NPR

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:35 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:37 pm Turner & Harris start, Jones on the bench to come on at 65 mins & rip it up (I'd rather he was on from the start to run at the French centres).

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:58 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:37 pm Turner & Harris start, Jones on the bench to come on at 65 mins & rip it up (I'd rather he was on from the start to run at the French centres).

Not sure how Turner has been selected to start ahead of Cherry
Turner's linout stats must be dire and they both appear to give about the same in the scrum and around the pitch

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:03 pm Well, it’s the side we all knew he would pick. Harris appears to be his first pick after Hogg and Watson, even though everyone else wants Jones to start. Price was always coming back in too. As for Cherry, he more than anyone deserved to start, after the line out worked perfectly v Italy and he scored twice, but Toony clearly regards him as an emergency option only.

Here’s what I don’t get. The received wisdom is that Maitland wasn’t in the squad because the agreement only covered 5 players, but there are only 4 English based players in the squad (Skinner, Harris, Hogg, Steele). All the others are in Scotland except Russell. So why isn’t Maitland there? The only options seem to be that the agreement didn’t cover the Championship (bit thin) or that he’s been frozen out.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:03 pm Well, it’s the side we all knew he would pick. Harris appears to be his first pick after Hogg and Watson, even though everyone else wants Jones to start. Price was always coming back in too. As for Cherry, he more than anyone deserved to start, after the line out worked perfectly v Italy and he scored twice, but Toony clearly regards him as an emergency option only.

Here’s what I don’t get. The received wisdom is that Maitland wasn’t in the squad because the agreement only covered 5 players, but there are only 4 English based players in the squad (Skinner, Harris, Hogg, Steele). All the others are in Scotland except Russell. So why isn’t Maitland there? The only options seem to be that the agreement didn’t cover the Championship (bit thin) or that he’s been frozen out.

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:58 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:37 pm Turner & Harris start, Jones on the bench to come on at 65 mins & rip it up (I'd rather he was on from the start to run at the French centres).

Not sure how Turner has been selected to start ahead of Cherry
Turner's linout stats must be dire and they both appear to give about the same in the scrum and around the pitch

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:11 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:58 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 12:37 pm Turner & Harris start, Jones on the bench to come on at 65 mins & rip it up (I'd rather he was on from the start to run at the French centres).

Not sure how Turner has been selected to start ahead of Cherry
Turner's linout stats must be dire and they both appear to give about the same in the scrum and around the pitch

I'm with you on that one, especially after Turner came on against Italy and immediately fluffed a lineout. Looked like a classic case of the yips. Turner is probably more aggressive in the loose (for better or worse) but Cherry is no slouch at the breakdown and in open play.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:43 pm I'm not really a Huw Jones fan but can't understand why he's not playing in this one. He's on great form.

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:03 pm Well, it’s the side we all knew he would pick. Harris appears to be his first pick after Hogg and Watson, even though everyone else wants Jones to start. Price was always coming back in too. As for Cherry, he more than anyone deserved to start, after the line out worked perfectly v Italy and he scored twice, but Toony clearly regards him as an emergency option only.

Here’s what I don’t get. The received wisdom is that Maitland wasn’t in the squad because the agreement only covered 5 players, but there are only 4 English based players in the squad (Skinner, Harris, Hogg, Steele). All the others are in Scotland except Russell. So why isn’t Maitland there? The only options seem to be that the agreement didn’t cover the Championship (bit thin) or that he’s been frozen out.

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:03 pm Well, it’s the side we all knew he would pick. Harris appears to be his first pick after Hogg and Watson, even though everyone else wants Jones to start. Price was always coming back in too. As for Cherry, he more than anyone deserved to start, after the line out worked perfectly v Italy and he scored twice, but Toony clearly regards him as an emergency option only.

Here’s what I don’t get. The received wisdom is that Maitland wasn’t in the squad because the agreement only covered 5 players, but there are only 4 English based players in the squad (Skinner, Harris, Hogg, Steele). All the others are in Scotland except Russell. So why isn’t Maitland there? The only options seem to be that the agreement didn’t cover the Championship (bit thin) or that he’s been frozen out.

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

Slick wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:58 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:43 pm I'm not really a Huw Jones fan but can't understand why he's not playing in this one. He's on great form.

I don't think this is the place for you.

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:46 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

Probably worried about an early or training injury which would mean a young SH playing 90 minutes against the best SH in the world.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:03 pm Well, it’s the side we all knew he would pick. Harris appears to be his first pick after Hogg and Watson, even though everyone else wants Jones to start. Price was always coming back in too. As for Cherry, he more than anyone deserved to start, after the line out worked perfectly v Italy and he scored twice, but Toony clearly regards him as an emergency option only.

