Mikey Brown wrote:You haven’t watched Hastings repeatedly go high in contact and sometimes get shrugged off or give away needless pens?
Who even said Russell is a bad defender?
I've seen loads of players doing that, including Watson. Hastings is no worse than any of them in that respect
"as is Russell" as in just like Russell. Hastings defence isn't an issue. There are still plenty of 10s who have to be hidden in defence, We are very fortunate neither of these 2 are like that, neither are Weir, Horne or even VDW should we ever be so strapped that we need him
Mikey Brown wrote:You haven’t watched Hastings repeatedly go high in contact and sometimes get shrugged off or give away needless pens?
Who even said Russell is a bad defender?
I've seen loads of players doing that, including Watson. Hastings is no worse than any of them in that respect
"as is Russell" as in just like Russell. Hastings defence isn't an issue. There are still plenty of 10s who have to be hidden in defence, We are very fortunate neither of these 2 are like that, neither are Weir, Horne or even VDW should we ever be so strapped that we need him
I think Hastings does give away quite a few pens for (non dangerous) high tackles. He's not a bad defender but it sometimes seems like he thinks the tackles he makes are a bonus so can just go for the ball etc. rather than thinking it's crucial to get the guy down. Not a big issue but an area he could improve I think.
So 10 is a bit of an issue. Hastings and Finn doubtful (at best) and as much as we dislike the idea JVdW has been training with the squad.
He qualifies for Scotland on the 16th of November but yesterday flew back to SA for his rearranged wedding. He will need to quarantine for 2 weeks upon his return (due Sunday). So he is out until the Fiji game at best.
So it will be Weir and possibly Hogg as cover or Horne?
Mikey Brown wrote:Hutchinson isn’t in the squad at all, right?
anyone could be called into the squad
Hutchison's form has been rank at 12. Don't know when he last played 10. He was great last year - in attack - exceptional at 13. He isn't going to get in at 13.
Mikey Brown wrote:Hutchinson isn’t in the squad at all, right?
anyone could be called into the squad
Hutchison's form has been rank at 12. Don't know when he last played 10. He was great last year - in attack - exceptional at 13. He isn't going to get in at 13.
If you ask Eddie Jones the centre positions are interchangeable these days. I'm not sure that I entirely buy that but it should be possible to design a game plan that maximises his handling skills and ability to attack outside shoulders.
Of course it's irrelevant for now as he is injured.
Mikey Brown wrote:Hutchinson isn’t in the squad at all, right?
anyone could be called into the squad
Hutchison's form has been rank at 12. Don't know when he last played 10. He was great last year - in attack - exceptional at 13. He isn't going to get in at 13.
I know he can call anyone in but I wasn't sure if he'd actually shown any interest or been involved in the squad so far, but is apparently injured anyway.
I wouldn't have said 'rank' but he's certainly not been as prominent in attack. He's been put in more of a playmaker role but Northampton's form as a team just fell off a cliff. Given he was covering 10 at the beginning of the 6 nations it's not a massive leap to wonder if Townsend might have been considering him as an option. He's by far the most gifted passer/distributor left standing and I'd much rather have him in the 21 shirt than VDW.
whatisthejava wrote:VDW is in SA right now getting married, but needs to od 2 weeks quarenteen when he comes back so dont think he is available till Fiji game
Mikey Brown wrote:Hutchinson isn’t in the squad at all, right?
anyone could be called into the squad
Hutchison's form has been rank at 12. Don't know when he last played 10. He was great last year - in attack - exceptional at 13. He isn't going to get in at 13.
I know he can call anyone in but I wasn't sure if he'd actually shown any interest or been involved in the squad so far, but is apparently injured anyway.
I wouldn't have said 'rank' but he's certainly not been as prominent in attack. He's been put in more of a playmaker role but Northampton's form as a team just fell off a cliff. Given he was covering 10 at the beginning of the 6 nations it's not a massive leap to wonder if Townsend might have been considering him as an option. He's by far the most gifted passer/distributor left standing and I'd much rather have him in the 21 shirt than VDW.
nah, he was rank. Wasn't comfortable at 12 - much less time and space, which doesn't bode well for playing 10
I'd pick myself before VDW. I'd even pick you, even with knowledge that you have some weird ideas
Wonder if we’ll see a call-up for Pete Horne? Would leave Glasgow struggling.
And I guess well done Hastings for seeing us over the line in Llanelli.
after Leinster game Glasgow coach was saying that he is waiting conformation that all Scotland squad players will be kept in a Covid bubble until the last 8N game. So no-one released back to Glasgow or Edinburgh for 3 games, 4 if not released for next Monday. Then 2 weeks of HC when some of them will no doubt be due to be rested.
Season's a write off already for both teams
It still seems crazy that it came to that. Someone said his shoulder popped out once if not twice? Medics presumably had some sense of the state he was in. We then used our remaining (useful) sub in the backs to replace a fully fit Darcy Graham? It just seemed very odd.
I suppose we've just accepted at this point that we're in for a ludicrous situation with injuries whenever we go to Wales.
I don't see that there's even a question over Weir having to step in at 10, it's just about who can reasonably fill in.
Lang as cover, I’d imagine. If the same thing happens again, I’d imagine Kinghorn (if he’s on the pitch) then Hogg.
Hogg would move to 10 before Kinghorn. Captain, far more experienced player will take the responsibility. And Kinghorn can't play 10 professionally. I don't care what he did at school. He was rank at U20 as well at 10
Maitland and SHC in. Gray, Tagive, Harley back to Glasgow.
I'm not sure if it's an injury that prompts SHC's return? Maybe having another goal-kicker? Though I have no idea when he last did that, if at all at test level. 4 scrum-halves seems like a lot.
I don't disagree he has been playing well, I just don't see what the angle is from GT. I'd guess just an injury concern for one of the 9s. Otherwise it seems strange if he wasn't brought in to the squad at the same time as Skinner.
Mikey Brown wrote:I don't disagree he has been playing well, I just don't see what the angle is from GT. I'd guess just an injury concern for one of the 9s. Otherwise it seems strange if he wasn't brought in to the squad at the same time as Skinner.
With the heightened attention to game management I can see SHC moving ahead of Horne in the pecking order. I do think if he gets on the field he might get the starting jersey as on form SHC probably ticks more of the boxes that Price and Horne.
With Russell and Hastings out, they might also see SHC as further cover for the 10 jersey in extremis - although I'm not sure he's played there at a professional level.
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