6N squad - starting team

[Mikey Brown]

Seen that referenced a few times but must have missed it. How close to half-time, so I can go and find it?

[Big D]

Right before Dyer drops the poor Biggar pass so 39ish.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Seen that referenced a few times but must have missed it. How close to half-time, so I can go and find it?

It was just as the clock went to red and tbh it was a howler imho, I feared he was in but tbh he was going to ground as he attempted to catch the ball instead of staying upright to gather then barrowing over.

[Big D]

Seen that referenced a few times but must have missed it. How close to half-time, so I can go and find it?

It was just as the clock went to red and tbh it was a howler imho, I feared he was in but tbh he was going to ground as he attempted to catch the ball instead of staying upright to gather then barrowing over.

Jones gets an ankle tap causing him to stumble but if Gray doesn't bring him down he's in. He's only 5m from line with no one left. Even if stumbling someone of Cuthberts size and relative speed is ending up over the line there.

[Cameo]

This Q and A with Russell is quite interesting for anyone who's not spotted it.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... ownsend-2/

[septic 9]

Seen that referenced a few times but must have missed it. How close to half-time, so I can go and find it?

It was just as the clock went to red and tbh it was a howler imho, I feared he was in but tbh he was going to ground as he attempted to catch the ball instead of staying upright to gather then barrowing over.

Jones gets an ankle tap causing him to stumble but if Gray doesn't bring him down he's in. He's only 5m from line with no one left. Even if stumbling someone of Cuthberts size and relative speed is ending up over the line there.

didn't think it was that close to the line but it was a try saving tackle. Big Richie at his best. In his first spell at Glasgow he made loads of similar tackles when the winger thought he's skinned Gray - but got too close, not realising that its a loooooong way round Richie. Almost like having 2 defenders at times

[Mikey Brown]

Not managed to find the clip yet, but yeah it's been so great to see Gray prove the doubters (including me) wrong.

Regarding the team selection I'm left with only the same thoughts as last time. Presuming Sutherland, Watson, Darge aren't up to it right now for whatever reason. Maybe Watson will have got back up to speed by the France game, but do we want to disrupt the backrow or do Crosbie/Dempsey deserve to lose their spot?

Gilchrist is an unspectacular player but he's doing his thing right now and the team just seem to work better with him in there. He seems to be quite a valuable leader to this group so Gray/Skinner will have to settle for a bench spot.

White/Horne is working well. Not really seen enough of Horne to be fully tested, but it would seem harsh to drop him at this stage just because the we're facing a tougher opponent.

No idea what's up with Hogg, but if there's any doubt over him then Kinghorn has certainly shown he deserves a spot. Not sure what you'd do with the bench at that point. Rely on Jones as fullback cover and bring in another winger to the bench? I suppose it would be Maitland anyway who can cover 15.

Again I'd love to see Redpath instead of Harris but the security blanket has its appeal.

[Big D]

Not managed to find the clip yet, but yeah it's been so great to see Gray prove the doubters (including me) wrong.

Regarding the team selection I'm left with only the same thoughts as last time. Presuming Sutherland, Watson, Darge aren't up to it right now for whatever reason. Maybe Watson will have got back up to speed by the France game, but do we want to disrupt the backrow or do Crosbie/Dempsey deserve to lose their spot?

Gilchrist is an unspectacular player but he's doing his thing right now and the team just seem to work better with him in there. He seems to be quite a valuable leader to this group so Gray/Skinner will have to settle for a bench spot.

White/Horne is working well. Not really seen enough of Horne to be fully tested, but it would seem harsh to drop him at this stage just because the we're facing a tougher opponent.

No idea what's up with Hogg, but if there's any doubt over him then Kinghorn has certainly shown he deserves a spot. Not sure what you'd do with the bench at that point. Rely on Jones as fullback cover and bring in another winger to the bench? I suppose it would be Maitland anyway who can cover 15.

Again I'd love to see Redpath instead of Harris but the security blanket has its appeal.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... 29j-8-2023

1hr 34min

[Big D]

It was just as the clock went to red and tbh it was a howler imho, I feared he was in but tbh he was going to ground as he attempted to catch the ball instead of staying upright to gather then barrowing over.

Jones gets an ankle tap causing him to stumble but if Gray doesn't bring him down he's in. He's only 5m from line with no one left. Even if stumbling someone of Cuthberts size and relative speed is ending up over the line there.

didn't think it was that close to the line but it was a try saving tackle. Big Richie at his best. In his first spell at Glasgow he made loads of similar tackles when the winger thought he's skinned Gray - but got too close, not realising that its a loooooong way round Richie. Almost like having 2 defenders at times

First contact was probably 7m out but the ruck at the completion of the tackle is probably 2m out if that. It is a tackle that had to be made.

