Autumn Series 2021: Scotland

[morepork]

I'm optimistic about SA. I'm pretty sure this Lions tour will have left a mark on Gregor Townsend and I don't expect to see him repeating the same mistakes. A gameplan around quick ball, with players who know each other well, why not? It nearly worked after being thrown together 10 minutes into the 3rd test

It's still a bit step to actually do it well enough over 80 mins. You can find yourself going backwards and conceding penalties pretty quickly.

I think everyone will be interested to see how various countries take on SA over the rest of this year. Argentina had a good go but just not accurate enough to make half breaks stick.

RGs getting manhandled right now. Dear God it is turgid stuff, but it is working. If Scotland can get a ref that is prepared to ping SA from "falling" on the wrong side of the ruck and just lying there slowing it down (every ruck) then you might be able to get an attack moving against them.

[Cameo]

AB Zondagh from Toulouse in as a new skills coach to replace Blair. Never heard of him but apparently well regarded.

[Mikey Brown]

AB Zondagh from Toulouse in as a new skills coach to replace Blair. Never heard of him but apparently well regarded.

"I am looking forward to adding value to the group and the positive rugby the team play," he said.

"I know rugby at that level comes with high pressure, but that is why we coach because we enjoy the pressure and enjoy winning.

"I'll be moving my family to Scotland. I think it is important to know the people, the history, understand how people and the players think, feel the energy, making connections which get results and build relationship with everyone in the organisation."

Zondagh, who coached at Sharks in his homeland, will also be available as a skills resource coach for Edinburgh and Glasgow and will work with players at academy level.

Fairly boiler-plate stuff but the last bit sounds like a good move. Never heard of the guy before but with the performance of Toulouse this season I'm pretty happy with it.

[whatisthejava]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-58506013

Get prepared to download an app and upload your certificate to see a rugby game

[General Zod]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... s-58506013

Get prepared to download an app and upload your certificate to see a rugby game

What if you don’t live in Scotland? Got pals from Austria coming to a game soon.

[Croft_No.5]

You will be able to use the QR code system I expect. Most EU countries use this for travel etc. Was accepted this evening for entry to a gig in Glasgow.

[General Zod]

You will be able to use the QR code system I expect. Most EU countries use this for travel etc. Was accepted this evening for entry to a gig in Glasgow.

Makes sense, particularly as we’re playing France at Murrayfield this year.

[Mikey Brown]

Scotland squad

Forwards: Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Luke Crosbie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Nick Haining, Rob Harley, Jamie Hodgson, Oli Kebble, Murray McCallum, Stuart McInally, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Marshall Sykes, George Turner.

Backs: Mark Bennett, Jack Blain, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Cole Forbes, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Damien Hoyland, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, James Lang, Rufus McLean, Ali Price, Charlie Savala, Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu.

I’m guessing Zondagh has essentially brought Richardson over with him. Will be interesting to see if he’s more of a backrow or hooker. I suppose the versatility could be useful but I’d never heard of him to be honest.

Slightly weird squad with the Prem/T14 players missing, a good few names in there I barely recognise, but good to see Bennet back. The backs lose a whole lot of size without Harris and Duhan. Not seen Tuipolotu play but every namesake I’ve seen has been a hard bastard.

[septic 9]

Slightly weird squad with the Prem/T14 players missing, a good few names in there I barely recognise, but good to see Bennet back. The backs lose a whole lot of size without Harris and Duhan. Not seen Tuipolotu play but every namesake I’ve seen has been a hard bastard.

Tuipoltou is probably the smallest of that clan I can remember. I like him so far. He can still bump people off, but think of a faster version of Grigg with far better hands, a hand off and step. Carries the ball in 2 hands a lot, bit like Hogg does, keeps defenders guessing.

Anyone else you don't recognise or know much about, happy to give a couple of lines pen portrait

[Cameo]

Funny (on I good way I think) that Weir and VDW aren't in there but Savala is. I'm guessing Thompson will start Vs Tonga with Lang covering.

[Croft_No.5]

For Tonga I could imagine Kinghorn on the bench covering 10 and the back 3, maybe..

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Updated squad to be announced on Wednesday so we'll have a better idea as to what we could see against Tonga.

All I'm hoping for is Dylan Richardson to get in, anything else is a bonus lol.

