The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

Did we know we are getting a crack at the ABs in the autumn? If we did it had passed me by. Looking forward to it, but we'll have to up our levels again if we are to have a chance.

Just saw that myself.

A lot of people deride the Haka but when I told my kids this morning that the All Blacks we’re coming to town they were pleading to go to see it

I don't deride the haka, but I deride the way the All Blacks were, at one point, on their way to letting Nike make it their plaything in marketing. Thankfully they seem to have stepped back from that.

Also don't like that you're not allowed to respond in any way, shape or form. Don't want another Cockerill incident, but there have been some glorious, respectful responses before now.

[Yr Alban]

Did we know we are getting a crack at the ABs in the autumn? If we did it had passed me by. Looking forward to it, but we'll have to up our levels again if we are to have a chance.

These games never seem to come up at the right time. If it had been last autumn I’d have backed us. Still, it’s a long time till the game

[Punter15]

The fact that the medical team didn’t put Russell back on when he passed his HIA tells you all you need to know. If they have any concerns at all, Darcy won’t play.

Yeah, but the fact that Finn passed his HIA suggests the tests are not all that accurate

I’m still unclear how you test Finn Russell for concussion.

Drool or no drool is the only discernible difference

[Yr Alban]

If you support a Scottish football team that isn’t Celtic or Rangers*, you get used to stories about one of them wanting to sign your best player appearing in the Glasgow tabloids in the week before you play them. It happens so regularly that people start predicting it.

I mention this because right now there seems to be a new story in the media every day about Scotland and our ‘plastic players’ (to use the term I’ve just seen in a Torygraph headline). Who is it we’re playing at the weekend again? And when did they last beat us? Ah.

[KingBlairhorn]

If you support a Scottish football team that isn’t Celtic or Rangers*, you get used to stories about one of them wanting to sign your best player appearing in the Glasgow tabloids in the week before you play them. It happens so regularly that people start predicting it.

I mention this because right now there seems to be a new story in the media every day about Scotland and our ‘plastic players’ (to use the term I’ve just seen in a Torygraph headline). Who is it we’re playing at the weekend again? And when did they last beat us? Ah.

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

[I like neeps]

If you support a Scottish football team that isn’t Celtic or Rangers*, you get used to stories about one of them wanting to sign your best player appearing in the Glasgow tabloids in the week before you play them. It happens so regularly that people start predicting it.

I mention this because right now there seems to be a new story in the media every day about Scotland and our ‘plastic players’ (to use the term I’ve just seen in a Torygraph headline). Who is it we’re playing at the weekend again? And when did they last beat us? Ah.

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

[Tichtheid]

There is a bit in Father Ted where he and Dougal spy Richard Wilson and Dougal suggests Ted goes up and says, “I don’t believe it!” as no one will have thought of it before.
Ted does that and Wilson starts hitting Ted.

I think these guys that bring up the not-born-in-Scotland thing, even counting the likes of John Barclay, are Dougal and Ted.

[Tichtheid]

If you support a Scottish football team that isn’t Celtic or Rangers*, you get used to stories about one of them wanting to sign your best player appearing in the Glasgow tabloids in the week before you play them. It happens so regularly that people start predicting it.

I mention this because right now there seems to be a new story in the media every day about Scotland and our ‘plastic players’ (to use the term I’ve just seen in a Torygraph headline). Who is it we’re playing at the weekend again? And when did they last beat us? Ah.

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

I think the criticism is unfounded because I believe in the freedom to go and work where you choose.

[Paddington Bear]

If you support a Scottish football team that isn’t Celtic or Rangers*, you get used to stories about one of them wanting to sign your best player appearing in the Glasgow tabloids in the week before you play them. It happens so regularly that people start predicting it.

I mention this because right now there seems to be a new story in the media every day about Scotland and our ‘plastic players’ (to use the term I’ve just seen in a Torygraph headline). Who is it we’re playing at the weekend again? And when did they last beat us? Ah.

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

[I like neeps]

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

I think the criticism is unfounded because I believe in the freedom to go and work where you choose.

