The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[KingBlairhorn]

Bath v Leinster: Bath lose [tick]
Sale v Ospreys: Ospreys lose
Racing v Northampton: Northampton lose [tick]
Montpellier v Exeter: Montpellier lose with no BPs

Half way there

Looks like 3 out of 4 complete with sale 26-3 up at half time. We just have to cheer on Exeter now

[Big D]

Nice article here on Kyle Rowe. Was working full time in an Amazon warehouse a year ago.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-had-to ... and-squad/

It's a really good story. The balance between pro club competitiveness and playing young guys is probably impossible to catch everyone. .

You do have to question what they were doing at Edinburgh to have both Darge and Rowe there not playing at all and a year later being the form players in the Scotland squad. I guess in training with rules on contact you barely play any rugby but it's still crazy to me they were missed. It's disappointing to have plodders like Immelman take up a spot and really good players like Rowe leave. It does annoy me the SRU signs up mediocre NSQs when we know spots are limited.

I think Blair would've played Rowe but then you have Jacob Henry who was one of the best players in the super 6 and he's been given to the sevens whilst Immelman is playing 15 so maybe not. I am intrigued by Owsley but if you're giving him a go you surely give Henry a chance too.

Rowe went through Glasgow before going through Edinburgh too IIRC. For some players it just clicks at different times. Andrew Davidson was another that it took a few clubs before he started to look the part and now makes a decent fist of it in the premiership.

Darge is an easy one to answer. Cockerill. But realistically Scotland needed him to end up at Glasgow sooner rather than later.

Wasn't Henry the one with the ruptured achilles too? If it is, I saw a report around August time that said even though he was playing, he hadn't completely gotten back to full health or fully adapted to the changes he has had to make because of it. Sevens is probably the best place for him for this season to see action if he is still working through things. Immelmann has been average but the Argentinians have looked good and with Darcy and Blain there his game time would he severely limited. Plus Blair seems to use his number one 10 as first choice wing cover too. He could have the Owsley spot but it has taken him half a season to get into the team.

Edit:found it- https://www.theoffsideline.com/super6-c ... n-knights/

Seems he was involved in pre season. Decent catalogue of injuries for a young un. Hamstrings, knee and achilles, ideal for a winger really... poor lad.

[Tichtheid]

Cockerill had a different mindset, coming from a background where clubs are at arms length from the unions.
If you have the remit of turning Edinburgh around and are able to play the backrowers he did or take a punt on a young laddie, it’s hardly surprising he preferred the known players

If Darge was still at Edinburgh he’d still be looking for game time and no where near the 6N squad, even under Blair.
Moving him to Glasgow was the right choice for all concerned

[I like neeps]

Nice article here on Kyle Rowe. Was working full time in an Amazon warehouse a year ago.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-had-to ... and-squad/

It's a really good story. The balance between pro club competitiveness and playing young guys is probably impossible to catch everyone. .

You do have to question what they were doing at Edinburgh to have both Darge and Rowe there not playing at all and a year later being the form players in the Scotland squad. I guess in training with rules on contact you barely play any rugby but it's still crazy to me they were missed. It's disappointing to have plodders like Immelman take up a spot and really good players like Rowe leave. It does annoy me the SRU signs up mediocre NSQs when we know spots are limited.

I think Blair would've played Rowe but then you have Jacob Henry who was one of the best players in the super 6 and he's been given to the sevens whilst Immelman is playing 15 so maybe not. I am intrigued by Owsley but if you're giving him a go you surely give Henry a chance too.

Rowe went through Glasgow before going through Edinburgh too IIRC. For some players it just clicks at different times. Andrew Davidson was another that it took a few clubs before he started to look the part and now makes a decent fist of it in the premiership.

Darge is an easy one to answer. Cockerill. But realistically Scotland needed him to end up at Glasgow sooner rather than later.

