The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Yr Alban]

Millar-Mills? Knew the name was familiar. Thought it was that he had a spell with Edinburgh, but actually it’s because one of his sisters plays for England and one for Scotland.

Apparently he is going quite well for Saints?

Played a game or two for Edinburgh after Wasps went bust. So he's been known to the SRU.

Scottish Mum, and according to his Aunt who was replying to a twitter post (no "Scottish accents soon" type) still has plenty family up here.

He had an earlier stint with Edinburgh too, but barely played. The most significant amount of game time in his career came in his years with Ealing in the Championship.

Seems to have been fairly regular in Saints' matchday 23 this season and going well enough.

I don't know what your prop situation is, but it must be fairly dire if you're selecting a soon to be 32 year old who's mainly been bench fodder at Prem/URC level.

It’s pretty poor. We basically have two international standard THPs (Fagerson and Nel) and two LHPs (Schoeman and Sutherland). Nel is still a damn good player but is 37. Sutherland has been a bit off the boil in the last year or so. After that, it’s journeymen and players like Murphy Walker, who haven’t delivered on their early promise as yet. That’s why Millar-Mills and Alec Hepburn are in there. There’s so little coming through from the U20s that we’re going to have no option but to find someone decent we can poach.

[Yr Alban]

As far as Hastings is concerned, he was unlikely to make a match day squad, but he really does appear to be constantly injured.

[KingBlairhorn]

As far as Hastings is concerned, he was unlikely to make a match day squad, but he really does appear to be constantly injured.

Not sure about that, I thought he might be on the bench to cover 10 and FB. Who else covers FB if Jones starts? Or maybe Jones covers from the pitch with Healy and Redpath benching?

[I like neeps]

Played a game or two for Edinburgh after Wasps went bust. So he's been known to the SRU.

Scottish Mum, and according to his Aunt who was replying to a twitter post (no "Scottish accents soon" type) still has plenty family up here.

He had an earlier stint with Edinburgh too, but barely played. The most significant amount of game time in his career came in his years with Ealing in the Championship.

Seems to have been fairly regular in Saints' matchday 23 this season and going well enough.

I don't know what your prop situation is, but it must be fairly dire if you're selecting a soon to be 32 year old who's mainly been bench fodder at Prem/URC level.

It’s pretty poor. We basically have two international standard THPs (Fagerson and Nel) and two LHPs (Schoeman and Sutherland). Nel is still a damn good player but is 37. Sutherland has been a bit off the boil in the last year or so. After that, it’s journeymen and players like Murphy Walker, who haven’t delivered on their early promise as yet. That’s why Millar-Mills and Alec Hepburn are in there. There’s so little coming through from the U20s that we’re going to have no option but to find someone decent we can poach.

Will Hurd is actually a good example of what is going wrong with Scotland's prop development. He was in Scotland (at Glasgow) but never realistically had a chance to play because Scottish pro team coaches are like vampires with garlic near a young Scottish prop. Leaves, takes a bit of seasoning. Gets regular rugby.

Scotland will have more props when the pro team coaches play them.

[robmatic]

He had an earlier stint with Edinburgh too, but barely played. The most significant amount of game time in his career came in his years with Ealing in the Championship.

Seems to have been fairly regular in Saints' matchday 23 this season and going well enough.

I don't know what your prop situation is, but it must be fairly dire if you're selecting a soon to be 32 year old who's mainly been bench fodder at Prem/URC level.

It’s pretty poor. We basically have two international standard THPs (Fagerson and Nel) and two LHPs (Schoeman and Sutherland). Nel is still a damn good player but is 37. Sutherland has been a bit off the boil in the last year or so. After that, it’s journeymen and players like Murphy Walker, who haven’t delivered on their early promise as yet. That’s why Millar-Mills and Alec Hepburn are in there. There’s so little coming through from the U20s that we’re going to have no option but to find someone decent we can poach.

Will Hurd is actually a good example of what is going wrong with Scotland's prop development. He was in Scotland (at Glasgow) but never realistically had a chance to play because Scottish pro team coaches are like vampires with garlic near a young Scottish prop. Leaves, takes a bit of seasoning. Gets regular rugby.

Scotland will have more props when the pro team coaches play them.

