6N starting team

[Matt Ha]

On Kinghorn, it's disheartening to see the number of negative comments he seems to attract. We have a wonderfully talented young rugby player in a position where we don't have great strength in depth but a lot of people seem to what to put the man down. Mind you, I think Hogg once got a disproportionate amount of flak.

[Mikey Brown]

I hadn’t realised he was considered such a spaz. I mean I thought he’s a bit young and wild, but that’s probably part of why he’s having so much success with the ball.

[Big D]

Anyone know when the squad is announced?

[General Zod]

For the record, I think he’s quality.

No idea re: squad naming. If I had to guess, I’d say Monday 22nd (after last euro game when all Scottish props can be unwrapped).

[Stones of granite]

On Kinghorn, it's disheartening to see the number of negative comments he seems to attract. We have a wonderfully talented young rugby player in a position where we don't have great strength in depth but a lot of people seem to what to put the man down. Mind you, I think Hogg once got a disproportionate amount of flak.

Completely agree, I think he's one of the most exciting prospects we've had for a while. Get him in the squad and get him some international game time. I thought we have got over this thing of holding young, raw talent back.

[Big D]

On Kinghorn, it's disheartening to see the number of negative comments he seems to attract. We have a wonderfully talented young rugby player in a position where we don't have great strength in depth but a lot of people seem to what to put the man down. Mind you, I think Hogg once got a disproportionate amount of flak.

Completely agree, I think he's one of the most exciting prospects we've had for a while. Get him in the squad and get him some international game time. I thought we have got over this thing of holding young, raw talent back.

He's the only player to have gained over 1km in ground so far this season in pro14.

I agree we shouldn't hold him back be we do need to find the right environment/time to throw him in. He hasn't been part of any of GTs squads and the GT gameplan is going to be tested in ways it hasn't yet.

He's a full back and nothing else at international level. Our best player is the full back and likely to play. In time he may be able to play on the wing but not yet.

The summer tour is the perfect time IMO to play Kinghorn and probably GHorne and Ritchie.

On seperate note, we must start the 6N well against Wales and France, lose those and England at home and Ireland away in weeks 3 and 4 become that much harder.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I seem to recall the squad being named after the first leg of the final HC games. So that would be next week.

I could just be making that up though.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

In other 6N news the Italy squad is out.

http://www.federugby.it/index.php?optio ... Itemid=811

It's basically Treivso & Zebre with Parisse, Sarto and Ghiraldini from overseas. Plus a back row from Fiamme Oro which is where Favaro plies his trade - if you can call it that now.

Have to wonder who Italy will be targeting for a scalp this year. They only have us and England at home this year. We're the obvious target. If they had Wales or France at home that might have worked out better for them.

[Mikey Brown]

I still don't entirely understand what happened with Favaro.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I still don't entirely understand what happened with Favaro.

Glasgow didn't offer him a new deal. He didn't pick up a contract anywhere else. Ended up playing for the Italian police team - or something like that... they are semi pro in nature IIRC. Tremendous waste of his talent.

[switchskier]

What's the view of Scottish fans on Denton? About 4 seasons ago he looked the real goods then faded from the scene. He seems to have had a new lease of life with Worcester. He's massive (close to 19 st), athletic and powerful. He's only 27 - I had the feeling he was much older, and has plenty of rugby left in him. As an abrasive blindside/8 Sctland could do worse.

He's not a great fit for the way Townsend wants to play u think. However I do think that we're still short a ball carrier, especially wit Faegerson out. McInally will help in that regard but I can see Denton in the squad and selected for some specific matches, perhaps against the Welsh or French.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What's the view of Scottish fans on Denton? About 4 seasons ago he looked the real goods then faded from the scene. He seems to have had a new lease of life with Worcester. He's massive (close to 19 st), athletic and powerful. He's only 27 - I had the feeling he was much older, and has plenty of rugby left in him. As an abrasive blindside/8 Sctland could do worse.

