The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Tichtheid]

There is no doubt Ritchie could/should have been wider. But he wasn't, so don't throw the pass, I think that's fairly basic really. In the wider context we had been building a few phases and had stretched the defence but the pass went miles from Ritchie and gave them a lineout to relieve all that pressure. It's a really weird one to hang your hat on, it was a bad decision to try and make that pass.

Well, he's put umpteen players away for tries with a very similar pass, whether it be the lob like that, a basketball pass or the hard flat pass across the defence. The lob was the correct choice there, the defenders were too close.

[Big D]

Thistle seem to be suggesting Redpath is in.

I like him, and he's better than ST but from what I've seen Hutchinson is in better form than him and not much worse in defence.

I think Redpath is Toonie's first name on the team sheet, he was terrific on his debut right enough.

I reckon Redpath and Harris will start and they will be the only backline changes from last Saturday. Bennett will drop to the bench.

Mince in his second cap though. I like him a lot as a player. Just objectively based on what I've seen Hutchinson is playing more consistent rugby and there isn't a huge deal of difference in their defence. To be fair both of them and Dean for that matter would be in my squad ahead of Tuipolotu.

[Big D]

In other news, I am excited to see what Viaplay bring to the URC given how broadly and proudly they have been advertising they have La Liga, Ice Hockey and Rugby League rights

And Top 14. I guess they will walk back from broadcasting all the URC games.

Just to be clear - they have no Rugby League rights (as far as I know). They are referring to the Top14 and URC as Rugby League

They show the tier below the Super League.

[Big D]

There is no doubt Ritchie could/should have been wider. But he wasn't, so don't throw the pass, I think that's fairly basic really. In the wider context we had been building a few phases and had stretched the defence but the pass went miles from Ritchie and gave them a lineout to relieve all that pressure. It's a really weird one to hang your hat on, it was a bad decision to try and make that pass.

Well, he's put umpteen players away for tries with a very similar pass, whether it be the lob like that, a basketball pass or the hard flat pass across the defence. The lob was the correct choice there, the defenders were too close.

I like Kinghorn but if the attacker is too tight the player passing also has a responsibility to know what's around him. Both the passer and the support runners are at liited fault for different reasons. It is just one of those things that happen to us but not often to really good teams. It isn't unreasonable for Ritchie to expect a short pass to Nel there either or unreasonable for Kinghorn expecting the wide man to hold his width (if that is what the game plan has dictated).

[mos_eisely_]

And Top 14. I guess they will walk back from broadcasting all the URC games.

Just to be clear - they have no Rugby League rights (as far as I know). They are referring to the Top14 and URC as Rugby League

They show the tier below the Super League.

Indeed. Folk getting their knickers in a twist here over nothing. They advertising has been about what extra you'll get from Viaplay not existing sports coverage. And part of the URC deal has been to broadcast every single game, I doubt that will stop

[Tichtheid]

There is no doubt Ritchie could/should have been wider. But he wasn't, so don't throw the pass, I think that's fairly basic really. In the wider context we had been building a few phases and had stretched the defence but the pass went miles from Ritchie and gave them a lineout to relieve all that pressure. It's a really weird one to hang your hat on, it was a bad decision to try and make that pass.

Well, he's put umpteen players away for tries with a very similar pass, whether it be the lob like that, a basketball pass or the hard flat pass across the defence. The lob was the correct choice there, the defenders were too close.

I like Kinghorn but if the attacker is too tight the player passing also has a responsibility to know what's around him. Both the passer and the support runners are at liited fault for different reasons. It is just one of those things that happen to us but not often to really good teams. It isn't unreasonable for Ritchie to expect a short pass to Nel there either or unreasonable for Kinghorn expecting the wide man to hold his width (if that is what the game plan has dictated).

I agree, if Kinghorn had taken a little off the pass, if Ritchie had been a bit wider, if Ritchie had timed his run and jumped a little higher...

As long as we keep seeing improvement from Kinghorn I'll keep fighting his corner. He will stall at some point, everyone has a loss of form now and again, that's not the same thing as not showing overall improvement, though I expect he will get an online kicking for it.

