The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Slick]

Looks like the Australia game is going to be the judge of where we stand at the moment then.

Much more physical than we would have expected and a lot of talented runners. Wasn’t too bothered about this fixture a couple of weeks ago but could be an absolute belter

[Biffer]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

[Dogbert]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

M rather than S for the A team ,for the Australia game I can see Toonie having Dobie on the bench , rather than Horne.

[KingBlairhorn]

Is the A game on TV anywhere?

[Tichtheid]

Is the A game on TV anywhere?

I can't find a listing for it, the England A game was on PS I think and it's not on their site. There's nothing on Where's The Match either.

[Tichtheid]

I've just been looking through the ages of some players. Freddy Douglas is very nearly five years younger than Rory Darge Ben Muncaster is 18 months younger than Darge. Liam McConnell is four and a half years younger than Darge. Connor Boyle is pretty much the same age as RD (there are a few days in it). Along with Euan McVie, I'd like to see Edinburgh focus on developing these guys. The old guard aren't doing anything for Edinburgh or for Scotland. I'm not writing off Jamie Ritchie, when he came on a couple of weeks ago he tackled like a demon and won his first go at a turnover- only it didn't count because SA were on advantage. I expect Fagerson to go to 8 and Ritchie to come on at 6 this weekend. I've always been a huge fan of Luke Crosbie, but he hasn't carried his club strength into the international arena. To be fair to him he has a few caps now but not a consistent run. He can improve, just has Darge has only really now started to hits his straps at international level, it took Matt Fagerson a while too.

[Biffer]

I've just been looking through the ages of some players. Freddy Douglas is very nearly five years younger than Rory Darge Ben Muncaster is 18 months younger than Darge. Liam McConnell is four and a half years younger than Darge. Connor Boyle is pretty much the same age as RD (there are a few days in it). Along with Euan McVie, I'd like to see Edinburgh focus on developing these guys. The old guard aren't doing anything for Edinburgh or for Scotland. I'm not writing off Jamie Ritchie, when he came on a couple of weeks ago he tackled like a demon and won his first go at a turnover- only it didn't count because SA were on advantage. I expect Fagerson to go to 8 and Ritchie to come on at 6 this weekend. I've always been a huge fan of Luke Crosbie, but he hasn't carried his club strength into the international arena. To be fair to him he has a few caps now but not a consistent run. He can improve, just has Darge has only really now started to hits his straps at international level, it took Matt Fagerson a while too.

I'd quite like to see JR move on, for his own good and to make space for those younger lads. Think Mish might have reached the end of his time at Edinburgh as well. Think they'd both get good contracts in France.

[robmatic]

I've just been looking through the ages of some players. Freddy Douglas is very nearly five years younger than Rory Darge Ben Muncaster is 18 months younger than Darge. Liam McConnell is four and a half years younger than Darge. Connor Boyle is pretty much the same age as RD (there are a few days in it). Along with Euan McVie, I'd like to see Edinburgh focus on developing these guys. The old guard aren't doing anything for Edinburgh or for Scotland. I'm not writing off Jamie Ritchie, when he came on a couple of weeks ago he tackled like a demon and won his first go at a turnover- only it didn't count because SA were on advantage. I expect Fagerson to go to 8 and Ritchie to come on at 6 this weekend. I've always been a huge fan of Luke Crosbie, but he hasn't carried his club strength into the international arena. To be fair to him he has a few caps now but not a consistent run. He can improve, just has Darge has only really now started to hits his straps at international level, it took Matt Fagerson a while too.

I'd quite like to see JR move on, for his own good and to make space for those younger lads. Think Mish might have reached the end of his time at Edinburgh as well. Think they'd both get good contracts in France.

Watson should have gone two years ago really.

[SaintK]

Not sure how you guys feel about this, but bookies have Steve Tandy at 2/1 to take over as Wales coach from Gatland!

[KingBlairhorn]

Not sure how you guys feel about this, but bookies have Steve Tandy at 2/1 to take over as Wales coach from Gatland!

He's been about for what, 4 or 5 seasons now? That's probably towards the point its worth thinking of a change anyway. I wouldn't say he is revered like some coaches so I would imagine most would be fairly ambivalent to his moving on. I think we have looked pretty solid defensively under his tenure though, in the round.

[Big D]

Not sure how you guys feel about this, but bookies have Steve Tandy at 2/1 to take over as Wales coach from Gatland!

