Autumn Squad

[Croft_No.5]

Hogg and Gray J not available for Georgia as Premiership final clashes.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

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 know a lot of fans are against the concept but our failure to acquire a project hooker to "naturalise" was one of the biggest failures of that SJ led project a while back.

[Mikey Brown]

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 know a lot of fans are against the concept but our failure to acquire a project hooker to "naturalise" was one of the biggest failures of that SJ led project a while back.

You not yearning or the day Willemse turns out for Scotland?

[Cameo]

We possibly don't have the pipeline but in Brown, McInally and Turner we are strong in that position. Ashman and Stewart are highly rated too.

[Cameo]

Hogg and Gray J not available for Georgia as Premiership final clashes.

From the squad it is Jones, Maitland or Hoyland at fullback then unless he gets creative and puts Hastings there.

Not sure I see Hoyland having a big future there for Scotland but there arguments for any one of the three.

[Mikey Brown]

Whoah. Richie Gray!

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

I have never seen this before but it’s pretty amazing. I’m going to have that in my head for a while.

[Croft_No.5]

Give Hastings a full game back at Glasgow, likewise Horne G. If one of Haining/Thompson not available (maybe Blade is injured) then Matt Fagerson in. I think though we may see a few of the outsders given a chance?


Kebble
Brown (c)
Fagerson
Cummins
Skinner
Ritchie
Watson
Thompson/Haining
Price
Russell
DVDM
Hutchinson
Jones
Graham
Maitland

Sutherland
McInally
Bergman
Gray R
Thompson/Haining
Steele
Weir
Harris

[Mikey Brown]

Give Hastings a full game back at Glasgow, likewise Horne G. If one of Haining/Thompson not available (maybe Blade is injured) then Matt Fagerson in. I think though we may see a few of the outsders given a chance?


Kebble
Brown (c)
Fagerson
Cummins
Skinner
Ritchie
Watson
Thompson/Haining
Price
Russell
DVDM
Hutchinson
Jones
Graham
Maitland

Sutherland
McInally
Bergman
Gray R
Thompson/Haining
Steele
Weir
Harris

I started responding thinking this was your suggestion of the form team, but you want to start rotation from the very first game back? Is that a matter of wanting to save players for later games?

[whatisthejava]

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.

Toony has a picture of the skills that each rugby player must have to be effective in his team

Scott, Bennet dont have them for a centre position
Bradbury isnt there because he is lacking in something


I tend to think its because both don't pass enough, mind you that doesn't explain Kinghorn who would open a small shop up selling women's underwear to grannys before he would pass a ball (mind you who else is about Bryce looked decent for about 3 months a while ago)

[Mikey Brown]

I'd sort of get the distribution argument if he had been picking Hutchinson over Harris, but he clearly doesn't value it that highly.

Also hadn't realised this Autumn Cup thing happens before the Wales game so we have Georgia on the 23rd. I can get on board with a bit of rotation there but we still seem to lack any sense of cohesion as a team, for a group that has mostly been together for a long time now.

[Croft_No.5]

I was torn between going full bore test warm up with Georgia running into the Wales game and then mix and match for the 8 nations games. THis was tempered by the loss of Hogg and Gray J for the first up game and maybe a need to give players as much time as possible playing. Any time will tell with Toonie.

[septic 9]

Give Hastings a full game back at Glasgow, likewise Horne G.

trying to bring down Glasgow's options at 10 down to Edinburgh levels?

Hastings has dropped back to 15 a few times after injuries during games. Glasgow have a full back problem which isn't solved by shifting Hastings there and weakening 10. Scotland need to pick players as they are available, not fuck up pro teams by mucking players about.

[septic 9]

We possibly don't have the pipeline but in Brown, McInally and Turner we are strong in that position. Ashman and Stewart are highly rated too.

Yep, hooker is not a position of concern. McInally lacks form at present, that's it. We got a SA hooker at Edinburgh, useless. They let better player, younger and cheaper go. Another Cockerill masterpiece

[Mikey Brown]

Is that saying a game at fullback or give him a full 80 minutes (back) at Glasgow? (Rather than 20 off the bench for Scotland)

On fullback though, I guess this doesn't say all that much but GT does acknowledge Jones as an option there.

"Meanwhile, asked about Huw Jones, who has switched roles with Glasgow, Townsend said the 26-year-old would offer greater depth at full-back but could also be called upon in his original position at centre." I wonder if Maitland or Jones get the gig in Hogg's absence.

[septic 9]

Bradbury isnt there because he is lacking in something

nope. Concussed and needs longer time off. Very much in the plans

Edit - to be clearer, ankle injury, head injury and form not right. Being given time.

