6N squad - starting team

[switchskier]

Jonny Gray out and Hodgson in.

Not really sure if his form warranted being ahead of Skinner, Richie or Gilchrist anyway. It's a shame though as he;s one of those players that really seem to lift the pack as a whole when he's really on form.

Starting for Exeter this weekend. So a choice rather than an injury?

Gray stayed with Exeter to deal with an ongoing injury. No way was Hodgson preferred. Or do you mean Gray's choice? If he chose to stay and opt out of Scotland (for one game or indefinitely) then I'd be very surprised; and he can fuck off

Its more likely that the injury has improved, and Baxter has decided improved enough to play

Not a good look either way

Is his contract up at the end of the season or did he sign an extension? He signed for 2 seasons I thought, and Exeter appear to be cost cutting.

[septic 9]

Starting for Exeter this weekend. So a choice rather than an injury?

Gray stayed with Exeter to deal with an ongoing injury. No way was Hodgson preferred. Or do you mean Gray's choice? If he chose to stay and opt out of Scotland (for one game or indefinitely) then I'd be very surprised; and he can fuck off

Its more likely that the injury has improved, and Baxter has decided improved enough to play

Not a good look either way

Is his contract up at the end of the season or did he sign an extension? He signed for 2 seasons I thought, and Exeter appear to be cost cutting.

Think it's up.
Exeter did some cost cutting last season. Just a few days back Baxter said he had gambled by offering contract extensions to loads of players to keep the group together and win stuff. Well he won stuff but now has 30 players out of contract at the same time, so obv with the salary cap now lower he has a real problem. Hence more players leaving

[Mikey Brown]

Watson starts for Edinburgh against the Sharks. Even if he plays the full game it’s too early to throw him back into the Scotland team. Give Crosbie his chance in the Calcutta Cup.

Yep. Crosbie seems to have finally turned that corner from just being promising to consistently good (at club level) so deserves his shot while Watson and Darge are out. Dempsey on the bench I like too, so it could work well.

[Cameo]

Watson starts for Edinburgh against the Sharks. Even if he plays the full game it’s too early to throw him back into the Scotland team. Give Crosbie his chance in the Calcutta Cup.

Yep. Crosbie seems to have finally turned that corner from just being promising to consistently good (at club level) so deserves his shot while Watson and Darge are out. Dempsey on the bench I like too, so it could work well.

Funny, I came to a different conclusion from the team news. I thought it probably meant Watson would be starting and Dempsey not (possible not even on bench).

To me, we have got the better of England by beating them at the breakdown. Watson has not been out too long so if he comes through a game, I think he starts. May be underplaying Crosbie here but I still think one of Watson or Darge is key.

Price starting is interesting. Can't see him not starting next week though.

My hunch would be:

1. Schoemann (no idea about Sutherland's fitness/form
- instinctively I prefer him as a player but Schoemann seems to be the man of the moment)
2. Turner (really don't know here - we have lots of options, all with issues. I was secretly hoping McInally would have a big comeback season)
3. Fagerson (who knows but if he is nearly fit, I think he'll start)
4. Gilchrist
5. Gray
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Fagerson
9. Price
10. Russell
11. Steyn
12. Tuipolotu
13. Harris (usual disclaimer that Townsend's team not mine)
14. DHVDM
15. Hogg

16. Sutherland
17. Brown? (Cherry?)
18. Nel
19. Skinner
20.Crosbie (maybe Dempsey (though I'm keen to see Crosbie) but bit confused by him starting this week)
21. White
22. Jones
23. Kinghorn

Subject to a couple of players' fitness, I actually think that looks quite strong.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Not sure of his form as not watched Ulster in a while but Sutherland came off bench last night and John Cooney played very well when be came on.

I'd like to see Cameron Henderson get gametime this 6N though that may come against Italy or in the summer tests?

[septic 9]

To me, we have got the better of England by beating them at the breakdown. Watson has not been out too long so if he comes through a game, I think he starts. May be underplaying Crosbie here but I still think one of Watson or Darge is key.

Price starting is interesting. Can't see him not starting next week though.

My hunch would be:

1. Schoemann (no idea about Sutherland's fitness/form
- instinctively I prefer him as a player but Schoemann seems to be the man of the moment)
2. Turner (really don't know here - we have lots of options, all with issues. I was secretly hoping McInally would have a big comeback season)
3. Fagerson (who knows but if he is nearly fit, I think he'll start)
4. Gilchrist
5. Gray
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Fagerson
9. Price
10. Russell
11. Steyn
12. Tuipolotu
13. Harris (usual disclaimer that Townsend's team not mine)
14. DHVDM
15. Hogg

16. Sutherland
17. Brown? (Cherry?)
18. Nel
19. Skinner
20.Crosbie (maybe Dempsey (though I'm keen to see Crosbie) but bit confused by him starting this week)
21. White
22. Jones
23. Kinghorn

Subject to a couple of players' fitness, I actually think that looks quite strong.

