The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[dpedin]

Bit behind but on the Glasgow game but a lot of good stuff in that half as well as a lot of mistakes - could have been 40 up easily.

Really liking Jordan at 12. Love watching McKay play when he is in full flow, he just unsettles and unbalances defenders with his lines, footwork and delay on his passes, class act.

Must admit I haven’t been fully convinced by the Stafford hype train but has oozed class tonight so far

I think hype train is a bit unfair, he's 25 and has come up earning his jersey step by step since the U20s. He's behind some serious players, the best centres Scotland have had in the pro era are playing for Glasgow and then there is the likes of Redpath and Hutch for Scotland - in most other eras he's a regular Scotland cap player by now

Oh, I didn’t mean anything derogatory by that at all. Just meant he has been getting a lot of attention but I wasn’t totally convinced. He was superb tonight

Stafford has been superb all season to be fair. He has it all, including line out expertise, and it comes in a 6'5" frame! He has pace, strong in the tackle, soft hands, can distribute and can kick a mile off of his left foot. He runs a lovely line in attack and for a big man can be very elusive. His major problem in getting an international start is he doesn't cover any other position other than centre and our options can. If he had a bit of a record at 15 or 10 for example then I would see him at least making the bench. I would like to see him start a game for Scotland soon, he deserves it.

[Biffer]

I think hype train is a bit unfair, he's 25 and has come up earning his jersey step by step since the U20s. He's behind some serious players, the best centres Scotland have had in the pro era are playing for Glasgow and then there is the likes of Redpath and Hutch for Scotland - in most other eras he's a regular Scotland cap player by now

Oh, I didn’t mean anything derogatory by that at all. Just meant he has been getting a lot of attention but I wasn’t totally convinced. He was superb tonight

Stafford has been superb all season to be fair. He has it all, including line out expertise, and it comes in a 6'5" frame! He has pace, strong in the tackle, soft hands, can distribute and can kick a mile off of his left foot. He runs a lovely line in attack and for a big man can be very elusive. His major problem in getting an international start is he doesn't cover any other position other than centre and our options can. If he had a bit of a record at 15 or 10 for example then I would see him at least making the bench. I would like to see him start a game for Scotland soon, he deserves it.

Some players will be rested for the summer tour, given we had a World Cup this year. So I’d be surprised if he doesn’t feature a few times on tour.

[Tichtheid]

Yeah, I expect McDowall, Hutchinson and Rowe will get game time in the summer. I'd like to think Currie will be taken along for the experience and to bring him on.

[Slick]

If they really do put more effort into a Scotland A side then it could be very useful as that next step up for players like him that are just below the regular starters

[Big D]

McDowell is in a tough spot.

Tuipulotu is only a year older and McDowell is pretty much two years older than Redpath. He's not young anymore and has steep competition at each turn.

[Yr Alban]

Bradbury, Mish, Nel and Kinghorn all back in the squad. Still no Darcy. Gather he managed to pick up another injury last week. The guy is made of glass. :(

[Yr Alban]

McDowell is in a tough spot.

Tuipulotu is only a year older and McDowell is pretty much two years older than Redpath. He's not young anymore and has steep competition at each turn.

This is the downside of having more depth than we used to. Good players, like McDowall and Hutchinson, struggle to get any game time. You could even include Redpath - 10 years ago he would be starting every game, and now he’s only getting cameos. Even Huw Jones was out in the cold for a while.

Now, if we could only have that kind of competition at prop and lock…

[westport]

Squad update
Magnus Bradbury, Alex Craig, Blair Kinghorn, WP Nel and Hamish Watson have joined the squad ahead of the weekend.
Josh Bayliss, Ross McCann and Javan Sebastian have left the squad.

[Yr Alban]

Squad update
Magnus Bradbury, Alex Craig, Blair Kinghorn, WP Nel and Hamish Watson have joined the squad ahead of the weekend.
Josh Bayliss, Ross McCann and Javan Sebastian have left the squad.

Unless Sebastian is injured, this suggests that Millar-Mills is now ahead of him in the pecking order. Which would seem strange.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby today secured the signing of 20-year-old Scottish qualified Leicester Tigers lock Rob Carmichael on a three-year deal.
The 6ft 11in second-row arrived in the capital today on an initial loan until the end of the season, before the move becomes permanent this summer.

[westport]

Squad update
Magnus Bradbury, Alex Craig, Blair Kinghorn, WP Nel and Hamish Watson have joined the squad ahead of the weekend.
Josh Bayliss, Ross McCann and Javan Sebastian have left the squad.

