NPR

C T wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:41 pm I'm afraid the only truly Scottish way forward next weekend is a heroic win away in Paris, only to still finish 4th and hand an average to good England team the title.

Big D wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 11:56 am

topofthemoon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 11:51 am

Big D wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:38 am The half backs take a lot of the blame for me as well as the forwards.

Horne was content to let the forwards pick and go when he should have been screaming for them to leave it. Jordan should also have been giving Horne verbals to get the ball moving.

Against France last year with 80 minutes on the clock there were 14 Frenchmen within 5m of the final ruck. About 50m of the width of the pitch with only 1 white jersey in it. Being held up there cost us the game, not just a better margin of victory. White and Russell were the half backs at that point.

And they deserved a lot of the blame then too.

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:59 pm

C T wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:41 pm I'm afraid the only truly Scottish way forward next weekend is a heroic win away in Paris, only to still finish 4th and hand an average to good England team the title.

It’s written in the stars

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 9:54 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:59 pm

C T wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 12:41 pm I'm afraid the only truly Scottish way forward next weekend is a heroic win away in Paris, only to still finish 4th and hand an average to good England team the title.

It’s written in the stars

You'll be stuck with your coach, but England will be stuck with theirs too ?

Pretty thin gruel if you're a fan of either side.

LenCohen wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:08 pm Wow you lot take this all too seriously. We have about 80 pro players, and absolutely nothing below pro level, it's really a miracle we are competitive internationally at all. Just enjoy the great rugby they play at times. Russell will retire in a few years so enjoy it while it lasts as we will never play rugby again like this once he's gone.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:43 am

LenCohen wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:08 pm Wow you lot take this all too seriously. We have about 80 pro players, and absolutely nothing below pro level, it's really a miracle we are competitive internationally at all. Just enjoy the great rugby they play at times. Russell will retire in a few years so enjoy it while it lasts as we will never play rugby again like this once he's gone.

Sadly, I 100% agree. This is the most enjoyable period of watching Scotland I’ve ever had and is probably as good as we can expect.

I was thinking about life after Finn last night, and it’s quite ugly.

In saying that, the England loss is still really bothering me. But actually, probably for the reasons above, how many more times in my lifetime are we going to go down to England and totally outplay them.

One thing I would disagree on is taking it too seriously, it’s our passion, of course we do, and that’s fine

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 8:09 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:43 am

LenCohen wrote: ↑Sun Mar 09, 2025 10:08 pm Wow you lot take this all too seriously. We have about 80 pro players, and absolutely nothing below pro level, it's really a miracle we are competitive internationally at all. Just enjoy the great rugby they play at times. Russell will retire in a few years so enjoy it while it lasts as we will never play rugby again like this once he's gone.

Sadly, I 100% agree. This is the most enjoyable period of watching Scotland I’ve ever had and is probably as good as we can expect.

I was thinking about life after Finn last night, and it’s quite ugly.

In saying that, the England loss is still really bothering me. But actually, probably for the reasons above, how many more times in my lifetime are we going to go down to England and totally outplay them.

One thing I would disagree on is taking it too seriously, it’s our passion, of course we do, and that’s fine

I’m quietly confident about the next cohort of 25 and unders coming up to replace the guys playing now, some like Ollie Blyth Lafferty and Freddy Douglas are still under 20.
The only one I’m really concerned about is Finn, I haven’t seen Fergus Burke play but from the others Hastings is the best we’ve got and he’s had his injury woes.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 10:44 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 8:09 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:43 am

Sadly, I 100% agree. This is the most enjoyable period of watching Scotland I’ve ever had and is probably as good as we can expect.

I was thinking about life after Finn last night, and it’s quite ugly.

In saying that, the England loss is still really bothering me. But actually, probably for the reasons above, how many more times in my lifetime are we going to go down to England and totally outplay them.

One thing I would disagree on is taking it too seriously, it’s our passion, of course we do, and that’s fine

I’m quietly confident about the next cohort of 25 and unders coming up to replace the guys playing now, some like Ollie Blyth Lafferty and Freddy Douglas are still under 20.
The only one I’m really concerned about is Finn, I haven’t seen Fergus Burke play but from the others Hastings is the best we’ve got and he’s had his injury woes.

