NPR

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 12:49 pm

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 11:23 am

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 10:27 am

Reads like an agent has spoken to a journo. "Here lad, the IRFU still aren't opening discussions with OOC players. Did you know he is SQ and I know Townsend has seen him play once?".

Oh it's definitely agent shit-stirring. He's still an academy player and this is just setting the stall out for a senior contract.

Can’t see it happening. It would be funny as fuck though.

charltom wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:12 pm I see we've got Australia, South Africa plus a probable tier 2 next autumn. So no NZ to replace this year's fixture.

Might we get a NZ summer tour to replace this year's instead? Would prefer it in 2022 TBH... not that we get to choose...

charltom wrote: ↑Tue Dec 01, 2020 8:12 pm I see we've got Australia, South Africa plus a probable tier 2 next autumn. So no NZ to replace this year's fixture.

Might we get a NZ summer tour to replace this year's instead? Would prefer it in 2022 TBH... not that we get to choose...

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:26 am Eddie Jones has been in the media talking about refereeing (specifically of the breakdown) and I have to say *spits* I agree:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55146825

The breakdown is one of several parts of the game where refs are having an undue influence on games as the moment in my view, led by refs like Nigel Owens who seem to think they should get to pick and choose when an offence has occurred and when it hasn't and generally interpret the laws. For me this is having profound impacts on matches.

Take the Edinburgh Ulster game for instance. To be clear, Ulster would have won the game no matter what, but at a score of 14-19 the ref massively swung the game in Ulster's favour. Firstly he (correctly) ruled out an Edinburgh score for offside and gave a scrum at the point of the offside. Then he gave a penalty against Schoeman for I think stepping in. The scrum was never stable and it was a classic example of where a scrum should be reset, but the ref refused resets all game for the sake of match flow. Ulster then put the ball in touch just inside the Edinburgh half, from where Edinburgh were penalised for early engagement as the maul was set. Ulster put it in touch for a 5m scrum where again Edinburgh were penalised for an early engagement. This time during the advantage Ulster scored. The ref also yellow carded Mata. On each occasion the early engagement could also have been given as not lowering the player to the ground immediately when the ball is won, however the ref chose to ignore this infringement to promote continuity.

No single decision the ref made was wrong per se, I wouldn't have seen any problem had the situation been reversed and Edinburgh had had the advantage, however these decisions massively swung the game towards Ulster at a time Edinburgh were just coming back into it. This is the problem, three decisions, three 50/50 calls, all went to Ulster when on another day they could have gone to Edinburgh. The laws need to be clearer and more consistently applied so fewer game moments are decided by the specific whims of an individual.

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 11:11 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 9:26 am Eddie Jones has been in the media talking about refereeing (specifically of the breakdown) and I have to say *spits* I agree:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55146825

The breakdown is one of several parts of the game where refs are having an undue influence on games as the moment in my view, led by refs like Nigel Owens who seem to think they should get to pick and choose when an offence has occurred and when it hasn't and generally interpret the laws. For me this is having profound impacts on matches.

Take the Edinburgh Ulster game for instance. To be clear, Ulster would have won the game no matter what, but at a score of 14-19 the ref massively swung the game in Ulster's favour. Firstly he (correctly) ruled out an Edinburgh score for offside and gave a scrum at the point of the offside. Then he gave a penalty against Schoeman for I think stepping in. The scrum was never stable and it was a classic example of where a scrum should be reset, but the ref refused resets all game for the sake of match flow. Ulster then put the ball in touch just inside the Edinburgh half, from where Edinburgh were penalised for early engagement as the maul was set. Ulster put it in touch for a 5m scrum where again Edinburgh were penalised for an early engagement. This time during the advantage Ulster scored. The ref also yellow carded Mata. On each occasion the early engagement could also have been given as not lowering the player to the ground immediately when the ball is won, however the ref chose to ignore this infringement to promote continuity.

No single decision the ref made was wrong per se, I wouldn't have seen any problem had the situation been reversed and Edinburgh had had the advantage, however these decisions massively swung the game towards Ulster at a time Edinburgh were just coming back into it. This is the problem, three decisions, three 50/50 calls, all went to Ulster when on another day they could have gone to Edinburgh. The laws need to be clearer and more consistently applied so fewer game moments are decided by the specific whims of an individual.

He's right about the early season strictness about the breakdown being quickly forgotten about. Players have gone back to flying in from the side and off their feet and there is no consistency about holding on.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:32 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

Given that most players were well aware of the possibility that the Championship would not start in January
I am amazed that neither of those two pushed for a loan out or full time move to ensure they would get game time and be available to Scotland

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:36 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:32 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

Given that most players were well aware of the possibility that the Championship would not start in January
I am amazed that neither of those two pushed for a loan out or full time move to ensure they would get game time and be available to Scotland

I believe both were touted to the SRU at the point of Sarries relegation but the SRU were gobsmacked at their wages / wage demands. Maitland would have been the highest salary ever paid by the SRU by a considerable distance. From memory Maitland was nearly £500k, and Taylor was around £300k

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:36 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:32 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

Given that most players were well aware of the possibility that the Championship would not start in January
I am amazed that neither of those two pushed for a loan out or full time move to ensure they would get game time and be available to Scotland

I believe both were touted to the SRU at the point of Sarries relegation but the SRU were gobsmacked at their wages / wage demands. Maitland would have been the highest salary ever paid by the SRU by a considerable distance. From memory Maitland was nearly £500k, and Taylor was around £300k

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

Caley_Red wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:16 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

I wished the two of them had left that Sarries ship, the money kept them maybe?

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 11:00 am

Caley_Red wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:16 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Dec 02, 2020 5:24 pm Dunc Taylor has been in the press today saying he doesn't know if and when he will get any more game time prior to the 6N as there has been no announcement on when the Championship will be played, if at all.

If I were the SRU I'd be on the blower to Sarries offering to take two players off their wage bill on loan on a month by month basis until such time as a restart is agreed (on the basis that Sarries still pay a percentage of their wage ). Taylor to Edinburgh and Maitland to Glasgow? Yes please.

I wished the two of them had left that Sarries ship, the money kept them maybe?

Yeah, no way either of them would get that money on the open market, even before the pandemic.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:50 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:50 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:56 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

They want to get vdw capped - pretty sure the plan would have been for him to play v Fiji. Presume it's because of that.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 1:15 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:56 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

They want to get vdw capped - pretty sure the plan would have been for him to play v Fiji. Presume it's because of that.

Theres only 1 fh in that team. Whether its to get him capped, as a starter or from the bench, not to include Weir is bad craic.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 12:52 pm Is Weir injured? That's a big fuck right off if he's not.

Begbie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:25 pm I get why people are calling for Skinner at 6, but the lad said himself that he wants to focus on one position and that's lock.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:44 pm

Here's the leprechaun army, including chief git POM at openside. I'm sure they only play him against Scotland because they know he will rile us up in a good way for them.

The geriatrics at half back, so should be an easy win. Right? Right, lads? Lads?

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:47 pm Just out of curiosity, is Brandon Thomson SQ? Not suggesting he’s in any way ready for a cap, just wondering who the next cab off the rank actually is in that position. Chamberlain has only just made his debut in a team getting tanked every week. We can’t be thinking of going back to Pete Horne. Literally the only other candidate I can think of is Tom Heathcote, and even if I thought that were a good idea (which I don’t) I slightly doubt he would even take a call from the SRU.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:43 pm

Begbie wrote: ↑Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:25 pm I get why people are calling for Skinner at 6, but the lad said himself that he wants to focus on one position and that's lock.

Didn't know that actually. I'd have him over Jonny at the moment.