6N 2016 : Super Saturday Game 2 Ireland vs Scotland Dublin 17h00 KO

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IRELAND v SCOTLAND
19 March 2016
KO: 17:00 local
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Referee: Pascal Gauzere
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa) & Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A. Head to Head

130 Played 130
59 Won 66
5 Drawn 5
66 Lost 59
1,416 Points 1,420

B. Recent Form

21 March 2015
BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
10 – 40 to Ireland

2 February 2014
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
28 – 6 to Ireland

24 February 2013
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
12 – 8 to Scotland

10 March 2012
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
32 – 14 to Ireland

6 August 2011
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
10 – 6 to Scotland

27 February 2011
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
18 – 21 to Ireland

20 March 2010
Croke Park, Dublin
20 – 23 to Scotland

C. Teams

IRELAND

FB 15 Simon Zebo
RW 14 Andrew Trimble
OC 13 Jared Payne
IC 12 Robbie Henshaw
LW 11 Keith Earls
FH 10 Jonathan Sexton
SH 9 Conor Murray

N8 8 Jamie Heaslip
OF 7 Tommy O'Donnell
BF 6 CJ Stander
RL 5 Devin Toner
LL 4 Donnacha Ryan
TP 3 Mike Ross
HK 2 Rory Best (c)
LP 1 Jack McGrath

Replacements:
HK 16 Richardt Strauss
PR 17 Cian Healy
PR 18 Nathan White
LK 19 Ultan Dillane
FL 20 Rhys Ruddock
SH 21 Eoin Reddan
FH 22 Ian Madigan
WG 23 Fergus McFadden

SCOTLAND

FB 15 Stuart Hogg
RW 14 Tommy Seymour
OC 13 Duncan Taylor
IC 12 Alex Dunbar
LW 11 Tim Visser
FH 10 Duncan Weir
SH 9 Greig Laidlaw (c)

N8 8 Ryan Wilson
OF 7 John Hardie
BF 6 John Barclay
RL 5 Tim Swinson
LL 4 Richie Gray
TP 3 WP Nel
HK 2 Ross Ford
LP 1 Alasdair Dickinson

Replacements:
HK 16 Stuart McInally
PR 17 Rory Sutherland
PR 18 Moray Low
FL 19 Rob Harley
FL 20 Josh Strauss
SH 21 Henry Pyrgos
CE 22 Peter Horne
WG 23 Sean Lamont

Could be a cracker guys!  

Pathetic play acting by Sexton. He should be playing Wendyball with antics like that.

I just can't like Sexton! Never could. He's not become more likeable with age. Even as an Irish fan, when he scores, I applaude a little less vigorously than I normally would.

That was most certainly the best game of rugby I've watched in a long time. Congratulations to both teams

Really we were lucky that the referee strongly favoured the side with the ball, but for that to benefit us we had to win more ball in the first place. There were times in the second half were we got on the rough side of the referees interpretation which stopped us contesting the ball. However we forced them to play out of their own half so not being allowed to contest the breakdown wasn't a big deal.

One really silly mistake from the Scotland 12 cost them a chance to win that game. No matter how many body blows we landed they never faded, never stopped looking dangerous. I think they're a really good team now, I really enjoy watching them play.

Well we can't complain about the result. Got to learn to play the ref, 2 silly yellows killed us. Ireland played a much smarter game than us and were better on the acting front to!

It was a niggley game as the ref by and large lost control of it and not really that enjoyable despite the good tries on both sides.

We move on and hopefully learn something from it.

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

Pot Hale wrote:

2ndtimeround wrote:Why are the Irish crowd booing the kind of decision they have been benefiting from all game?

What do you think is the answer?

Not sure as it was a rhetorical question based on the comments I seem to read on here from Irish posters constantly criticising crowds from anywhere else as unknowledgeable.

That's a fair result and scoreline

Quite a naive performance from Scotland and IMO cotter today. But we'll learn from this. Bring on next 6n!

