The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

I agree, I remember talking about that at the time on the old bored. I don't know if our communication was ineffective or if we simply didn't even try but it was a poor show from the captains either way. That was a match winning moment and that is the time to have a full on Sexton - the ref might have a go at you but you sure as hell make him think it's worth checking.

The effectiveness or otherwise of our captains, particularly Barclay, was something I was thinking about the other day actually. There have been a few stories in the media originating from him about how he was pushed out at Edinburgh and that they didn't let him into the leadership group. To me, it seemed there was very little self-reflection there (a key facet of a good leader) about the skills he actually has to offer beyond his view that he has been around a long time and had leadership roles therefore he must be good at it.

I think we have had the discussions before but we have been extremelly naive over the last decade when dealing with refs. I don't like it but every other team does it and we seem to have been on the bad end of some really important decisions that could have been managed much better. The example above is one but I also think Laidlaw could have dealt better with Joubert (spit) in that WC.

My own view is that they need to have a clear and consistent approach. POC talks about having 2 or 3 key messages for the ref for every game that he came back to over and over again. Given the way Scotland play, for us this should probably include the offside line. The feel I got was that our management of the ref was not structured at all. Obviously this incident would not fall into that way of managing, but saving the seriously big response for match defining moments would also seem a sensible strategy.

Yeah, that's the sensible way to do it, I've always felt. For the Irish push the offside line and flying into rucks off feet and going past the ball. For Wales, the offside line and the smell. I'd also be very keen on picking one opposition player, eg Sexton and dropping in the odd 'jeez, he's being a whiny bastard even by his standards today, isn't he?' 'oh, here we go Johnny's got a tizzy on, brace yourself ref'

[Caley_Red]

I think we have had the discussions before but we have been extremelly naive over the last decade when dealing with refs. I don't like it but every other team does it and we seem to have been on the bad end of some really important decisions that could have been managed much better. The example above is one but I also think Laidlaw could have dealt better with Joubert (spit) in that WC.

My own view is that they need to have a clear and consistent approach. POC talks about having 2 or 3 key messages for the ref for every game that he came back to over and over again. Given the way Scotland play, for us this should probably include the offside line. The feel I got was that our management of the ref was not structured at all. Obviously this incident would not fall into that way of managing, but saving the seriously big response for match defining moments would also seem a sensible strategy.

Yeah, that's the sensible way to do it, I've always felt. For the Irish push the offside line and flying into rucks off feet and going past the ball. For Wales, the offside line and the smell. I'd also be very keen on picking one opposition player, eg Sexton and dropping in the odd 'jeez, he's being a whiny bastard even by his standards today, isn't he?' 'oh, here we go Johnny's got a tizzy on, brace yourself ref'

That's something that has long annoyed me, Scottish captains- in my view, due to a misplaced sense of gentlemanly reverence- are not effective at flagging opposition infringements in a direct and repetitive way.

[I like neeps]

Gatland 0 from 7 in super rugby. Not so easy when the offside law is enforced and you aren't allowed to do whatever you feel like at every angle in the ruck eh Warren.

Like these new rules, entertaining games rather than Warren's signature cementball.

[Begbie]

Gatland 0 from 7 in super rugby. Not so easy when the offside law is enforced and you aren't allowed to do whatever you feel like at every angle in the ruck eh Warren.

Like these new rules, entertaining games rather than Warren's signature cementball.

[Begbie]

Speaking of that game, Finlay Christie scored two of the Blues tries.

[dpedin]

He looked good, almost like a poor mans Horne! Hope the ABs dont get there first!

[Jock42]

Dalziel joins Scotland as Forwards Coach, Brown joins Glasgow as Assistant Coach focusing on the contact and du Plessis has left.

[I like neeps]

Huge role for JD after one year of being a forwards coach in pro rugby. Not really a huge fan of this one. Dalziel is clearly a promising coach but this seems a bit too soon.

[Biffer]

Huge role for JD after one year of being a forwards coach in pro rugby. Not really a huge fan of this one. Dalziel is clearly a promising coach but this seems a bit too soon.

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

[I like neeps]

Huge role for JD after one year of being a forwards coach in pro rugby. Not really a huge fan of this one. Dalziel is clearly a promising coach but this seems a bit too soon.

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

[Biffer]

Huge role for JD after one year of being a forwards coach in pro rugby. Not really a huge fan of this one. Dalziel is clearly a promising coach but this seems a bit too soon.

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

Or might be that he reckons Cockers will leave in a few years, although I’m thinking McRae is the man in line there.

[robmatic]

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

Or might be that he reckons Cockers will leave in a few years, although I’m thinking McRae is the man in line there.

Hands up who didn't have McRae picked out as the future of Scottish coaching when he was a player.

But you're probably right, I doubt Hodge will get another shot at head coach.

