The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Big D]

Piss up rumours were true - captain and vice captains involved.

I think this shows the (lack of) respect Townsend commands.

Might show a lack of communication too.

That's alot of important players to go rogue including Johnson and Graham who have never really been known as "troublemakers".

I'm not rushing to hammer the players on this one tbh. Look at the players involved; first choice 9, 10 (usually), 12 (probably), wing and 15. Plus a newbie. Were they out getting blootered? Out trying to clear the air away from the team hotel? Etc.

Sure it is ill advised but there is always nuances to these stories.

Well, apparently Finn was absolutely smashed in Bar Napoli. I find it hard to blame Townsend for 6 players sneaking out including his 2 fucking captains. Really disappointed Hogg was part of it. What the fuck were they thinking.

Finn getting smashed on the train back to London after the Wales game, his less than top class sportsman physique, poor performances, all seems to be adding up to an issue that maybe needs to be addressed

Townsend sets the culture, Townsend allows the same players to show a blatant lack of discipline on the pitch every single game and seemingly off the pitch with no repercussions (apart from a "talking to"), the players show poor discipline on the pitch and now off the pitch. The lack of discipline is all through the set up.
Edit: the players were allowed to "rip the arse out it" after the England game too. Presumably with no issues from coaches otherwise it would have been leaked.


The fact the most of leadership group involved suggests there are deeper issues. The players will take all the blame, maybe/probably rightfully so but it is increasingly looking like the race is run in the Scotland set up.

To be honest it isn't even the fact it is Price, Russell and Hogg that is alarming. They'd be near the top of the list as prime suspects. The fact that Graham amd Johnson went along is more concerning and suggests there are bigger issues behind the scenes.

[Biffer]

The lack of discipline thing has been an ever present across all of Scottish professional rugby and the only person who really tried to address it was Cockerill.

[Jock42]

Edit: the players were allowed to "rip the arse out it" after the England game too. Presumably with no issues from coaches otherwise it would have been leaked.

Just reinforces how small minded the team is. Beat England and its their world cup.

[Slick]

Edit: the players were allowed to "rip the arse out it" after the England game too. Presumably with no issues from coaches otherwise it would have been leaked.

Just reinforces how small minded the team is. Beat England and its their world cup.

They are not alone in that tbf

[Big D]

Edit: the players were allowed to "rip the arse out it" after the England game too. Presumably with no issues from coaches otherwise it would have been leaked.

Just reinforces how small minded the team is. Beat England and its their world cup.

Agreed. But it comes from the top down. It's the whole fucking lot.

I've seen rumours the others returned when asked but Finn didn't hence he's been benched. If that's true it is incredibly weak from Townsend and Finn should have been sent home.

[Slick]

Genuine question- has there always been an Edinburgh V Glasgow match each season? Or has it just been resurrected by pro rugby after years of it not being a thing?

TV really going heavy on the “ancient and long history” of the fixture

[Slick]

Just heard a bit more on the piss up… apparently Toony called Hogg and went nuts and said get back here in the next 30 mins or you will all be dropped.

Everyone went back except Finn who got back at 4am and then disappeared back to his parents on the Sunday morning and missed the recovery day.

The boy has an issue

[Jock42]

If there's a bigger issue he needs help. If its as simple as he's being a twat he shouldn't be in the squad, dropping him to the bench is a half measure.

Surely they knew if they should or shouldn't be out. If its the latter then a talking to isn't sufficient.

[Jock42]

Nice cross field pass Jaco

[Big D]

Just heard a bit more on the piss up… apparently Toony called Hogg and went nuts and said get back here in the next 30 mins or you will all be dropped.

Everyone went back except Finn who got back at 4am and then disappeared back to his parents on the Sunday morning and missed the recovery day.

The boy has an issue

And yet Townsend didn't really drop him. He's taken the easy option of benching him. It is weak really, he's has 5 guys take the piss and 1 really take the piss and he's done fuck all really. A talking to and a benching, that'll teach them.

Russell should be back in Paris with the offer of help available if needed. There were 2 other 10s in the squad that could have been retained.

[Big D]

Nice cross field pass Jaco

He's shite.

