2025 Autumn Internationals

[BaldiePete]

Will Hurd called up. That probably means that Fagerson is not going to be fit for the ABs.

[septic 9]

Will Hurd called up. That probably means that Fagerson is not going to be fit for the ABs.

think its over a concern with Miller-Mills
Should be Fin Richardson though

[Mikey Brown]

The continued capping of Millar-Mills is so funny. Every time I read his name or he comes on the pitch it’s like I’d completely forgotten he existed.

[BaldiePete]

Scotland team to face USA in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 1 November, kick-off 5:40pm – live on TNT Sports (caps in brackets):

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (14)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (10)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Vice-captain

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (43)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
3. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42) – Vice-captain
5. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
6. Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
7. Dylan Richardson – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (26)

Replacements

16. Harri Morris – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (3)
18. Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (5)
19. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (1)
20. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (7)
21. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (19)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (38)
23. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (5)

[BaldiePete]

A lot of players not being risked before the All Blacks match. It’s all a bit of a mish-mash and quite inexperienced. Take out Sutherland and the other five front row players have 13 caps between them. Not so much a bomb squad as a bomb scare. I’d hoped Fagerson (Z) could at least have made a bench appearance this week, I don’t think it would be a good idea to throw him in against the All Blacks having played no rugby for months.

[septic 9]

A lot of players not being risked before the All Blacks match. It’s all a bit of a mish-mash and quite inexperienced. Take out Sutherland and the other five front row players have 13 caps between them. Not so much a bomb squad as a bomb scare. I’d hoped Fagerson (Z) could at least have made a bench appearance this week, I don’t think it would be a good idea to throw him in against the All Blacks having played no rugby for months.

I suppose we could have had Gilchrist instead of Sykes.
Cummings has 42 caps but while i take your point about inexperienced players it was always going to be like that for this one .

Interesting that the 23 has 13 from Glasgow and 12 from Edinburgh. Reward for failure

[Cameo]

Hard to know how much to read into any of the calls. Does Sykes's selection mean he is ahead of Williamson and Samuel in the pecking order or is he starting because they are likely to get other starts.

I'd.say the three I am most interested to see are McConnell, Dobie, and Richardson. I'm still assuming Richardson is just playing 7 to keep him involved while he gets back to front row fitness, but Townsend could surprise us in one of the bigger games coming up.

[BaldiePete]

This is the American team. No sign of Rufus McLean. I’ve no idea who any of them are but the Eagles website says that seven of the starters and three of the replacements are unattached. This is a very un-Scottish thing to say but we should be absolutely tanking these guys.

1.Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2.Kaleb Geiger
3. Pono Davis
4. Marno Redelinghuys
5. Jason Damm
6. Vili Helu
7. Cory Daniel
8. Paddy Ryan
9. Ruben de Haas
10. Chris Hilsenbeck
11. Toby Fricker
12. Tommaso Boni
13. Dominic Besag
14. Mitch Wilson
15. Erich Storti
Substitutes: 16. Sean McNulty 17. Payton Telea-Ilalio 18. Maliu Niuafe 19. Tevita Naqali 20. Makeen Alikhan 21. Ethan McVeigh 22. Tavite Lopeti 23. Luke Carty

[septic 9]

This is the American team. No sign of Rufus McLean. I’ve no idea who any of them are but the Eagles website says that seven of the starters and three of the replacements are unattached. This is a very un-Scottish thing to say but we should be absolutely tanking these guys.

1.Ezekiel Lindenmuth
2.Kaleb Geiger
3. Pono Davis
4. Marno Redelinghuys
5. Jason Damm
6. Vili Helu
7. Cory Daniel
8. Paddy Ryan
9. Ruben de Haas
10. Chris Hilsenbeck
11. Toby Fricker
12. Tommaso Boni
13. Dominic Besag
14. Mitch Wilson
15. Erich Storti
Substitutes: 16. Sean McNulty 17. Payton Telea-Ilalio 18. Maliu Niuafe 19. Tevita Naqali 20. Makeen Alikhan 21. Ethan McVeigh 22. Tavite Lopeti 23. Luke Carty

unattached because their MLR franchise collapsed I suspect. IIRC 3 or 4 last season!

Loads of big PIs islander heritage. Boni is ex Zebre and was capped by Italy
Carty's brother plays for Connacht still I think, this one was in their academy
McNulty previously in he books at both Leinster and Munster, ex Ireland U20
Ryan Nhampton academy and a few championship teams
So yes, will be a challenge for them and we should put them away
Guess explains Toonie selectio.
OTOH they will all have been together in camp for a while

[septic 9]

HT, think we might hold on to win

More seriously, USA are so poor its difficult to take much from this, but we need to do the same 2nd half and not drop off

[paddy no 11]

Dobie covering 9 and wing gives room for 6-2 options etc for 6 nations

[Which Tyler]

HT, think we might hold on to win

More seriously, USA are so poor its difficult to take much from this, but we need to do the same 2nd half and not drop off

If you want some (nuance-less) context..
USA 5 - 40 Eng
June 2025

[septic 9]

HT, think we might hold on to win

More seriously, USA are so poor its difficult to take much from this, but we need to do the same 2nd half and not drop off

If you want some (nuance-less) context..
USA 5 - 40 Eng
June 2025

we beat them in US 2024. 7-42

[BaldiePete]

USA were rubbish but you can only play what’s in front of you so it was a job well done. Dobie absolutely man of the match. I wonder if Townsend will be brave enough to play him next week? I’m sure Finn would love playing outside him. I wish Townsend would play him but suspect he wont and he might have to settle for a place on the bench. McConnell was also excellent, only blotting his copybook by failing to pass to Horne after his break up field. Definitely one for the future (assuming Edinburgh don’t fuck him up).

