Autumn Squad

[whatisthejava]

FORWARDS (23)

Simon Berghan (Edinburgh) – 25 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh) – 15 caps
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 50 caps
Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 17 caps
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 12 caps
Cornell du Preez (Worcester Warriors) – 7 caps
Matt Fagerson – (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 29 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 42 caps
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – 57 caps
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 65 caps
Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps
Nick Haining (Edinburgh) – 3 caps
Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warriors) - uncapped
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) – 37 caps
Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 38 caps
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 18 caps
Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 7 caps
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 7 caps
Blade Thomson (Scarlets) – 5 caps
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 25 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 32 caps

BACKS (17)

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh) – 11 caps
Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 18 caps
Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) CAPTAIN – 76 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh) – 4 caps
Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 21 caps
James Lang (Harlequins) – 2 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 48 caps
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 49 caps
Scott Steele (Harlequins) - uncapped
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh) – uncapped
Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors) – 28 caps

[whatisthejava]

And By Position
LH Jamie Bhatti, Rory Sutherland, Oli Kebble
Hooker Fraser Brown , George Turner, Stuart McInally
TH Simon Berghan , Willem Nel , Zander Fagerson
2nd Row Ben Toolis, Rob Harley , Richie Gray , Jonny Gray , Grant Gilchrist , Scott Cummings
BR Blair Cowan , Hamish Watson, Blade Thomson, Sam Skinner , Jamie Ritchie , Nick Haining , Cornell du Preez ,Matt Fagerson

SH George Horne, Ali Price , Scott Steele
10 Adam Hastings, Finn Russell , Duncan Weir
Centers Nick Grigg, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Huw Jones , James Lang
Back 3 Darcy Graham, Stuart Hogg, Damien Hoyland, Sean Maitland , Duhan van der Merwe

[whatisthejava]

Injured players are not mentioned but you presume Duncan Taylor is still injured from his semi final

So with that

Sutherland, Brown, Fagerson
Gray, Cummins
Richie, Skinner, Watson

Horne, Finn
Graham Jonson Harris Maitland
Hogg

Although i suspect Skinner is in as second row but Thomson went off injured again last night against the weeg and Haining hasnt been great

[whatisthejava]

Generally a pretty strong squad and not a lot of areas of weakness

Shame on SHC quite possibly could win both a GP and a CC medal and cant get in above Steele

[whatisthejava]

From thistle rugby pod

Duncan Taylor, Hutch, Steyn, Mcguigan, Alex Craig, Crosbie all listed as unavailable due to injury

[Big D]

I really try not to be too negative on these things, there has been injuries and some have been playing ok but that squad is very very safe. Not sure the squad needs to be at 40 given covid either.

I guess that means Redpath and maybe Vellacott aren't interested yet.

[Big D]

I know Bradbury has been injured but given Cowan is 300 years old (34) I am not sure I see the point in him being called up ahead of Bradbury in such a big squad if MB has just been binned. Other than he is 3rd choice 7.

If we have named such a big squad it would have been worth inviting CHH up too. He is done pretty well from what I have seen.

[Mikey Brown]

Hmm. That is a very big squad. Not sure how much you can read in to it other than we have very little depth in some areas.

I mean, Cowan? Weren't Ritchie and Watson basically our best players over the last couple of season. What problem is he being brought in to fix? In terms of a player I'm not that interested anymore, but if he can pass on even a drop of that attitude he has then it could be good for our pack. Maybe he can point out to GT which of the backrowers to invest in.

We're really in a position to dispose of Bradbury's carrying ability? He has plenty of flaws, but he is surely going to be in and around the squad for years to come so why ditch him now? I hope GT has given him some detail on what to go away and work on if that's the plan.

That's great if Johnson is fit. What's his injury again? What's the chance of him being fully up to speed? I can only imagine Lang is there as a backup if not, he doesn't have Johnson's determination to throw himself into contact but he's pretty quick and big. Maybe he'd be good to emulate Johnson's quieter, reliable playmaking style but he doesn't really impose himself on games I've seen for Quins over the last couple of seasons. Shame about Redpath's allegiances, Hutchinson's injury and Scott finally falling completely off the map with Leicester.