He's been about for what, 4 or 5 seasons now? That's probably towards the point its worth thinking of a change anyway. I wouldn't say he is revered like some coaches so I would imagine most would be fairly ambivalent to his moving on. I think we have looked pretty solid defensively under his tenure though, in the round.

He has been a massive upgrade on his predecessor. Bar 2022 we've had at worst the second lowest points conceded each year since 2020 in the 6N.

I think at times his defensive style has been quite passive, especially against the big boys but he has been important in his role.

[Big D]

I've just been looking through the ages of some players. Freddy Douglas is very nearly five years younger than Rory Darge Ben Muncaster is 18 months younger than Darge. Liam McConnell is four and a half years younger than Darge. Connor Boyle is pretty much the same age as RD (there are a few days in it). Along with Euan McVie, I'd like to see Edinburgh focus on developing these guys. The old guard aren't doing anything for Edinburgh or for Scotland. I'm not writing off Jamie Ritchie, when he came on a couple of weeks ago he tackled like a demon and won his first go at a turnover- only it didn't count because SA were on advantage. I expect Fagerson to go to 8 and Ritchie to come on at 6 this weekend. I've always been a huge fan of Luke Crosbie, but he hasn't carried his club strength into the international arena. To be fair to him he has a few caps now but not a consistent run. He can improve, just has Darge has only really now started to hits his straps at international level, it took Matt Fagerson a while too.

I'd quite like to see JR move on, for his own good and to make space for those younger lads. Think Mish might have reached the end of his time at Edinburgh as well. Think they'd both get good contracts in France.

Ritchie is under contract until at least 2026. It was never confirmed his deal was a 5 year deal so it could be longer.

[Big D]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

Can pick the test 23 based on who isn't in. Horne is very lucky imo.

[Tichtheid]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

Can pick the test 23 based on who isn't in. Horne is very lucky imo.

https://x.com/Scotlandteam/status/1858511976223154545

As is Millar-Mills. I thought he'd scrummaged well enough in the prem games I've seen this season, but based on his last two performances for Scotland he should be fired into the sun.

[charltom]

It could be Hurd instead of EMM. Hope so!

But yes Dobie ought to have been in the top 23.

[Jock42]

Very disappointing Dobie not involved against Oz. Probably be White and Price.

[I like neeps]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

Can pick the test 23 based on who isn't in. Horne is very lucky imo.

Feel a bit sorry for Ben Healy. The bench is him and a bunch of academy lads. Good on the SRU to replace the super6 with national A team fixtures...

[GrahamWa]

Ben Healy needs to find some form to get a back line moving. I would have had Richie Simpson in front of him based on his previous super 6 form rather than Healy.

[Soapy]

Very disappointing Dobie not involved against Oz. Probably be White and Price.

Can't believe Townsend has overlooked Dobbie (well, I can because GT is in charge - but ... WTF!).

It is clear that Horne can't be trusted to start but he can offer something if the game loosens up. But if we need control or swift ball to Russell with 10 mins to go, he's not your man. Unfortunately Price isn't your man these days with anything between zero to 80 mins to go.

[Yr Alban]

Feel a bit bad for Stafford McDowall. Harsh to go from captain of the 1st XV to captain of the 2nd XV in the space of a few days.

[robmatic]

Who do you reckon we’ll see on Saturday in the A game? Something like

Bhatti, Harrison, Rae, Craig, Johnson, Douglas, Muncaster, Brown
Dobie, Hastings, S Tuipolotou, Currie, Reed, Paterson, Rowe

Or we bring some additional players into the squad?

I’m assuming for the Australia game, Jordan to cover FB and FH off the bench, Sutherland benching, Horne backing up White.

Can pick the test 23 based on who isn't in. Horne is very lucky imo.

Feel a bit sorry for Ben Healy. The bench is him and a bunch of academy lads. Good on the SRU to replace the super6 with national A team fixtures...

I thought you were exaggerating but there are 9 or 10 players there who struggle to get into the matchday 23s for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Not all of them particularly young either.

[I like neeps]

Can pick the test 23 based on who isn't in. Horne is very lucky imo.

Feel a bit sorry for Ben Healy. The bench is him and a bunch of academy lads. Good on the SRU to replace the super6 with national A team fixtures...

I thought you were exaggerating but there are 9 or 10 players there who struggle to get into the matchday 23s for Glasgow and Edinburgh. Not all of them particularly young either.

