NPR

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:35 pm This is awful. Shiel I’m particular has been unusually poor

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:43 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:35 pm This is awful. Shiel I’m particular has been unusually poor

Not seeing anything from Watson to suggest he should break into the 23 for Paris either.

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 5:44 pm Hodgson might be in trouble here. Not much in that actually, just needless.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 12:09 pm Fairly strong looking Embra side to play Scarlets. Every time I think that, though, they seem to lose

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:25 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 12:09 pm Fairly strong looking Embra side to play Scarlets. Every time I think that, though, they seem to lose

Guess I called it.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:25 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Feb 17, 2023 12:09 pm Fairly strong looking Embra side to play Scarlets. Every time I think that, though, they seem to lose

Guess I called it.

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:24 am I said on my group chat that the team should be made to get the megabus back after that performance. Completely unacceptable, where Cockerill had too much of the rod, Blair seems to be the complete opposite with no method for laying down the law in his armory.

Biffer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 12:38 pm

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:24 am I said on my group chat that the team should be made to get the megabus back after that performance. Completely unacceptable, where Cockerill had too much of the rod, Blair seems to be the complete opposite with no method for laying down the law in his armory.

My fear with Blair was that he was part of the culture as a player that Cockerill had to deal with when he arrived (let's not kidnourselves that it had only been going on a couple of years) and that some of it would sneak back in. He never played for a consistently winning side at club or international level, so doesn't have that hard edged mentality.

I know we want to develop Scottish coaches, but when so few of them have a history of being winners as players, due to our very poor time in the first ten or fifteen years of this century, it's hard to see them bringing that winners mentality with them.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 2:56 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 12:38 pm

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 11:24 am I said on my group chat that the team should be made to get the megabus back after that performance. Completely unacceptable, where Cockerill had too much of the rod, Blair seems to be the complete opposite with no method for laying down the law in his armory.

My fear with Blair was that he was part of the culture as a player that Cockerill had to deal with when he arrived (let's not kidnourselves that it had only been going on a couple of years) and that some of it would sneak back in. He never played for a consistently winning side at club or international level, so doesn't have that hard edged mentality.

I know we want to develop Scottish coaches, but when so few of them have a history of being winners as players, due to our very poor time in the first ten or fifteen years of this century, it's hard to see them bringing that winners mentality with them.

Why when talking about the toxic culture pre Cockers do we then never mention the toxic culture he created? You know, the same toxic culture he created at Leicester.

Blair did really well last year, he's had mostly a shocker this year (did qualify in Europe the high water mark of cockers reign and not against Newcastle etc). Let's see if he can right the ship. Needs a proper forwards coach.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:15 pm Dingwall has been brought into the England squad - fair enough if that is where his heart lies, good luck to him.

To be honest our squad is pretty well stocked in the centre, and Steyn can play there if needs be, Sam Johnson looked good on Friday. Mark Bennett is playing in a shit team at the moment, or a team playing badly at least, but he could step up too

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:54 pm I only watched the first half of the Tigers Saracens game properly, but Henderson looked to be playing well enough. I'm not sure there is space in the RWC squad at the moment, although he's there in the 6N squad. Any bolter in the locking positions will only come through injuries, after Gray x2, Gilchrist, Cummings and Skinner, we have Hodgson, Sykes, Craig, Henderson and Hunter-Hill - have I missed any?

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:29 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:15 pm Dingwall has been brought into the England squad - fair enough if that is where his heart lies, good luck to him.

To be honest our squad is pretty well stocked in the centre, and Steyn can play there if needs be, Sam Johnson looked good on Friday. Mark Bennett is playing in a shit team at the moment, or a team playing badly at least, but he could step up too

Yup, seems a very good player but not sure he’d get anywhere near the Scotland squad at the moment given we tipped their centres a new one in the Calcutta Cup and we have those above plus Redpath, Harrison - even Hutch if Toony didn’t hate him!

Big D wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:25 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:54 pm I only watched the first half of the Tigers Saracens game properly, but Henderson looked to be playing well enough. I'm not sure there is space in the RWC squad at the moment, although he's there in the 6N squad. Any bolter in the locking positions will only come through injuries, after Gray x2, Gilchrist, Cummings and Skinner, we have Hodgson, Sykes, Craig, Henderson and Hunter-Hill - have I missed any?

Young I think?
Of those named after Skinner, Henderson seems to be currently ahead of the rest as he's the one currently in the squad.

Gray shouldn't be guaranteed a place by any stretch, he's been mostly average in the games I've seen him in for Exeter and Henderson is progressing pretty well fairly rapidly.

