RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2025 4:38 pm Itoje said he didn’t know anything about it.

odd, you'd expect him to be involved tbh

I guess even as captain he's not going to have much insight in to the minds of a goal kicker and who is feeling more confident.

I do like that Itoje seems to be making a big point of developing other leaders and pushing the younger guys to be more vocal and make decisions. His chat is pretty bad, but I think he'll be a great long-term influence.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 12:08 pm I guess even as captain he's not going to have much insight in to the minds of a goal kicker and who is feeling more confident.

I do like that Itoje seems to be making a big point of developing other leaders and pushing the younger guys to be more vocal and make decisions. His chat is pretty bad, but I think he'll be a great long-term influence.

Skipper has to think at least think about intervening when kicker has such a back to back mare on big kicks.

The Times stating that the coaches took kicking off M.Smith vs France and have reinstated him as kicker this weekend.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Wed Feb 19, 2025 12:16 pm The Times stating that the coaches took kicking off M.Smith vs France and have reinstated him as kicker this weekend.

Ah ok, makes sense.

Borthy appears to have Alpha-dogged Townsend so hard with his early team announcement that GT is refusing to even name one.

Either that or he's just waiting on Russell/Graham.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:01 am
Either that or he's just waiting on Russell/Graham.

Comparing Scotland with and without Russell must make him one of the most influential players in international rugby. Him at 10 for Scotland may even be more important than Dupont is to France perhaps?? Arguably, France have far better SH back-up than Scotland have at FH.

Expected Scotland side is apparently:

15 Kinghorn
14 Duhan
13 Jones
12 Jordan
11 Row
10 Russell
9 White

8 Dempsey
7 Darge
6 Ritchie
5 Gray
4 Gilchrist
3 Fagerson
2 Cherry
1 Schoeman

16 Ashman
17 Sutherland
18 Hurd
19 Skinner
20 Brown
21 Fagerson
22 Dobie
23 McDowall

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:00 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:01 am
Either that or he's just waiting on Russell/Graham.

Comparing Scotland with and without Russell must make him one of the most influential players in international rugby. Him at 10 for Scotland may even be more important than Dupont is to France perhaps?? Arguably, France have far better SH back-up than Scotland have at FH.

Dunno, if they lose Russell then they lose arguably the best 10 in the NH but then you'd expect McDowell to got in at 12 and Jordan to be at 10 which gives you the Glasgow midfield that's worked so well as a unit. Losing Sione at 12 has been a big blow for them this 6N mind.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:00 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:01 am
Either that or he's just waiting on Russell/Graham.

Comparing Scotland with and without Russell must make him one of the most influential players in international rugby. Him at 10 for Scotland may even be more important than Dupont is to France perhaps?? Arguably, France have far better SH back-up than Scotland have at FH.

I'd say so, yeah. Although he played like an absolute drain against Italy.

Jordan has a lot of potential but he's not close to proven himself as a 10 yet at this level. Healy, Hastings, Thomson all just a bit inconsistent or underwhelming. I think many national teams would happily have Lucu, le Garrec and Serin as their front line options, letalone just backups.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:17 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:00 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:01 am
Either that or he's just waiting on Russell/Graham.

Comparing Scotland with and without Russell must make him one of the most influential players in international rugby. Him at 10 for Scotland may even be more important than Dupont is to France perhaps?? Arguably, France have far better SH back-up than Scotland have at FH.

Dunno, if they lose Russell then they lose arguably the best 10 in the NH but then you'd expect McDowell to got in at 12 and Jordan to be at 10 which gives you the Glasgow midfield that's worked so well as a unit. Losing Sione at 12 has been a big blow for them this 6N mind.

