Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah)

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah. What briefly looked like some good depth at centre sort of disintegrated into a mess of chopping and changing due to injuries. You could argue only Horne, Grigg and Harris have decent injury records in the last couple of seasons and I’m not sure I’d pick any of them with all other options fit and firing. Though Horne has stepped up recently.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Duncan Taylor has ACL injury. Only recently restored to match fitness.
The Fairies have him on top of their Scottish list.

Crying shame as he is probably our best centre when all fit and firing.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Yeah. What briefly looked like some good depth at centre sort of disintegrated into a mess of chopping and changing due to injuries. You could argue only Horne, Grigg and Harris have decent injury records in the last couple of seasons and I’m not sure I’d pick any of them with all other options fit and firing. Though Horne has stepped up recently.

Hopefully your pal Matt Scott can step up this year.

Horne/Dunbar
Scott/Dunbar

would work for me... it gets messy once Dunbar gets inevitably crocked though.

[Cameo]

Yeah. What briefly looked like some good depth at centre sort of disintegrated into a mess of chopping and changing due to injuries. You could argue only Horne, Grigg and Harris have decent injury records in the last couple of seasons and I’m not sure I’d pick any of them with all other options fit and firing. Though Horne has stepped up recently.

Hopefully your pal Matt Scott can step up this year.

Horne/Dunbar
Scott/Dunbar

would work for me... it gets messy once Dunbar gets inevitably crocked though.

You dropping Jones completely? I'd say potential wise, Scott/Jones is our best partnership (going forward at least).

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Yeah. What briefly looked like some good depth at centre sort of disintegrated into a mess of chopping and changing due to injuries. You could argue only Horne, Grigg and Harris have decent injury records in the last couple of seasons and I’m not sure I’d pick any of them with all other options fit and firing. Though Horne has stepped up recently.

Hopefully your pal Matt Scott can step up this year.

Horne/Dunbar
Scott/Dunbar

would work for me... it gets messy once Dunbar gets inevitably crocked though.

You dropping Jones completely? I'd say potential wise, Scott/Jones is our best partnership (going forward at least).

I knew I was forgetting someone.

Dunbar/Jones then.

Either way, Dunbar or Taylor are needed for the best balance. Suppose Sam Johnson could do a job in their stead. as well - he's either already qualified or qualifies very soon.

[Mikey Brown]

I’m curious what it is you’re referring to that Dunbar and Taylor both offer and others don’t?

The mention of Johnson makes me think hitting up the middle, but Scott is surely the one for that, if you’re talking defence then maybe I’ve misjudged Taylor’s quality in that regard.

[General Zod]

Wee article on Duncan Weir...

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... r-fly-half

[General Zod]

Byron McGuigan starting at FB for Sale v Worcester, who have Weir at FH.

[Mikey Brown]

And Strauss only makes the bench again this week.

[Mikey Brown]

You can watch Racing obliterate Agen here if you really fancy it. Not much to see from Russell in all honesty, it was a walk over, but unsurprisngly he's taking it to the line well and getting the ball away.

The highlight by a mile is seeing Nakarawa still at it. Fat Simon Zebo is kind of funny too I suppose.

Let's hope that plasticy looking pitch doesn't cause wonder-boy any trouble.

[Tobylerone]

Let's hope that plasticy looking pitch doesn't cause wonder-boy any trouble.

Shhhh.. The Fairies may be listening..

[Adder]

Clermont's decision regarding Hardie has been pushed back.

Clermont repousse sa décision concernant John Hardie
Du côté des arrivées immédiates, Clermont a mis à l’essai, le troisième ligne international écossais John Hardie (30 ans, 16 sélections). Si une décision "d’ici deux à trois semaines" avait d’abord évoquée, cela devrait encore se faire attendre. Particulièrement en forme, comme le montrent ses tests physiques, Hardie ne peut toutefois toujours pas s’entraîner en opposition, suite à son opération du dos en juin dernier.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What does it say Adder? My understanding is that Hardie was in no position to play pro rugby this season as he couldn't pass a medical and therefore gain insurance.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

At 30 years old and his injury record you wonder if he might retire? Edinburgh probably would have looked after the guy if he'd made some better decisions when it came to the old baking powder.

[Adder]

The main point is that they claim he doing very well in training but has not yet been able to do any contact training because of his lower back operation during the summer. Although they initially thought they would make their decision within 2-3 weeks, yhey decided to extend the trial.

What does it say Adder? My understanding is that Hardie was in no position to play pro rugby this season as he couldn't pass a medical and therefore gain insurance.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) using Tapatalk

[Big D]

Lang scored for Quins last weekend. Took the ball to the get line 40m out and accelerated through and away from the defence.

They made it easy for him but showed decent pace.

[General Zod]

Finlay Christie playing well for Tasman v Taranaki this morning.

[Mikey Brown]

Lang scored for Quins last weekend. Took the ball to the get line 40m out and accelerated through and away from the defence.

They made it easy for him but showed decent pace.

Yeah he’s pretty quick. I’m still not sure the best path for him but could well be a useful 10/12/15 like Horne that’s always good to have around.

[Wylie Coyote]

We're pretty thin on the ground at 10, with Finn then Hastings and very little else. We should be hoping Lang develops into a good 10, I like what I've seen of him as a player and hope he gets good game time this season.

[Mikey Brown]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45548491

[Big D]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45548491

Based on purely highlights he's certainly playing well enough for consideration.

Not sure he'd improve the balance of the back row or not but that shouldn't stop him being selected if his form merits it.

[Mikey Brown]

In what sense? Not the big, nasty bastard we need?

[Big D]

He has good ball skills and is solid in defence. But I don't think he's a big boshing type. To be honest few no.8s from NZ are. They have good skills rather than relying on his size.

A back row of Wilson, Watson and Thomson would be different from a Watson, Barclay, Wilson one but both lack a little balance imo.

That being said we maybe suit what would traditionally be called A "balanced" back row.

We have plenty of options and it is up to Wilson and Townsend to get a tune out of them.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

He is probably the best 6 available to Scotland if we are being objective. Fans and selectors will have issues with that - stalwart and team captain Barclay has been shoe-horned in at 6 as an ageing 7. Then there's an excellent all-rounder and club captain Wilson whose best position is probably also 6.

As Big D suggests - lots of good options but picking the best 3 players or even best player for each shirt leads to a weird balance. The only certainty is Watson at 7 imo and his size makes it very tempting to pick two big lads at 6 and 8 which doesn't help Barclay or Wilson.

I know JB is injured, thinking medium term towards the RWC here.

[Mikey Brown]

I thought he was more of an 8? I'm happy with either Wilson or Barclay playing at either 6 or 8 if there's a bit of heft alongside. No Scottish Vermeulen types kicking around that we've all failed to notice?