AI Squad & general match thread

[switchskier]

When Seymour crashed over for that try off the inside Laidlaw pass I had a flashback to a few years ago when we lost to Tonga under Robinson and spent a good 15 minutes camped on the line trying pick and go after pick and go (PTSD). It's kind of amazing how far we are beyond that now and everyone on here is grumping about defensive misalignments.

Thought that Horne was very good, really committed nen at the gain line and created soace for others. Am a bit worried that Dunbar no longer has the pace for 13, 12 only for me from now on.

Quick mention for Jamie Ritchie who looked like a prototypical Scottish flanker at international level. Not flashy but got through a mountain of work and always willing to put his body where it hurts. I reckon he'll be a reliable but not flashy option for years to come

[Donny osmond]

How tf did we lose to Wales last week?

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Because you always lose to us. And you always think you’re going to beat us. Bless your cotton socks.

In fairness it does seem to be a mental block our guys have down there, or actually just away from home.

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[Donny osmond]

We gain more than we lose with PHorne but when he makes a mistake its usually a bad one.

Price could be brilliant but his head seems to have disappeared, I feel like he needs some time away from the squad to get back to basics.

Biggest issue is back row, at 6/8 (except for Barclay who is getting on and obv injured) we have a bunch of options that are at best slightly better than average pro standard. Watson is really our only world class br player but he cant do it all himself.

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[switchskier]

Side to play the Springboks
1. Dell
2. McInally
3. Nel
4. Skinner
5. Gilchrist
6. Wilson
7. Watson
8. Strauss
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Maitland
12. Horne
13. Jones
14. Seymour
15. Hogg
Subs: Brown, Allen, Berghan, Toolis, Ritchie, Horne, Hastings, Kinghorn.
Gray needs a boot up the arse, as do Dunbar and Price (who was poor against Wales).

For me Gray starts if fit and Gilchrist is the form option. Skinner is a great bench option as offers flexibilty and dynamism that Toolis doesn't quite have.

Agree with starting Horne over Dunbar but the later needs to be on the bench if SA are having too much gain line success in the centres, given how they played against England.

Tempted by Kinghorn over Maitland but it's close and pretty worried by our props on the bench.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah De Allende will be all over Horne/Jones I’m afraid. I’m really baffled how we’ve gone from seemingly having some pretty good centre options a few years back to not being able to select even one without a pretty major flaw.

I guess if Horne had put away those chances (that he pretty much created) yesterday and vs Ireland I’d be thinking very differently of him.

As much as I agree that our 6/8 options are all much of a muchness, I don’t see the logic in bringing Strauss back and ditching him after he plays like that. Must play next week surely?

[Hooky]

How tf did we lose to Wales last week?

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Because you always lose to us. And you always think you’re going to beat us. Bless your cotton socks.

In fairness it does seem to be a mental block our guys have down there, or actually just away from home.

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We seem to be able to win the physical battle against you and it’s generally enough to do that. It doesn’t work against top opposition. When you match us physically you will start to beat us. Perhaps the aura of Cardiff takes away some of your edge.

[switchskier]

Yeah De Allende will be all over Horne/Jones I’m afraid. I’m really baffled how we’ve gone from seemingly having some pretty good centre options a few years back to not being able to select even one without a pretty major flaw.

I guess if Horne had put away those chances (that he pretty much created) yesterday and vs Ireland I’d be thinking very differently of him.

As much as I agree that our 6/8 options are all much of a muchness, I don’t see the logic in bringing Strauss back and ditching him after he plays like that. Must play next week surely?

They always had those flaws, it's just that our expectations have changed.

[Big D]

I think there's a valid discussion to be had over whether Gray starts.

He has a high tackle count but low dominant tackle count. Has a carrying style that means it's easier for defences to slow down. His good performances seem to revolve around his high tackle count.

Toolis is a better line out operator, and it's mostly the Edinburgh tight 5 who know their complimentary roles. He still has a high work rate too.

