RugbyRebels

I would say the Toonie game plan almost has to double down and see what happens as with the forwards we have going back to hitting up is not going to work for us against Ireland or England or France

Wales are a bit of a shambles right now but could still wreck us down there if we dont get ball for the backs

R Gray is fit again now so could shore up the scrum if needed. The first choice pack won't be much different quality wise from what we managed in the AIs. As others have said - the TH and hooker bench options are horrendous.

Does anyone know if it's possible that Ford/Brown may make a return during the 6N?

What the fuck Gregor?

BACKS (19)

Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby) – 20 caps
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps
Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 1 cap
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 55 caps
Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 7 caps
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne) – 58 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 29 caps
Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) – 2 caps
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 27 caps
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 21 caps
Nathan Fowles (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

FORWARDS (21)

John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 66 caps
Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 3 caps
Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
David Denton (Worcester Warriors) – 35 caps
Cornell Du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 18 caps
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 64 caps
Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap
Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) – 46 caps
Murray McCallum (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 27 caps
D’arcy Rae (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 15 caps
Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons) – 11 caps
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps

...yeah

Scrum half make up is oh so, very, very wrong.

Scott Lawson - JFC. He must be almost 40 and he was tiny at int rugby level 10 years ago - his size difference will be so much worse now. This illustrates the club's failures to identify 2 as a problem position and sign a project player or speed up the introduction of promising youths/club players.

I mean that will trimmed right? I would really hope so. Maybe just lots of (shit) 9s to see if Laidlaw is really fit, unless he’s making a shock move back to fly-half. Lawson just in for experience? He was usually alright off the bench but Jesus.

Harley just no.

It also shows we have failed to persuade Vellacott to opt for Scotland. Nobody can be f*cking stupid enough to think that Fowles and Pyrgos. Got to feel for G Horne as well. Guys had a great season so far.

Also surprised Visser didn't make the cut. I think he's improved a fair amount since the AIs.

Denton not there on merit either.

Someone on the weeg forum has spotted something rather interesting. Everything is in perfect alphabetical order with the exception of one player - Fowles. Given the position of 'V' in the alphabet and that Taylor is the second last name on the sheet... it does raise an eyebrow. A late change?

G Horne not there because of young age and inexperience, perhaps. No idea why Fowles is other than that he's been playing well of late but so has SHC, who's better in my book.
But good to see Taylor and Bennett there.

yeah, i think Velacot maybe is biding his time, cant blame him

whatisthejava wrote:yeah, i think Velacot maybe is biding his time, cant blame him

But if you look at the position of Fowles it's where a 'V' would be alphabetically. It's either a late decision to remove Visser or Vellacott. The formatting is perfect otherwise.

When you make a bit of creative collateral like that it's far easier to replace like for like than reformat the entire thing.

Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby) – 20 caps - 4th choice centre
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps - will fight it out with Taylor for 12
Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap - will fight it out with Bennet for 4th choice centre
Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 1 cap - in as a bakup winger 4th choice, i heard viss was a bit disliked so perhaps he is a good guy
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 55 caps - will start
Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 28 caps - backup 10 and utility player
Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps - in to show Kinghorn that if he wants to play he needs to push
Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps - first choice 13
Lee Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 7 caps - for me should be around the 23
Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped - experiance , may get a game as injuries happen but either starts or isnt in the 23
Greig Laidlaw (ASM Clermont Auvergne) – 58 caps - reckon he is number 2 behide Price
Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 29 caps - will fight it out with Lee Jones
Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks) – 2 caps - other winger
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 11 caps - starts at 9
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 27 caps - in as third choice 9
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps -starts at 10
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps - really not sure if his form deserves to be in 23
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 21 caps - will fight it out with Dunbar for 12
Nathan Fowles (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped - wont see any action

Shame Vellacot isnt in or Hastings for that matter would have both in for the experiance the probables v possibiles is hard to call



John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 66 caps starts at 6
Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps banned but probabbly our first choice
Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 3 caps - i reckon he benches against wales
Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps - needs to work to get in the team ahead of Wilson
David Denton (Worcester Warriors) – 35 caps - hands like shovel, maybe against England , Frnace and Ireland
Cornell Du Preez (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps - not that impressed with him but is probabbly first behind Wilson
Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 18 caps - has been pish for ages but who knows
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps - starting 4
Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 64 caps - think he has been gone so long may find he is out the 23
Luke Hamilton (Leicester Tigers) – 1 cap - want to see more of him, decent backrow cover
Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps - making up the numbers
Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons) – 46 caps - good on him, we have a crisis and he is stepping up, expect to see him on the bench
Murray McCallum (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped - reckon he gets bench against Wales and then who knows, if he plays well in the loose he could keep it
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps - starter at 2
Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 27 caps - starts against Wales
D’arcy Rae (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped - 3rd choice
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps - who knows with the 2nd rows
George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps - too many brain farts although against England and Frnace we need a horrible bastard so i can see it
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 15 caps - starts at 7
Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons) – 11 caps - starts at 3
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps[/quote] starts at 8

Invited to train with squad according to twitter
Hastings


That for me is the most competitive squad we have had in years,

I reckon a probables vs possibles would be a bloody close game and would be won by whatever forward pack worked harder to deliver fast ball

My probables
Reid
McInally
welsh
j Gray
BBT
Barclay
Watson
Wilson
Price
Russel
Seymore
Dunbar
Jones
Mquigon
Hogg

My Possibles
Battie
Lawson
Mcallum
R gray
Gilchrist
Denton
Hamilton
CDP
Laidlaw
Hastings
L Jones
taylor
Bennet
Harris
Kinghorn


Bloody hell those two teams are close

Crosbie, Graham and Hastings all to train with squad

That's Darcy btw.