Wasn't Henry the one with the ruptured achilles too? If it is, I saw a report around August time that said even though he was playing, he hadn't completely gotten back to full health or fully adapted to the changes he has had to make because of it. Sevens is probably the best place for him for this season to see action if he is still working through things. Immelmann has been average but the Argentinians have looked good and with Darcy and Blain there his game time would he severely limited. Plus Blair seems to use his number one 10 as first choice wing cover too. He could have the Owsley spot but it has taken him half a season to get into the team.

Edit:found it- https://www.theoffsideline.com/super6-c ... n-knights/

Seems he was involved in pre season. Decent catalogue of injuries for a young un. Hamstrings, knee and achilles, ideal for a winger really... poor lad.

Rowe wasn't a stage 3 so wouldn't have been full time with Glasgow but yes have to ask why. And he was good for Edinburgh in his one game I'm not sure we can say he developed slowly as he just didn't play.

Cockerill was poor for youth development at Edinburgh unfortunately. We can make excuses (Mike Blair competitive and developing I note) and hypotheticals but he failed to spot ability and talent.

It's true Owsley is probably the developing back 3 we're going with and he has intriguing pace. It's his first game so can't judge. Henry is fit though, he's with the 7s now. It's disappointing to leave out one of the best players in the super6 mind.

[Big D]

Glasgow get what their last two performances deserve.

[KingBlairhorn]

Bath v Leinster: Bath lose [tick]
Sale v Ospreys: Ospreys lose
Racing v Northampton: Northampton lose [tick]
Montpellier v Exeter: Montpellier lose with no BPs

Half way there

Looks like 3 out of 4 complete with sale 26-3 up at half time. We just have to cheer on Exeter now

Fell at the final hurdle, Glasgow oot. A dismal performance in Europe this season tbh. They had a tough draw, but Glasgow aspire to challenge in this competition and they are a million miles from doing so.

[Yr Alban]

As I’ve seen on Twitter a few minutes ago, Glasgow’s last two performances have meant that exiting in the pool stage was just reward for their efforts. I’m not sure what is wrong with them this season.

[robmatic]

Cockerill had a different mindset, coming from a background where clubs are at arms length from the unions.
If you have the remit of turning Edinburgh around and are able to play the backrowers he did or take a punt on a young laddie, it’s hardly surprising he preferred the known players

If Darge was still at Edinburgh he’d still be looking for game time and no where near the 6N squad, even under Blair.
Moving him to Glasgow was the right choice for all concerned

I don't think there's many coaches around who would be choosing to play an academy player over the likes of Watson and Ritchie too often. Blair is definitely more committed to rotation than Cockerill but Connor Boyle has still only had a few sub appearances and one start this season against Benetton.

Darge has been great for Glasgow but they played him at the end of last season because they ran out of bodies in the back row, not because they were investing in the future. Bit like Ross Thompson really, he's also done well but he wasn't even training with the first team in Glasgow until Brandon Thomson's game completely fell apart and they had no other 10.

[robmatic]

As I’ve seen on Twitter a few minutes ago, Glasgow’s last two performances have meant that exiting in the pool stage was just reward for their efforts. I’m not sure what is wrong with them this season.

I've not watched them in Europe this season but from what I've seen of Glasgow recently, when they are good they are properly good. But at times they seem to fall apart.

[clydecloggie]

20 minutes of decent stuff and 60 minutes of rubbish from Glasgow. Ollie Smith probably the only one quietly happy about tonight.

Rory Darge should have a few nightmares about his turnstile effort at a tackle for one of the La Rochelle tries - very un-flankerlike. Others also not performing to the level we've got used to. Ali Price with some really bad mistakes, Dempsey anonymous, McKay with a few howlers, Brown with another yellow card. It all adds up.

Which one? I thought he missed a tackle on one but it was Fagerson and Brown letting him get in behind and Darge isn't making that tackle.

Aye, you're right. Watched it back a few times and Darge is defending one out rather than the channel they're running through. My bad.

[Tichtheid]

Cockerill had a different mindset, coming from a background where clubs are at arms length from the unions.
If you have the remit of turning Edinburgh around and are able to play the backrowers he did or take a punt on a young laddie, it’s hardly surprising he preferred the known players

If Darge was still at Edinburgh he’d still be looking for game time and no where near the 6N squad, even under Blair.
Moving him to Glasgow was the right choice for all concerned

I don't think there's many coaches around who would be choosing to play an academy player over the likes of Watson and Ritchie too often. Blair is definitely more committed to rotation than Cockerill but Connor Boyle has still only had a few sub appearances and one start this season against Benetton.

