6N squad - starting team

[Cameo]

Actually, wouldn't be surprised if Kyle Steyn is involved somewhere - maybe even starting.

I’m going with the other Kyle - Rowe!

I think the weather now tho is going to make it like the schit-show from 2 years ago. Hopefully, we’ll play the conditions a bit better this time. And I’ll bring a warmer jacket.

I really hope not. Puts a real dampener on the excitement when you see it's going to be a bit of a lottery.

[septic 9]

Actually, wouldn't be surprised if Kyle Steyn is involved somewhere - maybe even starting.

I’m going with the other Kyle - Rowe!

I think the weather now tho is going to make it like the schit-show from 2 years ago. Hopefully, we’ll play the conditions a bit better this time. And I’ll bring a warmer jacket.

I really hope not. Puts a real dampener on the excitement when you see it's going to be a bit of a lottery.

unfortunately the weather looks if anything like its going to be worse than 2020

[Mikey Brown]

1. Genge
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Isiekwe
6. Ludlam
7. Curry
8. Simmonds
9. Youngs
10. Smith
11. Marchant
12. Slade
13. Daly
14. Malins
15. Steward

16. George 17. Marler 18. Stuart 19. Ewels 20. Dombrandt 21. Randall 22. Ford 23. Nowell

Not a team you'd assume is picked for miserable, freezing weather. That midfield should really be something to target in attack.

Surely Scotland team is announced soon too.

[no sleep]

15. Stuart Hogg - Exeter Chiefs - (Captain) - 88 caps
14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 22 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby - 31 caps
12. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 13 caps

10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 - (Vice-Captain) - 58 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors - 46 caps

1. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors - 16 caps
2. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 20 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 42 caps
4. Jonny Gray – Exeter Chiefs – 64 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby - 48 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie - Edinburgh Rugby - (Vice-Captain) – 31 caps
7. Hamish Watson - Edinburgh Rugby - 45 caps
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 17 caps

Replacements

16. Stuart McInally - Edinburgh Rugby - 43 caps
17. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 4 caps
18. WP Nel - Edinburgh Rugby - 43 caps
19. Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs - 15 caps
20. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 14 caps
21. Ben White - London Irish - Uncapped
22 Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 28 caps
23 Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap

[no sleep]

Bit surprised at no Cummings, but that's a solid if slow second row. I was hoping to see Redpath there, but then I was also hoping for good weather.

Here's hoping for a good game and a good result!

[Mikey Brown]

Bit surprised at no Cummings, but that's a solid if slow second row. I was hoping to see Redpath there, but then I was also hoping for good weather.

Here's hoping for a good game and a good result!

Solid if slow midfield too, hmm. I hope We can at least get Johnson and Duhan running either side of Slade.

[Big D]

Starting line up (and tight 5 on bench) picks itself assuming Cummings and Redpath are deemed not fit otherwise the complete omission of Redpath is bonkers.

Nel v Marler off the bench could be good.

Bradbury was a cert for the bench due to playing 6 and 8, unlucky not to start imo. Darge needs it to be a 6/2 split just now given neither he, Ritchie or Watson cover 8

Im not sure Vellacott can be trusted coming on at 17-15 up with 10 to go, but no idea what type of player White is though.

Kinghorn could be interesting.

Tuipulotu concerns me a lot. Hasn't shown anything more than being a flat track bully and wasn't that impressive v Tonga IMO. Would like to have seem Steyn in that shirt covering 13 and wing. Russell could have been an emergency 12.

[septic 9]

Tuipulotu concerns me a lot. Hasn't shown anything more than being a flat track bully and wasn't that impressive v Tonga IMO.

I get what you are saying, and TBH I'm surprised he is in there, but its partly because he did play quite a bit of winger IIRC in Japan, plus covers 12 and 13.

But Being honest, I'd not be unhappy seeing him run at Daly, or even a Slade /Daly combination. Flat track bully would be enough

[General Zod]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

[Mikey Brown]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

Yeah. Long term maybe it'll be a good call. He has been out for a year and the pressure on him for this game after his one cap last year would be huge, but he looked so good against Quins. It's nice that Tuipolotu covers both centre positions, but I'm not fully convinced yet.

[Big D]

Tuipulotu concerns me a lot. Hasn't shown anything more than being a flat track bully and wasn't that impressive v Tonga IMO.

I get what you are saying, and TBH I'm surprised he is in there, but its partly because he did play quite a bit of winger IIRC in Japan, plus covers 12 and 13.

But Being honest, I'd not be unhappy seeing him run at Daly, or even a Slade /Daly combination. Flat track bully would be enough

I get that last point, but I don't recall him being particularly impressive in many of the European games (havent seen every second of every game). Given the likely weather, I get a crash/direct ball carrier may useful but some one like Steyn who is very sure, steady and not short of his own useful set of skills felt like a safer bet to me.

