NPR

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 8:16 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 6:18 pm In better news, Torygraph says Ewan Ashman will turn down a call-up for England in favour of us. Which is what we expected, but it’s still a bit worrying they made a serious play for him.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.tele ... avour/amp/

Why worrying?

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:36 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:16 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 4:09 pm Cam Redpath has done his ACL. Shite for the player, shite for Bath, shite for Scotland.

Fuck. Sake.

https://www.bathrugby.com/club-news/cam ... ry-update/

Jeez, poor lad.

On a more mercenary note, where’s our bloody luck

Pretty much my exact thoughts. Maybe even in the same order.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 9:42 pm Seems the same article says Bevan Rodd will declare for England though. Ah well.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 8:52 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 9:42 pm Seems the same article says Bevan Rodd will declare for England though. Ah well.

I'd hold my breath on both until the announcement is made and they have both accepted and then been capped. Ashman I am fairly convinced wants to play with us and expect to see him capped this summer. Rodd, I have no idea - Cam Redpath was previously called up and toured with England without playing and then changed his mind so there is always a chance. If he were a tighthead I would be extremely keen for him to play for us, as a loosie it's not as vital given our depth. It's always good to add another to the succession planning though.

On Ashman, I wonder if taking a cap means he is likely to move to one of our pro teams - his value in England instantly plummets as soon as he loses EQ status - for a non-established player its quite a risk to take.

westport wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 2:22 pm D'arcy Rae will join Bath Rugby in the summer. The tight-head departs Scotstoun after seven years with the club.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 2:54 pm

westport wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 2:22 pm D'arcy Rae will join Bath Rugby in the summer. The tight-head departs Scotstoun after seven years with the club.

Good move IMO. He gets very little to no gametime with Glasgow now, with Berghan incoming that will only diminish. Bhatti has managed to gametime at Bath so I would expect Rae to also. He's probably not going to trouble their first choice, but if he can get some bench/sub time then he could remain a depth option for Scotland.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 2:54 pm

westport wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 2:22 pm D'arcy Rae will join Bath Rugby in the summer. The tight-head departs Scotstoun after seven years with the club.

Good move IMO. He gets very little to no gametime with Glasgow now, with Berghan incoming that will only diminish. Bhatti has managed to gametime at Bath so I would expect Rae to also. He's probably not going to trouble their first choice, but if he can get some bench/sub time then he could remain a depth option for Scotland.

Slick wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:00 pm Pretty annoyed I’ve been looking forward all day to watching Finn play in the Stade Francais game on Premier Sports this evening and he is nowhere to be seen.

Yeah, I know

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:09 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:00 pm Pretty annoyed I’ve been looking forward all day to watching Finn play in the Stade Francais game on Premier Sports this evening and he is nowhere to be seen.

Yeah, I know

Ha ha ha, what an eedjit!

I did exactly the same,

but I’ve turned over to watch Sale v Brizzle now

Slick wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:24 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:09 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Fri May 28, 2021 7:00 pm Pretty annoyed I’ve been looking forward all day to watching Finn play in the Stade Francais game on Premier Sports this evening and he is nowhere to be seen.

Yeah, I know

Ha ha ha, what an eedjit!

I did exactly the same,

but I’ve turned over to watch Sale v Brizzle now

It has however given me an idea to try and organise a mega cabal to Racing next season...

Begbie wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:50 am Chris Harris went off with a hand injury last night. Hopefully nothing serious.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 7:24 pm Good comeback from Glasgow, they look like there are several more gears to come

That last try was a belter

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:32 pm Hastings has been class all night

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:32 pm Hastings has been class all night

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:32 pm Hastings has been class all night

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 9:10 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:32 pm Hastings has been class all night

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

Yes, and I actually agree with it, it was a dick move

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 9:01 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:32 pm Hastings has been class all night

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

Yes on the penalty, it was a shocking display of bias from the tmo all night.

