6N squad - starting team

[Big D]

I am worried about the locks to be honest, I feel it's an attritional part of the game and there's bound to be some struggles. I think we have managed well enough below Gray / Cummings recently due to injury requiring it but there is a decent drop off from those 2.

That is the perception, but is there really?

Both were missing in France when we fronted up pretty well in that game, we beat Australia with them missing, and any combination of second row wouldn't have changed the SA result.

Below the 1st 4 we have good youngsters who are coming through. 2nd row is beside 7 in being the least of our worries IMO.

That's the question I'm asking myself. We saw when Turner and Cherry stepped in for Macinally and Brown that second string doesn't mean second rate. I must admit, I have a lack of exposure to the alternatives and I'm probably guilty of lazy thought, Gray and Cummings I think are excellent and I think I'm probably guilty of a default position that says it's unlikely we'd have a similar strength in depth available to us

I think Gray and Cummings are our best two when playing at their best, but I think the next two senior locks, plus Craig and the young 'uns show that we have good depth without having a debilitating impact to our chances if the top two are missing. In that French game GG and Skinner were up against a pack gunning for the championship at home and stood up to it.

[septic 9]

It is limited, but I think in the past we have automatically thought Harris is the reason for that. But I think Johnson has flattered to deceive in the Scotland shirt for a while. Over the last 2 years Harris has brought more than Johnson to the Scotland shirt and has been a key part of the defensive turn around. Several people were great in the France game but we don't win that without some very savvy defence from him.

Harris obviously has attacking limitations but it is up to Zondagh to get the attacking patterns going. .

the defence bit I agree with. But Harris is a 31 year old, played under various coaches and has never offered anything in attack good enough for this level, he doesn't run good lines, he doesn't make outside breaks, he isn't even a good crash ball centre - frankly he is a road block at club level in attack. I find it difficult to see how Zondagh is going to change him. And his basic skills - handling and passing are woeful for an international centre. So all attacking patterns need to basically avoid him, or fail far more than they should.
Agree Johnson has no form to speak of this season. But he has shown he can do all the stuff Harris can't. But playing inside Harris for Scotland puts more on him (and Russell and Hogg) and makes us easier to defend

[Mikey Brown]

I do think you exaggerate a bit with Harris, but his good moments in attack are definitely not frequent enough. If ABZ can’t find any better use for him in attack then it’s him who isn’t good enough, not Harris.

That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of room for improvement with Harris, but I’d like to see what he can do with less stilted, jittering attack on the inside channels, or watching Russell send enormous looping passes over his head so that a winger can get clobbered. The amount of times Harris is the only one keeping our attack alive by saving a stranded attacker out on the wing is ridiculous.

I’d really like to see how Bennet operates in Tandy’s defensive system though. That would make everything a whole lot simpler if he could take the 13 shirt back.

[General Zod]

Now he’s been called up, I’d almost expect Maitland to start. DVDM and Rowe are both out of training with “illness”.

If Maitland does start, I wonder if we will see Bennett at some point, particularly if we’re chasing the game. He’s probably an improvement in defence compared to the two wingers he has been called up to cover.

When does the team get named? Wednesday? Must book out a “meeting” in my work calendar for the announcement so that, if necessary, I can have a meltdown without anyone seeing.

[Mikey Brown]

I agree Maitland might jump straight in, but not sure I follow how that relates to Bennet? Just more defensive security overall?

[Big D]

It is limited, but I think in the past we have automatically thought Harris is the reason for that. But I think Johnson has flattered to deceive in the Scotland shirt for a while. Over the last 2 years Harris has brought more than Johnson to the Scotland shirt and has been a key part of the defensive turn around. Several people were great in the France game but we don't win that without some very savvy defence from him.

Harris obviously has attacking limitations but it is up to Zondagh to get the attacking patterns going. .

the defence bit I agree with. But Harris is a 31 year old, played under various coaches and has never offered anything in attack good enough for this level, he doesn't run good lines, he doesn't make outside breaks, he isn't even a good crash ball centre - frankly he is a road block at club level in attack. I find it difficult to see how Zondagh is going to change him. And his basic skills - handling and passing are woeful for an international centre. So all attacking patterns need to basically avoid him, or fail far more than they should.
Agree Johnson has no form to speak of this season. But he has shown he can do all the stuff Harris can't. But playing inside Harris for Scotland puts more on him (and Russell and Hogg) and makes us easier to defend

I didn't say he would change Harris, but if they select him it is primarily his role to get something going in the backs.

If there is someone who can bring a net positive or even no/slight loss to what Harris brings in defence then he should be dropped. I'd say there's a good case for Hutchinson or Bennett getting gametime during the championship. I'd consider starting Hutchinson v England as he'll have played against Slade plenty but GT won't budge.

My post want meant to be a defence of Harris, more a criticism of Johnson. I still think he gets an easy ride at times because of Harris being at 13 when I'm just not sure either are giving enough going forward. Well I'm sure Harris isn't giving enough but for SJ I'm not sure he has done all that much in blue since his knee injury in 2020. Of course that is more than Harris, but doesn't mean that's enough from him.

Been a long day, apologies if that doesn't make sense.