Here’s what I don’t get. The received wisdom is that Maitland wasn’t in the squad because the agreement only covered 5 players, but there are only 4 English based players in the squad (Skinner, Harris, Hogg, Steele). All the others are in Scotland except Russell. So why isn’t Maitland there? The only options seem to be that the agreement didn’t cover the Championship (bit thin) or that he’s been frozen out.

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:12 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

I was going to say that they may all have been injured, but then I noticed Richie Gray played Glasgow’s last match. WTF?

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Soapy wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:10 pm

Alex Craig needed to cover 2nd row

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:52 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:12 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm


I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

I was going to say that they may all have been injured, but then I noticed Richie Gray played Glasgow’s last match. WTF?

Richie Gray got back in the squad off a couple of good performances including gubbing the Edinburgh line out. Craig seems more dynamic and hard hitting which is what you need v France. I like him better than GG at the moment too.

It may also be that Maitland isn't able to play 3 internationals in such a short span having been out for so long. He is starting to get up there in age and he may have picked up a knock or been a bit sore.

On Dobie, sometimes it is best to throw young talent in and see what happens but with this one I think keeping him out the firing line is a good idea.

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:59 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 2:29 pm

Ah. Missed him. For some reason I thought he was contracted to Glasgow.

That sorts out the numbers, then. But I’m still puzzled. Hogg is captain. Skinner and Craig needed for the 2nd row. Toony thinks Harris is undroppable. That’s four. But it seems to me that Maitland (likely starter) has been left out so that Steele can sit on the bench, which is an odd decision IMHO. No disrespect to Steele at all, but why drop a player who will likely play 60 minutes for one who will likely play 10-20?

I can only assume that Toony thought the drop-off from Maitland to Graham was less steep than from Steele to Dobie. But would it really have been that much of a risk to let a young player who’s been on fire recently sit on the bench to get one of our best players in the team?

I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

Edinburgh's only fit senior lock is Jamie Hodgson, and he's only really started getting appearances this season. Magnus Bradbury has been playing lock.

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:22 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:59 pm

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 4:13 pm


I was thinking exactly the same thing, but with Craig. He only got his first cap last weekend. Is the lock cupboard so bare that we have to use him in one of the five slots available? Are there no other fit Scotland-based locks available to take the bench slot, so Maitland can be in the matchday squad? I am a big fan of Maitland, so I'd want to see him start every week.

Edinburgh's only fit senior lock is Jamie Hodgson, and he's only really started getting appearances this season. Magnus Bradbury has been playing lock.

Ah, I've clearly not been paying enough attention! That's not going to help Bradbury's development as an 8 though.

Caley_Red wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 4:04 am Not sure what to make of the team for Sunday, the changes were expected but I'm still disappointed to see them.

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:01 am

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:22 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:59 pm

Edinburgh's only fit senior lock is Jamie Hodgson, and he's only really started getting appearances this season. Magnus Bradbury has been playing lock.

Ah, I've clearly not been paying enough attention! That's not going to help Bradbury's development as an 8 though.

It's been a while since he's played 8, hard to get past Mata and Haining. He's actually a pretty handy and imposing 6, just doesn't get to do the impressive carries in the open spaces.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Mar 24, 2021 1:43 pm I'm not really a Huw Jones fan but can't understand why he's not playing in this one. He's on great form.

laurent wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:20 am Don't you go and think because you post here we French are not spying on you

laurent wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:20 am Don't you go and think because you post here we French are not spying on you

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:06 am

laurent wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:20 am Don't you go and think because you post here we French are not spying on you

Go and have a waffle.

laurent wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 9:20 am Don't you go and think because you post here we French are not spying on you

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:22 am I used to speak fairly decent French, but I’m confused here. Is there a pun I’m not getting? I’m aware that International Waffle Day is a thing, and yes, I see there is an FFR flag in it, but still not seeing it.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:10 am So what do we actually have to do to come 2nd? Just win? Or win with a bonus point? Keep them to no bonus point?

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:18 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 11:10 am So what do we actually have to do to come 2nd? Just win? Or win with a bonus point? Keep them to no bonus point?

By my reading of the table we have to win by more than seven, oh and we have to get the same try bp as France, zero or one.

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:48 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:22 am I used to speak fairly decent French, but I’m confused here. Is there a pun I’m not getting? I’m aware that International Waffle Day is a thing, and yes, I see there is an FFR flag in it, but still not seeing it.

Their breach of covid protocols, which led to the game against us being postponed, included team members going to a waffle house in Rome after their game.