6N squad - starting team

[BaldiePete]

Turner can blow hot and cold. He had a nightmare against Ireland in 2021 (25% and some of those might have been Cherry when he came on) but he’s definitely been better since then. Richie Gray is so good at the lineout I’m sure he makes a massive difference. I’ve no data to back this up but my feeling is our lineout has definitely improved since he returned.

[Cameo]

Yeah, don't fully trust Turner and that might come back to bite us, but think he offers enough elsewhere to make him comfortable first choice at the moment.

My hunch is that Cherry is the best thrower (not seen enough of Ashman) but is that enough. It just feels that for all his strengths, Brown has made a few key mistakes down the years coming on late on (thinking Aussie world cup game, penalty against England in that crazy draw, and Saturday). Does the pressure to make an impact get to him.

Not saying he isn't still our best option on the bench - just a worry.

[septic 9]

just to be very clear, it was not a Brown overthrow. It was a poorly timed jump.

[Cameo]

just to be very clear, it was not a Brown overthrow. It was a poorly timed jump.

My impression was that it was both

[Croft_No.5]

Would say it was one or the other. It was definitely rushed which it didn't need to be. Different players expecting different outcomes from the same paly

[Cameo]

Yeah, it did look rushed. The kind of lineout I have been part of when the subs come on who've not had many run throughs!

Anyway, fingers crossed for no injuries this weekend. I presume no news is good news re Jones

[septic 9]

Gilchrist ban finally announced. No surprise, 6wks reduced to 3 (no previous ever, admitted guilt etc) and will get another week off for attending tackle school. Fine.

BUT Edin v Leinster did not count so he misses next 2 Scotland games. He wouldn't have played its true, but he was suspended from his sending off pending the hearing. Had Edin known it wouldn't count then maybe they would have picked him, except they couldn't because he was suspended until after his hearing/outcome

Funny this sort of ruling did not apply to Farrell pre Calcutta Cup, or a few seasons back to Healey who the IRFU convinced the 6N committee that a Leinster 2nds match (might have been AIL) mid 6N was worthy of being counted.

[Cameo]

Gilchrist ban finally announced. No surprise, 6wks reduced to 3 (no previous ever, admitted guilt etc) and will get another week off for attending tackle school. Fine.

BUT Edin v Leinster did not count so he misses next 2 Scotland games. He wouldn't have played its true, but he was suspended from his sending off pending the hearing. Had Edin known it wouldn't count then maybe they would have picked him, except they couldn't because he was suspended until after his hearing/outcome

Funny this sort of ruling did not apply to Farrell pre Calcutta Cup, or a few seasons back to Healey who the IRFU convinced the 6N committee that a Leinster 2nds match (might have been AIL) mid 6N was worthy of being counted.

It's a joke isn't it. I can see the logic either way, but how hard is it to be consistent!

[Cameo]

Russell had to get strapped up but seems like he completed the game. Fingers crossed.

[Mikey Brown]

Darge, Cummings, McDowall, Berghan in.

Bayliss and Gilchrist out.

No idea that means anything RE potential injuries (glad not to see a flyhalf called up) but it seems kind of late in the week to be adding players for the sake of training numbers?

[septic 9]

Darge, Cummings, McDowall, Berghan in.

Bayliss and Gilchrist out.

No idea that means anything RE potential injuries (glad not to see a flyhalf called up) but it seems kind of late in the week to be adding players for the sake of training numbers?

Maybe a bit late but possibly more than one thing at play.
Darge and Cummings I get. Key players for us, not unusual for a national coach to bring them in to assess where they are for himself.
McDowell less obvious unless someone is carrying a knock - I will.say though that he is playing outstandingly well. Huw Jones needs to keep his form up or lose his Glasgow spot again!
Also Bergan - again unless there is an injury or Sebastian was only in to allow Bergan to play for Glasgow

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah Jones was limping a bit wasn’t he so I’d also worried McDowall was for that.

Good to hear he’s come on as he seemed to stall a bit. Has he settled at 13 now or is that just to pair with Johnson?

[Scottish Caley Fan]

It's good to see Mr Russell still in the squad because I was worried when seeing Tweets say he was all bandaged up for Toulouse game but hopefully that was just precautionary as we desperately need him fit and firing.

I'm also hoping Huw is fit as we could do with him on Sunday, I'd even have him out for Italy instead if it meant he was fit and got the 80 on Sunday.

That's how crucial these 2 players are on Sunday imho.

[septic 9]

Yeah Jones was limping a bit wasn’t he so I’d also worried McDowall was for that.

Good to hear he’s come on as he seemed to stall a bit. Has he settled at 13 now or is that just to pair with Johnson?

Another who was was frozen out by Rennie. Difficult to say if he is playing 13 of necessity or coach's preference - Glasgow are not overloaded with centres (or back 3 players). Johnson is purely a 12, Tuipolotu had been playing 13 for Warriors but obv 12 for Scotland, Jones has played 12 but is a 13 (or 15), Steyn a very good 13 at club level but needed on the wing. And McDowell. So only Johnson and McDowell have been available really for Glasgow.

