The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[topofthemoon]

Where is Kebble going?

Oyonnax in Pro D2 according to Neil Fissler.

[Jock42]

Where is Kebble going?

Oyonnax in Pro D2 according to Neil Fissler.

Cheers.

[Slick]

Think it’s worth saying that Mike Adamson had a good game yesterday. He gets a lot of shit but thought he did really well.

[Jock42]

Has the broadcast info on the Sumner tour been released yet? I can't see anything so assume not.

[Yr Alban]

Well that was an interesting watch, Glasgow will be kicking themselves to have fucked up the regular season though, away to Munster and then likely away in Dublin back-to-back is a real mountain to climb.

Zander was my motm by a distance there, what a massive shift. Absolute beast.

As followers of Scotland and our Pro teams, we’re accustomed to our sides routinely choking when the chips are down. So it’s nice to see it not happen for once. However, as you point out, Glasgow did their big choke away to the Lions. Away to Munster and then probably Leinster is about as hard as it gets.

[clydecloggie]

You guys seem very confident Leinster will overcome the Bulls away on the highveld.

I'd actually prefer a final in Dublin, but expect that if Glasgow win against Munster, they'll have to do a short turnaround and altitude acclimatisation to get the silverware the hard way in SA.

Munster v Glasgow is a great SF though, probably the biggest international rivalry in the URC with proper needle between the two sides. It's what a fairly artifical league needs. Scott Cummings slamming into the standing leg of the box-kicking scrum half at the first opportunity would bring it to the boil nicely.

[Tichtheid]

You guys seem very confident Leinster will overcome the Bulls away on the highveld.

I'd actually prefer a final in Dublin, but expect that if Glasgow win against Munster, they'll have to do a short turnaround and altitude acclimatisation to get the silverware the hard way in SA.

Munster v Glasgow is a great SF though, probably the biggest international rivalry in the URC with proper needle between the two sides. It's what a fairly artifical league needs. Scott Cummings slamming into the standing leg of the box-kicking scrum half at the first opportunity would bring it to the boil nicely.

Yeah, I’d be pencilling in the Bulls as favourites for the title at the moment due to their home advantage, Glasgow really dropped the ball in South Africa.

[Biffer]

You guys seem very confident Leinster will overcome the Bulls away on the highveld.

I'd actually prefer a final in Dublin, but expect that if Glasgow win against Munster, they'll have to do a short turnaround and altitude acclimatisation to get the silverware the hard way in SA.

Munster v Glasgow is a great SF though, probably the biggest international rivalry in the URC with proper needle between the two sides. It's what a fairly artifical league needs. Scott Cummings slamming into the standing leg of the box-kicking scrum half at the first opportunity would bring it to the boil nicely.

Yeah, it built up a bit before the SA teams joined. Unfortunately now we're only playing once a year, it's difficult to build up a bit of niggle. Some other games were starting to get there before the change of format (Edinburgh v Ulster had started to get a bit spicy, as had Scarlets v Munster) but you feel it less now. The league needs some proper cross border intensity, games that people pick out on the calendar with a let's-get-right-after-those-bastards mentality.

[weegie01]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

If Hogg was left desititute and begging in the street I'd cross the road to avoid him. I'd have McLean back tomorrow.

[clydecloggie]

So…….

If Hoggy is an actually good at Racing how do we feel about him being back in the Scotland squad?

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

If Hogg was left desititute and begging in the street I'd cross the road to avoid him. I'd have McLean back tomorrow.

Now, I don't know Hogg at all - so my image of him is purely built up from watching him play, hearing him talk, and taking in what others have said an written about him.

And that image is: an absolutely magnificent rugby player and an arse of a man, but one with plenty of inner demons that he finds difficult to control (including his infamous rock paper scissors survival that killed his best mate at 16 or thereabouts). On that basis I do think he needs to genuinely look into the mirror and not do the Tory politician remorse schtick he's done so far, but I do have some sympathy for him and wish him luck - I could live with him playing for Scotland again in an extremely hypothetical case. And yes, that should then apply to Rufus McLean as well.

[Big D]

The reality is neither Hogg nor McLean will play for Scotland again and there is no real need for them to.

It is unlikely Hogg has regained the step he had lost at international level and Kinghorn, Smith, and Paterson are ascending talents, two of whom need international game time.

And wing is a position that can fairly easily be filled a number of ways without ever needing or wanting to call up McLean, assuming he doesn't go with the USA.

[Big D]

Robertson from the Mail is suggesting Warr is getting a national call up.

