Australia tour

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Is that odd? I can't tell.

Probably but I think he's a good idea. He's short of match fitness. Don't even think he's been playing club rugby.

[Big D]

Is that odd? I can't tell.

Probably but I think he's a good idea. He's short of match fitness. Don't even think he's been playing club rugby.

I think it's a good idea too. I still suspect he is also the next cab off the TH rank for the Lions.

I wonder if the lack of second row cover for RGray almost confirms that JGray isn't on standby for the Lions ( I would think it would be Launchbury).

[Mikey Brown]

Nel has managed a scrum and a good 5 minutes of waddling around without getting injured so far.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

He's doing alright considering it's a 7 man scrum that was already getting horsed.

[hp18]

He's doing alright considering it's a 7 man scrum that was already getting horsed.

The Baa Baas scrum is being horsed? It's a weak English tight 5.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Well maybe horsed is the wrong word, they were giving up a fuck load of penas. What's the plural of that? Peni? Penases?

[hp18]

Well maybe horsed is the wrong word, they were giving up a fuck load of penas. What's the plural of that? Peni? Penases?

A collection of Penas? An 'embra?

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Well maybe horsed is the wrong word, they were giving up a fuck load of penas. What's the plural of that? Peni? Penases?

A collection of Penas? An 'embra?

Shut your whore mouth.

[Stones of granite]

Well maybe horsed is the wrong word, they were giving up a fuck load of penas. What's the plural of that? Peni? Penases?

Na penasan

I think. Tricky feckin language.

[hp18]

Well maybe horsed is the wrong word, they were giving up a fuck load of penas. What's the plural of that? Peni? Penases?

A collection of Penas? An 'embra?

Shut your whore mouth.

Make me, bitch.

[Big D]

We need to give Nel time to get back up to speed. He's been injured for a long time.

[Big D]

So the team is now in Singapore, what is the line up people will want to see v Italy? I'd give Horne a start at 10 so that we can give an alternative to Russell game time. Russell would still be 1st choice. I am all for blooding new/inexperienced players but wins are also important so it's about trying to find the right balance.

Reid
Brown
ZJRF
Gray
Toolis
Barclay
Watson
Wilson

Price
Horne
Visser
Dunbar
Scott
Hoyland
Taylor

Turner
Dell/Allan
Rae
Swinson
Bradbury
Pyrgos
Russell
Jones

[whatisthejava]

Quite close to my team except

I really want Taylor at 12 but dont see another option for 15
So switch Dunbar and Scott about
Switch Hoyland for Jones
Switch Horne for Russel
Switch Toolis for Swinson
Bradbury is crocked isnt he , so whoever is in the team that can play backrow


And hope that Taylor doesnt get injured

[whatisthejava]

Although i think Kinghorn is needed in Singapour, the fact that he is looking fantastic playing in the U20 will help him more

Next year he will be back up 15 to Hogg IMO but Cockers may well see him as a 10 or 13

[Big D]

Quite close to my team except

I really want Taylor at 12 but dont see another option for 15
So switch Dunbar and Scott about
Switch Hoyland for Jones
Switch Horne for Russel
Switch Toolis for Swinson
Bradbury is crocked isnt he , so whoever is in the team that can play backrow


And hope that Taylor doesnt get injured

The team I picked is with an eye on giving people game time on tour and trying to give some back ups game time where sensible. So Horne to start this one or the Fiji game at 10 makes sense to me. I'd start Hoyland and Jones in either the Italy or Fiji games so not fussed which one starts which. Same with Toolis, I'd start him one out the two opening games.

I thought Bradbury was on tour. If not then Strauss to the bench.

I don't see Dunbar as a 13 at international level anymore. I know there is a change of coaching but in the AI's and 6N the OC was a key part of the attacking structure and whilst I see him when on form as a very good 12 I don't think he has the pace (anymore) or the attacking skill set of the other 2 options on tour (Scott and Taylor). Scott was one of the best players in the English Prem at 13. Doesn't make sense to move Scott from a position he has been playing very well in IMO.

I'd be tempted to go with a midfield of Taylor and Scott in one of the games just to see how it goes.

From the parts I watched Kinghorn was shaky v NZ but good v Ireland. Definitely see him as Hoggs back up. Will be interesting to see how quickly Graham can come through too.

[Big D]

Italy game on BBC1 @1pm
Aus game on Sky sports @6am
Fiji on Scottish Rugby website at supid o'clock (3.30am).

