Team for France

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Alright, the only change is that Wilson is out (elbow infection) and hardy comes on to the bench,

Well... we have a fuck load of opensides in that squad.

Just all the opensides.

openside.

[Adder]

[General Zod]

Happy wi' that. Bring 'em on.

[Adder]

I think Seymour and Maitland may have switched wings...

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Happy wi' that. Bring 'em on.

Agreed. As well as Batman played last week, Barclay is a fucking good replacement to have. Hardie is pretty much a like for like with Hamish Watson.

Just hope our hands are as good as they were last week, we'd do well to avoid scrums.

[Adder]

Stade de France pitch is pretty terrible. It could help us come scrum time.
Ball retention will be very important as we want to starve their big runners. Their subs are not as impressive.. We have the advantage in the lineout. Our backs look to be better as well.

[Matt Ha]

That must be the most beards in a Scottish team since 1900.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Stade de France pitch is pretty terrible. It could help us come scrum time.
Ball retention will be very important as we want to starve their big runners. Their subs are not as impressive.. We have the advantage in the lineout. Our backs look to be better as well.

That, or make it worse.

Could do with some good weather to be honest, keep our backs fast, I wouldn't like to see us get into an arm wrestle with these cats.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hardie is not the correct replacement IMO. Strauss runs out of gas on 60 mins regularly, would have given the spot to someone who offers more suitable cover like CDP.

I guess Barclay packs down at 8 if this happens.

Still optimistic!

[sharvey44]

Can we all just temper the optimism please?

It worked with the rugby gods last week, I'm hoping it works again this week.

France by 100+

[Matt Ha]

Can we all just temper the optimism please?

It worked with the rugby gods last week, I'm hoping it works again this week.

France by 100+

A 100. Very conservative of you.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Just wait boys. France might not even get the LBP.

[Adder]

What is your Home address Greg? I want to send someone your way...

[Wylie Coyote]

For gods sake, quick watch this....before you are permanently damaged.

It's no good. I didn't get past the first 2 seconds with this

Inverdale...

Turn the sound off and appreciate Metcalfe gliding.

While I am at it, nugget:

I think Metcalfe was one of my favourite Scottish players. We didn't have him long as he was in his mid-20s when he turned up in Scotland but he was an incredible runner and had ferocious defence. The France game was one of the few times Scotland were really able to use him effectively which was frustrating. Two Metcalfe moments I remember but can't find online: a great try vs Argentina in a losing game at Murrayfield and vs NSW Waratahs in Scotland's tour of Oz in 1998 when the quickest player in the NSW squad breaks the line 60yds out and the Aussie commentators assume its a try but Metcalfe hauled him in a tackled him into touch, they just couldn't believe it.

[Adder]

Stade de France pitch is pretty terrible. It could help us come scrum time.
Ball retention will be very important as we want to starve their big runners. Their subs are not as impressive.. We have the advantage in the lineout. Our backs look to be better as well.

That, or make it worse.

Could do with some good weather to be honest, keep our backs fast, I wouldn't like to see us get into an arm wrestle with these cats.

With all these opensides + Brown and Dell, I think Vern wants to piss them off.

[Mikey Brown]

Hardie option off the bench is alright I guess if he is still tackling hard and carrying hard, not that I really see him as like for like with Watson.

[OptimisticJock]

Is Hardie not playing tonight?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What is your Home address Greg? I want to send someone your way...

Not the french team, I hope. They won't be able to find me - running down dead ends all day.

[Big D]

Is Hardie not playing tonight?

No. pulled out an Richie starts.

I wonder what the script is with CdP. Are they travelling to France today? Is he the 24th man?

[OptimisticJock]

Is Hardie not playing tonight?

No. pulled out an Richie starts.

I wonder what the script is with CdP. Are they travelling to France today? Is he the 24th man?

Cheers

[whatisthejava]

Pretty gutted to see no Wilson, mental as always thought he is a liability and a bit to easy to throw a silly punch but since the autumn i think he has been one of our better players.

Decent team but would prefer CDP over hardie as the french pack is massive but maybe they think a mental 20 mins from Hardie at the end will cause the french some pain

[Cameo]

Looks like we'll just try to run them off the park. Will be good to watch anyway

[whatisthejava]

Forcast so far is cold but dry, I think this is the first scottish team in years where we pray for dry weather

[Big D]

Barring their army tank of a TH the weight difference isn't as big as one would expect.

Using the highly scientific "first weight I could find on the internet" method, here are the direct match ups (so LH v TH)

Allan Dell (112kg) v Uini Atonio (155kg)
Fraser Brown (103kg) v Guilhem Guirado (105kg)
Zander Fagerson (121kg) v Cyril Baille (113kg)
Richie Gray (128kg) v Sebastien Vahaamahina (126kg),
Jonny Gray (119kg) v Yoann Maestri (119kg)
John Barclay (102kg) v Loann Goujon (110kg)
Hamish Watson (93kg) v Kevin Gourdon (98kg)
Josh Strauss (114kg) v Louis Picamoles (116kg)

Totals (rounded to nearest 0.5kg):
Scotland = 892kg (average 111.5kg), without heaviest man (R Gray) - 764kg (average 109kg).
France = 942kg (average 118kg), without heaviest man (Atonio) - 787kg (average 112.5kg).

[Adder]

Alan Dell vs Antonio is terrifying.