[Big D]

Huge role for JD after one year of being a forwards coach in pro rugby. Not really a huge fan of this one. Dalziel is clearly a promising coach but this seems a bit too soon.

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

The question I would have is what exactly is Grant coaching. Is it break down rather than "forwards" coaching?

Dalziel has done the hard yards, coached a good Melrose club side, IIRC did a decent job in the end with the 20's (5th place in 17?), has head coaching experience with the London Scottish, the 20s and 7's.

It may not work but I think it sends a positive sign to the aspiring coaches like those in the S6 that there can be a pathway to the top table. Roddy may be a good coach, but I think 3 years of pro coaching is too soon, especially as I'd like to see him out with the overreach of two noted forward coaches to see what is him v what is them. I felt, and still feel the same about Mike Blair. Not sure what his role really is.

Is De Villiers staying on? Edit - I see he is. Very important.

[Jock42]

"In addition, scrummaging coach Pieter de Villiers has joined the Scotland coaching group on a full-time basis having impressed in a consultancy role during the 2020 Guinness Six Nations."

[I like neeps]

Surprised they didn’t try to get Roddy Grant back from Ulster. Now got five years behind him coaching at the academy, Edinburgh and Ulster.

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

The question I would have is what exactly is Grant coaching. Is it break down rather than "forwards" coaching?

Dalziel has done the hard yards, coached a good Melrose club side, IIRC did a decent job in the end with the 20's (5th place in 17?), has head coaching experience with the London Scottish, the 20s and 7's.

It may not work but I think it sends a positive sign to the aspiring coaches like those in the S6 that there can be a pathway to the top table. Roddy may be a good coach, but I think 3 years of pro coaching is too soon, especially as I'd like to see him out with the overreach of two noted forward coaches to see what is him v what is them. I felt, and still feel the same about Mike Blair. Not sure what his role really is.

Is De Villiers staying on? Edit - I see he is. Very important.

Definitely appreciate the path Dalziel has followed and that it's very good for Scottish rugby and a credit to him. My concerns are Melrose is a plum job especially when they and a few others were playing semi pro rugby in an amateur league. His job with the under20s was great, he seemed to do well with the 7s but an odd role for a forwards coach, LS I don't know too much about was he there when they were still fully pro? And only one year in actual pro rugby in fully pro league with all Pro players. Definitely agree that it's important to have these pathways and you'd hope Super6 coaches were watching with interest and clarity they can go far. But I think it's too early. Saying that I think cotter had Hines as a forwards coach without much experience and Toonie was attack coach without much experience and both seemed to do well.

I guess Grant and Lawrie were/are forwards coaches with Edinburgh but Cockers had a lot of input. Same with Blair and Toonie. Blair is definitely being moulded.

[Begbie]

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

The question I would have is what exactly is Grant coaching. Is it break down rather than "forwards" coaching?

Dalziel has done the hard yards, coached a good Melrose club side, IIRC did a decent job in the end with the 20's (5th place in 17?), has head coaching experience with the London Scottish, the 20s and 7's.

It may not work but I think it sends a positive sign to the aspiring coaches like those in the S6 that there can be a pathway to the top table. Roddy may be a good coach, but I think 3 years of pro coaching is too soon, especially as I'd like to see him out with the overreach of two noted forward coaches to see what is him v what is them. I felt, and still feel the same about Mike Blair. Not sure what his role really is.

Is De Villiers staying on? Edit - I see he is. Very important.

Definitely appreciate the path Dalziel has followed and that it's very good for Scottish rugby and a credit to him. My concerns are Melrose is a plum job especially when they and a few others were playing semi pro rugby in an amateur league. His job with the under20s was great, he seemed to do well with the 7s but an odd role for a forwards coach, LS I don't know too much about was he there when they were still fully pro? And only one year in actual pro rugby in fully pro league with all Pro players. Definitely agree that it's important to have these pathways and you'd hope Super6 coaches were watching with interest and clarity they can go far. But I think it's too early. Saying that I think cotter had Hines as a forwards coach without much experience and Toonie was attack coach without much experience and both seemed to do well.

I guess Grant and Lawrie were/are forwards coaches with Edinburgh but Cockers had a lot of input. Same with Blair and Toonie. Blair is definitely being moulded.

Hines was a "resource coach", whatever that means. Fatty Humphreys was Cotters forwards coach.

[Biffer]

Pretty sure Grant is a breakdown coach. Had to move on from Edinburgh as that’s Cockerill’s speciality.

[Big D]

Roddy Grant was my first thought. What an education he's had as a coach Cockers and MacFarland - who better to teach you?

Might be that he fancies continuing to learn at Ulster.

The question I would have is what exactly is Grant coaching. Is it break down rather than "forwards" coaching?

