2025 Six Nations

[BaldiePete]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

[BaldiePete]

Double Eek !

Finn has just gone off for an HIA

[BaldiePete]

Russell back on. Thank fuck.

[paddy no 11]

The sabotage begins - Cummings has damaged his forearm there

[Cameo]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

Article doesn't sound as worrying as the headline.

More worried about the second row. Sykes was fine as a fourth choice who wasn't going to play, but now...

[BaldiePete]

Hopefully Cummings will be available. Gilchrist is currently listed as unavailable by Edinburgh for a hand injury and Gray has been out injured since early December. He really needs to get a game for Bordeaux next week if he’s going to be needed to play for Scotland the following week. Townsend should be ready to call in Alex Samuel if necessary.

[switchskier]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

If he isn't fit then it has to be McDowell doesn't it? No other combination offers the necessary physicality - though I guess Currie could play that way.

[BaldiePete]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

If he isn't fit then it has to be McDowell doesn't it? No other combination offers the necessary physicality - though I guess Currie could play that way.

Hutchison is a possibility. He’s been playing well for Northampton but he has no/little familiarity with Russell and Jones.

[Cameo]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

If he isn't fit then it has to be McDowell doesn't it? No other combination offers the necessary physicality - though I guess Currie could play that way.

Hutchison is a possibility. He’s been playing well for Northampton but he has no/little familiarity with Russell and Jones.

I think McDowell is a good option. Just not nearly as good. I think we'll be fine vs Italy but drastically reduces our chances of mounting a challenge if Sione is out.

I have also read a bit more since I downplayed the risk of Siine being out. Be a nervy couple of days.

[septic 9]

Eek

Sione injury doubt for 6N

https://archive.ph/MM35b

If he isn't fit then it has to be McDowell doesn't it? No other combination offers the necessary physicality - though I guess Currie could play that way.

Hutchison is a possibility. He’s been playing well for Northampton but he has no/little familiarity with Russell and Jones.

Currie is really a 13, be a humungous ask to ask him to play that role at 12. Hutchison is playing as well as he ever has at 12 for Saints and must have a real chance if Tuipolotou is out. But again would lack the run straight and hard effective option Tuipolotu does, so would involve a bit of a tweak to game plan; McDowell is the obvious like for like
Or of course Jordan, whom many think is a better 12 than 10. Or could be if he got to play there regularly

[Cameo]

I wondered about Jordan too but can't remember last time he played 12.

Think we need the run straight option.

[Mikey Brown]

It has to be McDowall, surely. Hutchinson is so skillful but I just don’t know where he fits in. Jordan should continue his role as a utility back.

Such a shame Redpath seems destined not to ever string more than 6 games together.

[BaldiePete]

Fuck!

https://scottishrugby.org/darge-and-rus ... -update-2/?

Following an injury to Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Darge and Finn Russell will co-captain Scotland in this year’s Guinness Six Nations.

Darge and Russell led the side in the 2024 championship, in a famous victory over Wales and the 30-21 win over England at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
Sione Tuipulotu will miss the tournament after sustaining a pectoral muscle injury during a training session with Glasgow Warriors last week.

Sione will undergo surgery this week and is expected to return to action before the end of the season.

Scott Cummings sustained an arm fracture during Glasgow Warriors match against Leicester Tigers at the weekend. He is also likely to miss the tournament and will undergo further review to determine when he will be fit to return.

There will be no additions to the squad at this point.

[Cameo]

Devastated.

[septic 9]

Devastated.

it just got worse
Duhan doubtful. reed called up. Richardson out, no one called up but next cab off the rank was probably Hiddlestone - but he has also got a bad injury from Quins match

We're doomed ah tell ye, all doomed

[paddy no 11]

Russell and bayliss with a 6 day turnaround for an international, hardly ideal

[Cameo]

Russell and bayliss with a 6 day turnaround for an international, hardly ideal

I hear Bayliss came off with an injury.

[Cameo]

Apart from that, I don't think we have any new injuries. My stab at the team for Saturday.

1. Schoemann
2. Ashman
3. Fagerson
4. Gilchrist
5. Sykes (not my choice but I have a feeling)
6. Ritchie (Dempsey might be eased back, and I like this combo anyway)
7. Darge
8. Fagerson
9. White (I'd be tempted by Horne given form, but White has generally played well and his kicking probably gets him in).
10. Russell
11. DVDM
12. McDowall
13. Jones
14. Graham
15. Kinghorn

16. Sutherland
17. Cherry (would prefer Harrison)
18. Hurd (don't really have a view between him and Rae but heard a couple of positive things recently)
19. Gray
20. Brown
21. Dempsey
22. Horne
23. Jordan

Might go 5-3 and stick Burke on there or might have Dobie for better wing cover, but think they might go 6-2 given a couple of players coming back.