[septic 9]

First contact was probably 7m out but the ruck at the completion of the tackle is probably 2m out if that. It is a tackle that had to be made.

yep, closer than I remembered

[Cameo]

If Hogg is fit, I think he should start. He looked quite sharp in his few minutes against Wales and he adds so much to our team when on any type of form.

Kinghorn has been very good, which people forget he is capable of. But he's not been flawless either. For me, he hasn't suddenly leaped ahead of Hogg.

I shouldn't keep quoting them on here but the commenters in TOL keep celebrating the abandoning of the Kinghorn at 10 experiment. I am not quite sure where they are getting that from. He has been our backup ten for the first two games. A major advantage of him in that role is that if Russell stays on (which he will if fit), Kinghorn covers wing and full back very well.

[Mikey Brown]

If Hogg is fit, I think he should start. He looked quite sharp in his few minutes against Wales and he adds so much to our team when on any type of form.

Kinghorn has been very good, which people forget he is capable of. But he's not been flawless either. For me, he hasn't suddenly leaped ahead of Hogg.

I shouldn't keep quoting them on here but the commenters in TOL keep celebrating the abandoning of the Kinghorn at 10 experiment. I am not quite sure where they are getting that from. He has been our backup ten for the first two games. A major advantage of him in that role is that if Russell stays on (which he will if fit), Kinghorn covers wing and full back very well.

Totally on board with all that, just happy that if Hogg isn’t 100% Kinghorn looks full of confidence at the moment.

[Cameo]

If Hogg is fit, I think he should start. He looked quite sharp in his few minutes against Wales and he adds so much to our team when on any type of form.

Kinghorn has been very good, which people forget he is capable of. But he's not been flawless either. For me, he hasn't suddenly leaped ahead of Hogg.

I shouldn't keep quoting them on here but the commenters in TOL keep celebrating the abandoning of the Kinghorn at 10 experiment. I am not quite sure where they are getting that from. He has been our backup ten for the first two games. A major advantage of him in that role is that if Russell stays on (which he will if fit), Kinghorn covers wing and full back very well.

Totally on board with all that, just happy that if Hogg isn’t 100% Kinghorn looks full of confidence at the moment.

Yeah, it's great. To be fair to him too, throughout his career Kinghorn has generally been pretty good for Scotland. Just never quite good enough to become established as first choice in any one position in the face of some pretty stuff competition.

[switchskier]

If Hogg is fit, I think he should start. He looked quite sharp in his few minutes against Wales and he adds so much to our team when on any type of form.

Kinghorn has been very good, which people forget he is capable of. But he's not been flawless either. For me, he hasn't suddenly leaped ahead of Hogg.

I shouldn't keep quoting them on here but the commenters in TOL keep celebrating the abandoning of the Kinghorn at 10 experiment. I am not quite sure where they are getting that from. He has been our backup ten for the first two games. A major advantage of him in that role is that if Russell stays on (which he will if fit), Kinghorn covers wing and full back very well.

Totally on board with all that, just happy that if Hogg isn’t 100% Kinghorn looks full of confidence at the moment.

Yeah, it's great. To be fair to him too, throughout his career Kinghorn has generally been pretty good for Scotland. Just never quite good enough to become established as first choice in any one position in the face of some pretty stuff competition.

I think that we forget that Kinghorn is only 26 because he's been around for so long. He signed for Edinburgh straight out of school and as a very raw prospect. It is only about now that we should be expecting him to achieve some consistency.

Harsh on both but is there an argument for Kinghorn over Steyn on the wing?

[francoisfou]

How do you fancy your chances at the Stade de France? The French starting XV will see at least one change. The prop Atonio has been banned for three weeks following a high tackle against Ireland and will miss at least two games(an appeal may yet be made). Elsewhere, that lump of a 2nd row, Willemse, will surely be dropped after two well-below par matches, and Romain Ntamack, who’s not been up to his usual excellence, could find himself on the bench and replaced by Matthieu Jalibert. Fullback Thomas Ramos may be dropped too and replaced by Melvyn Jaminet. The defeat in Dublin (the first in 14 matches) has told them that they’re far from invincible and I’m sure they’ll come back with a bang against your boys. That being said, I’ve been mightily impressed with your two wins, but can’t honestly see you winning, although it could be close.

[stevedog1980]

Harsh on both but is there an argument for Kinghorn over Steyn on the wing?