That's a bit of a red herring as that's not what the question is. As you know.

The question is should you be able to represent a country internatually after a comparatively short qualifying window...

[SaintK]

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

Meant to post the article yesterday
https://archive.ph/u4mun

[Tichtheid]

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

I think the criticism is unfounded because I believe in the freedom to go and work where you choose.

That's a bit of a red herring as that's not what the question is. As you know.

The question is should you be able to represent a country internatually after a comparatively short qualifying window...

Nope, it's a profession.

It's the tediousness of the repetition of this "discussion" that gets me.

Every fucking time there are international games it comes up.
And nothing has changed since the last time.

[I like neeps]

England's media taking the controversial 'I only shagged one sheep' defence. It doesn't matter if it's one or 100, you are still a sheep shagger.

They might deride our 'plastic players', but they've had so many of their own they haven't a leg to stand on and simply look like delusional whingers.

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

[Tichtheid]

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

Meant to post the article yesterday
https://archive.ph/u4mun

Craig Chalmers lamenting not seeing full internationals playing for Melrose is a bit rich - the Borders had a professional team with full internationals in it, they had players like Brian O'Driscol coming and playing against them, but no one turned up to watch because the game wasn't being played at their own club and they wouldn't support another team's ground, they chose to go and watch their own team the following day.

The sport in Scotland is full of internecine fighting along self-interested lines. No one comes out with pass marks, not the clubs nor the SRU.

[robmatic]

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

I don't think Schoeman is significant enough for quite so many column inches though (I know there is Boan Venter as well but the English journos won't know about him yet because they don't pay any attention to the URC).

The other residency players in the Scotland team are somewhat less planned. Duhan came to Edinburgh due to Cockerill wanting a big quick lad on the cheap and Jordan rocked up to play for Ayr, and I doubt either party there were anticipating an eventual Scotland cap.

[Paddington Bear]

Hmm England don't use residency like the SRU and IRFU to fill gaps in problem positions to be fair.

For as long as the SRU sign players to eventually play for Scotland we'll get criticism for doing so.

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

IIRC Hogg and/or Russell did an interview a while back along the lines of not loving it. It was noticeable in season 1 of the netflix show when a few of the Scotland players are singing Loch Lomond after a win there were a few others who clearly didn’t know the words. Life and sport are about trade offs, I can see both sides of it.

[sockwithaticket]

Did we know we are getting a crack at the ABs in the autumn? If we did it had passed me by. Looking forward to it, but we'll have to up our levels again if we are to have a chance.

Just saw that myself.

A lot of people deride the Haka but when I told my kids this morning that the All Blacks we’re coming to town they were pleading to go to see it

I don't deride the haka, but I deride the way the All Blacks were, at one point, on their way to letting Nike make it their plaything in marketing. Thankfully they seem to have stepped back from that.

Also don't like that you're not allowed to respond in any way, shape or form. Don't want another Cockerill incident, but there have been some glorious, respectful responses before now.

In fairness you can respond, you just have to maintain a certain distance from the halfway line (I think it's 10 metres) and most teams don't seem to bother coming up with anything.

My issue with the haka is that it's always the last thing before kick off, even when NZ are playing away. When Wales had the temerity to say that in their gaff the Haka wouldn't be last in the running order, the ABs had a sulk and did it in the changing room

It's also a spectacle only up to a point. When you've seen dozens of them the mystique has rather worn off and the fact that they have multiple modern hakas rather than traditional dances cheapens it a bit.

[Jock42]

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

IIRC Hogg and/or Russell did an interview a while back along the lines of not loving it. It was noticeable in season 1 of the netflix show when a few of the Scotland players are singing Loch Lomond after a win there were a few others who clearly didn’t know the words. Life and sport are about trade offs, I can see both sides of it.

Laidlaw was very much against it. In fairness using Loch Lomond is a very poor metric as the vast majority of Jocks don't know the words outside a Runrig chorus either.

