RugbyRebels

Hogg a little shaky today but it looks proper awful out there. Skinner fantastic so far and looks to be doing the full 80 today, Gray just on.

Skinner bar one lapse for a penalty was very good from what I saw.

Positive contribution by Gray too.

One thing about Baxter is he trusts his players. Another close game and SHC gets thrown on without any concern. Cockerill would do well to take note.

I thought he was properly good, like could have been MOTM really.

SHC looks like he has more of a solid on the field now.

Big D wrote:

One thing about Battersby is he trusts his players.

watching too much Coronation St or something?

septic 9 wrote:

Big D wrote:

One thing about Battersby is he trusts his players.

watching too much Coronation St or something?

Damn autocorrect.

4 SAM SKINNER
Picked ahead of Scottish international team-mate Jonny Gray, Skinner had high expectations coming into the game. Turned over the ball a few too many times and he knew it too – 5

or

4. Sam Skinner – 9
Skinner came into the starting line-up for Jonny Gray after taking a bench role in the Premiership Semi-final against Bath.

He gave a solid defensive performance and was a menace at the lineout with his constant disruption of Wasps ball.

Well who knows, but I thought he was very good. I really like the idea of having some more players offering impact off the bench, I don't know if Cummings deserves to be dropped but I think he could offer more the most coming off the bench if Skinner and Gray are to start together.

Mikey Brown wrote:4 SAM SKINNER
Picked ahead of Scottish international team-mate Jonny Gray, Skinner had high expectations coming into the game. Turned over the ball a few too many times and he knew it too – 5

or

4. Sam Skinner – 9
Skinner came into the starting line-up for Jonny Gray after taking a bench role in the Premiership Semi-final against Bath.

He gave a solid defensive performance and was a menace at the lineout with his constant disruption of Wasps ball.

Well who knows, but I thought he was very good. I really like the idea of having some more players offering impact off the bench, I don't know if Cummings deserves to be dropped but I think he could offer more the most coming off the bench if Skinner and Gray are to start together.

I don’t really remember him turning the ball over too often. Defensively sound and good in the set piece. Much closer to a 9 than a 5.

Mikey Brown wrote: I don't know if Cummings deserves to be dropped but I think he could offer more the most coming off the bench if Skinner and Gray are to start together.

Cummings has consistently been our best lock for 18 months. With good reason he has started every games for ages. I'd be astounded if he was dropped. TBF to Toolis, he was excellent v Georgia and it would be harsh to drop him. Could be one of Gray and Skinner
misses out on the 23.
I've only seen the last quarter of yesterday's game, and Gray was very good and very vocal - the latter something he wasn't often at Glasgow. which might compensate for losing his starting place to Skinner for that game. In earlier exeter games Gray was Gray - solid and no more. His carrying was still Glasgow standard, not exeter standard.
Once I thought his consistency was good enough to assume he would be picked every game. Now I think we have options

Three cheers for that

Fair enough. Just about agree with all that. I wasn’t criticising Cummings, I just want to see someone coming off the bench and making an impact.

I’d never seen Gray as that sort of player, but maybe he had a point to prove yesterday. On the occasion he gets riled up he tends to play much better. Remember when he first came through at Glasgow his carrying was actually a weapon rather than just steady and reliable. I’d like to give him a bit of a boot and stick him on the bench, but I think he’s too key a cog in the Scotland pack.

His job at Exeter is often about just taking the contact on his terms and recycling the ball super quickly so the next carrier can run it straight from the base, regardless of whether he makes any ground.

Mikey Brown wrote:
His job at Exeter is often about just taking the contact on his terms and recycling the ball super quickly so the next carrier can run it straight from the base, regardless of whether he makes any ground.

all Exeter forwards have the same responsibilities in the red zone. That is one reason they are so good in it, no need to wait for the right man for the right role

I didn’t mean that area of their game particularly, just generally when working from a static start that’s all you see from him. I’m agreeing he’s been very dependable but average for Exeter so far and not generally showing up as a big call carrier. Though I don’t think it’s a coincidence when others have looked good alongside him.

