RugbyRebels

Sounds like McConnell out for the whole tournament with injured ribs.

Between that and the releases, I think we are going to see a very familiar team.

Cameo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 8:37 pm
Between that and the releases, I think we are going to see a very familiar team.

Agreed. I can see Townsend picking this team

Kinghorn
Graham
Jones
Tuipulotu
Steyn
Russell
White
Schoeman
Ashman
Fagerson
Cummings
Gilchrist
Fagerson
Darge
Dempsey

Turner
Sutherland
Rae
Brown
Ritchie
Horne
Jordan
McDowall

Positions of contention are probably 9, 5 and 6/7. Horne and Dobie must be pushing for the scrum half position, Williamson for 2nd row in place of Gilchrist and Ritchie for the back row, either at 6 or 7. Turner shouldn’t be near the squad, he should give Hiddleston a go.

Dempsey apparently seen in a moon boot. Smith said he thought it was precautionary, but would be a huge loss!

McDowell played 80mins last night so won't be in the 23 unless one of Tuipolotu, Jones or Hutchison drop out, and even then Redpath might be first cab off the rank.
Personally I think McDowell is a great guy to have in any squad

Rae has been dropped into the A team squad, which means Millar-Mills will be the bench tighthead. Our depth at tighthead is scarily shallow, we need to be developing young talent like OBL to backup Fagerson.

Well that's disappointing. I thought Rae had kicked on a bit.

Dempsey out would be massive. Interesting whether we would revert back to Fagerson as an 8 or bring Bradbury in.

I really hope theres a bit more of a freshening up than that team named above, as much as you can argue it's about the best available it feels like this team really needs some new energy.

I think McDowell is class, but Hutchinson has some real versatility so can see the appeal, but imagine both will lose out to a 6:2 bench anyway. I guess that may hinge on Dobie's injury status?

If Dempsey isn’t available I can see Fagerson moving to 8 and Ritchie at 6. If Dobie is fit I think it’ll be a 6:2 with him and Jordan on the bench. What would the backs on the bench look like for a 5:3? The obvious thing would probably be Dobie, McDowell or Hutchinson and Jordan. Less obvious but interesting would be Horne, Dobie and Jordan. All the backs positions would be covered but I don’t think Jordan has played much at centre recently even though that was where he started. All that assumes White will start but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t. Of course the other assumption is that he starts Kinghorn. If Jordan starts with Kinghorn benched that would work but would perhaps mean Horne on the bench since there would be no need for Dobie to cover wing.

Brown is way better than Richie at 6, and also is a lock option. If Demsey isn't fit then I'd still go all Glasgow in the back row to start off - Brown, Darge and Fagerson. My real concern is that Townsend repeats his error of starting Brown at lock with one lock on the bench in a 5/3 split; an early injury and you have a big problem.
I am confident Dobie will be fit to play, think he is being allowed to train lightly so as not to aggravate the knee (Franco reckoned he could have played at a pinch against Saracens).
Clearly Steyn will start, but will Graham? He is a trier and works hard, but TBH his defence is not really to standard recently and his height is a real disadvantage these days with all the high ball kicking. Assuming Duhan is not called back in (ditto McDowell), the other option is KInghorn on the wing and Jordan to full back (where he made an excellent debut for Scotland) - but that would mean calling up Duhan, or better one of Rowe or Smith. I was worried and pleased when Warriors got that pair back for the Munster game - leased for Warriors and worried it meant Duhan retained! Anyway, both cover wing and full back, Smith also covers 13. Think I am leaning towards the KInghorn on the wing option but doubt Townsend will

septic 9 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 5:20 pm Brown is way better than Richie at 6, and also is a lock option. If Demsey isn't fit then I'd still go all Glasgow in the back row to start off - Brown, Darge and Fagerson. My real concern is that Townsend repeats his error of starting Brown at lock with one lock on the bench in a 5/3 split; an early injury and you have a big problem.
I am confident Dobie will be fit to play, think he is being allowed to train lightly so as not to aggravate the knee (Franco reckoned he could have played at a pinch against Saracens).
Clearly Steyn will start, but will Graham? He is a trier and works hard, but TBH his defence is not really to standard recently and his height is a real disadvantage these days with all the high ball kicking. Assuming Duhan is not called back in (ditto McDowell), the other option is KInghorn on the wing and Jordan to full back (where he made an excellent debut for Scotland) - but that would mean calling up Duhan, or better one of Rowe or Smith. I was worried and pleased when Warriors got that pair back for the Munster game - leased for Warriors and worried it meant Duhan retained! Anyway, both cover wing and full back, Smith also covers 13. Think I am leaning towards the KInghorn on the wing option but doubt Townsend will

Agree with you about Brown not starting and covering lock. It just seems risky, though I'm not sure the Argentina game really proved anything. Even if you have a lock on the bench, an early injury to one of your three locks puts you in basically the same position of two locks having to play longer than yiu would like. The only real solution is to not have a 50 year old lock in Gilchrist who clearly can't go 80 in a high paced international.