Will Hurd had a season and a half of Premiership Cup appearances (which is effectively A team level) under his belt for Leicester before he made it onto the bench, so it's not like their coaches will throw a young prop straight from the training pitch into the first team either. The problem the Scottish coaches have is that there is no second tier for the props to get seasoned in before they come up against the internationals and gnarly pros.

[Biffer]

It’s pretty poor. We basically have two international standard THPs (Fagerson and Nel) and two LHPs (Schoeman and Sutherland). Nel is still a damn good player but is 37. Sutherland has been a bit off the boil in the last year or so. After that, it’s journeymen and players like Murphy Walker, who haven’t delivered on their early promise as yet. That’s why Millar-Mills and Alec Hepburn are in there. There’s so little coming through from the U20s that we’re going to have no option but to find someone decent we can poach.

Will Hurd is actually a good example of what is going wrong with Scotland's prop development. He was in Scotland (at Glasgow) but never realistically had a chance to play because Scottish pro team coaches are like vampires with garlic near a young Scottish prop. Leaves, takes a bit of seasoning. Gets regular rugby.

Scotland will have more props when the pro team coaches play them.

Will Hurd had a season and a half of Premiership Cup appearances (which is effectively A team level) under his belt for Leicester before he made it onto the bench, so it's not like their coaches will throw a young prop straight from the training pitch into the first team either. The problem the Scottish coaches have is that there is no second tier for the props to get seasoned in before they come up against the internationals and gnarly pros.

This is what Super 6 should be used for. Franchises should have to include someone under a certain age in the front rows of every 23.

[I like neeps]

It’s pretty poor. We basically have two international standard THPs (Fagerson and Nel) and two LHPs (Schoeman and Sutherland). Nel is still a damn good player but is 37. Sutherland has been a bit off the boil in the last year or so. After that, it’s journeymen and players like Murphy Walker, who haven’t delivered on their early promise as yet. That’s why Millar-Mills and Alec Hepburn are in there. There’s so little coming through from the U20s that we’re going to have no option but to find someone decent we can poach.

Will Hurd is actually a good example of what is going wrong with Scotland's prop development. He was in Scotland (at Glasgow) but never realistically had a chance to play because Scottish pro team coaches are like vampires with garlic near a young Scottish prop. Leaves, takes a bit of seasoning. Gets regular rugby.

Scotland will have more props when the pro team coaches play them.

Will Hurd had a season and a half of Premiership Cup appearances (which is effectively A team level) under his belt for Leicester before he made it onto the bench, so it's not like their coaches will throw a young prop straight from the training pitch into the first team either. The problem the Scottish coaches have is that there is no second tier for the props to get seasoned in before they come up against the internationals and gnarly pros.

I wonder, there are games to get props professional experience. Sadly, they go to Sordoni (very, very few pro games before Glasgow), Angus Williams, etc.

Even our friend Elliot Millar-Mills was signed as a stop gap before an academy lad was played. Jordan and James Lay that season too.

The continued lack of gametime for young props is a huge problem entirely of our own making.

[Yr Alban]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

[I like neeps]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yes I appreciate you're at a disadvantage by playing young/inexperienced props.

But, Glasgow and Edinburgh do play young and inexperienced props. Just from other countries.

[KingBlairhorn]

Will Hurd is actually a good example of what is going wrong with Scotland's prop development. He was in Scotland (at Glasgow) but never realistically had a chance to play because Scottish pro team coaches are like vampires with garlic near a young Scottish prop. Leaves, takes a bit of seasoning. Gets regular rugby.

Scotland will have more props when the pro team coaches play them.

Will Hurd had a season and a half of Premiership Cup appearances (which is effectively A team level) under his belt for Leicester before he made it onto the bench, so it's not like their coaches will throw a young prop straight from the training pitch into the first team either. The problem the Scottish coaches have is that there is no second tier for the props to get seasoned in before they come up against the internationals and gnarly pros.

This is what Super 6 should be used for. Franchises should have to include someone under a certain age in the front rows of every 23.

Broadly that is what super6 has done, although there aren’t enough u23 props around for them to fully fulfil that criteria I’d guess.

