Japan Tour

[Big D]

So team for next week?

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray
Gray
Barclay
Hardie
Denton/Strauss - not fussed
Laidlaw
Jackson
Seymour
Horne
Taylor
Hoyland
Hogg

Sutherland
Low
Brown
Swinson
Denton/Strauss
Pyrgos - Although it doesn't matter its not like he'll get on.
Scott or Maitland
Jones

[hp18]

So team for next week?

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Swinson
Gray
Barclay
Hardie
Strauss

Laidlaw
Jackson
Seymour
Horne
Taylor
Maitland
Hogg

Sutherland
Low
Brown
Gray - Bear in mind he'll still be travelling out there after a game.
Denton
Pyrgos - Although it doesn't matter its not like he'll get on.
Jones
Hoyland

[Big D]

So team for next week?

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Swinson
Gray
Barclay
Hardie
Strauss

Laidlaw
Jackson
Seymour
Horne
Taylor
Maitland
Hogg

Sutherland
Low
Brown
Gray - Bear in mind he'll still be travelling out there after a game.
Denton
Pyrgos - Although it doesn't matter its not like he'll get on.
Jones
Hoyland

Gray is travelling today is he not? That is plenty time to get over jet lag etc. The structure and calls are likely to be unchanged and Gray is far far superior to Swinson. I was almost tempted to suggest to back rowers on the bench.

[hp18]

So team for next week?

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Swinson
Gray
Barclay
Hardie
Strauss

Laidlaw
Jackson
Seymour
Horne
Taylor
Maitland
Hogg

Sutherland
Low
Brown
Gray - Bear in mind he'll still be travelling out there after a game.
Denton
Pyrgos - Although it doesn't matter its not like he'll get on.
Jones
Hoyland

Gray is travelling today is he not? That is plenty time to get over jet lag etc. The structure and calls are likely to be unchanged and Gray is far far superior to Swinson. I was almost tempted to suggest to back rowers on the bench.

He played 80 minutes for Castres yesterday then straight into travel. That's hard on recovery for anyone never mind an athletic 20st lock.

[Big D]

He played 80 minutes for Castres yesterday then straight into travel. That's hard on recovery for anyone never mind an athletic 20st lock.

I do see the point in that. But I would imagine he wont be travelling economy, will have followed all the post match recovery protocols, but more importantly IMO the only way to control how many minutes he plays at the weekend is to start him. It is a good point for discussion.

We both agree he will be in the 23, so my preference is to give him the best warm up possible; wind him up (As in wind up toy not slapping him in the puss - maybe that would help) and let him play for as long as he can go.

To be honest, a second row should have been added to the squad for this week just in case.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

He played 80 minutes for Castres yesterday then straight into travel. That's hard on recovery for anyone never mind an athletic 20st lock.

I do see the point in that. But I would imagine he wont be travelling economy, will have followed all the post match recovery protocols, but more importantly IMO the only way to control how many minutes he plays at the weekend is to start him. It is a good point for discussion.

We both agree he will be in the 23, so my preference is to give him the best warm up possible; wind him up (As in wind up toy not slapping him in the puss - maybe that would help) and let him play for as long as he can go.

To be honest, a second row should have been added to the squad for this week just in case.

Yup. I really do not like the 'balance' of BVC's squads on the whole - take Harley as a 6 if you absolutely must. The personnel picks have improved massively though.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

When is the team announced? Seems a few of the others are starting to pop up.

[Big D]

When is the team announced? Seems a few of the others are starting to pop up.

Scotland team to play Japan at Toyota City Stadium
Saturday 18 June (kick-off 7.20pm BST, 11.20am BST) – live on BBC

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 43 caps; 11 tries, 3 pens, 64 points

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 27 caps; 13 tries, 65 points
13. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 17 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
12. Matt Scott (Gloucester) – 34 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
11. Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap

10. Ruaridh Jackson (Harlequins) – 28 caps; 4 cons, 2 pens, 2 drops, 20 points
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) – 51 caps; 4 tries, 64 cons, 120 pens, 508 points

1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 57 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 13 caps, 1 try, 5 points
4. Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 56 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 50 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 10 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

Substitutes
16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
17. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
18. Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 32 caps
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
20. David Denton (Bath Rugby) – 34 caps
21. Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
22. Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps; 2 tries, 1 con, 1 pen, 15 points
23. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 21 caps; 3 tries, 15 points

Ford the only player listed as injured.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Pleased with that all things considered. Disagree with Wilson at 8 and Laidlaw at 9 but they are popular with VC.