Good game, felt the ref was dire at the breakdown for both teams. Well done Ireland. Just a shame we were starved of possession in that first half.

A good game by both teams, Scotland almost a Wales fighting back in the second half, just too little to late.

Re the Yellow card for Scotland, they had been worn, but the point i am getting at is Ireland seemed to get away with a lot more offences and yet no yellow card....untill the last minutes of the game when Sexton was sent off.

Still well played Ireland.

But very hard luck to Scotland for making Ireland fight until the very end.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Just odd he could scream at the ref with his arms out first though.  Looked poor.

Not being smart, but head pain isn't always instantaneous. Yeah it looks theatrical but I didn't think he has a history of that. Need to see incident again to see if my recollection is correct.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Well a 10 point Ireland win is probably fair in the end

I thought Scotland were worth more than that, i would have said at the very least LBP territory. Gauzere pretty one sided with his refereeing at the scrum and yellow cards.

It was a very good game as said above, a really good game for the final weekend. Scotland and Ireland both looking good sides.

2ndtimeround wrote:What Sexton did with landing on his elbow, sitting up to complain and rolling back clutching his head is for me typical of the kind of gamesmanship he display regularly, a talented player that will end up been remembered for the wrong reasons.

I agree. Highly talented but not a player people will look back on with any affection.

Well done Ireland, managed the ref far better than Scotland and were the more physical team.

Just watched the Sexton replay - unless he has a real delay to his pain mechanism, that really was bad!

Ps well done Ireland. Good to see you (hopefully) stay at top end of the table after that 6n start. But next year be careful or we may even nick it off ya if we can repeat this year's performance!

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Just odd he could scream at the ref with his arms out first though.  Looked poor.

Not being smart, but head pain isn't always instantaneous.  Yeah it looks theatrical but I didn't think he has a history of that.  Need to see incident again to see if my recollection is correct.

Fair enough. You might be right.

Sexton

Just saw the replay. Scotland can obviously have no complaints about the yellow, but giving the yellow and reversing the penalty for play acting would have drawn no complaints from me. I'm not sure that that can be done though. I think the referee still has to punish the more serious offence.

Well that was an entertaining game for various reasons Could do without Sextons dramatics though. Hate to see it.

Both teams went at each other with a bit of venom, at times. Great to see, and hopefully both sides can nurture a bit of spite, looking forward, although without giving away penalties.

BigGee wrote:Well we can't complain about the result. Got to learn to play the ref, 2 silly yellows killed us. Ireland played a much smarter game than us and were better on the acting front to!

It was a niggley game as the ref by and large lost control of it and not really that enjoyable despite the good tries on both sides.

We move on and hopefully learn something from it.

Well summarised, I truly thought this could of been one of the most entertaining games of the tournament due to some of the quality players on show, that clearly wasn't to be with a ref that refused any competition at the break down, hope he goes to Australia for the England tour as it would really swing the advantage away from the SH dominance.

Also worth saying how much of a difference Strauss made - he really should have been starting.

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also worth saying how much of a difference Strauss made - he really should have been starting.

Weir was very poor too. He does nothing with the ball in hand and his supposedly strong kicking game is non existent.

Exiledinborders wrote:I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.
.

Don't think he had any impact on that decision, or that it realistically wasn't a yellow card. Of course that doesn't justify it, but lets get that perspective.

Bit fair on weir radge. I've never seen a glasgae squirrel do expend so much energy just from running.

For all the scoreline, Ireland did well enough in defence.

Notch wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.
.

Don't think he had any impact on that decision, or that it realistically wasn't a yellow card. Of course that doesn't justify it, but lets get that perspective.

Fully agree, that was always going to be a yellow because it looked bad, and still would've been had Sexton got straight up. Still disappointing from him

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

It was a yellow card regardless Sextons play acting, but agree that action needs to be taken to ensure this type of nonsense is dealt with. A long ban would be a bit extreme, but certainly up to a yellow card.