Unless Sebastian is injured, this suggests that Millar-Mills is now ahead of him in the pecking order. Which would seem strange.

No news of why he dropped out also Darcy Graham remains sidelined after picking up a groin injury in training last week.

[Slick]

It has started to fascinate me how much other teams and players know about Kinghorn. I honestly think he is in the top 10 attacking players in the game at the moment, potentially quite high up that list, but he just never seems to be talked about either by opposition coaches or supporters. It's a bit odd really considering what he was doing week in week out with Edinburgh, and seemingly now in France, and some of the tries he has made or scored at international level. It's great for us, and I can see him ripping it up on Saturday, just a bit odd.

On another note, I've always been a big supporter of Toony, but I think Saturday is is a bit of a defining moment. If we can't beat this England team at home then I think we have to look to move on. He has delivered the most enjoyable and entertaining era of my lifetime, and by many metrics the most successful, but it's still the same weaknesses letting us down time and time again. I don't necessarily think anyone can come in and be more successful, but it will be bloody obvious we have reached the limit if we manage to fuck this one up.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh Rugby today secured the signing of 20-year-old Scottish qualified Leicester Tigers lock Rob Carmichael on a three-year deal.
The 6ft 11in second-row arrived in the capital today on an initial loan until the end of the season, before the move becomes permanent this summer.

Well if he works out like Mish did after coming via the same route, I'll be very happy.

[inactionman]

Apols if missed, but is Adam Hastings heading back up to Glasgow?

Seems to be struggling to find a home, injuries certainly haven't helped.

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh Rugby today secured the signing of 20-year-old Scottish qualified Leicester Tigers lock Rob Carmichael on a three-year deal.
The 6ft 11in second-row arrived in the capital today on an initial loan until the end of the season, before the move becomes permanent this summer.

Well if he works out like Mish did after coming via the same route, I'll be very happy.

He’s ginger so it’s a thumbs up from me.

[KingBlairhorn]

Apols if missed, but is Adam Hastings heading back up to Glasgow?

Seems to be struggling to find a home, injuries certainly haven't helped.

Heavily rumoured but not confirmed. As much as I love the guy, swapping him for weir would be a big step up. Hastings, Thompson and Richie Simpson as the three 10s with TJ as a 10/12 is a very good roster.

[inactionman]

Apols if missed, but is Adam Hastings heading back up to Glasgow?

Seems to be struggling to find a home, injuries certainly haven't helped.

Heavily rumoured but not confirmed. As much as I love the guy, swapping him for weir would be a big step up. Hastings, Thompson and Richie Simpson as the three 10s with TJ as a 10/12 is a very good roster.

He looked very promising at Bath, I was pretty disappointed when he went but could understand international ambitions - which made his subsequent move to Gloucester from Glasgow a little bit hard to follow. Was it just the 10 shirt was locked down in Glasgow and he wasn't getting game time, or something else?

[I like neeps]

Apols if missed, but is Adam Hastings heading back up to Glasgow?

Seems to be struggling to find a home, injuries certainly haven't helped.

Heavily rumoured but not confirmed. As much as I love the guy, swapping him for weir would be a big step up. Hastings, Thompson and Richie Simpson as the three 10s with TJ as a 10/12 is a very good roster.

He looked very promising at Bath, I was pretty disappointed when he went but could understand international ambitions - which made his subsequent move to Gloucester from Glasgow a little bit hard to follow. Was it just the 10 shirt was locked down in Glasgow and he wasn't getting game time, or something else?

Wanted to live in SW England again and play in the premiership I think. As well as slightly more money.

Was the story at the time.

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh Rugby today secured the signing of 20-year-old Scottish qualified Leicester Tigers lock Rob Carmichael on a three-year deal.
The 6ft 11in second-row arrived in the capital today on an initial loan until the end of the season, before the move becomes permanent this summer.

Well if he works out like Mish did after coming via the same route, I'll be very happy.

He’s ginger so it’s a thumbs up from me.

Just read a bit more about this chap. He was born in HK to a Scottish father and was only in England from around 16/17yo. Apparently he has several brothers who are talented too.

Will Owen (the squidge rugby guy) is a pal of his and posted on twitter earlier that the lad was always a Scotland fan over England. Seems he ticks all the right boxes. He’ll still be labelled as a poach though *sigh*

[Yr Alban]

Well if he works out like Mish did after coming via the same route, I'll be very happy.

He’s ginger so it’s a thumbs up from me.

