Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah)

[switchskier]

Bad minute for Scott with two poor passes. He's been pretty solid otherwise and has tackled well. No real opportunities to do anything and taking a lot of bad ball on

[francoisfou]

SHC didn't do much wrong on his Exeter début.
Wonder if he'll be considered by Townsend?

[General Zod]

Christie in the squad tomorrow for the South Island v North. Can’t find the team to see if he’s starting, but I think he should do.

Gatland presumably not coaching either island!

[whatisthejava]

SHC didn't do much wrong on his Exeter début.
Wonder if he'll be considered by Townsend?

He doesn't offer enough to get past Horne and Price, he might get third spot but id prefer he just sticks and trys to get a regular start but the Exeter 9 is pretty handy

[af73]

Christie in the squad tomorrow for the South Island v North. Can’t find the team to see if he’s starting, but I think he should do.

Gatland presumably not coaching either island!

Re-hired to coach 4 countries (well 3 really) of our Isles....but not considered good enough to coach half an island of his own country.

Also reported that current Crusaders coach approach Gatland to coach on the tour & saw this comment posted elsewhere
"So Robertson will be the token Scott this time?"

[Big D]

Christie in the squad tomorrow for the South Island v North. Can’t find the team to see if he’s starting, but I think he should do.

Gatland presumably not coaching either island!

Re-hired to coach 4 countries (well 3 really) of our Isles....but not considered good enough to coach half an island of his own country.

Also reported that current Crusaders coach approach Gatland to coach on the tour & saw this comment posted elsewhere
"So Robertson will be the token Scott this time?"

That would be a very good addition to the Lions staff.

To be fair, it isn't like they are struggling for top coaches in NZ.

[General Zod]

Christie in the squad tomorrow for the South Island v North. Can’t find the team to see if he’s starting, but I think he should do.

Gatland presumably not coaching either island!

Re-hired to coach 4 countries (well 3 really) of our Isles....but not considered good enough to coach half an island of his own country.

Also reported that current Crusaders coach approach Gatland to coach on the tour & saw this comment posted elsewhere
"So Robertson will be the token Scott this time?"

Would be amusing, albeit incredibly unlikely, if he picked one of our players who then turned down the rewards on offer because Gatland’s teams don’t win away (or home) enough.

[ARM]

Christie in the squad tomorrow for the South Island v North. Can’t find the team to see if he’s starting, but I think he should do.

Gatland presumably not coaching either island!

Re-hired to coach 4 countries (well 3 really) of our Isles....but not considered good enough to coach half an island of his own country.

Also reported that current Crusaders coach approach Gatland to coach on the tour & saw this comment posted elsewhere
"So Robertson will be the token Scott this time?"

That would be a very good addition to the Lions staff.

To be fair, it isn't like they are struggling for top coaches in NZ.

Christ. I know that the Lions basically underwrites the SH unions, but even their coaches want to jump on the money-go-round. He can fuck off.

[Croft_No.5]

English Premiership Scots this weekend

1 - Dell
2 - Kerr
3 -
4 - J Gray
5 - CHH
6 -
7 - Cowan
8 - CDP
9 - Vellacot
10 - Wier
11 - Maitland
12 - Hutcheson, Lang, Redpath
13 - Harris
14 - McGuigan
15 - Hogg

16-18 -
19 - Skinner, Swinson, Henderson
20 -
21 - SH-C, Scott Steele
22 -
23 -

[Cameo]

2/3 Scots 12s starting in the prem plus two decent ones up here plus some good young ones in the squads. Easy to forget how unlikely that would have seemed a few years ago.

[Mikey Brown]

Well all I'd heard about Steele on here, never having watched him myself, had my expectations pretty low. But he came on just now for Quins against Saracens while we were trailing by a few, and made quite a few good contributions including a try in a short period where it looked like there was a come back on.

Lang again looks fast, brave, skilful etc. but just doesn't find a way to really make his mark on a game.

[switchskier]

Well all I'd heard about Steele on here, never having watched him myself, had my expectations pretty low. But he came on just now for Quins against Saracens while we were trailing by a few, and made quite a few good contributions including a try in a short period where it looked like there was a come back on.

Lang again looks fast, brave, skilful etc. but just doesn't find a way to really make his mark on a game.

Always liked Steele, though think he probably lacks an outstanding attribute that would make him an international.

Hutchinson taking it to the line and popping it off to Proctor seems a staple of Northamptons attacking game. I can see that working with Johnson on his shoulder. Still think he's better when playing a little wider though.

[Mikey Brown]

Well all I'd heard about Steele on here, never having watched him myself, had my expectations pretty low. But he came on just now for Quins against Saracens while we were trailing by a few, and made quite a few good contributions including a try in a short period where it looked like there was a come back on.

Lang again looks fast, brave, skilful etc. but just doesn't find a way to really make his mark on a game.

Always liked Steele, though think he probably lacks an outstanding attribute that would make him an international.

Hutchinson taking it to the line and popping it off to Proctor seems a staple of Northamptons attacking game. I can see that working with Johnson on his shoulder. Still think he's better when playing a little wider though.

Yep, though how much of that attacking shape still stands when he's playing outside of Russell/Hastings rather than Biggar? I like the idea of having another playmaker and embracing our 10s running to the line themselves, with Johnson just sort of tidying up.

Johnson and Hutchinson would be one of the lightest international centre combos around but they are by far the best ball players we have available, for me anyway. Horne doesn't execute consistently enough. Now the fullback curveball with Jones?