Dalziel has done the hard yards, coached a good Melrose club side, IIRC did a decent job in the end with the 20's (5th place in 17?), has head coaching experience with the London Scottish, the 20s and 7's.

It may not work but I think it sends a positive sign to the aspiring coaches like those in the S6 that there can be a pathway to the top table. Roddy may be a good coach, but I think 3 years of pro coaching is too soon, especially as I'd like to see him out with the overreach of two noted forward coaches to see what is him v what is them. I felt, and still feel the same about Mike Blair. Not sure what his role really is.

Is De Villiers staying on? Edit - I see he is. Very important.

Definitely appreciate the path Dalziel has followed and that it's very good for Scottish rugby and a credit to him. My concerns are Melrose is a plum job especially when they and a few others were playing semi pro rugby in an amateur league. His job with the under20s was great, he seemed to do well with the 7s but an odd role for a forwards coach, LS I don't know too much about was he there when they were still fully pro? And only one year in actual pro rugby in fully pro league with all Pro players. Definitely agree that it's important to have these pathways and you'd hope Super6 coaches were watching with interest and clarity they can go far. But I think it's too early. Saying that I think cotter had Hines as a forwards coach without much experience and Toonie was attack coach without much experience and both seemed to do well.

I guess Grant and Lawrie were/are forwards coaches with Edinburgh but Cockers had a lot of input. Same with Blair and Toonie. Blair is definitely being moulded.

I agree there are concerns over JD being appointed. But I would be probably more concerned if it was Grant. Both he and Blair would need to step out from the shadows of a known forwards coach and Townsend even for a season, ideally more before I'd think about bigger roles.

Ideally JD would have had another year at Glasgow, or even took the top job there first but some one had to take the Scotland job

Melrose may be a plum job but it isn't like they were romping the league every year. I can't remember if he was forwards coach the years they did 2 in a row. There were also very good coaches kicking about then; Currie had Donovan, Heriots had Smith and can't remember if Ayr had Murray or whether he had left. Even though effectively semi pro it wasn't a cake walk. I think the 7s was an introduction to senior international rugby more than to help the 7s tbh.

Thinking about it, it is a shame more of those coaches didn't quite make it to pro level.

[Jock42]

Fife is off to the New England Free Jack's. He's maybe not the best player going but always thought he was a solid player for Embra.

[robmatic]

Fife is off to the New England Free Jack's. He's maybe not the best player going but always thought he was a solid player for Embra.

He did have his ups and downs with form though. Suspect he would have still been on the books if he'd maintained his good performances.

Good luck to him anyway, I wouldn't mind a couple of years in Massachusetts.

[Caley_Red]

Fife is off to the New England Free Jack's. He's maybe not the best player going but always thought he was a solid player for Embra.

Yeah, the total embodiment of a decent club player that you need to win those games whilst the internationals are away. A nae bad finish to his career, living out in the States.

[Big D]

Fife is off to the New England Free Jack's. He's maybe not the best player going but always thought he was a solid player for Embra.

Yeah, the total embodiment of a decent club player that you need to win those games whilst the internationals are away. A nae bad finish to his career, living out in the States.

Did reasonably well with the 7s didn't he? I think it was him that sunny Twickenham day?

[Begbie]

Have you ever had a completely irrational dislike of one of our own players? Dougie Fife is that man for me. No idea why, the guy just angers me.

[Caley_Red]

Just watched SR Aotearoa highlights from last week, Finlay Christie looks like he could be the 3rd Scottish scrummie for this new tournie coming up: was fantastic against Highlanders, totally outplaying Aaron Smith opposite.

[Caley_Red]

Fife is off to the New England Free Jack's. He's maybe not the best player going but always thought he was a solid player for Embra.

Yeah, the total embodiment of a decent club player that you need to win those games whilst the internationals are away. A nae bad finish to his career, living out in the States.

Did reasonably well with the 7s didn't he? I think it was him that sunny Twickenham day?

My comment was meant to be alot more complimentary than it reads, not a bad player at all.

[KingBlairhorn]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

[Yr Alban]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/oguntibe ... edinburgh/

Interesting. Massive 18yo lock playing in SA, has a trial with Embra. Lived in the city from age 2 to 12, so is residency qualified. Only a young lad and might come to nothing, but interesting all the same. Our last random acquisition from SA rugby did pretty well, after all...

[Caley_Red]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

That is excellent news.

[Biffer]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

That is excellent news.

I'd seen a rumour about that. Sutherland, Schoeman, Bhatti, Kebble, Dell is a healthy set if option at loose head.

[Slick]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/oguntibe ... edinburgh/

Interesting. Massive 18yo lock playing in SA, has a trial with Embra. Lived in the city from age 2 to 12, so is residency qualified. Only a young lad and might come to nothing, but interesting all the same. Our last random acquisition from SA rugby did pretty well, after all...