Just read a bit more about this chap. He was born in HK to a Scottish father and was only in England from around 16/17yo. Apparently he has several brothers who are talented too.

Will Owen (the squidge rugby guy) is a pal of his and posted on twitter earlier that the lad was always a Scotland fan over England. Seems he ticks all the right boxes. He’ll still be labelled as a poach though *sigh*

Read his bio earlier and suspected that he’s one who has been brought up supporting Scotland, like Mish and Cam Redpath. So I couldn’t give a damn what he gets labelled as. Hope he is good because we need good locks badly.

[Big D]

Squad update
Magnus Bradbury, Alex Craig, Blair Kinghorn, WP Nel and Hamish Watson have joined the squad ahead of the weekend.
Josh Bayliss, Ross McCann and Javan Sebastian have left the squad.

Unless Sebastian is injured, this suggests that Millar-Mills is now ahead of him in the pecking order. Which would seem strange.

Could be as simple as they want more time with EMM in camp. They've have a long hard look at Sebastian, who isn't a top TH and been mostly average but has never let us down when used IIRC.

[Big D]

Well if he works out like Mish did after coming via the same route, I'll be very happy.

He’s ginger so it’s a thumbs up from me.

Just read a bit more about this chap. He was born in HK to a Scottish father and was only in England from around 16/17yo. Apparently he has several brothers who are talented too.

Will Owen (the squidge rugby guy) is a pal of his and posted on twitter earlier that the lad was always a Scotland fan over England. Seems he ticks all the right boxes. He’ll still be labelled as a poach though *sigh*

The reality is that England based players are better making the business decision to be EQ for as long as possible until an international HC comes knocking.

[topofthemoon]

Match preview part 1 for Scotland Rugby News:

- winning streaks;
- Springbok influence;
- Scotland's favourite ref.

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/analy ... Nz9GfJH6Bc

[Big D]

So what changes are people expecting?

Think the tight 5 will stay the same. I think Fagerson v Christie is tight but GT will edge to Fagerson.

If Kinghorn is good to go then I would probably start Rowe on the wing as not sure Graham will be ready.

I'd stick with 5/3 on the bench. We lack the bench option that covers 4/5/6 and I am not keen on two out and out back rowers in a 6/2 split. Nel to come in to bench.

[Tichtheid]

I'd start Rowe over Steyn, but I'm not convinced Toonie sees it that way, maybe the France game will have changed his mind.

I don't think you need a utility back five player for your sixth forward, if you go six two you are replacing practically the whole pack, my argument for Bradbury as the sixth forward is to bring his carrying power on at the hour mark and tell him to let rip for twenty minutes.
Again, I don't think Toonie will see it that way.

I think Christie, Ritchie and Fagerson are all close calls - three players for two spots

[dpedin]

I'd start Rowe over Steyn, but I'm not convinced Toonie sees it that way, maybe the France game will have changed his mind.

I don't think you need a utility back five player for your sixth forward, if you go six two you are replacing practically the whole pack, my argument for Bradbury as the sixth forward is to bring his carrying power on at the hour mark and tell him to let rip for twenty minutes.
Again, I don't think Toonie will see it that way.

I think Christie, Ritchie and Fagerson are all close calls - three players for two spots

England will resort to type for this game - try and dominate up front and kick from 9 and 10 and chase everything hoping for Scotland to make mistakes. They will play little rugby outside of Scotland 22 and most of it will be kicking cross field or dinks over the top or else carrying though Tuilagi at 12. They will defend narrow with a fast rush defence, target Fin at 10 and try and force us back inside the whole game into their big pack.

I'm not too far away from your assessment. I suspect Toonie will want some muscle up front as he thinks that's where England are strongest so I think a 6-2 split. I suspect he will start with bulk of Fagerson in back row with Darge and Dempsey. I would like to see Bradbury on the bench as well as Chistie, I think Ritchie misses out again. In the backs I see Kinghorn coming in to counter their kicking game and also provide attacking threat from deep. I also wonder if we start Horne at 9 as White got caught a few times at the base of the scrums, back of rucks and they will target him being slightly slow in getting the ball away? Nel will come back onto the bench.

Scotland will need to front up in the forward battle, try and go through phases and create quick ball to attack around the fringes - England front 5 are pretty slow in resetting in defence. We will also kick for territory but also look to go wide around their rush defence and the English back 3 are pretty poor in man on man defence. We need to avoid penalties as England will look to kick to line and go through rolling mauls and as we know or defence of them has not been brilliant plus we have conceded a few yellow cards.