Skinner was excellent yesterday and although it was "only" Fiji, he was against a decent second row. He arguably doesn't deserve to be dropped.

I think Gray probably still gets a shirt but it's no longer a foregone conclusion. If Richie was fit and in form I'd argue he and Gilchrist should be the starters.

[Big D]

Wilson attempted 3 tackles and made 1. Top blindside work that.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah De Allende will be all over Horne/Jones I’m afraid. I’m really baffled how we’ve gone from seemingly having some pretty good centre options a few years back to not being able to select even one without a pretty major flaw.

I guess if Horne had put away those chances (that he pretty much created) yesterday and vs Ireland I’d be thinking very differently of him.

As much as I agree that our 6/8 options are all much of a muchness, I don’t see the logic in bringing Strauss back and ditching him after he plays like that. Must play next week surely?

They always had those flaws, it's just that our expectations have changed.

Agreed, except that I’d say I’d really like to have ironed out some of the flaws in at least one of Horne, Scott, Dunbar, Taylor, Bennett in the 4/5 years that we’ve had them involved. None of them are better players than they were back then. Most have spent basically all that time injured though.

[Donny osmond]

Because you always lose to us. And you always think you’re going to beat us. Bless your cotton socks.

In fairness it does seem to be a mental block our guys have down there, or actually just away from home.

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We seem to be able to win the physical battle against you and it’s generally enough to do that. It doesn’t work against top opposition. When you match us physically you will start to beat us. Perhaps the aura of Cardiff takes away some of your edge.

Kind of you to say but I think it's more than that. a week ago and back in the 6N our games against Wales were the first in a series (i.e. 1st agme in 6N series of games, 1st in Autumn series) and the first games the team had under Toonie after a period away. Someone posted during (just after?) the game last weekend that we looked like a poorly coached team. We know Toonie is a good coach as we went on to win 3 games in the 6N and have just put a cricekt score on Fiji, so it begs the questions what is going wrong with that first game back, why can't the guys get up to speed and is the aura of Cardiff a factor? The impression of losing the physical contest was there for all to see, but having said that we did have plenty of possession against you a week ago, so I think its more complicated than just that. Given the losing streak against Wales is now frankly embarrassing, and given than more than 1 scottish fan on here has lamented our mental fragilities, personally I think it's more a mental problem than a physical one.

[Cameo]

In fairness it does seem to be a mental block our guys have down there, or actually just away from home.

Sent from my HUAWEI VNS-L31 using Tapatalk

We seem to be able to win the physical battle against you and it’s generally enough to do that. It doesn’t work against top opposition. When you match us physically you will start to beat us. Perhaps the aura of Cardiff takes away some of your edge.

Kind of you to say but I think it's more than that. a week ago and back in the 6N our games against Wales were the first in a series (i.e. 1st agme in 6N series of games, 1st in Autumn series) and the first games the team had under Toonie after a period away. Someone posted during (just after?) the game last weekend that we looked like a poorly coached team. We know Toonie is a good coach as we went on to win 3 games in the 6N and have just put a cricekt score on Fiji, so it begs the questions what is going wrong with that first game back, why can't the guys get up to speed and is the aura of Cardiff a factor? The impression of losing the physical contest was there for all to see, but having said that we did have plenty of possession against you a week ago, so I think its more complicated than just that. Given the losing streak against Wales is now frankly embarrassing, and given than more than 1 scottish fan on here has lamented our mental fragilities, personally I think it's more a mental problem than a physical one.

I would say it is a combination of factors (boringly). The away game thing may be the mental element as we have beaten all these teams at home recently. Few teams in history have completely solved this but we seem to have a particular issue.

It's possible that the first game thing is relevant but it's not exactly a big sample size. If so, could it be that Townsend's game plan can be quite complicated and intricate. I suggested last week that they simplified it but that may have contributed to our bluntness.

