SCortland has had his work cut out for him. A first win in Cardiff in 22 years should mean the rest of the Champions League will be smooth sailing. Of course, everything is not that simple for Scotland. Next up are France and England, both at Murrayfield. Scotland have beaten the former in three of their last four home games in the Six Nations and have beaten the latter in three consecutive home and away games. But Scotland are likely to disappoint when they are predicted to win.
They are not expected to beat France this weekend. Bookmakers see them as four-point underdogs, just as they see them as four-point favorites to overturn Wells’ long history of failure. Scotland, therefore, deserve credit for beating expectations last weekend. Now we can say the stress is gone…
From a psychological perspective, the 27-26 win over a young Wells side was almost perfect. No Scots could get carried away as their 27-0 lead minutes into the second half was reduced to a point with 10 minutes remaining.
That they had no mishaps in those final tense moments – in fact scoring their own fourth try in the blink of an eye – is reassuring and not something we might always take for granted in Scotland – an example of how they Giving up 10 – In Cardiff in 2010, they led on points with less than five minutes left but somehow gave up 17 points. Even better, the 26 unanswered points they gave up last weekend might make their historic win actually feel more like a defeat.
Scotland last faced France at Murrayfield in the Six Nations two years ago and it was the only game they have lost to France in their last four games in Edinburgh blues. France won the Grand Slam title that year and their performance was as impressive as ever, beating the hosts by 36 points in a game that couldn’t be described as dominant. Scotland missed a valuable chance to take the lead just before half-time when Stuart Hogg was unable to quite catch Chris Harris’ long ball. France struck back immediately after halftime.
It was a tragic failure for Scotland in an era of great suffering. A highlight was Rory Darge’s energetic performance on his first start. The Glasgow flanker, now co-captain, returns to the squad this weekend as he recovers from a knee injury that sidelined him with the Wales game.
He shares captaincy with Finn Russell and replaces the man who had captained the side until last year’s World Cup. Jamie Ritchie is out of the team altogether. Another flanker, Luke Crosbie, was also injured against Wales last weekend, which ended the championship. Jack Dempsey moved into eighth and Matt Fagerson moved to wing. Another Cardiff casualty from last week’s loss to Scotland was Richie Gray, who will no longer feature in the Six Nations. He was ably replaced by Grant Gilchrist, who returned to the second row after suspension.
One passenger in the second row was resumed from suspension and the other was ejected. Paul Willems will be absent from the France squad after receiving two yellow cards for a high tackle in France’s loss to Ireland (the latter was upgraded to a red card anyway). Gilchrist was also suspended. What is going on with these contestants who are 2 meters tall and weigh 120 kilograms and have difficulty adjusting their height at the last minute?
Cameron Woki replaces Willemse, but France’s more prominent position is on the left wing, with the dynamic Louis Bielle-Biarrey replacing Iola Yoram Moefana. Everyone can cheer the addition of a pro winger rather than a converted center. This game featured a great rivalry between two enterprising outside linebackers.
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Kellan Dorris captains Ireland for the first time
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Keiran Doris will captain Ireland for the first time in Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Italy in Dublin.
The 25-year-old, who moved from the No. 8 role to the flank, was chosen to captain the starting XV, which featured six personnel changes from last Friday’s 38-17 first-round win over France.
Munster half-back Craig Casey will make his fourth Test start, while center Stuart McCloskey, prop Finley Billam, lock James Ryan and back rower Ryan ·Baird and Jack Kernan will also play.
Regular captain Peter O’Mahony, who missed training earlier this week, is one of four senior stars to rest over the weekend, along with Tadeg Furlong, Tadeg Beirne and Bundy Aki . Jamison Gibson-Parker and 2022 World Footballer of the Year Josh van der Flier sit on a much-shuffled bench that also includes flyback Harry Byrne and versatile defender Jordan Larmour.
Tight end Billam, who becomes a father this week, joins loose prop Andrew Porter and hooker Dan Sheehan in the front row, while Joe McCarthy will join recalled Leinster team-mate Ryan in the second Platoon, Ryan had a great performance in the last game. Marseille.
Jack Crowley continues in the front half, forming a partnership with his provincial teammate Casey, whose last two starts were also against Italy. Ulster’s McCloskey links up with Robbie Henshaw in midfield, with wingers James Lowe and Calvin Nash and defender Hugo Keenan remaining unchanged in the back three. AP average
H Keenan (Leinster); C Nash (Munster), R Henshaw (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster) ), C Casey (Munster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J McCarthy (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster) ), R Baird (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster, Capt), J Conan (Leinster).
alternatives: R Kelleher (Leinster), J Loughman (Munster), T O’Toole (Ulster), I Henderson (Ulster), J Van der Flier (Leinster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster) (Leinster), H Byrne (Leinster), J Larmour (Leinster)
Kyle Rowe remains at full-back for Scotland, having impressed in purple against Wales, while Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe Running wild outside of him. Opposite him, the incomparable Damien Penault knows all this, too.
Regardless, this device is never boring. France were badly beaten by Ireland in Marseille and so had their own reputation to defend. They also know the pain of losing money. The second round of competition is about to begin.