Darge has been great for Glasgow but they played him at the end of last season because they ran out of bodies in the back row, not because they were investing in the future. Bit like Ross Thompson really, he's also done well but he wasn't even training with the first team in Glasgow until Brandon Thomson's game completely fell apart and they had no other 10.

You're right about the injuries at Glasgow that led to these young guys being given their chance

It's not just Ritchie and Watson at Edinburgh, Kunavula is listed as an open side, Luke Crosbie is an abrasive all-blood-and-snotters 7, Ally Miller was playing really well and deserved to keep his place in the back row. Nick Haining, Bill Mata and Magnus Bradbury completing the line up means it's going to be very difficult for Connor Boyle to break through, iirc he was seen as being ahead of Darge for the 20s, he just has to keep his head down and take his chance when it comes. Same with Harri Morris in the academy.

For Neeps, it's not making excuses when looking for an explanation for something. I don't begrudge Darge moving over to Glasgow, there was little chance of him getting game time at Edinburgh, he's grasped his chance with both hands, good luck to him.

[I like neeps]

I agree the squad planning of back row resources last year was obviously from the start stupid as Edinburgh's was stacked and Glasgow's wasn't great. You just wonder how two players slip through Edinburgh and get in the six nations squad within a 6 month - 1 year period. How did London Irish do a better job of scouting Rowe than the SRU?

The SRU have a problem at second row as well. Glasgow have Cummings and some pretty average players and Edinburgh have Gilchrist, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes and Young next year.

[Tichtheid]

I agree the squad planning of back row resources last year was obviously from the start stupid as Edinburgh's was stacked and Glasgow's wasn't great. You just wonder how two players slip through Edinburgh and get in the six nations squad within a 6 month - 1 year period. How did London Irish do a better job of scouting Rowe than the SRU?

The SRU have a problem at second row as well. Glasgow have Cummings and some pretty average players and Edinburgh have Gilchrist, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes and Young next year.

Sykes was with Glasgow for a bit as was Andrew Davidson.

The stacking of one side is nothing new, a couple of years ago Glasgow had Sam Johnson and Huw Jones who were the starting centres for Scotland, plus Pete Horne, Nick Grigg, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn and Patrick Kelly.

The argument on the Glasgow forum was always that you can't level down by moving players over to Edinburgh. I don't subscribe to that point of view because it's not just about the two clubs, the entire sport in Scotland depends on the SRU being successful. It has taken a long time but it looks to me like we have been getting things right for a couple of years at least, the governing body deliberately targeted Glasgow for extra funding and particular playing and coaching personnel, this resulted in Glasgow winning the league and becoming a top of the table side, or top end at least. No one is catching Leinster for a while yet so I'm not too worried about that to be honest, a measure of success is getting to play offs/finals and progressing in Europe.

[robmatic]

I agree the squad planning of back row resources last year was obviously from the start stupid as Edinburgh's was stacked and Glasgow's wasn't great. You just wonder how two players slip through Edinburgh and get in the six nations squad within a 6 month - 1 year period. How did London Irish do a better job of scouting Rowe than the SRU?

The SRU have a problem at second row as well. Glasgow have Cummings and some pretty average players and Edinburgh have Gilchrist, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes and Young next year.

Agreed about the second row thing, I suppose it's partly because Hodgson and Sykes have probably both come on better than expected but Glasgow would probably be in a better position if they hadn't wasted all that cash bringing back Nakarawa and Richie Gray.

[I like neeps]

I agree the squad planning of back row resources last year was obviously from the start stupid as Edinburgh's was stacked and Glasgow's wasn't great. You just wonder how two players slip through Edinburgh and get in the six nations squad within a 6 month - 1 year period. How did London Irish do a better job of scouting Rowe than the SRU?

