The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[I like neeps]

Thanks for posting westport.

I was reading something earlier about the lack of pathways for borders players and how a huge Scottish rugby resource is being mismanaged, that squad kind of reflects that. Apparently there is only one true Borders man in the summer squad.

What's a true borders man?

I think the borders is seeing less players play for their clubs but also the best players get taken up to the Edinburgh schools. Rudi Brown who narrowly missed this squad for example is a Borders Boy but was given a scholarship to Merchi and has been in their 1XV for the last three years.

[I like neeps]

No Currie, is he injured?

Yes, real shame that.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby provided the following update following the recent positive Covid-19 case at the club.

The club would like to thank all those who sent their best wishes to the individual who has contracted Covid-19. His health continues to improve in isolation.

The small group of potential contacts – identified through internal contact tracing – remain in isolation and do not report any symptoms.

The club has conducted two rounds of PCR testing of the full squad and playing staff this week, both of which returned no positive results.

Consequently, the club’s Guinness PRO14 match against Ulster at BT Murrayfield this Saturday (5 June) currently remains scheduled to go ahead as planned.

[Yr Alban]

I thought I’d read somewhere that Hutchinson was injured or needed an operation in the summer. Probably wrong.

I think Skinner would have had a load more caps and be starting most games but for a run of very badly timed injuries. He’ll be back very strong at some point

If Hutchinson is fit and just hasn’t been picked, then I am truly scratching my head. How can his stock have fallen so far? With Harris away with the Lions, you’d put money on his getting at least a couple of caps. If he is injured then it would make a lot more sense.

EDIT: looks like he was fit to start for Northampton against Newcastle a fortnight ago. So back to the head-scratching.

I read a quote from the Saints attack coach that Townsend had been in touch with Hutcheson and made him aware of what he needs to work on to be considered. So not injured.

Given his skills levels and potential I'd have thought it would have been better for Hutcheson to be working on these elements within the summer squad than put on the naughty step. But Townsend does seem to get obsessed on perceived weaknesses in some players whilst ignoring them in others.

Was listening to the Scottish Rugby Blog podcast. There was a lot of talk about missing players and the possible reasons. It’s clearly a development tour, and established players are being rested; it’s also a capture tour, so some priority given to uncapped players; players moving to Scotland are granted the summer off to get settled; players just back from injury may not be picked, et cetera. Hutchinson is the one who doesn’t fit any of the categories, though. He’s a stick-on for the next RWC squad, but he only has a few caps to his name and this would appear to be his ideal opportunity to stake a claim, when Harris is with the Lions and Jones is rested/injured. Is it possible he asked for the summer off because he’s been playing almost continuously for months on end?

[Yr Alban]

One thing I am certain of: we’ll be seeing Rodd and probably Dingwall line up for England A. It would be 100% Eddie Jones’s style.

[I like neeps]

If Hutchinson is fit and just hasn’t been picked, then I am truly scratching my head. How can his stock have fallen so far? With Harris away with the Lions, you’d put money on his getting at least a couple of caps. If he is injured then it would make a lot more sense.

EDIT: looks like he was fit to start for Northampton against Newcastle a fortnight ago. So back to the head-scratching.

I read a quote from the Saints attack coach that Townsend had been in touch with Hutcheson and made him aware of what he needs to work on to be considered. So not injured.

Given his skills levels and potential I'd have thought it would have been better for Hutcheson to be working on these elements within the summer squad than put on the naughty step. But Townsend does seem to get obsessed on perceived weaknesses in some players whilst ignoring them in others.

Was listening to the Scottish Rugby Blog podcast. There was a lot of talk about missing players and the possible reasons. It’s clearly a development tour, and established players are being rested; it’s also a capture tour, so some priority given to uncapped players; players moving to Scotland are granted the summer off to get settled; players just back from injury may not be picked, et cetera. Hutchinson is the one who doesn’t fit any of the categories, though. He’s a stick-on for the next RWC squad, but he only has a few caps to his name and this would appear to be his ideal opportunity to stake a claim, when Harris is with the Lions and Jones is rested/injured. Is it possible he asked for the summer off because he’s been playing almost continuously for months on end?

If Hutchinson was nailed on to be picked in the next world cup squad he'd have played for Scotland in the last year surely?

I guess the coaches just want a really solid 13 defensively. I think Steyn will play 13 in the summer as he's more a Chris Harris type.