[septic 9]

Funny (on I good way I think) that Weir and VDW aren't in there but Savala is. I'm guessing Thompson will start Vs Tonga with Lang covering.

Savala is only in as an "apprentice" and won't be near the squad, so I'd agree Thomson and Lang looks the right choices from the current squad. Altho I think Lang took a knock at the weekend and may not be fit; plus I have this feeling that Townsend and Blair are serious about Kinghorn at 10 (I'm very unconvinced about that!) so he could be the back up especially if Lang doesn't make it

[septic 9]

Updated squad to be announced on Wednesday so we'll have a better idea as to what we could see against Tonga.

All I'm hoping for is Dylan Richardson to get in, anything else is a bonus lol.

I'm hoping for a win. Anything else is a bonus

Both sides will have seriously depleted teams out so it could be a lottery, whoever is hungriest

I've liked what I've seen of Richardson, mainly because I thought I was watching a hooker filling it at openside. Turns out it was the other way around - he is in as a back row and is seen by Townsend as one. Which is fine as far as it goes but we have so many back row options already, while hooker is starting to look thin. Oh well.

[Mikey Brown]

Isn’t Kinghorn injured too?

[Mikey Brown]

Updated squad to be announced on Wednesday so we'll have a better idea as to what we could see against Tonga.

All I'm hoping for is Dylan Richardson to get in, anything else is a bonus lol.

I'm hoping for a win. Anything else is a bonus

Both sides will have seriously depleted teams out so it could be a lottery, whoever is hungriest

I've liked what I've seen of Richardson, mainly because I thought I was watching a hooker filling it at openside. Turns out it was the other way around - he is in as a back row and is seen by Townsend as one. Which is fine as far as it goes but we have so many back row options already, while hooker is starting to look thin. Oh well.

Yeah this seemed strange to me too. I suppose I’d not thought much beyond Watson/Ritchie at 7, with a couple of others coming through behind them all ready. Whilst I’m worried if McInally/Brown are a bit past their best or injuries have taken their toll. Turner is fantastic on his day but I don’t think Stewart/Cherry is adequate backup.

I don’t really understand how you can be a part time front-rower with the demands of the scrum and lineout. Ever seen him throw?

[Big D]

Updated squad to be announced on Wednesday so we'll have a better idea as to what we could see against Tonga.

All I'm hoping for is Dylan Richardson to get in, anything else is a bonus lol.

I'm hoping for a win. Anything else is a bonus

Both sides will have seriously depleted teams out so it could be a lottery, whoever is hungriest

I've liked what I've seen of Richardson, mainly because I thought I was watching a hooker filling it at openside. Turns out it was the other way around - he is in as a back row and is seen by Townsend as one. Which is fine as far as it goes but we have so many back row options already, while hooker is starting to look thin. Oh well.

Yeah this seemed strange to me too. I suppose I’d not thought much beyond Watson/Ritchie at 7, with a couple of others coming through behind them all ready. Whilst I’m worried if McInally/Brown are a bit past their best or injuries have taken their toll. Turner is fantastic on his day but I don’t think Stewart/Cherry is adequate backup.

I don’t really understand how you can be a part time front-rower with the demands of the scrum and lineout. Ever seen him throw?

Harsh on Cherry to lump him in with Stewart IMO. Cherry is a stop gap but played his part in the 6N.

[Mikey Brown]

I like Cherry and it's nice to have a more solid option at 2 actually. I didn't mean it to be dismissive of him, but he's already 30 something isn't he? I'm just thinking about depth over the new few years.

Also disappointed if we didn't take the chance to field 1. Schoemann 2. Richardson 3. Kebble in the 6 nations and really piss everyone off.

[septic 9]

I like Cherry and it's nice to have a more solid option at 2 actually. I didn't mean it to be dismissive of him, but he's already 30 something isn't he? I'm just thinking about depth over the new few years.

Also disappointed if we didn't take the chance to field 1. Schoemann 2. Richardson 3. Kebble in the 6 nations and really piss everyone off.