I think that the SRU just don't have enough SQ props to fulfil A team fixtures really. McBeth and Sebastian are injured, I guess you could play Allan Dell who is still at Glasgow at least. English clubs won't be happy if Hurd or McCallum get injured playing a meaningless A game and of course Hurd will be cover for Scotland anyway.

But yes it's the A team is being used as a vehicle for gametime for unfancied club players.

[Tichtheid]

But yes it's the A team is being used as a vehicle for gametime for unfancied club players.

Do you think so? "Unfancied club players" seems unnecessarily insulting.

Reed is first choice player for Sale who was in the 6N squad
Currie is a 23 year old first team player at Edinburgh who has one of the toughest midfields to break into with Scotland
Tuiplulotu is still something of an unknown quantity so but see above for Currie
McDowall was an integral part of Glasgow's title-winning side but he faces the same problem as the others in the midfield.
McCann might fit your description.
Thompson
Dobie is very unlucky, I think he should be ahead of Horne and Price.

Bhatti could easily be the 23 for Australia
Hiddleston comes highly rated at Glasgow
Rae, for me, should be in the 23 for Aus on form.
Sykes is 24, he's a massive unit and under a better coaching system than Edinburgh he'd be further up the pecking order
Dodd might fit the description
Douglas unfancied? Hardly. He's 19 and everyone says he's going to be a star.
Muncaster, 23, had run of injuries, was behind one of the best 8s in the game. I think he will start more for Edinburgh, I hope so.

Morris has been talked up a lot over the years, he's 23 and has just completed his conversion from the back row - I've been reading a lot of very promising things about him.
Jones, young prop
Richardson - I know very little about him
Oguntibeju - academy player at Glasgow.
McConnell - see Freddy Douglas. There is a lot of hype around this 20 year old.
Afshar - 21 year old who has improved massively from what I've seen
Healy
Brown. He's 19 and has bags of potential.

I've left Thompson and Healy blank. I don't think they are unfancied, but they do have at least three players in front of them for standoff, plus Kinghorn in the case of injuries on the park. Both need to improve their form and get the Edinburgh backline moving - although I think there is a coaching issue there.

I think it's a team full of young players who are mostly too old and are too long in the tooth in their development for the U20s, mixed in with some more experience from the likes of Bhatti and McDowall. To my mind it's exactly what the A team should be

[Slick]

Currie is only 23?! For some reason I had him as one of the old guard. He's a talented player

[Tichtheid]

Currie is only 23?! For some reason I had him as one of the old guard. He's a talented player

His younger brother Tom is 20 and plays in the back row. He also looks the part. He and Euan McVie are on loan at Doncaster Knights atm. The both played the two Prem Cup games available to them so far.

[I like neeps]

But yes it's the A team is being used as a vehicle for gametime for unfancied club players.

Do you think so? "Unfancied club players" seems unnecessarily insulting.

Reed is first choice player for Sale who was in the 6N squad
Currie is a 23 year old first team player at Edinburgh who has one of the toughest midfields to break into with Scotland
Tuiplulotu is still something of an unknown quantity so but see above for Currie
McDowall was an integral part of Glasgow's title-winning side but he faces the same problem as the others in the midfield.
McCann might fit your description.
Thompson
Dobie is very unlucky, I think he should be ahead of Horne and Price.

Bhatti could easily be the 23 for Australia
Hiddleston comes highly rated at Glasgow
Rae, for me, should be in the 23 for Aus on form.
Sykes is 24, he's a massive unit and under a better coaching system than Edinburgh he'd be further up the pecking order
Dodd might fit the description
Douglas unfancied? Hardly. He's 19 and everyone says he's going to be a star.
Muncaster, 23, had run of injuries, was behind one of the best 8s in the game. I think he will start more for Edinburgh, I hope so.

Morris has been talked up a lot over the years, he's 23 and has just completed his conversion from the back row - I've been reading a lot of very promising things about him.
Jones, young prop
Richardson - I know very little about him
Oguntibeju - academy player at Glasgow.
McConnell - see Freddy Douglas. There is a lot of hype around this 20 year old.
Afshar - 21 year old who has improved massively from what I've seen
Healy
Brown. He's 19 and has bags of potential.

I've left Thompson and Healy blank. I don't think they are unfancied, but they do have at least three players in front of them for standoff, plus Kinghorn in the case of injuries on the park. Both need to improve their form and get the Edinburgh backline moving - although I think there is a coaching issue there.