[Slick]

Thanks for posting westport.

I was reading something earlier about the lack of pathways for borders players and how a huge Scottish rugby resource is being mismanaged, that squad kind of reflects that. Apparently there is only one true Borders man in the summer squad.

What's a true borders man?

I think the borders is seeing less players play for their clubs but also the best players get taken up to the Edinburgh schools. Rudi Brown who narrowly missed this squad for example is a Borders Boy but was given a scholarship to Merchi and has been in their 1XV for the last three years.

I don’t really know to be honest, the piece just said that there was only one player in the summer squad that could “be said to be a product of borders rugby”

The fact that the main pathway is to go to a school in Edinburgh kind of makes the point though.

[Yr Alban]

I read a quote from the Saints attack coach that Townsend had been in touch with Hutcheson and made him aware of what he needs to work on to be considered. So not injured.

Given his skills levels and potential I'd have thought it would have been better for Hutcheson to be working on these elements within the summer squad than put on the naughty step. But Townsend does seem to get obsessed on perceived weaknesses in some players whilst ignoring them in others.

Was listening to the Scottish Rugby Blog podcast. There was a lot of talk about missing players and the possible reasons. It’s clearly a development tour, and established players are being rested; it’s also a capture tour, so some priority given to uncapped players; players moving to Scotland are granted the summer off to get settled; players just back from injury may not be picked, et cetera. Hutchinson is the one who doesn’t fit any of the categories, though. He’s a stick-on for the next RWC squad, but he only has a few caps to his name and this would appear to be his ideal opportunity to stake a claim, when Harris is with the Lions and Jones is rested/injured. Is it possible he asked for the summer off because he’s been playing almost continuously for months on end?

If Hutchinson was nailed on to be picked in the next world cup squad he'd have played for Scotland in the last year surely?

I guess the coaches just want a really solid 13 defensively. I think Steyn will play 13 in the summer as he's more a Chris Harris type.

Well, maybe. Harris has been more or less Toony’s first pick, and Jones the backup. There hasn’t been a lot of room for Hutchinson. That’s why his omission from this squad is so odd. Maybe it’s his defence, but as others have said, Toony is strangely blind to the faults of some players and not others.

[Big D]

One thing I am certain of: we’ll be seeing Rodd and probably Dingwall line up for England A. It would be 100% Eddie Jones’s style.

We do the same thing. Henderson isn't in the top 5 locks (yet) for Scotland but will be captured after this tour.

Rodd deserves the A cap for England and if he takes the call up then he has done so with his eyes wide open. Despite being Scottish born he seems to have spent a lot of his life in England. And if we were to pick Dingwall we'd be doing the exact same thing.

Some will pick England and some will pick Scotland.

[Tichtheid]

One thing I am certain of: we’ll be seeing Rodd and probably Dingwall line up for England A. It would be 100% Eddie Jones’s style.

We do the same thing. Henderson isn't in the top 5 locks (yet) for Scotland but will be captured after this tour.

Rodd deserves the A cap for England and if he takes the call up then he has done so with his eyes wide open. Despite being Scottish born he seems to have spent a lot of his life in England. And if we were to pick Dingwall we'd be doing the exact same thing.

Some will pick England and some will pick Scotland.

The good news is, imo, that Scotland isn't the easy cap option it once was, there is a bit of depth building. I'm stumped as to why Hutchinson isn't included, as are many others, but previously a player of his calibre would be nailed-on.
Dingwall looks like a player, and of course I'd rather we had him run out for us, but we have a decent number of current players and guys coming up on the rails.

We are still struggling for props, mind, and especially tightheads.

Does Euan Murray have sons?

[Yr Alban]

One thing I am certain of: we’ll be seeing Rodd and probably Dingwall line up for England A. It would be 100% Eddie Jones’s style.

We do the same thing. Henderson isn't in the top 5 locks (yet) for Scotland but will be captured after this tour.

Rodd deserves the A cap for England and if he takes the call up then he has done so with his eyes wide open. Despite being Scottish born he seems to have spent a lot of his life in England. And if we were to pick Dingwall we'd be doing the exact same thing.

Some will pick England and some will pick Scotland.

