The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Yr Alban]

I've just finished watching it, Harris should have passed to Price, but Hogg was calling for it.

There are days when everything goes for you and France had one of those days, from the bounce of the ball to some borderline refereeing calls - re Gilchrist getting dung thrown at him for the lineout penalties, holding a man in the air line that is a penalty offence, France even got warned for it after the second time but they still got the penalty, the third time led up to the try just before half time.

It is a free kick offence. Arguably hitting the man early is dangerous play which is a more serious offence. Even if the ref was in the wrong, Gilchrist should know better than committing the exact same offence again.

Law 9, Foul Play

7. Unfair play

A player must not:
Intentionally infringe any law of the game.

Intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with arm or hand from the playing area.

Do anything that may lead the match officials to consider that an opponent has committed an infringement.
Sanction: Penalty.

This actually made me LOL. Isn’t it great how some laws are rigorously enforced, and some are entirely ignored? I’m sure we can all think of a number of particular players (and/or teams) who spend literally the whole game breaking the part in bold, and receive no sanction whatsoever.

[I like neeps]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

[Tichtheid]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

aye, on the re-watch I thought Price played well

[Begbie]

Just finished re-watching and we weren't as bad as I thought. Like others have said it's probably our best performance so far, but the brain farts were quickly punished by a very good team, as you'd expect.

Martin Johnson's comments afterwards were pretty much spot on.

[Big D]

Law 9, Foul Play

7. Unfair play

A player must not:
Intentionally infringe any law of the game.

Intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with arm or hand from the playing area.

Do anything that may lead the match officials to consider that an opponent has committed an infringement.
Sanction: Penalty.


edit, there is this in the lineout laws

Lift or support a team-mate. Players who do so must lower that player to the ground safely as soon as the ball is won by either team. Sanction: Free-kick.

however, under the unfair play rule there is a law about repeated offences for which the sanction is a penalty - France held Woki up in the air three times, the second time they were even warned about it but three times France were awarded the penalty.

It is only repeated offences once a referee gives it as an offence. That doesn't excuse Gilchrist doing the same thing knowing the French were at it.

If you watch it again you see Gilchrist hanging back, waiting for the French lifters to return Woki to the deck, especially the second one, the one where after awarding France the penalty he then warned them about keeping the man in the air.

He got that badly wrong.


23 mins 20 secs on the match clock https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... d-v-france


I don't even think it's Gilchrist that is penalised here

That penalty isn't just on GG though, its the guys behind him who start the drive (Skinner and Bradbury). GG gets pinged but the others make it worse. GG has come across the gap, Skinner and Bradbury have driven early.

The one I'm talking about is the one before the 2nd try which is our second offence. He piles onto Woki before he has hit the ground.

Both are good examples of how we don't react to how the ref is reffing even if he's having a howler like Dickson undeniably was.

[Big D]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

It was terrible reffing. Price didn't need to drop it, not that he was trying to of course but had ample time, or not bust a gut to get back the way he did though. Two key errors from him either side of half time.

[Big D]

Just finished re-watching and we weren't as bad as I thought. Like others have said it's probably our best performance so far, but the brain farts were quickly punished by a very good team, as you'd expect.

Martin Johnson's comments afterwards were pretty much spot on.

That's the frustrating thing. The good stuff was good. The bad stuff was bad and mostly key costly errors.

[Big D]

(IMHO of course)

Played well: Schoeman, McInally, Skinner, Darge, Duhan, Darcy

Mixed bag: Fagerson, Bradbury, Price, Russell, Harris, Hogg

Poor: Gilchrist, Haining, Tuipilotu

Haining was only there due to injury. Gilchrist and Tuipilotu are on Toony. Yes, injuries had deprived us of Gray and Cummings, but I’m not convinced that Gilchrist wouldn’t have started anyway.

All very disappointing. I expect we will lose by 15+ in Dublin. We might even struggle v Italy if they bring their A game (which they almost always seem to against us).

I think I agree with most of this but would have Graham in the mixed bag. His defence was so very poor. And Harris to poor, missed that pass and blew a 3 on 2 by not even looking for the pass.

[Yr Alban]

(IMHO of course)

Played well: Schoeman, McInally, Skinner, Darge, Duhan, Darcy

Mixed bag: Fagerson, Bradbury, Price, Russell, Harris, Hogg

Poor: Gilchrist, Haining, Tuipilotu

Haining was only there due to injury. Gilchrist and Tuipilotu are on Toony. Yes, injuries had deprived us of Gray and Cummings, but I’m not convinced that Gilchrist wouldn’t have started anyway.