Bit it is also a matchup thing with certain teams (especially combined with certain refs). We can compete with big physical teams but need to be able to create a fast game and get some turnovers (or finish an unusual amount of our chances). We cant beat them (or not often) in a slow grinding game which is what last weekend became even with all our possession.

[switchskier]

We seem to be able to win the physical battle against you and it’s generally enough to do that. It doesn’t work against top opposition. When you match us physically you will start to beat us. Perhaps the aura of Cardiff takes away some of your edge.

Kind of you to say but I think it's more than that. a week ago and back in the 6N our games against Wales were the first in a series (i.e. 1st agme in 6N series of games, 1st in Autumn series) and the first games the team had under Toonie after a period away. Someone posted during (just after?) the game last weekend that we looked like a poorly coached team. We know Toonie is a good coach as we went on to win 3 games in the 6N and have just put a cricekt score on Fiji, so it begs the questions what is going wrong with that first game back, why can't the guys get up to speed and is the aura of Cardiff a factor? The impression of losing the physical contest was there for all to see, but having said that we did have plenty of possession against you a week ago, so I think its more complicated than just that. Given the losing streak against Wales is now frankly embarrassing, and given than more than 1 scottish fan on here has lamented our mental fragilities, personally I think it's more a mental problem than a physical one.

I would say it is a combination of factors (boringly). The away game thing may be the mental element as we have beaten all these teams at home recently. Few teams in history have completely solved this but we seem to have a particular issue.

It's possible that the first game thing is relevant but it's not exactly a big sample size. If so, could it be that Townsend's game plan can be quite complicated and intricate. I suggested last week that they simplified it but that may have contributed to our bluntness.

Bit it is also a matchup thing with certain teams (especially combined with certain refs). We can compete with big physical teams but need to be able to create a fast game and get some turnovers (or finish an unusual amount of our chances). We cant beat them (or not often) in a slow grinding game which is what last weekend became even with all our possession.

I agree in that I'm not sure it's a question of physicality but Wales do seem to play a version of the blitz defence that causes us untold problems. Against England and even Ireland we can get on the outside but it doesn't happen against Wales.

[Donny osmond]

Kind of you to say but I think it's more than that. a week ago and back in the 6N our games against Wales were the first in a series (i.e. 1st agme in 6N series of games, 1st in Autumn series) and the first games the team had under Toonie after a period away. Someone posted during (just after?) the game last weekend that we looked like a poorly coached team. We know Toonie is a good coach as we went on to win 3 games in the 6N and have just put a cricekt score on Fiji, so it begs the questions what is going wrong with that first game back, why can't the guys get up to speed and is the aura of Cardiff a factor? The impression of losing the physical contest was there for all to see, but having said that we did have plenty of possession against you a week ago, so I think its more complicated than just that. Given the losing streak against Wales is now frankly embarrassing, and given than more than 1 scottish fan on here has lamented our mental fragilities, personally I think it's more a mental problem than a physical one.

I would say it is a combination of factors (boringly). The away game thing may be the mental element as we have beaten all these teams at home recently. Few teams in history have completely solved this but we seem to have a particular issue.

It's possible that the first game thing is relevant but it's not exactly a big sample size. If so, could it be that Townsend's game plan can be quite complicated and intricate. I suggested last week that they simplified it but that may have contributed to our bluntness.

Bit it is also a matchup thing with certain teams (especially combined with certain refs). We can compete with big physical teams but need to be able to create a fast game and get some turnovers (or finish an unusual amount of our chances). We cant beat them (or not often) in a slow grinding game which is what last weekend became even with all our possession.

I agree in that I'm not sure it's a question of physicality but Wales do seem to play a version of the blitz defence that causes us untold problems. Against England and even Ireland we can get on the outside but it doesn't happen against Wales.

