Summer Test Series vs Argentina

[Mikey Brown]

Yep, worried that's a lot particularly for Fagerson, Watson and VDM. Price at least seems to have more room for rest and rotation.

Who is Murphy Walker? Is Matt Fagerson fit?

I really hope we take a proper look at Hutchinson, who has really deceloped as a 12. Not sure if it's the most balanced pairing with Bennet at 13 but it's light-years away from Johnson/Harris in an attacking sense.

[Still septic]

Yep, worried that's a lot particularly for Fagerson, Watson and VDM. Price at least seems to have more room for rest and rotation.

Who is Murphy Walker? Is Matt Fagerson fit?

I really hope we take a proper look at Hutchinson, who has really deceloped as a 12. Not sure if it's the most balanced pairing with Bennet at 13 but it's light-years away from Johnson/Harris in an attacking sense.

Matt Fagerson was reportedly touch and go for last week. So fit but not match fit, which no-one does these days anyway.
Murphy is a young Glasgow prop. Been around BA few seasons, playing S6 for Stirling. Doing well but didn't look he had enough bulk. Got a start for Warriors at loose head this season and was excellent before moving to Tight head for last quarter and being equally good. High hopes for him. But he is only going for experience and maybe some time v Chile I suspect. OTOH we don't have much after Zander except the aging Nel

[Big D]

So Russell injured, Hogg and Harris rested. Going to be a different looking backline in the coming weeks.

Disappointed for Dean. Never going to be a test regular but his form in the latter half of the season deserved recognition. Hopefully we see Hutchinson and Bennett given an opportunity to shine.

[Mikey Brown]

Russell and Hogg left out and nothing left field really. Worried about the amount of games the Lions will have played through to the RWC.

A real shame for both of them who could have had a good run with Russel/Harris/Hogg rested. Not sure if there are replacement backs on the way rather than just Johnny Matthews...

So here's what I'd view as the first XV from that group, which is not too shabby a side. I'd like to have a look at Hutchinson at 12, but seems risky outside Kinghorn (now Hastings is out) and with Bennet not having had that much recent squad time. Maybe Dean gets a callup, or a winger (is Steyn fit?) that allows Graham to go to 15?

1. Schoeman
2. Turner
3. Fagerson
4. Skinner/Gray
5. Gilchrist
6. Bradbury
7. Watson/Darge
8. Fagerson

9. Price
10. Kinghorn
11. VDM
12. Johnson
13. Bennet
14. Graham
15. Smith

Really interested to see how much experimenting Townsend does with this squad.

[Cameo]

Yeah, those injuries (especially Jones) are a real shame. I see at least one Offside Line contributor is blaming Townsend .

Big chance for Thompson you would think. The three other options at 15 (BK, AH, and HJ) have all effectively been ruled out by this news. I suppose Graham or Rowe could move there but you would think he's in pole position.

Hopefully Jones is fit for a fullish preseason.

[Still septic]

Yeah, those injuries (especially Jones) are a real shame. I see at least one Offside Line contributor is blaming Townsend .

Big chance for Thompson you would think. The three other options at 15 (BK, AH, and HJ) have all effectively been ruled out by this news. I suppose Graham or Rowe could move there but you would think he's in pole position.

Hopefully Jones is fit for a fullish preseason.

Smith In think you mean

[Mikey Brown]

I really hope so. Watching Monghorn at 10 with Thomson at 15 would be too much.

[Cameo]

Yeah, those injuries (especially Jones) are a real shame. I see at least one Offside Line contributor is blaming Townsend .

Big chance for Thompson you would think. The three other options at 15 (BK, AH, and HJ) have all effectively been ruled out by this news. I suppose Graham or Rowe could move there but you would think he's in pole position.

Hopefully Jones is fit for a fullish preseason.

Smith In think you mean

Haha, yep.

[Cameo]

Team for Chile

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LUKE CROSBIE TO CAPTAIN SCOTLAND A IN CHILE
23 JUNE 2022
Edinburgh Rugby flanker Luke Crosbie will captain Scotland A against Chile this Saturday in the first match of this year’s tour of South America - live on Premier Sports (kick-off 9pm BST).