All very disappointing. I expect we will lose by 15+ in Dublin. We might even struggle v Italy if they bring their A game (which they almost always seem to against us).

I think I agree with most of this but would have Graham in the mixed bag. His defence was so very poor. And Harris to poor, missed that pass and blew a 3 on 2 by not even looking for the pass.

Fair enough on Harris. Not his best game at all. As for Graham, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he did a lot of what was good. He did fall off a couple of tackles but he made some good ones too.

There is so much that is so frustrating about our team right now. We have the players to do better than we are. But our heads still aren’t right (this has been an issue for 2 decades). Wales win games when they are mediocre because they expect to. We lose them because we don’t. France have confidence right now and that’s why so much of what they try comes off. We can be sublime when there is confidence, but although we had it in the last 6N, we’ve seen none of it in the AIs or this 6N. Hence the running around like headless chickens at times.

The other issue is player selection. Toony’s decisions get ever more baffling. He won’t pick players who are in form until forced to do so. He won’t drop those who are clearly underperforming. He picks some players over clearly better alternatives (Tuipilotu, sometimes Gilchrist). He changes winning teams for no good reason. He drops players from the squad inexplicably (Johnson, Hastings). I know his win %age stands up, but what that fails to take into account is that he has far more player depth available than pretty much every previous coach. The SRU have bet the farm on him until the next RWC, but we are stagnating or regressing. I’d love to see what a different coach might do with the current pool of players.

[Yr Alban]

Just finished re-watching and we weren't as bad as I thought. Like others have said it's probably our best performance so far, but the brain farts were quickly punished by a very good team, as you'd expect.

Martin Johnson's comments afterwards were pretty much spot on.

There were a few brain farts, but arguably fewer than we’ve seen in other recent games. I really don’t think our discipline was awful yesterday. The majority of the pens we conceded were for holding on, and I think the ref was way too quick to ping us for that (and he got worse through the game).

[Big D]

Fair enough on Harris. Not his best game at all. As for Graham, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because he did a lot of what was good. He did fall off a couple of tackles but he made some good ones too.

I guess I'm a bit... not sure what the right word is, fed up is perhaps too strong.

Graham over committed on the tackle and got nowhere near DuPont on the first try. It is a critical error that leads into other errors by team mates. The Harris blown 4 on 1 was the same, mistake - penalty - penalty - Fickou takes the long way around Price who doesn't even act as a road bump and scores.

Price is a good example yesterday too. Directly responsible for the critical or last error that led to two tries.

We directly contributed to 4 of their tries through errors or multiple errors. I find it hard to be too positive about playing well when we blow 3 on 2s, 4 on 1s and errors lead to 4 tries for the opposition.

[Yr Alban]

The question is, what do we do? I still think that this is a psychological issue. Just look at France. A year ago they were all over the place and error-strewn. FFS, we won in Paris because Dulin didn’t kick the ball out with the clock red! But now they are confident and controlled, they don’t panic and they keep doing the simple things well.

Either we need to change the coaching team or we need better sports psychologists.

[I like neeps]

The question is, what do we do? I still think that this is a psychological issue. Just look at France. A year ago they were all over the place and error-strewn. FFS, we won in Paris because Dulin didn’t kick the ball out with the clock red! But now they are confident and controlled, they don’t panic and they keep doing the simple things well.

Either we need to change the coaching team or we need better sports psychologists.

I note Brice Dulin no longer plays for France... Make ridiculous mistakes and get dropped is maybe needed.

[Yr Alban]

The question is, what do we do? I still think that this is a psychological issue. Just look at France. A year ago they were all over the place and error-strewn. FFS, we won in Paris because Dulin didn’t kick the ball out with the clock red! But now they are confident and controlled, they don’t panic and they keep doing the simple things well.

Either we need to change the coaching team or we need better sports psychologists.

I note Brice Dulin no longer plays for France... Make ridiculous mistakes and get dropped is maybe needed.

Yes. The issue, of course, is that we lack decent cover in key areas and so the players don’t get dropped.

There are a few guys who really need dropped to give them a kick up the arse. Zander is the key one, but Nel is about 65 now and effectively a stopgap. We need to find another decent THP, but how? Russell could also do with being benched, but Hastings is out of the squad (and riding the bench for Gloucester, apparently) and Kinghorn isn’t ready.