I’d struggle to see that argument to be honest, if Graham is fit then would drop out for me.

I would like to see Harris replaced in the bench, I don’t think he has enough versatility to warrant it. I’d rather see Redpath on the bench. Tuipulotu at the moment is going great guns with Jones beside him so Redpath is rightly going to struggle to shift him. On the bench he feels like a Pete Horne kind of cover player, similar to Kinghorn, where his general rugby ability can carry him through multiple positions. A bench of Horne, Kinghorn and Redpath feels like it could cover for most eventualities

[Big D]

Harsh on both but is there an argument for Kinghorn over Steyn on the wing?

I’d struggle to see that argument to be honest, if Graham is fit then would drop out for me.

I would like to see Harris replaced in the bench, I don’t think he has enough versatility to warrant it. I’d rather see Redpath on the bench. Tuipulotu at the moment is going great guns with Jones beside him so Redpath is rightly going to struggle to shift him. On the bench he feels like a Pete Horne kind of cover player, similar to Kinghorn, where his general rugby ability can carry him through multiple positions. A bench of Horne, Kinghorn and Redpath feels like it could cover for most eventualities

When all fit Steyn is third choice winger. But he can't afford to continue at 60% tackle success rate though.

He is normally sound and a small enough sample size but the wingers ahead are a different class to those so far so missing that high a percentage over the whole championship would be an issue.

[Big D]

How do you fancy your chances at the Stade de France? The French starting XV will see at least one change. The prop Atonio has been banned for three weeks following a high tackle against Ireland and will miss at least two games(an appeal may yet be made). Elsewhere, that lump of a 2nd row, Willemse, will surely be dropped after two well-below par matches, and Romain Ntamack, who’s not been up to his usual excellence, could find himself on the bench and replaced by Matthieu Jalibert. Fullback Thomas Ramos may be dropped too and replaced by Melvyn Jaminet. The defeat in Dublin (the first in 14 matches) has told them that they’re far from invincible and I’m sure they’ll come back with a bang against your boys. That being said, I’ve been mightily impressed with your two wins, but can’t honestly see you winning, although it could be close.

For the France and Ireland games so long as we perform I think most would take that even if the expectations will have risen amongst many.

It'll be a hard game next week but I think there are areas we can challenge France and I don't think I'd be hugely shocked beating France even though I agree with the bookies that France are clear favourites

[Cameo]

Any news on when Darcy Graham will be fit? Are we assuming he's out of the whole tournament?

[Big D]

Any news on when Darcy Graham will be fit? Are we assuming he's out of the whole tournament?

Blair said he is not in full training yet.

[Mikey Brown]

Harsh on both but is there an argument for Kinghorn over Steyn on the wing?

I’d struggle to see that argument to be honest, if Graham is fit then would drop out for me.

I would like to see Harris replaced in the bench, I don’t think he has enough versatility to warrant it. I’d rather see Redpath on the bench. Tuipulotu at the moment is going great guns with Jones beside him so Redpath is rightly going to struggle to shift him. On the bench he feels like a Pete Horne kind of cover player, similar to Kinghorn, where his general rugby ability can carry him through multiple positions. A bench of Horne, Kinghorn and Redpath feels like it could cover for most eventualities

When all fit Steyn is third choice winger. But he can't afford to continue at 60% tackle success rate though.

He is normally sound and a small enough sample size but the wingers ahead are a different class to those so far so missing that high a percentage over the whole championship would be an issue.

Harris on the wing then...

[Adder]

Jinxed it

[Mikey Brown]

I want to beat Ireland more than anything. I just fucking hate them and all their shitty pundits bleating about any player whoever looks remotely like they enjoy the game.

[BaldiePete]

I want to beat Ireland more than anything. I just fucking hate them and all their shitty pundits bleating about any player whoever looks remotely like they enjoy the game.

Now that we have the “perpetually losing to Gatland’s Wales” monkey off our backs, perpetually losing to Ireland is next. Much as I desperately want us to win next month I think it would take a 100% effort by us combined with an 80% or lower performance by Ireland for us to win.

[francoisfou]

I want to beat Ireland more than anything. I just fucking hate them and all their shitty pundits bleating about any player whoever looks remotely like they enjoy the game.

Now that we have the “perpetually losing to Gatland’s Wales” monkey off our backs, perpetually losing to Ireland is next. Much as I desperately want us to win next month I think it would take a 100% effort by us combined with an 80% or lower performance by Ireland for us to win.

I’d be delighted if you beat Ireland, a team who need pulling down a peg or two. I was disappointed to lose to them last Saturday, although I suppose they deserved their win.