Crosbie, 25, made his Scotland debut against Tonga last year and will partner Ben Muncaster who will pull on his first senior Scotland jersey having graduated from Scotland Under-20s and impressed with Edinburgh Rugby last season.

Glasgow Warriors back rower Matt Fagerson makes his return from injury and will start the match at number 8.

Scott Cummings will start the match having missed the Six Nations through injury, and he’ll be joined in the second-row by Jamie Hodgson who played against France and Italy during the championship this year.

In the front row Glasgow Warriors’ prop Jamie Bhatti and Javan Sebastian will start the game, alongside Dave Cherry. The Edinburgh Rugby hooker last played for Scotland in 2021 when he featured in all of the matches during the Six Nations Championship.

In the backs, Glasgow Warriors’ duo George Horne and Ross Thompson are partnered at 9 and 10.

Warriors’ centre Sione Tuipulotu will be Vice-Captain for the match with Edinburgh Rugby’s Matt Currie also in the centre.

Damien Hoyland will play his first match for Scotland since 2017 after bouncing back from injury last season with Edinburgh Rugby. Glasgow Warriors’ winger Rufus McLean is also named with Ollie Smith making his first appearance in a senior Scotland shirt having trained with the team this year.

On the bench Glasgow Warriors’ Johnny Matthews is the replacement hooker with fellow clubmate George Turner ruled out through illness. Murphy Walker and Glen Young will be aiming for their first appearances in a Scotland shirt while Ali Price, Blair Kinghorn and Mark Bennett are all options from the bench.

English Premiership players are unavailable for this match due to the game falling outside of the international window.

Chile will use the match as preparation for their Rugby World Cup play-offs against USA after beating Canada last year in an Americas qualifying match. This will be the first time Chile have played a Six Nations team in more than 60 years.

Scotland A were last in action in February 2014 at Scotstoun Stadium in a match against England Saxons where Byron McGuigan scored Scotland’s only try in a 16-16 draw.

Following the match in Santiago, Gregor Townsend’s touring party will travel to Argentina for a three-test series.

Scotland A team to face Chile at the Estadio Santa Laura Universidad SEK, Santiago, live on Premier Sports, Saturday 25 June - kick-off 9pm BST.

15. Ollie Smith - Glasgow Warriors- 0 caps
14. Damien Hoyland - Edinburgh Rugby - 4 caps
13. Matt Currie - Edinburgh Rugby - 0 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - (Vice-Captain) - 5 caps
11. Rufus McLean - Glasgow Warriors - 2 caps
10. Ross Thompson - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap
9. George Horne - Glasgow Warriors - 17 caps

1. Jamie Bhatti - Glasgow Warriors - 22 caps
2. Dave Cherry - Edinburgh Rugby - 5 caps
3. Javan Sebastian - Scarlets - 1 cap
4. Jamie Hodgson - Edinburgh Rugby - 5 caps
5. Scott Cummings - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps
6. Ben Muncaster - Edinburgh Rugby - 0 caps
7. Luke Crosbie - Edinburgh Rugby- (Captain) - 1 cap
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps

Replacements

16. Johnny Matthews - Glasgow Warriors - 0 caps
17. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 9 caps
18. Murphy Walker - Glasgow Warriors - 0 caps
19. Glen Young - Edinburgh Rugby - 0 caps
20. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 18 caps
21. Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors - 51 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 31 caps
23. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 24 caps

[Mikey Brown]

Not sure exactly what sort of test to expect from Chile but an interesting looking side. A mix of promising names like Currie, Smith, Muncaster should be exciting to see alongside more established guys, including many that have dropped off or never quite kicked on, looking to put themselves back in the frame as first team options. Strong bench too.

Crosbie and Tuipulotu not the first names I would have thought off to lead the units.

[Cameo]

Not sure exactly what sort of test to expect from Chile but an interesting looking side. A mix of promising names like Currie, Smith, Muncaster should be exciting to see alongside more established guys, including many that have dropped off or never quite kicked on, looking to put themselves back in the frame as first team options. Strong bench too.

Crosbie and Tuipulotu not the first names I would have thought off to lead the units.