*unfair

Munchkin wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

It was a yellow card regardless Sextons play acting, but agree that action needs to be taken to ensure this type of nonsense is dealt with. A long ban would be a bit extreme, but certainly up to a yellow card.

I think they should introduce 3 strikes for play acting then you get a weeks ban

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also worth saying how much of a difference Strauss made - he really should have been starting.

Weir was very poor too. He does nothing with the ball in hand and his supposedly strong kicking game is non existent.

To be fair, other than dropping one high ball, Wilson did not have a bad game either. Weir though has surely dropped himself way down the pecking order now. It really does not look like he has the temperament for international rugby.

On another note, do we think that will be the Venerable Sean's last cap?

From a neutral perspective it was a game that you couldnt leave alone.

The referee frustrated the hell out of the Scottish forwards,so they threw a few, and while that was going on the Irish cashed in with a bit more niggle.

I would have done exactly the same if I was in either team.

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

He protested visibly about the tackle since he was competing at the breakdown fairly. If you're saying that a player shouldn't be waving his arms around after being taken out, then there's quite a few players to add to that list. That's what the ref saw and what he reviewed.

nathan wrote:

Munchkin wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

It was a yellow card regardless Sextons play acting, but agree that action needs to be taken to ensure this type of nonsense is dealt with. A long ban would be a bit extreme, but certainly up to a yellow card.

I think they should introduce 3 strikes for play acting then you get a weeks ban

Certainly worth considering. Think if they dished out a few yellow cards it would probably be enough, but wouldn't argue against the three strikes. I hate to see it. No complaints about the handbags though

Probably seanys last cap which is why laidlaw probably let him have that ball. Although according to lamont he will ALWAYS be available for selection so don't rule out a call up in 2063 when we're that kack again

aucklandlaurie wrote: From a neutral perspective it was a game that you couldnt leave alone.

The referee frustrated the hell out of the Scottish forwards,so they threw a few, and while that was going on the Irish cashed in with a bit more niggle.

I would have done exactly the same if I was in either team.

Agree with that, Laurie.

Ineffable wrote:Bit fair on weir radge. I've never seen a glasgae squirrel do expend so much energy just from running.

He expended a lot of energy but achieved precious little. Horne should have been starting, Weir and Wilson's selections for this game have been 2 errors from stern Vern.

Swinson was surprisingly quite good

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

Notch wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.
.

Don't think he had any impact on that decision, or that it realistically wasn't a yellow card. Of course that doesn't justify it, but lets get that perspective.

Fully agree, that was always going to be a yellow because it looked bad, and still would've been had Sexton got straight up. Still disappointing from him

Yep!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also worth saying how much of a difference Strauss made - he really should have been starting.

Sutherland was pretty pumped when he came on. He put CJ Stander on his backside and Stander is a serious unit!

Right, I'm off for the night. Commiserations to Scotland, but also congratulations in a sense too because I really think this is a good team, and its a team which is going to make you proud in the future. Always a pleasure

Notch wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Also worth saying how much of a difference Strauss made - he really should have been starting.

Sutherland was pretty pumped when he came on. He put CJ Stander on his backside and Stander is a serious unit!

Right, I'm off for the night. Commiserations to Scotland, but also congratulations in a sense too because I really think this is a good team, and its a team which is going to make you proud in the future. Always a pleasure

Agree on Sutherland - he looks suited to ah international rugby and it's a shame he's been left on the bench the last few games.

Looked at the incident again. Dunbar comes into the breakdown at speed and as he arrives his knee goes strongly into the back of Sexton's head on left hand side - accidentally. He grabs Sexton and throws him over. Sexton puts his hands up in air protesting and then grabs the left side of the back of his head where he received the blow. The whole thing from getting knee in head to grabbing his head in pain takes about 3.5 secs. So I don't think it was play acting - in my view.

