The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Yr Alban]

It does make me wonder if a lot of these young guys coming through, who have grown up in a period of relative success for Scottish rugby, maybe don’t have the same inferiority/mental blocks that previous generations have

Oh please, please let it be so. I’ve posted many times that I think most of our problems are mental ones.

[Tichtheid]

Shite, I've just realised that I forgot to record that game.

On again at 4am.

Cool

I'll stay on the beer till then and get the bacon rolls on the go at about twenty to.


(30 years ago I would have done this, in company)

[Biffer]

Cracking win and a good atmosphere in the stadium. First 25 was just awful, but it seemed like someone flicked a switch and then boom! From that point on, Kinghorn excellent, as was Boyle, Dean looked really good, Boffelli and Moyano really good signings, Immelmann’s best game. Glen Young worth a mention too, imposing, physical, very good indeed. Great result against a Connacht side that wasn’t weakened that much by the 6 nations.

Also, Boffelli is a tremendous goal kicker. 8 from 8 last night and some of them were not easy.

[weegie01]

I was not sure if I'd make the 4 hour round trip, but decided late on to do so. After 20 mins I'd wished I had not. Then the sun came out.

Nothing to say about the game as it has all been covered other than I'd have given Muncaster MotM, and I thought that Kinghorn had a bit of a curate's egg of a game. Some good stuff, but also passes going to ground etc. He is looking more assured at 10 but is still a work in progress.

I thought it was pretty poor that neither the stadium or TV commentators realised Moyano and Bofelli had switched numbers till Bofelli lined up a kick at goal.

6,000 plus crowd again. The move to the Dam has been completely vindicated by the crowds (the rugby has helped). Last night should fill a few more seats.

[Yr Alban]

I’m actually quite pleased that Embra started slowly and had to come from behind. Most of the time, if you post a score like that, it suggests the opposition were poor. The way this panned out says more about Embra being good than anything else.

6k is a damn good crowd. They have needed a home for so bloody long.

[Margin__Walker]

Duhan red card for Worcester against LI.

Carrying the ball and a forearm fend on Rowe to the face

[Biffer]

Duhan red card for Worcester against LI.

Carrying the ball and a forearm fend on Rowe to the face

Probably out of the Italy and Ireland games then.

[Margin__Walker]

Duhan red card for Worcester against LI.

Carrying the ball and a forearm fend on Rowe to the face

Probably out of the Italy and Ireland games then.

Yeah, probably. Was softish, but letter of the law and all that. Don't seem it being overturned.

[KingBlairhorn]

The Glasgow front five looks weak to me as a unit, with only Kebble really good enough for the position he’s playing IMO. Berghan is a good player but miles out of form, Matthews and McDonald I just don’t rate at all and Harley I’m not a fan of at lock. I worry for the warriors here.

[Slick]

Duhan red card for Worcester against LI.

Carrying the ball and a forearm fend on Rowe to the face

Probably out of the Italy and Ireland games then.

We have lost a phenomenal number of players this 6N

[KingBlairhorn]

This is descending into one of those games where nothing goes right for Glasgow. Every bit of momentum ends with a stupid mistake or penalty.

I’m still not convinced by Danny Wilson.

[Big D]

Duhan red card for Worcester against LI.

Carrying the ball and a forearm fend on Rowe to the face

On the Glasgow game the player jumped/hopped into a Glasgow players head/face. Nothing given.

[Big D]

I think that's harsh, it is a mistimed genuine attempt at a hand off. Probably technically a red but a likely 3 week ban for that? We need to bring back "sending off sufficient" as a punishment.

[charltom]

What elbow?

[Tichtheid]

That isn't a red card in my book, what a fucking shambles we are in when a shoulder charge to the head from a lock forward on a prone player in a ruck sends him flying backwards and gets ignored, whereas that soft part of the palm contacting the face is deemed a sending off offence.

There is no chance that the LI player is going to be hurt by that, zero.

If that results in a ban they can fuck the fuck off.

[Big D]

The contact is with the forearm:

[Tichtheid]

I can't in all honesty say that looks dangerous and could hurt the tackler, not any more than a straight arm hand off full in the face, which is perfectly legal.

I don't think there is a possibility in the laws for it to be reduced to zero weeks ban is there?

[Big D]

I can't in all honesty say that looks dangerous and could hurt the tackler, not any more than a straight arm hand off full in the face, which is perfectly legal.

I don't think there is a possibility in the laws for it to be reduced to zero weeks ban is there?

Not at the moment. Would need it rescinded.

Kinghorn to wing and use two playmakers?

