Team v Italy

[Big D]

Assuming no one is left out to benefit Edinburgh v Munster (Marfo in particular)
I'd go with this team v Italy.

Bhatti
Rambo
Berghan
Gray x2
Barclay
Watson
Denton
Laidlaw
Russell
Maitland
Horne
Jones
Kinghorn
Hogg

Marfo
Brown
Nel
Toolis
Hamilton
Price
Grigg
Jones

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Revised squad.

FORWARDS (20)
John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors)
David Denton (Worcester Warriors) Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
Richie Gray (Toulouse) Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
Darryl Marfo (Edinburgh Rugby) Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) Gordon Reid (London Irish) Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)

BACKS (18)
Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors) Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne) Sean Maitland (Saracens) Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) Matt Scott (Gloucester) Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) Richie Vernon (Glasgow Warriors)

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Someone from the Glasgow board pointed out that Gregor probably knows his 23 but has called upon exiles and Glasgow players to make up the numbers in training as Edinburgh have a pivotal game against Munster on the weekend.

[Big D]

Based on that I'd be giving Cummings a debut over Swinson on the bench with Gray starting.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The core Edinburgh players have still been retained: Gilchrist, Watson, Nel, Marfo, etc.

Not sure I'd drop Gilchrist?

Italy represents both an opportunity and a potential banana skin. We have games against the US and Canada to blood Cummings et al.

[Big D]

The core Edinburgh players have still been retained: Gilchrist, Watson, Nel, Marfo, etc.

Not sure I'd drop Gilchrist?

Italy represents both an opportunity and a potential banana skin. We have games against the US and Canada to blood Cummings et al.

That's two games in a row Gilchrist has given away silly pens. I was very critical of Wilson for silly pens so for consistencies sake I'll apply the same to GG.

I don't rate Swinson at international level. 35 caps and has only been above average in about 20% of them.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The core Edinburgh players have still been retained: Gilchrist, Watson, Nel, Marfo, etc.

Not sure I'd drop Gilchrist?

Italy represents both an opportunity and a potential banana skin. We have games against the US and Canada to blood Cummings et al.

That's two games in a row Gilchrist has given away silly pens. I was very critical of Wilson for silly pens so for consistencies sake I'll apply the same to GG.

I don't rate Swinson at international level. 35 caps and has only been above average in about 20% of them.

Will you also be dropping Horne for throwing a gift? And Jones for pissing away a sure 7 points? For consistencies sake...

[Big D]

The core Edinburgh players have still been retained: Gilchrist, Watson, Nel, Marfo, etc.

Not sure I'd drop Gilchrist?

Italy represents both an opportunity and a potential banana skin. We have games against the US and Canada to blood Cummings et al.

That's two games in a row Gilchrist has given away silly pens. I was very critical of Wilson for silly pens so for consistencies sake I'll apply the same to GG.

I don't rate Swinson at international level. 35 caps and has only been above average in about 20% of them.

Will you also be dropping Horne for throwing a gift? And Jones for pissing away a sure 7 points? For consistencies sake...

Not the same comparison. A one off poor pass or performance isn't the same as giving away stupid, preventable penalties in more than one game, especially when not playing well. Stupid penalties are a real bugbear of mine.

If Horne continually plays at 6 out of 10 level or worse, bombs chances and throws intercepts all like he did on Saturday then yes he should be dropped.

To be fair I just checked the stats and they suggest he didn't give away any pens (I was sure he did) so dropping him on that basis alone would be harsh but as he hasn't been particularly good in the last two games and Gray Snr is waiting in the wings, I'd still take him out the starting XV.

[General Zod]

I would give Cummings a bench spot. I think he’s good enough to target a place in the RWC squad and think it would do him good to see what it’s all about at that level.

Maybe I’m being harsh, but I don’t think our second row has been great this year, so the added competition may reap benefits later.

[Big D]

Some huge tackle counts by some of our lads. Hopefully they are all show no issues with it.

Barclay - 28 made / 2 missed
Gray - 27/1
Watson - 25/0

[switchskier]

Cummings would fit well with our style of play. Carmichael may push him in the next 12 months though for that squad place.

