Comments on: Scotland v Italy: post-match round-up http://blog.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/archives/2007/09/29/scotland-v-italy-post-match-round-up/ The Revd Gareth J M Saunders' weblog Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:02:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: Neebs http://blog.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/archives/2007/09/29/scotland-v-italy-post-match-round-up/#comment-47344 Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:29:12 +0000 http://blog.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/archives/2007/09/29/scotland-v-italy-post-match-round-up/#comment-47344 Gareth, as much as I love your "photo summaries" (thumbs up thumbs down is a good version), I must admit, I can't agree with your post-match analysis. I actually felt that Dan Parks was one of the few "Scottish" players who played well against the Italians. His kicking was excellent and it was appropriate - the conditions dictated a game purely based on territory and when you have Simon Taylor in your team, you need to make sure you stay in the opponents half as much as is humanly possible as he is guaranteed to give away a penalty at least every five minutes - which is frustrating as he is one of the most talented back row players in the home nations and unequivocally the most indisciplined. As for Chris Patterson, now there's a one dimensional player. His kicking is nothing short of world class, there can be no question. However, as for general rugby playing ability, he is definitely the poorest amongst the Scottish backline. No ball skills (at all - witness the laughable performance against the All Blacks - even before he was "poked in the eye"), inability to tackle and a self-overrated ability to run with ball. All in all however, I did think Scotland deserved to go through - not like that pesky Irish lot... Gareth, as much as I love your “photo summaries” (thumbs up thumbs down is a good version), I must admit, I can’t agree with your post-match analysis. I actually felt that Dan Parks was one of the few “Scottish” players who played well against the Italians. His kicking was excellent and it was appropriate - the conditions dictated a game purely based on territory and when you have Simon Taylor in your team, you need to make sure you stay in the opponents half as much as is humanly possible as he is guaranteed to give away a penalty at least every five minutes - which is frustrating as he is one of the most talented back row players in the home nations and unequivocally the most indisciplined.

As for Chris Patterson, now there’s a one dimensional player. His kicking is nothing short of world class, there can be no question. However, as for general rugby playing ability, he is definitely the poorest amongst the Scottish backline. No ball skills (at all - witness the laughable performance against the All Blacks - even before he was “poked in the eye”), inability to tackle and a self-overrated ability to run with ball.

All in all however, I did think Scotland deserved to go through - not like that pesky Irish lot…

]]> by: Chris http://blog.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/archives/2007/09/29/scotland-v-italy-post-match-round-up/#comment-47337 Sun, 30 Sep 2007 21:08:37 +0000 http://blog.garethjmsaunders.co.uk/archives/2007/09/29/scotland-v-italy-post-match-round-up/#comment-47337 Gareth, you've missed the boat on Parks, that ind of criticism went out last season. Yes, he is a one dimensional player, but that was the gameplan Hadden had chosen - a kicking game. The 3/4 line were never going to see the ball, Parks was expected to kick at every opportunity. I honestly thought Parks had a good game last night and did what he was asked to do. Paterson, although a worldclass place kicker is not fly-half material ad I think should remain on the wing. I am looking forward to the Argentina game - we've got nothing to lose!! Gareth, you’ve missed the boat on Parks, that ind of criticism went out last season. Yes, he is a one dimensional player, but that was the gameplan Hadden had chosen - a kicking game. The 3/4 line were never going to see the ball, Parks was expected to kick at every opportunity. I honestly thought Parks had a good game last night and did what he was asked to do.
Paterson, although a worldclass place kicker is not fly-half material ad I think should remain on the wing.

I am looking forward to the Argentina game - we’ve got nothing to lose!!

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