On a separate note, Ford v Kinghorn feels a huge mismatch. Hopefully not game defining if Finn doesn't go 80.

Fuck it we will win by 20*.

* should be nip and tuck. If either side is blown away then something has gone wrong.

[Mikey Brown]

Too right, he's got almost a foot on poor George.

[septic 9]

Tuipulotu concerns me a lot. Hasn't shown anything more than being a flat track bully and wasn't that impressive v Tonga IMO.

I get what you are saying, and TBH I'm surprised he is in there, but its partly because he did play quite a bit of winger IIRC in Japan, plus covers 12 and 13.

But Being honest, I'd not be unhappy seeing him run at Daly, or even a Slade /Daly combination. Flat track bully would be enough

I get that last point, but I don't recall him being particularly impressive in many of the European games (havent seen every second of every game). Given the likely weather, I get a crash/direct ball carrier may useful but some one like Steyn who is very sure, steady and not short of his own useful set of skills felt like a safer bet to me.

On a separate note, Ford v Kinghorn feels a huge mismatch. Hopefully not game defining if Finn doesn't go 80.

Fuck it we will win by 20*.

* should be nip and tuck. If either side is blown away then something has gone wrong.

agree re KInghorn v Ford, especially in these conditions and goal kicking

Not going to argue about Steyn in or out, but he's out. But I'd love to see Tuipolotu run at Daly - Daly can't tackle a fish supper at the best of times, but Tuipolotu is a really hard runner who shifts his feet at and accelerates into contact. I know who I'd back!

[switchskier]

15. Stuart Hogg - Exeter Chiefs - (Captain) - 88 caps
14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 22 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby - 31 caps
12. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 13 caps

10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 - (Vice-Captain) - 58 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors - 46 caps

1. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors - 16 caps
2. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 20 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 42 caps
4. Jonny Gray – Exeter Chiefs – 64 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby - 48 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie - Edinburgh Rugby - (Vice-Captain) – 31 caps
7. Hamish Watson - Edinburgh Rugby - 45 caps
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 17 caps

Replacements

16. Stuart McInally - Edinburgh Rugby - 43 caps
17. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 4 caps
18. WP Nel - Edinburgh Rugby - 43 caps
19. Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs - 15 caps
20. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 14 caps
21. Ben White - London Irish - Uncapped
22 Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 28 caps
23 Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap

Positives - it's a settled looking side that should be well drilled. We know that those combinations can work, particularly in the back row. Graham starting over Maitland is the right choice and we're relatively injury free (tough wood). Bradbury getting back in sends good signals about knuckling down.

Negatives - Darge deserves a run and an 6-2 split would make sense in the conditions. No Cummings is a bit surprising. Don't get the White selection at all, not seen anything in him previously to excite.

[General Zod]

Just picked this up from Twitter. A rules clarification request from England means that a defender can’t dive on the ball when it has come out of a ruck and is within 1 metre of it.

Reads like a new rule to me, rather than a clarification, but I guess that means you can still grab the ball and play it. Similarly, you can still kick it forwards or wait for the scrum half to get it and scrag him before he gets a kick off. I expect it will mean lots of box kicks (watch out, Darcy!) after it comes out the back of the caterpillar anyway.

https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/c ... on/2022/2/

[Cameo]

Yeah, that seems new to me too although refs have always seemed more likely to penalise you for it being still in if you dive on it rather than pick it up.

Team is okay. I would have liked to see Redpath but the coaches will have a better idea if he is fit enough. His kicking game might have been handy in the wet but Johnson is the harder carrier so an argument either way.

Gilchrist over Cummings is interesting though Cummings hasn't looked quite as sharp this season I reckon. I can live with that.

I'd definitely have had Steyn over Tuipulotu.

[septic 9]

No Cummings is a bit surprising. Don't get the White selection at all, not seen anything in him previously to excite.

I'm Cummings biggest fan, He has or should have been 1st pick lock for about 3 seasons now, but I don't think he has been on his best form recently. Not poor, just below his best. Still a bit of a surprise to see him not make the 23. TBH I don't think any of the locks have been stand out form picks. Gilchrist is I suppose the most unexpected. He does give his all for Scotland (and this may be key) the best lineout caller among them. He is unfortunately also the most likely to have a brain fart and give away stupid pens or yellow cards

I dont know too much about White but if the alternatives for a wet wild and windy game are Vellacott and Horne, White is a no brainer. Someone who can box kick or kick tactically should be essential

[Big D]

Just picked this up from Twitter. A rules clarification request from England means that a defender can’t dive on the ball when it has come out of a ruck and is within 1 metre of it.

Reads like a new rule to me, rather than a clarification, but I guess that means you can still grab the ball and play it. Similarly, you can still kick it forwards or wait for the scrum half to get it and scrag him before he gets a kick off. I expect it will mean lots of box kicks (watch out, Darcy!) after it comes out the back of the caterpillar anyway.

https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/c ... on/2022/2/

That's not a new rule. Been a rule for a long time.