[Tichtheid]

Robertson from the Mail is suggesting Warr is getting a national call up.

That’s the second time I’ve heard that recently

[Jock42]

Robertson from the Mail is suggesting Warr is getting a national call up.

SH?

[Big D]

Robertson from the Mail is suggesting Warr is getting a national call up.

SH?

Yeah Sale 9.

[Jock42]

Robertson from the Mail is suggesting Warr is getting a national call up.

SH?

Yeah Sale 9.

Assuming he's half decent considering how well they did this season? Would like to see Vellacott travel though.

When does SR finish? We going to see Mosese emulate the Chainsaw?

[Big D]

SH?

Yeah Sale 9.

Assuming he's half decent considering how well they did this season? Would like to see Vellacott travel though.

When does SR finish? We going to see Mosese emulate the Chainsaw?

He's been decent when I've seem him play. Seems to have battled to be 1st choice.

I think Vellacotts chance has gone except in emergency. He's 29 now and I'm not sure he's in the top 4 or 5 best SQ 9s.

[Jock42]

Yeah Sale 9.

Assuming he's half decent considering how well they did this season? Would like to see Vellacott travel though.

When does SR finish? We going to see Mosese emulate the Chainsaw?

He's been decent when I've seem him play. Seems to have battled to be 1st choice.

I think Vellacotts chance has gone except in emergency. He's 29 now and I'm not sure he's in the top 4 or 5 best SQ 9s.

Horne, White, Dobie are top 3 for me. Vellacott over Price and Shiel.

[Achahoish]

Well that was an interesting watch, Glasgow will be kicking themselves to have fucked up the regular season though, away to Munster and then likely away in Dublin back-to-back is a real mountain to climb.

Zander was my motm by a distance there, what a massive shift. Absolute beast.

As followers of Scotland and our Pro teams, we’re accustomed to our sides routinely choking when the chips are down. So it’s nice to see it not happen for once. However, as you point out, Glasgow did their big choke away to the Lions. Away to Munster and then probably Leinster is about as hard as it gets.

At the risk of being contrary; the loss away to Edinburgh was the killer for me

[Dogbert]

Well that was an interesting watch, Glasgow will be kicking themselves to have fucked up the regular season though, away to Munster and then likely away in Dublin back-to-back is a real mountain to climb.

Zander was my motm by a distance there, what a massive shift. Absolute beast.

As followers of Scotland and our Pro teams, we’re accustomed to our sides routinely choking when the chips are down. So it’s nice to see it not happen for once. However, as you point out, Glasgow did their big choke away to the Lions. Away to Munster and then probably Leinster is about as hard as it gets.

But we are playing big boys rugby at the sharp end of the season - to win the league you should need to beat the likes of the Munster / Leinsters / Bulls , and not just at home - but in their own backyards.

Glasgow getting past the quarters is one monkey off their backs, but then go away to Cork and beat Munster at Thomond - that would be a statement of intent.
To badly paraphrase JFK , "we do these things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills."

[Biffer]

Sam Grove-White reffing one of the semifinals (Bulls v Leinster). Well done to him.

[clydecloggie]

Glasgow get Piardi. I like him, good ref .

[SomersetJock]

It’s a good question and the thing that is making it tough for me to want him to have a route back is that if he gets one then there should be one for Rufus McLean !

I know the cases aren’t identical but there are a lot of similarities!

Quite conflicted if I’m honest !

If Hogg was left desititute and begging in the street I'd cross the road to avoid him. I'd have McLean back tomorrow.

Now, I don't know Hogg at all - so my image of him is purely built up from watching him play, hearing him talk, and taking in what others have said an written about him.

And that image is: an absolutely magnificent rugby player and an arse of a man, but one with plenty of inner demons that he finds difficult to control (including his infamous rock paper scissors survival that killed his best mate at 16 or thereabouts). On that basis I do think he needs to genuinely look into the mirror and not do the Tory politician remorse schtick he's done so far, but I do have some sympathy for him and wish him luck - I could live with him playing for Scotland again in an extremely hypothetical case. And yes, that should then apply to Rufus McLean as well.

