RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:
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.

We can dream.

Mikey Brown wrote: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.

I thought 9-13 were average but the back 3 looked sharpe. Wouldn't be too hard on them. I guess for Currie that is understandable, only 15 or pro games and 1st game ar senior level in national colours. Thompson too can perhaps be excused based on some nerves of second game in senior colours.

Bennett is back enjoying his rugby and it is great to see. If he can prove his defence is international standard I think his attack and defence might edge Harris who has world class defence but lacks attacking skills.

Not sure where to put this so sticking it here.

Applied for tickets for the AIs through my club. Bronze tickets priced at £22 for Fiji (plus U12s for a quid), £29 for Australia and Argentina and £45 for NZ.

Got the application form through for thr 6N and bronze tickets are £65. That's pretty steep. Sure it'll sell out but steep all the same.

Squad revised.

Centre Matt Currie, lock Jamie Hodgson, wing Damien Hoyland, hooker Johnny Matthews and back-row Ben Muncaster are returning to Scotland.

Forwards: Ewan Ashman (Sale), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Andy Christie (Saracens), Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow), Rory Darge (Glasgow), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Exeter), Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Javan Sebastian (Scarlets), Sam Skinner (Exeter), Rory Sutherland (Worcester), George Turner (Glasgow), Murphy Walker (Glasgow), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Glen Young (Edinburgh)

Backs: Mark Bennett, Darcy Graham (both Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Rory Hutchinson (Northampton), Sam Johnson (Glasgow), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Rufus McLean, Ali Price (both Glasgow), Kyle Rowe (London Irish), Ollie Smith, Ross Thompson, Sione Tuipulotu (all Glasgow), Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester), Ben White (London Irish)

Rowe and McClean retained ahead of Hoyland is an odd one. I thought Hoyland's ship had sailed a long time ago frankly, but he was pretty great against Chile. Feels harsh.

I assume Sebastian is getting the 18 shirt.

Wouldn't mind a bit of the old Toonie Tombola given the 3 game series. Assuming we're going full strength I think that's still the same 23 I'd expected before.

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

16. Cherry 17. Sutherland 18. Sebastian 19. Skinner/Gray 20. Watson/Darge 21. White 22. Thomson 23. ???

I guess a back 3 player, but I'd like to see Hutchinson somewhere. Too risky to have him in the 21 shirt instead of Thomson though I'd be tempted.

Mikey Brown wrote:
7. Watson/Darge

Darge didn't travel, still injured

I just copied that squad from the SRU statement…

Mikey Brown wrote:I just copied that squad from the SRU statement…

my error, apologies

I see he was in the travelling squad. His leg was in a thigh to ankle brace a couple of weeks ago at the team awards dinner. I amazed he went, even more if he plays. Amazed and delighted, I thought he was out for the summer and maybe doubtful for the start fo next season

15. Rory Hutchinson - Northampton Saints - 5 caps
14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 27 caps
13. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 24 caps
12. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 24 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 16 caps
10. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 31 caps
9. Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors - (Vice-Captain) - 51 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 9 caps
2. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 25 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 47 caps
4. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby - (Captain) - 53 caps
5. Jonny Gray - Exeter Chiefs - 67 caps
6. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 18 caps
7. Luke Crosbie - Edinburgh Rugby - 1 cap
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman - Sale Sharks - 2 caps
17. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors - 18 caps
18. Javan Sebastian - Scarlets - 1 cap
19. Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs - 20 caps
20. Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors - 4 caps
21. Ben White - London Irish - 4 caps
22. Ross Thompson - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap
23. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 5 caps

No Smith. Hutch at 15 and Tuipulotu on the bench instead of any back 3 cover. What the fuck?

Big game for Crosbie.

Mikey Brown wrote:Wouldn't mind a bit of the old Toonie Tombola given the 3 game series.

Facepalm gif etc.

We're already got a 12/13 at 15, who might be a nightmare there for all we know. So stick another 12/13 on the bench. I assume we won't want to mess around switching Kinghorn back to 15?

15. Rory Hutchinson - Northampton Saints - 5 caps
14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 27 caps
13. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 24 caps
12. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 24 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 16 caps
10. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 31 caps
9. Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors - (Vice-Captain) - 51 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 9 caps
2. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 25 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 47 caps
4. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby - (Captain) - 53 caps
5. Jonny Gray - Exeter Chiefs - 67 caps
6. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 18 caps
7. Luke Crosbie - Edinburgh Rugby - 1 cap
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman - Sale Sharks - 2 caps
17. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors - 18 caps
18. Javan Sebastian - Scarlets - 1 cap
19. Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs - 20 caps
20. Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors - 4 caps
21. Ben White - London Irish - 4 caps
22. Ross Thompson - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap
23. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 5 caps

Disappointed for Smith. Seems off they are playing Hutchinson who is on fire at centre out of position at full back without having Smith on the bench in case a centre goes down unless it is injury related. Tuiplolotu seems to be well liked by coaches despite international performances being very average to below par.