[Mikey Brown]

Whoah. Richie Gray! I didn't even see that. All I've seen him do for the last few years when I've managed to watch is flop on top of rucks and lie there.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm pinning an awful lot of my hopes on the presence of Van Der Merwe. Will he get involved enough in midfield to become a serious threat through the middle running off Russell/Hastings/Johnson, allowing Hogg or Jones to run riot behind? Or will he be standing out on the wing waiting for us to strike gold with one of our insufferably passive backs moves, occasionally getting a desperate, looping miss pass (and several defenders) from Russell?

[Soapy]

I expect Cowan is in as the only viable backup to Watson. All the other backrows are 8s or 6s. I'm not sure who else can realistically be picked as a backup international 7 other than as makeshift injury cover. And Cowan has been really good this year. And Watson can't play all 4 games.

Surprised by no SHC. I haven't seen Steele recently but SHC is definitely more accomplished than Price and Horne in his game management and and management of the pack.

It's a big year for Price IMO. He's got to show abilities to really run a game and exercise good judgement at 9. He still very inconsistent and is in danger of being yet another talented Scottish player who had plateaued short of his potential. Neither Hastings nor Price are benefiting from playing together and both seem very slow learners.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Gordon not ready? Ritchie is the 2nd best openside we have, but I guess would be at 6 otherwise.

Steele has surprised me but I had low expectations. I think SHC is underrated too tbh and thought he might be worth another look. Price is very patchy but we don't seem to play the sort of game that Horne needs to thrive either.

Interesting what you say about his chemistry with Hastings. Russell is the only half-back partner I've seen where he and Price seem to read eachother well.

[Puja]

I expect Cowan is in as the only viable backup to Watson. All the other backrows are 8s or 6s. I'm not sure who else can realistically be picked as a backup international 7 other than as makeshift injury cover. And Cowan has been really good this year. And Watson can't play all 4 games.

Surprised by no SHC. I haven't seen Steele recently but SHC is definitely more accomplished than Price and Horne in his game management and and management of the pack.

It's a big year for Price IMO. He's got to show abilities to really run a game and exercise good judgement at 9. He still very inconsistent and is in danger of being yet another talented Scottish player who had plateaued short of his potential. Neither Hastings nor Price are benefiting from playing together and both seem very slow learners.

Steele's been very good since joining Harlequins - he's been in an excellent run of form and I'm not surprised you've called him up. SHC's been solidly okay for Exeter, but definitely not knocking the door down.

Puja

[Soapy]

Steele's been very good since joining Harlequins - he's been in an excellent run of form and I'm not surprised you've called him up. SHC's been solidly okay for Exeter, but definitely not knocking the door down.

Puja

That's good to hear. I saw quite a lot of Steele playing as an 18-20 year old and always liked his style. He was very gritty, had a good range of skills and gave his all for the team.

[Puja]

Steele's been very good since joining Harlequins - he's been in an excellent run of form and I'm not surprised you've called him up. SHC's been solidly okay for Exeter, but definitely not knocking the door down.

Puja

That's good to hear. I saw quite a lot of Steele playing as an 18-20 year old and always liked his style. He was very gritty, had a good range of skills and gave his all for the team.

I'll be honest, if you'd asked me prior to the restarted season, I'd've said he was a never-will-be, Championship quality player. But since the move to Quins, he's been in blazing form and thoroughly deserves the recognition. Question is, is this a new blossoming for him or will he revert to the mean?

Puja

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Hmm. That is a very big squad. Not sure how much you can read in to it other than we have very little depth in some areas.

I mean, Cowan? Weren't Ritchie and Watson basically our best players over the last couple of season. What problem is he being brought in to fix? In terms of a player I'm not that interested anymore, but if he can pass on even a drop of that attitude he has then it could be good for our pack. Maybe he can point out to GT which of the backrowers to invest in.

We're really in a position to dispose of Bradbury's carrying ability? He has plenty of flaws, but he is surely going to be in and around the squad for years to come so why ditch him now? I hope GT has given him some detail on what to go away and work on if that's the plan.