I just think he has enormous potential at 10, we haven't seen how far he can go yet, it takes time to get used to the lack of time and the pressure of making dozens of instant decisions at international level.

I think I've probably flogged this particular horse several times over, so I'll give it a rest for now.

[Slick]

There is no doubt Ritchie could/should have been wider. But he wasn't, so don't throw the pass, I think that's fairly basic really. In the wider context we had been building a few phases and had stretched the defence but the pass went miles from Ritchie and gave them a lineout to relieve all that pressure. It's a really weird one to hang your hat on, it was a bad decision to try and make that pass.

Well, he's put umpteen players away for tries with a very similar pass, whether it be the lob like that, a basketball pass or the hard flat pass across the defence. The lob was the correct choice there, the defenders were too close.

If you are going to insist it was the correct choice, then we'll have to agree it was poorly executed.

Although how you can argue that Ritchie was "conclusively too tight" and that it was still the right choice, is beyond me.

[Big D]

Well, he's put umpteen players away for tries with a very similar pass, whether it be the lob like that, a basketball pass or the hard flat pass across the defence. The lob was the correct choice there, the defenders were too close.

I like Kinghorn but if the attacker is too tight the player passing also has a responsibility to know what's around him. Both the passer and the support runners are at liited fault for different reasons. It is just one of those things that happen to us but not often to really good teams. It isn't unreasonable for Ritchie to expect a short pass to Nel there either or unreasonable for Kinghorn expecting the wide man to hold his width (if that is what the game plan has dictated).

I agree, if Kinghorn had taken a little off the pass, if Ritchie had been a bit wider, if Ritchie had timed his run and jumped a little higher...

As long as we keep seeing improvement from Kinghorn I'll keep fighting his corner. He will stall at some point, everyone has a loss of form now and again, that's not the same thing as not showing overall improvement, though I expect he will get an online kicking for it.

I just think he has enormous potential at 10, we haven't seen how far he can go yet, it takes time to get used to the lack of time and the pressure of making dozens of instant decisions at international level.

I think I've probably flogged this particular horse several times over, so I'll give it a rest for now.

I am going to go back to this, it is Townsends fault. Kinghorn isn't getting blow back because of Saturday really, it is reflected heat because the coach is keeping up a nonsense pretence that Russell isn't in because of "form". The would be less noise If the narrative was either:
- Without Finn: "Fuck FInn, he's done because I'm fed up of his pish" (put more politely of course). Or
- With FInn: "Blair is still developing at 10, we see him as having good potential and want to develop him over the AIs interchanging with Adam and Finn to improve each other."

But Townsend has actually said that right now based on form Kinghorn, Hastings and Thomson (given he is being kept in the squad) are better than Russell, which is insulting to most peoples intelligence as they have seen Russell play pretty well over the last 5-6 weeks.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just to be clear - they have no Rugby League rights (as far as I know). They are referring to the Top14 and URC as Rugby League

They show the tier below the Super League.

Indeed. Folk getting their knickers in a twist here over nothing. They advertising has been about what extra you'll get from Viaplay not existing sports coverage. And part of the URC deal has been to broadcast every single game, I doubt that will stop

My bad on the rugby league. I'm not sure anyone is getting their knickers in a twist, but I do think it is legitimate to be concerned that the sub is going to more than double when there is nothing of value there for me. It's not good for the consumer the way sport is currently accessed - it gets harder every year to justify the cost and ultimately if lots of subscribers drop out then that will be a big negative for the URC.

[robmatic]

Thistle seem to be suggesting Redpath is in.

I like him, and he's better than ST but from what I've seen Hutchinson is in better form than him and not much worse in defence.

I think Redpath is Toonie's first name on the team sheet, he was terrific on his debut right enough.

I reckon Redpath and Harris will start and they will be the only backline changes from last Saturday. Bennett will drop to the bench.

Mince in his second cap though. I like him a lot as a player. Just objectively based on what I've seen Hutchinson is playing more consistent rugby and there isn't a huge deal of difference in their defence. To be fair both of them and Dean for that matter would be in my squad ahead of Tuipolotu.