Fowles there ahead of SHC and Horne is confusing. I don't see what the coaches see in him. Are they really down to Lawson?

Lawson has some of the best hooker stats in the AP

Croft_No.5 wrote:Lawson has some of the best hooker stats in the AP

He may well do but the fact remains. Atonio is almost a foot taller and 50kg heavier than Lawson. International rugby is an entirely different ball game.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Scrum half make up is oh so, very, very wrong.

Scott Lawson - JFC. He must be almost 40 and he was tiny at int rugby level 10 years ago - his size difference will be so much worse now. This illustrates the club's failures to identify 2 as a problem position and sign a project player or speed up the introduction of promising youths/club players.

By clubs you mean Glasgow? Edinburgh have really; McInally, Ford and Turner who are or would be all in contention, Glasgow have produced Brown.

Lawson really is last half decent hooker left. Pat is barely Glasgow standard never mind Scotland standard. And the big difference is Lawson is dynamic about the park.

It's not ideal but he's 3rd choice.

Croft_No.5 wrote:Lawson has some of the best hooker stats in the AP

You can prove anything with stats

Big D wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Scrum half make up is oh so, very, very wrong.

Scott Lawson - JFC. He must be almost 40 and he was tiny at int rugby level 10 years ago - his size difference will be so much worse now. This illustrates the club's failures to identify 2 as a problem position and sign a project player or speed up the introduction of promising youths/club players.

By clubs you mean Glasgow? Edinburgh have really; McInally, Ford and Turner who are or would be all in contention, Glasgow have produced Brown.

Lawson really is last half decent hooker left. Pat is barely Glasgow standard never mind Scotland standard. And the big difference is Lawson is dynamic about the park.

It's not ideal but he's 3rd choice.

More Glasgow than Edinburgh, yes. But they still have two mid 30s hookers on their books. I don't think their planning is as good as it could be. I'd also argue that at the moment the conversion of Kevin Bryce looks like a huge mistake but I appreciate Edinburgh were not the main driving force behind that.

You're right about the cirucmstances but I'd have preferred Cochrane. Maybe Toony was conscious of leaving Edinburgh with a 5th choice front row for their pro 14 matches.

Berghan is lucky. My view is still I'd rather he took a pumping than McCallum at this stage. Rae would be my back up TH.

Denton lucky but he may be the blunt option required at times.

Harley - who is he shagging to get into the squad. I'd have many other back rows ahead of him in full squad. Ritchie, Fagerson and Crosbie for starters.

The 9s selection is really muddled. If GT really wants to commit to a fast paced game Horne and/or Vellacott need to be in these squads.

Bennett back in the squad is positive, if he can get back to his best he is a real option.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Big D wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Scrum half make up is oh so, very, very wrong.

Scott Lawson - JFC. He must be almost 40 and he was tiny at int rugby level 10 years ago - his size difference will be so much worse now. This illustrates the club's failures to identify 2 as a problem position and sign a project player or speed up the introduction of promising youths/club players.

By clubs you mean Glasgow? Edinburgh have really; McInally, Ford and Turner who are or would be all in contention, Glasgow have produced Brown.

Lawson really is last half decent hooker left. Pat is barely Glasgow standard never mind Scotland standard. And the big difference is Lawson is dynamic about the park.

It's not ideal but he's 3rd choice.

More Glasgow than Edinburgh, yes. But they still have two mid 30s hookers on their books. I don't think their planning is as good as it could be. I'd also argue that at the moment the conversion of Kevin Bryce looks like a huge mistake but I appreciate Edinburgh were not the main driving force behind that.

You're right about the cirucmstances but I'd have preferred Cochrane. Maybe Toony was conscious of leaving Edinburgh with a 5th choice front row for their pro 14 matches.

Dunno, they do have 2 in their 30s but also Rambo and in theory Turner at 27 and 25. Now Fenton at 22 is getting some limited game time and last year's u20 is in the academy.

Glasgow have a shitload of youngsters. Part of the issue is there are only 2 teams and hooker is the one position where we seem to rely on 25+ year olds.

Even looking at their team, if Glasgow had someone at the level of Turner to replace Pat then the hooker stocks aren't too bad. Not ideal by any stretch but not terrible. You are right about Bryce, Glasgow and the SRU need to answer for that one.

We'd have:
Old farts:
Ford (international)
Cochrane (solid club pro, emergency international)
Lawson (solid club pro, emergency international)

Of good age:
Rambo and Brown (good internationals)
Turner (international with potential)
A better player instead of Pat (club pro, ok 5th choice if really needed)

Young club pro's
Malcolm and Fenton

Academy
Renwick, Stewart and Smith

We are relying on players staying injury free but we are in a few positions.

We need to remember we are down to 4tj and 5th choice in the squad.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

whatisthejava wrote:yeah, i think Velacot maybe is biding his time, cant blame him

But if you look at the position of Fowles it's where a 'V' would be alphabetically. It's either a late decision to remove Visser or Vellacott. The formatting is perfect otherwise.

When you make a bit of creative collateral like that it's far easier to replace like for like than reformat the entire thing.

Could be they've had late word from Laidlaw he's not quite where they thought be regarding fitness then stuck Fowles in. Can believe they'd name Vellacott for a graphic without speaking to him.

I reckon Visser lost out at the last moment because Laidlaw isn’t totally fit. Makes the most sense to me. Beyond the fact that Townsend never 100% makes sense anyway.