[septic 9]

I do think you exaggerate a bit with Harris, but his good moments in attack are definitely not frequent enough. If ABZ can’t find any better use for him in attack then it’s him who isn’t good enough, not Harris. .

he is 31. He simply is not going to develop better passing (or catching) skills now. Nor is he going to learn how make an outside break, nor get any faster to enable a break (quite the reverse now as time goes on). And I've no doubt every coach he has played with has tried to make him as good as he can be; trouble is that is what he is now. This is as good as its going to get. Blaming the current Scotland backs coach who hardly sees him outside international windows is nonsense.

Less than 2 years to a RWC which do not want to into with an even slower outside centre neutering our attack

[Mikey Brown]

I feel like we’re going in circles. I don’t think coaching at this level is about gifting players new abilities out of thin air, I just think our attack has been pretty shoddy for a while, Harris has both suffered from it and contributed to it. One doesn’t negate the other.

Let’s put it this way if ABZ thinks he’s done as much as he can to improve our attack after 1 autumn series then something is wrong. That’s not blaming him for anything, that’s just saying that any coach needs time to bed in and there a lot of room for improvements in how we attack.

[General Zod]

I agree Maitland might jump straight in, but not sure I follow how that relates to Bennet? Just more defensive security overall?

I think I was saying that because Maitland offers more defensive solidity than other wing options, Townsend might be tempted to put Bennett on the bench and bring him on at 13 to see how it goes.

[septic 9]

Townsend is hopeful that DVDM, Rowe and Bayliss (concussion) will all be able to join up with the squad from sunday

[septic 9]

I feel like we’re going in circles. I don’t think coaching at this level is about gifting players new abilities out of thin air, I just think our attack has been pretty shoddy for a while, Harris has both suffered from it and contributed to it. One doesn’t negate the other.

Let’s put it this way if ABZ thinks he’s done as much as he can to improve our attack after 1 autumn series then something is wrong. That’s not blaming him for anything, that’s just saying that any coach needs time to bed in and there a lot of room for improvements in how we attack.

I agree with all of that. The easiest way to improve the attack, or to put it another way, the area/positions where we are not funcyionong at a high enough level is 12 and 13. Of the current shirt holders, one has no great form but has shown he can produce in attack at international level (and is a good defender), while the other has not, ever, despite beng a defender par excellence

[Mikey Brown]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

[septic 9]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

he was really excellent tonight

[Mikey Brown]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

he was really excellent tonight

Yeah. Just doesn’t look like he should be able to make those extra metres in attack but consistently does, whether with great footwork, threatening an offload or just powering through.

I got the feeling Russell/Hogg genuinely feel he can add a lot to our attack, and he might even get some more out of hot stepper Harris at 13.

It’s in the bag. There’s no way I could come to regret writing any of this.

[no sleep]

Let's get the t shirts made up.

[septic 9]

Let's get the t shirts made up.

ah, going for the traditional English fuck up

[stevedog1980]

Okay Redpath starts. All issues in attack solved. Easy. Grand slam time.

he was really excellent tonight

Yeah. Just doesn’t look like he should be able to make those extra metres in attack but consistently does, whether with great footwork, threatening an offload or just powering through.

I got the feeling Russell/Hogg genuinely feel he can add a lot to our attack, and he might even get some more out of hot stepper Harris at 13.

It’s in the bag. There’s no way I could come to regret writing any of this.

I feel the same way about Darcy Graham, always impressed with how he manages to pick holes or soft spots in congested areas

[stevedog1980]

I didn't see the game but by the sounds of things Redpath went well. I think Huw Jones was playing for Quins, how did he look?

[Mikey Brown]

Jones had his best game for Quins by quite a distance, oddly enough. Maybe he just feels more at home in a side playing very badly.

[Tobylerone]

Early yet, but if the BBC forecast for Edinburgh for Sat. pm. turns out to be accurate, wind and water resistance may become a factor in selection..

[Mikey Brown]

Haining in for Darge then...

Not sure what other changes GT would make. Maitland for Graham but he's already returned to Saracens.

[Cameo]

Okay, team should be announced tomorrow. Predictions?

1. Sutherland
2. Turner
3. Fagerson
4. Gray
5. Cummings
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Fagerson
9. Price
10. Russell
11. Graham
12. Redpath
13. Harris
14. VDM
15. Hogg

16. Schoeman
17. McInally
18. Nel
19. Skinner
20. Darge
21. Bradbury
22. Vellacot
23. Kinghorn

I wouldn't have the 6/2 split and would be tempted to start Bradbury but otherwise that would be my team too.

It feels relatively predictable (maybe except for 8 and 12), but does anyone expect Townsend to spring any big surprises? Nel to start? Someone else in the second row?

[Cameo]

Actually, wouldn't be surprised if Kyle Steyn is involved somewhere - maybe even starting.

[Mikey Brown]

Looks about right, but I can understand the thinking that might be too settled a side for Townsend.

Steyn for Graham, a 6:2 bench to fit Darge and a 6/8, and Johnson vs Redpath I’m all 50/50 on.

I do sort of like the idea of starting Nel and giving him 30-35, taking the sting out of Genge/Marler at the scrum and leaving us the option of some Italian/French injury fuckery later on.

I’m just praying for no Haining, but that’s the one I feel is really likely.

[General Zod]

Actually, wouldn't be surprised if Kyle Steyn is involved somewhere - maybe even starting.

I’m going with the other Kyle - Rowe!

I think the weather now tho is going to make it like the schit-show from 2 years ago. Hopefully, we’ll play the conditions a bit better this time. And I’ll bring a warmer jacket.