The SRU have a problem at second row as well. Glasgow have Cummings and some pretty average players and Edinburgh have Gilchrist, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes and Young next year.

Sykes was with Glasgow for a bit as was Andrew Davidson.

The stacking of one side is nothing new, a couple of years ago Glasgow had Sam Johnson and Huw Jones who were the starting centres for Scotland, plus Pete Horne, Nick Grigg, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn and Patrick Kelly.

The argument on the Glasgow forum was always that you can't level down by moving players over to Edinburgh. I don't subscribe to that point of view because it's not just about the two clubs, the entire sport in Scotland depends on the SRU being successful. It has taken a long time but it looks to me like we have been getting things right for a couple of years at least, the governing body deliberately targeted Glasgow for extra funding and particular playing and coaching personnel, this resulted in Glasgow winning the league and becoming a top of the table side, or top end at least. No one is catching Leinster for a while yet so I'm not too worried about that to be honest, a measure of success is getting to play offs/finals and progressing in Europe.

Did they actually deliberately increase funding for Glasgow so Glasgow won stuff or did Scott Johnson say that to take credit? I remember seeing on twitter there was a slightly higher budget to Glasgow for some years but that was as they had more internationals and therefore a larger squad to survive international windows (now we don't play in them it's not an issue). Not sure how centrally planned it was Glasgow had the two best players Scotland have developed in 20 years and the best pro team NSQ signing ever either.

I'm not looking at it from a competitiveness pov. Purely from a Scotland pov. You have limited league gametime. You aren't paying Skinner big bucks not to play. So you have 4 players competing for 80 minutes a week and none on international windows. Would be better for Scotland and the individual career of players to be at a club where they play rugby.

[Tichtheid]

It's not just Johnson who has said this, plus the SRU placed first Lineen then Gregor Townsend then Rennie who had a very good record in Super Rugby in charge at Glasgow.

I don't think it's particularly controversial to say that resources were concentrated in the west, that's fine, it made sense to do it that way and it brought a degree of success.
Cockerill was brought in to kickstart a similar improvement at Edinburgh, he probably stayed a season too long, but I'm not sure the timing was right regarding Mike Blair, hopefully it is now.

[I like neeps]

It's not just Johnson who has said this, plus the SRU placed first Lineen then Gregor Townsend then Rennie who had a very good record in Super Rugby in charge at Glasgow.

I don't think it's particularly controversial to say that resources were concentrated in the west, that's fine, it made sense to do it that way and it brought a degree of success.
Cockerill was brought in to kickstart a similar improvement at Edinburgh, he probably stayed a season too long, but I'm not sure the timing was right regarding Mike Blair, hopefully it is now.

I think considering SRU release their accounts without actual financial evidence that it was the case is pretty controversial. It's a very convenient was of getting credit for an amazing Glasgow team whilst also refusing responsibility for a sh*te Edinburgh team.

Townsend wasn't a slam dunk great coach - he was a very unsuccessful attack coach with Scotland. And I'm not sure Rennie would've accepted a job at Edinburgh as career progression towards an international HC or be on a larger salary than Cockerill who had offers too.

What likely happened was the SRU got lucky and Glasgow through young players and amazingly successful signings just happened to be very good and the coaching decisions and signings at Edinburgh weren't good at all. There were no jackpots with Nakarawa, Matawalu and DTHs. Instead of Josh Strauss they had Andries Strauss. And there was no Hogg, Russell, Bennett, Gray X2 coming through the youth ranks either. Not they actively went out to make Glasgow really good and Edinburgh not good. There's really no logic boosting one pro team and managing a decline of another.

[Tichtheid]

It's not just Johnson who has said this, plus the SRU placed first Lineen then Gregor Townsend then Rennie who had a very good record in Super Rugby in charge at Glasgow.

I don't think it's particularly controversial to say that resources were concentrated in the west, that's fine, it made sense to do it that way and it brought a degree of success.
Cockerill was brought in to kickstart a similar improvement at Edinburgh, he probably stayed a season too long, but I'm not sure the timing was right regarding Mike Blair, hopefully it is now.

