NPR

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 6:24 am I read them and I agree they were nonsense, but that’s irrelevant. Barclay’s point was, even if the comments were insightful and interesting, that they should be ignored unless you are a professional rugby player who has been coached by Wilson. That’s what made it poor form. As I said, I’m sure Barclay will find he is reminded of it constantly now, so a pretty thick thing to do. Maybe he should have stuck to rugby rather than trying to be a journalist.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:44 am

Previous post got lost in the rollback. Not a lot to be surprised at in this. No Fin Smith in the end, and quite a few rested.

Those that might feel unlucky to be left out: Sykes, Boyle, Dean, Dobie (for development purposes), Steyn, Steele, D'Arcy Rae (over Sebastian), Jake Kerr, Magnet McCallum
Presumably (still) injured: Richie, Vellacott, Lang, Berghan, Kebble, Richardson (where did he go?), Bayliss, Alex Craig, Redpath
Rested?: Brown, McInally
Not available?: Richie Gray

Jock42 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:10 am Is Russell injured? Or dropped? The other Lions are there.

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:34 am A small concern is asking the Lions in the squad to basically roll 3 seasons into 1 long one as they will only get limited time off before next season and then another small one before RWC prep.

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:51 am

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:34 am A small concern is asking the Lions in the squad to basically roll 3 seasons into 1 long one as they will only get limited time off before next season and then another small one before RWC prep.

Yeah, very surprised to see Watson and Price in particular in there.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:44 am

Previous post got lost in the rollback. Not a lot to be surprised at in this. No Fin Smith in the end, and quite a few rested.

Those that might feel unlucky to be left out: Sykes, Boyle, Dean, Dobie (for development purposes), Steyn, Steele, D'Arcy Rae (over Sebastian), Jake Kerr, Magnet McCallum
Presumably (still) injured: Richie, Vellacott, Lang, Berghan, Kebble, Richardson (where did he go?), Bayliss, Alex Craig, Redpath
Rested?: Brown, McInally
Not available?: Richie Gray

dpedin wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 12:10 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:51 am

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 11:34 am A small concern is asking the Lions in the squad to basically roll 3 seasons into 1 long one as they will only get limited time off before next season and then another small one before RWC prep.

Yeah, very surprised to see Watson and Price in particular in there.

Watson was injured for quite a while and missed lots of Embra games and was only just coming back to full fitness and form at end of the season. Price might be there because Vellacott is injured plus he will no doubt be part of the leadership team? With the 10s we have perhaps we need to have him there at 9 to provide a steady influence - I suspect we might play a lot off of 9 in the tests. I would have liked to see Dean in the squad, his form has been excellent but perhaps too similar to Lang and Hutchison? Surprised to see Matt Fagerson in the squad, I thought he was still out injured?

Otherwise I hope Crosbie gets his chance, he has been outstanding and is probably in the form of his life right now. He will take it with both hands if given the opportunity. A big, aggressive, mobile player with a real hard edge to his game and just what we need.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:44 am My Test side:
Schoeman (my number 1 number 1 now); Turner; Fagerson
Gilchrist (assuming Cummings not 100% fit); Gray
Crosbie; Watson; Bradbury (assuming Fagerson not 100% fit)
Price; Hastings/Kinghorn
Graham; Johnson; Bennett; VdM
Jones

Cherry; Sutherland; Sebastian (boke); Hodgson; Skinner; White; Hastings/Kinghorn; Rowe (think he covers wing and fullback? Both Kinghorn and Hastings do so can play utility back)

My A side:
Bhatti (probably number 3 loosie); Ashman; Walker
Hodgson; Young
Christie (surprised Boyle didn't make it); Darge; Muncaster
Horne; Thompson
Rowe; Hutchinson; Currie; Hoyland
Smith

The bench for this game will be STACKED.

Edit: the A game will be outside the window I think so presumably Ashman, Christie, Rowe and Hutchinson won't be available?

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 3:45 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:44 am My Test side:
Schoeman (my number 1 number 1 now); Turner; Fagerson
Gilchrist (assuming Cummings not 100% fit); Gray
Crosbie; Watson; Bradbury (assuming Fagerson not 100% fit)
Price; Hastings/Kinghorn
Graham; Johnson; Bennett; VdM
Jones

Cherry; Sutherland; Sebastian (boke); Hodgson; Skinner; White; Hastings/Kinghorn; Rowe (think he covers wing and fullback? Both Kinghorn and Hastings do so can play utility back)

My A side:
Bhatti (probably number 3 loosie); Ashman; Walker
Hodgson; Young
Christie (surprised Boyle didn't make it); Darge; Muncaster
Horne; Thompson
Rowe; Hutchinson; Currie; Hoyland
Smith

The bench for this game will be STACKED.

