NPR

Toonie has a few decisions to make for the wings next week, a good headache

Having said that it will be a different kettle of ball games

Jock42 wrote: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:48 am

Slick wrote: Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:27 am With Scotland picking 2 captains it will be interesting to see how that works with the ref.

If he calls both of them over I guess we can expect South Africa to have 15 vice captains next week.

I reckon Richie will be the 'senior' of the 2.

Maybe not.

Despite 60 points I am a bit disappointed in that. Some things worked well, some youngsters put their hand up, but in the context of the opposition there was also too much looseness, lack of precision and too any daft penalties.

A Scot not being pleased when a Scottish team scores 60 points is an indicator of the higher expectations we have these days.

Tonga weren’t bad in attack and terrible in defence, not much more to say

weegie01 wrote: Sat Oct 30, 2021 3:42 pm Despite 60 points I am a bit disappointed in that. Some things worked well, some youngsters put their hand up, but in the context of the opposition there was also too much looseness, lack of precision and too any daft penalties.

A Scot not being pleased when a Scottish team scores 60 points is an indicator of the higher expectations we have these days.

I concur. We looked pretty sharp in the first half, but then we were annoyingly sloppy in the second. This coincided with the replacements coming on - maybe it was just too many inexperienced players at once?

McLean looks the business, as does Steyn. Ritchie had a strong game. Not sure who else stood out - apart from Harley, who unfortunately stood out for the wrong reasons. I get why he was there - Toony wanted an old head in the engine room alongside the two new players - but I suspect this will be his last hurrah in a Scotland shirt. It’s Toony though, so who knows? He’s left out arguably Edinburgh’s best player in Vellacott and Glasgow’s in Darge, plus Hutchinson.

Tonga clearly have plenty of individual talent, but weren’t full strength and hadn’t had enough time together. Hope they are better next week, or England might give them a shoeing,

A chance for Scotland this weekend to win back the trophy they first held in 1871, last held in 2018 when they took it off England but lost it two weeks later against Ireland.

They're even favourites against Australia according to at least one of the prediction algorithms out there.

It's coming home, the Raeburn Shield is coming home...

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:39 am A chance for Scotland this weekend to win back the trophy they first held in 1871, last held in 2018 when they took it off England but lost it two weeks later against Ireland.

They're even favourites against Australia according to at least one of the prediction algorithms out there.

It's coming home, the Raeburn Shield is coming home...

Potentially the most important trophy in rugby. Lets see.

Slick wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:48 am

clydecloggie wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 10:39 am A chance for Scotland this weekend to win back the trophy they first held in 1871, last held in 2018 when they took it off England but lost it two weeks later against Ireland.

They're even favourites against Australia according to at least one of the prediction algorithms out there.

It's coming home, the Raeburn Shield is coming home...

Potentially the most important trophy in rugby. Lets see.

Exactly. None of this World Cup tournament and world rankings shite, the Raeburn Shield is the fairest, simplest, most sporting and accurate way of seeing who's best.

Why do we always end up playing Italy ??

And never seem to play England??

Just checked and the last Autumn fixture was 2018, and then 2014 before that!!

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:15 pm Why do we always end up playing Italy ??

And never seem to play England??

Just checked and the last Autumn fixture was 2018, and then 2014 before that!!

The two greediest unions can’t agree the split?

Slick wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:17 pm

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:15 pm Why do we always end up playing Italy ??

And never seem to play England??

Just checked and the last Autumn fixture was 2018, and then 2014 before that!!

The two greediest unions can’t agree the split?

I thought that was only for out of window games there is a negotiable fee split.

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:19 pm

Slick wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:17 pm

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:15 pm Why do we always end up playing Italy ??

And never seem to play England??

Just checked and the last Autumn fixture was 2018, and then 2014 before that!!

The two greediest unions can’t agree the split?

I thought that was only for out of window games there is a negotiable fee split.

ABs demand a fee for any game (at least with England). RFU don't see the need to fill NZU coffers, when it can fill it's own just fine with any other opponent.

I had thought the games inside the window were arranged by world rugby. And the traditional issue was with arranging games outside the window which are then up for negotiation.

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:46 pm I had thought the games inside the window were arranged by world rugby. And the traditional issue was with arranging games outside the window which are then up for negotiation.

No idea, I was just being spiteful

Slick wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:52 pm

Ymx wrote: Mon Nov 01, 2021 7:46 pm I had thought the games inside the window were arranged by world rugby. And the traditional issue was with arranging games outside the window which are then up for negotiation.

No idea, I was just being spiteful

I know, sorry if I diluted it.