Wingers
Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 33 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 28 caps
FB
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 100 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 43 caps
Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
*edited for better display
From the initial squad, not allowing for any of the call ups making it, 8 missing out for me would be:
Cherry or Rambo
Sebastian
Henderson - although he might displace Skinner.
Christie
Watson
Dobie
Healy or Hastings depending on injury
McDowall (they aren't dropping Harris, I know 1st hand the coaches love him)
Hogg
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 9:25 am
I guess it comes down to how much GT trusts Crosbie. I was excited to see him play in the 6 nations but he didn't particularly stand out - although he started in 2 good wins at the beginning of the tournament. If we're only going with 5 I just don't see him being viewed as having the experience.
Crosbie was fine in the 6N, played his part in two good wins. The gameplay meant we didn't challenge the breakdown so he was effectively a 6.
He has the experience to play v Romania. Ritchie would be the back up 7 with Fagerson/Dempsey filling in at 7 if there was an injury to Darge for big games.
Two specialist 7s and only 7s is a luxury we don't need IMO. Especially for a WC in Frace where a call up can happen quickly if need be.
I’m just talking about Watson v Crosbie for the fifth spot, who I’d say are both viewed as opensides only. You’d think Crosbie could do a job at 6 but I’m not sure he ever does and it’s hard to see why that would be required.
I agree he’s fine to play Romania (and personally I think his physicality would be a very nice option given the group) but I’d expect GT might not want to remove 50 caps from the training squad unnecessarily.
Plus he seems to see Darge as being a more versatile option, rightly or wrongly.
Pretty much agreed on your assessment of those to be cut from the squad. I’d love to see Rambo back to where he was, but Cherry has been a pretty reliable option.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 11:49 am
by septic 9
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 11:38 am
You say the voice on the park can be replaced as if our squad is overflowing with leaders and organisers. Who would be captain? Gilchrist?.............................
Agreed on Darge. He has to play.
see there's your answer, A certain former U20s captain
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Tue Jul 25, 2023 11:38 am
You say the voice on the park can be replaced as if our squad is overflowing with leaders and organisers. Who would be captain? Gilchrist?.............................
Agreed on Darge. He has to play.
see there's your answer, A certain former U20s captain
Surprised to see Skinner named as a VC.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:15 pm
by sharvey44
Scotland team to face Italy in The Famous Grouse Nations Series on Saturday 29 July at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, kick-off 3.15pm, live on Amazon Prime.
Worrying in what sense? Potentially quite a stodgy midfield I guess. It's hard to gauge how much of this is an A side before the France game though.
I think it's great to give McDowell a start. It's a big vote of confidence for him (along with Darge and Skinner) and Townsend speaks very highly of him here.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:28 pm
by sharvey44
Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:20 pm
Worrying in what sense? Potentially quite a stodgy midfield I guess. It's hard to gauge how much of this is an A side before the France game though.
I think it's great to give McDowell a start. It's a big vote of confidence for him (along with Darge and Skinner) and Townsend speaks very highly of him here.
There's a lot of green in that team, which as it's a WC warm up is to be expected.
McDowall kicks the ball away a lot and kicking it to the Italian back 3 (depending on team) might not be a great plan. Personally I dont see the pairing being very creative and feel that it might end up being an arm-wrestle of old with Italy where our back 3 see little ball. This doesn't really help Graham/Smith who both probably need some game time in their positions.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:39 pm
by septic 9
sharvey44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:28 pm
McDowall kicks the ball away a lot and kicking it to the Italian back 3 (depending on team) might not be a great plan. Personally I dont see the pairing being very creative and feel that it might end up being an arm-wrestle of old with Italy where our back 3 see little ball. This doesn't really help Graham/Smith who both probably need some game time in their positions.
not sure I agree about McDowell kicking the ball a lot. He is used at Glasgow as a clearance kicker as he has a pretty big boot on him, and he does some nice tactical kicking but far from excessive IMHO. I think Capuzzso is injured
The problem, more than ever, is Harris. Attack wise that is a back line set up to fail with him in it
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:12 pm
by switchskier
sharvey44 wrote: ↑Wed Jul 26, 2023 12:15 pm
Scotland team to face Italy in The Famous Grouse Nations Series on Saturday 29 July at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, kick-off 3.15pm, live on Amazon Prime.