I think it's a team full of young players who are mostly too old and are too long in the tooth in their development for the U20s, mixed in with some more experience from the likes of Bhatti and McDowall. To my mind it's exactly what the A team should be

Sorry I meant the front row bench who are all unfancied. Jones and Richardson but for quite an injury crisis won't get a look in.

I also don't think that the Edinburgh's coaches do rate Morris, they never play him. They can talk all they want about him but until they actually put him on the field that's what they think about him. They think that he isn't good enough to play.

Obviously McConnell, Oguntibeju, and Brown are highly rated which is great but they need to play for their clubs in a pro game before getting an A cap I think. Afshar and Healy are more who I think are A players. Healy will be off soon enough though, came for a Scotland cap, is well off it.

[Tichtheid]

I also don't think that the Edinburgh's coaches do rate Morris, they never play him. They can talk all they want about him but until they actually put him on the field that's what they think about him. They think that he isn't good enough to play.

Jones is third loosehead cab off the rank at Edinburgh. He'll get game time this season, they liked him enough to offer him a full contract after being an academy player for a couple of years, he only turned 22 in the summer.

Morris was on loan to Doncaster last year, he's only been playing hooker for a couple of seasons now - I don't remember exactly when he was brought into the front row from flanker, but he joined the Edinburgh academy as a back row player - he played 7 for Scotland U20s in 2021.
Cherry will be 34 in a couple of months.
The Scotland coaches obviously think he's good enough to play for Scotland A.

Jerry, the slightly smaller but older Blythe-Lafferty is another young hooker at Edinburgh, he's 20. Harrison is 22, Morris just turned 23 and Ashman is 24. That's young profile for a squad of hookers, obviously Cherry bumps up the average but I wonder how much longer he'll play?

[I like neeps]

I also don't think that the Edinburgh's coaches do rate Morris, they never play him. They can talk all they want about him but until they actually put him on the field that's what they think about him. They think that he isn't good enough to play.

Jones is third loosehead cab off the rank at Edinburgh. He'll get game time this season, they liked him enough to offer him a full contract after being an academy player for a couple of years, he only turned 22 in the summer.

Morris was on loan to Doncaster last year, he's only been playing hooker for a couple of seasons now - I don't remember exactly when he was brought into the front row from flanker, but he joined the Edinburgh academy as a back row player - he played 7 for Scotland U20s in 2021.
Cherry will be 34 in a couple of months.
The Scotland coaches obviously think he's good enough to play for Scotland A.

Jerry, the slightly smaller but older Blythe-Lafferty is another young hooker at Edinburgh, he's 20. Harrison is 22, Morris just turned 23 and Ashman is 24. That's young profile for a squad of hookers, obviously Cherry bumps up the average but I wonder how much longer he'll play?

I don't think Jones does have a pro contract. He was announced as having one in 2023 with Cammy Scott and Harry Paterson. Yet this year Mikey Jones was again announced as an academy player. And Hislop will be third choice when fit I reckon.

I was wrong on Morris he did get 10 minutes vs the Stormers.

[Tichtheid]

I also don't think that the Edinburgh's coaches do rate Morris, they never play him. They can talk all they want about him but until they actually put him on the field that's what they think about him. They think that he isn't good enough to play.

Jones is third loosehead cab off the rank at Edinburgh. He'll get game time this season, they liked him enough to offer him a full contract after being an academy player for a couple of years, he only turned 22 in the summer.

Morris was on loan to Doncaster last year, he's only been playing hooker for a couple of seasons now - I don't remember exactly when he was brought into the front row from flanker, but he joined the Edinburgh academy as a back row player - he played 7 for Scotland U20s in 2021.
Cherry will be 34 in a couple of months.
The Scotland coaches obviously think he's good enough to play for Scotland A.

Jerry, the slightly smaller but older Blythe-Lafferty is another young hooker at Edinburgh, he's 20. Harrison is 22, Morris just turned 23 and Ashman is 24. That's young profile for a squad of hookers, obviously Cherry bumps up the average but I wonder how much longer he'll play?

I don't think Jones does have a pro contract. He was announced as having one in 2023 with Cammy Scott and Harry Paterson. Yet this year Mikey Jones was again announced as an academy player. And Hislop will be third choice when fit I reckon.

I was wrong on Morris he did get 10 minutes vs the Stormers.

Jones is listed in the senior squad as opposed to the academy

https://edinburghrugby.org/team/

[I like neeps]

Jones is third loosehead cab off the rank at Edinburgh. He'll get game time this season, they liked him enough to offer him a full contract after being an academy player for a couple of years, he only turned 22 in the summer.