[Slick]

If there's a bigger issue he needs help. If its as simple as he's being a twat he shouldn't be in the squad, dropping him to the bench is a half measure.

Surely they knew if they should or shouldn't be out. If its the latter then a talking to isn't sufficient.

I heard an audio clip of someone explaining it all - not sure who it is but must be someone close to the squad. Apparently the agreement was they could have a few beers on the flight home to celebrate Prices 50th. Beers were late arriving and when they got back to Edinburgh a few decided to go out and get a few beers - there was no definitive rule, just an understanding. The team manager saw them getting into taxis and suggested it was a bad idea and a few decided against it but those 6 went on

[Slick]

Just heard a bit more on the piss up… apparently Toony called Hogg and went nuts and said get back here in the next 30 mins or you will all be dropped.

Everyone went back except Finn who got back at 4am and then disappeared back to his parents on the Sunday morning and missed the recovery day.

The boy has an issue

And yet Townsend didn't really drop him. He's taken the easy option of benching him. It is weak really, he's has 5 guys take the piss and 1 really take the piss and he's done fuck all really. A talking to and a benching, that'll teach them.

Russell should be back in Paris with the offer of help available if needed. There were 2 other 10s in the squad that could have been retained.

Well it seems Finn was the only one that took the piss, the others explained it as a misunderstanding.

Given Finns history, and potential that there really is an issue, perhaps the decision was to keep him involved this week and then have those conversations. We don’t know but it seems like there is a lot more to it than just being soft

[Jock42]

If there's a bigger issue he needs help. If its as simple as he's being a twat he shouldn't be in the squad, dropping him to the bench is a half measure.

Surely they knew if they should or shouldn't be out. If its the latter then a talking to isn't sufficient.

I heard an audio clip of someone explaining it all - not sure who it is but must be someone close to the squad. Apparently the agreement was they could have a few beers on the flight home to celebrate Prices 50th. Beers were late arriving and when they got back to Edinburgh a few decided to go out and get a few beers - there was no definitive rule, just an understanding. The team manager saw them getting into taxis and suggested it was a bad idea and a few decided against it but those 6 went on

I'd have thought that not being a bunch of squaddies with a night free on exercise but professional sportsmen with a week between international tests it would be the norm not to go out*. Poor that its the leadership group that did.


*I'd have said that know relation to England too but obviously I'm naive.

[Slick]

If there's a bigger issue he needs help. If its as simple as he's being a twat he shouldn't be in the squad, dropping him to the bench is a half measure.

Surely they knew if they should or shouldn't be out. If its the latter then a talking to isn't sufficient.

I heard an audio clip of someone explaining it all - not sure who it is but must be someone close to the squad. Apparently the agreement was they could have a few beers on the flight home to celebrate Prices 50th. Beers were late arriving and when they got back to Edinburgh a few decided to go out and get a few beers - there was no definitive rule, just an understanding. The team manager saw them getting into taxis and suggested it was a bad idea and a few decided against it but those 6 went on

I'd have thought that not being a bunch of squaddies with a night free on exercise but professional sportsmen with a week between international tests it would be the norm not to go out*. Poor that its the leadership group that did.


*I'd have said that know relation to England too but obviously I'm naive.

Yeah, I was thinking that myself. I can see why players want to go out after a game and enjoy the atmosphere, but you’d like to think they could keep it to a couple of beers until the end of the tournament.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just heard a bit more on the piss up… apparently Toony called Hogg and went nuts and said get back here in the next 30 mins or you will all be dropped.

Everyone went back except Finn who got back at 4am and then disappeared back to his parents on the Sunday morning and missed the recovery day.

The boy has an issue

It’s always concerning when someone starts drinking into the small hours on their own. Perhaps there were others from outside camp involved, but still not great to hear.

[Big D]

Just heard a bit more on the piss up… apparently Toony called Hogg and went nuts and said get back here in the next 30 mins or you will all be dropped.

Everyone went back except Finn who got back at 4am and then disappeared back to his parents on the Sunday morning and missed the recovery day.