I think considering SRU release their accounts without actual financial evidence that it was the case is pretty controversial. It's a very convenient was of getting credit for an amazing Glasgow team whilst also refusing responsibility for a sh*te Edinburgh team.

Townsend wasn't a slam dunk great coach - he was a very unsuccessful attack coach with Scotland. And I'm not sure Rennie would've accepted a job at Edinburgh as career progression towards an international HC or be on a larger salary than Cockerill who had offers too.

What likely happened was the SRU got lucky and Glasgow through young players and amazingly successful signings just happened to be very good. Not they actively went out to make Glasgow really good and Edinburgh not good. There's really no logic boosting one pro team and managing a decline of another.

Who said anything about managing a decline or making Edinburgh "not good"? that is world away from identifying one team as having more potential and placing the coach you are grooming for the top job in situ, plus bringing in the likes of Nakarawa, Strauss, Matawalu, Maitland etc. It could be argued that a young Finn Russell was always going to join Glasgow because of him playing for Stirling and Ayr, but the same can't be said of Hoggy, him being from Hawick, in any event the amateur background doesn't really lead to one team anyway.

If the coaching team and those players had all been placed at Edinburgh then things would have turned out differently.

I don't understand why it's so difficult to give the SRU credit, any credit, for Glasgow's success, all of the appointments are made at Murrayfield and the signings come through those who have been placed at the teams by the SRU.


edit, I've just had a look at the backs Toonie was coaching for Scotland as attack coach, there is a big difference there to what is available to Scotland now.

[weegie01]

It was not stated after the fact that Glasgow was better funded, it was a stated strategy.

The SRU concluded that both teams were underperforming and they could not invest enough in both teams to make them competitive. They therefore made the decision that rather than underfunding both, one would be funded at a higher level to enable it to improve. The objective being that the better funded club would achieve success, generate more income and therefore become more self sustaining from its own resources. This would in turn allow a proportion of the central funding to be switched to the other club to follow suit.

This happened to an extent. Glasgow achieved a measure of success. This brought bigger crowds, higher prices and thus more revenue.

The problem is that Glasgow never really got the point that they were truly self sustaining.

AFAIK, that model has been completely abandoned now. The SRU fund both teams broadly equally and it is up them to make their own success.

[I like neeps]

It's not just Johnson who has said this, plus the SRU placed first Lineen then Gregor Townsend then Rennie who had a very good record in Super Rugby in charge at Glasgow.

I don't think it's particularly controversial to say that resources were concentrated in the west, that's fine, it made sense to do it that way and it brought a degree of success.
Cockerill was brought in to kickstart a similar improvement at Edinburgh, he probably stayed a season too long, but I'm not sure the timing was right regarding Mike Blair, hopefully it is now.

I think considering SRU release their accounts without actual financial evidence that it was the case is pretty controversial. It's a very convenient was of getting credit for an amazing Glasgow team whilst also refusing responsibility for a sh*te Edinburgh team.

Townsend wasn't a slam dunk great coach - he was a very unsuccessful attack coach with Scotland. And I'm not sure Rennie would've accepted a job at Edinburgh as career progression towards an international HC or be on a larger salary than Cockerill who had offers too.

What likely happened was the SRU got lucky and Glasgow through young players and amazingly successful signings just happened to be very good. Not they actively went out to make Glasgow really good and Edinburgh not good. There's really no logic boosting one pro team and managing a decline of another.

Who said anything about managing a decline or making Edinburgh "not good"? that is world away from identifying one team as having more potential and placing the coach you are grooming for the top job in situ, plus bringing in the likes of Nakarawa, Strauss, Matawalu, Maitland etc. It could be argued that a young Finn Russell was always going to join Glasgow because of him playing for Stirling and Ayr, but the same can't be said of Hoggy, him being from Hawick, in any event the amateur background doesn't really lead to one team anyway.

If the coaching team and those players had all been placed at Edinburgh then things would have turned out differently.

