6N squad - starting team

[whatisthejava]

It’s hard this time.

Sutherland
Shoeman
Bhatti

Turner
Cherry
Brown

Z Fagerson
Nell
Kebble

Is berghan still injured ?

Gray
Cummings
Gilchrist
Skinner
Hodgeson

Richie /Haining
Darge /Mish
M Fagerson / Bradbury

Price / vellacott / Horne

Russell / Hastings / Thompson

D Graham / VDM / ?? / Kinghorn / Stein

Jonnson / Harris / Tuipolotu (weeg 13) / Bennet

Hogg / ?

II also think starting team is the most competitive since 99

Sutherland
Turner
Z Fagerson
J Gray
S Cummings
Richie
Watson
Bradbury

Price
Russell
D Graham
Jonnson
Harris
VdM
Hogg

Bhatti
Cherry
Kebble
G Gilchrist
Vellacott
Hastings
Kinghorn
Tuipolotu

[whatisthejava]

Centres, backrow and second row are really hard to call

[Mikey Brown]

Seems about right - minus the confusing bench selection. Sil? Sili? Is that Tuipolotu? Weird not to include Jones at all but his form/performances just don't justify it.

I always feel like we should've moved beyond Gilchrist but he does seem to be involved in a lot of our best performances. Similar with Haining I guess, but he looks so pedestrian every time I've seen him recently.

Backrow and centre are hard because they seem like the obvious choices as individuals, but just feels a bit lacking in some sort of x-factor as units. Not sure how we just magic up some more pace/line-breaking options.

Is Kebble still playing tight-head? It's weird how he's just sort of default-ed his way to the 18 shirt. I'm just not sure Nel is an option unless we want to do the Italy thing and start him, give him 30 minutes then have him there as an emergency in case Fagerson gets injured. Wouldn't be massively against that actually now I've written it.

[General Zod]

Is Cam Redpath likely to be fit and is Maitland still in the picture?

Also, I think Ewan Ashman will be in the squad.

There are probably some more, but I’m watching Under Siege and Shawni’s about to come out the cake.

[Cameo]

Has McInally's form come back? See he started on the weekend.

Brown will also be ahead of Cherry if he plays a game or two in the next few weeks.

Otherwise, I'd say 8 is the main position where there is a question mark if Bradbury's form continues. I'd like there to be a question about the centres but don't think there is.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

What's the latest regarding Cam Henderson, is he still out?

And is Kyle Rowe a dark horse/bolter, he's been in excellent form for LI of late?

Ben Vellacott should 100% be in but will he be snubbed again.

[Cameo]

What's the latest regarding Cam Henderson, is he still out?

And is Kyle Rowe a dark horse/bolter, he's been in excellent form for LI of late?

Ben Vellacott should 100% be in but will he be snubbed again.

I think Henderson is still injured. Don't think he would be making the squad anyway. Hope he gets back in time to get some gametime for Leicester this season.

Kyle Rowe could make the squad though I'd guess not. I'd guess VDM, Graham (if fit), Steyn, Maitland, Kinghorn, and McLean (if fit) would be ahead of him but Townsend isn't afraid of a slightly left field selection if someone has shown some form.

Not sure about Vellacot (though only seem highlights of Edin games). Price will definitely start but there is an opportunity behind him. I had hoped this would be Dobie's year but he hasn't had that much game time yet. People were criticising Vellacot's kicking and game management early on but no idea if that has improved.

[Which Tyler]

Any new arrivals from other nations who might make the squad and be bedded in in time for the RWC?
McConnochie would be a good shot, but he's not getting game time year - though playing well when he does get on the pitch; and there are plenty of others who've become available.

[Big D]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Chapman and Lowe get a call up for the staff to have a look at.

Nel is arguably the form TH available. He needs to be in the matchday 23.

[Big D]

II also think starting team is the most competitive since 99

Sutherland
Turner
Z Fagerson
J Gray
S Cummings
Richie
Watson
Bradbury

Price
Russell
D Graham
Jonnson
Harris
VdM
Hogg

Bhatti
Cherry
Kebble
G Gilchrist
Vellacott
Hastings
Kinghorn
Tuipolotu

Schoeman is better than Bhatti and might even start, Rambo or Brown and Nel on bench too.

A 4-4 split on the bench is a bit odd is it not?

Second row and backrow bench selection will be interesting. Darge could make it if they use Skinner as the second row cover, but if GG then I think it should be Fagerson or Bayliss.

Mark Bennett looks as sharp as he has for a long time, he might come back into contention. Wouldn't be the worst option in the 23 jersey but would be a bit of a bolter.

[Big D]

What's the latest regarding Cam Henderson, is he still out?

