The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[dkm57]

Thought Glasgow did well last night OK so they left a lot of points out there but is win is a win. Thought the youngsters showed up well and the pack towards the end - I've never seen a pack from Scotland do that kind of scrummaging pity they couldn't make the most of it. pretty clear this squad haven't got to know each other well and they got very excited/speculative with some the passing.

Quite looking forward to the wobbly game tonight, hoping it's good running rugby and close(ish) with a Scotland win in the end - I know unicorns, fairies........

[Biffer]

Watched the Racing game last night. Russell was the most influential player on the pitch by a country mile. Dear oh dear

Yeah. He was superb against MH. But that's classic Flake: brilliant in 1 game....... but he's been largely dogsh*t the rest of this season which reflects in Racing's performances and position.

We’re all aware of Torq’s opinions on Russell, best avoided. Most reports I’ve read this year are that he has been decent but not at his best.

[dpedin]

Thought Glasgow did well last night OK so they left a lot of points out there but is win is a win. Thought the youngsters showed up well and the pack towards the end - I've never seen a pack from Scotland do that kind of scrummaging pity they couldn't make the most of it. pretty clear this squad haven't got to know each other well and they got very excited/speculative with some the passing.

Quite looking forward to the wobbly game tonight, hoping it's good running rugby and close(ish) with a Scotland win in the end - I know unicorns, fairies........

I thought Gregor Brown was terrific last night, was all over the pitch tackling, carrying, etc. He has a real good engine on him and was my MOTM.

[LenCohen]

Watched the Racing game last night. Russell was the most influential player on the pitch by a country mile. Dear oh dear

Yeah. He was superb against MH. But that's classic Flake: brilliant in 1 game....... but he's been largely dogsh*t the rest of this season which reflects in Racing's performances and position.

We’re all aware of Torq’s opinions on Russell, best avoided. Most reports I’ve read this year are that he has been decent but not at his best.

Yep. I've watched most of racings matched on frees port and he usually does two or three things per match no one else can do, with the occasional gamble offload that goes awry of course. If anything his defence has been erratic, which has actually been a strong point in the past, but he seemed completely tuned in aagain against montpellier

[Torquemada 1420]

Watched the Racing game last night. Russell was the most influential player on the pitch by a country mile. Dear oh dear

Yeah. He was superb against MH. But that's classic Flake: brilliant in 1 game....... but he's been largely dogsh*t the rest of this season which reflects in Racing's performances and position.

We’re all aware of Torq’s opinions on Russell, best avoided. Most reports I’ve read this year are that he has been decent but not at his best.

So, basically you've not seen him play? Which makes your opinion worth?

[Biffer]

Yeah. He was superb against MH. But that's classic Flake: brilliant in 1 game....... but he's been largely dogsh*t the rest of this season which reflects in Racing's performances and position.

We’re all aware of Torq’s opinions on Russell, best avoided. Most reports I’ve read this year are that he has been decent but not at his best.

So, basically you've not seen him play? Which makes your opinion worth?

I know, you watch every game so you can crywank every time he makes a mistake, whatever

[I like neeps]

The kit looks terrific.

[I like neeps]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

[I like neeps]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

He simply cannot be starting 10 until he becomes a better goal kicker.

[ASMO]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

Mate he is bang average at best as a 10, would he get into any other 6N side as a 10, or even backup 10? Nope

[Big D]

Coach picked him. Many pints in, and although he should kick that, the coach picked the team.

[Slick]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

He simply cannot be starting 10 until he becomes a better goal kicker.

It’s not his fault, to pick him at 10 we have to remove our test standard kickers.

[Slick]

Coach picked him. Many pints in, and although he should kick that, the coach picked the team.

Quite. I’m attaching zero blame on Blair, none at all

[I like neeps]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

He simply cannot be starting 10 until he becomes a better goal kicker.

It’s not his fault, to pick him at 10 we have to remove our test standard kickers.

Aye I'm fully blame Townsend for it.