[Cameo]

Henderson came off the bench for Leicester and apparently did well. It'd be great if he can establish himself early as an option (at least for the bench and when there are injuries).

[Cameo]

Well all I'd heard about Steele on here, never having watched him myself, had my expectations pretty low. But he came on just now for Quins against Saracens while we were trailing by a few, and made quite a few good contributions including a try in a short period where it looked like there was a come back on.

Lang again looks fast, brave, skilful etc. but just doesn't find a way to really make his mark on a game.

Always liked Steele, though think he probably lacks an outstanding attribute that would make him an international.

Hutchinson taking it to the line and popping it off to Proctor seems a staple of Northamptons attacking game. I can see that working with Johnson on his shoulder. Still think he's better when playing a little wider though.

Yep, though how much of that attacking shape still stands when he's playing outside of Russell/Hastings rather than Biggar? I like the idea of having another playmaker and embracing our 10s running to the line themselves, with Johnson just sort of tidying up.

Johnson and Hutchinson would be one of the lightest international centre combos around but they are by far the best ball players we have available, for me anyway. Horne doesn't execute consistently enough. Now the fullback curveball with Jones?

Johnson's not big but is solidly built. I'd be happy with those two together (though I still like Jones). Horne and Hutchison I think is just too lightweight (and I'd phase Horne out a bit now anyway).

[Croft_No.5]

Midweek English Premiership!

1 -
2 -
3 -
4 - Young
5 - Swinson, Skinner
6 -
7 - Cowan
8 - CDP
9 - SH-C, Steele
10 - Wier
11 -
12 - Scott, Redpath
13 - Dingwall
14 -
15 -

16-20 -
21 - Vellacott
22 - Hutchinson
23 - Lang

[Cameo]

Nice for the 9's to get a start. SHC in particular has to see it as a chance to impress though looks like it'll be a weakened team.

[switchskier]

Nice for the 9's to get a start. SHC in particular has to see it as a chance to impress though looks like it'll be a weakened team.

He ended up getting motm so that seems to have gone well.

[septic 9]

Nice for the 9's to get a start. SHC in particular has to see it as a chance to impress though looks like it'll be a weakened team.

He ended up getting motm so that seems to have gone well.

he was hooked after an hour so an interesting MotM decision.

He scored a try, very clever finish as he was tackled and rolled on his back crossing the line. Seemed to be getting to breakdowns well (so un-Laidlaw like), and decent enough, but his passing still hot and miss, box kicking just poor

[switchskier]

Nice for the 9's to get a start. SHC in particular has to see it as a chance to impress though looks like it'll be a weakened team.

He ended up getting motm so that seems to have gone well.

he was hooked after an hour so an interesting MotM decision.

He scored a try, very clever finish as he was tackled and rolled on his back crossing the line. Seemed to be getting to breakdowns well (so un-Laidlaw like), and decent enough, but his passing still hot and miss, box kicking just poor

I didn't see the match but it was meant to be really windy for box kicking and a few Exeter fans seems to like the extra threat around the fringes that he brings compared to Maunder, especially as Steenson and Simmonds are the options outside of 9.

[Cameo]

He ended up getting motm so that seems to have gone well.

he was hooked after an hour so an interesting MotM decision.

He scored a try, very clever finish as he was tackled and rolled on his back crossing the line. Seemed to be getting to breakdowns well (so un-Laidlaw like), and decent enough, but his passing still hot and miss, box kicking just poor

I didn't see the match but it was meant to be really windy for box kicking and a few Exeter fans seems to like the extra threat around the fringes that he brings compared to Maunder, especially as Steenson and Simmonds are the options outside of 9.

Just watched that. Best game I have seen him play for years. I actually thought his pass was pretty good and his boxed kicks often found space (although not always the best option). Looks a little tentative in defence.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I'd agree his pass was actually pretty good, though he sometimes seemed to want to get things going too much when Exe were taking it a bit slower. He's just that sort of player I guess, and yes his box kicking was a bit all over the place, without knowing what effect the wind was having. Some good cover tackling too. I still think he's a handy player.

Skinner looked very busy. Perhaps not back to full sharpness, a couple of errors too but good at disrupting opposition around the ruck.

[septic 9]

I didn't see the match but it was meant to be really windy for box kicking and a few Exeter fans seems to like the extra threat around the fringes that he brings compared to Maunder, especially as Steenson and Simmonds are the options outside of 9.

first kick, out on the full was miles out, but given the conditions could forgive that. Later on, at least 2 alleged box kicks were just useless punts to the opposition. The idea of a box kick is that your own players can either compete for it or hit the receiver before he makes progress. His were far too far for that, and not far enough to be simple territorial gains (which they were not intended to be). Its always been a weakness

he does like a snipe and is like White (who moved on) in that respect except quicker over distance but his box kicking is way below par in comparison.
Same with his passing. Last night generally good (for him) but a few around the feet or behind the player, everyone does this occasionally but SHC more than most.

It was good to see he had clearly enjoyed the game, but hopefully it doesn't go to his head. he won't last 2 months if it does

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone know what the deal is with Thomson? Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s retiring from this head knock.

[septic 9]

Anyone know what the deal is with Thomson? Wouldn’t surprise me if he’s retiring from this head knock.

I have read he has an ankle/achilles niggle and should be back fairly soon. No idea if that's right though

Hope he is ok but TBH I'm not seeing him as a big miss. One I am very disappointed about is Ashman not featuring for Sale, given they have allegedly a very small squad. He should be the future at hooker. He really needs to get out of there