[Slick]

That isn't a red card in my book, what a fucking shambles we are in when a shoulder charge to the head from a lock forward on a prone player in a ruck sends him flying backwards and gets ignored, whereas that soft part of the palm contacting the face is deemed a sending off offence.

There is no chance that the LI player is going to be hurt by that, zero.

If that results in a ban they can fuck the fuck off.

100%

I’m not not in the “rugby has gone soft” camp by any means when it comes to head injuries. But, it’s rugby FFS, that’s just an incident

[Yr Alban]

I think head injuries in rugby are a really important issue, and I think it’s vital the game takes them seriously. I also have a professional interest in the area. I still think that’s never a red card in a month of Sundays. It’s an attempted fend. A bit of a clumsy one to be sure, but if that gets you a red card now, it’s time to ban them altogether.

[I like neeps]

Forgot to add. Rudi is not a small teenager.

Beast.

With a full beard at 18.

Surely he isn't still at school? There's no way Merchiston are allowing a pupil to have a full beard?

Him and Muncaster are two of the more exciting prospects we've had at 8.

Also Glen Young has been very good - he can't be far away from a Scotland squad!

[I like neeps]

Judging by his Instagram Adam Hastings has been called up to Scotland.

[Big D]

Rudi Brown is Edinburghs 3rd youngest debutant.

[Tichtheid]

Judging by his Instagram Adam Hastings has been called up to Scotland.

With Duhan likely to miss the remaining games I expect Kinghorn will start on the wing, Hastings as cover for Finn

[robmatic]

6k is a damn good crowd. They have needed a home for so bloody long.

Don't think they ever got anywhere near that kind of attendance against Connacht in the big stadium.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

Will we see another winger called up or will the messiah go with what he's got :)?

When is the squad update anyway, wasn't it the Monday the last time?

I really hope Kyle Rowe gets a go but I may have to wait until July for that :( lol

[mos_eisely_]

Will we see another winger called up or will the messiah go with what he's got :)?

When is the squad update anyway, wasn't it the Monday the last time?

I really hope Kyle Rowe gets a go but I may have to wait until July for that :( lol

Would be especially ironic given it was Rowe Dugan was attempting to fend off

[KingBlairhorn]

I’d be surprised if Toonie doesn’t take the opportunity to try someone other than Kinghorn for Italy. Rowe is a good bet, as is Mclean (injured?) or Steyn. Forbes might also be an outside bet as might Maitland or McGuigan.

Toonie will have had this game penned in for significant Kinghorn gametime at 10 you would think, it would seem a lost opportunity on two fronts to play him at wing. We have lots of options at wing including SQ players I haven’t mentioned, if Kinghorn is genuinely a 10 it makes no sense to play him elsewhere.

[Tichtheid]

I’d be surprised if Toonie doesn’t take the opportunity to try someone other than Kinghorn for Italy. Rowe is a good bet, as is Mclean (injured?) or Steyn. Forbes might also be an outside bet as might Maitland or McGuigan.

Toonie will have had this game penned in for significant Kinghorn gametime at 10 you would think, it would seem a lost opportunity on two fronts to play him at wing. We have lots of options at wing including SQ players I haven’t mentioned, if Kinghorn is genuinely a 10 it makes no sense to play him elsewhere.

I think that's a fair point so I'll change my mind, Toonie has said that he expects Kinghorn to cover elsewhere, but the does need to be ready to start at international level if he is going to be ready for the World Cup, and as has been said, we do have options for the wing position.

[KingBlairhorn]

I’d be surprised if Toonie doesn’t take the opportunity to try someone other than Kinghorn for Italy. Rowe is a good bet, as is Mclean (injured?) or Steyn. Forbes might also be an outside bet as might Maitland or McGuigan.

Toonie will have had this game penned in for significant Kinghorn gametime at 10 you would think, it would seem a lost opportunity on two fronts to play him at wing. We have lots of options at wing including SQ players I haven’t mentioned, if Kinghorn is genuinely a 10 it makes no sense to play him elsewhere.

I think that's a fair point so I'll change my mind, Toonie has said that he expects Kinghorn to cover elsewhere, but the does need to be ready to start at international level if he is going to be ready for the World Cup, and as has been said, we do have options for the wing position.

It's quite likely that Toonie will play him at wing which is poor management IMO. It cuts down his experience at 10 and it represents a missed opportunity to have another wing increase their experience/challenge the incumbents. I totally get what Toonie is trying to do with Kinghorn - if he can turn him into a competent or better international in 3+ positions he becomes utterly priceless from a WC squad perspective, I just don't see how playing him at wing in this game aids that particular goal.

