NPR

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 12:34 pm So…is Ben Vellacott the best player in the world right now!

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 12:48 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 12:34 pm So…is Ben Vellacott the best player in the world right now!

He’s on fire.

van der Walt, on the other hand, should be fired from a cannon

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:00 pm Vellacott and VdW lacked any control in that game. Immelman terrible too.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:06 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:00 pm Vellacott and VdW lacked any control in that game. Immelman terrible too.

Yup. A few experienced players needed to close that out and they didn’t.

Good for Benetton though, it’s good to see them doing well

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:23 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:06 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:00 pm Vellacott and VdW lacked any control in that game. Immelman terrible too.

Yup. A few experienced players needed to close that out and they didn’t.

Good for Benetton though, it’s good to see them doing well

They'll get no credit for it. Anything they achieve in URC will just be dismissed by the Welsh and the Irish as 'they only have to play the scots'

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:46 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:08 am
My id went straight through this morning. Probably just getting overloaded earlier in the week. All set up with my qr codes now.

Mine too

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:23 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:06 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:00 pm Vellacott and VdW lacked any control in that game. Immelman terrible too.

Yup. A few experienced players needed to close that out and they didn’t.

Good for Benetton though, it’s good to see them doing well

They'll get no credit for it. Anything they achieve in URC will just be dismissed by the Welsh and the Irish as 'they only have to play the scots'

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:51 pm Rufus McLean will break into the Scotland squad by the end of this season and will stay there for the next decade. Baller.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 4:07 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 2:51 pm Rufus McLean will break into the Scotland squad by the end of this season and will stay there for the next decade. Baller.

McLean Forbes and Steyn is an exciting back three for Glasgow. Not sure who McLean is getting in ahead of out of Hogg, Graham and VdW though.

Tuipolotu is very exciting.

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:07 pm Just finished watching the Glasgow game, some seriously good moments in there.

I said it last week and I’ll say it again, Sam Johnson is pure class. Arguably Scotland’s most important player over the last few seasons IMO

westport wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:12 am Following on the discussion re hookers, on Friday Jake Kerr came on in the second half for Bristol and apart from a couple of dodgy throw ins he had a stormer

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:07 pm Just finished watching the Glasgow game, some seriously good moments in there.

I said it last week and I’ll say it again, Sam Johnson is pure class. Arguably Scotland’s most important player over the last few seasons IMO

He’s so classy when on form. How great would it be to have him and Redpath competing for the 12 jersey for Scotland.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:09 am Ashman scored for Sale against Exeter yesterday too. For some reason I thought he had gone on loan to the Championship, but clearly not.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 11:21 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:41 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:07 pm Just finished watching the Glasgow game, some seriously good moments in there.

I said it last week and I’ll say it again, Sam Johnson is pure class. Arguably Scotland’s most important player over the last few seasons IMO

He’s so classy when on form. How great would it be to have him and Redpath competing for the 12 jersey for Scotland.

Slammin Sam! I was very impressed with Tuipolotu as well. Didn't expect him to have such good distribution skills. Redpath has a hell of a battle getting the 12 shirt back at Bath as Ojomoh is looking fantastic.

On the Bears game Kerr was outstanding in the loose, his throwing is a concern. But a great performance he basically turned the game for Bristol. Bayliss was good too I think long term he'll be the starting 6 with Ritchie at 7 for Scotland.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:44 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:09 am Ashman scored for Sale against Exeter yesterday too. For some reason I thought he had gone on loan to the Championship, but clearly not.

The report I read suggested he had as well. Maybe they get first dibs if they need him?

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 8:51 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 11:21 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 8:41 am

He’s so classy when on form. How great would it be to have him and Redpath competing for the 12 jersey for Scotland.

Slammin Sam! I was very impressed with Tuipolotu as well. Didn't expect him to have such good distribution skills. Redpath has a hell of a battle getting the 12 shirt back at Bath as Ojomoh is looking fantastic.

On the Bears game Kerr was outstanding in the loose, his throwing is a concern. But a great performance he basically turned the game for Bristol. Bayliss was good too I think long term he'll be the starting 6 with Ritchie at 7 for Scotland.

I think the 6/7 battles are going to be terrific for Scotland in the coming years, Darge looks the business, Boyle is finally getting game time. Personally I see Fagerson as more of a flanker than an 8, we could do with Bradbury stepping up this season, but he has his hands full ousting Mata.
Muncaster is a heck of carrier, but not exactly a beast in terms of size.
Crosbie hasn't been setting the heather alight recently but he is a very good player and will get back to where he was, I'm sure.
I haven't watched all of the game from Saturday yet but I hear Tom Gordon played very well.

