6N squad - starting team

[switchskier]

The trouble with testing something against Italy is that you don't know if it worked because it's a good combination or because Italy are just bad. However by that point we'll have lost to France so may as well experiment for both the last two games.

I always have a problem with this argument.

A professional coach can tell, or at least, much, much better than any of the rest of us.
You can tell a hell of a lot from a opposed training session, and however bad Italy play, they really are more than an opposed training session.

Fair enough but I think that my point was that if you experiment against Italy you have to stock with it against Ireland, no matter what. Which is tricky as we need to get over the psychological edge that the Irish have on us before the world cup, abd because they're a nightmare match up for us in terms of style.

[Mikey Brown]

This is pretty damning, unsurprisingly, particularly the summary at about 12 minutes of all the possession we butchered in the final 10.



Given that description I'm not really sure why you'd want to watch it.

[Big D]

The trouble with testing something against Italy is that you don't know if it worked because it's a good combination or because Italy are just bad. However by that point we'll have lost to France so may as well experiment for both the last two games.

I always have a problem with this argument.

A professional coach can tell, or at least, much, much better than any of the rest of us.
You can tell a hell of a lot from a opposed training session, and however bad Italy play, they really are more than an opposed training session.

Fair enough but I think that my point was that if you experiment against Italy you have to stock with it against Ireland, no matter what. Which is tricky as we need to get over the psychological edge that the Irish have on us before the world cup, abd because they're a nightmare match up for us in terms of style.

We don't need to stick to any changes for Ireland though. We played Steele and Hogg at half back and Jones at 13 last year against them and changed it for the France game.

[Cameo]

Jonny Gray out apparently. Never good news but I would have been keen to drop him (and Gilchrist).

I saw Bayliss played on the weekend. Anyone heard an update on M Fagerson?

[Mikey Brown]

James Lang, Ollie Smith, Oli Kebble, Simon Berghan, Kiran McDonald and Marshall Sykes have met up with the Scotland squad while Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian, Jonny Gray, Scott Cummings and Cam Redpath have returned to their club teams.

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/scot ... ance-match

[switchskier]

Redpath is the big one. Hope it's just a niggle as he works his way back. Ollie Smith is an interesting call up. You have to assume it's just to get him into the environment.

[switchskier]

Redpath is the big one. Hope it's just a niggle as he works his way back. Ollie Smith is an interesting call up. You have to assume it's just to get him into the environment.

I think Sykes has more potential tyah Hodgsin but can see it being Gilchrist and Skinner, with Hodgson on the bench.

[General Zod]

Didn’t realise Bennett was in the squad. Très intéressant avec le Redpath oot.

I’m on the Marshall Sykes train for this one.

[septic 9]

Redpath out again a bit of a bummer. Could mean same centres as last time I suppose. Or if there was a real desire to move to a 2nd playmaker, Lang played well for |Edinburgh this week and also crashed it up quite a bit (mental mind).
2nd row I can't see past Gilchrist and Skinner now. Bench lock though - Hodgson being in the original squad must be favourite. I'm a big Sykes fan, just don't see him being flung in to this one, and the dark horse is McDonald. Been excellent this season and one of few Glasgow bright spots much of last season. Great lineout option, carries more like Cummings than Gray/Gilchrist and has started at 6 for Glasgow a few times - not something I'd advocate but his coaches much think he has the mobility and versatility always useful

[Big D]

Hodgson being held back by Scotland last week suggests he's in line for a matchday spot.

Not sure Redpath had done enough to start but a neck injury is a worry.

[septic 9]

Hodgson being held back by Scotland last week suggests he's in line for a matchday spot.

Not sure Redpath had done enough to start but a neck injury is a worry.

Neck injury is what did for him last season in the C match. Bulging neck disc didn't settle down (and his knee of course), so big concern
M Fagerson also doubtful with a foot injury

[Mikey Brown]

Everyone’s else’s hopes for this tournament gone completely out the window? I feel like more often than not it’s the wales game that completely destroys us- whether through injuries, the performance, or the result itself. In this case it feels like all 3.

[switchskier]

Everyone’s else’s hopes for this tournament gone completely out the window? I feel like more often than not it’s the wales game that completely destroys us- whether through injuries, the performance, or the result itself. In this case it feels like all 3.

Yup. I'm pretty unexcited atm. Will pick up when we get a team to discuss and on game day but feels like the best that we can realistically expect now is a good performance against France to make it close, to thump Italy and to out in our usual insipid performance against the Irish where we lose at the breakdown all day long.

Trying to find a silver lining I'd say that we can try some new combinations, get some good experience for players like Darge and McLean and have reinforcements fit and ready for the world cup next year.

[Big D]

Interesting point by Dempsey in an Offside Line article. Says there are bigger implications for him if he chooses Scotland, mainly he'd count as an overseas player should he go home. Sounds a bit like he and his agent will be angling for a longer term deal should he decide to play for Scotland. Completely understandable.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... ch-3580881

Not seen the TOL article yet but here is one I have just read .