I get the all SA born front row, but Kebble at tight head, as Glasgow did? At present I'd rather go backwards to Nel

Problem with both is playing a full game. Nel terrific off the bench this week, but he just isn't a full game player these days (and despite subs, sometimes you need to be).
And with Kebble..................now I like lots about him. Carries well when set up properly. Has an aggressive edge, which I like and we do need that physicality against bigger teams, even if he steps over the mark sometimes. And he scrums ok, very well and aggressively if allowed to angle in even slightly. But I do not remember seeing him finish a match - by which I mean he is usually off early with an injury or niggle, rarely gets to the "its definitely tactical" stage. Him at TH for Scotland would mean a 6/2 bench, with 3 props!

Trouble is with Nel now older than me, Berghan still injured, we have Fagerson and McCallum (on a short term contract) playing pro rugby at TH. Then unless I've forgotten someone its academy players. So Kebble isn't far away, and I have wondered if trying him at 3 is a request from Toonie

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I haven’t actually seen him there for a single scrum as far as I’m aware, just knew that he was playing there for Glasgow.

I have similar feelings. He’s a big old unit but seems rather delicate.

[af73]

Funny (on I good way I think) that Weir and VDW aren't in there but Savala is. I'm guessing Thompson will start Vs Tonga with Lang covering.

Savala is only in as an "apprentice" and won't be near the squad, so I'd agree Thomson and Lang looks the right choices from the current squad. Altho I think Lang took a knock at the weekend and may not be fit; plus I have this feeling that Townsend and Blair are serious about Kinghorn at 10 (I'm very unconvinced about that!) so he could be the back up especially if Lang doesn't make it

Is the Kinghorn for 10 cover leaning into the idea of a 6-2 bench split?
That's almost guaranteed, in a Scotland sort of way,to see us playing with a flanker at centre from the 20th minute due to injuries
Certainly wouldn't want to see it at the expense of Jones in the 23 - a lesser jack-of-all-trades displacing an outstanding midfield talent and adequate back 3 cover.

[Mikey Brown]

Has Townsend ever picked a 6:2. I can’t remember ever thinking that was likely from him. We’ve had what seems like more than our fair share of games where 3 or more backs go down injured.

I can’t imagine him even considering unless there were extra back 5 forwards demanding to be selected.

On that note. Who is actually fit and in form to fill the 4-8 and 19/20 shirts? Cummings and Ritchie are automatics. Watson is rested. Gray, Skinner and Fagerson are all injured or just returning? Is Richardson likely dropping straight in at 7 if he’s selected?

Not suggesting him but it’s interesting to see Swinson flourishing at Saracens.

[Big D]

Funny (on I good way I think) that Weir and VDW aren't in there but Savala is. I'm guessing Thompson will start Vs Tonga with Lang covering.

Savala is only in as an "apprentice" and won't be near the squad, so I'd agree Thomson and Lang looks the right choices from the current squad. Altho I think Lang took a knock at the weekend and may not be fit; plus I have this feeling that Townsend and Blair are serious about Kinghorn at 10 (I'm very unconvinced about that!) so he could be the back up especially if Lang doesn't make it

I think Kinghorn would be potentially ahead of Lang for 10. But I am basing that only on Kinghorn getting the starts ahead of him early in the season.

[septic 9]

my 6/2 split was a dig at Kebble's inability to finish a game without an injury.

It is an option though, especially against the Boks. If Kinghorn is seen as a 10 even more the case. And we have seen Hogg cover 10 as well. And of course Hastings put in few cameos for Glasgow last season at 10 and was pretty good.

Townsend has certainly picked Glasgow sides with a 6/2 split IIRC, can never say never with Toonie anyway.

I doubt Huw Jones will be in the squad - hardly featured for Quins, and behind Harris (of course) while Bennett is back looking good. Shame but there it is. A good argument for him would be of Hogg was the 10 cover, Jones covers back 3 as well a centre I suppose

As ever much will depend on who is fit come match days

[Mikey Brown]

Ah yes, just forgotten how to read it seems. I thought you were both angling for it there.

Jones is a weird one. Really picked up form again last year and having to fight his way past Harris will be good for him in the long term.

He is perfectly suited to Quins style but needs time to adjust, while we’ve already got 3 quality centres fighting for a couple of spots. Taking the Autumn as a chance for more gametime (while Marchant and possibly Lynagh are away) hopefully he’ll get a good chance to stake a claim ahead of the 6 nations.