Thompson really looks the business, Edinburgh need to keep going with Chamberlain and Savala, we all know Jaco's ceiling, or at least under this game plan.
I'm getting near a football style call for the overthrow of the coaching staff at Edinburgh, we have an "attack coach" apparently, though you'd never know it.

Darge and Miller made the right move, there are nine guys ahead of them at Embra

Big D wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 9:32 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 9:01 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

Yes on the penalty, it was a shocking display of bias from the tmo all night.

Thompson really looks the business, Edinburgh need to keep going with Chamberlain and Savala, we all know Jaco's ceiling, or at least under this game plan.
I'm getting near a football style call for the overthrow of the coaching staff at Edinburgh, we have an "attack coach" apparently, though you'd never know it.

Darge and Miller made the right move, there are nine guys ahead of them at Embra

Cockerill has said he wants another 10 IIRC. Mallinder and Dodson should give that a firm no.

Big D wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 9:32 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 9:01 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 8:43 pm

For a guy with his pace, he looked like he was running in treacle on that penultimate break he made. I thought Thomson and Darge were outstanding, some seriously good young lads coming through.

Did I honestly see a penalty reversal on Lambert for ruffling the opposing prop’s hair btw?

Yes on the penalty, it was a shocking display of bias from the tmo all night.

Thompson really looks the business, Edinburgh need to keep going with Chamberlain and Savala, we all know Jaco's ceiling, or at least under this game plan.
I'm getting near a football style call for the overthrow of the coaching staff at Edinburgh, we have an "attack coach" apparently, though you'd never know it.

Darge and Miller made the right move, there are nine guys ahead of them at Embra

Cockerill has said he wants another 10 IIRC. Mallinder and Dodson should give that a firm no.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 1:12 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sun May 30, 2021 9:32 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat May 29, 2021 9:01 pm


Yes on the penalty, it was a shocking display of bias from the tmo all night.

Thompson really looks the business, Edinburgh need to keep going with Chamberlain and Savala, we all know Jaco's ceiling, or at least under this game plan.
I'm getting near a football style call for the overthrow of the coaching staff at Edinburgh, we have an "attack coach" apparently, though you'd never know it.

Darge and Miller made the right move, there are nine guys ahead of them at Embra

Cockerill has said he wants another 10 IIRC. Mallinder and Dodson should give that a firm no.

I don’t think we are particularly bad at bringing through young players, we’ve turned out a lot of internationals from academy rugby over the last few years, but given the fact we have the fewest pro routes of any tier 1 nation, we probably need to be the best at it.

It’s a tough balance to strike, as we need our pro teams to remain competitive, however we probably do need to think hard about the makeup of our squads. There are so many competing demands: we want the pro teams to win, so do we sprinkle in some non SQ international quality; we want to ensure depth of internationals, so do we hoover up journeymen Scots to ensure they have pro contracts; we want to encourage youth, so do we pack all the best Scottish youth onto pro contracts and have them compete against each other; we want our best internationals well managed, so do we try to contract our top players and them limit their gametime? It’s such a hard balance to find, and there are many more competitive demands than just these.

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:35 am

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

I'd have thought there might be quite a few on the stand by list actually. If they are coming in late they might want them to already be up to speed on what Toony is doing and unlikely to be starting tests anyway.

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 12:06 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:35 am

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

I'd have thought there might be quite a few on the stand by list actually. If they are coming in late they might want them to already be up to speed on what Toony is doing and unlikely to be starting tests anyway.

I had originally thought that but the more I thought about it the more I thought realistically it will only impact probably a couple selections.

