Scotland Summer Tour Squad

[BaldiePete]

Team v Fiji.

Not at all convinced by Burke starting what is a very important match away from home in difficult conditions. I’d rather have Tom Jordan at 10. I’m never convinced by Ashman, I hope he’s been getting a lot of lineout practice his throwing for Edinburgh has been appalling. Is Redpath not more of a 12, I can’t remember which position he usually plays at Bath? Pleased to see Dobie get the opportunity to start. It’s a quality back row, I’d say that it’s better than anything the Lions can currently put out. Thankfully that position hasn’t been decimated by Lions selections. Over on one of the Lions threads they’re bemoaning the lack of pace in the back row but we have Darge and I’m thankful we have him for this match.

[Big D]

Turner wasn't very good off the bench last week. So not surprised he isn't starting this week.

Not sure about TH but we've little choice.

Backs is a stalrange mish mash. Dobie has 2 starts at 9 this calendar year, Burke starting for 1st time in a pressure match, Redpath isn't a 13.

This is a massive test match for Scotland and Fiji and I feel like the selection is a gamble.

[Cameo]

I thought Turner looked a bit rusty, but showed the physicality we've missed. Made me quite excited. Happy with him on the bench this week.

Surprised by the 10, 12, 13 combo. Thought they would probably go Jordan, Redpath, McDowall.

Would have quite liked Smith at 15, but happy with Rowe.

Pack looks okay, interesting to see Sykes is firmly up the pecking order now.

Are we underdogs here. Can see a bad loss, a tight one, or a comfortable win. How they deal with the physicality early will be key. Can really knock teams off their game plan.

[BaldiePete]

Playing in Fiji I’d say we are definitely underdogs. We played them in Suva in 2017 and lost 27-22. I can see that happening again. Burke has to be a risk, it’s his first cap, away from home against a physical Fiji team, it could all go horribly wrong for him.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, not really feeling that team. Some good players and a couple of decent combos, but balance feels all off.

I don’t really understand the drive to play Jordan at 12 when he have 3 quality options there already.

Good to see Dobie get a go at 9, but an odd looking team overall.

I don’t really know what shape Fiji are in to be fair.

[Cameo]

Yeah, not really feeling that team. Some good players and a couple of decent combos, but balance feels all off.

I don’t really understand the drive to play Jordan at 12 when he have 3 quality options there already.

Good to see Dobie get a go at 9, but an odd looking team overall.

I don’t really know what shape Fiji are in to be fair.

I think the idea is that the way to beat Fiji in Fiji is to be controlled and have a good kicking game. Jordan at 10 doesn't really offer that. If he is not at 10, then he is our incumbent 12.

Never seen Redpath at 13 however.

[Cameo]

29-14 loss. Didn't manage to see first half (buffering issues), but sounds like they started well then faded. Only 30 something percent possession.

Saw second half and Scotland didn't look terrible. Some sloppy dropped balls and scrappy breakdowns, but overall just looked like they got beaten by a better team. Scotland also looked like they ran out of energy a bit, though some very good scramble D, especially by Burke. Realistically, I think Fiji at home are a firmly top 8 team, whereas Scotland shorn of 9 players and playing in Fiji are probably not.

A blow to the rankings, but that shouldn't be a reason for Scotland not playing in Fiji. More a reason why other teams should be forced to.

[BaldiePete]

I’m on holiday and haven’t seen it. Possibly a good thing. It looks like we are down to 8th in the rankings.

[Big D]

Hate to be that guy but another game with some pressure in it and another fairly average performance.

Well done to Fiji though they are developing well and benefitting from being in Super Rugby.

[septic 9]

29-14 loss. Didn't manage to see first half (buffering issues), but sounds like they started well then faded. Only 30 something percent possession.

Saw second half and Scotland didn't look terrible. Some sloppy dropped balls and scrappy breakdowns, but overall just looked like they got beaten by a better team. Scotland also looked like they ran out of energy a bit, though some very good scramble D, especially by Burke. Realistically, I think Fiji at home are a firmly top 8 team, whereas Scotland shorn of 9 players and playing in Fiji are probably not.

A blow to the rankings, but that shouldn't be a reason for Scotland not playing in Fiji. More a reason why other teams should be forced to.

Fiji the better team, in front of their own fans, against a very weakened Scotland team. These are not excuses, facts. we can put out a very good 23 to compete with just about anyone. Take away 8 to the Lions and we can't.
We scored early but the humidity I assume caused issues for handling for both teams. Otherwise Fiji could have easily had 30 by HT.