Oh, I know. I’m not complaining about the players picking England over Scotland (although in Rodd’s case it will rankle at the next RWC when they say Scotland has the most players not born in the country). They’re entitled to pick whoever they wish. And we don’t always lose (Redpath and Ashman are both particularly satisfying as they were sought-after by both countries and chose us, which is a fairly new development).

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

[SaintK]

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!
As for the non-selection of Hutchinson. All I can say is the centres selected ahead of him must be in some top form as he has been excellent and outstanding for Saints since his return from injury.

[Big D]

One thing I am certain of: we’ll be seeing Rodd and probably Dingwall line up for England A. It would be 100% Eddie Jones’s style.

We do the same thing. Henderson isn't in the top 5 locks (yet) for Scotland but will be captured after this tour.

Rodd deserves the A cap for England and if he takes the call up then he has done so with his eyes wide open. Despite being Scottish born he seems to have spent a lot of his life in England. And if we were to pick Dingwall we'd be doing the exact same thing.

Some will pick England and some will pick Scotland.

Oh, I know. I’m not complaining about the players picking England over Scotland (although in Rodd’s case it will rankle at the next RWC when they say Scotland has the most players not born in the country). They’re entitled to pick whoever they wish. And we don’t always lose (Redpath and Ashman are both particularly satisfying as they were sought-after by both countries and chose us, which is a fairly new development).

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Rodd may be Scotland born but from what I can tell has effectively been in the English system since U11's.

When has EJ ever picked players just to "rub our noses in it". Graham? Wouldn't have been a loss. Rodd is a young player with massive upside in a position everyone needs players. Dingwall said some time ago he wanted to be selected by England IIRC.

[Big D]

As for the non-selection of Hutchinson. All I can say is the centres selected ahead of him must be in some top form as he has been excellent and outstanding for Saints since his return from injury.

Yeah I don't get it. The 13's in the squad are decent but Hutchinson is probably better than them although I haven't seen much of the guy coming from Japan.

[I like neeps]

Was listening to the Scottish Rugby Blog podcast. There was a lot of talk about missing players and the possible reasons. It’s clearly a development tour, and established players are being rested; it’s also a capture tour, so some priority given to uncapped players; players moving to Scotland are granted the summer off to get settled; players just back from injury may not be picked, et cetera. Hutchinson is the one who doesn’t fit any of the categories, though. He’s a stick-on for the next RWC squad, but he only has a few caps to his name and this would appear to be his ideal opportunity to stake a claim, when Harris is with the Lions and Jones is rested/injured. Is it possible he asked for the summer off because he’s been playing almost continuously for months on end?

If Hutchinson was nailed on to be picked in the next world cup squad he'd have played for Scotland in the last year surely?

I guess the coaches just want a really solid 13 defensively. I think Steyn will play 13 in the summer as he's more a Chris Harris type.

Well, maybe. Harris has been more or less Toony’s first pick, and Jones the backup. There hasn’t been a lot of room for Hutchinson. That’s why his omission from this squad is so odd. Maybe it’s his defence, but as others have said, Toony is strangely blind to the faults of some players and not others.

Maybe it's not flaws maybe it's the system Toonie wants to play. Do we need a really creative 13 if we have 10,12,15 as playmakers for example. Tandy's defence has turned Harris into a Lion so he's obviously an important part of what the system is and if Hutchinson can't function in that role he won't be playing for Scotland. He could play 12 I suppose.

[Slick]

Maybe it's not flaws maybe it's the system Toonie wants to play. Do we need a really creative 13 if we have 10,12,15 as playmakers for example. Tandy's defence has turned Harris into a Lion so he's obviously an important part of what the system is and if Hutchinson can't function in that role he won't be playing for Scotland. He could play 12 I suppose

100% this. It's all part of being a supporter that we question selection but Toony has turned Harris from a who? into a Lion, because he fits his role perfectly.