[KingBlairhorn]

I'd start Rowe over Steyn, but I'm not convinced Toonie sees it that way, maybe the France game will have changed his mind.

I don't think you need a utility back five player for your sixth forward, if you go six two you are replacing practically the whole pack, my argument for Bradbury as the sixth forward is to bring his carrying power on at the hour mark and tell him to let rip for twenty minutes.
Again, I don't think Toonie will see it that way.

I think Christie, Ritchie and Fagerson are all close calls - three players for two spots

England will resort to type for this game - try and dominate up front and kick from 9 and 10 and chase everything hoping for Scotland to make mistakes. They will play little rugby outside of Scotland 22 and most of it will be kicking cross field or dinks over the top or else carrying though Tuilagi at 12. They will defend narrow with a fast rush defence, target Fin at 10 and try and force us back inside the whole game into their big pack.

I'm not too far away from your assessment. I suspect Toonie will want some muscle up front as he thinks that's where England are strongest so I think a 6-2 split. I suspect he will start with bulk of Fagerson in back row with Darge and Dempsey. I would like to see Bradbury on the bench as well as Chistie, I think Ritchie misses out again. In the backs I see Kinghorn coming in to counter their kicking game and also provide attacking threat from deep. I also wonder if we start Horne at 9 as White got caught a few times at the base of the scrums, back of rucks and they will target him being slightly slow in getting the ball away? Nel will come back onto the bench.

Scotland will need to front up in the forward battle, try and go through phases and create quick ball to attack around the fringes - England front 5 are pretty slow in resetting in defence. We will also kick for territory but also look to go wide around their rush defence and the English back 3 are pretty poor in man on man defence. We need to avoid penalties as England will look to kick to line and go through rolling mauls and as we know or defence of them has not been brilliant plus we have conceded a few yellow cards.

Yeah, I think this is pretty accurate.

Those who didn't enjoy the France game for the kicking battles are not going to enjoy this. Expect Finn to constantly try to manipulate their back three cover and move their pack out of position. Expect loads of kicks off 9 too. My concern is that, even though I don't think he has been good the last few years I still think Itoje is a formidable lineout operator. I'm not sure we will have as much easy ball after winning kicking duels as we did against France.

[inactionman]

I'd start Rowe over Steyn, but I'm not convinced Toonie sees it that way, maybe the France game will have changed his mind.

I don't think you need a utility back five player for your sixth forward, if you go six two you are replacing practically the whole pack, my argument for Bradbury as the sixth forward is to bring his carrying power on at the hour mark and tell him to let rip for twenty minutes.
Again, I don't think Toonie will see it that way.

I think Christie, Ritchie and Fagerson are all close calls - three players for two spots

England will resort to type for this game - try and dominate up front and kick from 9 and 10 and chase everything hoping for Scotland to make mistakes. They will play little rugby outside of Scotland 22 and most of it will be kicking cross field or dinks over the top or else carrying though Tuilagi at 12. They will defend narrow with a fast rush defence, target Fin at 10 and try and force us back inside the whole game into their big pack.

I'm not too far away from your assessment. I suspect Toonie will want some muscle up front as he thinks that's where England are strongest so I think a 6-2 split. I suspect he will start with bulk of Fagerson in back row with Darge and Dempsey. I would like to see Bradbury on the bench as well as Chistie, I think Ritchie misses out again. In the backs I see Kinghorn coming in to counter their kicking game and also provide attacking threat from deep. I also wonder if we start Horne at 9 as White got caught a few times at the base of the scrums, back of rucks and they will target him being slightly slow in getting the ball away? Nel will come back onto the bench.

Scotland will need to front up in the forward battle, try and go through phases and create quick ball to attack around the fringes - England front 5 are pretty slow in resetting in defence. We will also kick for territory but also look to go wide around their rush defence and the English back 3 are pretty poor in man on man defence. We need to avoid penalties as England will look to kick to line and go through rolling mauls and as we know or defence of them has not been brilliant plus we have conceded a few yellow cards.

Oy. We also kick away overlaps, thank you very much.

[dpedin]

I'd start Rowe over Steyn, but I'm not convinced Toonie sees it that way, maybe the France game will have changed his mind.

I don't think you need a utility back five player for your sixth forward, if you go six two you are replacing practically the whole pack, my argument for Bradbury as the sixth forward is to bring his carrying power on at the hour mark and tell him to let rip for twenty minutes.
Again, I don't think Toonie will see it that way.