And we will still thump them at home next time

[BaldiePete]

Graham, Sutherland and Ashman called up by the Lions, presumably to be in the squad for the last midweek game between the 1st and 2nd tests. With 11 players (I think) now with the Lions that’s going to make a tricky match against Samoa on Friday even harder, although I don’t think I’ll miss Ashman.

My thoughts are varying between being pleased they got the call up (especially for Darcy who should always have been in the Lions squad) and being seriously pissed off that it’s fucking up our chances in the absolutely vital match against Samoa.

[Cameo]

I haven't seen the Samoa squad, but this match should be considerably less difficult than the Fiji one. Still a real challenge with a depleted squad, but I think we'll be favourites.

I'd go something like (sorry if I've missed injury news etc.):

1. McBeth
2. Harrison
3. Richardson
4. Sykes
5. Williamson (this may cause issues with the lineout)
6. Onyeama- Christie (think Ritchie's injured)
7. Darge
8. Muncaster if fit again (think Fagerson is injured)
9. Dobie
10. Burke (for continuity as much as anything - one match away in Fiji isn't much of a chance)
11. Steyn
12. Redpath
13. McDowall
14. Reed
15. Smith

16. Hurd
17. Turner
18. Millar-Mills
19. Henderson (or Ferris - can't be bothered picking Gilchrist
20. Masimbaka (or Bayliss, but, while good, he doesn't really excite me)
21. Horne
22. Rowe
23. Jordan

Not sure that is quite what I'd pick if I was in charge and my reputation depended on it, but it would interest me.

[BaldiePete]

I’m sure Townsend will pick Gilchrist and probably Turner to start. If Muncaster isn’t fit then Bayliss at 8. I think Reed, like DVDM, is purely a left wing, so swap him and Steyn. However I think Townsend might keep Rowe on the wing rather than bringing in Reed. Agree about the centres but I think Jordan will be at 10.

[Cameo]

Jordan injured, but Fagerson and Muncaster fit. Also, sounds like Sutherland and Ashman will play.

[Cameo]

Jordan injured, but Fagerson and Muncaster fit. Also, sounds like Sutherland and Ashman will play.

[BaldiePete]

Jordan injured, but Fagerson and Muncaster fit. Also, sounds like Sutherland and Ashman will play.

So, okay for Scotland on Friday then straight on a plane to Oz to sit on the bench on Tuesday? What about Graham?

[septic 9]

Jordan injured, but Fagerson and Muncaster fit. Also, sounds like Sutherland and Ashman will play.

So, okay for Scotland on Friday then straight on a plane to Oz to sit on the bench on Tuesday? What about Graham?

think he left today. Make of that as you will

[BaldiePete]

Jordan injured, but Fagerson and Muncaster fit. Also, sounds like Sutherland and Ashman will play.

So, okay for Scotland on Friday then straight on a plane to Oz to sit on the bench on Tuesday? What about Graham?

think he left today. Make of that as you will

They might want him to start on Tuesday so want him immediately but Sutherland and Ashman are destined for the bench and can turn up on Saturday.

[BaldiePete]

Ritchie (foot) and Jordan (hand fracture ) ruled out for Friday. Muncaster, Brown and Fagerson all confirmed fit. Sutherland and Ashman also available.

Possible team.

Smith
Rowe
McDowall
Redpath
Steyn
Burke (we know what Hastings can do, give Burke another go)
Dobie
McBeth
Turner
Richardson
Gilchrist
Brown
Bayliss or Onyeama- Christie
Darge
Fagerson

Harrison
Sutherland
Millar-Mills
Williamson
Muncaster
Horne
Hutchinson
Paterson

[septic 9]

So, okay for Scotland on Friday then straight on a plane to Oz to sit on the bench on Tuesday? What about Graham?

think he left today. Make of that as you will

They might want him to start on Tuesday so want him immediately but Sutherland and Ashman are destined for the bench and can turn up on Saturday.

TBH after last weekend none of the 3 will be missed. I think they will join the geography 6 as fake Lions, always have an asterisk against their name. Devalues an already outdated and devalued concept. And personally I will keep an asterisk against them from now on. The know they have FA chance of playing in a Lions test but are not bothered about Scotland's needs

[Cameo]

think he left today. Make of that as you will

They might want him to start on Tuesday so want him immediately but Sutherland and Ashman are destined for the bench and can turn up on Saturday.