Price I think will start, he is in the Warriors team to get game time - apparently for one reason or another has only had about 70mins for them all season
Schoeman will start. Sutherland looks like bench, but TBH he has been ok for Ulster, no more, while Bhatti (again starts tonight for Warriors) has been going really well
If Dempsey is out of the reckoning, then Crosbie and Fagerson are the 2 form back rows by a country mile. So Toonie will start Watson and Richie. I guess as captain we have to stick with Richie, but no Watson for me, dont care how he plays this week

[septic 9]

To me, we have got the better of England by beating them at the breakdown. Watson has not been out too long so if he comes through a game, I think he starts. May be underplaying Crosbie here but I still think one of Watson or Darge is key.

Price starting is interesting. Can't see him not starting next week though.

My hunch would be:

1. Schoemann (no idea about Sutherland's fitness/form
- instinctively I prefer him as a player but Schoemann seems to be the man of the moment)
2. Turner (really don't know here - we have lots of options, all with issues. I was secretly hoping McInally would have a big comeback season)
3. Fagerson (who knows but if he is nearly fit, I think he'll start)
4. Gilchrist
5. Gray
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Fagerson
9. Price
10. Russell
11. Steyn
12. Tuipolotu
13. Harris (usual disclaimer that Townsend's team not mine)
14. DHVDM
15. Hogg

16. Sutherland
17. Brown? (Cherry?)
18. Nel
19. Skinner
20.Crosbie (maybe Dempsey (though I'm keen to see Crosbie) but bit confused by him starting this week)
21. White
22. Jones
23. Kinghorn

Subject to a couple of players' fitness, I actually think that looks quite strong.

Price I think will start, he is in the Warriors team to get game time - apparently for one reason or another has only had about 70mins for them all season
Schoeman will start. Sutherland looks like bench, but TBH he has been ok for Ulster, no more, while Bhatti (again starts tonight for Warriors) has been going really well
If Dempsey is out of the reckoning, then Crosbie and Fagerson are the 2 form back rows by a country mile. So Toonie will start Watson and Richie. I guess as captain we have to stick with Richie, but no Watson for me, dont care how he plays this week

[BaldiePete]

I think Nel might start. He played the full 80 against Saracens so I reckon he would be OK to start against England.

[Mikey Brown]

Watson starts for Edinburgh against the Sharks. Even if he plays the full game it’s too early to throw him back into the Scotland team. Give Crosbie his chance in the Calcutta Cup.

Yep. Crosbie seems to have finally turned that corner from just being promising to consistently good (at club level) so deserves his shot while Watson and Darge are out. Dempsey on the bench I like too, so it could work well.

Funny, I came to a different conclusion from the team news. I thought it probably meant Watson would be starting and Dempsey not (possible not even on bench).

I simply thought the Scottish teams normally rest their starters. Watson and Price may just be exceptions with the amount of game time they’ve had recently, but Crosbie seems like the form pick. Had Watson’s form been so good that he walks back in after 1 game?

England are looking more and more likely to field two absolutely expert poachers (though inexperienced at international level) in Willis and Curry, so it will probably be interesting.

I like that team, with the Harris caveat, and there’s probably a couple of backrow combinations I’d be fairy happy with. Scrumhalf will be an interesting call.

[switchskier]

Not sure of his form as not watched Ulster in a while but Sutherland came off bench last night and John Cooney played very well when be came on.

I'd like to see Cameron Henderson get gametime this 6N though that may come against Italy or in the summer tests?

I like the look of Henderson a lot. He and Cummings could make a great and complimentary second row. But he's just working back from a pretty serious injury. As it is, that position looks like a weakness atm.

[Big D]

Watson was being outplayed by Crosbie pre injury so it would be a brave call to pick Watson ahead of Crosbie in any 23 tbh.

[Big D]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Maitland on the wing v England. He's very solid and a canny operator.

[BaldiePete]

Jonny Gray back in the squad. Hodgson binned.

[Cameo]

Jonny Gray back in the squad. Hodgson binned.

That was a strange little episode then.

[BaldiePete]

I’m not sure it would be a good idea to play these guys this weekend. Very risky, especially Hogg and Fagerson. Maitland at full back and Nel at tighthead this week. Probably Steyn on the wing and Crosbie at open side. It’s Toony though, he’ll probably chuck them all in.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I don’t know if it’s just paranoia at this point, but I’ve been waiting for Fagerson to have a career-defining (period of) injury for some time now. Townsend is just rinsing him for all he’s worth.