Morris was on loan to Doncaster last year, he's only been playing hooker for a couple of seasons now - I don't remember exactly when he was brought into the front row from flanker, but he joined the Edinburgh academy as a back row player - he played 7 for Scotland U20s in 2021.
Cherry will be 34 in a couple of months.
The Scotland coaches obviously think he's good enough to play for Scotland A.

Jerry, the slightly smaller but older Blythe-Lafferty is another young hooker at Edinburgh, he's 20. Harrison is 22, Morris just turned 23 and Ashman is 24. That's young profile for a squad of hookers, obviously Cherry bumps up the average but I wonder how much longer he'll play?

I don't think Jones does have a pro contract. He was announced as having one in 2023 with Cammy Scott and Harry Paterson. Yet this year Mikey Jones was again announced as an academy player. And Hislop will be third choice when fit I reckon.

I was wrong on Morris he did get 10 minutes vs the Stormers.

Jones is listed in the senior squad as opposed to the academy

https://edinburghrugby.org/team/

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... r-2024-25/

Who really knows but if he signed a pro contract he signed in 2023 why is he in the academy in 2024?

[Tichtheid]

I don't think Jones does have a pro contract. He was announced as having one in 2023 with Cammy Scott and Harry Paterson. Yet this year Mikey Jones was again announced as an academy player. And Hislop will be third choice when fit I reckon.

I was wrong on Morris he did get 10 minutes vs the Stormers.

Jones is listed in the senior squad as opposed to the academy

https://edinburghrugby.org/team/

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... r-2024-25/

Who really knows but if he signed a pro contract he signed in 2023 why is he in the academy in 2024?

Liam McConnell is on that academy list from August and he has signed a pro deal since then.

[I like neeps]

Jones is listed in the senior squad as opposed to the academy

https://edinburghrugby.org/team/

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... r-2024-25/

Who really knows but if he signed a pro contract he signed in 2023 why is he in the academy in 2024?

Liam McConnell is on that academy list from August and he has signed a pro deal since then.

Yeah since then. Jones' pro deal was announced early 2023, and then announced in the academy in summer 2024. And no new deal announced since.

[Tichtheid]

https://edinburghrugby.org/news-and-fea ... r-2024-25/

Who really knows but if he signed a pro contract he signed in 2023 why is he in the academy in 2024?

Liam McConnell is on that academy list from August and he has signed a pro deal since then.

Yeah since then. Jones' pro deal was announced early 2023, and then announced in the academy in summer 2024. And no new deal announced since.

and yet currently listed in the senior squad as opposed to the academy.

weedgie01 sometimes has his ear to the ground on this stuff.


edited to add

It must be to do with the new performance pathway stuff - there are Pro Team Academy (age 18 to 23), Pro A Team and Pro Team categories
https://scottishrugby.org/scottish-rugb ... e-pathway/


Hopefully Morris at 23 and Jones at 22 will see some senior club experience after this weekend. iirc they've both featured in the Edinburgh A games.

[topofthemoon]

[robmatic]

It sounded like Jordan (and Duhan) would've been off for big money cap or no cap. And to be fair those two guys three years before playing for Scotland were going to drop out of professional rugby. Duhan for injury, Jordan for covid/no contract. They owe it to themselves to get as much money as possible in a short career. Residency players will always be a bit mercenary, just doesn't mean as much.

My initial reaction is it stinks

I agree but to be fair to the guy sounds like he was off to England cap or no cap as he was being linked pre capture. Don't think he has used us in this case.

According to the Weegie board, Jordan's partner's job got moved down south so that would be a big factor.

[Dogbert]

Sniff

[weegie01]

According to the Weegie board, Jordan's partner's job got moved down south so that would be a big factor.

Yep, plus she's from the Bristol side of Oxfordshire.

[Tichtheid]

Scottish rugby loses an all-time great with the death of Derrick Grant

https://www.theoffsideline.com/derrick-grant/

Obituary


https://www.theoffsideline.com/obituary-derrick-grant/

[Sandstorm]

According to the Weegie board, Jordan's partner's job got moved down south so that would be a big factor.

Yep, plus she's from the Bristol side of Oxfordshire.

Swindon? Ewww…..

[Dogbert]

According to the Weegie board, Jordan's partner's job got moved down south so that would be a big factor.

Yep, plus she's from the Bristol side of Oxfordshire.

England ? Ewww…..

FTFY