The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[westport]

Edinburgh team to play Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun in the Guinness PRO14 (1872 Cup)
Saturday 16 January (kick-off 5.15pm) – live on Premier Sports

15. Blair Kinghorn (94)
14. Jack Blain (7)
13. Mark Bennett (46)
12. Chris Dean (101)
11. Eroni Sau (15)
10. Jaco van der Walt (65)
9. Nic Groom CO-CAPTAIN (20)
1. Rory Sutherland (89)
2. David Cherry (29)
3. Simon Berghan (87)
4. Ben Toolis (126)
5. Grant Gilchrist CO-CAPTAIN (153)
6. Magnus Bradbury (87)
7. Hamish Watson (116)
8. Viliame Mata (79)

Substitutes:

16. Mike Willemse (30)
17. Pierre Schoeman (54)
18. WP Nel (149)
19. Jamie Hodgson (14)
20. Luke Crosbie (46)
21. Henry Pyrgos (42)
22. Nathan Chamberlain (6)
23. James Johnstone (58)

Unavailable through injury: Lewis Carmichael, Andrew Davidson, Dan Gamble, Darcy Graham, Damien Hoyland, Murray McCallum, Stuart McInally, Fraser McKenzie, Dan Nutton, Jamie Ritchie, Charlie Savala, George Taylor, Duhan van der Merwe.

[Jock42]

Chance for a couple of young lads to step up. Thompson for the weegies looked assured last outing. Would love for Blain to have a big game, someone has to fill VDWs spot soon.

[Jock42]

Anyone signed up to this?

https://doddieaid.com/

I have.

Thanks for reading my post

Fuck off N00b

How you getting on with this? Found it's been a good motivator for me, particularly post night shift, to get a few miles in. Just hit 50 between running and cutting about at work.

[Slick]

I have.

Thanks for reading my post

Fuck off N00b

How you getting on with this? Found it's been a good motivator for me, particularly post night shift, to get a few miles in. Just hit 50 between running and cutting about at work.

To be perfectly honest I haven’t really got into it. My first post Christmas run knackered my ankles and I’ve been taking it really slowly since

[Jock42]

Probably best too mate.


Thompson has a decent boot.

[KingBlairhorn]

Probably best too mate.


Thompson has a decent boot.

Based on that 40 minutes Thompson is a clear upgrade on Thomson.

Another fairly weak half of rugby from both teams though. Zander has been excellent in the scrum, price has looked lively and that’s more or less it.

McLean hasn’t had much to do but hasn’t made any errors. Thompson has kicked well from the tee and was unlucky with one almost excellent touch finder to the corner. VdW does not know how to construct a try with a five man overlap.

[Jock42]

Probably best too mate.


Thompson has a decent boot.

Based on that 40 minutes Thompson is a clear upgrade on Thomson.

Another fairly weak half of rugby from both teams though. Zander has been excellent in the scrum, price has looked lively and that’s more or less it.

McLean hasn’t had much to do but hasn’t made any errors. Thompson has kicked well from the tee and was unlucky with one almost excellent touch finder to the corner. VdW does not know how to construct a try with a five man overlap.

Hahah aye that was virtually a gimme.

That kick was almost nearly gleaming.

Groom

[KingBlairhorn]

The first 15 minutes of the second half have comfortably been the best of the two games so far. We’re in danger of a rugby match breaking out here.

[Jock42]

The first 15 minutes of the second half have comfortably been the best of the two games so far. We’re in danger of a rugby match breaking out here.

2nd embra try was very entertaining

[I like neeps]

Well played Ross Thompson.

First start, big game. Excellent.

[charltom]

Well done Ross Thompson for getting MotM on debut start!

[C T]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

[Slick]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

[clydecloggie]

If Huw Jones isn't playing for Scotland in the 6 Nations I'll...I might...make a strong cup of tea and write a stern letter. The lad was clearly a cut above all the other backs in that game, and from a position that is still fairly unknown for him .certainly better than Kinghorn, who had a very up and down game - a few good moves but a lot of mediocrity as well.

