Team for Scotland

[jngf]

Confirmed. A decent side but still a little underhwelmed.

Our flankers have the edge on raw power and pace imo

Darge does cover a lot of ground and both him and Ritchie are absolute pests and will slow down our ball as well as bringing plenty of niggle to the breakdown.

Their definitely both good fetchers however I think we have the edge on physicality and definitely pace. I would say that Ritchie has the height to make him an extra lineout target for the Scots, a bit more so than T Curry

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Earl fast. Curry wide. Ritchie Tall. Darge wide.

Hardly even need to bother watching the game really.

[Puja]

That's really bad news. Ted Hill is not a lock option so will be putting pressure on Chessum and Itoje to go the full 80. Ted Hill's iffy tackle completion percentages in the league don't fill me with optimism for the step up to international level. I can see him doing a CCS Vs France style job.

Where's Coles? Also not an ideal replacement for Martin's power but an actual lock (well lock/6 hybrid).

Has Coles gone off to the England A camp? Perhaps they rate Hill's locking ability and they've decided they would rather keep the player who's been in training all this week rather than the one who was preparing for another game? That's the only explanation I can think of.

If it is that they rate Hill's locking capability, then they're more confident than me. I'll be very worried every time Itoje or Chessum stop and feel a knee.

Puja

[Puja]

I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

There's Coles, and there was briefly Clark before he got injured. If there's some reason why Coles isn't available, then the A-squad only has Lockett, Tizard, and Capstick, and I think I'd probably have an out-of-position Hill over any of those three.

Puja

[Oakboy]

I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

There's Coles, and there was briefly Clark before he got injured. If there's some reason why Coles isn't available, then the A-squad only has Lockett, Tizard, and Capstick, and I think I'd probably have an out-of-position Hill over any of those three.

Puja

Jonny Hill must have done something horrible! I'd have him ahead of any of those.

[FKAS]

I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

There's Coles, and there was briefly Clark before he got injured. If there's some reason why Coles isn't available, then the A-squad only has Lockett, Tizard, and Capstick, and I think I'd probably have an out-of-position Hill over any of those three.

Puja

Jonny Hill must have done something horrible! I'd have him ahead of any of those.

There's now rumours Coles has a knock which would explain Ted Hill getting the chance.

Jonny Hill out of favour for some reason. Maybe his ban for an altercation with a fan? Shame he'd be a useful big work horse off the bench. If Ted Hill comes on it's going to be a tough ask for the front row at scrum time.

[Puja]

There's Coles, and there was briefly Clark before he got injured. If there's some reason why Coles isn't available, then the A-squad only has Lockett, Tizard, and Capstick, and I think I'd probably have an out-of-position Hill over any of those three.

Puja

Jonny Hill must have done something horrible! I'd have him ahead of any of those.

There's now rumours Coles has a knock which would explain Ted Hill getting the chance.

Jonny Hill out of favour for some reason. Maybe his ban for an altercation with a fan? Shame he'd be a useful big work horse off the bench. If Ted Hill comes on it's going to be a tough ask for the front row at scrum time.

I'm not thrilled about the England A locks, but JHill has a history of having moronic lapses of composure in games that've cost England in the past and I can't imagine that the fan altercation has made the management feel like he's fixed that flaw. I can understand why England A would rather look at a 22 y/o, 24 y/o, and 25 y/o rather than look at someone who's 30 and might be off to France soon.

Puja

[Danno]

The only momentum shift that J Hill made that I ever remember is him doing an Etzebeth on Faf de Klerk after the whistle had gone, reversing a pen. If he's the answer you're asking the wrong question.

[Which Tyler]

JHill and Ewels are rightly out on their arses - for idiocy rather than talent.
If either were in the squad, then I'm sure they'd be ahead of THill at lock, but they're not, and they've only got themselves to blame for that.

And thanks guys - I'd forgotten that Coles was in there. Must either be carrying a knock, or actually only technically there, but actually being with the A-squad.

[Oakboy]

Presumably (and no doubt some of you scrum experts will confirm/deny), were Ted Hill to come on in place of a lock, he would only be vulnerable at scrum time?? He'd be useful in the lineout and handy in open play. So, if Chessum or Itoje were to get injured in the 5th minute how would things pan out against that Scottish pack?

[Danno]

Badly

[Banquo]

I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

Coles

[FKAS]

Presumably (and no doubt some of you scrum experts will confirm/deny), were Ted Hill to come on in place of a lock, he would only be vulnerable at scrum time?? He'd be useful in the lineout and handy in open play. So, if Chessum or Itoje were to get injured in the 5th minute how would things pan out against that Scottish pack?

Well Ted Hill is a stone lighter than Chessum and nearly two stone lighter than Martin (based on AllRugby stats). That's going to be less pushing power behind the tighthead.

Bath did field Ted Hill at lock once this season, for just over 50 mins Vs Glaws.

[Which Tyler]

He did very well as well; but that's not international level.
Of course, perfectly possible that SB is thinking of CCS as backup lock.

Am I weird in feeling robbed that we won't be seeing Hill v Bayliss, preferably in the same position, coming on at the same time?

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone know if Coles is in the squad? etc etc

Very good.

[Puja]

Presumably (and no doubt some of you scrum experts will confirm/deny), were Ted Hill to come on in place of a lock, he would only be vulnerable at scrum time?? He'd be useful in the lineout and handy in open play. So, if Chessum or Itoje were to get injured in the 5th minute how would things pan out against that Scottish pack?