We’re all concerned about Finn, but he’s probably good for a few years yet. There are some players whose loss would leave any team poorer, and he’s one of them. However, we have weathered the retirements of multiple other players we thought would be impossible to replace, and we’ve replaced them. Hopefully Burke will work out well enough that the step down won’t seem too awful.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:16 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 10:44 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 8:09 am


I’m quietly confident about the next cohort of 25 and unders coming up to replace the guys playing now, some like Ollie Blyth Lafferty and Freddy Douglas are still under 20.
The only one I’m really concerned about is Finn, I haven’t seen Fergus Burke play but from the others Hastings is the best we’ve got and he’s had his injury woes.

We’re all concerned about Finn, but he’s probably good for a few years yet. There are some players whose loss would leave any team poorer, and he’s one of them. However, we have weathered the retirements of multiple other players we thought would be impossible to replace, and we’ve replaced them. Hopefully Burke will work out well enough that the step down won’t seem too awful.

I'm just thinking about what the team might look like in 6 or 7 year's time, it might be something along the lines of

Oliver McKenna, Paddy Harrison, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty
Euan McVie, Max Williamson
Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas, Reuben Logan

Jamie Dobie, ?
? Matt Currie
Harry Paterson, Ollie Smith, ?

I've got gaps at 10, 12 and 14. I've deliberately left out anyone who is in the first team squad right now, though Dobie is arguably in there and Williamson probably would be if fit. Anyway, the point is that is a good team right now, once the pack have matured I think they will be as competitive as the firsts are now, if not more so.

Jack Brown and Fergus Watson in the current U20s look to have something about them for the back three, there are a couple of scrum half's who could step up in both the Embra and Glasgow set up. I'd like to think Urwin and Coates might make a play for the 10 shirt. As one of wee Darcy's cheerleaders, I do fear that Coates is on the small side for a professional 10 - he makes Marcus Smith look big.

Punter15 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:51 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 11:16 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 10, 2025 10:44 am

We’re all concerned about Finn, but he’s probably good for a few years yet. There are some players whose loss would leave any team poorer, and he’s one of them. However, we have weathered the retirements of multiple other players we thought would be impossible to replace, and we’ve replaced them. Hopefully Burke will work out well enough that the step down won’t seem too awful.

I'm just thinking about what the team might look like in 6 or 7 year's time, it might be something along the lines of

Oliver McKenna, Paddy Harrison, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty
Euan McVie, Max Williamson
Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas, Reuben Logan

Jamie Dobie, ?
? Matt Currie
Harry Paterson, Ollie Smith, ?

I've got gaps at 10, 12 and 14. I've deliberately left out anyone who is in the first team squad right now, though Dobie is arguably in there and Williamson probably would be if fit. Anyway, the point is that is a good team right now, once the pack have matured I think they will be as competitive as the firsts are now, if not more so.

Jack Brown and Fergus Watson in the current U20s look to have something about them for the back three, there are a couple of scrum half's who could step up in both the Embra and Glasgow set up. I'd like to think Urwin and Coates might make a play for the 10 shirt. As one of wee Darcy's cheerleaders, I do fear that Coates is on the small side for a professional 10 - he makes Marcus Smith look big.

I’d put Cowan up there,. Urwin has had an iffy tournament and has struggled with his kicking, but has a great pass - jury’s out.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:51 am Just checked, and Adam Hastings is 28, 4 years younger than Finn. I’ve always rated him as a player, he just struggles to stay fit. Once Finn calls it a day, he’ll be a decent option for a few years at least. I don’t think we’re at risk of going back to the dark days of Dan Parks just yet.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:51 am Just checked, and Adam Hastings is 28, 4 years younger than Finn. I’ve always rated him as a player, he just struggles to stay fit. Once Finn calls it a day, he’ll be a decent option for a few years at least. I don’t think we’re at risk of going back to the dark days of Dan Parks just yet.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:46 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:51 am Just checked, and Adam Hastings is 28, 4 years younger than Finn. I’ve always rated him as a player, he just struggles to stay fit. Once Finn calls it a day, he’ll be a decent option for a few years at least. I don’t think we’re at risk of going back to the dark days of Dan Parks just yet.

I must say that I thought Hastings was quite a bit older than that!

I'm perfectly happy with Hastings, thought he was superb when Finn went huffy. The problem over the last few years has been the same as what is coming, the drop off from those 2 is massive.