[Cameo]

I’m not sure it would be a good idea to play these guys this weekend. Very risky, especially Hogg and Fagerson. Maitland at full back and Nel at tighthead this week. Probably Steyn on the wing and Crosbie at open side. It’s Toony though, he’ll probably chuck them all in.

I think it's different for each of them.

For Watson, some prefer Crosbie but I don't see it as risky to play him given he came through a whole game.

Hogg and VDM are in the middle but they are miles better than the alternatives and this game is massive. A back three with none of Hogg, VDM or Graham would really blunt our attack.

Fagerson is the biggest risk given how long he has been out and his position but in some sense he is the most important. I'd be inclined to start Nel and let Fagerson have 30 mins at the end if he is reasonably fit.

Obvs depends too what the physio says.

[septic 9]

I’m not sure it would be a good idea to play these guys this weekend. Very risky, especially Hogg and Fagerson. Maitland at full back and Nel at tighthead this week. Probably Steyn on the wing and Crosbie at open side. It’s Toony though, he’ll probably chuck them all in.

I think it's different for each of them.

For Watson, some prefer Crosbie but I don't see it as risky to play him given he came through a whole game.

Hogg and VDM are in the middle but they are miles better than the alternatives and this game is massive. A back three with none of Hogg, VDM or Graham would really blunt our attack.

Fagerson is the biggest risk given how long he has been out and his position but in some sense he is the most important. I'd be inclined to start Nel and let Fagerson have 30 mins at the end if he is reasonably fit.

Obvs depends too what the physio says.

as you say take each individually.
Hogg is fit, could have played last weekend. Has missed a few games but not that many. And - and this applies to all of them - its different these days, lack of game time can be a factor but isn't as important as in the old days, such are the rehab, S&C and training/practice regimes
According to Dalzeil, Fagerson is in the conditioning of his life, GPS says so. Passed every test, been taking contact since last week.
Duhan was in SA for his honeymoon. Still did some training as agreed. Fit to go
Watson played 80 at the weekend. Again Dalzeil says that was probably more than ideal. I think that might mean he won't start (given Price played to get game time and came off very early). Crosbie should start anyway

[Mikey Brown]

All good to hear. I’d had this feeling we’d be going in with half the team at 50%.

[Big D]

I’m not sure it would be a good idea to play these guys this weekend. Very risky, especially Hogg and Fagerson. Maitland at full back and Nel at tighthead this week. Probably Steyn on the wing and Crosbie at open side. It’s Toony though, he’ll probably chuck them all in.

I think it's different for each of them.

For Watson, some prefer Crosbie but I don't see it as risky to play him given he came through a whole game.

Hogg and VDM are in the middle but they are miles better than the alternatives and this game is massive. A back three with none of Hogg, VDM or Graham would really blunt our attack.

Fagerson is the biggest risk given how long he has been out and his position but in some sense he is the most important. I'd be inclined to start Nel and let Fagerson have 30 mins at the end if he is reasonably fit.

Obvs depends too what the physio says.

Watson deserved to be dropped by Edinburgh for Crosbie pre injury. I am not sure he has done anything to deserve a place other than pointing to his form before the start of this season.

[Mikey Brown]

I like it!

Fagerson and Watson obviously not deemed fit enough, but that bench has something to it.

[General Zod]

Team announced.



No Zander, but very pleased with the rest of it.

[BaldiePete]

Huwipuloto !! It’s the return of the Toony Tombola. That’s a surprise, I’d assumed Chris Harris was nailed on in a Townsend team. No Price at all is another surprise but White has played well when he’s come on and Horne deserves at least his place on the bench.

[Big D]

A team picked mostly on form so no real complaints. Still would've liked Maitland over Steyn but it's close. Watson shouldn't be parachuted in ahead of a player who has been outplaying him all season at club level anyway so happy to see Crosbie get the chance.

Price hasn't been all that good this year so no issues with White starting, although I don't see it with Horne at this level.

Don't see Harris as an impact player on the bench. Feels like the coaches are scared to discard their defensive comfort blanket.

[Mikey Brown]

A team picked mostly on form so no real complaints. Still would've liked Maitland over Steyn but it's close. Watson shouldn't be parachuted in ahead of a player who has been outplaying him all season at club level anyway so happy to see Crosbie get the chance.

Price hasn't been all that good this year so no issues with White starting, although I don't see it with Horne at this level.

Don't see Harris as an impact player on the bench. Feels like the coaches are scared to discard their defensive comfort blanket.

I mean that’s definitely it with Harris, but it’s understandable to a degree when so many other parts of our game have fallen apart that you might want to cling on to your fantastic defender.

I still can’t get my head around not including Redpath in any 23, particularly with the limitations of the other three centres, but this is a fairly brave selection so I’ll settle for it. Praying for Jones to put in a good defensive showing and assure the coaches they can ditch Harris. How have him and ST been lining up in defence for Glasgow?