Off the top of my head George Thornton, Euan McLaren, Mak Wilson, Dan Winning and Tom Banatavala have all been in super6 squads and playing. I think quite a few of the Edinburgh and Glasgow aligned lads were in squads this season too on and off (Robbie Deans from Edinburgh for instance). There was also the Scotland U20 squad that competed plus the Edinburgh and Glasgow A squads, so there has been plenty gametime for plenty lads over the last year or two. Whether the standard is right for them is a different question. It’ll certainly be interesting to see if the 20s go better this year for the super6 experience they’ve had.

[inactionman]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yep. It's a nonsense to sanction someone for losing a contest, and slipping binds or collapsing are just symptoms of losing a contest. And that's not even getting into the subjectivity of some penalties.

You still need some advantage for bossing scrums, just not match-deciding, so a free kick seems the way to go. Would speed things along a bit as well.

(I'm not bitter about a certain WC semi-final, not at all)

[KingBlairhorn]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yep. It's a nonsense to sanction someone for losing a contest, and slipping binds or collapsing are just symptoms of losing a contest. And that's not even getting into the subjectivity of some penalties.

You still need some advantage for bossing scrums, just not match-deciding, so a free kick seems the way to go. Would speed things along a bit as well.

(I'm not bitter about a certain WC semi-final, not at all)

A free kick is almost useless as a sanction though, it gives barely any advantage so you would incentivise the weaker scrum to deliberately collapse every time. A penalty that can only be kicked to touch (and indirect penalty if you like) might be an idea. Another idea could be for the team who gains dominance to have a put in to an uncontested scrum to allow them to attack with the forwards all set in a scrum (i.e. with more space).

[SomersetJock]

[quote=inactionman post_id=336430 time=<a href="tel:1706023952">1706023952</a> user_id=168]
[quote="Yr Alban" post_id=336427 time=<a href="tel:1706019658">1706019658</a> user_id=87]
It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yep. It's a nonsense to sanction someone for losing a contest, and slipping binds or collapsing are just symptoms of losing a contest. And that's not even getting into the subjectivity of some penalties.

You still need some advantage for bossing scrums, just not match-deciding, so a free kick seems the way to go. Would speed things along a bit as well.

(I'm not bitter about a certain WC semi-final, not at all)
[/quote]

A free kick is almost useless as a sanction though, it gives barely any advantage so you would incentivise the weaker scrum to deliberately collapse every time. A penalty that can only be kicked to touch (and indirect penalty if you like) might be an idea. Another idea could be for the team who gains dominance to have a put in to an uncontested scrum to allow them to attack with the forwards all set in a scrum (i.e. with more space).
[/quote]

A penalty that can be kicked to touch only, but the attacking team only get to take the lineout if it bounces once, and once only before crossing the line, obviously the defending teams players aren’t allowed to touch the ball until it bounces twice

Simple really

[robmatic]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yes I appreciate you're at a disadvantage by playing young/inexperienced props.

But, Glasgow and Edinburgh do play young and inexperienced props. Just from other countries.

Williams was 27 by the time he'd rocked up at Edinburgh and Sordoni had played international rugby for Argentina and some Super Rugby (not huge amounts, but that is a decent level compared to Scotland U20s).

[KingBlairhorn]

Will Hurd had a season and a half of Premiership Cup appearances (which is effectively A team level) under his belt for Leicester before he made it onto the bench, so it's not like their coaches will throw a young prop straight from the training pitch into the first team either. The problem the Scottish coaches have is that there is no second tier for the props to get seasoned in before they come up against the internationals and gnarly pros.

This is what Super 6 should be used for. Franchises should have to include someone under a certain age in the front rows of every 23.

Broadly that is what super6 has done, although there aren’t enough u23 props around for them to fully fulfil that criteria I’d guess.

Off the top of my head George Thornton, Euan McLaren, Mak Wilson, Dan Winning and Tom Banatavala have all been in super6 squads and playing. I think quite a few of the Edinburgh and Glasgow aligned lads were in squads this season too on and off (Robbie Deans from Edinburgh for instance). There was also the Scotland U20 squad that competed plus the Edinburgh and Glasgow A squads, so there has been plenty gametime for plenty lads over the last year or two. Whether the standard is right for them is a different question. It’ll certainly be interesting to see if the 20s go better this year for the super6 experience they’ve had.