Would have liked to see Huw Jones on bench but have heard he's not actually fit to play any game!

[Big D]

Pleased with that all things considered. Disagree with Wilson at 8 and Laidlaw at 9 but they are popular with VC.

Would have liked to see Huw Jones on bench but have heard he's not actually fit to play any game!

Jones isn't listed as injured. Not that is means anything.

[Croft_No.5]

It is a good opportunity for Jackson to cement his place as No.2 to Russell which I am pleased about. great opportunity too for Hoyland. Decent run out for McInally as well, All positives. Agree on Wilson but if he can bring his top form consistently happy enough. I like the bench, especially the 3/4s. All in all some teem and looking at the number of caps of key members they will have some significant level of experience come 2019!

[Chunks Baws]

Pleased with that all things considered. Disagree with Wilson at 8 and Laidlaw at 9 but they are popular with VC.

Would have liked to see Huw Jones on bench but have heard he's not actually fit to play any game!

Jones isn't listed as injured. Not that is means anything.

I think he's expected to be fit for the second game.

[Mikey Brown]

Pleased with that all things considered. Disagree with Wilson at 8 and Laidlaw at 9 but they are popular with VC.

Would have liked to see Huw Jones on bench but have heard he's not actually fit to play any game!

I agree with all of that. I would have gone with Strauss, I just think he needed a bit more of a chance to bed in.

Great to see McInally get a big chance. It gives me faith that maybe, one day, if VC gets really high right before announcing the team, he might- maybe- take a real look at some other options at 9.

No real surprises though, except that the bench isn't completely terrible as usual.

[ARM]

Big oppo for Matt Scott. Summer tour a couple (three?) years ago against SA he made his name. I don't think we've seen the same form since, although injuries have played a huge part in that. Hopefully he brings it.

Hopefully an assured performance from Jacko.

Congrats to Hoyland on his first cap.

[hp18]

Big oppo for Matt Scott. Summer tour a couple (three?) years ago against SA he made his name. I don't think we've seen the same form since, although injuries have played a huge part in that. Hopefully he brings it.

Hopefully an assured performance from Jacko.

Congrats to Hoyland on his first cap.

3 years. It was the 4 way tournament in SA during the Lions tour.

[Mikey Brown]

Who's going to smash it up before/when we inevitably end up just flinging it down the line? I know both Scott and Taylor can do this, I don't know if they can do it consistently? I don't particularly want it to be a centre anyway.

[hp18]

Who's going to smash it up before/when we inevitably end up just flinging it down the line? I know both Scott and Taylor can do this, I don't know if they can do it consistently? I don't particularly want it to be a centre anyway.

[OptimisticJock]

Only 7 players played in the WC?

[OptimisticJock]

Lovely try from Japan. Desperate defending from Scotland.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Our defence has always been pants, we're probably one of the most passive teams in the top tier when it comes to defending. All too happy to let the attacking team make yards after yards.

And are we really going to deny this generation of backline players the chances to reach their potential by persisting with Laidlaw? Slow, slow, slow, slow, slow. It's pedestrian.

Japan playing really well, I'm delighted for them.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Wilson getting involved in yet another keruffle. Really mate?

[OptimisticJock]

Tbf I think it was the Japan 6 that started it.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Why are we so technically poor? That rolling maul wasn't budging and no wonder... both Gray brothers were stood up in it. If you're serious about putting a shove on the opposition only the jumper be stood up.

[Big D]

I'm sort of willing to write off this 1st half as long as it is sensible.

Some of these guys haven't played is 4 or 5 weeks, and some were bit part bench players. Will take a while to knock off rust.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

And again. This is basic stuff.