I don't understand why it's so difficult to give the SRU credit, any credit, for Glasgow's success, all of the appointments are made at Murrayfield and the signings come through those who have been placed at the teams by the SRU.


edit, I've just had a look at the backs Toonie was coaching for Scotland as attack coach, there is a big difference there to what is available to Scotland now.

There is a huge difference in talent available now/5 years ago than in Townsend's time. But he didn't do well with Scotland as our attack was mince. And it wasn't a popular decision at the time:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sru- ... 9lxvx3tr52
https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... end-895499

It was a qualified gamble to replace a successful coach with a bit of an unknown quality and it worked! Great decision in hindsight. Would Edinburgh have done better with Townsend and Rennie? Probably. But we'll never know. Rennie suited Glasgow, Cockerill suited Edinburgh. I think it worked out in the end.

I am giving the SRU credit, they did a great job with Glasgow. I just don't buy into that there was ever a conscious effort to make Glasgow the top team. I think there was a clear "Glasgow are very good, Edinburgh are very bad. Let's start phrasing it in such a way we look very clever" effort along the way. You look like much better administrators if you can say that.

[Yr Alban]

Maitland added to Scotland squad. Agree with that, but the concern is that Duhan isn’t training due to illness.

[Jock42]

Thistle rugby rumouring Bradbury off to Sarries at the did of the season as he's out of contract.

[Tichtheid]

Thistle rugby rumouring Bradbury off to Sarries at the did of the season as he's out of contract.

He was linked with another club too iirc.

If he makes a go of it and becomes their regular 6/8 then it's a good move, the reality of the model we have is that players have to move on to allow other to come up through. Muncaster is young lad, only 20 and he is not the tallest 8, but he is an absolute beast of a carrier.
We have Kunavula and Mata too, but I don't know how long their contracts are.

[robmatic]

Thistle rugby rumouring Bradbury off to Sarries at the did of the season as he's out of contract.

It would probably be good for him, to be honest, and Edinburgh do have Muncaster coming through and Kunavula who has been underutilised.

[mos_eisely_]

Thistle rugby rumouring Bradbury off to Sarries at the did of the season as he's out of contract.

He was linked with another club too iirc.

If he makes a go of it and becomes their regular 6/8 then it's a good move, the reality of the model we have is that players have to move on to allow other to come up through. Muncaster is young lad, only 20 and he is not the tallest 8, but he is an absolute beast of a carrier.
We have Kunavula and Mata too, but I don't know how long their contracts are.

Mata is also out of contract. I'd rather let him go and keep Bradbury

[robmatic]

Thistle rugby rumouring Bradbury off to Sarries at the did of the season as he's out of contract.

He was linked with another club too iirc.

If he makes a go of it and becomes their regular 6/8 then it's a good move, the reality of the model we have is that players have to move on to allow other to come up through. Muncaster is young lad, only 20 and he is not the tallest 8, but he is an absolute beast of a carrier.
We have Kunavula and Mata too, but I don't know how long their contracts are.

Mata is also out of contract. I'd rather let him go and keep Bradbury

Mata extended his contract this time last year, was it just a 1-year extension?

[Tichtheid]

He was linked with another club too iirc.

If he makes a go of it and becomes their regular 6/8 then it's a good move, the reality of the model we have is that players have to move on to allow other to come up through. Muncaster is young lad, only 20 and he is not the tallest 8, but he is an absolute beast of a carrier.
We have Kunavula and Mata too, but I don't know how long their contracts are.

Mata is also out of contract. I'd rather let him go and keep Bradbury

Mata extended his contract this time last year, was it just a 1-year extension?

I don't know if Mata's contract was just for a year, but with him having a current lengthy injury I would wager he is more likely to be with us next season than not.

[Slick]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

[Biffer]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

You will now take the blame for all and any misplaced optimism or hope.

[clydecloggie]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

I think you need to recalibrate your mocker gods communication style.

Although looking at the Welsh and English squads it would be a horrific failure if either of them beat us, France are being decimated by Covid and Italy don't count. I think we're due a few jammy decisions and plays to go in our favour against the Irish, so aye, we're dancing.

[Slick]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

I think you need to recalibrate your mocker gods communication style.