Yeah, I had similar thoughts. Like the team, gives chances to people who need them (either because they have never had them, haven't for a while, or have been out). Wouldn't expect Chile to be terrible so should be interesting and a good warm up for the easier World Cup games.

Same on captains but I suppose we don't know what they are like as people.

[Puja]

Not sure exactly what sort of test to expect from Chile but an interesting looking side. A mix of promising names like Currie, Smith, Muncaster should be exciting to see alongside more established guys, including many that have dropped off or never quite kicked on, looking to put themselves back in the frame as first team options. Strong bench too.

Crosbie and Tuipulotu not the first names I would have thought off to lead the units.

Chile are a potential banana skin - you should in general have too much for them, but the majority of their team will be coming from their SLAR club side and they will have very good cohesion. Probably on a par with the USA side that took your A side out a couple of years back, so while it should almost certainly be a comfortable win for your lot, it's not to be taken lightly.

Puja

[switchskier]

Like the team. Shows enough respect for Chile but brings some exciting youngsters into the squad and gives them experience. Muncaster in particular has been really promising.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep, an interesting experiment if nothing else and both could do with showing that point of difference if they want to be consistently involved in the first team. Not sure who the other obvious candidates for captain would even be, one of the guys in the pack with 20 caps I guess.

[Mikey Brown]

Am I right that it's only this game on Premier Sports and the rest are on Sky? I'd really like to watch it but it looks like a month subscription of £14.99 for 1 game, and my previous experience with this service was not good.

Hard to imagine there will be reliable streams of it available anywhere else. Am I missing something?

[Cameo]

Am I right that it's only this game on Premier Sports and the rest are on Sky? I'd really like to watch it but it looks like a month subscription of £14.99 for 1 game, and my previous experience with this service was not good.

Hard to imagine there will be reliable streams of it available anywhere else. Am I missing something?

I think you might be right. I don't even seem to have any option to watch it as I'm out the UK.

[Adder]

You might need a VPN but this should work :

https://home.cricfree.io/category/rugby

[Mikey Brown]

You're a gent.

I'd just found this, which seems to be holding up okay so far. http://cdn.laola1.live/live/stream.php? ... -box.live/

Who knows where you can access these from so might be right about the VPN for others.

Chile's anthem is really something.

[Big D]

Shaky first 5 for some but looking better now.

[Mikey Brown]

Smith just looks so classy with the ball. Hard to know how much to read in to anything else. I like Chile’s attitude though.

[Big D]

Early FYI that the other tour games are on Sky.

[Mikey Brown]

Pretty sloppy up front in the contact area.

[Cameo]

Scoreline sounds decent. Any thoughts from anyone able to watch it.

From the BBC updates, it reiterated to me that, whether or not he is our number 2 scrumhalf, Horne is a great player to have when playing against the weaker teams. Gets on the end of everything which could be key when chasing bonus points or points difference.

[sharvey44]

Solid first half. Second half pretty poor and lost all shape for vast majority of it. Jamie Hodgson is the new Penas Machine. Thought the uncapped guys gave a good show of themselves. Cant really take much else from the game.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Hodgson was notably clumsy in an overall clumsy performance. Scoreline is hard to judge. Scored 5th try immediately in second half and then it was mostly Chile. It felt like they put everything in to getting their try, then the last 2 for us put a fair bit of gloss on the score once they were knackered.

Horne with some great support running but some questionable decision making from him and Thomson throughout. Tuipulotu again has his immense power talked about a lot but didn't really see it.

Sebastian and the backrow quite prominent in the loose but there was a lot of fumbling and poor ball retention from the forwards when carrying. People always tend to force things a bit in games like this though. Similarly in the backs there was some slick passing and nice, purposeful lines of running, but doing that under pressure against top defences is an entirely different proposition.

I'd dismissed Hoyland to be honest, and I don't know that he's worth the investment ahead of McLean at this point (behind DVM/Graham obviously) but he looked really up for it today. McLean is still a threat but also still a bit rough around the edges. Currie diesn't look ready for this level but a nice balanced runner. Smith has time on the ball and a great sense for where space is, but not in a selfish way. Really keen to see how he develops.

Bennet looks like he's added hugely to his game, then rediscovered his old attacking spark. Can't wait to see him nail down the 13 shirt.