Seems inconceivable but there could be a couple of shocks in the WC squad. For example Watson doesn't seem nailed on as he once might have. Darge, Crosbie, Ritchie all can play 7.
Talking of second rows, seems odd for the Scotland camp to hold Skinner back yesterday when their 3 match day locks from the last 2 games didn't have a game or were held in camp.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:44 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 7:25 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:54 pm I only watched the first half of the Tigers Saracens game properly, but Henderson looked to be playing well enough. I'm not sure there is space in the RWC squad at the moment, although he's there in the 6N squad. Any bolter in the locking positions will only come through injuries, after Gray x2, Gilchrist, Cummings and Skinner, we have Hodgson, Sykes, Craig, Henderson and Hunter-Hill - have I missed any?

Young I think?
Of those named after Skinner, Henderson seems to be currently ahead of the rest as he's the one currently in the squad.

Gray shouldn't be guaranteed a place by any stretch, he's been mostly average in the games I've seen him in for Exeter and Henderson is progressing pretty well fairly rapidly.

Seems inconceivable but there could be a couple of shocks in the WC squad. For example Watson doesn't seem nailed on as he once might have. Darge, Crosbie, Ritchie all can play 7.
Talking of second rows, seems odd for the Scotland camp to hold Skinner back yesterday when their 3 match day locks from the last 2 games didn't have a game or were held in camp.

I'm not going to watch yesterday's game, but Watson played well in his first game back, I wouldn't write him off just yet. I really want Darge to come through, but I'm waiting to see if he can get a run of fitness, Crosbie is the guy in possession and he has to be ousted by the others playing and training better, not just on reputation in Watson's case or hope in Darge's.

Johnny Gray seems to be a big favourite with Toonie, GT always looks for massive work-rate (one of the reasons Bradbury fell from grace) and I think he gets that with J Gray, that and his defence.

On Skinner being held back, it was mooted on the weedgie board that Toonie might be looking at a 6/2 split for France, with Skinner being the back up 6 - it's not a wild thought by any means. Kinghorn covers 10, 11, 14, 15, Steyn covers the centres (Harris has only played a handful of minutes over the two games) and Horne covers 9.

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:29 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:15 pm Dingwall has been brought into the England squad - fair enough if that is where his heart lies, good luck to him.

To be honest our squad is pretty well stocked in the centre, and Steyn can play there if needs be, Sam Johnson looked good on Friday. Mark Bennett is playing in a shit team at the moment, or a team playing badly at least, but he could step up too

Yup, seems a very good player but not sure he’d get anywhere near the Scotland squad at the moment given we tipped their centres a new one in the Calcutta Cup and we have those above plus Redpath, Harrison - even Hutch if Toony didn’t hate him!

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 10:57 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:29 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sun Feb 19, 2023 6:15 pm Dingwall has been brought into the England squad - fair enough if that is where his heart lies, good luck to him.

To be honest our squad is pretty well stocked in the centre, and Steyn can play there if needs be, Sam Johnson looked good on Friday. Mark Bennett is playing in a shit team at the moment, or a team playing badly at least, but he could step up too

Yup, seems a very good player but not sure he’d get anywhere near the Scotland squad at the moment given we tipped their centres a new one in the Calcutta Cup and we have those above plus Redpath, Harrison - even Hutch if Toony didn’t hate him!

I think he would, I love watching Hutch play rugby but Dingwall is ahead of him at Saints these days. Dingwall imo is a slightly better Chris Harris - defensively have the same qualities but Dingwall is a better attacker.

I don't think he'd break up Huwipolotu, but definitely a really good option should he give up on getting into England squads but never capped.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:10 am Hutchinson has played 18, started 13 this season, mainly at 12
Dingwall has played 17, started 15, mainly at 13.

It looks like Saints' preferred paring is to have both of them on the field, rather than one over the other, it looks like Dingwall steps in to 12 when Hutchinson isn't available


https://all.rugby/player/rory-hutchinson

https://all.rugby/player/fraser-dingwall

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:26 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:10 am Hutchinson has played 18, started 13 this season, mainly at 12
Dingwall has played 17, started 15, mainly at 13.

It looks like Saints' preferred paring is to have both of them on the field, rather than one over the other, it looks like Dingwall steps in to 12 when Hutchinson isn't available


https://all.rugby/player/rory-hutchinson

https://all.rugby/player/fraser-dingwall

As someone who watches saints most weeks I invite you go and check the most recent matches. There's been a clear shift from Hutch 12 Dingwall 13 earlier in the season to Dingwall 12 and Proctor 13. Especially since Fin Smith came in and Biggar left.

Hutch was a great foil for Biggar because he's not much of a playmaker. But Smith is so Dingwall is picked.

Stats eh, what did Scott Johnson say. Drunk, lampost, support, illumination. As said, I love watching Hutch play, this isn't negativity. This is just facts, I'm actually less inclined to watch saints play now they don't start Hutch as regularly.

westport wrote: ↑Mon Feb 20, 2023 11:41 am Murray McCallum who will join Newcastle Falcons this summer upon the conclusion of his short-term deal.