Richie Gray confirmed that he's back at a level where he needs to be in the Scotland conversation.

And if Ross Thompson can kick on from here, we might have another really good 10 on our hands. Perhaps not the flashiest, but very steady and mature today in his first pro start, as well as near-flawless with the boot.

[Slick]

If Huw Jones isn't playing for Scotland in the 6 Nations I'll...I might...make a strong cup of tea and write a stern letter. The lad was clearly a cut above all the other backs in that game, and from a position that is still fairly unknown for him .certainly better than Kinghorn, who had a very up and down game - a few good moves but a lot of mediocrity as well.

Richie Gray confirmed that he's back at a level where he needs to be in the Scotland conversation.

And if Ross Thompson can kick on from here, we might have another really good 10 on our hands. Perhaps not the flashiest, but very steady and mature today in his first pro start, as well as near-flawless with the boot.

Richie absolutely dominating the line out which means he gets the nod from me over his brother. But to be honest I don’t know how much he does around the park to make an informed decision. That’s not a criticism, I don’t know

[C T]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

Just realised how my post reads. I meant somewhere in the starting 15 rather than instead of Hogg.

[Yr Alban]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

Just realised how my post reads. I meant somewhere in the starting 15 rather than instead of Hogg.

I want to see Jones in the team, but at 13. We have somehow gone from having one of the most feared attacking midfields in the world to one of the most toothless (though defensively much better, to be fair). Johnson’s form has vanished and Glasgow insist on playing Jones at 15. We still don’t have depth at 12, because Toony dislikes Scott (no idea why). EDIT: forgot about Taylor, but that’s probably because he is made of glass.

[Jock42]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

An on form Kinghorn is better than Blain at 15 but I think you're right. Calling him nonchalant is probably being nice but I'd be comfortable with Blain there in the interim.

[I like neeps]

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

Just realised how my post reads. I meant somewhere in the starting 15 rather than instead of Hogg.

I want to see Jones in the team, but at 13. We have somehow gone from having one of the most feared attacking midfields in the world to one of the most toothless (though defensively much better, to be fair). Johnson’s form has vanished and Glasgow insist on playing Jones at 15. We still don’t have depth at 12, because Toony dislikes Scott (no idea why). EDIT: forgot about Taylor, but that’s probably because he is made of glass.

I want to see Jones on the wing. He can play 15 well enough, he's good in open space, finishes well. Keeps his weakness in defence hidden too.

[I like neeps]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

An on form Kinghorn is better than Blain at 15 but I think you're right. Calling him nonchalant is probably being nice but I'd be comfortable with Blain there in the interim.

Agree about Kinghorn but I think he actually should leave Edinburgh. Cockers and Hodge clearly aren't capable of improving him.

Townsend picking Thompson after 100 minutes of pro rugby is a brave call. A part of me hopes VdW gets another cap so the rank cynicism of capping him is maybe a bit less rank.

[Slick]

That was great to see from Thompson, well done young man.

I'd have Huw Jones at 23 ahead of Kinghorn. Well, I'd have him in the starting 15 but that just seems unthinkable for some reason.

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

An on form Kinghorn is better than Blain at 15 but I think you're right. Calling him nonchalant is probably being nice but I'd be comfortable with Blain there in the interim.

Confused. I’m talking about Jones at 15. Or rather, cover for 15 and the rest of the backs.

[Jock42]

It is unthinkable. However, and I’ll put my hands up again as I didn’t think he would do it, he is comfortably the 2nd best 15 we have and should be in the Scotland 23. I want Kinghorn to be the player he can be but he needs to be stood down as a bit of a shot across his bows.

Thompson had a decent game, would much rather see him than VDV near the Scotland team.

An on form Kinghorn is better than Blain at 15 but I think you're right. Calling him nonchalant is probably being nice but I'd be comfortable with Blain there in the interim.

Confused. I’m talking about Jones at 15. Or rather, cover for 15 and the rest of the backs.

Was talking about a kick up the arse at embra rather than Scotland.