I had a look at this btw, of the squad chosen for the U20s if we exclude the boys based at English clubs then every single one of them was selected for a super6 club (including the fosroc15). It’s not really surprising given the fosroc15 basically are the u20s but still good to see they have been given that super6 gametime. As I say, it’ll be interesting to see if that makes them any more competitive come the 6N.

[charltom]

It is largely of our own making, but I think the way the game is refereed doesn’t help. If a young prop plays a pro game and gets folded in half in the scrum, it doesn’t just deny his team decent ball, it results in scrum penalties, and a seasoned opposing prop will milk the penalties until the ref gives a YC. Which often happens even if the young player is subbed off, because refs generally operate a policy of collective responsibility at scrum time and quite often say ‘next offence is a YC’ which makes no sense at all. It’s rather like saying ‘next goal wins’ after a three hour football game in the park. So playing an inexperienced prop may end up losing you the match.

I reckon that one of the best things WR could do for the game would be to change the sanction for most scrum and lineout offences from a penalty to a free kick.

Yep. It's a nonsense to sanction someone for losing a contest, and slipping binds or collapsing are just symptoms of losing a contest. And that's not even getting into the subjectivity of some penalties.

You still need some advantage for bossing scrums, just not match-deciding, so a free kick seems the way to go. Would speed things along a bit as well.

(I'm not bitter about a certain WC semi-final, not at all)

A free kick is almost useless as a sanction though, it gives barely any advantage so you would incentivise the weaker scrum to deliberately collapse every time. A penalty that can only be kicked to touch (and indirect penalty if you like) might be an idea. Another idea could be for the team who gains dominance to have a put in to an uncontested scrum to allow them to attack with the forwards all set in a scrum (i.e. with more space).

I've long been advocating a free kick with 16 men bound to the scrum, instead of penalties for scrum offences. Like you say, that means there will be space.

[SomersetJock]

That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

[C T]

That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

[SomersetJock]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=336521 time=<a href="tel:1706100298">1706100298</a> user_id=2145]
That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.
[/quote]

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it

[Begbie]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=336521 time=<a href="tel:1706100298">1706100298</a> user_id=2145]
That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it
[/quote]

He lives rent free in so many heads.

[Tichtheid]

Under the YouTube clip of him making the joke, someone wrote "Messi wears Finn Russell pyjamas"

[C T]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=336521 time=<a href="tel:1706100298">1706100298</a> user_id=2145]
That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it
[/quote]

That warms the heart, totally worth it

[sockwithaticket]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=336521 time=<a href="tel:1706100298">1706100298</a> user_id=2145]
That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it
[/quote]

South African fans on the internet take umbrage with pretty much anything that isn't 'everything South African is the best'.

[SomersetJock]

[quote=SomersetJock post_id=336521 time=<a href="tel:1706100298">1706100298</a> user_id=2145]
That horrible sinking feeling when you see what one of our players has been quoted as saying

We all know Finns a tongue in cheek type chipper chappy, but I can already hear the histrionics about his Messi comment at every opportunity over the next few weeks

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it

South African fans on the internet take umbrage with pretty much anything that isn't 'everything South African is the best'.
[/quote]

I do admire their ability to somehow turn every rugby related story into something about themselves

[Jock42]

Has anyone shown Torq?

[charltom]

Finn's words are designed to drive more traffic to this thread. He realises that we are catching up so well that we're now within just over 900 posts of the English... keep it going guys - we're catching up fast!

[Slick]

Just watched the clip, although admittedly not the episode. It's as clear as can be that he's having a laugh. But... social media and that.

I’ve already seen a few SA fans on FB who are outraged by it

South African fans on the internet take umbrage with pretty much anything that isn't 'everything South African is the best'.

I do admire their ability to somehow turn every rugby related story into something about themselves
[/quote]

And then they wonder why we don't want them anywhere near the 6N

[westport]

Glasgow Warriors
41m ·
All eyes on London
Our Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 clash with Harlequins will take place on Friday 5 April (kick-off 8pm)

Edinburgh Rugby
31m ·
Bring on Bayonne
Knockout rugby returns to Hive Stadium as we face the French Top 14 side in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 on Sat 6 April (kick-off 8pm)

[Yr Alban]

Finn's words are designed to drive more traffic to this thread. He realises that we are catching up so well that we're now within just over 900 posts of the English... keep it going guys - we're catching up fast!