[Cameo]

Yeah, same as above. Cam't judge too much on that given the oppositìon.

Some random thoughts though:

- Would like to see McConnell.start the Tonga game -.though there are a few backrows we might be saying that about by then.

- Hastings is such a good ten in that kind of game. He clearly enjoys finding gaps on the front foot and his running game creates space. Thompson was okay, but just not going to rack up as many points with him.

- Dobie was great. Has to at least bench. Not all his kicks.were perfect but he has so much more length than Horne.

- I'd have liked Williamson to look more dominant. Hard in a game like that, but Sykes.actually stood out more. Really hope it's not back to Gilchrist next week.

[Cameo]

Separately, I watched the All Blacks game as well and have seen most of their games this year. They keep winning and have a lot ofngood players, but they lack any type of fluency. We are obviously underdogs, but it'll be our best chance I can remember.

[septic 9]

Separately, I watched the All Blacks game as well and have seen most of their games this year. They keep winning and have a lot ofngood players, but they lack any type of fluency. We are obviously underdogs, but it'll be our best chance I can remember.

TBH it was a dull game between 2 error strewn teams for an hour then NZ woke up or Dad's Irish Army tired
NZ pack is pretty big and we will struggle unless we have a fully fit and firing Fagerson, simple coherent lineout calls and accurate throws
That said we have a few very big very physical players ourselves in the back of the scrum. If Toonie picks them, I mean picks the right ones

[septic 9]

Yeah, same as above. Cam't judge too much on that given the oppositìon.

Some random thoughts though:

- Would like to see McConnell.start the Tonga game -.though there are a few backrows we might be saying that about by then.

- Hastings is such a good ten in that kind of game. He clearly enjoys finding gaps on the front foot and his running game creates space. Thompson was okay, but just not going to rack up as many points with him.

- Dobie was great. Has to at least bench. Not all his kicks.were perfect but he has so much more length than Horne.

- I'd have liked Williamson to look more dominant. Hard in a game like that, but Sykes.actually stood out more. Really hope it's not back to Gilchrist next week.

as you say can't honestly take much from it.
Dobie was class, but he is every week he plays and keeps getting better. I think he is in his prime and is hungry, his form indisputable. That is why he should start next week. BTW he does kick further to clear but his bi kicks are usually contestable whereas Horne tends to kick too short or too long. Dobie kicks are goldilocks
Hastings has been playing well at Glasgow, he is making those half breaks every game. he doesn't get clear and hasn't the pace to run away but he does keep defenders honest, pulls them in 2 at a time to stop offloads. But I think he could miss out next week esp if we go 6/2 again
Just don't think Sykes has the pace or stamina for the next one. Williamson has not really regained his best form since injury. But Samuel has leap frogged him at Glasgow and is another huge lock with bulk, pace, aggression and stamina. And his 6'9" could be handy against the 2 6'*8 locks who finished for NZ. Its Cummings an one other. Please not Gilchrist
McConnell won't play but he definitely is moving up the pecking order, quite rightly. Should play Tonga

[BaldiePete]

Separately, I watched the All Blacks game as well and have seen most of their games this year. They keep winning and have a lot ofngood players, but they lack any type of fluency. We are obviously underdogs, but it'll be our best chance I can remember.

TBH it was a dull game between 2 error strewn teams for an hour then NZ woke up or Dad's Irish Army tired
NZ pack is pretty big and we will struggle unless we have a fully fit and firing Fagerson, simple coherent lineout calls and accurate throws
That said we have a few very big very physical players ourselves in the back of the scrum. If Toonie picks them, I mean picks the right ones

Who would you have in the back row? Dempsey and Fagerson have to be favourites to start. Ritchie was first choice last 6N but he’s playing in a terrible team who make Edinburgh look like Toulouse which can’t help his chances. Presumably Darge isn’t going to be fit so maybe Brown or Onyeama-Christie?

[Cameo]

Tough one in the backrow. Brown, Fagerson, Dempsey is physical but I think you need more breakdown threat. I'd be tempted to go, Ritchie or Onyama Christie, Brown and Fagerson with Dempsey on the bench, but suspect it is more likely to be Ritchie/Onyama Christie, Fagerson, and Dempsey with Brown and one other on the bench (Brown covering lock too). That is assuming Darge isn't fit. Though Townsend suggests he might be so who knows. I wouldn't pick him for this one anyway.

On lock, I like Samuel but his drop of the first kickoff in the second half won't have helped him. I'd go Williamson if he is the long term option.

[septic 9]

Who would you have in the back row? Dempsey and Fagerson have to be favourites to start. Ritchie was first choice last 6N but he’s playing in a terrible team who make Edinburgh look like Toulouse which can’t help his chances. Presumably Darge isn’t going to be fit so maybe Brown or Onyeama-Christie?

its times like this and decisions like this I am most relieved not to be head coach

Back row is really difficult.
I'm not as wedded to an out and out jackaller as many. I expect and want every player to be able to jackal and know when to, how to slow the ball legally. The expert cannot be at every ruck anyway, not consecutive quick ones which is when you need to slow opposition ball. I move away from that when you have an exceptional jackal threat who brings so much more to the game. Like Darge and like Douglas
The AB pack is biiiiiiig. We need to be big and very physical. I am biased but if no Darge then the Glasgow back row which started v Bulls would I think be my choice. All good carriers, all great support play, all, even Matt F lineout options. all have great engines.
Richie or Christie to bench, although McConnell should be considered - young, hungry, ambitious, knows no fear, full skill set. good lineout and terrific engine
If we must have a jackal threat and Darge not ready, I would go for Richie at 7