BLUEMOMENT

Bans, Injuries and Retirements - I don't think the Flower will be blooming this season...

PRINCIPALITY STADIUM, CARDIFF,
SATURDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2024
4:45 PM
WALES V SCOTLAND

SCOTTISH GAS MURRAYFIELD
SATURDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2024
2:15 PM
SCOTLAND V FRANCE

SCOTTISH GAS MURRAYFIELD
SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2024
4:45 PM
SCOTLAND V ENGLAND

STADIO OLYMPICO, ROME
SATURDAY 9 MARCH 2024
2:15 PM
ITALY V SCOTLAND

AVIVA STADIUM, DUBLIN
SATURDAY 16 MARCH 2024
4:45 PM
IRELAND V SCOTLAND

Is the popularity of rugby so bad in Italy that they can't attract a sponsor for the stadium?

Perhaps the Benito Stadium or even the Berlusconi Stadium of Light?

I’d be very happy if they didn’t go to Edinbugger - I tried to book a hotel for a non rugby event on that weekend and its £150 plus for a shitey hotel room - if you can find one. I gave up looking at Dundee where they were still wanting stupid money because of the funny shaped ball brigade..

Fair scunnered today - France and England scraped through and make me think Ireland have it made this year. Luckily, I now have an Irish Passport, thanks to a Granny who died in 1919.

VAR officials have been training TMO's
that said, they shouldn't have allowed themselves to be in a position where officiating makes the differnence

Such a shame for Scotland. Watching the video "rocking" back and forth, I am convinced the ball touched the ground just by the elevation change, but the ball to grass contact point was not visible, hence the referees on field call remained. I do think the referee gave it the best chance possible but he too needed to see evidence of actual contact, which is the whole point.

Another defeat snatched from the jaws of victory is so typical of Scotland, I don't know why anyone gets gutted these days. A second rate nation fielding second rate teams at international level.

We too thought that the replays showed that the ball must have touched down and Nigel Owen said the same. But I remember that Bill McLaren commented that it only needed a blade of grass to contact the ball for a touch to count but that the referee must either see it or otherwise be sure that it happened. In these days the referee would get the players off the ruck slowly to see what was at the bottom of it.

We did think that Scotland could have won by kicking penalties rather than persevering with attempts to get a try. And kicking from hand to gain position was usually resulting in French possession and return attack. It is all very well sticking to a game plan but if it's not working it's time to try something different. I have never won a race from behind by following the fleet.