In a round about way I’m just saying I wonder how much the mindset changes between a 25 minute run from the bench vs expectation of playing 80 (often enough for Scotland) and being a key workhorse throughout.

It appears that Finn Russell has agreed to an extension of his contract with Racing, although we don't yet know for how long.

francoisfou wrote:It appears that Finn Russell has agreed to an extension of his contract with Racing, although we don't yet know for how long.

3 years I think

Gary Graham MOTM at 8 on Newcastle's return to the Premiership, defeating Bath away. Only tuned in towards the end but they were singing his praises.

Watched the game. He was very good, his usual abrasive self and good in defence. He was excellent of the back of the scrum. Well worth another look in if he keeps it up

Mikey Brown wrote:Gary Graham MOTM at 8 on Newcastle's return to the Premiership, defeating Bath away. Only tuned in towards the end but they were singing his praises.

Will always be a wanker to me after that interview sadly!

Maybe. I don't really recall the details to be honest. Are we at a point we can dismiss players for that? Equally, being a difficult, niggly bastard might be part of what makes him good.

No idea if he could do the job at international level though, I've seen very little of him.

Mikey Brown wrote:Maybe. I don't really recall the details to be honest. Are we at a point we can dismiss players for that? Equally, being a difficult, niggly bastard might be part of what makes him good.

No idea if he could do the job at international level though, I've seen very little of him.

He did a moronic interview after getting called up to the England squad in which he was intentionally dismissive of Scotland. It was a dual interview with his Dad (a Scottish international) so mostly banter which would have been fine behind closed doors but some absolutely idiotic soundbites he should have given a bit more thought to given it was a national paper. Especially given how most Scots feel about that particular match-up.

If he’s good enough, I’d have him back. Not being media-savvy isn’t a crime. What Maitland did was worse and he’s come back (again, fair enough for me, but if I was an England player, I’d be sueing the lot of them for my match fee because I’m a complete cnut).

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Maybe. I don't really recall the details to be honest. Are we at a point we can dismiss players for that? Equally, being a difficult, niggly bastard might be part of what makes him good.

No idea if he could do the job at international level though, I've seen very little of him.

He did a moronic interview after getting called up to the England squad in which he was intentionally dismissive of Scotland. It was a dual interview with his Dad (a Scottish international) so mostly banter which would have been fine behind closed doors but some absolutely idiotic soundbites he should have given a bit more thought to given it was a national paper. Especially given how most Scots feel about that particular match-up.

He had £30k riding on being picked for a game, I'd want to sound committed too. I can't blame him for anything he said, especially if it was a joont interview with his auld man.

I can't get too upset about anyone declaring for England. It is a savvy business decision, especially for the guys down south. Graham has been capped for us since so the camp doesn't have any issue with it either.

Might be worth keeping an eye on Newcastle this season now that their back in Gallagher Premiership (they look like they'll do well going by highlights I saw on Channel 5 yesterday), they have 5 Scots: Robbie Smith, John Hardie, Tom Marshall and Graham bros (Gary and Guy).

Robbie Smith is a hooker, Guy Graham is a number 8 Flanker; Tom Marshall and Gary Graham play Openside Flanker and John Hardie plays blindside.

I'd totally forgotten about Hardie. Just imaged he'd taken too many head knocks by now but I loved the passion he played with. I can't see many of them troubling GT for selection but always good to have more Scots playing at the top levels.

Yeah, there are actually quite a lot making okay careers for themselves elsewhere. Not necessarily world beaters but using to have playing at that level for our next injury crisis and every now and then someone will have a breakout year.

Hunter-Hill against Henderson can be watched here. Think I'll stick to the champions cup though

https://www.saracens.com/team-news-sara ... tigers-xv/

Looks like we could be adding Hastings (Gloucester) and van der Merwe (Worcester!) to this thread soon.