Although looking at the Welsh and English squads it would be a horrific failure if either of them beat us, France are being decimated by Covid and Italy don't count. I think we're due a few jammy decisions and plays to go in our favour against the Irish, so aye, we're dancing.

Great to have some support on the England are rubbish bandwagon

[inactionman]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

I think you need to recalibrate your mocker gods communication style.

Although looking at the Welsh and English squads it would be a horrific failure if either of them beat us, France are being decimated by Covid and Italy don't count. I think we're due a few jammy decisions and plays to go in our favour against the Irish, so aye, we're dancing.

I think that about Wales pretty much every year, and it doesn't tend to end well.

[Slick]

I've got some great news lads.

I woke up at 3.30am this morning celebrating us winning a Grand Slam this year. I'd been through all the matches and although we struggled to close it out against Italy, due to pressure I imagine, we did it.

In less happy news my wife is still furious I kicked her during the celebrations.

I think you need to recalibrate your mocker gods communication style.

Although looking at the Welsh and English squads it would be a horrific failure if either of them beat us, France are being decimated by Covid and Italy don't count. I think we're due a few jammy decisions and plays to go in our favour against the Irish, so aye, we're dancing.

I think that about Wales pretty much every year, and it doesn't tend to end well.

I can safely say you are preaching to the converted here

[clydecloggie]

I think you need to recalibrate your mocker gods communication style.

Although looking at the Welsh and English squads it would be a horrific failure if either of them beat us, France are being decimated by Covid and Italy don't count. I think we're due a few jammy decisions and plays to go in our favour against the Irish, so aye, we're dancing.

I think that about Wales pretty much every year, and it doesn't tend to end well.

I can safely say you are preaching to the converted here

Aye, I'm just doing my annual violent mood swings between GRAND SLAM BABY! and reality. The worse the Welsh squad looks, the more likely they are to somehow conjure up a Slam. And we're not beating the Irish in Dublin (or Nice, unfortunately) regardless of who's actually on the pitch.

[Dogbert]

So , if we beat Italy , and all the other match's are called off due to covid - is that a Grand slam ?

[Slick]

So , if we beat Italy , and all the other match's are called off due to covid - is that a Grand slam ?

It’s an interesting philosophical question, but basically, yes

[Dogbert]

So , if we beat Italy , and all the other match's are called off due to covid - is that a Grand slam ?

It’s an interesting philosophical question, but basically, yes

The scenario quoted was of course extreme , but I would not be surprised if some of the games were affected by Covid

Does anyone know what happens if one team cannot field a team due to Covid

[Tichtheid]

So , if we beat Italy , and all the other match's are called off due to covid - is that a Grand slam ?

It’s an interesting philosophical question, but basically, yes

The scenario quoted was of course extreme , but I would not be surprised if some of the games were affected by Covid

Does anyone know what happens if one team cannot field a team due to Covid

For the sake of discussion, would that be possible?

There are hunners of rugby players in each of the 6N countries, I suppose, at the extreme, it would come down to how far down the pecking order teams would be allowed to go, or be willing to go rather than forfeit points.

Having said that, postponement would be a more likely option than me rummaging around for my old boots

[GogLais]

So , if we beat Italy , and all the other match's are called off due to covid - is that a Grand slam ?

Could we have a shared GS? That would be nice.

[Yr Alban]

It’s an interesting philosophical question, but basically, yes

The scenario quoted was of course extreme , but I would not be surprised if some of the games were affected by Covid

Does anyone know what happens if one team cannot field a team due to Covid

For the sake of discussion, would that be possible?

There are hunners of rugby players in each of the 6N countries, I suppose, at the extreme, it would come down to how far down the pecking order teams would be allowed to go, or be willing to go rather than forfeit points.

Having said that, postponement would be a more likely option than me rummaging around for my old boots

Reminded of the Nations League football game where the Czech Republic had to field what was effectively a scratch XI against Scotland due to a Covid outbreak. They even took the lead, though Scotland won 2-1 in the end. Even so, I bet it will be a treasured memory for a fair few Czech players who will never get near a squad again.