He's not a great fit for the way Townsend wants to play u think. However I do think that we're still short a ball carrier, especially wit Faegerson out. McInally will help in that regard but I can see Denton in the squad and selected for some specific matches, perhaps against the Welsh or French.

Plus even if we did have a top level ball carrying 8 - it's a selection headache to fit him in. Watson is one of the best opensides in Europe, Barclay is our captain and rarely sets a foot wrong and Wilson probably gets through more work than anybody else in that team.

Who do you drop? It's a tough one. None of them are really impact bench players either. Best case scenario is a Denton/Strauss/Bradbury coming off the bench in the last 30 mins to punch some holes.

[Big D]

What's the view of Scottish fans on Denton? About 4 seasons ago he looked the real goods then faded from the scene. He seems to have had a new lease of life with Worcester. He's massive (close to 19 st), athletic and powerful. He's only 27 - I had the feeling he was much older, and has plenty of rugby left in him. As an abrasive blindside/8 Sctland could do worse.

He's not a great fit for the way Townsend wants to play u think. However I do think that we're still short a ball carrier, especially wit Faegerson out. McInally will help in that regard but I can see Denton in the squad and selected for some specific matches, perhaps against the Welsh or French.

Plus even if we did have a top level ball carrying 8 - it's a selection headache to fit him in. Watson is one of the best opensides in Europe, Barclay is our captain and rarely sets a foot wrong and Wilson probably gets through more work than anybody else in that team.

Who do you drop? It's a tough one. None of them are really impact bench players either. Best case scenario is a Denton/Strauss/Bradbury coming off the bench in the last 30 mins to punch some holes.

Our back row is lacking something and the balance isn't quite right. Wilson would be the one to make way as it stands for me if we had a big ball carrier with decent hands.

[OptimisticJock]

I still don't entirely understand what happened with Favaro.

Glasgow didn't offer him a new deal. He didn't pick up a contract anywhere else. Ended up playing for the Italian police team - or something like that... they are semi pro in nature IIRC. Tremendous waste of his talent.

Isn't his end goal to be a cop?

[whatisthejava]

I still don't get this obsession with a big ball carrier at 8, we have j gray a ball carrier, bbt a ball carrier, mcinally a ball carrier, zf a ball carrier, Bhatti a ball carrier, how many do u want in the starting team. The days of front 5 not carrying are over meaning u can let your back row focus on turning over ball, being dicks at the breakdown and linking with the backs.

[whatisthejava]

And the problem we have is when refs decide that turnovers are things that belong in the kitchen and not the rugby field. While I like Wayne Barnes him and French refs will duck us over because they think a turnovers only legit if u stay on your feet after being hit as hard as possible

[Big D]

I still don't get this obsession with a big ball carrier at 8, we have j gray a ball carrier, bbt a ball carrier, mcinally a ball carrier, zf a ball carrier, Bhatti a ball carrier, how many do u want in the starting team. The days of front 5 not carrying are over meaning u can let your back row focus on turning over ball, being dicks at the breakdown and linking with the backs.

Final edit: edited a couple of times as I felt it turned into me slagging Wilson off.
-----

"Big ball carrier" probably doesn't quite represent what I meant (can't speak for others). I mean a number 8 who can carry the ball effectively and have potential to create problems for the defence whenever they have it (which Wilson does not do IMO) and still have decent hands. In time Bradbury or Fagerson for example could carry better than Wilson and still have some ball playing ability. I did say "if" not we should replace him now.

Tight forwards and back row/number 8s often don't carry in the same areas of the pitch so we still need effective ball carriers in the back row (Watson obviously carries well) as there will be times our backs can't cut loose. Look at all the best 8s Read, Parrisse, Picamoles and Faletau all have good hands but can carry very effectively in a variety of situations. No reason for us to not hope for an 8 who is an effective ball carrier and has good hands.

[Big D]

Its a shame Bradbury hasn't progressed this season (partly his own fault). He has the potential skills and the playing style to be effective in the Scotland gameplan.

