The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[robmatic]

Yep, can’t argue with any of that. Apart from Paterson not being that good. He was an electric attacking FB in his prime, and should have been our 10 for years. Unfortunately, people now remember him at the end of his career, when he was shunted on to the wing in order to keep him in the side for his place kicking.

Yes, agree with JMK's post and this. Paterson was an excellent player who spent a large part of his career playing in very average Scotland teams and being shunted about to cover for the lack of strength in other areas. Had he been playing in this squad he would be remebered as one of our best IMO.

He was an under-rated fullback I thought, but often he was the only decent attacking player you could find in those Scotland teams from 10 to 15. Hard to show your best when you're relying on the likes of Dan Parks, Graeme Morrison and Hugo Southwell to pass the ball to you.

[Tichtheid]

Our defence was sound, our attack scares the shit out of teams and even the games we lost we were within a score right at the end, that is progress without a doubt. Are we still frustrating? without a doubt. But we are not brittle like we have been for years. My only concern is that, rightly or wrongly, it feels as if time is slightly running out for this squad and we need to win something big over the next couple of years for it to be a truely succesful period.

Hoggy and Finn are both 28, Sutherland is the same. I won't go through the whole team but there aren't many on the wrong side of 30.

There is some serious talent coming up behind them, the likes of Dobie and Shiel, McLean, Thompson, Chamberlain etc all look the part. Ritchie is still only 24, Mat Fagerson is 22 Zander is a prop baby at 25, there are some young locks that are showing promise, Hunter-Hill, Hodgeson, Glasgow have a couple coming through.

I may be remembering it wrong, but I'm sure Ireland became successful after BOD retired and he was one of the great, there was a good group of players with him and they laid the foundations for future success.

[Slick]

Our defence was sound, our attack scares the shit out of teams and even the games we lost we were within a score right at the end, that is progress without a doubt. Are we still frustrating? without a doubt. But we are not brittle like we have been for years. My only concern is that, rightly or wrongly, it feels as if time is slightly running out for this squad and we need to win something big over the next couple of years for it to be a truely succesful period.

Hoggy and Finn are both 28, Sutherland is the same. I won't go through the whole team but there aren't many on the wrong side of 30.

There is some serious talent coming up behind them, the likes of Dobie and Shiel, McLean, Thompson, Chamberlain etc all look the part. Ritchie is still only 24, Mat Fagerson is 22 Zander is a prop baby at 25, there are some young locks that are showing promise, Hunter-Hill, Hodgeson, Glasgow have a couple coming through.

I may be remembering it wrong, but I'm sure Ireland became successful after BOD retired and he was one of the great, there was a good group of players with him and they laid the foundations for future success.

Good post. I think it's almost more a feeling that we have the momentum and the belief and that doesn't always come with a Scotland team even if the talent is there. Good point about BOD, let's hope this is just the start.

[westport]

Fun Monday Factoid!

So the 6 Nations finished on Friday but did you know that apart from Ireland vs France there was at least one player in EVERY game who has played in competitive matches for London Scottish.

A total of 1339 contributed minutes and 22 contributed points

[dkm57]

What has consistently struck me this season (frustrating as it's been) is the number of promising youngsters emerging and getting a decent crack at Pro14 rugby and generally making a good showing. I'm really quite optimistic for the future. I see the likes of IrnDu and others heading off to Top14 and Premiership clubs as a good thing, it lets them develop further and makes room for the youngsters to emerge and get serious game time.

[Caley_Red]

What has consistently struck me this season (frustrating as it's been) is the number of promising youngsters emerging and getting a decent crack at Pro14 rugby and generally making a good showing. I'm really quite optimistic for the future. I see the likes of IrnDu and others heading off to Top14 and Premiership clubs as a good thing, it lets them develop further and makes room for the youngsters to emerge and get serious game time.

I generally agree with that however, we need to strike an equilibrium between allowing those players to leave and allowing youngsters through without semi-perm damage to the team, therefore making them an unattractive prospect and weakening the national team over the medium term.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Does anyone know who the MOTM was on Friday? I can't remember seeing the usual thing they do a couple of minutes from time, or the post-match presentation. Did I miss it? There was quite a lot going on...

[robmatic]

Does anyone know who the MOTM was on Friday? I can't remember seeing the usual thing they do a couple of minutes from time, or the post-match presentation. Did I miss it? There was quite a lot going on...

Gael Fickou.

[S/Lt_Phillips]

Does anyone know who the MOTM was on Friday? I can't remember seeing the usual thing they do a couple of minutes from time, or the post-match presentation. Did I miss it? There was quite a lot going on...

