"These Aussies are there for the taking, but not if too many players are out of position."

No they are not. They are massively dangerous. I'm assuming you didn't watch the game last week. The improvement by the Ozzies is beyond surprising but it really shouldn't be. Their scrum is much better than people think and shouldn't be judged on the England game as the English scrum is probably the best in the world at the moment. Ireland have an excellent scrum. Healy Best and Ross and they got blown away last week end. SO Ireland reverted to a kicking game and that was a massive mistake as the ozzy back 3 a absolutely lethal. They were very impressive last week.

The only silver lining for Scotland is that 6 of the Oz players have been disciplined for going out on the town in dublin and having a few too many. So they are banned for 1 game.

Hi Ding

Yes, I did watch your game last weekend, and yes, I was surprised that your front row capitulated like they did. I thought it was a surprisingly poor all-round Irish display.

I think we all get carried away with our own potential, but I firmly believe that we CAN beat them. Yes, all players will have to be at the top of their game, and a whole team effort is required (both elements sadly lacking on Sunday).

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also a little off topic but on the subject of the european game. The french clubs have done a U-Turn on the English. The Heineken cup is to continue next year. Without the English. As ws the result of the meeting today. We all knew this was coming. A few rich wanna be Malcolm Glazer types attempted to rest control of european rugby away from the Unions and into private hands. As a result the English fans are going to be left without european cup competition for 3 years.

What an UTTER F **K**G MESS!
absolutely ridiculous.

and to add to that. The BBC are reporting lies. They assert that the RFU were disappointed not to be part of the talks which resulted in english clubs being left out. However the truth is the the RFU did not turn up! Their seat at the table was empty because they choose to snub the meeting. Even in the face of destroying the european game the BS pride can't be overcome. Well the results are clear. ANd i personally really feel bad for the English club rugby fans. This is a sellout by their own.

Ding

I think the game as a whole has to sort out just how much it has to be in hock to Mammon and how much it really wants improve to get the NH to really compete with the SH. At the moment money rules and because the clubs pay the money, the clubs rule and the bigger the club, they more they rule.

If the RFU wanted to control things they would issue central contracts, but they probably can't afford to compete with the clubs on that. There's no way any other union could even contemplate it, though to be fair, you Irish have managed to keep your best at home, unlike Scotland and particularly Wales.

PS. Were you having a few drops of the Liffey Water at 1.00 a.m.?

hahaha no mate. but i had just read about the results of that meeting and it vexed me something proper. On the central contracting thing. The FFR had a meeting last week where they resolved to begin offering central contracts. Something to do with protecting grass roots rugby and continuing to develop home grown talent. Because of all this business there looks to be a shift coming in france for the money men. wage caps etc etc

I hope you're right Ding, I hope you're right.

It worries me just how far apart the game at the top is from the game that those of us who choose to do so, watch at a rain soaked, muddy pitched local club all winter.

If all this leads to a little bit of redress f that disconnect, then all the angst might be worthwhile.

amen to that

If it is dry then Scotland are in big trouble, I keep saying it but this Aussie side is good. SA and NZ have just been outstanding this year.

Aristo

You could well be right, but then again ..........................

Or is that you trying to big England up for beating them.

Haha nah we always beat them anyway , I am a big fan of the Aussie backline though. Folau is awesome, Genia/Cooper is a great halfback pair and in Kuridrani (harshly banned imo) they have a very good wrecking ball OC.
They will go back above us in the rankings if they win and I think that is fully justified by recent performance.

Hey gents. Show. wales just embarrassed themselves by almost losing to the Tongans. Wales 17 Tonga 7. (again)

Anyway. My point is simple. We put 40 points on them and basically hammered them and we played diabolical rugby in the process but because they nearly beat Wales, does that mean wales are worse than Ireland?

Ye i wish. Wales are still top dog in Europe at the moment. They are just rubbish at autumn internationals. Always have been.

So i suppose my point is. Go for it lads.. Surprise the Ozzies. they can't be expecting a hammering from the plucky scots. I will certainly be cheering youlot on!!!

Aristo

Sure, I know it's always going to take a superhuman effort, 1-15, for a Scottish side to beat the Aussies. The original point was when you have 2 no. 8s and a blindside in the back row, is in not better to only play one of them out of position, not 2.

To me Denton is the obvious 1 of the 3 to play openside with Brown and Beattie in their normal positions.. Brown is never a 7, he is an out and out 6, and a damned good one IMHO, Beattie is never a 6, but he is a pretty decent 8. Mind you Denton has got hands like feet and it's only really his rampaging across the park the makes me think he'd work at 7.