That's not to say I understand Hutchinson not being part of this squad but it's difficult to question with any authority.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby team to play Ulster at BT Murrayfield Stadium
Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup (Saturday 5 June, kick-off 5.15pm)

15. Harry Paterson (0)
14. Eroni Sau (25)
13. James Johnstone (64)
12. George Taylor (36)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (66)
10. Blair Kinghorn (100)
9. Charlie Shiel (35)

1. Boan Venter (6)
2. Patrick Harrison (2)
3. WP Nel (155)
4. Marshall Sykes (6)
5. Ben Toolis (126)
6. Jamie Ritchie CAPTAIN (75)
7. Hamish Watson (119)
8. Ben Muncaster (1)

Substitutes:
16. Mike Willemse (38)
17. Pierre Schoeman (63)
18. Simon Berghan (89)
19. Mesu Kunavula (11)
20. Harri Morris (0)
21. Henry Pyrgos (51)

Unavailable (23): Connor Boyle, Magnus Bradbury, David Cherry, Luke Crosbie, Matt Currie, Andrew Davidson, Andries Ferreira, Dan Gamble, Darcy Graham, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Hodgson, Damien Hoyland, Nick Haining, Viliame Mata, Ally Miller, Stuart McInally, Dan Nutton, Freddie Owsley, Charlie Savala, Rory Sutherland, Jaco van der Walt, Jordan Venter, Angus Williams.
22. Nathan Chamberlain (9)
23. Cammy Hutchison (0)

[robmatic]

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!

Dunno if you've noticed but Jones is a bit of a prick.

[I like neeps]

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!
As for the non-selection of Hutchinson. All I can say is the centres selected ahead of him must be in some top form as he has been excellent and outstanding for Saints since his return from injury.

Have you watched Gary Graham play rugby? Cameron Redpath picked in a senior squad when he was at school too. Ben Vellacott got in a squad. Dingwall has been in squads. Ashman was interesting England despite being third choice at Sale.

Seems to be a lot of SQs get picked on very limited to no gametime...

[SaintK]

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!

Dunno if you've noticed but Jones is a bit of a prick.

Yes thanks I have.

[SaintK]

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!
As for the non-selection of Hutchinson. All I can say is the centres selected ahead of him must be in some top form as he has been excellent and outstanding for Saints since his return from injury.

Have you watched Gary Graham play rugby? Cameron Redpath picked in a senior squad when he was at school too. Ben Vellacott got in a squad. Dingwall has been in squads. Ashman was interesting England despite being third choice at Sale.

Seems to be a lot of SQs get picked on very limited to no gametime...

Ah, so he's doing just to piss Scottish supporters off, I see!

[I like neeps]

Bloody hell, so you reckon Jones is going to select SQ players just to piss you lot off rather than to see if it benefits England's future planning? Hmmmmm!!
As for the non-selection of Hutchinson. All I can say is the centres selected ahead of him must be in some top form as he has been excellent and outstanding for Saints since his return from injury.

Have you watched Gary Graham play rugby? Cameron Redpath picked in a senior squad when he was at school too. Ben Vellacott got in a squad. Dingwall has been in squads. Ashman was interesting England despite being third choice at Sale.

Seems to be a lot of SQs get picked on very limited to no gametime...

Ah, so he's doing just to piss Scottish supporters off, I see!

I think Gary Graham was a poke in the eye, yes.

International teams don't want to lose dual qualified players so they get in squads more easily than a non dual qualified imo. Eddie Jones should want the best talent in England to be tied down. I'm sure that plays a part.

[SaintK]

Have you watched Gary Graham play rugby? Cameron Redpath picked in a senior squad when he was at school too. Ben Vellacott got in a squad. Dingwall has been in squads. Ashman was interesting England despite being third choice at Sale.

Seems to be a lot of SQs get picked on very limited to no gametime...

Ah, so he's doing just to piss Scottish supporters off, I see!

I think Gary Graham was a poke in the eye, yes.

International teams don't want to lose dual qualified players so they get in squads more easily than a non dual qualified imo. Eddie Jones should want the best talent in England to be tied down. I'm sure that plays a part.

As of course do all coaches. It becomes even more interesting when you have a player like Callum Sheedy of Bristol who was triple qualified!

[Yr Alban]

We do the same thing. Henderson isn't in the top 5 locks (yet) for Scotland but will be captured after this tour.

Rodd deserves the A cap for England and if he takes the call up then he has done so with his eyes wide open. Despite being Scottish born he seems to have spent a lot of his life in England. And if we were to pick Dingwall we'd be doing the exact same thing.

Some will pick England and some will pick Scotland.

Oh, I know. I’m not complaining about the players picking England over Scotland (although in Rodd’s case it will rankle at the next RWC when they say Scotland has the most players not born in the country). They’re entitled to pick whoever they wish. And we don’t always lose (Redpath and Ashman are both particularly satisfying as they were sought-after by both countries and chose us, which is a fairly new development).