[whatisthejava]

Wales result made me angry, it was fucking stupid tactics on top of poor execution.

It also showed a lack of ability for individuals to grab the game and go forward.

France could go either way , at home will push them on

[Cameo]

Everyone’s else’s hopes for this tournament gone completely out the window? I feel like more often than not it’s the wales game that completely destroys us- whether through injuries, the performance, or the result itself. In this case it feels like all 3.

Yup. I'm pretty unexcited atm. Will pick up when we get a team to discuss and on game day but feels like the best that we can realistically expect now is a good performance against France to make it close, to thump Italy and to out in our usual insipid performance against the Irish where we lose at the breakdown all day long.

Trying to find a silver lining I'd say that we can try some new combinations, get some good experience for players like Darge and McLean and have reinforcements fit and ready for the world cup next year.

Beat France and all the excitement comes back. Having our hardest game last up is ideal for that!

And it's not our of the realms of possibility. Even ignoring the fact we have won our last two against them. France are great but in their two recent big wins they have been dominant and then let the other team in. We're not the worst at weathering a storm. Just need to capitalise on the sloppy moments from France.

[Mikey Brown]

[Mikey Brown]

Good to see Bennet back in, even if it's due to Redpath picking up another injury.

Darge gets a start. I know he played 8 at junior levels, but that looks a fairly small combo with Watson. Haining on the bench covering 6/8 actually makes sense for once.

The changes in the front row look about right.

[francoisfou]

Here's your opposition:
Le XV de départ du XV de France : 15. Jaminet ; 14. Penaud, 13. Fickou, 12. Danty, 11. Moefana ; 10. Ntamack, 9. Dupont (cap.) ; 7. Jelonch, 8. Alldritt, 6. Cros ; 5. Willemse, 4. Woki, 3. Atonio, 2. Marchand, 1. Baille.

Remplaçants : 16. Mauvaka, 17. Gros, 18. Bamba, 19. Taofifenua, 20. Flament, 21. Cretin, 22. Lucu, 23. Ramos.

Winger Villière has been replaced by Moefana who played centre against Ireland. This could be perceived as a weakness as his regular position is centre although I understand he played wing in age-grade rugby.

The French should be favourites but with the Murrayfield factor and your supporters baying for French blood, you're in with an outside chance!

[septic 9]

Darge gets a start. I know he played 8 at junior levels, but that looks a fairly small combo with Watson. Haining on the bench covering 6/8 actually makes sense for once.

one U20 season and then only to accommodate Boyle and him in the same team. Darge is the bigger of the two- essentially Hooper sized. And will fill out a bit more over the next season or two

Its a big ask of Darge in his 2nd test. But I think he is a special player.

[septic 9]

The changes in the front row look about right.

they are interesting.

Ditched the all Edinburgh combination
Starting with the 2 more dynamic props, but the hooker is the less dynamic.

[Cameo]

The changes in the front row look about right.

they are interesting.

Ditched the all Edinburgh combination
Starting with the 2 more dynamic props, but the hooker is the less dynamic.

It looks like he had just picked what he thinks is his best front row right now (Turner paying for the penalties). Who knows though - I'm sure someone will suggest Nel is there to target a particular French sub or to help as Kebble is a weaker scrummager.

[Cameo]

I like the team overall. I would like us to move on from Harris as much as anyone but it's not happening just now. I also don't think there is a need for much experimentation. We are on one win and one loss and have a good recent record v France. Bennett on the bench is nice to see though.

Excited to see Darge. I wondered if they would want more size v France, but sometimes it's best not to worry too much about the opposition. Him and Watson both offer some carrying too so I'm hopeful.

[septic 9]

The changes in the front row look about right.

they are interesting.

Ditched the all Edinburgh combination
Starting with the 2 more dynamic props, but the hooker is the less dynamic.

It looks like he had just picked what he thinks is his best front row right now (Turner paying for the penalties). Who knows though - I'm sure someone will suggest Nel is there to target a particular French sub or to help as Kebble is a weaker scrummager.

I'm fine with picking the best front row, and as you say he may have done just that with Turner paying for giving away some pens. I do question why he clearly has not done that the previous 2 games, but gone for the Edin front row either as a starting unit or "bomb squad". Either tactic is defensible, chopping and changing less easy to understand.
France have their best scrummaging front row starting, not much drop off in the scrum from starting LH to sub, so doubt Nel is held back to target anyone. French sub TH has looked a weak scrummager since U20s when he was a beast all round the park. Kebble will I think deal with him comfortably if we just try to hold the scrum and avoid any chance of random pens. If we attack the scrum then Kebble either gets on the refs good side and demolished him, or gets penalised by a ref who will ref by a tickbox and his decision will depend on what box he or his assistant think they see first. On this last point, same goes for Schoeman and Fagerson, I think its why we are not attacking the scrum as we have done in the past - and it certainly worked at the end of the England match

And of course the front row depend hugely on what power comes through from the second row. The French have one huge second row plus the athlete that Woki is. Neither of Scotland's 2 locks usually play TH lock. I find that a worry, more of a worry than the props ability