Autumn Series 2021: Scotland

[Mikey Brown]

Well you couldn't say it's not exciting.

Really need to get a grip of ourselves because we looks okay when we can keep possession.

[Big D]

I don't get why they called his first throw to the tail. Give him an easy ball.

[Mikey Brown]

I see we're still going with this curious tactic of not offering any support to clear out as soon as we get in to the 22.

[Mikey Brown]

FUCK OFF JONKER.

[Big D]

I think that's quite harsh really.

[Mikey Brown]

Well that was all a bit strange. It's there for either team if they just cut out the errors.

[Big D]

We need to wake up and be a bit smarter.

Only mitigation I can think of is some of them have only been in camp a week for the first time with Scotland since March. But that's giving them a lot of benefit of the doubt.

[Big D]

Quite pleased at Ashman's start. He's been solid enough.

[Mikey Brown]

Quite pleased at Ashman's start. He's been solid enough.

Yeah, really needs to work out where to hold the ball when he’s tail-gunning on the rolling maul though. Almost had it pinched a couple of times.

[Big D]

Quite pleased at Ashman's start. He's been solid enough.

Yeah, really needs to work out where to hold the ball when he’s tail-gunning on the rolling maul though. Almost had it pinched a couple of times.

Yeah, that and slipping off the tackle on Hooper. But overall for a 21 year old hooker I think he's been solid enough. Big test in the second half, especially when the weaker Scottish props come on.

[Mikey Brown]

Surely Leota is taking a man off the ball there?

[Mikey Brown]

Well that was fun.

Stupid, but fun.

[Big D]

Raeburn Shield holders again..

Missing arguably 4 starting forwards and then some, it is no mean feat turning over the Aussies and keeping them to 13 points.

[morepork]

Wait until your backs learn how to draw and pass. You'll be finishing off attacking moves like a MF.

[Mikey Brown]

Wait until your backs learn how to draw and pass. You'll be finishing off attacking moves like a MF.

Yeah there was some pretty tragic back play out there today.

[Big D]

For the next hour until the win wears off I'm going to pretend the over excitement in some (Graham tap and go) and the disjointed play was down to being in front of 60k for the first time in 20 months or whatever it is.

[switchskier]

I enjoyed the game. Remember the days of being delighted to deliver a 1 point win by defending against Australia for 80 minutes and willing Matt Giteau to miss a relative gimme at the end? I never felt that we were in danger out being outclassed there and felt that there was still potentially another level to go.

We do still lack a direct ball carrier when the defense is fanning out. The next step for either Ritchie or Faegerson is to provide that front foot ball when needed, in addition to all the good stuff that they currently do.

Special mention for Horne who I thought made a couple of good interventions. Tricky time to come on at scrumhalf.

[Cameo]

Funny game. Against an Aussie team that has won five in a row it feels strange to be disappointed we didn't beat them more convincingly. Could easily have lost.

Equally, it's good to win a tight game (and any game with Poite as ref - not that he was particularly bad for us today). I also felt we were on the verge of creating quite a lot.

I think we have roughly the right starting team given the injuries. Harris has to start at the moment and deserves to, but I do still feel there were a couple of times where good interplay gave him space against a front rower and he didn't really look that dangerous.

Team as a whole will be better for the run out. Will be very difficult next week but with a good start I think we are in with a chance.

[Mikey Brown]

Fair assessment, though I do think there were two moments Harris ran fantastic lines and could have been clean through for a try. Both times the 9 held on instead.

It was a very strange performance really. Like the media caricature of both sides, with Finn Russell at the heart of the inconsistency. Fantastic and awful all within moments of eachother. But we won? It felt at times like Aus doing their best to throw away their opportunities but we held on and if that was just us shaking the rust off then fantastic.

Regardless of whether SA are at top form or not, I think the kind of errors we made today would be punished more heavily by them next week.

Not sure any big changes are needed, but can we cut down the errors, improve discipline and actually do the basics right in attack? It still feels like the effort/returns ratio in attack is atrocious.