[I like neeps]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

Mate he is bang average at best as a 10, would he get into any other 6N side as a 10, or even backup 10? Nope

Neither would Hastings though. If we chose "would they get into another six nations side (minus Italy)" as a selection criteria we wouldn't have a 15!

Is Kinghorn the best option at 10? No. But we won't pick the best option at 10 because he can't be managed by Townsend. So it's either Kinghorn or Hastings and I don't think there's much between them standard wise but you have to pick Hastings the kicker.

[Blackmac]

It's all now getting too familiar and depressing. Supposedly top class players with appalling discipline and seriously stupid rugby brains.

Townsend has completely lost his way but not sure and coach could sort these idiot out.

[KingBlairhorn]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

Mate he is bang average at best as a 10, would he get into any other 6N side as a 10, or even backup 10? Nope

Neither would Hastings though. If we chose "would they get into another six nations side (minus Italy)" as a selection criteria we wouldn't have a 15!

Is Kinghorn the best option at 10? No. But we won't pick the best option at 10 because he can't be managed by Townsend. So it's either Kinghorn or Hastings and I don't think there's much between them standard wise but you have to pick Hastings the kicker.

To be clear though, Kinghorn was always playing this game. It’s outside the test window so regardless of anything else neither Finn nor Hastings could have played. Let’s not forget the choice here was Kinghorn or Thompson.

[I like neeps]

Mate he is bang average at best as a 10, would he get into any other 6N side as a 10, or even backup 10? Nope

Neither would Hastings though. If we chose "would they get into another six nations side (minus Italy)" as a selection criteria we wouldn't have a 15!

Is Kinghorn the best option at 10? No. But we won't pick the best option at 10 because he can't be managed by Townsend. So it's either Kinghorn or Hastings and I don't think there's much between them standard wise but you have to pick Hastings the kicker.

To be clear though, Kinghorn was always playing this game. It’s outside the test window so regardless of anything else neither Finn nor Hastings could have played. Let’s not forget the choice here was Kinghorn or Thompson.

Yes I should have said that but we're talking bigger picture as Townsend has clearly decided Kinghorn is going to be starting 10 this autumn and likely the 6n and RWC.

[Slick]

Neither would Hastings though. If we chose "would they get into another six nations side (minus Italy)" as a selection criteria we wouldn't have a 15!

Is Kinghorn the best option at 10? No. But we won't pick the best option at 10 because he can't be managed by Townsend. So it's either Kinghorn or Hastings and I don't think there's much between them standard wise but you have to pick Hastings the kicker.

To be clear though, Kinghorn was always playing this game. It’s outside the test window so regardless of anything else neither Finn nor Hastings could have played. Let’s not forget the choice here was Kinghorn or Thompson.

Yes I should have said that but we're talking bigger picture as Townsend has clearly decided Kinghorn is going to be starting 10 this autumn and likely the 6n and RWC.

Yes, of course. And let’s also be clear, Kinghorn was absolutely not to blame for being beaten, although obviously part of it.

I completely disagree about there not being much between Hastings and Kinghorn as a 10 though, Hastings is far superior

[Big D]

Also, what has ABZ brought to the attacking game? Bought him out of contract for no clear benefit.

[Slick]

Also, what has ABZ brought to the attacking game? Bought him out of contract for no clear benefit.

Tuipolotu at 12?

We can sit back in our dotage and say we saw the guy in the prime of his career a few weeks back for Glasgow

[Torquemada 1420]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

Mate he is bang average at best as a 10, would he get into any other 6N side as a 10, or even backup 10? Nope

He didn't strike me as any worse than N'Tamack.

[Torquemada 1420]

I was wrong about Kinghorn who is a good 10 but his kicking at goal scares me. Think we need better for tight games.

He simply cannot be starting 10 until he becomes a better goal kicker.

It’s not his fault, to pick him at 10 we have to remove our test standard kickers.