I think Christie, Ritchie and Fagerson are all close calls - three players for two spots

England will resort to type for this game - try and dominate up front and kick from 9 and 10 and chase everything hoping for Scotland to make mistakes. They will play little rugby outside of Scotland 22 and most of it will be kicking cross field or dinks over the top or else carrying though Tuilagi at 12. They will defend narrow with a fast rush defence, target Fin at 10 and try and force us back inside the whole game into their big pack.

I'm not too far away from your assessment. I suspect Toonie will want some muscle up front as he thinks that's where England are strongest so I think a 6-2 split. I suspect he will start with bulk of Fagerson in back row with Darge and Dempsey. I would like to see Bradbury on the bench as well as Chistie, I think Ritchie misses out again. In the backs I see Kinghorn coming in to counter their kicking game and also provide attacking threat from deep. I also wonder if we start Horne at 9 as White got caught a few times at the base of the scrums, back of rucks and they will target him being slightly slow in getting the ball away? Nel will come back onto the bench.

Scotland will need to front up in the forward battle, try and go through phases and create quick ball to attack around the fringes - England front 5 are pretty slow in resetting in defence. We will also kick for territory but also look to go wide around their rush defence and the English back 3 are pretty poor in man on man defence. We need to avoid penalties as England will look to kick to line and go through rolling mauls and as we know or defence of them has not been brilliant plus we have conceded a few yellow cards.

Oy. We also kick away overlaps, thank you very much.

True - sorry for my omission!

[Blackmac]

Really impressed the way the u20's got their shit together in the second half and enjoy the way they try to play.

Some obnoxious young pricks in that England team.

[Tichtheid]

Really impressed the way the u20's got their shit together in the second half and enjoy the way they try to play.

Some obnoxious young pricks in that England team.

We got rotten luck in that game, the weather in the first half was worth ten points and it cleared up in the second. All the 50/50s seemed to go agin us for the first hour.


On another matter, I've just seen that Darcy Graham is going to miss the whole of the 6N, hopefully he won't need an operation, but right now it's not known if that is the case.

[Yr Alban]

Really impressed the way the u20's got their shit together in the second half and enjoy the way they try to play.

Some obnoxious young pricks in that England team.

We got rotten luck in that game, the weather in the first half was worth ten points and it cleared up in the second. All the 50/50s seemed to go agin us for the first hour.


On another matter, I've just seen that Darcy Graham is going to miss the whole of the 6N, hopefully he won't need an operation, but right now it's not known if that is the case.

Apparently Darcy has injured the other groin in his comeback from the first groin injury.

I worry about Darcy. On his day, he’s a contender for the best winger in rugby, but the game today is so relentlessly physical that some players get to a point where their bodies just won’t stand up to it any more. Hogg certainly felt that way, and Darcy’s recurrent injuries can’t be a good sign.

[SaintK]

Really impressed the way the u20's got their shit together in the second half and enjoy the way they try to play.

Some obnoxious young pricks in that England team.

We got rotten luck in that game, the weather in the first half was worth ten points and it cleared up in the second. All the 50/50s seemed to go agin us for the first hour.


On another matter, I've just seen that Darcy Graham is going to miss the whole of the 6N, hopefully he won't need an operation, but right now it's not known if that is the case.

Apparently Darcy has injured the other groin in his comeback from the first groin injury.

I worry about Darcy. On his day, he’s a contender for the best winger in rugby, but the game today is so relentlessly physical that some players get to a point where their bodies just won’t stand up to it any more. Hogg certainly felt that way, and Darcy’s recurrent injuries can’t be a good sign.

w an interview with Hogg yesterday. Reckons he's going to tun out for Hawick occassionaly next season!!!

[Big D]

Watching the Ireland game. One of the many things they do well is ball placement after the tackle. Helps the 9 no end.

[Tichtheid]

Watching the Ireland game. One of the many things they do well is ball placement after the tackle. Helps the 9 no end.

Yeah, that and their support of the carrier means they rarely get turned over

[charltom]

OK, I take it back!

[Big D]

Scotland back row anonymous so far really.

[KingBlairhorn]

Given we only ever manage one decent half of rugby and that one was utter shite, fingers crossed we boss them in the second half.

[charltom]

Lots of (to me) apparent offside from England so far. I note Sam W is calling it speed off the line.

[KingBlairhorn]

Lots of (to me) apparent offside from England so far. I note Sam W is calling it speed off the line.

Not sure about the offsides but the ref is letting them slow the ball down every single ruck. So much coaching going on.