[septic 9]

I too am surprised and a little disappointed that Callum Hunter-Hill isn't in (who would he be in for, whats his position?)

either spoof post of the year, brilliant wind up, congrats

Or

Outstanding numptyness. How can you want a player in when you don't know what position he plays? Primary 5 kids would make a better case

[septic 9]

"Meanwhile, asked about Huw Jones, who has switched roles with Glasgow, Townsend said the 26-year-old would offer greater depth at full-back but could also be called upon in his original position at centre." I wonder if Maitland or Jones get the gig in Hogg's absence.

partly depends on who is fit. Kinghorn missed last couple of Edin games and would be seen as 1st in line normally. Then Maitland. Against Georgia, Jones could get the nod I guess, or bench

The left field option for FB (given Kinghorn even if fit has been poor since lockdown) is Graham. Played loads of U20s there, good footballer as well as magic feet.

[Mikey Brown]

Bradbury isnt there because he is lacking in something

nope. Concussed and needs longer time off. Very much in the plans

Edit - to be clearer, ankle injury, head injury and form not right. Being given time.

Ah okay. Good in one sense, hope that all gets managed well because I agree he'll be important.

[Croft_No.5]

Give Hastings a full game back at Glasgow, likewise Horne G.

trying to bring down Glasgow's options at 10 down to Edinburgh levels?

Hastings has dropped back to 15 a few times after injuries during games. Glasgow have a full back problem which isn't solved by shifting Hastings there and weakening 10. Scotland need to pick players as they are available, not fuck up pro teams by mucking players about.

Alas meant what I said, but had to reread to make sure I hadn't put the correct words in the wrong place! Yes give him a full 80 at Glasgow (no game this weekend) rather than on the bench for Scotland. Weir won't let us down.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

I too am surprised and a little disappointed that Callum Hunter-Hill isn't in (who would he be in for, whats his position?)

either spoof post of the year, brilliant wind up, congrats

Or

Outstanding numptyness. How can you want a player in when you don't know what position he plays? Primary 5 kids would make a better case[/quote"

Don't you dare call me a fucking troll!! Admin get this twat told because I don't come on here to get bullied.

[septic 9]

I too am surprised and a little disappointed that Callum Hunter-Hill isn't in (who would he be in for, whats his position?)

either spoof post of the year, brilliant wind up, congrats

Or

Outstanding numptyness. How can you want a player in when you don't know what position he plays? Primary 5 kids would make a better case[/quote"

Don't you dare call me a fucking troll!! Admin get this twat told because I don't come on here to get bullied.

Not accused of being a toll. Of posting an actually funny post; or a post deserving of ridicule. Which was it?

when you've worked it out, or even worked out what position Hunter-Hill plays, do let us know. Which one do you think your reaction suggests?
Hunter-Hill, the player you are disappointed and surprised has been omitted (which in fact I agree about, but then I know what position he plays)

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Will you stop pick on me or I will report you! As I've said and I'm sure Mods will agree, I don't come on here to be picked on/bullied.

I don't have bt sport so I only get highlights of games from Channel 5, I know good players when I hear them mentioned a lot and from other forums too. And regarding other forums, I know he plays same position as Rob Harley, that's all I know.

Not that I need to explain myself to bullies like you!!

Fwiw, I would love to watch more club rugby other than Pro 14 (I have saw 3 games so far, 2 involving Edinburgh and one Glasgow game) so that I can be more engaging with you peeps. I know I'm not a Rugby Guru but that doesn't give you, or anyone for that matter, the right to pick on me specifically, nobody else has picked up on my lack of Rugby knowledge.

Now, let's be fair to the other posters and Mods on here and leave it there!

[Cameo]

Okay, back on topic. I think it is hard for any of us to pick a team for Georgia as we don't really have a sense of how much rotation is needed/wanted.

I don't think many of the players will feel that in need of a break now (especially if they have this weekend off). It's more keeping a bit of general freshness. Rather than choosing particular players to rest, I would probably try to achieve that more by giving some new players or ones who have not played much recently, who we might need to rely on later, a game so that we are comfortable with them when we need them. I'm talking in particular DVDM and Kebble but Steele or Jones at 13 or 15 or even Skinner in the second row might be others. Where we have several established players, I say let's just pick the best one for the day.

[ARM]

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 know a lot of fans are against the concept but our failure to acquire a project hooker to "naturalise" was one of the biggest failures of that SJ led project a while back.

I’m actually very happy with how the pack is beginning to shape up.

We now have two full front rows that you could throw in to Test rugby and not be worried about. In fact we should be looking to dominate many teams. Not that long ago we were scraping about at LH with Reid (much as I love him), Dell, Marfo and Bhatti. Sutherland, Kebble plus Schoeman in due course is light years ahead. Our hookers are both top quality; Fraser Brown is in great nick. Fagerson found himself last year and Nel is a great old pro.

Plenty of options in the 2 row and Ritchie / Watson are Test quality flankers. Still a bit light at 8, but plenty of players who can do a job.

Meanwhile we have some of the best attacking talents in Euro rugby behind the scrum.

My glass is half full.

[whatisthejava]

Bradbury isnt there because he is lacking in something

nope. Concussed and needs longer time off. Very much in the plans

Edit - to be clearer, ankle injury, head injury and form not right. Being given time.

Ok, wasn’t mentioned as injured presumed he was third choice 8 behind Haining, blade