I'd go Graham and Steyn on the wings with Jordan at full back. He's not perfect but I still consider Graham to be one of our best players.

Back row, if they are not going to play Douglas, I'd put Ritchie at 7.

I hope Dobie starts at 9, but can't see it and understandable not to do it given he hasn't been playing there much.

Cameo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 02, 2026 6:38 pm Agree with you about Brown not starting and covering lock. It just seems risky, though I'm not sure the Argentina game really proved anything. Even if you have a lock on the bench, an early injury to one of your three locks puts you in basically the same position of two locks having to play longer than yiu would like. The only real solution is to not have a 50 year old lock in Gilchrist who clearly can't go 80 in a high paced international.

in the Arg game, Townsend either expected Brown to cover lock (and he is a good but lightweight lock option) after going all out at 6, or to play both locks for 80mins. Saying that was foolhardy is putting it mildly. It meant after the early injury it was indeed the staring pair until we had to move an even more unlikely option (Bayliss) to lock. I wouldn't pick Gilchrist these days either, but the alternative is very clear - pick a genuine lock on the bench or start Brown at lock if you must. The lesson at Glasgow is Brown starts at 6, or comes off the bench to play 10-15mins as a lock before moving into the back row when another lock comes on. He is very effective in that role.
And this is all much simplified if we go 6/2 on the bench - as most will and with Dobie/Jordan we are ideally set for - and not waste a bench spot on eg Duhan. That was a really poor selection, and it cost us IMHO
Richie, if he plays should be at 7. But that would be a huge call. If we start Brown, we have the back row lineout option. Darge is a batter ball carrier and jackal than Richie and slows so much opposition ball its unreal at times, and never noticed. Douglas is also better than Richie in carrying and jackal (better than anyone on the latter by a country mile), my only worry with him is refs wil think this novice cant be that good and penalise him a lot. And its O'Keefe first up

On Darge, my feeling is that, while he still slows down ball, his turnovers have really plummeted for Scotland. In contrast, I think there was some stat recently which had Ritchie second in international turnovers over a period. He does give away more penalties though. Agree re Darge's carrying, though I think that is more at club level than international.

Personally, my order of preference would be Douglas, Ritchie, Darge, but all good options and other views are valid.

It is meant to be wet. Wonder if that will play into it. Townsend has praised Ritchie chase game and ability to pick up scraps.

Sounds like Dempsey and Dobie are definitely fit.

The A team has been announced so that whittles down the senior squad.

There are only four props left so I’d say it’s pretty certain that Schoeman and Fagerson will start with McBeth and Millar-Mills on the bench.

There are five back three players left but Graham and VDM would be pointless on the bench so I think it’ll be Kinghorn, Graham and Steyn to start with Jordan on the bench. Possibly Jordan and Kinghorn could swap.

No effect on the centres or fly-half, it’ll be Russell, Tuipolutu and Jones

There’s still three scrum-halfs, Horne could miss out assuming Dobie is fit to go on the bench

Three hookers. I know Cherry is ancient and playing at a lower level in France but he’s playing a damn sight more than Turner. I’d rather have him on the bench.

If we count Brown as a back row, there’s three locks left. You just know Townsend will start Gilchrist alongside Cummings, so Williamson to the bench.

There’s five back rows who’ll all be involved if it’s a 6:2 split. Start Dempsey, Darge and Fagerson.

Assuming there are no fitness concerns I’d guess the team will look something like this.

Kinghorn
Graham
Jones
Tuipolotu
Steyn
Russell
White
Schoeman
Ashman
Fagerson
Cummings
Gilchrist
Fagerson
Darge
Dempsey

Cherry
McBeth
Millar-Mills
Williamson
Brown
Ritchie
Dobie
Jordan

I don't think you are too far off what the team will be. I'd do it a bit different but we will see.