[I like neeps]

Quotes in the article are all from Scottish fans, ex-players and a retired journo, so it’s clearly reflective of a debate within Scottish rugby even if the people quoted are a minority. Hardly like they’ve asked Sir Clive to do a 30 minute lecture on the Barnett Formula

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

I don't think Schoeman is significant enough for quite so many column inches though (I know there is Boan Venter as well but the English journos won't know about him yet because they don't pay any attention to the URC).

The other residency players in the Scotland team are somewhat less planned. Duhan came to Edinburgh due to Cockerill wanting a big quick lad on the cheap and Jordan rocked up to play for Ayr, and I doubt either party there were anticipating an eventual Scotland cap.

But it's not just Schoeman though. The SRU publically announced with the signing of Nel that project players were a part of our player development pathway. That's the bit that people disagree with.

I've no issue with Jordan, Duhan etc. But the SRUs farming of South African props just isn't for me.

[Biffer]

I think the criticism is unfounded because I believe in the freedom to go and work where you choose.

That's a bit of a red herring as that's not what the question is. As you know.

The question is should you be able to represent a country internatually after a comparatively short qualifying window...

Nope, it's a profession.

It's the tediousness of the repetition of this "discussion" that gets me.

Every fucking time there are international games it comes up.
And nothing has changed since the last time.

And that article is very 'ochone, ochone, wasn't it all better when we were amateur?'

It's not a surprise that the Telegraph comes in with a completely one eyed article a few days before the Calcutta Cup. Having made no effort to put another side to it, and this idea that they're trying to push that support is waning, at a time when we're selling more tickets for international and pro rugby than we ever have before, is just garbage. And to do it while Wales are no longer selling out their games in the Six Nations (you can buy tickets, direct from the WRU website, today for the Ireland game on Saturday).

I wouldn't find it that hard to find people who had things to say about English rugby, on whatever random topic, and only quote the the two or three mouth breathers and rent a quote former players in the article.

[Biffer]

No I know it's a reasonable point, the spirit of international sport isn't bringing across 23 year old Douth African props because we cannot develop Scottish props for toffee. I think it's fair game to criticise us for that.

I don't think Schoeman is significant enough for quite so many column inches though (I know there is Boan Venter as well but the English journos won't know about him yet because they don't pay any attention to the URC).

The other residency players in the Scotland team are somewhat less planned. Duhan came to Edinburgh due to Cockerill wanting a big quick lad on the cheap and Jordan rocked up to play for Ayr, and I doubt either party there were anticipating an eventual Scotland cap.

But it's not just Schoeman though. The SRU publically announced with the signing of Nel that project players were a part of our player development pathway. That's the bit that people disagree with.

I've no issue with Jordan, Duhan etc. But the SRUs farming of South African props just isn't for me.

Nel was 13 years ago. It's not SRU policy anymore.

The only overseas front rows on the books at Edinburgh and Glasgow are Venter and Williams (Edinburgh) and Shickerling and Talaki (Glasgow).

[robmatic]

I don't think Schoeman is significant enough for quite so many column inches though (I know there is Boan Venter as well but the English journos won't know about him yet because they don't pay any attention to the URC).

The other residency players in the Scotland team are somewhat less planned. Duhan came to Edinburgh due to Cockerill wanting a big quick lad on the cheap and Jordan rocked up to play for Ayr, and I doubt either party there were anticipating an eventual Scotland cap.

But it's not just Schoeman though. The SRU publically announced with the signing of Nel that project players were a part of our player development pathway. That's the bit that people disagree with.

I've no issue with Jordan, Duhan etc. But the SRUs farming of South African props just isn't for me.

Nel was 13 years ago. It's not SRU policy anymore.

The only overseas front rows on the books at Edinburgh and Glasgow are Venter and Williams (Edinburgh) and Shickerling and Talaki (Glasgow).

Williams has a Scottish mum and came over to play for Watsonians in the Super 6 before Edinburgh picked him up. There is also Paul Hill who is foreign and tbh I don't know what the strategy was with signing him.

[I like neeps]

I don't think Schoeman is significant enough for quite so many column inches though (I know there is Boan Venter as well but the English journos won't know about him yet because they don't pay any attention to the URC).

