They've had strong chances before as have Wales, but have bottled it or come up short. As good as Ireland are they need to prove they can do it when it matters most !
Scotland looked very good again today but Wales are woeful at the moment. Can't believe Borthwick has dropped Smith and gone with Farrell at 10. Get ready for a borefest. Ffs
Can't agree pal, I seriously believe that Farrell has held us back from being a top team. Serious lack of flair in my eyes, too often chooses the wrong option and way too often too quick to kick the ball away. Smith has that ounce of unpredictability and flair that I believe we should be building the team around in the future. He needs nurturing and backing, dropping him now will only hurt him. Borthwick made Farrell and has already backed himself into a corner, I was hopeful that his appointment might see a progression in our running with the ball and some cohesion between the back row and the 9,10 pivot, I'm not hopeful at all now. Could be wrong, but my gut tells me different.
I think we're starting to see Scotland flourish under a coach with fresh ideas and the nuts to make the big decisions. I like his style of coaching !
We’ll agree to disagree Farrell is and has been a world class 10 playing under a complete muppet of a manager. He is not a centre. He has nothing to prove to anyone. Smith has potential but that’s it… potential. let’s put this in real terms for you. Farrell would push Sexton but Smith would be our 3rd or 4th choice out half. That’s not me being inflammatory. That’s the truth
Sexton is light years ahead of Farrell, and Smith won't get to fill his potential being left out. I've seen time after time Farrell either be too slow to release the ball or kick away attacking opportunities. Like you say we'll have to disagree but as an England supporter I'm disappointed by Borthwick's decision. Also if Arundel is fit he should be starting too, bloke is electric.
Tomorrow's game will tell us nothing, but the rest of the tournament will, lets see how many opportunities Farrell can unlock against Ireland or France !
Your in the same boat as us Taff, big rebuilding required. Even Gatland has his work cut out. You've lost alot of top players all at once, and others past their prime. Not sure you have a huge pool of talent to choose from and we know the chaos going on at top level. Give it time and you'll be back among the elite. I wasn't overly keen on Borthwick's appointment, only time will tell, but I'm not happy with the early choices he's made. Ireland and France are both top top sides atm, but a Workd Cup is a totally different animal. Both those sides have big questions to answer when it comes to lifting that trophy. The Springboks will still still prove mighty hard to beat and the All Blacks, while not their invincible best, will still go close.
Messy game, but England doing ok, though Italy creeping back into it. Dan Cole is playing for England. I thought he had retired years ago…..
Farrell is a world class 10 imo. Smith has huge ability but tends to showboat a little too much for my liking.
The Varney boys! The top photo is Adrian ‘Reg’ Varney playing for Neath in the early 1990s - a very decent open side flanker who could have/should have been capped. The second photo is Reg’s son Stephen who played scrum half for Italy today: Reg married an Italian girl, Valeria.