I worry about the Italy game a bit. They will be desperate to prove a point, it’s in Rome and we are hopelessly inconsistent. It might actually be a good game for Kinghorn to start though?

[Yr Alban]

As we have discussed before, we also have an issue with on-field leadership. Players like AWJ and POC can drag their teams through difficult games when maybe the team is under-performing. We have nobody in that mould. The closest is Ritchie and he’s injured. Hogg is desperate to be a good captain but he isn’t that sort of player at all, plus it’s really difficult to be your team’s rock when you’re the full-back. I hate to say it, but this might be what Jack Dempsey could bring to the side?

[SomersetJock]

Just got back home from Edinburgh, best part of the weekend is that Now I live in North Wales it’s not so long a miserable trudge home

I think everything I would say about the match has already been said so I shall leave that.

Was my first France match and I have to say their fans were outstanding, so much more vocal than any other matches I have been to. This in contrast to many of our fans who seemed just as up for it as some of our poorer performing players were yesterday.

Special mention to the guys sat behind me who slated Darcy from the first to the last minute. What is even more disturbing is that they were from Hawick

Nevermind, dust down and go again

[I like neeps]

The question is, what do we do? I still think that this is a psychological issue. Just look at France. A year ago they were all over the place and error-strewn. FFS, we won in Paris because Dulin didn’t kick the ball out with the clock red! But now they are confident and controlled, they don’t panic and they keep doing the simple things well.

Either we need to change the coaching team or we need better sports psychologists.

I note Brice Dulin no longer plays for France... Make ridiculous mistakes and get dropped is maybe needed.

Yes. The issue, of course, is that we lack decent cover in key areas and so the players don’t get dropped.

There are a few guys who really need dropped to give them a kick up the arse. Zander is the key one, but Nel is about 65 now and effectively a stopgap. We need to find another decent THP, but how? Russell could also do with being benched, but Hastings is out of the squad (and riding the bench for Gloucester, apparently) and Kinghorn isn’t ready.

I worry about the Italy game a bit. They will be desperate to prove a point, it’s in Rome and we are hopelessly inconsistent. It might actually be a good game for Kinghorn to start though?

Hastings is back starting and has credit of 20 caps in the bank. Kinghorn after yesterday absolutely cannot start. You'd think Hastings will get the call next Monday.

Fagerson can be dropped. Nel and Berghan the next two games.

[Big D]

I note Brice Dulin no longer plays for France... Make ridiculous mistakes and get dropped is maybe needed.

Yes. The issue, of course, is that we lack decent cover in key areas and so the players don’t get dropped.

There are a few guys who really need dropped to give them a kick up the arse. Zander is the key one, but Nel is about 65 now and effectively a stopgap. We need to find another decent THP, but how? Russell could also do with being benched, but Hastings is out of the squad (and riding the bench for Gloucester, apparently) and Kinghorn isn’t ready.

I worry about the Italy game a bit. They will be desperate to prove a point, it’s in Rome and we are hopelessly inconsistent. It might actually be a good game for Kinghorn to start though?

Hastings is back starting and has credit of 20 caps in the bank. Kinghorn after yesterday absolutely cannot start. You'd think Hastings will get the call next Monday.

Fagerson can be dropped. Nel and Berghan the next two games.

I think he started as Evans is injured rather than winning the place back so wouldn't read into that in terms of form except for Hastings is seen as better than Evans on crutches. I don't think GT will change his mind based on that. He is pretty stubborn in his own way.

Kinghorn wasn't that good in his 15-20min but he and White were on a hiding to nothing yesterday. "Here lads we are getting pumped, go throw the ball about from anywhere against a defence coached by possibly the best defence coach of the professional era". Clutching at straws from the coaches and a absence of leadership in the inside backs.

[Yr Alban]

Just got back home from Edinburgh, best part of the weekend is that Now I live in North Wales it’s not so long a miserable trudge home

I think everything I would say about the match has already been said so I shall leave that.

Was my first France match and I have to say their fans were outstanding, so much more vocal than any other matches I have been to. This in contrast to many of our fans who seemed just as up for it as some of our poorer performing players were yesterday.

Special mention to the guys sat behind me who slated Darcy from the first to the last minute. What is even more disturbing is that they were from Hawick

Nevermind, dust down and go again

Bummer

[KingBlairhorn]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

I suppose it shows how hard a job refs have when we can’t even agree without multiple rewatches and slow-mo angles.