Still, at 22 he has time on his side.

[General Zod]

Anyone know when the squad is announced?

Tuesday

[Big D]

Anyone know when the squad is announced?

Tuesday

Cheers.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I wonder if Hogg, Laidlaw, Sutherland, Marfo, etc will be named if they don't play this weekend?

[Big D]

I wonder if Hogg, Laidlaw, Sutherland, Marfo, etc will be named if they don't play this weekend?

Hogg is a cert to be named even if he doesn't play the 2nd game.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I wonder if Hogg, Laidlaw, Sutherland, Marfo, etc will be named if they don't play this weekend?

Hogg is a cert to be named even if he doesn't play the 2nd game.

True. There's no limit to a 6N squad size as with the RWC right?

Toony can just call up players as and when they return from injury.

Don't think Laidlaw not making the original squad would be the end of the world. It might see us throw Vellacott a chance. I'm hoping...

[Big D]

I wonder if Hogg, Laidlaw, Sutherland, Marfo, etc will be named if they don't play this weekend?

Hogg is a cert to be named even if he doesn't play the 2nd game.

True. There's no limit to a 6N squad size as with the RWC right?

Toony can just call up players as and when they return from injury.

Don't think Laidlaw not making the original squad would be the end of the world. It might see us throw Vellacott a chance. I'm hoping...

Aye squads as big as you want.

[Mikey Brown]

I still don't get this obsession with a big ball carrier at 8, we have j gray a ball carrier, bbt a ball carrier, mcinally a ball carrier, zf a ball carrier, Bhatti a ball carrier, how many do u want in the starting team. The days of front 5 not carrying are over meaning u can let your back row focus on turning over ball, being dicks at the breakdown and linking with the backs.

Final edit: edited a couple of times as I felt it turned into me slagging Wilson off.
-----

"Big ball carrier" probably doesn't quite represent what I meant (can't speak for others). I mean a number 8 who can carry the ball effectively and have potential to create problems for the defence whenever they have it (which Wilson does not do IMO) and still have decent hands. In time Bradbury or Fagerson for example could carry better than Wilson and still have some ball playing ability. I did say "if" not we should replace him now.

Tight forwards and back row/number 8s often don't carry in the same areas of the pitch so we still need effective ball carriers in the back row (Watson obviously carries well) as there will be times our backs can't cut loose. Look at all the best 8s Read, Parrisse, Picamoles and Faletau all have good hands but can carry very effectively in a variety of situations. No reason for us to not hope for an 8 who is an effective ball carrier and has good hands.

I don't think saying a big ball carrying 8 is incorrect at all. Gray, Fagerson and McInally are good but also have a lot on their plates. Gray is one of only a couple with the skills to move the ball within the forward attack, so we could really do with him not being the primary carrier.

The options as I see it;

Strauss; a good balance of power and ball-playing skills but has been inconsistent for Scotland and doesn't seem to be making the Sale team for whatever reason.

Ashe; really rate him but just can't stay fit. Athletic enough to keep up with this style of play, but a big, powerful guy too. I'd have him in the team right now if I thought he wouldn't break immediately.

Denton; the best carrier by a mile in terms of making a physical dent in the opposition, but a bit of a spaz. Though I would certainly consider having him just carry out his limited role and let Barclay (who plays 8 every week anyway) take on more of the linking stuff.

Wilson; massive work-rate and a real nuisance for the opposition, but just isn't quite good enough in any one area or at filling the gaps in this forward pack, where Barclay and Watson are (for me) undroppable.

Du Preez; like Strauss he has a good balance of skills, power and facial hair. But seems quite inconsistent too. From what I read on here the best bits I've seen from him were before a pretty bad injury that he perhaps isn't (or won't ever be) over.

Bradbury; has all the pace and athleticism you'd want but is very green and probably more of a 6?

Fagerson; really like the look of him but it's too soon.