Just seen a clip on the BBC Scotland site where he makes it clear it was intended as a joke and thanks Netflix for shafting him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/68086219

[Dogbert]

Glasgow Warriors
41m ·
All eyes on London
Our Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 clash with Harlequins will take place on Friday 5 April (kick-off 8pm)

Edinburgh Rugby
31m ·
Bring on Bayonne
Knockout rugby returns to Hive Stadium as we face the French Top 14 side in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 on Sat 6 April (kick-off 8pm)

That's a really ball ache for Glasgow Supporters having it on a Friday night

[Begbie]

Finn's words are designed to drive more traffic to this thread. He realises that we are catching up so well that we're now within just over 900 posts of the English... keep it going guys - we're catching up fast!

Just seen a clip on the BBC Scotland site where he makes it clear it was intended as a joke and thanks Netflix for shafting him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/68086219

It seems to have really upset the Irish fans in particular, bit odd given they famously "love the craic".

[Slick]

Finn's words are designed to drive more traffic to this thread. He realises that we are catching up so well that we're now within just over 900 posts of the English... keep it going guys - we're catching up fast!

Just seen a clip on the BBC Scotland site where he makes it clear it was intended as a joke and thanks Netflix for shafting him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/68086219

It seems to have really upset the Irish fans in particular, bit odd given they famously "love the craic".

I think that myth has been well and truly crushed already

[Yr Alban]

Just seen a clip on the BBC Scotland site where he makes it clear it was intended as a joke and thanks Netflix for shafting him

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/rugby-union/68086219

It seems to have really upset the Irish fans in particular, bit odd given they famously "love the craic".

I think that myth has been well and truly crushed already

Sadly, the rise of Ireland as a major power in world rugby has resulted in a generation of very entitled and very precious fans. I suppose it’s inevitable really. Wales get that way when they are winning and we’d probably be insufferable as well if we ever had a sustained period of success.

This was brought home during the RWC when one of my Irish mates really didn’t realise how much of an arsehole he was being about it. When you’re the best team in the world (which they arguably were/are) then the sort of sledging that the Scotlands of this world will get away with starts to sound unpleasantly like punching down, and that hasn’t quite percolated yet. I just muted the WhatsApp group for a few days after they beat Scotland, but he had a major falling out with a mutual Welsh mate over it.

[SomersetJock]

Gilchrist to miss the Wales match with a 1 week ban !

In the same week as Caulfield has his red card rescinded

It’s time the SRU started buying some decent biscuits again

[Biffer]

Gilchrist to miss the Wales match with a 1 week ban !

In the same week as Caulfield has his red card rescinded

It’s time the SRU started buying some decent biscuits again

Is it not normal that two yellow cards doesn't get a ban?

[Tichtheid]

Gilchrist to miss the Wales match with a 1 week ban !

In the same week as Caulfield has his red card rescinded

It’s time the SRU started buying some decent biscuits again

Is it not normal that two yellow cards doesn't get a ban?

I think that is the case for two technical yellow cards - offside, scrum penalties or team offences, but not foul play.

[westport]

Gilchrist to miss the Wales match with a 1 week ban !

In the same week as Caulfield has his red card rescinded

It’s time the SRU started buying some decent biscuits again

Is it not normal that two yellow cards doesn't get a ban?

I think that is the case for two technical yellow cards - offside, scrum penalties or team offences, but not foul play.

That is my understanding of it too

[westport]

With Emma due in July, I reckon Gregor will give Finn the summer off and give the others a chance to carry the can

[dpedin]

Scotland will miss GC in the first test. I know he can be a bit marmite to some Scots but for me he does tons and tons of work, has a great engine, can get around the park and makes his tackles. He allows us to play as we do and will be a loss, however 2nd row is a position where we have a number of options.

[Slick]

Scotland will miss GC in the first test. I know he can be a bit marmite to some Scots but for me he does tons and tons of work, has a great engine, can get around the park and makes his tackles. He allows us to play as we do and will be a loss, however 2nd row is a position where we have a number of options.

He's definitely one of those where you just have to trust that the coaches know better, and on this one, I do. Jonny Grey is similar, but on that one I'm not so sure.