There is a long list of young second rows that he would be fighting with for a squad place. Hodgson and Sykes have been great this season and are now capped and Davidson has been decent everytime I have seen him play over the last while although not a regular for Gloucs.

[switchskier]

Ashman should be in the squad. He could be a 50+ cap international and should be involved regardless. He's started the last two games and seems to be more involved in the Sale squad since his aborted loan. His stats are also great, he may already be one of our best options for the 23.

Also worth keeping an eye on Chapman at Gloucester. A little older at 23 and he's only the regular bench option atm. If he can't supplant Meehan then he's not ready for the step up but he's got lots of the same attributes if Blair doesn't fancy Vellacot.

[Mikey Brown]

It's a bit dry and lengthy (...if you're in to that sort of thing) but this rundown does add some numbers to what I'd suspected for a while. That while Toony likes to spin his tombola and get lots of players involved, it generally takes the form of first choice players getting a huge amount of time and then a sporadic scattering of cameo appearances beyond that.

There are so many guys with caps that get 10 minutes of game-time once a season or so and we still don't really know if they can cut it or not. Obviously the summer tour robbed us of quite a bit of experimentation/rotation time, but I've had this feeling for quite a while that we're very thin on experience/game-time behind the established names.

[Cameo]

Will look at the video for the numbers later but in most positions it seems like we have had an injury crisis at one point or another leading to backups getting a little run.

E.g. Russell always plays when fit but Hastings got a six Nations

Our first choice second rows haven't played together for a while.

Hooker keeps changing.

The one I'd be a bit concerned about is 9. Could have done with the summer tour to get someone other than Price some full games.

[General Zod]

Can Tuipulotu play 12? Not sure I’ve seen him do it, but may be wrong. Just wondering if it’s an option.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

It's a bit dry and lengthy (...if you're in to that sort of thing) but this rundown does add some numbers to what I'd suspected for a while. That while Toony likes to spin his tombola and get lots of players involved, it generally takes the form of first choice players getting a huge amount of time and then a sporadic scattering of cameo appearances beyond that.

There are so many guys with caps that get 10 minutes of game-time once a season or so and we still don't really know if they can cut it or not. Obviously the summer tour robbed us of quite a bit of experimentation/rotation time, but I've had this feeling for quite a while that we're very thin on experience/game-time behind the established names.

This a very good video .

Though I didn't know Josh McKay was SQ so it was also educational lol.

[septic 9]

Though I didn't know Josh McKay was SQ so it was also educational lol.

pretty sure he isn't

[septic 9]

Can Tuipulotu play 12? Not sure I’ve seen him do it, but may be wrong. Just wondering if it’s an option.

he has done for Glasgow

[Big D]

Though I didn't know Josh McKay was SQ so it was also educational lol.

pretty sure he isn't

He isn't. He isn't a second or third generation kiwi it was his grandparents grandparents that were Scottish or maybe further back.

[Big D]

Can Tuipulotu play 12? Not sure I’ve seen him do it, but may be wrong. Just wondering if it’s an option.

I think he can and maybe has but with Harris at 13 I think 12 needs to be a more skilful player that what Tuipulotu has shown so far.

It will be interesting to see what GT does at back up 13 in the lead up to the world cup.

[Big D]

Redpath at 10 for Bath.

[General Zod]

Redpath at 10 for Bath.

Just logging in to say that, Big D.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Though I didn't know Josh McKay was SQ so it was also educational lol.

pretty sure he isn't

He isn't. He isn't a second or third generation kiwi it was his grandparents grandparents that were Scottish or maybe further back.

Yeah, the lad posted back saying he's not SQ, I think he was thinking of Cole Forbes and said McKay.

Anyway, fantastic news regarding Cam but jeez, he's playing 10 :O, hopefully he plays well.

Oh and 6N squad announced on Wed according to the Scotsman article on Cam Redpath.

[General Zod]

Here are the starting officials, for what it’s worth. I won’t pre-judge them if they don’t pre-judge Scotland! Also, good to see Mike Adamson involved in a few games.

Scotland v England
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, 5 February, 2022 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Wales v Scotland
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Saturday, 12 February, 2022 Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Referee 1: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)

Scotland v France
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Saturday, 26 February, 2022 Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Chris Busby (IRFU)
TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)

Italy v Scotland
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Saturday, 12 March, 2022 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

Ireland v Scotland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Saturday, 19 March, 2022 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (RFU)

[Big D]

Here are the starting officials, for what it’s worth. I won’t pre-judge them if they don’t pre-judge Scotland! Also, good to see Mike Adamson involved in a few games.

To be honest I wouldn't blame them for pre judging Adamson. Nice enough guy from what I hear but he isn't a good referee. And to be fair he wasn't a good referee coming up through the leagues but was fast tracked.