I do think rugby has a problem with refereeing bias toward ‘bigger’ teams though. We’ve very much had it against tier 2/lower ranked teams for years and we get it against the bigger tier 1s. It’s not a conspiracy theory type thing, I think it’s most likely unconscious bias, but it does make a difference IMO.

[Begbie]

Decent article from Barclay here.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/e832 ... 251f6a6fe5

[Yr Alban]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

I suppose it shows how hard a job refs have when we can’t even agree without multiple rewatches and slow-mo angles.

I do think rugby has a problem with refereeing bias toward ‘bigger’ teams though. We’ve very much had it against tier 2/lower ranked teams for years and we get it against the bigger tier 1s. It’s not a conspiracy theory type thing, I think it’s most likely unconscious bias, but it does make a difference IMO.

Absolutely agree with this. It’s noticeable that we get a better deal from referees now than we did 10 years ago, as our reputation has improved (to a degree). We used not to be able to buy a decision against a ‘bigger’ team.

When so much of refereeing in rugby comes down to interpretation of the laws, I suppose it’s inevitable that the individual ref’s perception of who is the ‘stronger’ team will colour their decision making. We’ve seen it with scrum penalties for years. As I’ve mentioned above, I strongly feel that we also see it with penalties for holding on - If one team dominates the breakdown, as France did on Saturday, the ref starts to blow up for holding as soon as the other team takes the ball into contact.

[I like neeps]

Yes. The issue, of course, is that we lack decent cover in key areas and so the players don’t get dropped.

There are a few guys who really need dropped to give them a kick up the arse. Zander is the key one, but Nel is about 65 now and effectively a stopgap. We need to find another decent THP, but how? Russell could also do with being benched, but Hastings is out of the squad (and riding the bench for Gloucester, apparently) and Kinghorn isn’t ready.

I worry about the Italy game a bit. They will be desperate to prove a point, it’s in Rome and we are hopelessly inconsistent. It might actually be a good game for Kinghorn to start though?

Hastings is back starting and has credit of 20 caps in the bank. Kinghorn after yesterday absolutely cannot start. You'd think Hastings will get the call next Monday.

Fagerson can be dropped. Nel and Berghan the next two games.

I think he started as Evans is injured rather than winning the place back so wouldn't read into that in terms of form except for Hastings is seen as better than Evans on crutches. I don't think GT will change his mind based on that. He is pretty stubborn in his own way.

Kinghorn wasn't that good in his 15-20min but he and White were on a hiding to nothing yesterday. "Here lads we are getting pumped, go throw the ball about from anywhere against a defence coached by possibly the best defence coach of the professional era". Clutching at straws from the coaches and a absence of leadership in the inside backs.

Ah fair enough.

In any case the credit Hastings has means something. All well and good saying Kinghorn had a shot to nothing but he had two honking passes and came very close to allowing a 50/22 as he was far too casual. He's worth continuing at 10 for Edinburgh. He's six months in, he is not international standard.

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

[Slick]

Hastings is back starting and has credit of 20 caps in the bank. Kinghorn after yesterday absolutely cannot start. You'd think Hastings will get the call next Monday.

Fagerson can be dropped. Nel and Berghan the next two games.

I think he started as Evans is injured rather than winning the place back so wouldn't read into that in terms of form except for Hastings is seen as better than Evans on crutches. I don't think GT will change his mind based on that. He is pretty stubborn in his own way.

Kinghorn wasn't that good in his 15-20min but he and White were on a hiding to nothing yesterday. "Here lads we are getting pumped, go throw the ball about from anywhere against a defence coached by possibly the best defence coach of the professional era". Clutching at straws from the coaches and a absence of leadership in the inside backs.

Ah fair enough.

In any case the credit Hastings has means something. All well and good saying Kinghorn had a shot to nothing but he had two honking passes and came very close to allowing a 50/22 as he was far too casual. He's worth continuing at 10 for Edinburgh. He's six months in, he is not international standard.

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

Yes, the whole Hastings thing is just odd, he has proven many times he is an international standard 10, and a bloody good one. He was really good when Finn went AWOL

[Slick]

Away from the madness of social media it has been quite nice to see pretty level headed reactions to the weekend across supporters and journalists. It probably was our best performance of the season just up against a team on fire.

That's not to excuse the obvious inadequacies or the frustrations but it's not all bad.

In saying that, a probable 2 wins is a bit galling.