[Begbie]

Missed the game, thought it was a later KO is it worth watching?

I reckon we'll see H Jones, RG and Gary Graham in the squad on Wednesday.

[C T]

He's one of our best centres. I think his defence is fine, but also accept the coaches have more data than me.

He's at very least making ground if not overtaken Kinghorn to be our 2nd best fullback, when our best is one of the best on the planet.

And in all likelihood do a grand job on the wing.

No place in our 23 though.

Must have been a little too confident for our liking. Not flaky enough, give his confidence a bashing until he's a shell of his former self.

[I like neeps]

He's one of our best centres. I think his defence is fine, but also accept the coaches have more data than me.

He's at very least making ground if not overtaken Kinghorn to be our 2nd best fullback, when our best is one of the best on the planet.

And in all likelihood do a grand job on the wing.

No place in our 23 though.

Must have been a little too confident for our liking. Not flaky enough, give his confidence a bashing until he's a shell of his former self.

This just isn't true, Jones wasn't in sparkling form and found himself dropped. And was even worse for Glasgow.

He's doing well at fullback, looks back to his old self in attack. But he was dropped because his form demanded he was dropped. Makes no sense for Glasgow to leave one of their highest paid players out of squads for any reason other than there's better options. Which in Grigg and Steyn there were.

Won't be the first nor last player to arrive on the scene with a bang then badly fizzle out.

Also overtaking Kinghorn isn't an amazing badge of honour considering how poor Kinghorn is there days. Another player who arrived on the scene in scintillating form and went to pot fwiw.

[KingBlairhorn]

I guess that dip in form is to be expected from younger players, especially coming through a system like ours (I know Jones didn’t) where maybe a single or small number of specific attributes are enough to beat 99% of the players you come up against. On the international or even pro stage, opposition will analyse you and quickly work out how to stop you. At that point you have to work very hard to add more strings to your bow so you can pose different questions.

Take Kinghorn for instance, I think his issue is decision making. Opposition players quickly worked out that if you rush his decision making time he struggles to execute. They now rush him when he is attacking and as a result he struggles to execute fairly simple passes or catches or to pick the attacking lines he used to hit with such impact.

[clydecloggie]

Well played, Mr. Groom

[westport]

Blair Kinghorn has penned a new deal with his boyhood club.

[Biffer]

Blair Kinghorn has penned a new deal with his boyhood club.

Currie?

Where did they get that kind of money?

[walletoraccess]

On the assumption it goes ahead SRU have confirmed that Scotland v Wales will be behind closed doors

[Jock42]

Blair Kinghorn has penned a new deal with his boyhood club.

Good news but something still needs to be done to rekindle his form.

[Jock42]

[westport]

Blair Kinghorn has penned a new deal with his boyhood club.

Currie?

Where did they get that kind of money?

They must have had a whip round

[westport]

Blair Kinghorn has penned a new deal with his boyhood club.

Good news but something still needs to be done to rekindle his form.

With you 100% on that

[Yr Alban]

Twitter saying Glasgow have signed Ian Keatley. Guess Ben Healy wasn’t up for a club & country switch then?

[clydecloggie]

Twitter saying Glasgow have signed Ian Keatley. Guess Ben Healy wasn’t up for a club & country switch then?

There's no such thing as a lone Irishman.

[I like neeps]

Twitter saying Glasgow have signed Ian Keatley. Guess Ben Healy wasn’t up for a club & country switch then?

Keatley only until the end of the season. But Healy likely not joining.

[Yr Alban]

Twitter saying Glasgow have signed Ian Keatley. Guess Ben Healy wasn’t up for a club & country switch then?

Keatley only until the end of the season. But Healy likely not joining.

Just saw that. Sadly I suspect you’re right

[dpedin]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... e-55718363

How good is this but how bittersweet for Doddie! Too late for him but his unselfishness in raising money has helped fund this breakthrough. He must be chuffed.

[Margin__Walker]

Sounds like Cam Redpath set to be named in the Scotland 6N squad.