Potentials on standby:
Hookers - Turner - May have been tempted to give him the summer off to play Ashman and run Brown/Rambo back into fitness but I would imagine he'd have toured with Scotland anyway.
Props - None on standby. Would think Healy and Sinckler are first off the rank a LH and TH.
Second row - Gray potentially on standby with Ryan. Scotland may have been tempted to rest him.
Back row - No one who may have been rested would be on stand by. Ritchie and Fagerson are probably behind a couple and would tour anyway.
9 - None in the conversation.
10 - Doubt Hastings would be called up and would be touring with Scotland anyway.
Centres - Would think Tuilagi, Ringrose and Slade all ahead of Scots and they would all be touring anyway.
Back 3 - Only Maitland probably in with a shout of being on stand by and he may have been a rest candidate.

So ultimately I think only Gray and Maitland are the only two who potentially could be on stand by (and it would only be a maybe) that may have been rested this summer.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 7:09 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

Quite excited for the squad announcement. Surely they'll have an extended training squad with the experienced heads dropping out of the A game. However, England A will be very good, so putting a reasonable Scotland side against them will be more interesting for everyone.

Hoping Ashman does declare for Scotland otherwise we're in a lot of trouble for the foreseeable at hooker. Wonder if Isaac Miller who has been in and around the Worcester 23 might get a call up.

Second rows would like to see Cammy Henderson as Leicester on signing him did note he was EQP. Wonder if England have their eyes on him. Alex Craig, Sam Skinner, Cammy Henderson and Scott Cummings could be a good developmental group.

Backrow of Ritchie Crosbie and Fagerson is exciting. We'll see if Gary Graham is really done for Scotland now.

9 is very interesting too. Will Dobie go or be under20s captain? Charlie Chapman has overtures from England, Italy and Scotland. See who gets him. Think Shiel will be capped, wonder if Vellacott will travel.

10 it's time for Ross Thomson and Adam Hastings. We don't need to worry about VdW or Weir.

Centres I'd hope to see Rory Hutchinson return. I reckon Johnson, Grigg will probably go. Maybe a return for Matt Scott who really deserves it. Gutted about Redpath.

I expect to see Forbes and McLean in the back 3. Wonder if McGuigan or Maitland will go. Kinghorn for 15 and needs some good performances.

Captain between Jamie Ritchie and Scott Cummings I think.

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:29 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 7:09 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Mon May 31, 2021 9:20 am Apparently the summer squad is announced on Tuesday,

I had originally thought we would see a load of players get the summer off but the more I think about it I think the Lions may mean that isn't the case. If say Turner and Gray are on the standby list they probably need to stay in an elite sporting bubble. It shouldn't impact too many selections as I can't see us having many on the stand by list.

Quite excited for the squad announcement. Surely they'll have an extended training squad with the experienced heads dropping out of the A game. However, England A will be very good, so putting a reasonable Scotland side against them will be more interesting for everyone.

Hoping Ashman does declare for Scotland otherwise we're in a lot of trouble for the foreseeable at hooker. Wonder if Isaac Miller who has been in and around the Worcester 23 might get a call up.

Second rows would like to see Cammy Henderson as Leicester on signing him did note he was EQP. Wonder if England have their eyes on him. Alex Craig, Sam Skinner, Cammy Henderson and Scott Cummings could be a good developmental group.

Backrow of Ritchie Crosbie and Fagerson is exciting. We'll see if Gary Graham is really done for Scotland now.

9 is very interesting too. Will Dobie go or be under20s captain? Charlie Chapman has overtures from England, Italy and Scotland. See who gets him. Think Shiel will be capped, wonder if Vellacott will travel.

10 it's time for Ross Thomson and Adam Hastings. We don't need to worry about VdW or Weir.

Centres I'd hope to see Rory Hutchinson return. I reckon Johnson, Grigg will probably go. Maybe a return for Matt Scott who really deserves it. Gutted about Redpath.

I expect to see Forbes and McLean in the back 3. Wonder if McGuigan or Maitland will go. Kinghorn for 15 and needs some good performances.

Captain between Jamie Ritchie and Scott Cummings I think.

Darge in a back row wouldn't look out of place juding by his last couple of performances either.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:39 am Would rather see someone like Blain in over Mcguigan