TBH after last weekend none of the 3 will be missed. I think they will join the geography 6 as fake Lions, always have an asterisk against their name. Devalues an already outdated and devalued concept. And personally I will keep an asterisk against them from now on. The know they have FA chance of playing in a Lions test but are not bothered about Scotland's needs

I fully get being over the Lions. I've enjoyed it this time, but am not a diehard. However, I think you are massively overeacting in relation to these three.

Sutherland and Ashman are not missing a Scotland game. Surely you won't keep an asterix against them for agreeing to bench in a Lions game a few days after playing for Scotland?

Even for Graham, whether you like it or not it is clear any call up is a big deal for almost all players, even if I agree that a call up like this is not the honour being called up on merit at the beginning would be (quite apart from the money). If Townsend was okay with him going, I'm not going to judge him. Also, Hansen is now injured so he should get a start and it's not inconceivable that there'll be a couple more injuries and suddenly he's playing a test.

And, yes, he will be missed by Scotland, though we do need to build back three depth.

[Cameo]

Scotland (v Samoa @ Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday, 7.35pm kick-off local time or 8.35am kick-off UK time, live on Premier Sports): K Rowe; K Steyn, R Hutchinson, S McDowall, A Reed; F Burke, J Dobie; R Sutherland, E Ashman, E Miller Mills, G Brown, G Gilchrist, A Onyeama-Christie, R Darge, M Fagerson. Subs: G Turner, N McBeth, F Richardson, C Henderson, M Sykes, B Muncaster, G Horne, A Hastings.

[Mikey Brown]

Hard to get too excited about that in all honesty.

EMM is never going to be good enough, right? Is he even the best option purely to win this game? I guess he’s got a moderate bit of experience now at least.

Brown covering 6 from the second row with 2 locks on the bench also feels off, but I guess it makes sense. I guess I’m frustrated because we so desperately need to build some tight five depth.

It seems funny Townsend now wants to give Hutchinson a proper go. He hasn’t been playing 13 for a couple of seasons now I think. Redpath gets one game out of position then dropped. McDowell in and out of the team as usual. I wish he’d either fully commit to experimentation or at least give players a run in one spot.

At least Dobie and Burke get a chance to try and build on the Fiji game and I like that backrow.

[BaldiePete]

The problem for Hutchinson, Redpath and McDowall is that our first choice centres are one of the best centre combinations in the world and will always be chosen when available unless playing against a weak team, so their chances are extremely limited. On a 5:3 split one of them might get on the bench.

On the tight five, Richardson will get some time off the bench and hopefully Blyth-Lafferty will get some experience at Edinburgh this coming season. Gilchrist must be due to be pensioned off soon and Cummings will be back for the autumn. There’s some depth at 2nd row but the quality of that depth at international level has yet to be properly tested. This would have been a good game to have played someone other than Gilchrist.

[septic 9]

They might want him to start on Tuesday so want him immediately but Sutherland and Ashman are destined for the bench and can turn up on Saturday.

TBH after last weekend none of the 3 will be missed. I think they will join the geography 6 as fake Lions, always have an asterisk against their name. Devalues an already outdated and devalued concept. And personally I will keep an asterisk against them from now on. The know they have FA chance of playing in a Lions test but are not bothered about Scotland's needs

I fully get being over the Lions. I've enjoyed it this time, but am not a diehard. However, I think you are massively overeacting in relation to these three.

Sutherland and Ashman are not missing a Scotland game. Surely you won't keep an asterix against them for agreeing to bench in a Lions game a few days after playing for Scotland?

Even for Graham, whether you like it or not it is clear any call up is a big deal for almost all players, even if I agree that a call up like this is not the honour being called up on merit at the beginning would be (quite apart from the money). If Townsend was okay with him going, I'm not going to judge him. Also, Hansen is now injured so he should get a start and it's not inconceivable that there'll be a couple more injuries and suddenly he's playing a test.

And, yes, he will be missed by Scotland, though we do need to build back three depth.

As Ashman and Sutherland are starting I'll cut them some slack for now. Graham OTH I can't- we all know he has zero chance of a Lions test. Farrell will play Osborne on the wing first, after Lowe, Duhan and Freeman, even if Hansen really is out. Could even if Blair is fit have him or Keenan on the wing. Or M Smith at 15 and Keenan on the wing. There is a reason Farrell did not pick Graham in the first place; he does not rate him
And after his non tackling last wee, he won't be missed