[I like neeps]

Scotland will have a 35 man squad, a week between all the group games and a 2 hour flight for replacements. We can and should just play our first 15 every week so not sure how valuable positional flexibility actually is. I can see the appeal of a 6/2 split and Kinghorn basically covering every backline spot but South Africa and Ireland will want us to take them on up front because they win that so not sure it's the best idea.

[KingBlairhorn]

Scotland will have a 35 man squad, a week between all the group games and a 2 hour flight for replacements. We can and should just play our first 15 every week so not sure how valuable positional flexibility actually is. I can see the appeal of a 6/2 split and Kinghorn basically covering every backline spot but South Africa and Ireland will want us to take them on up front because they win that so not sure it's the best idea.

You've answered your own question there

[Big D]

I’d be surprised if Toonie doesn’t take the opportunity to try someone other than Kinghorn for Italy. Rowe is a good bet, as is Mclean (injured?) or Steyn. Forbes might also be an outside bet as might Maitland or McGuigan.

Toonie will have had this game penned in for significant Kinghorn gametime at 10 you would think, it would seem a lost opportunity on two fronts to play him at wing. We have lots of options at wing including SQ players I haven’t mentioned, if Kinghorn is genuinely a 10 it makes no sense to play him elsewhere.

I think that's a fair point so I'll change my mind, Toonie has said that he expects Kinghorn to cover elsewhere, but the does need to be ready to start at international level if he is going to be ready for the World Cup, and as has been said, we do have options for the wing position.

It's quite likely that Toonie will play him at wing which is poor management IMO. It cuts down his experience at 10 and it represents a missed opportunity to have another wing increase their experience/challenge the incumbents. I totally get what Toonie is trying to do with Kinghorn - if he can turn him into a competent or better international in 3+ positions he becomes utterly priceless from a WC squad perspective, I just don't see how playing him at wing in this game aids that particular goal.

I am not sure it is poor management though. The current 10/12/13 combination have played 2 games together, one of those has 3 caps and looks average at that level so adding Kinghorn at 10 with Tuipolotu at 12 is a bit of a gamble. This game is a must win really otherwise the 6N has been a shambles and it will be a 3rd very poor away loss on Townsends record (Fiji and USA).

There are a lot of unavailable players for the wings; McLean and Smith are injured as is McGuigan but he's not in the squad. Maitland is now an emergency option really too given his age. That leaves Rowe and Steyn. From the limited games I have seen him in Rowe hasn't been as prominent recently.

The coaches believe that Kinghorn is the best or one of their best defensive players on the wing and he can cover 10 from there if need be and Steyn can bench. If the Lions are given the summer off, there will be tests in Argentina to start.

[I like neeps]

Scotland will have a 35 man squad, a week between all the group games and a 2 hour flight for replacements. We can and should just play our first 15 every week so not sure how valuable positional flexibility actually is. I can see the appeal of a 6/2 split and Kinghorn basically covering every backline spot but South Africa and Ireland will want us to take them on up front because they win that so not sure it's the best idea.

You've answered your own question there

But that's not limited to the RWC where as said positional flexibility is much less important as we have a week between games and a larger squad. Positional flexibility is far less important in this world cup than previous cups because of those changes.

[Biffer]

Not rugby, but it’s always good to see the regular ‘Andy Murray is a top bloke example number 1635278’ story in the news.

[Big D]

Thistle suggesting Fagerson, Russell and Johnson at 8, 10 and 12.

[Big D]

Not rugby, but it’s always good to see the regular ‘Andy Murray is a top bloke example number 1635278’ story in the news.

Pity he isn't winning much... I jest , great gesture.

[Slick]

Thistle suggesting Fagerson, Russell and Johnson at 8, 10 and 12.

A game too late, but good.

I know Fagerson was injured

[Yr Alban]

Thistle Pod on Twitter saying that Duhan has copped a 3w ban and misses the rest of the 6N. Which makes me doubt anyone on the citing panel actually watched the incident.

[KingBlairhorn]

Thistle Pod on Twitter saying that Duhan has copped a 3w ban and misses the rest of the 6N. Which makes me doubt anyone on the citing panel actually watched the incident.

The notion that a red card has to come with a ban perhaps should be challenged. I can get on board with the idea it’s a red card if the impact is he misses the rest of the game he was playing in, and if it’s a serious incident there will be further punishment. The current system treats wildly different incidents more or less from the same starting point which seems wrong.

For the record I don’t have any particular issue with it being a red. Whilst the incident was tame, it’s easy to argue that it was clumsy and it was obviously direct contact to the face. If you don’t want a card, don’t do it. Equally, it’s difficult to argue the sanction for the incident should be the same as for Haouas punching Richie, for instance.