Keep in mind Kinghorn did not lose you this game. He was in with a shout as your best player. Your dim decision making and seemingly never ending capacity to cough up unnecessary pens were by far the biggest influences in the outcome.

[I like neeps]

He simply cannot be starting 10 until he becomes a better goal kicker.

It’s not his fault, to pick him at 10 we have to remove our test standard kickers.

Keep in mind Kinghorn did not lose you this game. He was in with a shout as your best player. Your dim decision making and seemingly never ending capacity to cough up unnecessary pens were by far the biggest influences in the outcome.

I have not said he lost us the game. He played quite well I thought, a bit lateral at times but quite good.

However, this is the key point, he sucks at kicking goal. You can't play test rugby with a goalkicker as bad as he is.

[Slick]

Ollie Smith was good though

[charltom]

Given his recent record, I didn't understand why George Horne didn't take that final kick.

Kinghorn was good, I thought. And Hamish shouldn't have been pinged.

[Biffer]

It’s not his fault, to pick him at 10 we have to remove our test standard kickers.

Keep in mind Kinghorn did not lose you this game. He was in with a shout as your best player. Your dim decision making and seemingly never ending capacity to cough up unnecessary pens were by far the biggest influences in the outcome.

I have not said he lost us the game. He played quite well I thought, a bit lateral at times but quite good.

However, this is the key point, he sucks at kicking goal. You can't play test rugby with a goalkicker as bad as he is.

You can’t play test rugby with an unreliable goal kicker. But that doesn’t mean it has to be your 10.

[Slick]

Keep in mind Kinghorn did not lose you this game. He was in with a shout as your best player. Your dim decision making and seemingly never ending capacity to cough up unnecessary pens were by far the biggest influences in the outcome.

I have not said he lost us the game. He played quite well I thought, a bit lateral at times but quite good.

However, this is the key point, he sucks at kicking goal. You can't play test rugby with a goalkicker as bad as he is.

You can’t play test rugby with an unreliable goal kicker. But that doesn’t mean it has to be your 10.

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

[Biffer]

I have not said he lost us the game. He played quite well I thought, a bit lateral at times but quite good.

However, this is the key point, he sucks at kicking goal. You can't play test rugby with a goalkicker as bad as he is.

You can’t play test rugby with an unreliable goal kicker. But that doesn’t mean it has to be your 10.

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

That’s the problem, isn’t it. But just blaming the 10 for not being a good kicker is lumping the blame for all of the back lines failures in that area on to one person.

[Slick]

You can’t play test rugby with an unreliable goal kicker. But that doesn’t mean it has to be your 10.

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

That’s the problem, isn’t it. But just blaming the 10 for not being a good kicker is lumping the blame for all of the back lines failures in that area on to one person.

It’s actually a really odd one. Certainly can’t blame him for the loss, but it’s not unreasonable to expect an international 10 to be a decent kicker, but I’m not sure his his stats are actually that bad and anyway, we didn’t have any other options today and even if he was playing 15 regularly instead, he might well have been picked at 10 anyway!

[Biffer]

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

That’s the problem, isn’t it. But just blaming the 10 for not being a good kicker is lumping the blame for all of the back lines failures in that area on to one person.

It’s actually a really odd one. Certainly can’t blame him for the loss, but it’s not unreasonable to expect an international 10 to be a decent kicker, but I’m not sure his his stats are actually that bad and anyway, we didn’t have any other options today and even if he was playing 15 regularly instead, he might well have been picked at 10 anyway!

Yeah, but we just have this thing in Scotland, and I know it happens elsewhere as well, where we don’t encourage other backs players to kick. Best kicker in Scotland is a winger / full back (Boffelli). But no one talks about how if Hoyland, say, had worked on it all his life and ended up clockwork, he would have started ahead of Ollie Smith today. Similarly if someone playing centre was a nailed on kicker, they would have pushed into that team today.

[I like neeps]

You can’t play test rugby with an unreliable goal kicker. But that doesn’t mean it has to be your 10.