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:56 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:46 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:51 am Just checked, and Adam Hastings is 28, 4 years younger than Finn. I’ve always rated him as a player, he just struggles to stay fit. Once Finn calls it a day, he’ll be a decent option for a few years at least. I don’t think we’re at risk of going back to the dark days of Dan Parks just yet.

I must say that I thought Hastings was quite a bit older than that!

I'm perfectly happy with Hastings, thought he was superb when Finn went huffy. The problem over the last few years has been the same as what is coming, the drop off from those 2 is massive.

But a dozen years ago we didn't even have one at that standard, and we didn't think there was much coming through. Now we have Finn plus those two. I don't see how anyone thinks that being in a better position than we were then is somehow a recipe for disaster. Our system is better than it was - doesn't mean we don't need to improve it more, but it's undoubtedly better.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:57 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:56 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:46 am

I must say that I thought Hastings was quite a bit older than that!

I'm perfectly happy with Hastings, thought he was superb when Finn went huffy. The problem over the last few years has been the same as what is coming, the drop off from those 2 is massive.

But a dozen years ago we didn't even have one at that standard, and we didn't think there was much coming through. Now we have Finn plus those two. I don't see how anyone thinks that being in a better position than we were then is somehow a recipe for disaster. Our system is better than it was - doesn't mean we don't need to improve it more, but it's undoubtedly better.

Which other 2? Hastings and?

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:59 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:57 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:56 am

But a dozen years ago we didn't even have one at that standard, and we didn't think there was much coming through. Now we have Finn plus those two. I don't see how anyone thinks that being in a better position than we were then is somehow a recipe for disaster. Our system is better than it was - doesn't mean we don't need to improve it more, but it's undoubtedly better.

Which other 2? Hastings and?

Jordan.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:00 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:59 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:57 am

Which other 2? Hastings and?

Jordan.

Not convinced, but yeah, better than it has been in the past for sure.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:06 pm There's also 25 year old Burke who is the starting 10 for Saracens. As mentioned earlier I haven't seen him play, but he's getting Premiership and Champion's Cup experience, having also played for the Crusaders. He seems to have played a fair number of games at 15 for the New Zealand outfit before being picked at 10.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:10 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:06 pm There's also 25 year old Burke who is the starting 10 for Saracens. As mentioned earlier I haven't seen him play, but he's getting Premiership and Champion's Cup experience, having also played for the Crusaders. He seems to have played a fair number of games at 15 for the New Zealand outfit before being picked at 10.

Yeah, but until I see him play I just can't get Laney and Parks out of my head

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:10 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:06 pm There's also 25 year old Burke who is the starting 10 for Saracens. As mentioned earlier I haven't seen him play, but he's getting Premiership and Champion's Cup experience, having also played for the Crusaders. He seems to have played a fair number of games at 15 for the New Zealand outfit before being picked at 10.

Yeah, but until I see him play I just can't get Laney and Parks out of my head

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:11 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:00 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:59 am

Jordan.

Not convinced, but yeah, better than it has been in the past for sure.

Point I'm making is that this 'huge drop off' narrative isn't really correct. There's a drop off, sure. But it's not that wailing disaster it's sometimes made out to be.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:24 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:11 am

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:00 am

Not convinced, but yeah, better than it has been in the past for sure.

Point I'm making is that this 'huge drop off' narrative isn't really correct. There's a drop off, sure. But it's not that wailing disaster it's sometimes made out to be.

The drop off is from world class 10 to very questionable if they are international class 10s. It is huge.

I liked Hastings but his last few years have been lost to injury and the resulting inconsistency. I think Glasgow need a 10 next year.

Jordan if he starts weekly for Bristol will be the answer and he has a lot of very gold attributes so we shall see.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:32 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:10 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 12:06 pm There's also 25 year old Burke who is the starting 10 for Saracens. As mentioned earlier I haven't seen him play, but he's getting Premiership and Champion's Cup experience, having also played for the Crusaders. He seems to have played a fair number of games at 15 for the New Zealand outfit before being picked at 10.

Yeah, but until I see him play I just can't get Laney and Parks out of my head

He, erm, has a bad game in him, let’s put it that way.

Clearly very talented but a long way off international standard right now

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:18 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:24 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 11:11 am

Point I'm making is that this 'huge drop off' narrative isn't really correct. There's a drop off, sure. But it's not that wailing disaster it's sometimes made out to be.