[Mikey Brown]

Quite close to my team except

I really want Taylor at 12 but dont see another option for 15
So switch Dunbar and Scott about
Switch Hoyland for Jones
Switch Horne for Russel
Switch Toolis for Swinson
Bradbury is crocked isnt he , so whoever is in the team that can play backrow


And hope that Taylor doesnt get injured

The team I picked is with an eye on giving people game time on tour and trying to give some back ups game time where sensible. So Horne to start this one or the Fiji game at 10 makes sense to me. I'd start Hoyland and Jones in either the Italy or Fiji games so not fussed which one starts which. Same with Toolis, I'd start him one out the two opening games.

I thought Bradbury was on tour. If not then Strauss to the bench.

I don't see Dunbar as a 13 at international level anymore. I know there is a change of coaching but in the AI's and 6N the OC was a key part of the attacking structure and whilst I see him when on form as a very good 12 I don't think he has the pace (anymore) or the attacking skill set of the other 2 options on tour (Scott and Taylor). Scott was one of the best players in the English Prem at 13. Doesn't make sense to move Scott from a position he has been playing very well in IMO.

I'd be tempted to go with a midfield of Taylor and Scott in one of the games just to see how it goes.

From the parts I watched Kinghorn was shaky v NZ but good v Ireland. Definitely see him as Hoggs back up. Will be interesting to see how quickly Graham can come through too.

I get what you mean about the 13 channel but trying to use Scott in the same way as Jones wouldn't really make best use of him either. I actually think Taylor there would be the best option to do that at 13 (presuming Townsend even would) but may also be the only fullback option.

I'm not sure Dunbar deserves to keep holding on to the shirt, but injuries may dictate he does. My priority would be making use of Scott's feet/acceleration and angles of running back towards the ruck. We really needed Dunbar to do some more of that in the situation to allow Russell a bit of room.

I'd also really like to see what Toolis can do. Swinson always seems much more impressive off the bench anyway.

[Big D]

I am not suggesting we use Scott in the same way necessarily but 13 could still be a key attacking focal point using Scott in a way that benefits the team. He has been a stand out at 13 so why not use him there.

Taylor may struggle to nail down a position regularly as he seems comfortable playing all over the place.

[Mikey Brown]

I am not suggesting we use Scott in the same way necessarily but 13 could still be a key attacking focal point using Scott in a way that benefits the team. He has been a stand out at 13 so why not use him there.

Taylor may struggle to nail down a position regularly as he seems comfortable playing all over the place.

I wasn't saying that it has to be from 12. He has been a standout at 13 (doing those things above) largely with Billy Twelvetrees, a bit more of a ball-player, at 12. I think that's asking something different of him than having him do the same thing outside Dunbar, who has been trucking it up reasonably well but never quite seemed to find the space to get going or pick an incisive line. I don't think it's as simple as Dunbar not being fast enough to play 1 position wider.

Totally agree on Taylor. Talented, versatile but can be quite erratic. I'd say he's the more comfortable in the wide channels without Jones/Bennett though.

[Big D]

Against Italy I wouldn't be against russell/horne/Scott to see how it goes.

We have loads of centre options and it will be interesting to see what toonie ends up with as his 1st choice when all are fit.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Taylor and Russell will get time at 15 on this tour.

[Mikey Brown]

According to?

[whatisthejava]

Reckon Horne or pyrgos will see 15 before russel

I like the idea of Russell Horne but the problem is if we go down that route we don't have another player of those caliber to fill in if 1 gets injured.

[Big D]

Reckon Horne or pyrgos will see 15 before russel

I like the idea of Russell Horne but the problem is if we go down that route we don't have another player of those caliber to fill in if 1 gets injured.

I agree with you, I can't see the logic in playing Finn at 15. He has never really played there. Giving him a run at 12 would make more sense if we really wanted to move him elsewhere.

I suspect Taylor is a better 12 than Horne, but I think we need to explore a few combinations where sensible. Horne at 12 needs a 13 who can hit the line hard and straight if need be. Against Italy we may even see something weird like Jackson/Horne/Grigg. Weird as Jackson was named as a 15 in the initial squad announcement.

[Mikey Brown]

I don't follow why we think there's going to be a lot of crazy experimentation in GT's very first games in charge. We need to develop some depth, sure, but we're still yet to backup any of our good performances with our first choice players.

Anything much beyond changes required to fill the 15 would be a bit of a surprise. Horne as a 15 option to allow two hard runners in midfield does interest me though.