6N starting team

[whatisthejava]

Mental to think that Dickinson has played forevery coach since Frank hadden

Did Hadden not put him at TH gainst France one year ?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Mental to think that Dickinson has played forevery coach since Frank hadden

Did Hadden not put him at TH gainst France one year ?

When looking that up I came across the stat that Toony has the best win % of any Scotland coach at 67%. Mental to think we threw that FIji game away so cheaply too which would have bumped it up to 83% I think?

[OptimisticJock]

I've always thought captaincy was what slowed him down.

Fair call, I’ve just seen that happen to so many of our scrum halves when they ascend to Scotland. It happened to both Blair and Cus as well. Maybe I’m being harsh and imagining it, it is after all a shite sight easier to play a faster game at club level than at national.

Nah I'd say it's a definite that its happened. Whether it's just that none of them have been proper leader material or if the position doesn't lend itself to being very sympathetic to allowing the capt to be there.

[Donny osmond]

Lots of positivity on show here.

....

Do you people know nothin about being Scottish? You've all but guaranteed the Scottish knee fairy will be woken...

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[General Zod]

Random thought - can Richie Gray play number 8?

[Mikey Brown]

Dunno but I'd fucking love to see it.

[Adder]

Random thought - can Richie Gray play number 8?

That thought crossed my mind early in his career. Not sure he is quick enough now.

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[whatisthejava]

Random thought - can Richie Gray play number 8?

I dont think he has thr right attitude for the big ball carrying 8,

I also dont think Toonie wants one unless they are as mobile as Wilson

Denton skills means he will never get in Toonie's squad, boy cant pass

[Mikey Brown]

Strauss seems to be settling in for Sale now. I’d be very curious to know Townsend’s honest opinion on him.

Richie became a pretty formidable carrier and I think we really miss that. I’ve been really impressed with Toolis and it’s great to see Gilchrist looking good again but I’d be very surprised if TTRI can’t make the 23 when fit.

On the topic of no.8s there’s a highlights video of Hogg’s performance against NZ. He was even better than I remembered. I actually got excited when he made that break at the end as if I didn’t know that cunt Barrett was somehow there to make the tackle. But anyway, that drop by CDP after a neat little jink from Hogg was fucking shite. It was in a great position.

He seemed like he might be the best bet for a balance of handling skill and ball carrying but that was proper gash.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I haven't watched it back but I thought that pass was quite far in front of CDP. His arms were fully stretched out.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah that’s what I saw the first time too. Hogg’s pass is on the money, it’s CDP’s own fumble that he ends up diving for.

My previous post sounds harsh though. It’s not like we have anyone who hasn’t made handling mistakes on occasion.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Is anyone else shitting themselves about this Wales game?

[Adder]

I think we should have a false dawn approach

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[switchskier]

Think back to last year and we were two points behind at half time, could have been more if the tmo hadn't spotted webb's pull back on Seymour. Start like that again and we will get beat.

[whatisthejava]

Im not sure, i cant decide, im definitely lost the positivity i had years ago but Wales were honing at the weekend, they dont know how to play

I think i would be a lot more confident if Stef Evans, JD2 and Webb are unavailable

I also think Gatland will play Hadleigh, Jamie Roberts or someone just as direct and will ruin the little progress they have made


I have a strange feeling that Priestland will be back in the team and i think putting pressure on him may well remind Gatland why he was dropped in the first place

[hugh_woatmeigh]

JD2 is out

[whatisthejava]

JD2 is out

He is only out to March so he could make a fast recovery

[Wylie Coyote]

The centres are real conundrums for me. Obviously Huw Jones, but he played 12 in SA so could partner with Taylor going to 13 or even Bennett. Taylor is a such a consistent professional and when he has started is often our best, most reliable, back. Dunbar has not shown enough going forward for me, we are told he is key defensively so maybe that is enough.

I would say:
12: Jones
13: Taylor

would be my first pick, then after that I can't decide between:

12: Jones
13: Bennett
or
12. Dunbar
13. Jones

I think Horne is a bench option covering 10 & 12 for me, and since Taylor can cover 11-14 & Maitland can cover fullback we could have another centre on the bench.

I haven't even mentioned Matt Scott, who remains to me an out and out 12 even although he seems to end up at 13. All in all a nice problem to have!

[Mikey Brown]

I’m torn on that one.

As you say Dunbar is crucial in defence. Aside from the odd rumble forwards he seems to be offering very little from 12 (ahem) but can we afford to give up anything in defence? We can score tries but we really need to consistently keep teams short of scoring 20 points against.

Jones is weird. Quite error prone and has indeed looked great at 12 in SA but has been so key attacking in the wide channels that he makes up for it and really must play.

Horne I think is a good player but not sure we have the right players around him to make the most of him at 12. Offers a good balance of distribution and running threat if his defence is considered up to it.

Scott was back for Glos this weekend. Can’t tell much from it but he looked quick at least. I’ve banged on about it enough but I still think he’s the best guy to hold the defence at 12 if the other parts of his game can hold, and he can actually stay fit.

Taylor I can’t make my mind up on but is definitely a useful option in the 23. His hair is proper shit though.

Seems like so long since Bennett was firing I don’t know what to think until he’s back.

[Donny osmond]

I dont know how culpable Dunbar was in defence in these games but Samoa, Australia and last 6N England all ran thru our midfield at will. While we have plenty reasons to be cheerful, our defence isn't one of them.

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[OptimisticJock]

Haven't seen Jones at 12 but I'm more than happy for him to stay at 13 with Taylor I side him. If Scott is fit and in form him and Jones for me. There's not really a combination that will piss me off though.

[Mikey Brown]

I dont know how culpable Dunbar was in defence in these games but Samoa, Australia and last 6N England all ran thru our midfield at will. While we have plenty reasons to be cheerful, our defence isn't one of them.

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Jones does some slightly odd things in defence alignment wise. Dunbar is certainly not infallible but adds a massive amount in our offensive defence and at the breakdown. I just worry he’s too slow off that mark at times in both attack and defence. His lack of acceleration is another reason I prefer him one wider where there’s a less instant need to close that gap to the gainline.

I looked back at those England tries for some odd reason and realised that it’s the same, single England backs move that’s been run for a couple of seasons since Eddie came in. It’s been very effective getting the ball wide with Joseph/13 as the second decoy runner, cutting back into the 12/13 channel. I think Scotland really looked at this move and werentoo busy looking for the blindside wing looping round that Joseph went straight through twice.

Samoa was just dreadful.

[Chunks Baws]

Is anyone else shitting themselves about this Wales game?

I have a bad feeling about it too. Not sure why. Probably because we haven't beat them in Cardiff since 2002, I think. And that cunt Gatland just loves pissing us off.

[Mikey Brown]

Thinking about it there’s quite an impressive assortment of cards against Wales in those years. Murray, Hines, Southwell/Godman (struggling to remember this one, somebody took Byrne out in the air?), Russell, Hogg were all massive calls. Some right, some wrong, but we disintegrated after pretty much all of them.

[General Zod]

WP Nel oot!

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-un ... -1-4634263