The drop off is from world class 10 to very questionable if they are international class 10s. It is huge.

I liked Hastings but his last few years have been lost to injury and the resulting inconsistency. I think Glasgow need a 10 next year.

Jordan if he starts weekly for Bristol will be the answer and he has a lot of very gold attributes so we shall see.

I think 12 is his position. I think we saw at the weekend that he is not a top international 10, despite being very good at club level. He is, however, an international quality 12 who can deputise at 10 (and fullback apparently) in case of emergency.

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:02 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:18 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:24 pm

The drop off is from world class 10 to very questionable if they are international class 10s. It is huge.

I liked Hastings but his last few years have been lost to injury and the resulting inconsistency. I think Glasgow need a 10 next year.

Jordan if he starts weekly for Bristol will be the answer and he has a lot of very gold attributes so we shall see.

I think 12 is his position. I think we saw at the weekend that he is not a top international 10, despite being very good at club level. He is, however, an international quality 12 who can deputise at 10 (and fullback apparently) in case of emergency.

Yeah, I decided not to be critical of him at 10 on Saturday because it was a collective shit the bed and certainly not all his fault, but the drop in control when he and Horne took over was very worrying.

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:02 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 9:18 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 3:24 pm

The drop off is from world class 10 to very questionable if they are international class 10s. It is huge.

I liked Hastings but his last few years have been lost to injury and the resulting inconsistency. I think Glasgow need a 10 next year.

Jordan if he starts weekly for Bristol will be the answer and he has a lot of very gold attributes so we shall see.

I think 12 is his position. I think we saw at the weekend that he is not a top international 10, despite being very good at club level. He is, however, an international quality 12 who can deputise at 10 (and fullback apparently) in case of emergency.

Yeah, I decided not to be critical of him at 10 on Saturday because it was a collective shit the bed and certainly not all his fault, but the drop in control when he and Horne took over was very worrying.

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:44 am Teams evolve and adapt depending on the resources they have available. Scotland have developed a team and attack around Russell because he is world class, however lots of successful teams do well without a world class 10 like Russell in their ranks. Whilst we have a number of options once Russell retires, we might end up depending a lot more on the likes of Tuipulotu at 12 for the playmaker role, as we often do at the moment. You could argue that Glasgow did very well without a top class 10 in their ranks last season - injury to Hastings meant Jordan, a centre, and an aging Meatball stepped into the role and the team adapted their game to attack from other areas of the pitch.

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:44 am Teams evolve and adapt depending on the resources they have available. Scotland have developed a team and attack around Russell because he is world class, however lots of successful teams do well without a world class 10 like Russell in their ranks. Whilst we have a number of options once Russell retires, we might end up depending a lot more on the likes of Tuipulotu at 12 for the playmaker role, as we often do at the moment. You could argue that Glasgow did very well without a top class 10 in their ranks last season - injury to Hastings meant Jordan, a centre, and an aging Meatball stepped into the role and the team adapted their game to attack from other areas of the pitch.

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:25 pm

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:44 am Teams evolve and adapt depending on the resources they have available. Scotland have developed a team and attack around Russell because he is world class, however lots of successful teams do well without a world class 10 like Russell in their ranks. Whilst we have a number of options once Russell retires, we might end up depending a lot more on the likes of Tuipulotu at 12 for the playmaker role, as we often do at the moment. You could argue that Glasgow did very well without a top class 10 in their ranks last season - injury to Hastings meant Jordan, a centre, and an aging Meatball stepped into the role and the team adapted their game to attack from other areas of the pitch.

This is a good post

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Mar 13, 2025 3:07 am

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:25 pm

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Mar 12, 2025 10:44 am Teams evolve and adapt depending on the resources they have available. Scotland have developed a team and attack around Russell because he is world class, however lots of successful teams do well without a world class 10 like Russell in their ranks. Whilst we have a number of options once Russell retires, we might end up depending a lot more on the likes of Tuipulotu at 12 for the playmaker role, as we often do at the moment. You could argue that Glasgow did very well without a top class 10 in their ranks last season - injury to Hastings meant Jordan, a centre, and an aging Meatball stepped into the role and the team adapted their game to attack from other areas of the pitch.

This is a good post

It is a good post. It is possible to be a contender at international level without having a superstar at 10. Wales did it with Biggar for a number of years - great player, reliable as hell, but not box office.