[Tichtheid]

Away from the madness of social media it has been quite nice to see pretty level headed reactions to the weekend across supporters and journalists. It probably was our best performance of the season just up against a team on fire.

That's not to excuse the obvious inadequacies or the frustrations but it's not all bad.

In saying that, a probable 2 wins is a bit galling.

The Wales result is particularly galling, France were better than us, that's okay (not 6-2 in tries better, but better) and I can't see us winning in Dublin, but a good win in Rome and a competitive performance against Ireland are the minimums required now.

[Jock42]

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

[Slick]

Away from the madness of social media it has been quite nice to see pretty level headed reactions to the weekend across supporters and journalists. It probably was our best performance of the season just up against a team on fire.

That's not to excuse the obvious inadequacies or the frustrations but it's not all bad.

In saying that, a probable 2 wins is a bit galling.

The Wales result is particularly galling, France were better than us, that's okay (not 6-2 in tries better, but better) and I can't see us winning in Dublin, but a good win in Rome and a competitive performance against Ireland are the minimums required now.

100% this.

[Yr Alban]

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Hutchinson seems to keep getting good write ups for Northampton, and he can play 12. Surely he has to be given a chance at some point. Would take some of the responsibility for making everything happen off Russell.

[Begbie]

Away from the madness of social media it has been quite nice to see pretty level headed reactions to the weekend across supporters and journalists. It probably was our best performance of the season just up against a team on fire.

That's not to excuse the obvious inadequacies or the frustrations but it's not all bad.

In saying that, a probable 2 wins is a bit galling.

I made the mistake of looking at the Scottish Rugby Blog comments section, some of the hottest takes you'll ever see

[KingBlairhorn]

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Hutchinson seems to keep getting good write ups for Northampton, and he can play 12. Surely he has to be given a chance at some point. Would take some of the responsibility for making everything happen off Russell.

Tuipoluto at 12 is one of the big problems in the team atm in my opinion. He’s not a bad player, he’s just the wrong sort of player, especially with Harris at 13. We have a devastating backline but if the ball gets stuck at 12/13 then we aren’t using them effectively. If Toonie wants bosh in the centres then ask Duhan to come off his wing more often. We need 1 centre who can pass/playmake.

[KingBlairhorn]

I've rewatched the highlights and I'm totally wrong on Price it's absolutely inexplicable refereeing.

I suppose it shows how hard a job refs have when we can’t even agree without multiple rewatches and slow-mo angles.

I do think rugby has a problem with refereeing bias toward ‘bigger’ teams though. We’ve very much had it against tier 2/lower ranked teams for years and we get it against the bigger tier 1s. It’s not a conspiracy theory type thing, I think it’s most likely unconscious bias, but it does make a difference IMO.

Absolutely agree with this. It’s noticeable that we get a better deal from referees now than we did 10 years ago, as our reputation has improved (to a degree). We used not to be able to buy a decision against a ‘bigger’ team.

When so much of refereeing in rugby comes down to interpretation of the laws, I suppose it’s inevitable that the individual ref’s perception of who is the ‘stronger’ team will colour their decision making. We’ve seen it with scrum penalties for years. As I’ve mentioned above, I strongly feel that we also see it with penalties for holding on - If one team dominates the breakdown, as France did on Saturday, the ref starts to blow up for holding as soon as the other team takes the ball into contact.

This is a classic example:



I saw it live, the commentators saw it live, it seems most of Twitter saw it live. How is it possible that not only the ref and touch judges all missed it live despite the crowd reaction, but also the TMO who can go back and watch replays at will. If it was the other way around it would have been checked.

[robmatic]

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Hutchinson seems to keep getting good write ups for Northampton, and he can play 12. Surely he has to be given a chance at some point. Would take some of the responsibility for making everything happen off Russell.

Tuipoluto at 12 is one of the big problems in the team atm in my opinion. He’s not a bad player, he’s just the wrong sort of player, especially with Harris at 13. We have a devastating backline but if the ball gets stuck at 12/13 then we aren’t using them effectively. If Toonie wants bosh in the centres then ask Duhan to come off his wing more often. We need 1 centre who can pass/playmake.

He hasn't even given us much bosh these last 2 games and he was looking hesitant ball in hand against France. I think he needs a few more games for Glasgow against good defensive teams before he is starting for Scotland.

[Begbie]

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Where did you see this?

[Slick]

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Hutchinson seems to keep getting good write ups for Northampton, and he can play 12. Surely he has to be given a chance at some point. Would take some of the responsibility for making everything happen off Russell.