Anyway, he is fitting in really well at 13, and I'd have no qualms about him replacing Jones if he was injured - the alternative is Redpath or Johnson at 12 and Tuiplotu to 13 - I really wouldn't want to move the latter from 12. Plus the idea of McDowell running at pace on to some Russell passes is quite exciting

[General Zod]

I’d also be happy with McDowall on the bench. Potential World Cup bolter.

[Cameo]

I’d also be happy with McDowall on the bench. Potential World Cup bolter.

That would certainly give Ireland more to think about than Harris on the bench. I like it - but suspect we won't see it.

[Mikey Brown]

No Redpath named for Bath this weekend, so would really hope to see him instead of Harris anyway. Either way a 12 on the bench makes more sense with Tuipulotu and Steyn in the side.

I hope Kinghorn gets a start though.

[Donny osmond]

Anyone else getting ever so slightly concerned about the way we're getting talked up for this one? Ireland are world no 1 by a distance, and should be heavy favourites. Not to say we can't win, but I feel like I can see this one far enough; a huge amount of honest endeavour, some moments of real quality, but all essentially, more or less absorbed by Ireland who then control the ball for 60 minutes in the middle of the game and kill our chances.

[Cameo]

I agree that's the most likely outcome and if I was an Irish fan I would be thinking of this as a stiff test but no more than the England game the following weekend.

However, whereas in the last few years I've felt we have a chance if everything goes right, this year I think we have a bit more resilience about us and might be able to deal better with the periods where Ireland dominate. Part of that is having a sharper attack back, but I also feel the mentality is stronger this year.

The Irish relentlessness once they get in their patterns is scary though. We really need something to disrupt it, whether that is some turnovers early on, the ref pinging some of their holding and blocking round the rucks, or us trying something different like flying someone up as a shooter to get in their passing lanes in all the intricate moves they do among their pods. Italy got an intercept try, but there is always the danger that (especially with Sexton) they read it perfectly, choose the right option and find the space where the shooter would otherwise have been. Trust you systems or do something bespoke?

[Cameo]

Oh and I wouldn't worry about people talking our chances up. The bits I've heard have been fairly realistic but there'll always be people talking nonsense out there.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah there’s just so media fluff now it’s impossible to avoid. There will be people who see things like Greig Laidlaw responding “yes of course we can win” and perceive that as arrogance or over-confidence, but there’s not much to be done about that.

Everyone knows Ireland are quality and are heavy favourites, but that doesn’t make as interesting a story. It’s almost boring how good/efficient they are. Though I agree if we can disrupt their shenanigans around the contact area that could go a long way.

[septic 9]

Oh and I wouldn't worry about people talking our chances up. The bits I've heard have been fairly realistic but there'll always be people talking nonsense out there.

most of the talking us up has been done by Irish media and pundits, in a sneering sort of way. So they can gloat and say see told you they were shit if Ireland win

[Mikey Brown]

Oh and I wouldn't worry about people talking our chances up. The bits I've heard have been fairly realistic but there'll always be people talking nonsense out there.

most of the talking us up has been done by Irish media and pundits, in a sneering sort of way. So they can gloat and say see told you they were shit if Ireland win

Yeah I really despise the “let’s put them back in their box” attitude you get from Ferris and a bunch of the Irish rugby media. I still don’t really understand where it comes from to be honest. Aside from Glasgow and Scotland occasionally playing as if they actually enjoy the game.

[Big D]

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) – Vice-Captain – 99 caps
14. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 26 caps

10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 68 caps
9. Ben White (London Irish) 12 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 19 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 33 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 56 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 72 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – Vice-Captain – 75 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
7. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 39 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps

Replacements

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 60 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Glasgow Warriors) 32 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 59 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 41 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 41 caps

nteresting not to go with a 7 for this game even if Ritchie can play there. Dempsey has played well but not sure that will help at the breakdown where we are going to need to slow them down if we can.

Steyn needs to be much better in defence this game. Over a small sample size, but still three 6N games, he has missed a high % of tackles and their wings are good.

I don't see the point in Harris on the bench. To stem the tide if they start pumping us?

Cummings has had very little international rugby over the last 18 months (one sub appearance and the last Argentinian tour start?) will be interesting to see how he goes as the second rows have been very good this 6N bar one tackle. Starting to look stronger in that area at the top end of the position group again.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah that’s quite a bold move in the backrow. I expected to go at the breakdown not sacrifice a 7 for more carrying power.

This will be a big test for Dempsey.

Jonny Gray as vice captain is an interesting choice. He was touted as captaincy material when he first came through but always seems very quiet from what I can tell. Was great off the bench last week though and nice to see them finally pair up again.