[westport]

Scotland Summer Tour Squad

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps
Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) 5 caps
Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
Alex Craig (Scarlets) 2 caps
Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps
Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps
Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 44 caps
Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh Rugby) uncapped
Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers) uncapped
Ewan Johnson (Oyonnax Rugby) uncapped
Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
Elliot Millar-Mills (Northampton Saints) 3 caps
Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 31 caps
Robbie Smith (Northampton Saints) uncapped
Rory Sutherland (Oyonnax Rugby) 30 caps
Dylan Richardson (The Sharks) 1 cap
Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) 49 caps
Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
Glen Young (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps

Backs

Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) uncapped
Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby) 26 caps
Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 48 caps
Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors) 2 caps
Harry Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby) 1 cap
Arron Reed (Sale Sharks) uncapped
Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 19 caps
Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 25 caps
Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 39 caps
Gus Warr (Sale Sharks) uncapped

Development players

During the last two weeks of the tour, three development players will join the squad as a learning opportunity and to bolster training. Tighthead prop Fin Richardson, who has signed for Glasgow Warriors next season, will be joined by his new teammate, scrum-half Ben Afshar. Edinburgh Rugby lock Rob Carmichael will also be added to the group for the final two weeks.

Fin Richardson (Exeter Chiefs) uncapped
Rob Carmichael (Edinburgh Rugby) uncapped
Ben Afshar (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped

[Yr Alban]

Warr confirmed in touring squad. No Tuipulotu Jr.

10 uncapped altogether, but no other huge surprises. First calls for Matt Currie. Dylan Richardson comes back - he was a 7 when we capped him and dropped him a few years ago, now apparently he’s a hooker.

[I like neeps]

Warr confirmed in touring squad. No Tuipulotu Jr.

10 uncapped altogether, but no other huge surprises. First calls for Matt Currie. Dylan Richardson comes back - he was a 7 when we capped him and dropped him a few years ago, now apparently he’s a hooker.

Richardson plays back row for Sharks still, not sure on this hooker rumour.

Ewan Richardson an interesting call up from Oyannax - was a big boy in the u20s

[Tichtheid]

Richardson's All Rugby profile has him mostly at 2/16 this season, with a couple of 6/20 jerseys

I quite like that squad, it's strong and also has a lot of development potential.

[KingBlairhorn]

Warr confirmed in touring squad. No Tuipulotu Jr.

10 uncapped altogether, but no other huge surprises. First calls for Matt Currie. Dylan Richardson comes back - he was a 7 when we capped him and dropped him a few years ago, now apparently he’s a hooker.

Richardson plays back row for Sharks still, not sure on this hooker rumour.

Ewan Richardson an interesting call up from Oyannax - was a big boy in the u20s

Yeah, Johnston an interesting call up for sure. I wonder if he has a contract lined up in Top14 next season, didn’t oyannax get relegated? We won’t be picking a proD2 player you wouldn’t think.

[topofthemoon]

Some analysis of the ins and outs, squad stats and a Depth Chart for the summer tour:

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/analy ... -analysed/

[Big D]

There is a small part of me that thinks the only reason VdM is included is to wipe Hogg off the top of the record try list. Would be a surprise if he doesn't bag at least two on tour.

[I like neeps]

Richardson's All Rugby profile has him mostly at 2/16 this season, with a couple of 6/20 jerseys

I quite like that squad, it's strong and also has a lot of development potential.

And Townsend said he's a hooker, I'm wrong... Again!

[clydecloggie]

Richardson's All Rugby profile has him mostly at 2/16 this season, with a couple of 6/20 jerseys

I quite like that squad, it's strong and also has a lot of development potential.

And Townsend said he's a hooker, I'm wrong... Again!

Dean McFourie

[I like neeps]

There is a small part of me that thinks the only reason VdM is included is to wipe Hogg off the top of the record try list. Would be a surprise if he doesn't bag at least two on tour.

Nae chance Toonie is that petty.

I'm guessing vdm is going as (a) he's not had a great season and (b) get us out of any tight spots. Rowe, Reid, Steyn, and Patterson is also a green back three. Not actually too much depth at wing as nobody has really missed selection.

[Tichtheid]

Richardson's All Rugby profile has him mostly at 2/16 this season, with a couple of 6/20 jerseys

I quite like that squad, it's strong and also has a lot of development potential.

And Townsend said he's a hooker, I'm wrong... Again!

Dean McFourie

Didn't Schalk Brits play as a flanker at times?

[dpedin]

And Townsend said he's a hooker, I'm wrong... Again!

Dean McFourie

Didn't Schalk Brits play as a flanker at times?

Richardsons been injured quite a bit over last couple of years hasn't he? From what I have seen of him he has looked very mobile, strong carrier and solid in the set piece. I think he is a cracking player and might be a surprise package for 6Ns next year!