Tuipoluto at 12 is one of the big problems in the team atm in my opinion. He’s not a bad player, he’s just the wrong sort of player, especially with Harris at 13. We have a devastating backline but if the ball gets stuck at 12/13 then we aren’t using them effectively. If Toonie wants bosh in the centres then ask Duhan to come off his wing more often. We need 1 centre who can pass/playmake.

Well, I won't say I told you so, but.... (not you)

[Jock42]

We need Hastings back because he's a credible, if unideal, option.

I read Toonie is looking outside the squad for Italy. His name was one quoted as was Hutchinson and Jones. Can't remember the 4th.

Where did you see this?

Might have been the Scotsman.

[mos_eisely_]

Thought Hutchinson is in the wider squad just hasnt made the 23?

Anyway I'd go Vellacott and Hastings as 9&10, and two of Hutchinson, Jones and Bennett for the centres. Maybe even start Kinghorn at fullback

[Big D]

I think my team for Italy would be:

Schoeman
Rambo
Nel
Cummings/Hodgson
Skinner
Bradbury/Christie
Darge
Fagerson/Bradbury

Price
Russell
Graham
Redpath/Johnson
Bennett
VdM
Hogg

Cherry, Kebble, Berghan, Hodgson/Sykes, Christie/Bayliss, White, Kinghorn, Hutchinson.

There needs to be consequences for Fagerson Snrs discipline and GG to an extent even if the ref was rotten he's experienced enough to know to react. I expect Townsend to start both right enough.

Despite being a tackling machine, I don't think Watson has been that effective disrupting rucks or carrying.

Russell starts because we need him and Redpath to get as much game time together as possible and Bennett deserves the 13 shirt.

Cherry is our most dependable hooker, morr consistent arrows and better discipline than Turner.

I don't think he'd bring Hastings straight into the 23 and if they are serious about Kinghorn he needs a chance when not playing hero ball from our own 22.

Hutchinson to bench because Bennett is starting.

[Yr Alban]

I think my team for Italy would be:

Schoeman
Rambo
Nel
Cummings/Hodgson
Skinner
Bradbury/Christie
Darge
Fagerson/Bradbury

Price
Russell
Graham
Redpath/Johnson
Bennett
VdM
Hogg

Cherry, Kebble, Berghan, Hodgson/Sykes, Christie/Bayliss, White, Kinghorn, Hutchinson.

There needs to be consequences for Fagerson Snrs discipline and GG to an extent even if the ref was rotten he's experienced enough to know to react. I expect Townsend to start both right enough.

Despite being a tackling machine, I don't think Watson has been that effective disrupting rucks or carrying.

Russell starts because we need him and Redpath to get as much game time together as possible and Bennett deserves the 13 shirt.

Cherry is our most dependable hooker, morr consistent arrows and better discipline than Turner.

I don't think he'd bring Hastings straight into the 23 and if they are serious about Kinghorn he needs a chance when not playing hero ball from our own 22.

Hutchinson to bench because Bennett is starting.

Won’t be Redpath, sadly. Bath have put out a press release saying he needs surgery (on his neck).

[Big D]

I think my team for Italy would be:

Schoeman
Rambo
Nel
Cummings/Hodgson
Skinner
Bradbury/Christie
Darge
Fagerson/Bradbury

Price
Russell
Graham
Redpath/Johnson
Bennett
VdM
Hogg

Cherry, Kebble, Berghan, Hodgson/Sykes, Christie/Bayliss, White, Kinghorn, Hutchinson.

There needs to be consequences for Fagerson Snrs discipline and GG to an extent even if the ref was rotten he's experienced enough to know to react. I expect Townsend to start both right enough.

Despite being a tackling machine, I don't think Watson has been that effective disrupting rucks or carrying.

Russell starts because we need him and Redpath to get as much game time together as possible and Bennett deserves the 13 shirt.

Cherry is our most dependable hooker, morr consistent arrows and better discipline than Turner.

I don't think he'd bring Hastings straight into the 23 and if they are serious about Kinghorn he needs a chance when not playing hero ball from our own 22.

Hutchinson to bench because Bennett is starting.

Won’t be Redpath, sadly. Bath have put out a press release saying he needs surgery (on his neck).

Johnson/Hutchinson/Lang then. Tuipolotu needs a couple years of club rugby to develop his game. Running straight and hard isn't enough for international rugby.