Feels largely second choice, with maybe the exception of Graham, Turner and Darge. The former needs games after his layoff and the latter needs to now take and own the shirt.
Big games for Price, Smith, Sutherland, Cummings and Faegerson I think to state their claims to be first choice again. Interested to see Dobie and Henderson off the bench.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:07 pm
by Donny osmond
Didn't see the game, BBC site says Italy got the better of the stats but Scotland got the points, did we just take our chances better?
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:23 pm
by Big D
Donny osmond wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:07 pm
Didn't see the game, BBC site says Italy got the better of the stats but Scotland got the points, did we just take our chances better?
Just on way home. It was miserable due to the weather.
Both sides were scrappy and we need to remember it is a first hit of the season but I didn't feel like Scotland would lose at any point really
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:51 pm
by Big D
I should add at the game I thought Price was rotten.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 8:19 pm
by Which Tyler
How were Bayliss and Redpath?
I gather they combined well for a try, but beyond that?
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2023 9:52 pm
by BaldiePete
Big D wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 5:51 pm
I should add at the game I thought Price was rotten.
But not quite as rotten as Dobbie who was very poor. His first pass was at Healy’s feet and he did nothing to make me think he should go to France.
Or backs moves were very pedestrian, Italy’s looked much smoother but we did defend them well.
The seagull was the player of the match for me
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:51 am
by switchskier
Haven't seen the match but my brother was there. Said Graham stood out as just that bit sharper, when he actually got the ball and didn't look like he hadn't played for months. I'm hoping he stays fit as, though Steyn is a fine player, we need Graham's dash and cutting edge I think.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:25 pm
by septic 9
Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sat Jul 29, 2023 8:19 pm
How were Bayliss and Redpath?
I gather they combined well for a try, but beyond that?
it wasn't a great pass from Redpath TBH, but Bayliss was hanging out on he far wing and showed great footwork and pace to skin last defender and score. Otherwise neither made any impact in the time they were on the park.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:30 pm
by septic 9
switchskier wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:51 am
Haven't seen the match but my brother was there. Said Graham stood out as just that bit sharper, when he actually got the ball and didn't look like he hadn't played for months. I'm hoping he stays fit as, though Steyn is a fine player, we need Graham's dash and cutting edge I think.
his first try I could have run down from the back of the stand and scored. Was clearly something we had seen in videos, their wing drifts in too much too soon. His second try was a well angled and timed short run (from about 4m out) off a superbly timed Price short pass, very well taken although I suspect their defence coach won't be happy that a midget can crash ball through multiple players from short range. Other wise Graham didn't see much ball, all I can recall is him very effectively chasing long kicks from Healey. And badly missing a couple of tackles
switchskier wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 12:51 am
Haven't seen the match but my brother was there. Said Graham stood out as just that bit sharper, when he actually got the ball and didn't look like he hadn't played for months. I'm hoping he stays fit as, though Steyn is a fine player, we need Graham's dash and cutting edge I think.
his first try I could have run down from the back of the stand and scored. Was clearly something we had seen in videos, their wing drifts in too much too soon. His second try was a well angled and timed short run (from about 4m out) off a superbly timed Price short pass, very well taken although I suspect their defence coach won't be happy that a midget can crash ball through multiple players from short range. Other wise Graham didn't see much ball, all I can recall is him very effectively chasing long kicks from Healey. And badly missing a couple of tackles
The media reports are giving Healy a bit too much credit for the kick for the first try I reckon. Good option taking but would have had to be a terrible kick for Graham not to score. As it was, he sensibly didn't try to be too pinpoint but anytime it bounces a few times it creates risk.
Didn't see anything wrong with Redpath's path to Bayliss tbh. Possibly a bit low but on the run and Bayliss didn't have to break stride.
Overall seems like an underwhelming match but nothing to worry about.
Re: Road to RWC 2023
Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2023 4:36 pm
by septic 9
Cameo wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 3:03 pm
Didn't see anything wrong with Redpath's path to Bayliss tbh. Possibly a bit low but on the run and Bayliss didn't have to break stride.
watching it again I agree. I though Bayliss had to wait a bit but the problem was earlier, Healey's pass was a slow lob, then Kinghorn passed just about ok to Redpath who at least drew a defender. Bayless's finish looks better each time I watch it as well, though Ioane should have nailed him