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Rodd may be Scotland born but from what I can tell has effectively been in the English system since U11's.

When has EJ ever picked players just to "rub our noses in it". Graham? Wouldn't have been a loss. Rodd is a young player with massive upside in a position everyone needs players. Dingwall said some time ago he wanted to be selected by England IIRC.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.rugb ... 110429/amp

Have linked to this before - it’s from about a year ago. Dingwall was explicitly asked whether he was committed to England and said ‘it’s all up in the air’. That was the best quote I could find when I had a bit of a look 6-8 months ago. He may have made his mind up since, of course. Worth mentioning that Redpath was saying very similar things round about then, too.

The bottom line is that he isn’t in the Scotland tour squad and we now expect him to be in at least the England A team, but he wasn’t ruling out playing for us.

Regarding Eddie Jones, he has form for winding up Scotland, and I am convinced that Graham in particular was selected as mind games. No way he’s have got near their squad otherwise. Possibly Redpath too, given he had barely played any pro rugby when he was selected in their tour squad.

[Slick]

Christ I hate Irish rugby

[Big D]

Oh, I know. I’m not complaining about the players picking England over Scotland (although in Rodd’s case it will rankle at the next RWC when they say Scotland has the most players not born in the country). They’re entitled to pick whoever they wish. And we don’t always lose (Redpath and Ashman are both particularly satisfying as they were sought-after by both countries and chose us, which is a fairly new development).

I’m just predicting that Eddie Jones will pick that particular game to capture any player who was also SQ, just to rub our noses in it.

Rodd may be Scotland born but from what I can tell has effectively been in the English system since U11's.

When has EJ ever picked players just to "rub our noses in it". Graham? Wouldn't have been a loss. Rodd is a young player with massive upside in a position everyone needs players. Dingwall said some time ago he wanted to be selected by England IIRC.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.rugb ... 110429/amp

Have linked to this before - it’s from about a year ago. Dingwall was explicitly asked whether he was committed to England and said ‘it’s all up in the air’. That was the best quote I could find when I had a bit of a look 6-8 months ago. He may have made his mind up since, of course. Worth mentioning that Redpath was saying very similar things round about then, too.

The bottom line is that he isn’t in the Scotland tour squad and we now expect him to be in at least the England A team, but he wasn’t ruling out playing for us.

Regarding Eddie Jones, he has form for winding up Scotland, and I am convinced that Graham in particular was selected as mind games. No way he’s have got near their squad otherwise. Possibly Redpath too, given he had barely played any pro rugby when he was selected in their tour squad.

Must have misremembered re Dingwall. But if offered a call up and he accepts then it isn't the fault of Jones.

The two examples you cite are a No.8 who would have been and was a depth option and a highly talented youth who played for England at U20s and was eligible to play for 3 countries. We are getting Henderson involved partly because he is dual qualified, are we rubbing EJ's nose in it?

Rodd is an England under 21 who first started playing representive rugby for English prep schools at U11, played u16 for England and so on for England. Other than being born in Scotland I'm not sure what he is rubbing our nose in? It would have been strange for him to represent England all the way then to then turn away from them at such a young age.

Jones talks plenty shit, but calling up talented players and tying them to England/getting them involved early on is no different to what we do. You're playing the man not the ball on this one imo. We'd do the same thing and probably tried to with those 2.

[Slick]

What about the early tackle on Hastings? Forbes got a yellow for that

[Slick]

Really enjoyed that match.

Hastings has become a magnificent player.

Tom Gordon looked great when he came on - ermm, who he?

I know I’m in a minority but Thompson looks a bit functional to me, want to see a bit more

[I like neeps]

Really enjoyed that match.

Hastings has become a magnificent player.

Tom Gordon looked great when he came on - ermm, who he?

I know I’m in a minority but Thompson looks a bit functional to me, want to see a bit more

Thomson didn't have a good game tonight. He missed a lot with his passing. He's not a flashy player by any means but generally does everything to a high standard. That can get you far in this game.

Agree Hastings is very good, underrated too. A good thing for Thomson is he's not the player after Russell who was never going to be hugely well liked.

[Tichtheid]

Thompson chucked a couple of loose passes, but his kicking game is top drawer, plus he made a couple of good breaks. He will improve, because he gets games, as opposed to Chamberlain sitting on the pine whilst the fullback starts at ten.