I'm not convinced by the physicality thing either, for all the chat of Wales slowing it down, we were guilty of simply not playing it quickly enough away from the ruck a lot of the time. This also helped Wales set their defensive line and come out quickly when they were given 5 seconds warning that Price was about to do something. Using the ball quickly would help solve the issues with the rush defence, but what we don't know is whether Price was being slow on orders, or because he hadn't got used to GT' game plan (seems unlikely given the Glasgow connection) or was he just showing a mental block cos of the opposition... or was everyone else not in position and he was waiting for them? Don't want to just blame Price, plenty others were gash too. Whoever's at fault, there were plenty times the ball was available at the base of a ruck and it just sat there for an age and it seems like the team weren't on the same wavelength in a way the they were in the subsequent games of the 6N, or against Fiji.

[Chunks Baws]

Gary Graham called up!!

Injury replacement for Chib.

[AL.]

Gary Graham called up!!

Injury replacement for Chib.

Would rather do without a cast off personally.....

[Mikey Brown]

Greig will be pleased.

It’s sometimes easy to misjudge the tone of a quote you only see in text. Did anyone actually see/hear the interview? Maybe he thought he was just being realistic saying England are aiming to be number 1 and Scotland won’t get close, but it came across pretty dickish, and I’m not sure how that impacts his Scottishness.

I mean he’s a whole lot more Scottish than Chib, let’s not pretend he’d have turned down the ABs. Shame hat this likely means he’s out of the whole series though.

Seems like either I’ve missed something or the injury updates haven’t been very comprehensive.

[Mikey Brown]

In the interest of fairness.

He said: “I’m Scottish through-and-through but England asked me first as I'm eligible through residency. It would have been a silly opportunity to pass up, as I hadn’t been selected for a Scotland squad since U20s.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get this opportunity. I phoned Gregor to assure him I wanted to play for Scotland, and always wanted to play for my country. It’s where I’m from and where I played most of my rugby.”

Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, added: "I was great to hear from Gary that he wanted to commit to Scotland.

"It has become a competitive environment for dual-qualified players recently and we know that these are not easy decisions for players.

"We've been tracking Gary since he was at Jersey and his form over the past 12 months at Newcastle has moved him closer to playing international rugby. We look forward to welcoming him into our squad for this week's camp."

[Chunks Baws]

Greig will be pleased.

It’s sometimes easy to misjudge the tone of a quote you only see in text. Did anyone actually see/hear the interview? Maybe he thought he was just being realistic saying England are aiming to be number 1 and Scotland won’t get close, but it came across pretty dickish, and I’m not sure how that impacts his Scottishness.

I mean he’s a whole lot more Scottish than Chib, let’s not pretend he’d have turned down the ABs. Shame hat this likely means he’s out of the whole series though.

Seems like either I’ve missed something or the injury updates haven’t been very comprehensive.

The stuff about England aiming to be number 1 etc was all said off record apparently and no one can prove he actually said it. He also said some petty stuff on record but that was probably just injured pride talking.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, I saw this too on the Mark Palmer's twitter. "Somebody needs to tell GT what off the record means. If you've ever come across any of the Grahams you will probably understand why he made the daft comments. The reality is he is both Scottish and English, whether he's good enough for us is another matter."

[Big D]

"Right boys tackling session today. Wilson and Dunbar your defence was pish at the weekend you're up first."

"Where's the tackle bags Matt".

"There, his name is Gary."

[Big D]

For what it is worth I think Graham would be a decent start at 6 in one of the next two games. We are as well seeing what he has.

[Mikey Brown]

He’d be a pretty good fit to face SA to be honest if he’s up to speed.

[Cameo]

Has he been playing well? I'd prefer Wilson or Ritchie for this one unless he has really deserved it.

He can bench next week or play if we want to give one of the others a rest

[Mikey Brown]

He's been playing very well and demanding a spot (playing 6 as well as 7). Being heavily involved in their forwards doing Montpellier over in Europe was a big highlight. Just regarding the 3 you mention he does the hard stuff a lot better from what I can see, and is probably the only person who rivals Wilson for niggly, annoying bastard sort of flanker work. If we were to try and play around SA then Ritchie is probably a bit more rounded? Graham has some gas though.

I haven't seen a lot of him, this is just the impression I've got.