Ireland v Scotland

Same old, same old. Scotland make a really bright start, don't score, make errors and nearly go behind.

How the fook can that be Scotlands ball?  Collaspe maul mmy ass

Well it was a maul and it collapsed. Heaslip seemed happy that it was the right call.

Dear God Scotland, if you win a turnover at a line-out do not pass it back 20 yards and kick it aimlessly back to Ireland. Get it wide, give it a go. If you have to kick do so when it gets to the winger and he decides there's nothing on. Basic ffs.

No high tackle?

Good decision, no effort made to roll, don't let them slow it down.

3-3 a fair scoreline at this stage.

Why is the South African reffing this game?

Because he's on the IRB list of referees and they need one for this game?

We were spoilt in Paris yesterday.  This is all a bit dour so far.

A lot better surface as well

Some of the body angles are ridiculously low going into rucks. Ireland fire in 3 inches off the ground, Scotland do the same to counter it, so Ireland try to go lower. SH refs never seem to mind.

whistled there a bit early didn't he?  Scot may have just had a squeak on the left

Might have thought it was a forward pass to Weir?

tenacity today's buzzword

Hopeless Scotland.

Hard to see where the pizazz is going to come from from that Irish backline...lot of trundlers out there.  Marshall perhaps but then he is in such a busy channel.

How important is Hogg to Scotland? Looks dangerous every time he gets it. We're not used to that from Scottish backs.

Scottish backs have improved since Johnson

WTF on the camera angle??????

why do TV companies reckon close in shots are any good for live play at any stage??

Great camera work, lets guess where they are.

That was close, was it O'Mahony stopping the arm?

That 11/8 was in huge danger there

Justifying the budget Vis. All this slow-motion horseshit must cost plenty, but brings nothing to the viewing. Only any good for wildlife documentaries.

They couldn't even get a decent camera on the line in Paris yesterday for that effort Eng had

arty farty direction from non rugby types

Weird how the opposite side of the scrum to the ref goes down every single time.

the beauty of being at a match is seeing where all the players are let alone the atmosphere

And when gaps open up in the middle Scotland still go wide. Had to take on the forwards in the centre there.

Irish dropping like greenfly being attacked by a spraygun

another forward pass

touch for sure

come on lads it was obvious on first replay

Brilliant stuff Sexton, 4 forwards and a scrum-half to beat so he runs around the lot.

Foot in touch though, certainly.

1 thing is going to lose this game and it's Scotland's woeful line-out. If you don't score tries you simply have to do your basics.

There you go. Scot teased for 40 mins and 3 seconds

Finally, a try.

Year after year, nothing changes. Scotland still get stung because they can't convert their chances.

Sexton has been brutal today

Hard to see Scot landing another 3 pens to win this.

Sexton set up that try with a 60 yard break. The only player to make any serious break all day.

Scotland could do with Sivivatu declaring himself Scottish

RM

2013

Scotland 12 Ireland 8

The HT chat has been the same script for years. Only the names of the players in blue change.

60 yard break was brilliant. Ridiculous that a pass that was several yards forward was allowed.

True CC, that was a freak game, and their wins over Australia as well, but in general when the opposition score a few points Scotland can't win.

considering the scoreline  and the prematch odds 1.12 looks generous

must be a reflection of Scotland having more of the play

Draw price is lower now than it was at 0-0

In the HT interview Scotland's assistant coach claimed they were one score behind

I tell you what Jim Hamilton is having a cracking game, still not given a penalty away

Plenty of time for that,,,

43 mins

Ireland 11 Scotland 6

all Ireland need were dark blue jerseys to look like Scotland in that attack

lovely catch and drive

all came from the inability to hook

47 mins

Ireland 18 Scotland 6

Taylor shouldn't have kicked let alone directly into touch

poor

the scots need to find a few south sea islanders with dodgy passports and spurious Scottish relatives,they can`t go on like this year upon year

scots would be a fine side if they could unearth a couple of Vuiopolas and a Tuilaig.

My brother used to play hooker, when it was still an art to hook. He's skinny as, and the opposition used to laugh when they saw the position he was playing. But he was left footed and used to cause utter mayhem at scrum time on their put in. The laugh then used to be on them.

Good old Jim

56 mins

Ireland 21 Scotland 6

Here's another Scotland period you can set your clock by:  start to do your best work once you are 3 scores down and there are only 20 mins left.

I am getting well pissed off with this ref apologizing to the players when he makes his decisions (usually Irish players)

and commentators apologizing for choice language

Fair to say we were spoilt last night, but this has hardly set the pulses racing.

71 mins

Ireland 28 Scotland 6

Sexton took around 90 seconds ...

are there any postives for the jocks here,i can`t see any tbh

Um, well, they haven't lost by 40+?

that comes next week

SJ nearer to getting the boot??

This has been really dismal by Scotland even by their low standards.

Heaslip chosen as Official MOTM.

chuck the scots out and put Romania in their place

Don't know what to make of Ire here.

They have beaten absolutely nothing.

Best thing is that they are racking up a nice points difference which could well be crucial in a year of a 4 horse race.

was that a try >?

reckon he might just have nicked this

yesssssssssss

I thought it bounced out of play on first look

it was a try

that ball is out

No try

o no

out but great finish

so its not like basketball where if the ball is in the air and then retrieved its considered in touch

Quite surprised to get matched at 1.17 there on the -24.5 when the ball was clearly in touch.

scotland have done the grand slam 5 times ...1924, 1984 and 1990

the ball bounced out of touch nicky

yes , but in basketball if the ball is in the air and retrieved without the feet grounded and then got back in play its considered not out of play , i suppose the laws are different in rugby and the ball is considered in touch if any part of the ball crosses the line at any height above it, is that correct>?

3 home wins to start the six nations

yes curious cat , i fancy france to do the slam this year

nicky the ball landed over the line ... on the line is enough for it to be out

in the air is still in play

scotland have done the grand slam 5 times ...1924, 1984 and 1990

that's three!! and when players used to warm up with a dozen pints and 10 lambert and butler,the jocks serve no disernable purpose these days,at least Italy do entertain you,the other 4 nations are light years ahead

no, rules same as basketball in that respect

yes sorry , of course scotland have only done the grand slam 3 times , not 5 times

No injuries key for Ireland today

ireland v wales next week promises to be a great match

when scotland have done well it has always been about competing. living off scraps at times but full on commitment.
SJ's tactic of not competing for the opposition ball at the breakdown goes against everything that has worked for them in the past. i just don't get it.
robinson used to not compete for the lineout but have them hitting the breakdown hard. SJ does the opposite and it was a disaster of a tactic today.

Scotlands problem has been clueless and talentless backs for years. Keith Robertson, Jim Renwick and Andy Irvine were real talents. Scott Hastings being most capped says it all. Scotland could do worse than copy Rob Andrew and kick for the corner relentlessly. It would get the pack nearer the try line and stop them wasting their time passing it to the backs.

I say bring back Dan Parks