Vernon? Anyone understand that one?

[Big D]

Cummings would fit well with our style of play. Carmichael may push him in the next 12 months though for that squad place.

Vernon? Anyone understand that one?

Training body.

[ember]

1. Reid
2. Brown
3. Nel
4. Swinson
5. J. Gray
6. Barclay
7. Watson
8. Wilson
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Maitland
12. Grigg
13. Jones
14. Seymour
15. Hogg

16. McInally
17. Bhatti
18. Fagerson
19. R. Gray
20. Denton
21. Price
22. Horne
23. Kinghorn

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Am I the only one who is somewhat concerned about the esteem in which Toony seems to hold Swinson?

Incredibly harsh on Berghan. I doff my cap to him. He shut me up and has had a fine tournament.

Harsh on McInally but I hope this is Toony attempting to address the L/O issues.

[Tobylerone]

Incredibly harsh on Berghan. I doff my cap to him. He shut me up and has had a fine tournament.

It is indeed, (unless he`s not 100%) scrum held up okay whilst he was on, despite all predictions.

[Big D]

Am I the only one who is somewhat concerned about the esteem in which Toony seems to hold Swinson?

No. I agree with you.

I'd have him 5th choice at best.

[Big D]

1. Reid
2. Brown
3. Nel
4. Swinson
5. J. Gray
6. Barclay
7. Watson
8. Wilson
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Maitland
12. Grigg
13. Jones
14. Seymour
15. Hogg

16. McInally
17. Bhatti
18. Fagerson
19. R. Gray
20. Denton
21. Price
22. Horne
23. Kinghorn

Harsh on a few players.

Important for Grigg. He needs a good game from a starting POV.

[Chunks Baws]

Cockers must deserve a fair bit of credit for Berghans improvement. He backed the lad at international level and said he just needed to keep his focus. Whatever he's done with him has worked a treat.

[OptimisticJock]

Has Grigg played 12 much? Would have preferred Scott there. Harsh on Kinghorn, deserved to retain his spot.

I echo the comments on Swinson and Berghan.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Am I the only one who is somewhat concerned about the esteem in which Toony seems to hold Swinson?

No. I agree with you.

I'd have him 5th choice at best.

Agreed. He's probably one of the more dynamic and effective locks we have in the loose but you lose so much else that you'd otherwise get with Gilchrist, R Gray or Toolis. Possibly even Cummings...

[Big D]

I'm not even sure he's that effective in the loose at international level. He had a purple patch last year but few things hes done before or since have come close to suggesting he should he a consistent option.

[Cameo]

I quite like Swinson as a bench option as he seems very good at coming on and getting very involved. He can also cover the backrow decently. I wonder whether they are aiming to properly run Italy off their feet and see him as the most mobile.

Berghan is a bit funny but he has shown he is a good option longterm. Perhaps they think Fagerson offers more impact off the bench and thought nel has looked quite destructive when he has come on in the last couple of ganes.

Pity for Kinghorn, maybe an attempt to say "well done but you've not made it yet". I'd have started him but hopefully he'll get some gametime.

Grigg is risky but fun.

Brown starting is surprising. Did well off the bench last week. Maybe they just wanted some freshness.

[ARM]

Like the look of that 23. Bit of Toonie tombola as he looks to freshen up the team after a tough match and travel back from Dublin and to Italy. Berghan has proved himself and both Nel and Fagerson are good options.

Think we’re going to up the tempo in attack.

Really looking forward to seeing McInally, Fagerson, R Gray, Denton, Price coming on to run at some tired bodies.

I like Swinson!

[General Zod]

Happy with that team.

I think some of the changes in the forwards may be down to the line-out not firing particularly well this championship, and also possibly with one eye on Edinburgh’s run-in vs runs of starting games for Scotland/ Edinburgh. McInally has played a lot of minutes too.

Horne - tough, I guess, but he didn’t play well v Ireland.

Kinghorn a good option off bench for back 3 cover. Played well, but TS still ahead of him. Summer tour for BK.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I think Grigg will surprise a lot of people. He's the master of getting through a half gap.