The other residency players in the Scotland team are somewhat less planned. Duhan came to Edinburgh due to Cockerill wanting a big quick lad on the cheap and Jordan rocked up to play for Ayr, and I doubt either party there were anticipating an eventual Scotland cap.

But it's not just Schoeman though. The SRU publically announced with the signing of Nel that project players were a part of our player development pathway. That's the bit that people disagree with.

I've no issue with Jordan, Duhan etc. But the SRUs farming of South African props just isn't for me.

Nel was 13 years ago. It's not SRU policy anymore.

The only overseas front rows on the books at Edinburgh and Glasgow are Venter and Williams (Edinburgh) and Shickerling and Talaki (Glasgow).

Not since the rules changed but there's no denying Scotland (and Ireland and Japan especially) used residency to fill squad gaps which isn't the spirit of international sport.

McBeth and Schoeman are overseas. Granted Mcbeth was always SQ but they didn't come through our development pathway. You have also missed Paul Hill and Javan Sebastian (although he did have a year with Ayr I suppose). Edinburgh have two props who came through Scottish rugby development: Rae and Hislop. Glasgow are better with: Bhatti. Fin Richardson, Sutherland, Zander and Walker.

[Jock42]

20250220_134005.jpg (217.33 KiB) Viewed 4019 times

No Darcy. Probably about as strong as they can go, 6/2 split gives me the fear.

[SomersetJock]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

[robmatic]

Meant to post the article yesterday
https://archive.ph/u4mun

“They don’t have that opportunity now to learn from the top players with only two clubs,” Lothian says. “If there were a proper Scottish domestic league, that’s what they would get. The club players are isolated from that. I’d take all the money they spend on those two sides, chuck it in a pot and tell the traditional clubs to go for it.”

FFS.

[inactionman]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

I object to us making Van Der Merve look like the second coming of Jonah Lomu, yes, but that's on us.

Any reason Jamie Ritchie starts and Fagerson is riding the pine? Ritchie has looked a bit off the pace recently, although to be fair I'm basing a lot of that off his brief cameo against a very good Ireland side.

[Yr Alban]

20250220_134005.jpg

No Darcy. Probably about as strong as they can go, 6/2 split gives me the fear.

Tom Jordan is a great player. But I’d rather have seen Hutchinson get the nod here. It frustrates me that Toony clearly dislikes him so much. Pretty much anyone would be behind Sione, but with him out of commission you’d think he might have had a shot.

[Paddington Bear]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

We all miss Dan Parks, come on

[Jock42]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

I object to us making Van Der Merve look like the second coming of Jonah Lomu, yes, but that's on us.

Any reason Jamie Ritchie starts and Fagerson is riding the pine? Ritchie has looked a bit off the pace recently, although to be fair I'm basing a lot of that off his brief cameo against a very good Ireland side.

Will disrupt the breakdown more than Fagerson

[Yr Alban]

Yeah, but the fact that Finn passed his HIA suggests the tests are not all that accurate

I’m still unclear how you test Finn Russell for concussion.

Drool or no drool is the only discernible difference

In medicine we talk about how far someone is off their baseline. No idea whether the return to play protocols take Finn’s intellectual baseline into account.

[clydecloggie]

I’m still unclear how you test Finn Russell for concussion.

Drool or no drool is the only discernible difference

In medicine we talk about how far someone is off their baseline. No idea whether the return to play protocols take Finn’s intellectual baseline into account.

His HIA probably suffered from the floor effect, which is why he passed it.

[Tichtheid]

Toonie saying that they didn't want to risk Darcy after the assessments - he's not been symptom free long enough to have been taking part in full contact training. We'll see him back against Wales, no doubt. Unless Rowe plays out of his skin and scores four or more right enough.

[SomersetJock]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

We all miss Dan Parks, come on

There should be a lifetime ban from all forums for the mere mention of that name

[I like neeps]

20250220_134005.jpg

No Darcy. Probably about as strong as they can go, 6/2 split gives me the fear.