[Which Tyler]

I hear Bayliss came off with an injury.

Took a knock to his knee just before half time, I didn't see what caused it.
Same knee was already taped before KO.

[Mikey Brown]

Apart from that, I don't think we have any new injuries. My stab at the team for Saturday.

1. Schoemann
2. Ashman
3. Fagerson
4. Gilchrist
5. Sykes (not my choice but I have a feeling)
6. Ritchie (Dempsey might be eased back, and I like this combo anyway)
7. Darge
8. Fagerson
9. White (I'd be tempted by Horne given form, but White has generally played well and his kicking probably gets him in).
10. Russell
11. DVDM
12. McDowall
13. Jones
14. Graham
15. Kinghorn

16. Sutherland
17. Cherry (would prefer Harrison)
18. Hurd (don't really have a view between him and Rae but heard a couple of positive things recently)
19. Gray
20. Brown
21. Dempsey
22. Horne
23. Jordan

Might go 5-3 and stick Burke on there or might have Dobie for better wing cover, but think they might go 6-2 given a couple of players coming back.

Looks about right? I don’t know much of Sykes but at this point if he’s got the stature for it might as well just throw him in and see. Some players step up the intensity and this is as good a time as any.

It feels like a long time since we’ve seen Jonny Gray.

[BaldiePete]

White has hardly played since the autumn, I’d give Horne the starting 9 shirt.

[Mikey Brown]

Gregor Townsend has called up five players ahead of the opening weekend of the Guinness Six Nations when Scotland take on Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Euan Ferrie, Cameron Henderson, Ewan Johnson, Alexander Masibaka and Ollie Smith have all joined up with the squad.
Masibaka will replace Josh Bayliss in the squad, who sustained a groin injury playing for Bath in their victory over Sale Sharks. He will remain with Bath for further assessment to determine exact timescales.

Alexander Masibaka has impressed this season in Pro D2 with French side Soyaux-Angoulême. The 23-year-old is currently on loan from Montpellier having previously played for the Western Force. Born and raised in Western Australia, he plays across the back-row and qualifies for Scotland through his Paisley born mother.

Uncapped Euan Ferrie was a member of the URC winning Glasgow Warriors squad last season and has previously trained with the national team.

Cameron Henderson made his debut for Scotland in 2023 against Italy before sustaining a knee injury at the end of the year. He has since bounced back, playing well and consistently for Leicester Tigers recently.

Ewan Johnson made his debut on Scotland’s summer tour last year, in a 73-12 victory over Canada. The Oyonnax second-row also made his first appearance at Scottish Gas Murrayfield against Portugal in 2024 and played in the Scotland A victory over Chile at the end of the year.

Ollie Smith made his long-awaited comeback in a Glasgow Warriors jersey at the weekend in their win over Connacht and caps off his return from injury with a call-up to the Scotland squad after playing for Emerging Scotland at the tail end of last year.

Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations (caps in brackets):

Forwards (23)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Euan Ferrie – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
Ewan Johnson – Oyonnax (4)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Alexander Masibaka – Soyaux-Angoulême (uncapped)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)
Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

Backs (16)

Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)
Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

[BaldiePete]

Breaking that down. Jonny Gray wasn’t considered fit enough to play for Bordeaux at the weekend so probably can’t be considered for Italy match. We can pick a good 15 from that but 2nd row is a worry and the forward replacements in particular must be a worry.

Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (37)
Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (35)
Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (37)

Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (22)
Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (11)
Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)

Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (70)
Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (4)
D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)

Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (75)
Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (77)
Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1)
Ewan Johnson – Oyonnax (4)
Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
Euan Ferrie – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)

Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (4)
Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (12)
Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (50)
Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (54)

Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (22)
Jack Mann – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
Alexander Masibaka – Soyaux-Angoulême (uncapped)

George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (34)
Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Ben White – Toulon (24)

Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (82)
Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (3)
Fergus Burke – Saracens (uncapped)

Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (53)
Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (8)
Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (8)

Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (42)
Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (55)
Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3)
Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (9)
Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (44)
Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (9)

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah it’s likely to be a pretty unimpressive bench. I really think we have to just throw someone in and see. We can’t just keep plodding along with Gilchrist, Skinner and the occasional appearance for Jonny Gray.

Cummings has improved massively but that’s not enough. I wish we saw a bit more of the full-on ball carrying he did when he first appeared, but he’s a pretty solid nuts and bolts lock now.

Sykes looks to have the physical stats, but not sure he knows how to apply it. Henderson looks a very smart player, but I don’t know whether he is particularly injury prone or just unlucky.

I like the look of Ferrie, but maybe more of a 6?

[Cameo]

Never heard of Alexander Masibaka. Wouldn't have thought he'd be needed (Mann has made a very strong late push), but nice little curveball.