Hastings is real class, imo, you can’t coach a lot of what he has, it’s all in the speed of sight.

[Dogbert]

Really enjoyed that match.

Hastings has become a magnificent player.

Tom Gordon looked great when he came on - ermm, who he?

I know I’m in a minority but Thompson looks a bit functional to me, want to see a bit more

Thomson didn't have a good game tonight. He missed a lot with his passing. He's not a flashy player by any means but generally does everything to a high standard. That can get you far in this game.

Agree Hastings is very good, underrated too. A good thing for Thomson is he's not the player after Russell who was never going to be hugely well liked.

That was a good hard physical game - and a bit earlier in the season Glasgow would have been steamrollered

Thomson has been on a damn steep learning curve for a 22 year old who has what - less than 10 warriors games , and a good number of those games he has had some cracking games

That was a statement from Glasgow who have some some great young players coming through Cole , Mclean, Darge etc , and some still young players with experience - with the Fagersons , along with some older heads

If Wilson can keep them playing to that level , then maybe things are looking up ( for Glasgow anyway )

[Slick]

Yup, that’s all fair re Thompson. Didn’t realise he has had less than 10 games

[Yr Alban]

Yup, that’s all fair re Thompson. Didn’t realise he has had less than 10 games

Bloody hell, has he really? He has had quite an impact in that time.

[Tichtheid]

Yup, that’s all fair re Thompson. Didn’t realise he has had less than 10 games

Fewer

[I like neeps]

Was Kyle Steyn always this good?

[robmatic]

Glasgow have really turned the corner since that humping by Treviso.

I'm generally happy with Embra's selection tonight but baffled by Bennett missing out, and Kinghorn over Chamberlain is weird. Chamberlain hasn't played that well in the time he's been given since his excellent performance against Connacht, but the team play has been pretty uninspiring over that same period. May as well give him another go from the start in what is a pretty meaningless game.

[KingBlairhorn]

A fairly odd game last night for Edinburgh, utterly ruined by the ref but the deserving team won. I would say he got almost every major decision wrong or inconsistently applied the laws, including the baffling decision to not award a penalty for direct contact to the head on the late Edinburgh try (I agree there wasn’t much the tackler could do, but that is irrelevant given the way the law is currently written and they way the various directives are being applied). He then doubled down on that wrong decision by deciding to not check the ulster foul play noted by Edinburgh because the try stood; what if it was a yellow or red card offence? Really weird and you could tell the TMO was utterly confused by Whitehouse’s logic. Still, we all know whitehouse gonna whitehouse I suppose and ulster got the win they deserved anyway.

From Edinburgh perspective the young lads were all good. Harrison was a little wobbly at lineout but looked good in the scrum and excellent in the loose (his sprint to take down two ulster players in defence and prevent a certain try a real highlight). We are all obviously excited about Ashman, but this kid has a serious chance too, he’s still 18 ffs!

Patterson was very solid, both in general defence and positional play but particularly under the high ball. He made a few nice attacking runs too which I expect we’ll see more of as he gains confidence, and his boot looks pretty long.

Muncaster for me isn’t just promising, he’s already there. He played like a seasoned vet and will slot in beautifully to our back row. Chances might be limited somewhat given he’s competing with Mata, but he should be targeting 10-15 starts next year IMO. He is physically well developed already, he works very hard, he was geeing up the other guys and looked solid in defence too. He also made one lovely break that should have led to a try if not for a terrible pass from the 9 I think, possibly Pyrgos by that point.

[SomersetJock]

With Andrew Porter injured and Sinkler taking his spot that means that there are now more Scotland players in the Lions squad than Irish. They will be fummmmmiin

In fact if I listen carefully I can hear a horrible whiny noise coming across the Irish Sea

[KingBlairhorn]

With Andrew Porter injured and Sinkler taking his spot that means that there are now more Scotland players in the Lions squad than Irish. They will be fummmmmiin

In fact if I listen carefully I can hear a horrible whiny noise coming across the Irish Sea

Presumably Fagerson is now undisputed second choice, if he wasn’t before Porter was injured? Clearly a lot can change between now and the first test, but it’s better to be the man in possession of the shirt than the man chasing IMO.

Of course we now have to listen to weeks of incessant chat that Sinckler should be starting, let alone benching, in the first test

[westport]

Hutchinson playing well for Saints, down to 14, against Exeter