Scotland v Ireland. 2:30 pm. Saturday 21st March.

[Fireworks]

After 5 pages of speculation the day has arrived. Whoever is in green has my support. This could be a great day for Irish rugby so please remove heads from asssssesss and get behind the guys.

[nc6000]

Anyone who knows Joe knows that this is the equivalent of anyone else calling Hook a c**t-Faced f%~king c**t.

Why did you censor one c**t and not the other?

[olaf the fat]

Statistics, the last refuge.......

The last refuge is claiming that stats are the last refuge

Want to give us the stats about a former munster centres record for Ireland versus bods? tw@t.

"Stat tw@t"

[hugonaut]

Very churlish piece by Matt 'Matty' Williams in the IT today [source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2147480 ]

I think there's some truth in it, but when one exaggerates or distorts certain aspects to suit your argument, any half-intelligent reader – certainly those who have not made a judgment before reading the article – will pick up on the loaded agenda.

'I am also detecting a touch of arrogance in some of the statements coming out of the Irish camp. Some of the talk this week has been disrespectful of the Scots. The theme is now Ireland have “the shackles off we will run in the tries with ease”. '

Far be it from me to bring to mind Leaving Cert nightmares, but what about 'quotations or references from the relevant text'? Having read the vast majority of the interviews given by Irish players in the build-up to this game, I can't recall a single sentence that struck me as arrogant. Certainly the idea that players or staff have been talking about running in tries for fun is an absolute invention: they've been at pains to say that this is a test and their only goal is to win it.

Another thing that struck me about Williams' position was his complete amnesia of Schmidt's first season in charge, where [bar the game against Wales] we played a sh*tload of running rugby and scored more tries [16] than any other team had scored in the tournament for five years. It's not as though Schmidt doesn't know how to instil a running game, or that Sexton doesn't now how to implement it. You'd have to be deliberately obtuse not to agree that Schmidt is the most renowned attack coach at least in the northern hemisphere, if not the world [Wayne Smith being the competition]. To suggest that there is "no structure" is absolutely ridiculous. We're going a different way this season, and have been extremely successful to date.

[simonokeeffe]

Very churlish piece by Matt 'Matty' Williams in the IT today [source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2147480 ]

I think there's some truth in it, but when one exaggerates or distorts certain aspects to suit your argument, any half-intelligent reader – certainly those who have not made a judgment before reading the article – will pick up on the loaded agenda.

'I am also detecting a touch of arrogance in some of the statements coming out of the Irish camp. Some of the talk this week has been disrespectful of the Scots. The theme is now Ireland have “the shackles off we will run in the tries with ease”. '

Far be it from me to bring to mind Leaving Cert nightmares, but what about 'quotations or references from the relevant text'? Having read the vast majority of the interviews given by Irish players in the build-up to this game, I can't recall a single sentence that struck me as arrogant. Certainly the idea that players or staff have been talking about running in tries for fun is an absolute invention: they've been at pains to say that this is a test and their only goal is to win it.

Another thing that struck me about Williams' position was his complete amnesia of Schmidt's first season in charge, where [bar the game against Wales] we played a sh*tload of running rugby and scored more tries [16] than any other team had scored in the tournament for five years. It's not as though Schmidt doesn't know how to instil a running game, or that Sexton doesn't now how to implement it. You'd have to be deliberately obtuse not to agree that Schmidt is the most renowned attack coach at least in the northern hemisphere, if not the world [Wayne Smith being the competition]. To suggest that there is "no structure" is absolutely ridiculous. We're going a different way this season, and have been extremely successful to date.

Matt likes 'I told you so'

also that Franno was a bad influence on him

delighted Payne got a try

[Made Of Ale]

What a performance.

Apart from the missed kicks but now that doesn't matter

[Logorrhea]

holy sh*t balls, that was some day.

[outcast eddie]

I can't spake!!! We all can't spake!!!!!!

[Logorrhea]

Looking forward to watching both of the last matches without a couch in the way. Will be a late night tonight in front of the telly.

[jezzer]

Well, that was quite exciting.

[Hippo]

Very churlish piece by Matt 'Matty' Williams in the IT today [source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2147480 ]

I think there's some truth in it, but when one exaggerates or distorts certain aspects to suit your argument, any half-intelligent reader – certainly those who have not made a judgment before reading the article – will pick up on the loaded agenda.

'I am also detecting a touch of arrogance in some of the statements coming out of the Irish camp. Some of the talk this week has been disrespectful of the Scots. The theme is now Ireland have “the shackles off we will run in the tries with ease”. '

Far be it from me to bring to mind Leaving Cert nightmares, but what about 'quotations or references from the relevant text'? Having read the vast majority of the interviews given by Irish players in the build-up to this game, I can't recall a single sentence that struck me as arrogant. Certainly the idea that players or staff have been talking about running in tries for fun is an absolute invention: they've been at pains to say that this is a test and their only goal is to win it.

Another thing that struck me about Williams' position was his complete amnesia of Schmidt's first season in charge, where [bar the game against Wales] we played a sh*tload of running rugby and scored more tries [16] than any other team had scored in the tournament for five years. It's not as though Schmidt doesn't know how to instil a running game, or that Sexton doesn't now how to implement it. You'd have to be deliberately obtuse not to agree that Schmidt is the most renowned attack coach at least in the northern hemisphere, if not the world [Wayne Smith being the competition]. To suggest that there is "no structure" is absolutely ridiculous. We're going a different way this season, and have been extremely successful to date.

I was trying to work out who in the Ireland camp had been talking about running in tries for fun. Ridiculous piece by Williams - I know he's been running with the limited game plan agenda but this was way ott.

[offshorerules]

Fantastic performance. Luke and church certainly justified their selections. Delighted all round.

[Donny B.]

I can't spake!!! We all can't spake!!!!!!

No one can spake after that!!

[Donny B.]

Very churlish piece by Matt 'Matty' Williams in the IT today [source: http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/i ... -1.2147480 ]

I think there's some truth in it, but when one exaggerates or distorts certain aspects to suit your argument, any half-intelligent reader – certainly those who have not made a judgment before reading the article – will pick up on the loaded agenda.

'I am also detecting a touch of arrogance in some of the statements coming out of the Irish camp. Some of the talk this week has been disrespectful of the Scots. The theme is now Ireland have “the shackles off we will run in the tries with ease”. '

Far be it from me to bring to mind Leaving Cert nightmares, but what about 'quotations or references from the relevant text'? Having read the vast majority of the interviews given by Irish players in the build-up to this game, I can't recall a single sentence that struck me as arrogant. Certainly the idea that players or staff have been talking about running in tries for fun is an absolute invention: they've been at pains to say that this is a test and their only goal is to win it.

Another thing that struck me about Williams' position was his complete amnesia of Schmidt's first season in charge, where [bar the game against Wales] we played a sh*tload of running rugby and scored more tries [16] than any other team had scored in the tournament for five years. It's not as though Schmidt doesn't know how to instil a running game, or that Sexton doesn't now how to implement it. You'd have to be deliberately obtuse not to agree that Schmidt is the most renowned attack coach at least in the northern hemisphere, if not the world [Wayne Smith being the competition]. To suggest that there is "no structure" is absolutely ridiculous. We're going a different way this season, and have been extremely successful to date.

My favourite comment was "Does Matt get paid by the week? Cause each column is basically the same thing!"

He's become a consistent bore