated infringements close to the Scottish line Hogg was a very lucky boy!
There was a reason that Irish ruck ball was slower than usual. It might have something to do with repeated infringements at the ruck.

The referee was poor. For both sides.

As for the noise at kicking..... I think that silence is seen as traditional in the Triple Crown countries, but I suppose, traditions change. Johnny Sexton, having played in France, is well used to the noise. From the URC, though, it is prevalent in Scotland. It's worth noting too, that Sexton matched the Six Nations scoring record yesterday, a little bit of history for anyone who was there.

It was a fantastic game of rugby.

The last time Ireland lost in Murrayfield a large amount of blame was placed on the team bus being delayed on the way to the stadium. Yesterday, Ireland ended up with no hooker on the pitch, a flanker throwing into lineouts, and a subprop hooking for almost half a game. And kept Scotland to nil for that half.

 

[byegad]

I have always thought that crowds should be allowed to boo the kickers without it being considered unsporting. It's not as if they are encouraging the opposition the rest of the match and they're not interfering with play. Part of the pressure, and they are professionals.

I forget who it was, possibly Jonny Wilkinson, but one kicker was asked if the Scottish booing and jeering as he took his kicks was off putting. The answer.....'What noise?'

 

[Dogtrousers]

It was a fantastic game of rugby.

Watching as a neutral I really enjoyed it. I found the Ireland front row shenanigans really interesting. It showed how incredibly well prepared they were, that they had and used a nominated third hooker and that their 7 was well enough prepared for throwing duties. Maybe all teams are this well prepared I don't know, but Ireland's execution of the preparation was impressive.

Barracking the kicker? Meh. Nobody cares. Least of all the players. It's not golf.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Eng Ire last game ? Sco true to form , dunno what it’s going to take. Every year we promise so much and fail .

 

[HobbesOnTour]

Sco true to form

What form? Scotland have been on an upwards trajectory?

Every year we promise so much and fail .

That's very negative language?
Narrowly beaten by France, # 2 in the world, in France? A country with 2.5 professional leagues vs Scotland with 2 professional teams?
Narrowly beaten by Ireland, # 1 in the world?
Performed very well in two of the great games of the Championship?
And let's not forget that Russell played last week in France for his club. That's a far from ideal preparation for such an important player.

There's a whole lot to be optimistic about.

The next game against Italy will reveal a lot about this current Scottish team.

It's brutally unfair that Ireland, Scotland and France are in the same World Cup group and one of those three is going to feel very hard done by later in the year.

* Edited to correct silly error. South Africa are in the group with Ireland & Scotland

 

[matticus]

Sco true to form , dunno what it’s going to take. Every year we promise so much and fail .

Every year until this season, I've felt similar - all the pundits talking them, then they fail to score any tries.
This tournament has been different - they deserve 3rd place, and have played entertaining rugby. Losing to the world nos 1&2 is no disgrace!

 

[Chap sur le velo]

Seemed very strange to me that Scotland having chosen to seek advantage with a quick throw in were allowed to retake once the officials picked up on the error. Ignoring what happened, I still think they should have lost the right to re throw in? But Laws is Laws...

Equally puzzling.
When the ref eventually blew his whistle, with Ringrose in difficulty, he awarded Scotland a scrum to restart play. I would have thought it courtesy for Ireland not to contest this, to allow Scotland the guarantee of the ball? Just shows there's never anything 'friendly' about test rugby.

PS Italy were just too keen to win at home and undid all their fine work this past 6 months. If Scotland fans are feeling frustrated, how must the Italians be hurting?

PPS Did I say something about France having lost their panache?

 

[rualexander]

It's brutally unfair that Ireland, Scotland and France are in the same World Cup group and one of those three is going to feel very hard done by later in the year.

They aren't.
It's Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa that are in the same group.
Still not good though.
France are in same group as NZ and Italy

 

[geocycle]

I also think Scotland deserve their third place. There’s not a huge amount between the bottom four, but a big gap with the top two.

England lost it after 90 seconds yesterday, any confidence was completely shattered. This is partly the coaches but really the capacity of the players on the field to react. There are a couple of players who look out of their depth but not sure who is better at the moment.

 

[HobbesOnTour]

They aren't.
It's Ireland, Scotland, and South Africa that are in the same group.
Still not good though.
France are in same group as NZ and Italy

Apologies. You're correct.
France or New Zealand are the likely first knockout opposition.
Still a brutally unfair draw, though.