Tuipolotu has been very good for Glasgow this season (at 13). He looks twice the player he was when he was first brought over and immediately shunted into the national team.

[dpedin]

I think Redpath is Toonie's first name on the team sheet, he was terrific on his debut right enough.

I reckon Redpath and Harris will start and they will be the only backline changes from last Saturday. Bennett will drop to the bench.

Mince in his second cap though. I like him a lot as a player. Just objectively based on what I've seen Hutchinson is playing more consistent rugby and there isn't a huge deal of difference in their defence. To be fair both of them and Dean for that matter would be in my squad ahead of Tuipolotu.

Tuipolotu has been very good for Glasgow this season (at 13). He looks twice the player he was when he was first brought over and immediately shunted into the national team.

I would like to see Redpath with Bennet. I have no problems with Harris's defence etc but Bennet isn't far behind defensively but he does have the pace and eye for a break that Harris doesn't and playing outside Redpath will give him more chances to attack than he gets with Tuipolotu who is used more as a battering ram. We know what Harris brings to the game so let's try a new combination and see what happens, Redpath and Bennet would be an exciting option.

[Slick]

Mince in his second cap though. I like him a lot as a player. Just objectively based on what I've seen Hutchinson is playing more consistent rugby and there isn't a huge deal of difference in their defence. To be fair both of them and Dean for that matter would be in my squad ahead of Tuipolotu.

Tuipolotu has been very good for Glasgow this season (at 13). He looks twice the player he was when he was first brought over and immediately shunted into the national team.

I would like to see Redpath with Bennet. I have no problems with Harris's defence etc but Bennet isn't far behind defensively but he does have the pace and eye for a break that Harris doesn't and playing outside Redpath will give him more chances to attack than he gets with Tuipolotu who is used more as a battering ram. We know what Harris brings to the game so let's try a new combination and see what happens, Redpath and Bennet would be an exciting option.

100% agree.

[Big D]

I think Redpath is Toonie's first name on the team sheet, he was terrific on his debut right enough.

I reckon Redpath and Harris will start and they will be the only backline changes from last Saturday. Bennett will drop to the bench.

Mince in his second cap though. I like him a lot as a player. Just objectively based on what I've seen Hutchinson is playing more consistent rugby and there isn't a huge deal of difference in their defence. To be fair both of them and Dean for that matter would be in my squad ahead of Tuipolotu.

Tuipolotu has been very good for Glasgow this season (at 13). He looks twice the player he was when he was first brought over and immediately shunted into the national team.

He isn't an international 12. I'm not sure he's even a 12 at all but that's what he is in the squad as.

[charltom]

I would love to see this Scotland team play...

Sutherland
Turner
Nel
Skinner
Gray
Bradbury
Watson
Dempsey
Horne
Russell
Rowe
Hutchinson
Harris
Maitland
Smith

[charltom]

... against this one:

Schoeman
Ashman
Z.Fagerson
Cummings
Gilchrist
Ritchie
Darge
M.Fagerson
Price
Kinghorn
vdMerwe
Redpath
Bennett
Graham
Hogg

That's the position of strength that we're in now - it would be easy for people to think (wrongly) the first of those teams was the 1st XV.

Indeed, most of the 3rds aren't too shabby (and yes I know a lot of these positions are arguable with excellent alternatives):

Bhatti
Cherry
Sebastian
Gray
Sykes
Christie
Richardson
Muncaster
White
Hastings
Hoyland
Johnson
Tuipulotu
McLean
Jones

[charltom]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if GT had spoken to FR, explained that he wanted to develop BK further, told him that he could stay in France ahead of the birth of his child and that he'd be back in the fold next year, and decided to make up a cockamamy form related excuse to draw some heat his way, all in the interests of "playing" Scotland's opposition both this year and next. "Playing" them works all the better because of the avoidance of asking Horne to take the final kick vs. Australia; I'll know that's what he's up to ahead of the ABs game if we somehow contrive to lose to Fiji too...

[Simian]

I like Kinghorn but if the attacker is too tight the player passing also has a responsibility to know what's around him. Both the passer and the support runners are at liited fault for different reasons. It is just one of those things that happen to us but not often to really good teams. It isn't unreasonable for Ritchie to expect a short pass to Nel there either or unreasonable for Kinghorn expecting the wide man to hold his width (if that is what the game plan has dictated).