That's great if Johnson is fit. What's his injury again? What's the chance of him being fully up to speed? I can only imagine Lang is there as a backup if not, he doesn't have Johnson's determination to throw himself into contact but he's pretty quick and big. Maybe he'd be good to emulate Johnson's quieter, reliable playmaking style but he doesn't really impose himself on games I've seen for Quins over the last couple of seasons. Shame about Redpath's allegiances, Hutchinson's injury and Scott finally falling completely off the map with Leicester.

I presume its big because GT plans on using all the players at some point due to the number of games coming up. Does that sound about right

I too am surprised and a little disappointed that Callum Hunter-Hill isn't in (who would he be in for, whats his position?) but other than that, I'm actually happy with the squad. I'm especially happy King Duhan is included

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Would have liked to have seen a couple more fringe/dual qualified prospects in there given there is little pressure going into these games. Perfect chance to cap them.

Cowan is weird but I guess he's also got to strike the balance between totally decimating the domestic club squads and this.

[General Zod]

Whoah. Richie Gray!

For whatever reason, I read this to the tune of the following advertising jingle...

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Also quite happy to see Du Preez back in. He was a complete embarrassment when given a chance in a Scotland jersey and has been shut out for some time. His domestic performances, then and now, warrant a place. Hope he shows us what he is really capable of and that was just a bad day at the office...

[switchskier]

I know that I'm a broken record, buy Matt Scott is just a better, more threatening player than Lang or Grigg, probably Harris too. And it's not as if either has been in scintillating form.

Stepping back, the options in the pack are pretty uninspiring. All can play international level rugby but it does lack one or two great players who can lift the overall level. I'd hoped McInally was going to be one after his 2018 6N but that now just looks like a run of good form.

On the other hand there are real exciting talents in the backs, but we might not get to see much of it if there's no decent ball to play off. Hope toonies been working on a better strategy.

[switchskier]

From thistle rugby pod

Duncan Taylor, Hutch, Steyn, Mcguigan, Alex Craig, Crosbie all listed as unavailable due to injury

No Kinghorn? He's been out for edinburgh.

[Puja]

I know that I'm a broken record, buy Matt Scott is just a better, more threatening player than Lang or Grigg, probably Harris too. And it's not as if either has been in scintillating form.

Unfortunately, Matt Scott has been playing for Leicester and looking like he absolutely belongs in their backline. So he's not in any position to be upset that he's not made the squad.

Puja

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Now that the squad has been announced and our first game is over a week away, what would you have as the starting line up for Georgia ?

I have a feeling we may see debuts for Kebble and Steele from the bench and Van der Merwe from the start .

[Cameo]

I know that I'm a broken record, buy Matt Scott is just a better, more threatening player than Lang or Grigg, probably Harris too. And it's not as if either has been in scintillating form.

Stepping back, the options in the pack are pretty uninspiring. All can play international level rugby but it does lack one or two great players who can lift the overall level. I'd hoped McInally was going to be one after his 2018 6N but that now just looks like a run of good form.

On the other hand there are real exciting talents in the backs, but we might not get to see much of it if there's no decent ball to play off. Hope toonies been working on a better strategy.

I think the ones we need to hang our hat on for that extra inspiration in the pack (while not underestimating the work of people like Gray and Sutherland) are Fagerson, Watson and Ritchie. I also don't think you should underestimate either hooker - they are just frustratingly inconsistent.

[Cameo]

Now that the squad has been announced and our first game is over a week away, what would you have as the starting line up for Georgia ?

I have a feeling we may see debuts for Kebble and Steele from the bench and Van der Merwe from the start .

Go on then. Wales is the following week so there may be a bit more rotation than this but how about the following. Also not sure if all the Exeter boys are available.

Kebble
Turner
Fagerson
Gray
Skinner
Ritchie
Watson
Fagerson
Horne
Russell
DVDM
Johnson
Jones
Graham
Hogg

Sutherland
McInally
Bergman
Cummings
Blade
Steele
Hastings
Harris

I'm sure that has plenty to annoy people but was trying to pick a good team while giving some people who could be important a first cap or some much needed game time.