Good to see Bennett get a game and Fagerson back at 8. Gray is very lucky as he has been poor for Exeter at the end of the season and especially weak in contact.

Mikey Brown wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Wouldn't mind a bit of the old Toonie Tombola given the 3 game series.

Facepalm gif etc.

We're already got a 12/13 at 15, who might be a nightmare there for all we know. So stick another 12/13 on the bench. I assume we won't want to mess around switching Kinghorn back to 15?

If that is the approach I hate it. Edinburgh do that and it drives me nuts. If Hutchinson goes down in min 1, the weeks plan goes out the window immediately. If Kinghorn is the 1st choice 10 in that squad then he should be treated as such.

Big D wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Wouldn't mind a bit of the old Toonie Tombola given the 3 game series.

Facepalm gif etc.

We're already got a 12/13 at 15, who might be a nightmare there for all we know. So stick another 12/13 on the bench. I assume we won't want to mess around switching Kinghorn back to 15?

If that is the approach I hate it. Edinburgh do that and it drives me nuts. If Hutchinson goes down in min 1, the weeks plan goes out the window immediately. If Kinghorn is the 1st choice 10 in that squad then he should be treated as such.

Totally agree and it seems idiotic when Edinburgh do it, but it doesn't look like Towsend has left himself any other options. Stick Graham at 15 and ask a centre to play wing? Put Bennet there?

It's just so short-sighted. I really don't understand it. I don't even mind the idea of Hutchinson at 15 while we want to look at Bennet (and need Johnson's security/defence alongside) but I don't get how a selection oversight like this can make it to the team-sheet.

If Darge is truly fit it does seem odd he's behind Crosbie. Agreed on Gray who hasn't consistently looked himself for a long time.

Fairly happy with the pack, but just had another glance and realising the immense potential for idiotic penalties among that lot.

Would be an impressive win for us this one. Our team looks a long way further off first choice.

Argentina are a funny one though. It's not felt like they've really clicked for a long time.

Hutchinson as 15 cover on the bench I get, but he's looked uncomfortable too often at Northampton there for me to be the starter. Would rather have seen Smith and Tuipulotu, who I don't really see it with, dropped.

You have to assume Darge is fit but seems like an unnecessary risk if he's not when we need to get a longer look at Christie (or Muncaster).

It was a shame Muncaster got sent home. I'm not close enough to know whether he is ready but I had hoped he would have a big breakthrough tour.

Hutchison at 15 does seem strange. I suppose it will give him a chance to show his playmaking. If GT likes the idea of him as an impact sub in future, it is always good to be able to cover more spots too.

Surely that was the most blatant bit of holding a tackler in to a ruck you could ever see? Can’t hear the commentary if that’s what they were saying or not.

Really feel like we should be ahead. Familiar stuff.

well that was a fucking poor Scotland performance. no entries into the 22 in the first half. draw level only to give it away at the next kick-off.

the argies have only trained together three times with their new coach before today. Scotland looked like they had done the same.

utter, utter shite. I told the dog it's a good job she's not a cat.

I am less anti the Kinghorn experiment than some but, unless he can improve his passing he is not an international level starting 10. Just too many passes find the floor and put us in real trouble or drift forward and waste opportunities.

Otherwise,Matt Fagerson was very good and Johnson looked on decent carrying form. Decent from Crosbie in the main too.

Kinghorn made 2 good passes all game, the rest was shit. He never shows any game management or control

But the problem was broader than him. Pack asleep for half a game, got back into it then went back to sleep.
Tactically we were inept. Duhan barely touched the ball, yet kept using Graham as a crash ball up the middle, when he was rag dolled.
Kicking to relieve pressure was panicky; no real kicking for territory accompanied with a good kick chase (maybe one decent chase, mostly just allowed Argentina to run back against a disjointed defence

If we had a gameplan, someone can tell me what it was.

I'm sure it was all working great in training.

Watched some of the other games and they just seemed so much higher quality. A bit depressing at the moment.

Having said that, is there something different about the camera angles or something in Argentina? Any time I have ever watched a test there, whoever they are playing, there has been a bit of a weird vibe. Even when the crowd looks big and racous, the TV coverage gives off a subdued vibe. Maybe just a bunch of jetlagged commentators who have eaten too much steak pre-game.

Cameo wrote:Watched some of the other games and they just seemed so much higher quality. A bit depressing at the moment.

Having said that, is there something different about the camera angles or something in Argentina? Any time I have ever watched a test there, whoever they are playing, there has been a bit of a weird vibe. Even when the crowd looks big and racous, the TV coverage gives off a subdued vibe. Maybe just a bunch of jetlagged commentators who have eaten to much steak pregame.

The show I watched started with crowd noises and then switched to commentary over silence, including pauses to listen to the ref with nothing coming through to me. Quite peculiar.