[Which Tyler]

That's not a new rule. Been a rule for a long time.

I remember a particularly infuriating example about 4-5 years ago now, in a Bath match (can't remember who against)

Wayne Barnes calls "ball's out", Louw dives on the ball, and gives away a penalty for playing the ball close to the ruck.

[no sleep]

Just picked this up from Twitter. A rules clarification request from England means that a defender can’t dive on the ball when it has come out of a ruck and is within 1 metre of it.

Reads like a new rule to me, rather than a clarification, but I guess that means you can still grab the ball and play it. Similarly, you can still kick it forwards or wait for the scrum half to get it and scrag him before he gets a kick off. I expect it will mean lots of box kicks (watch out, Darcy!) after it comes out the back of the caterpillar anyway.

https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/c ... on/2022/2/

That's not a new rule. Been a rule for a long time.

Yes, but it's one of those laws that are rarely applied. I have a vague recollection of an England player being pinged for it a couple (?) of years ago, to huge incomprehension. (Almost but not quite as funny as Haskell and Hartley asking the ref what to do about the Italians all around the back of the rucks.) I think the clarification will be the "one metre" part.

[no sleep]

That's not a new rule. Been a rule for a long time.

I remember a particularly infuriating example about 4-5 years ago now, in a Bath match (can't remember who against)

Wayne Barnes calls "ball's out", Louw dives on the ball, and gives away a penalty for playing the ball close to the ruck.

Just to clarify, it's diving on the ball that's the offence, not playing it. Rugby is to be played by people on their feet

[General Zod]

That's not a new rule. Been a rule for a long time.

I remember a particularly infuriating example about 4-5 years ago now, in a Bath match (can't remember who against)

Wayne Barnes calls "ball's out", Louw dives on the ball, and gives away a penalty for playing the ball close to the ruck.

Just to clarify, it's diving on the ball that's the offence, not playing it. Rugby is to be played by people on their feet

Ahh. That explains a lot about why I got penalised a fair bit back in the day.

[Cameo]

I remember a particularly infuriating example about 4-5 years ago now, in a Bath match (can't remember who against)

Wayne Barnes calls "ball's out", Louw dives on the ball, and gives away a penalty for playing the ball close to the ruck.

Just to clarify, it's diving on the ball that's the offence, not playing it. Rugby is to be played by people on their feet

Ahh. That explains a lot about why I got penalised a fair bit back in the day.

It is a weird one though. You can dive on the ball everywhere else. A metre is quite a big exclusion zone.

[switchskier]

No Cummings is a bit surprising. Don't get the White selection at all, not seen anything in him previously to excite.

I'm Cummings biggest fan, He has or should have been 1st pick lock for about 3 seasons now, but I don't think he has been on his best form recently. Not poor, just below his best. Still a bit of a surprise to see him not make the 23. TBH I don't think any of the locks have been stand out form picks. Gilchrist is I suppose the most unexpected. He does give his all for Scotland (and this may be key) the best lineout caller among them. He is unfortunately also the most likely to have a brain fart and give away stupid pens or yellow cards

I dont know too much about White but if the alternatives for a wet wild and windy game are Vellacott and Horne, White is a no brainer. Someone who can box kick or kick tactically should be essential

See I think White has a reputation as a tactical kicker because it's better than the other bits of his Gabe, not because it's especially great. There is probably an element where fans get frustrated with the slow pace from the ruck but coaches see things that they like. Hope I'm wrong though.

[no sleep]

Unner 20s team for tonight's game against England - which will be shown on iPlayer. Anyone to look out for in particular?

15. Robin Mc Clintock (Montpellier) (0)

14. Ross McKnight* (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (2)
13. Duncan Munn** (Boroughmuir Bears) (0)
12. Michael Gray* (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (4)
11. Ollie Melville (Newcastle University) (4)

10. Christian Townsend* (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors) (5)
9. Jed Gelderbloom (Edinburgh Rugby) (0)

1. Tom Banatvala (Durham University) (2)
2. Patrick Harrison* (Edinburgh Rugby) (4)
3. Gregor Scougall** (Currie Chieftains) (0)
4. Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders) (0)
5. Max Williamson* (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (5)
6. Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons) (0)
8. Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter University) (5)
7. Rhys Tait* (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (5) CAPTAIN
 
Replacements  
16. Gregor Hiddleston (GHA) (0)
17. Michael Jones* (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (5)
18. Callum Norrie** (Strathallan School) (0)
19. Jake Spurway (Durham University) (0)

20. Olujare Oguntibeju (Ealing Trailfinders) (0)
21. Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks) (0)
22. Euan Cunningham* (Stirling County / Glasgow Warriors) (3)
23. Ben Evans* (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (0)