Edit: the A game will be outside the window I think so presumably Ashman, Christie, Rowe and Hutchinson won't be available?

If Johnson (poor form all season, questionable application) is ahead of Hutchinson (electrifying, one of the better centres in the prem) then it's a mystifying selection. Also Hutchinson stylistically is the most similar to Redpath.

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 4:17 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 3:45 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 10:44 am My Test side:
Schoeman (my number 1 number 1 now); Turner; Fagerson
Gilchrist (assuming Cummings not 100% fit); Gray
Crosbie; Watson; Bradbury (assuming Fagerson not 100% fit)
Price; Hastings/Kinghorn
Graham; Johnson; Bennett; VdM
Jones

Cherry; Sutherland; Sebastian (boke); Hodgson; Skinner; White; Hastings/Kinghorn; Rowe (think he covers wing and fullback? Both Kinghorn and Hastings do so can play utility back)

My A side:
Bhatti (probably number 3 loosie); Ashman; Walker
Hodgson; Young
Christie (surprised Boyle didn't make it); Darge; Muncaster
Horne; Thompson
Rowe; Hutchinson; Currie; Hoyland
Smith

The bench for this game will be STACKED.

Edit: the A game will be outside the window I think so presumably Ashman, Christie, Rowe and Hutchinson won't be available?

If Johnson (poor form all season, questionable application) is ahead of Hutchinson (electrifying, one of the better centres in the prem) then it's a mystifying selection. Also Hutchinson stylistically is the most similar to Redpath.

There's a chance it could be Tuipolotu, which would be worse. Would love GT to go with Hutch and Bennet.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 4:22 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 4:17 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 3:45 pm

If Johnson (poor form all season, questionable application) is ahead of Hutchinson (electrifying, one of the better centres in the prem) then it's a mystifying selection. Also Hutchinson stylistically is the most similar to Redpath.

There's a chance it could be Tuipolotu, which would be worse. Would love GT to go with Hutch and Bennet.

Yup, me too.

Also, even if Cummings is fit he is second choice to Giclho in my book and has to earn the jersey from the bench. Gilcho's form this season has been very good, his best for years and he deserves the tour captain armband.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:22 pm Harris gets a lot of dung thrown at him for lack of attacking nous, but that is not the guy I see. Yes he is a good defender, probably our best 13 in that regard, but you can only do that if you have pace, you can have all the reading ability and all the anticipation but if you don't have the pace you don't play 13 successfully on either side of the ball.

Whenever I watch him for Glaws or for Scotland I always see him running very good lines at pace.

I don't recall seeing him butcher overlaps or make poor passes, but I will admit to wearing rose-tinted spectacles when it comes to anything related to Scottish rugby.

Having said that, I want to see how Mark Bennett goes and I'd love to see Currie get some time against Chile.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 6:05 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:22 pm Harris gets a lot of dung thrown at him for lack of attacking nous, but that is not the guy I see. Yes he is a good defender, probably our best 13 in that regard, but you can only do that if you have pace, you can have all the reading ability and all the anticipation but if you don't have the pace you don't play 13 successfully on either side of the ball.

Whenever I watch him for Glaws or for Scotland I always see him running very good lines at pace.

I don't recall seeing him butcher overlaps or make poor passes, but I will admit to wearing rose-tinted spectacles when it comes to anything related to Scottish rugby.

Having said that, I want to see how Mark Bennett goes and I'd love to see Currie get some time against Chile.

For the avoidance of doubt I agree, Harris is excellent with a good passing 12 inside him. He certainly isn’t a complete player but he has some very good attributes.
I also agree Gilcho has been brilliant this year but Cummings on form brings so much to the team. His carrying is, for me, second only to Turner’s in terms of aggression and running lines (from the forwards).

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Jun 08, 2022 5:07 pm Admittedly I haven't seen a lot of Hutch but when I have he has been an elusive runner and an excellent offloader but not a great distributing centre. I think Johnston has a better overall passing game and brings others into the game, which is the main role of Redpath too. I would dearly like a 12 who can also kick (as Redpath can) but neither Johnson nor Hutch are able as far as I know.

For me, in the absence of a massive lump of a 13 (and that isn't Tuipolotu either btw), you need someone who can run smart lines at pace. That's definitely Bennett (and 2015 Jones), and funnily enough I've seen Hutch play that game too.