Gael Fickou.

Cheers

[Begbie]

Decent article about the Mish.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... -audition/

[Slick]

Does anyone know who the MOTM was on Friday? I can't remember seeing the usual thing they do a couple of minutes from time, or the post-match presentation. Did I miss it? There was quite a lot going on...

Gael Fickou.

Are you being serious?

[Yr Alban]

Our defence was sound, our attack scares the shit out of teams and even the games we lost we were within a score right at the end, that is progress without a doubt. Are we still frustrating? without a doubt. But we are not brittle like we have been for years. My only concern is that, rightly or wrongly, it feels as if time is slightly running out for this squad and we need to win something big over the next couple of years for it to be a truely succesful period.

Hoggy and Finn are both 28, Sutherland is the same. I won't go through the whole team but there aren't many on the wrong side of 30.

There is some serious talent coming up behind them, the likes of Dobie and Shiel, McLean, Thompson, Chamberlain etc all look the part. Ritchie is still only 24, Mat Fagerson is 22 Zander is a prop baby at 25, there are some young locks that are showing promise, Hunter-Hill, Hodgeson, Glasgow have a couple coming through.

I may be remembering it wrong, but I'm sure Ireland became successful after BOD retired and he was one of the great, there was a good group of players with him and they laid the foundations for future success.

Good post. I think it's almost more a feeling that we have the momentum and the belief and that doesn't always come with a Scotland team even if the talent is there. Good point about BOD, let's hope this is just the start.

Interesting about BOD. Ireland won a GS in 2009 and a title in 2014 with him in the team, but his retirement clearly didn’t hamper things given Ireland won another title in 2015 and another GS in 2018. However, it would have to be pointed out that Ireland have 4 pro teams and a conveyor belt of talent we can’t get anywhere near. We do seem to have good players coming through though, so the big test will be when the likes of Hogg retire in a few years. He won’t be 30 until next year though, so it might be a wee while yet.

[Yr Alban]

Does anyone know who the MOTM was on Friday? I can't remember seeing the usual thing they do a couple of minutes from time, or the post-match presentation. Did I miss it? There was quite a lot going on...

Gael Fickou.

Are you being serious?

He is. The MoM was selected by French TV with 5 minutes to go...

[Slick]

Gael Fickou.

Are you being serious?

He is. The MoM was selected by French TV with 5 minutes to go...

aha!

[Biffer]

Hoggy and Finn are both 28, Sutherland is the same. I won't go through the whole team but there aren't many on the wrong side of 30.

There is some serious talent coming up behind them, the likes of Dobie and Shiel, McLean, Thompson, Chamberlain etc all look the part. Ritchie is still only 24, Mat Fagerson is 22 Zander is a prop baby at 25, there are some young locks that are showing promise, Hunter-Hill, Hodgeson, Glasgow have a couple coming through.

I may be remembering it wrong, but I'm sure Ireland became successful after BOD retired and he was one of the great, there was a good group of players with him and they laid the foundations for future success.

Good post. I think it's almost more a feeling that we have the momentum and the belief and that doesn't always come with a Scotland team even if the talent is there. Good point about BOD, let's hope this is just the start.

Interesting about BOD. Ireland won a GS in 2009 and a title in 2014 with him in the team, but his retirement clearly didn’t hamper things given Ireland won another title in 2015 and another GS in 2018. However, it would have to be pointed out that Ireland have 4 pro teams and a conveyor belt of talent we can’t get anywhere near. We do seem to have good players coming through though, so the big test will be when the likes of Hogg retire in a few years. He won’t be 30 until next year though, so it might be a wee while yet.

Yeah, I've often thought that the BOD/Hogg comparison for Ireland and Scotland is worthwhile. They both made their debut for the national team at 19/20, O'Driscoll was 30 when he first won the championship after a decade of 'this is the year' and disappointment. He only won the 6Ns one more time, in his last year as an international. It took a long time to turn Ireland into what they are today, it didn't happen in five years, they went through a whole generation of players to change the losing mindset and get used to winning, and then longer to expect to. I think Scotland are only 7 years down that road, starting when Cotter came in.

So buckle up, we've got years of unfulfilled hope still to drink our way through.

[Yr Alban]

Good post. I think it's almost more a feeling that we have the momentum and the belief and that doesn't always come with a Scotland team even if the talent is there. Good point about BOD, let's hope this is just the start.