Good chance he'll still have the accent as well so we can pretend he is one of ours

[Big D]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

No sign of Disco popping up on here?

[Yr Alban]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/oguntibe ... edinburgh/

Interesting. Massive 18yo lock playing in SA, has a trial with Embra. Lived in the city from age 2 to 12, so is residency qualified. Only a young lad and might come to nothing, but interesting all the same. Our last random acquisition from SA rugby did pretty well, after all...

Good chance he'll still have the accent as well so we can pretend he is one of ours

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

[Slick]

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/oguntibe ... edinburgh/

Interesting. Massive 18yo lock playing in SA, has a trial with Embra. Lived in the city from age 2 to 12, so is residency qualified. Only a young lad and might come to nothing, but interesting all the same. Our last random acquisition from SA rugby did pretty well, after all...

Good chance he'll still have the accent as well so we can pretend he is one of ours

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

Yeah, hadn't read the piece before I wrote that!

Will be really interesting to see how he develops. Remember Stuart Grimes hadn't played rugby really until he was about 21 and won 71 caps

[Yr Alban]

Good chance he'll still have the accent as well so we can pretend he is one of ours

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

Yeah, hadn't read the piece before I wrote that!

Will be really interesting to see how he develops. Remember Stuart Grimes hadn't played rugby really until he was about 21 and won 71 caps

Actually didn’t know that. I was at medical school with his brother. Also with Geoff Cross’s sister, which possibly tells you everything you need to know about rugby in Scotland!

[Slick]

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

Yeah, hadn't read the piece before I wrote that!

Will be really interesting to see how he develops. Remember Stuart Grimes hadn't played rugby really until he was about 21 and won 71 caps

Actually didn’t know that. I was at medical school with his brother. Also with Geoff Cross’s sister, which possibly tells you everything you need to know about rugby in Scotland!

We were in the same class at school and he didn't play rugby and wasn't interested in the game. The "legend" is that he turned up to watch his mate play at Watsonians whilst they were at Uni and the team were short so asked him to play and realised he wasn't bad....

[KingBlairhorn]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

No sign of Disco popping up on here?

I suppose he might be posting under a different name...?

I did notice however that multiple media outlets including the BBC and the Times are reporting that ‘they understand’ the rule change has happened. By complete chance every single one is using the Schoeman angle. Just give credit ffs, either that or find some other player that will be eligible due to this rule change, there must be dozens. There really are some lazy and quite probably utterly feckless journalists out there.

[robmatic]

Good chance he'll still have the accent as well so we can pretend he is one of ours

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

Yeah, hadn't read the piece before I wrote that!

Will be really interesting to see how he develops. Remember Stuart Grimes hadn't played rugby really until he was about 21 and won 71 caps

More recently the Toolis brothers were more into volleyball before they came over.

I'm guessing this lad has a reasonable amount of natural athletic ability if football and basketball coaches were interested in him when he was younger. I remember when Devin Toner first started playing for Leinster and he looked about as feckless as I am at sports, just with an extra 11 inches of height.

[Biffer]

He spent most of his childhood in Embra and still has family there. Don’t even think we have to pretend too hard!

Yeah, hadn't read the piece before I wrote that!

Will be really interesting to see how he develops. Remember Stuart Grimes hadn't played rugby really until he was about 21 and won 71 caps

More recently the Toolis brothers were more into volleyball before they came over.

I'm guessing this lad has a reasonable amount of natural athletic ability if football and basketball coaches were interested in him when he was younger. I remember when Devin Toner first started playing for Leinster and he looked about as feckless as I am at sports, just with an extra 11 inches of height.

He still does.

[Yr Alban]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

No sign of Disco popping up on here?

I suppose he might be posting under a different name...?

I did notice however that multiple media outlets including the BBC and the Times are reporting that ‘they understand’ the rule change has happened. By complete chance every single one is using the Schoeman angle. Just give credit ffs, either that or find some other player that will be eligible due to this rule change, there must be dozens. There really are some lazy and quite probably utterly feckless journalists out there.

Don’t you realise that Scotland are the sole beneficiaries of residency qualification? (Spoiler: France are even worse than Japan in this regard)

[Caley_Red]

Kevin Millar on Twitter suggesting the residency rule change (3 years to 5 years) has been delayed a year. On this basis Schoeman will be eligible next summer. Our loosehead depth (and Lions prospects) looking a lot better very quickly.

No sign of Disco popping up on here?

I suppose he might be posting under a different name...?

I did notice however that multiple media outlets including the BBC and the Times are reporting that ‘they understand’ the rule change has happened. By complete chance every single one is using the Schoeman angle. Just give credit ffs, either that or find some other player that will be eligible due to this rule change, there must be dozens. There really are some lazy and quite probably utterly feckless journalists out there.

I think he has joined, came across in that initial burst when PR first went down.