One player to improve the Scotland men's team

[switchskier]

Revisiting an old pub and forum favourite. If you could import and drop in one player to make this Scotland team better, who would it be? This shouldn't just be who is the best player in the world but who makes the biggest difference - where is the step up most significant and where is there positional value.

[septic 9]

Richie Vernon at 13. If he is not available, maybe myself

[Big D]

Revisiting an old pub and forum favourite. If you could import and drop in one player to make this Scotland team better, who would it be? This shouldn't just be who is the best player in the world but who makes the biggest difference - where is the step up most significant and where is there positional value.

Of any nation? One of the bok locks or TH probably. Maybe Radrandra but game is won and lost up front.

[cashead]

I'm not sure what temperature this take is, but if there's one thing Scotland isn't lacking in, it's a generally strong first XV, and that has been the case for a while (even if there were times of weakness in specific positions - Nick de Luca, anyone?).

At a push, I'd say someone like Retallick, Whitelock or a fully-fit Alun-Wyn Jones in the second row.

In the midfield, Damian de Allende or Anton Lienert-Brown in the midfield.

Most teams would also benefit from having someone like current, matured James O'Connor around as well.

[Donny osmond]

Revisiting an old pub and forum favourite. If you could import and drop in one player to make this Scotland team better, who would it be? This shouldn't just be who is the best player in the world but who makes the biggest difference - where is the step up most significant and where is there positional value.

Dan Biggar, or Marcus Smith, at 10. Or an on form Hastings. Or just anyone whose arrogance isn't going to cause more problems than his skills can fix.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

[Big D]

Revisiting an old pub and forum favourite. If you could import and drop in one player to make this Scotland team better, who would it be? This shouldn't just be who is the best player in the world but who makes the biggest difference - where is the step up most significant and where is there positional value.

Dan Biggar, or Marcus Smith, at 10. Or an on form Hastings. Or just anyone whose arrogance isn't going to cause more problems than his skills can fix.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

Finn was far from the only issue at the weekend but is a lightning rod. The forwards were humped on Saturday, Price was shite and we had centres who could run straight and that's it.

In games we lose, 19 times out of 20 it is because our forwards have been gubbed. The only tight 5 forward approaching pass marks was Schoeman. The others need a long hard look at themselves particularly Fagerson and Turner, it is one thing being off form but the stupid penalties are unforgivable in those close games.

[Donny osmond]

Revisiting an old pub and forum favourite. If you could import and drop in one player to make this Scotland team better, who would it be? This shouldn't just be who is the best player in the world but who makes the biggest difference - where is the step up most significant and where is there positional value.

Dan Biggar, or Marcus Smith, at 10. Or an on form Hastings. Or just anyone whose arrogance isn't going to cause more problems than his skills can fix.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

Finn was far from the only issue at the weekend but is a lightning rod. The forwards were humped on Saturday, Price was shite and we had centres who could run straight and that's it.

In games we lose, 19 times out of 20 it is because our forwards have been gubbed. The only tight 5 forward approaching pass marks was Schoeman. The others need a long hard look at themselves particularly Fagerson and Turner, it is one thing being off form but the stupid penalties are unforgivable in those close games.

I would never blame just one person for losing s game of rugby, I know there's more going on than just himself.

It's interesting you finish with a comment about stupid penalties tho. How many of those you've mentioned have 3 cards from the last 7 6-nations games? If they did, would we be saying "ah, it's not just him" or would we be absolutely crucifying him?

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

[Cameo]

Dan Biggar, or Marcus Smith, at 10. Or an on form Hastings. Or just anyone whose arrogance isn't going to cause more problems than his skills can fix.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

Finn was far from the only issue at the weekend but is a lightning rod. The forwards were humped on Saturday, Price was shite and we had centres who could run straight and that's it.

In games we lose, 19 times out of 20 it is because our forwards have been gubbed. The only tight 5 forward approaching pass marks was Schoeman. The others need a long hard look at themselves particularly Fagerson and Turner, it is one thing being off form but the stupid penalties are unforgivable in those close games.

I would never blame just one person for losing s game of rugby, I know there's more going on than just himself.

It's interesting you finish with a comment about stupid penalties tho. How many of those you've mentioned have 3 cards from the last 7 6-nations games? If they did, would we be saying "ah, it's not just him" or would we be absolutely crucifying him?

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

I didn't think Finn had a good game, but that 3 cards in 7 games is a smokescreen. Only the one on Saturday could be seen as particularly blameworthy. I'd be saying that about anyone.

And the worst decision by a flyhalf in that game? Dan Biggar's drop goal. Penalty advantage against 14 men with a guaranteed 3 points if your attempt doesn't go well. Why not go for a drop goal and lock in the worst case scenario. It didn't cost them but it definitely could have.

[Cameo]

Radrada for me - or at least a younger version. Harris' defence is great, but the need to pick him is the greatest thing holding us back in attack.

Otherwise maybe Etzebeth. There are a few forwards around that would help but it's tricky as form varies. E.g. someone who looks like a dominant tight head just now can easily fade and we'd be happy with Fagerson again (remember E Murray and our time waiting for him to dominate again).

[switchskier]

We seem to be coalescing around outside centre or lock. Etsbeth orbRettalick are the obvious ones for me as none of our licks are bad but the difference is bbig

Radradra was going to be my other shout but thinking about it reckon that Am would bring everything Harris does and all the attacking skills too. Think he'd make us unstoppable if we can get even close to parity up front.

[Big D]

I would never blame just one person for losing s game of rugby, I know there's more going on than just himself.

It's interesting you finish with a comment about stupid penalties tho. How many of those you've mentioned have 3 cards from the last 7 6-nations games? If they did, would we be saying "ah, it's not just him" or would we be absolutely crucifying him?