Interesting about BOD. Ireland won a GS in 2009 and a title in 2014 with him in the team, but his retirement clearly didn’t hamper things given Ireland won another title in 2015 and another GS in 2018. However, it would have to be pointed out that Ireland have 4 pro teams and a conveyor belt of talent we can’t get anywhere near. We do seem to have good players coming through though, so the big test will be when the likes of Hogg retire in a few years. He won’t be 30 until next year though, so it might be a wee while yet.

Yeah, I've often thought that the BOD/Hogg comparison for Ireland and Scotland is worthwhile. They both made their debut for the national team at 19/20, O'Driscoll was 30 when he first won the championship after a decade of 'this is the year' and disappointment. He only won the 6Ns one more time, in his last year as an international. It took a long time to turn Ireland into what they are today, it didn't happen in five years, they went through a whole generation of players to change the losing mindset and get used to winning, and then longer to expect to. I think Scotland are only 7 years down that road, starting when Cotter came in.

So buckle up, we've got years of unfulfilled hope still to drink our way through.

Yes, we are on that journey. We’re heading in the right direction, but there are plenty of twists and turns on the way...

It would be a dreadful shame if Hogg were to go his whole career without winning a 6N title, but you’d have to say that his time may be running out.

[Slick]

So buckle up, we've got years of unfulfilled hope still to drink our way through.

[Jock42]

Russell out for the Embra match, 3 week ban.

[Biffer]

Interesting about BOD. Ireland won a GS in 2009 and a title in 2014 with him in the team, but his retirement clearly didn’t hamper things given Ireland won another title in 2015 and another GS in 2018. However, it would have to be pointed out that Ireland have 4 pro teams and a conveyor belt of talent we can’t get anywhere near. We do seem to have good players coming through though, so the big test will be when the likes of Hogg retire in a few years. He won’t be 30 until next year though, so it might be a wee while yet.

Yeah, I've often thought that the BOD/Hogg comparison for Ireland and Scotland is worthwhile. They both made their debut for the national team at 19/20, O'Driscoll was 30 when he first won the championship after a decade of 'this is the year' and disappointment. He only won the 6Ns one more time, in his last year as an international. It took a long time to turn Ireland into what they are today, it didn't happen in five years, they went through a whole generation of players to change the losing mindset and get used to winning, and then longer to expect to. I think Scotland are only 7 years down that road, starting when Cotter came in.

So buckle up, we've got years of unfulfilled hope still to drink our way through.

Yes, we are on that journey. We’re heading in the right direction, but there are plenty of twists and turns on the way...

It would be a dreadful shame if Hogg were to go his whole career without winning a 6N title, but you’d have to say that his time may be running out.

Yeah, but he’s got 4 or 5 years I reckon. Fullback can play to 33.

[Slick]

Russell out for the Embra match, 3 week ban.

3 weeks??? Fucking hell

[Begbie]

Shiel and Hank have re-signed with Edinburgh. With Vellacott coming in it looks like Groom will be away.

[robmatic]

Shiel and Hank have re-signed with Edinburgh. With Vellacott coming in it looks like Groom will be away.

I think it was going to be one of Pyrgos or Groom, so yes he will be away.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pyrgos starts winding down a bit, so could be a decent amount of time for Vellacott and Shiel on the pitch.

[Biffer]

Shiel and Hank have re-signed with Edinburgh. With Vellacott coming in it looks like Groom will be away.

I think it was going to be one of Pyrgos or Groom, so yes he will be away.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pyrgos starts winding down a bit, so could be a decent amount of time for Vellacott and Shiel on the pitch.

Yeah, I can see him being in the 'old head closing out the game' role.

[Jock42]

Shiel and Hank have re-signed with Edinburgh. With Vellacott coming in it looks like Groom will be away.

I think it was going to be one of Pyrgos or Groom, so yes he will be away.

I wouldn't be surprised if Pyrgos starts winding down a bit, so could be a decent amount of time for Vellacott and Shiel on the pitch.

Can but hope. Shiel has been the best SH at embra for a while.

You reading this Richard?

[Begbie]

Edinburgh have been awarded 4 points for the postponed game v Benetton. There's been a covid outbreak in their camp so no chance of playing the rearranged fixture.

[Yr Alban]

Edinburgh have been awarded 4 points for the postponed game v Benetton. There's been a covid outbreak in their camp so no chance of playing the rearranged fixture.

Apparently rugby can actually get it right, at least some of the time!

Seriously, we’re all delighted to get a win in Paris for the first time since nineteen oatcake, but that doesn’t change the fact that the game should never have taken place.

[I like neeps]

Edinburgh have been awarded 4 points for the postponed game v Benetton. There's been a covid outbreak in their camp so no chance of playing the rearranged fixture.