The boy has an issue

And yet Townsend didn't really drop him. He's taken the easy option of benching him. It is weak really, he's has 5 guys take the piss and 1 really take the piss and he's done fuck all really. A talking to and a benching, that'll teach them.

Russell should be back in Paris with the offer of help available if needed. There were 2 other 10s in the squad that could have been retained.

Well it seems Finn was the only one that took the piss, the others explained it as a misunderstanding.

Given Finns history, and potential that there really is an issue, perhaps the decision was to keep him involved this week and then have those conversations. We don’t know but it seems like there is a lot more to it than just being soft

There's a thread through this all though. The decision making and discipline to do the right thing just isn't there with some of them.Team manager says bad idea but they went anyway until Townsend has had to phone them. The took the easy option and hid behind an excuse rather than just listening to the team manager or even better thinking it by themselves. Far too easy to make excuses and I say that as someone who was willing to wait on the story.

They could have kept Finn in the squad and not used him. If he has issues he needs help, not kept in an environment that leads him to drink.

[Jock42]

A yellow each missed.

[Slick]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

[Jock42]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

So far so good

[Slick]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

So far so good

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

Understandable based on his performance so far.

[Slick]

Bit cruel keeping him on now…

So far this half:

Knock on, wild pass, turned over, knock on in a ruck leading to a try

[Yr Alban]

In Scotland we like our sporting heroes flawed. Ideally with enduring personal issues that keep them from fulfilling their undoubted potential. Russell is just the latest in a long line of them.

Andy Murray - a bit dull, just boringly good and consistently successful until his hip gave out - was something of an outlier.

[LenCohen]

Is anyone really at all surprised that Russell is a massive boozer and, also, just doesn't give a fuck? It's up to him what he does, he doesn't owe anyone anything and this week he's taking the consequences

[KingBlairhorn]

Watson, Darge, Boyle. Our open side roster is going to be stacked by this time next year.

[I like neeps]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

Understandable based on his performance so far.

With all the talk of residency and Gregor Townsend one of the reasons I am starting to really dislike residency qualifications and one of Townsend's worst moves was to give him a Scotland cap purely so he was captured.

A very bad player.

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh’s 2nd half tactic seems to be don’t give it to Jaco at any cost

Understandable based on his performance so far.

With all the talk of residency and Gregor Townsend one of the reasons I am starting to really dislike residency qualifications and one of Townsend's worst moves was to give him a Scotland cap purely so he was captured.

A very bad player.

2 try assists tonight*, not to be sniffed at

*for Glasgow

[Tichtheid]

Two serious prospects came out of that game - Boyle we all know about, but Murphy Walker was brilliant for Glasgow

[Big D]

Two serious prospects came out of that game - Boyle we all know about, but Murphy Walker was brilliant for Glasgow

Good week for the lad after the Scotland call up.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

I really hope this doesn't happen but I also can see Gregor get sacked or possibly resign after the 6N, you just know Mark Dodson is the type of CEO to do it just before a world cup in less than 18 months!!

If it does happen then I want either Jamie Joseph or Stuart Lancaster (though I doubt he'd walk out on Leinster (?) Midseason).

Imho, Finn is becoming a twat more and more, first he fell out with Gregor in 2019 and totally disobeyed orders, though that nearly payed off v England when 31-0 down), then he looks disinterested v France and now this! If we had another more experienced 10 other than Hastings then I'd say drop Finn altogether until GT leaves because he is certainly looking to get GT sacked by the looks of things!!

As I posted on Facebook earlier (and got totally shot down ffs), if we don't win tomorrow then SIX idiots will need to apologise to us the fans AND the manager who may lose his job because of THEM!!

If we win then we forgive and forget :D.

[Big D]

I really hope this doesn't happen but I also can see Gregor get sacked or possibly resign after the 6N, you just know Mark Dodson is the type of CEO to do it just before a world cup in less than 18 months!!

If it does happen then I want either Jamie Joseph or Stuart Lancaster (though I doubt he'd walk out on Leinster (?) Midseason).

Imho, Finn is becoming a twat more and more, first he fell out with Gregor in 2019 and totally disobeyed orders, though that nearly payed off v England when 31-0 down), then he looks disinterested v France and now this! If we had another more experienced 10 other than Hastings then I'd say drop Finn altogether until GT leaves because he is certainly looking to get GT sacked by the looks of things!!