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

I've never made an attempt to excuse Finn as a player but to address the weakness in our side where any player could be imported into. The tight 5, their pencient for getting out muscled easily and giving away cheap and repeated penalties is the root cause of many of the issues.

Of course Finn should get a talking to about the cards but it is a different type of conversation to the guys making the same errors every other game. Both important but different. All Finn's cards were for one off offences and all different things. Whereas the likes Gilchrist, Turner and Fagerson give away cheap penalties for fun. Turner had the same number of penalties in 35min than Finn did across the games he was carded. Cheap penalties at rucks are absolutely killing us.

We went from defending comfortably on the half way line to losing a man and being 3 points down in a handful of phases. Now there were multiple failures that all need criticised and cleaned up, but it all started comfortably defending at half way and giving away a cheap penalty. Good teams don't make that mistake (or the subsequent ones).

[Donny osmond]

I would never blame just one person for losing s game of rugby, I know there's more going on than just himself.

It's interesting you finish with a comment about stupid penalties tho. How many of those you've mentioned have 3 cards from the last 7 6-nations games? If they did, would we be saying "ah, it's not just him" or would we be absolutely crucifying him?

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

I've never made an attempt to excuse Finn as a player but to address the weakness in our side where any player could be imported into. The tight 5, their pencient for getting out muscled easily and giving away cheap and repeated penalties is the root cause of many of the issues.

Of course Finn should get a talking to about the cards but it is a different type of conversation to the guys making the same errors every other game. Both important but different. All Finn's cards were for one off offences and all different things. Whereas the likes Gilchrist, Turner and Fagerson give away cheap penalties for fun. Turner had the same number of penalties in 35min than Finn did across the games he was carded. Cheap penalties at rucks are absolutely killing us.

We went from defending comfortably on the half way line to losing a man and being 3 points down in a handful of phases. Now there were multiple failures that all need criticised and cleaned up, but it all started comfortably defending at half way and giving away a cheap penalty. Good teams don't make that mistake (or the subsequent ones).

All fair and I'm not here to defend the front not five or, like I said, put all the blame on Russell. But I maintain that we aren't going to make progress with someone at 10 who is so completely inconsistent. Nor are we going to progress by constantly sweeping all the bad stuff under the carpet just cos he puts in a couple of decent passes per game.


Anyway, if not a sensible 10, I would have a world class lock, as mentioned by others. All the great sides, or even very good sides, need a world class lock, and while ours are ok, they aren't keeping anyone awake that night worrying.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

[Big D]

I would never blame just one person for losing s game of rugby, I know there's more going on than just himself.

It's interesting you finish with a comment about stupid penalties tho. How many of those you've mentioned have 3 cards from the last 7 6-nations games? If they did, would we be saying "ah, it's not just him" or would we be absolutely crucifying him?

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

I've never made an attempt to excuse Finn as a player but to address the weakness in our side where any player could be imported into. The tight 5, their pencient for getting out muscled easily and giving away cheap and repeated penalties is the root cause of many of the issues.

Of course Finn should get a talking to about the cards but it is a different type of conversation to the guys making the same errors every other game. Both important but different. All Finn's cards were for one off offences and all different things. Whereas the likes Gilchrist, Turner and Fagerson give away cheap penalties for fun. Turner had the same number of penalties in 35min than Finn did across the games he was carded. Cheap penalties at rucks are absolutely killing us.

We went from defending comfortably on the half way line to losing a man and being 3 points down in a handful of phases. Now there were multiple failures that all need criticised and cleaned up, but it all started comfortably defending at half way and giving away a cheap penalty. Good teams don't make that mistake (or the subsequent ones).

All fair and I'm not here to defend the front not five or, like I said, put all the blame on Russell. But I maintain that we aren't going to make progress with someone at 10 who is so completely inconsistent. Nor are we going to progress by constantly sweeping all the bad stuff under the carpet just cos he puts in a couple of decent passes per game.


Anyway, if not a sensible 10, I would have a world class lock, as mentioned by others. All the great sides, or even very good sides, need a world class lock, and while ours are ok, they aren't keeping anyone awake that night worrying.

Sent from my CPH2195 using Tapatalk

I agree with most of what you are saying I suppose I was trying to frame it in terms of the question posed.

Another name I'd love to see in our backline would be Tuilagi thinking about it.

[General Zod]

Can we pick a coach?

[switchskier]

Can we pick a coach?

Why not. But I'm pretty happy with our set of coaches. Not sure that upgrades would make a huge difference there. Who did you have in mind?

[septic 9]

a few interesting picks

I wonder how long until Tuilagi has his next injury breakdown. He was supposed to have played really well last weekend but I'm not sure he will be the player he was. For start he ain't as quick despite having shed some kgs to ease the strain on his knees, so will be less powerful in the carry as well

Radrara is another interesting one. I think he is an amazing attacker, but quite a few teams have managed to shackle him this season when he's been fit. Shows that one man doesn't make a team. And while he likes a big hit, his defence isn't exactly Harris standards, he is vulnerable. Am is very good indeed.

[stevedog1980]

Like most I'm looking at tighthead, second row or 13 for the candidates and agreeing with most of the options put forward.

I'd like to put Gael Fickou in for consideration at 13

[General Zod]

Can we pick a coach?

Why not. But I'm pretty happy with our set of coaches. Not sure that upgrades would make a huge difference there. Who did you have in mind?

In all honesty, I do not know, but they need someone to be able to get inside their heads so they don’t start a second half like that again. When they came out at half time, I said to my mate before kick off that they looked almost uneasy. I was there and quite close to the pitch - I can’t put my finger on exactly how they came across. Maybe like they didn’t quite believe what they were asked to do? They certainly didn’t play with the courage of their convictions.

Frankly, they look like they’ve run out of ideas in attack.