I agree, if Kinghorn had taken a little off the pass, if Ritchie had been a bit wider, if Ritchie had timed his run and jumped a little higher...

As long as we keep seeing improvement from Kinghorn I'll keep fighting his corner. He will stall at some point, everyone has a loss of form now and again, that's not the same thing as not showing overall improvement, though I expect he will get an online kicking for it.

I just think he has enormous potential at 10, we haven't seen how far he can go yet, it takes time to get used to the lack of time and the pressure of making dozens of instant decisions at international level.

I think I've probably flogged this particular horse several times over, so I'll give it a rest for now.

I am going to go back to this, it is Townsends fault. Kinghorn isn't getting blow back because of Saturday really, it is reflected heat because the coach is keeping up a nonsense pretence that Russell isn't in because of "form". The would be less noise If the narrative was either:
- Without Finn: "Fuck FInn, he's done because I'm fed up of his pish" (put more politely of course). Or
- With FInn: "Blair is still developing at 10, we see him as having good potential and want to develop him over the AIs interchanging with Adam and Finn to improve each other."

But Townsend has actually said that right now based on form Kinghorn, Hastings and Thomson (given he is being kept in the squad) are better than Russell, which is insulting to most peoples intelligence as they have seen Russell play pretty well over the last 5-6 weeks.

Yup.

[Slick]

Charltom, Good lunch old boy?

[Yr Alban]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if GT had spoken to FR, explained that he wanted to develop BK further, told him that he could stay in France ahead of the birth of his child and that he'd be back in the fold next year, and decided to make up a cockamamy form related excuse to draw some heat his way, all in the interests of "playing" Scotland's opposition both this year and next. "Playing" them works all the better because of the avoidance of asking Horne to take the final kick vs. Australia; I'll know that's what he's up to ahead of the ABs game if we somehow contrive to lose to Fiji too...

Nope, I don’t buy it. This particular cock-measuring contest between GT and FR has been going on for several years now and it needs sorted out. Both men are ridiculously stubborn and have egos to match their talents on the pitch. Someone higher up in the SRU system should be banging their heads together.

The great irony here is that GT’s Test career was brought to an abrupt and premature end thanks to an incompetent coach who thought the best way to stamp his authority on the team was to jettison all the senior players.

[Slick]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if GT had spoken to FR, explained that he wanted to develop BK further, told him that he could stay in France ahead of the birth of his child and that he'd be back in the fold next year, and decided to make up a cockamamy form related excuse to draw some heat his way, all in the interests of "playing" Scotland's opposition both this year and next. "Playing" them works all the better because of the avoidance of asking Horne to take the final kick vs. Australia; I'll know that's what he's up to ahead of the ABs game if we somehow contrive to lose to Fiji too...

Finn back for the NZ game apparently!

[Slick]

[Yr Alban]

Well, assuming that’s true, it’s good news. Presumably GT and FR have made peace again. Can they make it last this time please?

[charltom]

Sceptical... "PASSGENGER"?

[TartanBear]

Star Airlines Inc.

That well known US line that runs between Paris and Edinburgh

[TartanBear]

My read is that Finn is unlikely to play for GT again. Likely means we won’t see him again in the thistle until after the RWC.

[Slick]

Star Airlines Inc.

That well known US line that runs between Paris and Edinburgh

I don’t think the made up boarding pass is meant to be real

[clydecloggie]

They show the tier below the Super League.

Indeed. Folk getting their knickers in a twist here over nothing. They advertising has been about what extra you'll get from Viaplay not existing sports coverage. And part of the URC deal has been to broadcast every single game, I doubt that will stop

My bad on the rugby league. I'm not sure anyone is getting their knickers in a twist, but I do think it is legitimate to be concerned that the sub is going to more than double when there is nothing of value there for me. It's not good for the consumer the way sport is currently accessed - it gets harder every year to justify the cost and ultimately if lots of subscribers drop out then that will be a big negative for the URC.