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

That’s the problem, isn’t it. But just blaming the 10 for not being a good kicker is lumping the blame for all of the back lines failures in that area on to one person.

I'm not blaming Kinghorn? It's Townsend's fault in picking an incompetent goal kicker. It doesn't have to the 10, but Townsend didn't pick one anywhere.

Although, I'm not convinced Bennett isn't a better kicker than Kinghorn (still not international class) and George Horne definitely is. So there were options on the pitch at the time.

[KingBlairhorn]

Looking at the positives, with Kinghorn missing the kick we didn’t have the agony of the inevitable restart fuck-up giving Aus the chance to take and make a winning penalty. It’s the little things.

[Slick]

Looking at the positives, with Kinghorn missing the kick we didn’t have the agony of the inevitable restart fuck-up giving Aus the chance to take and make a winning penalty. It’s the little things.

Didn’t we manage to fuck up the restart anyway? A double bonus. I’d lost interest by then

[I like neeps]

I think the positives are the back row and Smith were very good. Schoeman was good too but too many penalties given away.

I like Nel a lot but when he came on he did look far too old. I appreciate we don't have anyone else scrum capable but I don't think Nel can handle the loose.

[Slick]

I think the positives are the back row and Smith were very good. Schoeman was good too but too many penalties given away.

I like Nel a lot but when he came on he did look far too old. I appreciate we don't have anyone else scrum capable but I don't think Nel can handle the loose.

Agree with that. Think we lost quite a bit when Skinner went off as well.

I hope Bennett gets another chance with someone else at 12

[Jock42]

I think the positives are the back row and Smith were very good. Schoeman was good too but too many penalties given away.

I like Nel a lot but when he came on he did look far too old. I appreciate we don't have anyone else scrum capable but I don't think Nel can handle the loose.

Agree with that. Think we lost quite a bit when Skinner went off as well.

I hope Bennett gets another chance with someone else at 12

Nae chance. Harris will be straight in.

I thought they did a lot of things well but, as per normal, penalty count was ridiculous. I like the ambition to the ambition of going to the corner but sometimes they should take the 3, of course that's dependent on other factors. Did Cotter mention that Kinghorn refused a kick in the 1st half? Graham and VDM didn't have anywhere near enough ball, Smith did well though.

[weegie01]

John Eales famously kicked for Australia back in the day. Even further back, John Taylor kicked for Wales. The French famously use scrum halves as kickers, as much if not more, than stand offs. There is no reason the stand off needs to be the main kicker. Having said that, Paterson was terrible when he took over kicking duties but grew into a world class place kicker.

Kinghorn may improve as a kicker, but he certainly will not unless he gets the chance. As others have alluded to, the issue is not so much that Kinghorn is poor, but there was no viable back up on the pitch for most of the game, and when there was, he was not used.

Apparently Ollie Smith is a very good kicker. But he has never taken place kicks at pro level so there is no way you'd expect him to step up at this level.

[Torquemada 1420]

However, this is the key point, he sucks at kicking goal. You can't play test rugby with a goalkicker as bad as he is.

No argument with that. As I keep trying to explain to some French fans, the reason Jaminet gets picked (much to their irritation) is if Ntamack plays (generally same people who love Ntamack ), there has to be a reliable dead ball kicker in the team too because Ntamack is far too weak at any level, let alone intl..

[fishfoodie]

Who is there of a standard except Russell and Hastings?

That’s the problem, isn’t it. But just blaming the 10 for not being a good kicker is lumping the blame for all of the back lines failures in that area on to one person.

I'm not blaming Kinghorn? It's Townsend's fault in picking an incompetent goal kicker. It doesn't have to the 10, but Townsend didn't pick one anywhere.

Although, I'm not convinced Bennett isn't a better kicker than Kinghorn (still not international class) and George Horne definitely is. So there were options on the pitch at the time.

Makes the rumors about Cooney more interesting. Townsend would love to be able to pair Kinghorn with an SH, who kicks >80% for his Province ?