Been comparing our units with the rest of the 6N. I haven't gone through the other squads in much detail, but I'd say something like the below:

Front row: 3rd behind England and France (Ireland would be ahead if it weren't for their injuries).

Second row: 4th behind England, France and Ireland

Backrow: 4th behind England, France, and Ireland. You could argue we are ahead of Ireland, but their backrow seems to have more impact.

Scrumhalf: 5th. I like White but he is definitely behind Dupont and JGP, and probably behind Mitchell and Williams. It's partly why I would gamble and give Dobie a run of games.

Flyhalf: I would say 2nd behind Jalibert on current form, but there's a good argument for first, especially at test level.

Centres: 1st, with a bit of a gap behind them actually (Italy might even be second).

Back Three: Maybe 3rd. France is at the top I would say and I think we are ahead of Wales, Italy, and probably Ireland. England have a lot of pace plus Steward who is better in the air than anything we have, though I think ours have a lot to offer (and I include Graham in that).

Bench: 4th behind England, France, and Ireland.

Where I have listed other countries, that isn't necessarilly in order, but I do think the England squad suddenly looks very strong.

I'm probably underestimating Ireland and maybe Italy, and there is a question about overall team balance / mix of skills that isn't taken into account above, but I think it reinforces my view we are probably the fourth best team with a good shot at 3rd and the ammo to beat one of the top two.

Scotland: Jordan; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie; Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Gilchrist; M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Turner, McBeth, Millar-Mills, Williamson, Brown, Horne, Hastings, Graham.

That's a good team change at FB and wing are right calls the error count from the other 2 was way too high for international rugby

All change in the back 3 is surprisingly bold from Townsend but it’s difficult to argue the selected players don’t deserve to be selected. Otherwise it’s as expected in the starting 15.

Not so happy with the bench. I’d prefer Cherry and a 6:2 split with Horne and Kinghorn. Hastings provides nothing in this selection. Russell is an 80 minute player, if he’s injured Jordan could move to 10. Would he be used in any other situation? If not, then he’s wasted. If Kinghorn was on the bench he’d cover 15, 14 and 11. Graham only covers 14.

9 starters from Glasgow
3 from Edinburgh
3 exiles, two of whom are ex-Glasgow.

Bench
5 from Glasgow plus two ex-Glasgow
1 from Edinburgh
1 exile


That says everything about the state of the clubs in Scotland.

I’m confused by this bench. He’s taken Jordan and Dobie, our two most versatile players, and doubled up on their positional cover, giving us 3 sets of halfbacks.

It feels like a waste of 2 or 3 spots, despite them largely being good players.

Bench front row is concerning.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 11:04 am I’m confused by this bench. He’s taken Jordan and Dobie, our two most versatile players, and doubled up on their positional cover, giving us 3 sets of halfbacks.

It feels like a waste of 2 or 3 spots, despite them largely being good players.

Bench front row is concerning.

Turner has no form, Miller-Mills is solid, McBeth is fine. Set piece should be ok
The bench is what I feared - a mess. All that versatility and he has gone 5/3.
Whether Jordan or Kinghorn to start at 15 (especially Jordan), no need for Hastings even if he is playing well. Except I suppose that Jordan is a poor kicker of the ball, from hand or tee, hence I am surprised Jordan preferred to Kinghorn. Point being I can't see Russell coming off except for injury.
And its going to be wet and heavy going. So pick 6 forwards. Every one else does

Like Duhan, I can't see the point of Graham on the bench. They start or not in squad

I'd have started with Graham with Dobie either starting at 9 or on the bench. I'd have also started Williamson and Ritchie, but not surprised by the picks there. I like the Jordan pick.

Bench is odd. Marginally prefer Graham on the bench than VDM in the autumn as Graham is the type of player to come off the bench and get involved all over the pitch.

I was going to say the main thing is I want all the bench on with at least 20 mins to impact the game, but that doesn't apply with Hastings there (it would with Kinghorn).

Cameo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 7:45 pm I'd have started with Graham with Dobie either starting at 9 or on the bench. I'd have also started Williamson and Ritchie, but not surprised by the picks there. I like the Jordan pick.

Bench is odd. Marginally prefer Graham on the bench than VDM in the autumn as Graham is the type of player to come off the bench and get involved all over the pitch.

I was going to say the main thing is I want all the bench on with at least 20 mins to impact the game, but that doesn't apply with Hastings there (it would with Kinghorn).