It feels very weird that we seem to now be looking at a post-Huw Jones Scotland side. He can’t get a start for Quins and Harris is too key in defence to shift. Steyn rightfully filling the 23 shirt today and I think may be worth a start next week?

[Cameo]

Fair assessment, though I do think there were two moments Harris ran fantastic lines and could have been clean through for a try. Both times the 9 held on instead.

It was a very strange performance really. Like the media caricature of both sides, with Finn Russell at the heart of the inconsistency. Fantastic and awful all within moments of eachother. But we won? It felt at times like Aus doing their best to throw away their opportunities but we held on and if that was just us shaking the rust off then fantastic.

Regardless of whether SA are at top form or not, I think the kind of errors we made today would be punished more heavily by them next week.

Not sure any big changes are needed, but can we cut down the errors, improve discipline and actually do the basics right in attack? It still feels like the effort/returns ratio in attack is atrocious.

It feels very weird that we seem to now be looking at a post-Huw Jones Scotland side. He can’t get a start for Quins and Harris is too key in defence to shift. Steyn rightfully filling the 23 shirt today and I think may be worth a start next week?

I rate Steyn but not sure who he could come in for. I think Graham and DHVDM are two of our best players. Great bench option though.

I think the error free performance we are looking for is always going to be a bit elusive. You go back to basics too much and you become easy to defend, get hit backwards, get turned over, and are accused of lacking intensity. There were a few too many mistakes today and a few chances not finished but I thought the plan and discipline were pretty good.

Feel exactly the same about Huw Jones and it makes me sad.

[Mikey Brown]

Sure, I’m not expecting a flawless performance, but there were quite a few unforced errors in there and some strange or ineffective decision making that could definitely be improved.

The timing of runs/passes when we moved the ball wide just wasn’t very good a lot of the time. I don’t imagine we’ll get so many opportunities to run it against SA so we have to make a lot more of them. There was some pretty wild kicking. I don’t see these issues as ones where we need to go in to our shell, but require a bit more accuracy.

With that little bit more confidence from the win and extra cohesion in the side next week it’s definitely not out of the question.

Any injuries reported yet?

[Big D]

We need to keep everything crossed that Fagerson isn't cited for perceived fingers to the eyes. It only takes an overly officious citing commissioner and panel and Kebble is starting TH v the Bokke.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Maitland in next week ahead of Graham given the opponent.

[Mikey Brown]

Is that something that’s being alleged?

I was going to mention in that last post I’m always kind of waiting for Fagerson to do something insane and get us in trouble. Sounds like maybe he already did?

Is Berghan fit?

[septic 9]

a win's a win.

Too many errors and poor decisions from experienced players.

Russell mixed, but not the main problem.

Hogg was poor, several times took the wrong option and could have cost us scores as well as losing chances
Graham - was especially poor. Seemed to hare off in the wrong direction every time he got the ball. Away from support and some headless chicken stuff.
Watson - MoM? Well I thought he was quiet but ball in hand a saw couple of examples of the old Watson. Head down no awareness of those around him. Not good enough for a traditional openside.
Harris was what Harris is. Good defender but totally shit attacker. Unable to straighten the line, draw a man, no acceleration/pace for an outside break. Attack dies when ball reaches him

Three of those will still start, not sure Graham will when we have excellent options

[septic 9]

Is that something that’s being alleged?

I was going to mention in that last post I’m always kind of waiting for Fagerson to do something insane and get us in trouble. Sounds like maybe he already did?

Is Berghan fit?

Berghan has not played this season. If he had been fit he would have been in the squad. Kebble is not a TH. Not yet at this level anyway, no way against the Boks. Need to call up McCallum or Rae or Sebastian whether Fagerson is available or not.
Fagerson pushed Hooper away hand in face. Some twitter clips do not look good, but as ever perspective etc means not 100% clear. White pushed his hand down into Gilchrist's face when Gilchrist flat on his back. No mention of that on the twittersphere