Johnston has his limitations, but so does Hutch. We played our best rugby with a distributor at 12 (Horne was excellent at this role too), so I would stick with Johnson.

I think one of the issues we have had over the last year to 18 months has been neither of our starting centres are able to really challenge the line (various combinations of Harris, Johnson, Tuipolotu have been the same), so if it were Harris at 13 I would be more inclined to select Hutch at 12 just to keep the rush honest. To be honest, for all our depth at centre, every combination we pick has major flaws. I think Redpath is the closest to a complete centre we have, but I fear he may be forever broken and a great hope that never really materialises.

Edit: in summary, combinations I would like include Hutch/Harris, Johnson/Bennett, Redpath/Bannett, Redpath/Harris, Redpath/Jones (if back to his best)

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:25 am The cheque is in the post, Slick

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:25 am The cheque is in the post, Slick

Blackmac wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:27 am My 14 year old nephew has been selected for the under 16 hub programme. My understanding is that he will be on it for 2 years. There are only three state school kids in his hub of 36 and to be honest the difference in class between them and the majority of private school lads is massive and they are head and shoulders above them in terms of skills, knowledge and even physicality. I was speaking to couple of fathers who said that their lads get 6 to 8 hours of coaching every week at their schools. A shame that some kids are at such a disadvantage with little or no chance of progressing.

Blackmac wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:27 am My 14 year old nephew has been selected for the under 16 hub programme. My understanding is that he will be on it for 2 years. There are only three state school kids in his hub of 36 and to be honest the difference in class between them and the majority of private school lads is massive and they are head and shoulders above them in terms of skills, knowledge and even physicality. I was speaking to couple of fathers who said that their lads get 6 to 8 hours of coaching every week at their schools. A shame that some kids are at such a disadvantage with little or no chance of progressing.

westport wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 2:06 pm Defence Coach Calum MacRae will leave the club later this month due to family circumstances and will take up the same position with Benetton Rugby
“As a family, we needed a change and the opportunity arising at this point with Benetton felt like it was the right match for us."

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:10 pm Bottom line for me after tonight's win for the Bulls, the Scottish sides are never going to beat the Bokker sides for power, but the New Zealanders didn't try, they held their own and played faster and with better hand skills. Take a look at the list of Super Rugby winners and see if it worked
(it did, 17 winners in 23 seasons)

That is the template we should be using, we don't have the big beasts that South Africa seem to produce on a conveyor belt, so within reason, pace pace pace, jouyer

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:37 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:10 pm Bottom line for me after tonight's win for the Bulls, the Scottish sides are never going to beat the Bokker sides for power, but the New Zealanders didn't try, they held their own and played faster and with better hand skills. Take a look at the list of Super Rugby winners and see if it worked
(it did, 17 winners in 23 seasons)

That is the template we should be using, we don't have the big beasts that South Africa seem to produce on a conveyor belt, so within reason, pace pace pace, jouyer

Have to point out Edinburgh won in South Africa.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:37 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:10 pm Bottom line for me after tonight's win for the Bulls, the Scottish sides are never going to beat the Bokker sides for power, but the New Zealanders didn't try, they held their own and played faster and with better hand skills. Take a look at the list of Super Rugby winners and see if it worked
(it did, 17 winners in 23 seasons)

That is the template we should be using, we don't have the big beasts that South Africa seem to produce on a conveyor belt, so within reason, pace pace pace, jouyer

Have to point out Edinburgh won in South Africa.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:48 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:37 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:10 pm Bottom line for me after tonight's win for the Bulls, the Scottish sides are never going to beat the Bokker sides for power, but the New Zealanders didn't try, they held their own and played faster and with better hand skills. Take a look at the list of Super Rugby winners and see if it worked
(it did, 17 winners in 23 seasons)

That is the template we should be using, we don't have the big beasts that South Africa seem to produce on a conveyor belt, so within reason, pace pace pace, jouyer

Have to point out Edinburgh won in South Africa.

We did, we won once and lost twice there.

We won once and drew once at home against SA sides, but in order to turn those stats in our favour I think we need to play faster, and be far more accurate when it comes to retaining possession.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 10:16 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:48 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 10, 2022 9:37 pm

Have to point out Edinburgh won in South Africa.

We did, we won once and lost twice there.

We won once and drew once at home against SA sides, but in order to turn those stats in our favour I think we need to play faster, and be far more accurate when it comes to retaining possession.

I think we did it by playing a lot of fast rugby and I think it is better than any other team in the league v the South Africans.