Plus Russell was pretty poor v Ireland before going off tbh. I'm not sure anyone backs Dupont up very well- his style, skill and work rate are a once in a generation talent. I think he is the most influential player I've ever seen.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:12 pm Expected Scotland side is apparently:

15 Kinghorn
14 Duhan
13 Jones
12 Jordan
11 Row
10 Russell
9 White

8 Dempsey
7 Darge
6 Ritchie
5 Gray
4 Gilchrist
3 Fagerson
2 Cherry
1 Schoeman

16 Ashman
17 Sutherland
18 Hurd
19 Skinner
20 Brown
21 Fagerson
22 Dobie
23 McDowall

Confirmed. A decent side but still a little underhwelmed.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:37 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:12 pm Expected Scotland side is apparently:

15 Kinghorn
14 Duhan
13 Jones
12 Jordan
11 Row
10 Russell
9 White

8 Dempsey
7 Darge
6 Ritchie
5 Gray
4 Gilchrist
3 Fagerson
2 Cherry
1 Schoeman

16 Ashman
17 Sutherland
18 Hurd
19 Skinner
20 Brown
21 Fagerson
22 Dobie
23 McDowall

Confirmed. A decent side but still a little underhwelmed.

Our flankers have the edge on raw power and pace imo

jngf wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:07 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:37 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 12:12 pm Expected Scotland side is apparently:

15 Kinghorn
14 Duhan
13 Jones
12 Jordan
11 Row
10 Russell
9 White

8 Dempsey
7 Darge
6 Ritchie
5 Gray
4 Gilchrist
3 Fagerson
2 Cherry
1 Schoeman

16 Ashman
17 Sutherland
18 Hurd
19 Skinner
20 Brown
21 Fagerson
22 Dobie
23 McDowall

Confirmed. A decent side but still a little underhwelmed.

Our flankers have the edge on raw power and pace imo

Darge does cover a lot of ground and both him and Ritchie are absolute pests and will slow down our ball as well as bringing plenty of niggle to the breakdown.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:21 pm

jngf wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:07 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 1:37 pm

Confirmed. A decent side but still a little underhwelmed.

Our flankers have the edge on raw power and pace imo

Darge does cover a lot of ground and both him and Ritchie are absolute pests and will slow down our ball as well as bringing plenty of niggle to the breakdown.

Agreed, Darge could hurt us.

Martin out, Ted Hill to bench.
Not convinced he can cover lock internationally tbh

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:34 pm Martin out, Ted Hill to bench.
Not convinced he can cover lock internationally tbh

Brilliant!!!

I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:41 pm I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

Well, CCS came on as a lock sub once, no?

And Dombrandt is back in the squad and has played lock for England, so this is an endorsement.

Yeah, pleased to see Hill make a squad, but that’s an odd way to do it. It’s hard to imagine a point in this game that (without injury) Borthwick will want to throw him on out of position, and we’ve already got two flankers on the bench.

Maybe England will be well on top and we can swap the whole backrow out. Hill, Burry, CCS sounds pretty fun.

That's really bad news. Ted Hill is not a lock option so will be putting pressure on Chessum and Itoje to go the full 80. Ted Hill's iffy tackle completion percentages in the league don't fill me with optimism for the step up to international level. I can see him doing a CCS Vs France style job.

Where's Coles? Also not an ideal replacement for Martin's power but an actual lock (well lock/6 hybrid).

Stom wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:43 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 2:41 pm I can't remember, is there another actual lock in the wider squad?

I mean, I'm delighted that he's going to get a chance, and hopefully it'll be at BSF rather than lock, but... I'd rather have an actual lock on the bench

Well, CCS came on as a lock sub once, no?

And Dombrandt is back in the squad and has played lock for England, so this is an endorsement.

I'll take that as a "no" then


Hopefully, Ted can do his best Luxury Giraffe II, and steal all the Scottish lineout ball, and beat VdM for pace

Surprising call. I rate Hill and pleased he'll get a chance but he isnt a lock and if one of the starters goes down early its going to be quite an ask for him to step up.

Quite surprised to see Jordan picked at 12 over McDowall. Suggests to me they’ll want to go wide to try and exploit our defensive system. However, it’s a big trade off as it also creates a possible weakness for them in the 10/12 channel defensively.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2025 3:10 pm Quite surprised to see Jordan picked at 12 over McDowall. Suggests to me they’ll want to go wide to try and exploit our defensive system. However, it’s a big trade off as it also creates a possible weakness for them in the 10/12 channel defensively.

You're surprised Scotland are going to try and fling it wide at the expense of everything else?

Jordan is almost comparable to Farrell in that he throws himself in to tackles and loves a big hit, but not sure positionally yet.