The issue is not so much the actual scrums, as it is that he's not used to the lead that packing down in the tight 5 puts in your legs. I don't think he'd be a disaster in the scrums (especially with the Scots pack not being especially powerful with their injuries), but he'd be at a significant disadvantage around the pitch, to the extent that, if a lock went down injured 20 minutes in, I'd prefer Hill and CCS to play 30 minutes of lock each, and have one fewer back row sub.

Puja

[p/d]

There's Coles, and there was briefly Clark before he got injured. If there's some reason why Coles isn't available, then the A-squad only has Lockett, Tizard, and Capstick, and I think I'd probably have an out-of-position Hill over any of those three.

Puja

Jonny Hill must have done something horrible! I'd have him ahead of any of those.

There's now rumours Coles has a knock which would explain Ted Hill getting the chance.

Jonny Hill out of favour for some reason. Maybe his ban for an altercation with a fan? Shame he'd be a useful big work horse off the bench. If Ted Hill comes on it's going to be a tough ask for the front row at scrum time.

Bloody hell!!! You would think Hill a 5ft 2 wet flannel with the tackling prowess of Harry Mallinder.

From all I have seen - many games watching at 6ways plus a number of Bath outings - he will more than fit into this world class XV that takes to the field on Saturday

[FKAS]

Jonny Hill must have done something horrible! I'd have him ahead of any of those.

There's now rumours Coles has a knock which would explain Ted Hill getting the chance.

Jonny Hill out of favour for some reason. Maybe his ban for an altercation with a fan? Shame he'd be a useful big work horse off the bench. If Ted Hill comes on it's going to be a tough ask for the front row at scrum time.

Bloody hell!!! You would think Hill a 5ft 2 wet flannel with the tackling prowess of Harry Mallinder.

From all I have seen - many games watching at 6ways plus a number of Bath outings - he will more than fit into this world class XV that takes to the field on Saturday

He's six foot five and and 17 stone 9. To Chessum's 6 foot 7 and 18 stone 8 or Martin's 6 foot 6 and 19 stone 7.

Ted Hill I'm always unsure on. His highlights reel is great and he is normally good for one or big moments per game. The issue is that in-between those moments you don't notice him and he doesn't have a great tackle success rate when you compare him to the likes of the Currys.

[Mellsblue]

Low tackle success rate = test match ice man.

[p/d]

six foot five and and 17 stone 9 = Steward a 12 come lock

[jngf]

I could see CCS nicely covering lock, he’s bigger than Itoje for starters

[Which Tyler]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... land-clash

Feyi-Waboso injury fallout hits England preparations for Scotland clash

Wing has reinjured shoulder and could be out for season
Injury leads to questioning of RFU’s contract system

England’s Calcutta Cup preparations have been tainted by the fallout from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s shoulder injury, which raises questions over the Rugby Football Union’s new central contracting system.
...
ARTICLE CONTINUES

Worth noting that "the wing aggravated his shoulder in a rehab session with England during the first rest week of the Six Nations", before people jump on the "why was he training?" bandwagon.
Rehab hurts, and testing to find out current capacity runs a high risk of pushing beyond capacity - there's not enough in that article for me personally to condemn anyone involved.
It's been what? 8 weeks since the injury? Depending on what damage was done, that would be a reasonable time frame for a pro to return to training, or even playing if really lucky. It seems a fair timeframe to try the rehab approach.

Of course though, Baxter is unhappy, because A] Exeter didn't have control of the process, and B] he'll miss Manny for a few weeks at the end of the season that he may not have had he gone straight into surgery without knowing if it was the right option or not.
Also of course, it doesn't make such a good headline.

[Mr Mwenda]

I saw that headline and didn't click the link. It confirmed what I feel about most sports journalism - it's just a desperate drive to push narratives to attract attention.

I also increasingly tire of Baxter, whose star has really fallen of late.

[Beasties]

There's now rumours Coles has a knock which would explain Ted Hill getting the chance.

Jonny Hill out of favour for some reason. Maybe his ban for an altercation with a fan? Shame he'd be a useful big work horse off the bench. If Ted Hill comes on it's going to be a tough ask for the front row at scrum time.

Bloody hell!!! You would think Hill a 5ft 2 wet flannel with the tackling prowess of Harry Mallinder.

From all I have seen - many games watching at 6ways plus a number of Bath outings - he will more than fit into this world class XV that takes to the field on Saturday

He's six foot five and and 17 stone 9. To Chessum's 6 foot 7 and 18 stone 8 or Martin's 6 foot 6 and 19 stone 7.

Ted Hill I'm always unsure on. His highlights reel is great and he is normally good for one or big moments per game. The issue is that in-between those moments you don't notice him and he doesn't have a great tackle success rate when you compare him to the likes of the Currys.

There was me thinking I was alone in being somewhat meh on Ted Hill on this board. Lots of highlights but lots of disappearance to these eyes. He must do a lot of unseen unseen work. An impressive athlete no doubt.

[Mikey Brown]

I haven’t been tracking him for the full 80, I’ve not even seen these infamous tackle completion stats, but it does seem funny how almost every back row with any sort of ‘highlights’ contribution eventually gets accused of “going missing” in the intervening minutes.

I’m never quite sure if that’s just in relation to their big moments, or it really is a zero-sum game in terms of effort and output.

It would make sense if Borthwick isn’t pleased with something in Hill’s stats/GPS, as he seems to have basically all the component parts we want in a 6.