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:07 am
The issue is at 8, we haven't had anyone outstanding for a while and I don't see where a solution is going to come from.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:15 am

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:07 am
The issue is at 8, we haven't had anyone outstanding for a while and I don't see where a solution is going to come from.

I think there is time for Bradbury to get a good injury free run and stake his claim, he's still only 25 or 26, even if he's playing 6 for Edinburgh he knows what's he's doing at 8 for Scotland.

Incidentally, from what little I saw of the Glasgow game at the weekend, Ryan Wilson is carrying on his great from from last year, theough he's not the long-term option

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:46 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:08 am
My id went straight through this morning. Probably just getting overloaded earlier in the week. All set up with my qr codes now.

Mine too

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 5:06 pm

GrahamWa wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:46 am

Biffer wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:08 am
My id went straight through this morning. Probably just getting overloaded earlier in the week. All set up with my qr codes now.

Mine too

Just did mine and it was very easy.

At least I think I did it, the app is saying it’s just for international travel!

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Oct 04, 2021 9:07 amDarge definitely looks the business but I'm not sure I'm quite as optimistic about what else is coming through. The issue is at 8, we haven't had anyone outstanding for a while and I don't see where a solution is going to come from. It's a damn shame Dempsey played for Austrailia!

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:56 am Jersey have signed Tom Pittman (21, Scottish, as far as I know uncapped at any level) direct from the Boroughmuir Bears. Jersey apparently have no recognised fly half so presumably signed to be first choice. Really great for the Super6 to have a player leave to become professional at a non-Scottish club in essentially the first year. Let's hope we see more of this over the years - there are a number like Arnott and Fantini spring immediately to mind - particularly with the Scotland age-grade caps who fail to get professional deals.

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 1:08 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:56 am Jersey have signed Tom Pittman (21, Scottish, as far as I know uncapped at any level) direct from the Boroughmuir Bears. Jersey apparently have no recognised fly half so presumably signed to be first choice. Really great for the Super6 to have a player leave to become professional at a non-Scottish club in essentially the first year. Let's hope we see more of this over the years - there are a number like Arnott and Fantini spring immediately to mind - particularly with the Scotland age-grade caps who fail to get professional deals.

Is Pittman Scottish? He grew up down south. Jersey also signed Watsonians prop Steven Longwell a few weeks back. It probably helps that the Super 6 games are being broadcast on the telly/internet, as that makes it a good shop window for aspiring players.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:56 am Jersey have signed Tom Pittman (21, Scottish, as far as I know uncapped at any level) direct from the Boroughmuir Bears. Jersey apparently have no recognised fly half so presumably signed to be first choice. Really great for the Super6 to have a player leave to become professional at a non-Scottish club in essentially the first year. Let's hope we see more of this over the years - there are a number like Arnott and Fantini spring immediately to mind - particularly with the Scotland age-grade caps who fail to get professional deals.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 10:28 pm Speaking of centres: does anyone else think that Fraser Dingwall’s absence from the England training squad might mean he has done a Redpath and switched back to Scotland?

I had a dig around a while back (prior to Redpath’s return to the fold) to see what the two of them had actually said in interviews, and they were both pretty non-commital. I think it was Dingwall who was asked ‘so is it England all the way from now on?’ and responded ‘I think it’s all still up in the air.’ (EDIT - it was).

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 5:52 pm Jake Kerr starts for Bristol tomorrow night. Exciting if he can make something of himself and be a Scotland option. Keeping Thacker on the bench which is good to see.

Huw Jones not in the Quins 23. Oh dear.

C T wrote: ↑Fri Oct 08, 2021 8:01 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Oct 07, 2021 5:52 pm Jake Kerr starts for Bristol tomorrow night. Exciting if he can make something of himself and be a Scotland option. Keeping Thacker on the bench which is good to see.

Huw Jones not in the Quins 23. Oh dear.

Time to take my medicine on Jones.

I used to think "What's going on with Glasgow? His defensive issues are being exaggerated, Why can't they find a way?" Now he's got a new club, fresh start and OK it's early days but he's struggling to get into the 23 never mind start. Now I'm thinking "What's going on with Jones?"

And of course Harris is doing a fine job at 13 for Scotland.