International Rugby

[paul_e]

The thing is this Scotland sidis a very different beast to the Cotter team of the last few years.  It might well be that they up their game but if not they look very weak defending through midfield and JJ will punish them heavily if they haven't fixed that.

[cheltenhamlion]

They got walloped upfront by the Welsh as well. 

[PaulWinch again]

They did, but I think to an extent they bottled it. They are a completely different proposition at home.

[Jon Crofts]

They did, but I think to an extent they bottled it. They are a completely different proposition at home.

In front of 20,000 screaming school children.

[Jon Crofts]

Didn’t see anything Wales or England would be bothered about with France.

[paul_e]

Didn’t see anything Wales or England would be bothered about with France.

For French rugby look at English football over the last 15-20 years, squads full of 'proven' foreigners on huge money, minimal youth investment and a clear club before country attitude.  They've dropped quicker than I expected but the writing has been on the wall for a while now. The problem is that it's in the forwards where they're weak, and that's hard to fix.

[Meanwood Villa]

What is the contract like with Italy and the Six Nations? They haven't improved in 18 years, they are now on a record run of defeats, surely there's an argument to kick them out? Or introduce promotion/relegation with a second tier competition? Perhaps over a two year period to give new teams more of a crack.

[cheltenhamlion]

Too much investment has gone into Italian rugby for them to be dropped. Teams in the Pro 14 and the national coach (who came on a pretty penny from Harlequins) as a sort of auxiliary Director of Rugby at those clubs as well as coaching the national side. Italy aren't going anywhere fast.

[Meanwood Villa]

Be nice to see some return on all that investment. I'd be pleased if they were competitive but progress is non-existent at the moment.

[nigel]

Italy have a decent coach with O'Shea, so they've got that bit right.
I don't think anyone before had a game plan, they just turned up and played. Once in a while it would work and they'd win a game and they'd think all was OK.
If they'd followed the Argentina blue print they'd be mixing it with the big boys more regularly.

[Ger Regan]

Good game at the aviva.

[Ger Regan]

Scotland giving England a scare here.

[Ger Regan]

This has heartbreak for scotland written all over it.

[PaulWinch again]

As I suspected Scotland have been excellent and England have been fucking awful.

[Jon Crofts]

Scotland are better in every department they could run in another 3 or 4 second half, England have been bsolutely shit.