Tom Jordan is a great player. But I’d rather have seen Hutchinson get the nod here. It frustrates me that Toony clearly dislikes him so much. Pretty much anyone would be behind Sione, but with him out of commission you’d think he might have had a shot.

I am a huge Rory Hutchinson fan.... I don't want to watch Ollie Lawrence running at him all day.

[Dogbert]

Let’s be honest, the average English fan, journalist and ex player couldn’t give a toss about non Scottish born players pulling on a Scotland shirt.

What they really object to is when there are ones who run through them and around them to score time and again !

We all miss Dan Parks, come on

There should be a lifetime ban from all forums for the mere mention of that name

Dan would walk into the current Edinburgh side - even now

[Simian]

20250220_134005.jpg

No Darcy. Probably about as strong as they can go, 6/2 split gives me the fear.

Tom Jordan is a great player. But I’d rather have seen Hutchinson get the nod here. It frustrates me that Toony clearly dislikes him so much. Pretty much anyone would be behind Sione, but with him out of commission you’d think he might have had a shot.

You’d need to change a lot about how we play to accommodate Hutchison. You don’t to slot Jordan in.

[Tichtheid]

20250220_134005.jpg

No Darcy. Probably about as strong as they can go, 6/2 split gives me the fear.

Tom Jordan is a great player. But I’d rather have seen Hutchinson get the nod here. It frustrates me that Toony clearly dislikes him so much. Pretty much anyone would be behind Sione, but with him out of commission you’d think he might have had a shot.

You’d need to change a lot about how we play to accommodate Hutchison. You don’t to slot Jordan in.

Interesting comment.

I see Jordan as a physical player who can cary into traffic, be strong defensively and act as first receiver, ie much like Sione, if not quite at the same level in terms of the physicality.

Is this what you mean regarding Hutch not being that physical type of player?

[C T]

I'm nervous about this weekend, but this should be a very close and very compelling match.

Thinking about Scotland against Italy. I really think Italy are a much better team and I'll be surprise if they don't take a scalp this tournament. On the whole it's unrealistic to expect us to just dominate them and win at a canter. Ultimately I'm happy with that one, trying to be realistic about the best that could have happened.

Ireland done what they always do, we done what we always do and came up massively short. Very disappointing. At least last year vs Ireland and SA we showed some form of progress but still lost. Felt like a step back this year.

I'm not yet convinced that England have taken a step forward. Harsh, but even their win vs France needed the worst France performance I've seen for a long time. Some of that has to be attributed to England though.

I think Scotland were a better team that England, but I'm worried we've stepped back to meet them rather that they've stepped forward to meet us.

England have the players to do what Ireland & SA do to us, but it just hasn't quite been the case the past few years.

Tough one to call.

[Simian]

Tom Jordan is a great player. But I’d rather have seen Hutchinson get the nod here. It frustrates me that Toony clearly dislikes him so much. Pretty much anyone would be behind Sione, but with him out of commission you’d think he might have had a shot.

You’d need to change a lot about how we play to accommodate Hutchison. You don’t to slot Jordan in.

Interesting comment.

I see Jordan as a physical player who can cary into traffic, be strong defensively and act as first receiver, ie much like Sione, if not quite at the same level in terms of the physicality.

Is this what you mean regarding Hutch not being that physical type of player?

Yep. For me, it’s effectively a straight swap to bring in Jordan at 12. Similarly strong defensively, similar distribution, both able to bang it up. (Not saying he does all these things as well as ST, but similar type of strengths) I guess Jordan doesn’t seem to have as strong a short kicking game as Sione does, but we’ve not looked to use that much as weapon recently anyway. Great player tho Hutchison is, we’d really miss a twelve who can truck it up and retain the ball if we started him, especially if Fagerson is benched. And as someone else said earlier on the thread, the likes of Lawrence running at him is a bit scary. So you’d be looking at changing how we defend, when we’ve a system that works and works well, which isn’t a worry with Jordan.

It’s a shame Hutchison can’t get a look in in a spot where we’ve often really struggled for quality over the years, but them’s the breaks I guess.

My tuppenceworh anyhoo.