[Tichtheid]

There is a small part of me that thinks the only reason VdM is included is to wipe Hogg off the top of the record try list. Would be a surprise if he doesn't bag at least two on tour.

Nae chance Toonie is that petty.

I'm guessing vdm is going as (a) he's not had a great season and (b) get us out of any tight spots. Rowe, Reid, Steyn, and Patterson is also a green back three. Not actually too much depth at wing as nobody has really missed selection.

Toonie says he wanted to take Darcy Graham but has left him behind as a precautionary measure to let him get fully fit for next season, so he's obviously looking to be as strong as possible, then again Kinghorn isn't touring and Ollie Smith must still be crocked.

Re Duhan, it wasn't a great season to be in Edinburgh's back three, if the injuries didn't get you the lack of quality ball would show up in the end of term stats - vdM scored 13 tries in 25 games, but of those 8 were international games and six of his tries came playing for Scotland (I'm discounting the WC warmups).

[Jock42]

There is a small part of me that thinks the only reason VdM is included is to wipe Hogg off the top of the record try list. Would be a surprise if he doesn't bag at least two on tour.

Nae chance Toonie is that petty.

I'm guessing vdm is going as (a) he's not had a great season and (b) get us out of any tight spots. Rowe, Reid, Steyn, and Patterson is also a green back three. Not actually too much depth at wing as nobody has really missed selection.

Toonie says he wanted to take Darcy Graham but has left him behind as a precautionary measure to let him get fully fit for next season, so he's obviously looking to be as strong as possible, then again Kinghorn isn't touring and Ollie Smith must still be crocked.

Re Duhan, it wasn't a great season to be in Edinburgh's back three, if the injuries didn't get you the lack of quality ball would show up in the end of term stats - vdM scored 13 tries in 25 games, but of those 8 were international games and six of his tries came playing for Scotland (I'm discounting the WC warmups).

Kinghorn potentially in another final when they fly out though.

[Tichtheid]

Nae chance Toonie is that petty.

I'm guessing vdm is going as (a) he's not had a great season and (b) get us out of any tight spots. Rowe, Reid, Steyn, and Patterson is also a green back three. Not actually too much depth at wing as nobody has really missed selection.

Toonie says he wanted to take Darcy Graham but has left him behind as a precautionary measure to let him get fully fit for next season, so he's obviously looking to be as strong as possible, then again Kinghorn isn't touring and Ollie Smith must still be crocked.

Re Duhan, it wasn't a great season to be in Edinburgh's back three, if the injuries didn't get you the lack of quality ball would show up in the end of term stats - vdM scored 13 tries in 25 games, but of those 8 were international games and six of his tries came playing for Scotland (I'm discounting the WC warmups).

Kinghorn potentially in another final when they fly out though.

True enough, but there is no mention of him joining the squad later.

Their season is so long that they will be in training soon after any final anyway

[westport]

Nae chance Toonie is that petty.

I'm guessing vdm is going as (a) he's not had a great season and (b) get us out of any tight spots. Rowe, Reid, Steyn, and Patterson is also a green back three. Not actually too much depth at wing as nobody has really missed selection.

Toonie says he wanted to take Darcy Graham but has left him behind as a precautionary measure to let him get fully fit for next season, so he's obviously looking to be as strong as possible, then again Kinghorn isn't touring and Ollie Smith must still be crocked.

Re Duhan, it wasn't a great season to be in Edinburgh's back three, if the injuries didn't get you the lack of quality ball would show up in the end of term stats - vdM scored 13 tries in 25 games, but of those 8 were international games and six of his tries came playing for Scotland (I'm discounting the WC warmups).

Kinghorn potentially in another final when they fly out though.

He is too busy topping up the tan and enjoying the Toulouse training camp in Faro this week

[topofthemoon]

Toonie says he wanted to take Darcy Graham but has left him behind as a precautionary measure to let him get fully fit for next season, so he's obviously looking to be as strong as possible, then again Kinghorn isn't touring and Ollie Smith must still be crocked.

Re Duhan, it wasn't a great season to be in Edinburgh's back three, if the injuries didn't get you the lack of quality ball would show up in the end of term stats - vdM scored 13 tries in 25 games, but of those 8 were international games and six of his tries came playing for Scotland (I'm discounting the WC warmups).

Kinghorn potentially in another final when they fly out though.

True enough, but there is no mention of him joining the squad later.

Their season is so long that they will be in training soon after any final anyway

Needs time off ahead of starting all 3 Lions' Tests next summer.