There was a time (2018 I think) where Hastings would come on at 10 with Russell moving to 12. I think there was even a game where they both started like that. That would be insane now with Tuipolotu starting at 12. Hastings is purely injury cover for Russell and is a wasted space on the bench.

BaldiePete wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:12 pm

Cameo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 7:45 pm I'd have started with Graham with Dobie either starting at 9 or on the bench. I'd have also started Williamson and Ritchie, but not surprised by the picks there. I like the Jordan pick.

Bench is odd. Marginally prefer Graham on the bench than VDM in the autumn as Graham is the type of player to come off the bench and get involved all over the pitch.

I was going to say the main thing is I want all the bench on with at least 20 mins to impact the game, but that doesn't apply with Hastings there (it would with Kinghorn).

There was a time (2018 I think) where Hastings would come on at 10 with Russell moving to 12. I think there was even a game where they both started like that. That would be insane now with Tuipolotu starting at 12. Hastings is purely injury cover for Russell and is a wasted space on the bench.

Hastings can play 15, and has done for Glasgow IIRC. But Kinghorn or Smith give better cover in more positions. Hastings advantage is he is a much more reliable goal kicker than Jordan and better than Kinghorn, and better kicking game than either from hand. Kinghorn has the best restart anywhere currently, but I giuess we hope we only have to restart once!
I'd have Kinghorn on the bench

France Ireland game tonight showed the importance of negating aerial power. France did not dominate it but did more than enough to negate Irelands incessant box kicking etc. Steyn and Dobie are light years better than Duhan and Graham in that respect

septic 9 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 11:16 pm

BaldiePete wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 10:12 pm

Cameo wrote: ↑Thu Feb 05, 2026 7:45 pm I'd have started with Graham with Dobie either starting at 9 or on the bench. I'd have also started Williamson and Ritchie, but not surprised by the picks there. I like the Jordan pick.

Bench is odd. Marginally prefer Graham on the bench than VDM in the autumn as Graham is the type of player to come off the bench and get involved all over the pitch.

I was going to say the main thing is I want all the bench on with at least 20 mins to impact the game, but that doesn't apply with Hastings there (it would with Kinghorn).

There was a time (2018 I think) where Hastings would come on at 10 with Russell moving to 12. I think there was even a game where they both started like that. That would be insane now with Tuipolotu starting at 12. Hastings is purely injury cover for Russell and is a wasted space on the bench.

Hastings can play 15, and has done for Glasgow IIRC. But Kinghorn or Smith give better cover in more positions. Hastings advantage is he is a much more reliable goal kicker than Jordan and better than Kinghorn, and better kicking game than either from hand. Kinghorn has the best restart anywhere currently, but I giuess we hope we only have to restart once!
I'd have Kinghorn on the bench

France Ireland game tonight showed the importance of negating aerial power. France did not dominate it but did more than enough to negate Irelands incessant box kicking etc. Steyn and Dobie are light years better than Duhan and Graham in that respect

I suppose I took two lessons from that game. The importance of winning high balls, and the importance of raw pace and power to take advantage of the broken play that follows. Unfortunately, we have to sacrifice a bit of one to get more of the other. I like our back three, but it's probably the slowest we've fielded in a while. It's partly why I'd like us to end up with Dobie at 9 sooner rather than later to add some explosiveness there.

Anyway, let's hope the rain holds off a little and we see a decent game.

Cameo wrote: ↑Fri Feb 06, 2026 12:10 am
I suppose I took two lessons from that game. The importance of winning high balls, and the importance of raw pace and power to take advantage of the broken play that follows. Unfortunately, we have to sacrifice a bit of one to get more of the other. I like our back three, but it's probably the slowest we've fielded in a while. It's partly why I'd like us to end up with Dobie at 9 sooner rather than later to add some explosiveness there.

Anyway, let's hope the rain holds off a little and we see a decent game.

well we don't have a Bielle-Barrie for sure!
All 3 are deceptively quicker that they look however, and all 3 again deceptively strong when carrying into contact. And all 3 good in the air.
We don't lose any pace with Dobie replacing Graham (I am serious), Darcy just does not have top end pace. Obv Duhan in full flight is very quick but so poor in the air and lacks work rate. We do have a couple of quickies in Reed and Rowe, Rowe for me is always in the mix - again good in the air and an all round rugby player who knows when and how to pass (another Graham flaw too often)

A first half to forget.

Ashman poor at lineout again, back three caught out for Italy’s tries.

Need to figure out how to play in this weather and play smarter in the second half.