As I posted on Facebook earlier (and got totally shot down ffs), if we don't win tomorrow then SIX idiots will need to apologise to us the fans AND the manager who may lose his job because of THEM!!

If we win then we forgive and forget :D.

Russell isn't looking to get anyone sacked. He has been how he is for a long time.

Townsend has never beaten Ireland as HC, Hogg has two wins out of 12 v them. If Townsend loses his job or resigns it isn't because a full week ago a few guys went for beers and 5 came back after a phone call and then they've failed to beat a team we beat once in a blue moon.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

There's always a first :P, tomorrow may be that day :D.

I actually did not know Gregor has never beaten Ireland :O.

[KingBlairhorn]

Two serious prospects came out of that game - Boyle we all know about, but Murphy Walker was brilliant for Glasgow

Good week for the lad after the Scotland call up.

He was excellent, dismantled the Edinburgh scrum in the last quarter from tighthead having already played 60 at loosehead.

[Slick]

I’ve been thinking about this situation more than I probably should.

I wonder if the sudden Blair Kinghorn Project came about because the management have seen Finns issues getting worse and have had to start looking for a serious alternative. There have been more than a couple of rumours this 6N about him being disruptive and arguing with the coaches before, during and after games.

What I’ve heard is that the 6 that went out, all close friends of Price, thought they had permission to have a couple of beers to celebrate his 50th but the confusion came re the venue - management thought in the hotel. When that came to a head the others came back straight away but Finn didn’t. I can see the management trying to keep disruptions to a minimum for the last game then sorting it out later but inevitably it has leaked and looks weak.

From the outside it certainly looks like it’s just not worth it with Finn for the time being

Also from the outside it looks like GT has done everything possible to help Finn but he just doesn’t want that at the moment

[Big D]

What I’ve heard is that the 6 that went out, all close friends of Price, thought they had permission to have a couple of beers to celebrate his 50th but the confusion came re the venue - management thought in the hotel. When that came to a head the others came back straight away but Finn didn’t. I can see the management trying to keep disruptions to a minimum for the last game then sorting it out later but inevitably it has leaked and looks weak.

It is just another example of dodgy decision making from the group imo. Covid didn't just go away, the team manager potentially said it was a bad idea and yet they still went.

We went from "we are aiming to win the 6N" to "some of the lads ripped the arse out of it" within 24hrs the week before a winnable game that would have set up the 6N nicely. Now we have let's have a few beers in town outwith covid protocols we've been used to for 2 years.

[Dogbert]

To quote another Scottish Coach

There are two types of rugby players. There’s honest ones, and there’s the rest,”

“The honest player gets up in the morning and looks himself in the mirror, and sets his standard. Sets his stall out, and says I’m going to get better. I’m going to get better. I’m going to get better.

Which of those players who were sanctioned could say they were being "honest"

Its not just Townsend they were disrespecting, it was the whole management team , the rest of the players , and the paying punters

Can you imagine them playing again under Telfer

Time for some honesty

Anyway its done , time to get behind the team and hope they rip the arse out if the Irish

[Slick]

To quote another Scottish Coach

There are two types of rugby players. There’s honest ones, and there’s the rest,”

“The honest player gets up in the morning and looks himself in the mirror, and sets his standard. Sets his stall out, and says I’m going to get better. I’m going to get better. I’m going to get better.

Which of those players who were sanctioned could say they were being "honest"

Its not just Townsend they were disrespecting, it was the whole management team , the rest of the players , and the paying punters

Can you imagine them playing again under Telfer

Time for some honesty

Anyway its done , time to get behind the team and hope they rip the arse out if the Irish

I like this post!

[Big D]

I have very little positive to say, I am sure there are some just feel a bit "meh" about it all. Kinghorn wasn't a major problem which is better thank I thought would happen. Schoeman played well.

Hogg ruined a decent day with inexcusable errors.

Steyn isn't an international winger. Defence pish and noticeably slow.

Two 7s doesn't work v Ireland either.

[Slick]

Thank god this 6N is over