A close friend and sometimes worst enemy with a life that straddles Scotland and continental Europe would like me to inform you that a season pass directly from URC.TV is extremely good value to the folks in, say, the Netherlands who like to watch live URC action, and that said URC.TV's VPN detection is brilliant. For people willing to go there.

[Tichtheid]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

[Slick]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

[I like neeps]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

It would be genuinely amazing but if Toonie decide's
our best chance to beat Ireland and South Africa is an elaborate long con to have a very public fallouts with your star player over a number of years you have to question his sanity!

I am confident Fin Smith will chose Scotland. Too many really good young England 10s about and noise about him joining for it to be without merit.

[charltom]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

It would be genuinely amazing but if Toonie decide's
our best chance to beat Ireland and South Africa is an elaborate long con to have a very public fallouts with your star player over a number of years you have to question his sanity!

I am confident Fin Smith will chose Scotland. Too many really good young England 10s about and noise about him joining for it to be without merit.

Then Scotland could have a 10-12-13 axis* all playing together at Northampton, given Hutchinson and given that Dingwall the other day said that, although he is currently committed to England, a call up from either country would be a huge honour.




* that GT never selects

[KingBlairhorn]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

It would be genuinely amazing but if Toonie decide's
our best chance to beat Ireland and South Africa is an elaborate long con to have a very public fallouts with your star player over a number of years you have to question his sanity!

I am confident Fin Smith will chose Scotland. Too many really good young England 10s about and noise about him joining for it to be without merit.

Hopefully he also feel Scottish or a strong affinity. He is from a long lineage of Scottish rugby players as previously discussed here.

[Yr Alban]

You suspect there will be a calling there, when you have that kind of lineage. I guess we will see. Can we have him AND Dingwall please? Seeing as England are going to have Roebuck?

[Yr Alban]

Re: that Tweet about Finn - I am a bit skeptical as nobody else has picked this up. They have retweeted it themselves though. The plane ticket was not supposed to be real, apparently.

[I like neeps]

Re: that Tweet about Finn - I am a bit skeptical as nobody else has picked this up. They have retweeted it themselves though. The plane ticket was not supposed to be real, apparently.

I'd maybe believe the Thistle but not sure the Scottish rugby blog are known for having reliable sources. Tbh had forgotten they exist - I find them quite annoying.

[SaintK]

I'd love to think Finn would be back for the ABs, but I just can't see it happening.

There is more noise on twitter about Fin Smith, apparently there is an article in the Scottish Mail about him.

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

It would be genuinely amazing but if Toonie decide's
our best chance to beat Ireland and South Africa is an elaborate long con to have a very public fallouts with your star player over a number of years you have to question his sanity!

I am confident Fin Smith will chose Scotland. Too many really good young England 10s about and noise about him joining for it to be without merit.

Based on what?

[Slick]

Re: that Tweet about Finn - I am a bit skeptical as nobody else has picked this up. They have retweeted it themselves though. The plane ticket was not supposed to be real, apparently.

A mate said this morning he had heard it through a different, normally reliable, source

[Tichtheid]

Cherry oot (hamstring) Fraz Brown in

[I like neeps]

Yes, it does seem a bit fanciful, but they have tweeted about it again this morning so seem pretty confident of their sources. Don't want to go down the route of a MAGA conspiracy theory, but the thought of this being a plan agreed between Toony and Fin is quite delicious.

It would be genuinely amazing but if Toonie decide's
our best chance to beat Ireland and South Africa is an elaborate long con to have a very public fallouts with your star player over a number of years you have to question his sanity!

I am confident Fin Smith will chose Scotland. Too many really good young England 10s about and noise about him joining for it to be without merit.

Based on what?

Gregor Townsend openly talking about it which is very bullish, Smith's family history and England have magic Marcus the finest rugby player ever to have lived in the 10 shirt for the next decade/other good prospects such as Atkinson.

[Jock42]

Never seeing anyone else at 13 now Harris is a VC. Hastings in is good, Tuipulotu over Bennett isn't (neither is Harris mind you, would have been great to see him in that backline). Would also prefer Horne/White and Ashman to be starting.