Pot Hale wrote:Looked at the incident again. Dunbar comes into the breakdown at speed and as he arrives his knee goes strongly into the back of Sexton's head on left hand side - accidentally. He grabs Sexton and throws him over. Sexton puts his hands up in air protesting and then grabs the left side of the back of his head where he received the blow. The whole thing from getting knee in head to grabbing his head in pain takes about 3.5 secs.  So I don't think it was play acting - in my view.

Can't say I agree with you - having had a few blows to the head in my time I know that a blow to the head strong enough to cause you to roll about like that doesn't come with a 3.5s time delay!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Looked at the incident again. Dunbar comes into the breakdown at speed and as he arrives his knee goes strongly into the back of Sexton's head on left hand side - accidentally. He grabs Sexton and throws him over. Sexton puts his hands up in air protesting and then grabs the left side of the back of his head where he received the blow. The whole thing from getting knee in head to grabbing his head in pain takes about 3.5 secs.  So I don't think it was play acting - in my view.

Can't say I agree with you - having had a few blows to the head in my time I know that a blow to the head strong enough to cause you to roll about like that doesn't come with a 3.5s time delay!

Well it does if you're in the middle of a ruck and adrenaline flowing etc. And then you get thrown at same time. Look at the incident and watch Dunbar's arrival and knee striking back of Sexton's head. Anyways, England match on now so let's not waste time.

Here's a stat for you; Hardie made 17 tackles - 3 more than any other Scotland player - despite being subbed off 27 minutes early!

Pot Hale wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

He protested visibly about the tackle since he was competing at the breakdown fairly. If you're saying that a player shouldn't be waving his arms around after being taken out, then there's quite a few players to add to that list.  That's what the ref saw and what he reviewed.

It is not the hand waving. It is waving his arms about and then faking a head injury that is poor.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Here's a stat for you; Hardie made 17 tackles - 3 more than any other Scotland player - despite being subbed off 27 minutes early!

Like I said earlier. I think he's class. Sheer class. We're lucky that the ref didn't allow a contest at the breakdown because he would've been in there too, and he made at least one absolutely sumptuous offload. What a find by the SRU.

Very pleased with how Ireland attempted to play today. It was clear that they frustrated the hell out of the Scots and their attempted game plan. One up for Joe over Vern this time out.

Re the comments concerning Sexton and the reaction to the clearout. It was a bit much but then again Mike Brown would be in trouble every tackle/breakdown he is involved in for histrionics.

Exiledinborders wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

Exiledinborders wrote:

nathan wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:

Pot Hale wrote:Well that'll keep the Sexton haters happy.  Off he goes.

Don't know about haters but theatrics like he did today won't win any friends sadly.

Indeed.  As I posted earlier, I think there was a reason he held his head from an earlier knee from one of his own players.

Couldn't of hurt that much if he could moan to the ref. Let's be honest, he was play acting. I'm sure he'll be disappointed in himself.

I don't think he will be disappointed although he should be. I think he will think it worked and he got what he wanted a yellow card.

Citing commissioners should be empowered to look at things like this and a long ban should ensue if we are to avoid becoming like football.

He protested visibly about the tackle since he was competing at the breakdown fairly. If you're saying that a player shouldn't be waving his arms around after being taken out, then there's quite a few players to add to that list.  That's what the ref saw and what he reviewed.

It is not the hand waving. It is waving his arms about and then faking a head injury that is poor.

Review the incident if you can and look at what happens with Dunbar's knew and the back of Sexton's head as Dunbar arrives into the breakdown.

Hopefully he gives it a rest after the Easter break.

clivemcl wrote:I just can't like Sexton! Never could. He's not become more likeable with age. Even as an Irish fan, when he scores, I applaude a little less vigorously than I normally would.

Yeah, that makes senses okay..as Sexton defends for his life and gets the massive hits all through the Championship, and helps the team a lot of times to their tries.

Yep, it's nice to be an Irish fan and applaud less when one of its central cogs scores. Is this a Paddy Jackson alias?