Apparently rugby can actually get it right, at least some of the time!

Seriously, we’re all delighted to get a win in Paris for the first time since nineteen oatcake, but that doesn’t change the fact that the game should never have taken place.

I disagree I think it should have. They made it a farce by not paying for a full release. But I am infinitely happier I got to watch Scotland win in France than not watch it.

The boost for the squad and the fans is worth it.

[charltom]

Edinburgh have been awarded 4 points for the postponed game v Benetton. There's been a covid outbreak in their camp so no chance of playing the rearranged fixture.

Only 4?

[clydecloggie]

As absurd an April fools as it is, there is a bitter undercurrent of truth in there...

[Biffer]

As absurd an April fools as it is, there is a bitter undercurrent of truth in there...

that works on many levels

[clydecloggie]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

[Tichtheid]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

Aye, we're supposedly playing an "A" international against England in the USA and, I suppose, a full capped international against Romania in Bucharest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_July ... nion_tests

[robmatic]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

Aye, we're supposedly playing an "A" international against England in the USA and, I suppose, a full capped international against Romania in Bucharest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_July ... nion_tests

That's interesting, I can get a night train to Bucharest from here (if international travel starts again).

[TheNatalShark]

Brilliant effort from the lads last night. The composure to protect the ball in the build up to the try at the end was outstanding. We seemed to have found a bit of savvy from somewhere. Still laughing about the French trying for one more play.

Was all and all a very good game and little doubt in my mind the constant pressure of going for the try vs 3 points within points of the game lead to the build-up of frustration in the French team and probably contributed to Dulin's madness. Lots of kudos to Townsend and Hogg for game plan used, sticking to it, and work on composure + set-up with a man down.

Incredible work from Harris, very glad to have him there and a sock in my mouth. Great to see Turner putting the wobble aside, a solid game from Gilchrist, and Price reverting back a few years so as to not meerkat and instantly secure ball under threat at breakdown.

I wonder if Gary Graham will get a shot at redemption in July.

[Squidster]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

What Twitter account are you seeing that on because I searched Scottish Rugby and Romania Rugby and could not find anything :-).

Nothing was official but Scotsman think there are options: Japan, England, Georgia, Romania and Spain. I am fairly certain it will be 2 or 3 tests: Japan being a certainty, England a possibility anf and one from Georgia, Spain and Romania being a certainty too.

[Big D]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

Aye, we're supposedly playing an "A" international against England in the USA and, I suppose, a full capped international against Romania in Bucharest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_July ... nion_tests

They should just make the whole thing an A team set of games.

[I like neeps]

No idea how credible the source is but claims on Twitter that Romania will play against Scotland in July.

Aye, we're supposedly playing an "A" international against England in the USA and, I suppose, a full capped international against Romania in Bucharest.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_July ... nion_tests

They should just make the whole thing an A team set of games.

It will be an A team whatever I think. Without a handful of Lions and I can't see them getting the senior senior players such as Nel, Brown, Gray's etc to lace up Vs Romania.

Would be really exciting if we could cap Ashman and Chapman. Two guys going great guns down in England.

[Jock42]

Kinghorn starts at 10 with VDW on the bench





15. Damien Hoyland (81)



14. Darcy Graham (38)

13. James Johnstone (61)

12. George Taylor (32)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (64)



10. Blair Kinghorn (97)

9. Henry Pyrgos VICE CAPTAIN (48)



1. Pierre Schoeman (59)

2. David Cherry (33)

3. WP Nel (151)

4. Magnus Bradbury (94)

5. Grant Gilchrist CAPTAIN (157)

6. Jamie Ritchie (73)

7. Hamish Watson (118)

8. Viliame Mata (85)



Substitutes:

16. Mike Willemse (35)

17. Boan Venter (3)

18.Simon Berghan (89)

19. Mesu Kunavula (7)

20. Luke Crosbie (53)

21. Charlie Shiel (31)

22. Jaco van de Walt (70)

23. Mark Bennett (52)

[Yr Alban]

Had occasion to look at Rees-Zammit’s Wikipedia entry earlier. Interesting to note that like a number of others, he is a product of Hartpury College. Do Wales get the same thing we do, when we get told that a player is a poach because they ‘learned their rugby’ elsewhere? Or is it just us?

Also, when did Wales drop the rule that you had to be playing in Wales to be eligible unless you had 60 caps, or something like that?

[Tichtheid]

It's great to see Kinghorn start at ten, this will be a huge test for him.

I hope he gets a chance to play with Shiel's service, otherwise I don't see the point of him standing really flat at ten, watching us box kick our way up the touchline.