6N starting team

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I am hoping we do Wales over convincingly so Toony isn't tempted to have a brain fart and call up Berghan for future matches.

I am hoping Hogg is fit! Anyone heard anything about a likely return date?

Should be fit for the last two HC games before the 6N. He won't make Zebre.

Tough ask.

[Adder]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/42553737

Stuart Hogg hopes to return from a hip injury "in the next couple of weeks", with Scotland's Six Nations campaign beginning on 3 February.

The full-back, 25, sustained the damage ahead of Scotland's autumn Test victory over Australia in late November.

Hogg, a two-time British and Irish Lion, has 55 Scotland caps.

"Hopefully I'll be back on the pitch in the next couple of weeks and ready to rock and roll again," Hogg told BBC Radio 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly.

Scots could lost Vellacott to England
The Hawick native, who missed the Lions Test series after being injured early in the tour, pulled up injured in the warm-up before Scotland hammered the Wallabies by a record 53-24 scoreline at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend's side open their Six Nations account against Wales in Cardiff, before hosting France eight days later.


Stuart Hogg says he thinks about the chance to beat the All Blacks 'all the time'
"We're getting there now," Hogg said of the injury.

"I actually did it midweek. The place we train for Scotland, you've got about five metres between the try-line and a brick wall, and I'd been running full pelt to score a try and then had to stop suddenly, and I think I pulled it.

"In the warm-up, I kicked the ball and I felt as if somebody had stabbed me in my hip. It was a bit frustrating because I was just coming back from a long-term shoulder injury, I was feeling good, starting to get a little bit of form back and had to start back at square one.

"I've never really picked up any injuries - to end up get a fractured eye socket, have to get your shoulder operated on, it has been a bit frustrating."

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Very odd that he was risked despite claiming he did it in mid week. Did he just not flag it to the medical/physio team? Sounds like that would be the case as I doubt they do much intensive work the day or two before the match.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

North likely to miss our match.

If they could just strike down Liam Williams.. nothing serious - just a bug or something the day before.

[Matt Ha]

What's the news on Taylor? Will he be up and running in time?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

What's the news on Taylor? Will he be up and running in time?

Pretty sure I've seen him on the bench in a couple of recent Sarries games.

[Tobylerone]

If they could just strike down Liam Williams.. nothing serious - just a bug or something the day before.

Hmm.. I`m sure he`s a lovely chap, but he hasn`t exactly endeared himself (to me) with a career full of cheap shots..
I`d have thought that a glancing blow from a falling tree might be more appropriate.

[whatisthejava]

I thought he was injured but looks like he will be back

Jake Ball is also out but its still a pretty decent Wales team, although talent isnt their problem its actually playing like the acrlets with very few scarlets

Looks like the welsh team is currently

Evans
Owens
Francis
AWJ
Corey Hill
Shingler
Tuperic
Navidi

Webb
Biggar
L Williams
O Williams
???
Evans
1/2P

They may be a cheap shot merchant and a bross fan boy but Webb and L Williams would get in the Scotland team and I really like Arron Shingler as a player

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Hadleigh Parkes in the centres, Java.

Yup. Webb is a great player - despite the scoreline he caused us a few problems last year.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I think Visser will be in contention this 6N. He's hitting a bit of form.

[cashead]

I am hoping we do Wales over convincingly so Toony isn't tempted to have a brain fart and call up Berghan for future matches.

I am hoping Hogg is fit! Anyone heard anything about a likely return date?

Should be fit for the last two HC games before the 6N. He won't make Zebre.

Tough ask.

If he doesn't make it in time for the start of the 6Ns, or say, gets on the field but has to be withdrawn again, who's the next guy? Is it going to be Sean Maitland? He's never really struck me as a long-term 15 (He spent a bit of time there in NZ as well, but the coaches usually put someone like Ben Blair or Leon Macdonald at 15 for Canterbury or the Crusaders). Would one of the 3 decent-quality 10s be able to play at 15? Like Finn Russell at 10, and Weir or Jackson at fullback?

[cashead]

Stuart Hogg says he thinks about the chance to beat the All Blacks 'all the time'

I genuinely thought he had it on the day. There still would've been a conversion to kick since the scores would've been level, but boy, what could have been, eh?

[Mikey Brown]

Mainland has always looked a better 15 to me, since he has been here at least, but I think most in here disagree with me. Not so sharp in attack anymore but good at the back.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

If we want to play "our" game then it has to be Kinghorn despite still being a long way from the finished article.

He's the closest we have to Hogg in terms of line breaking ability from 15.

Toss up between Jackson and Maitland for a "solid" option.

[OptimisticJock]

I am hoping Hogg is fit! Anyone heard anything about a likely return date?

Should be fit for the last two HC games before the 6N. He won't make Zebre.

Tough ask.

If he doesn't make it in time for the start of the 6Ns, or say, gets on the field but has to be withdrawn again, who's the next guy? Is it going to be Sean Maitland? He's never really struck me as a long-term 15 (He spent a bit of time there in NZ as well, but the coaches usually put someone like Ben Blair or Leon Macdonald at 15 for Canterbury or the Crusaders). Would one of the 3 decent-quality 10s be able to play at 15? Like Finn Russell at 10, and Weir or Jackson at fullback?

Jackson plays most of his rugby there now and Weir is not even in for a shout at 10. I agree with Greig about Kinghorn.

[General Zod]

Fagerson our for two months.

[AL.]

F_CK!

https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... -1-4654380

[Big D]

This is a hell of an issue.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Christ - that came out of nowhere. That's one hell of a blow but he still would have been benching in my 23.

It has to be Jon Welsh. There really is no better option at the moment.

Pathetic journalism - McCallum and then Low as the next cab of the rank with no mention of Rae and Welsh?

[Big D]

Reid, Rambo and Welsh isn't the worst front row to put out.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Reid, Rambo and Welsh isn't the worst front row to put out.

Cummings is also out injured for a few weeks but that's less important from an international POV.

Agreed. That is the best we can put out.

The key comeback we need is Richie Gray IMO. Not saying he would start but having that bulk to shore up the weaker prop at scrum time will make a huge difference.

Having Ross Ford as an option would also be handy.

[Big D]

Reid, Rambo and Welsh isn't the worst front row to put out.

Cummings is also out injured for a few weeks but that's less important from an international POV.

Agreed. That is the best we can put out.

The key comeback we need is Richie Gray IMO. Not saying he would start but having that bulk to shore up the weaker prop at scrum time will make a huge difference.

Having Ross Ford as an option would also be handy.

Our tight pool could be:
Reid, Marfo, Bhatti
Rambo, Brown, Turner,
Welsh, Rae, McCallum
Gray, Toolis, Gilchrist, Gray snr (hopefully)

It's not all doom and gloom.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Lets also remember that the national team now has Dan McFarland as forwards coach - someone we didn't have in the 6N last year when we got shunted around by France and England.

[Mikey Brown]

Christ. And there was me saying well done Rennie for giving him a fucking rest.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Brown is out of the game indefinitely. Which is absolutely the right thing to do. I'm still a little peeved that he was rushed back for Glasgow.

So... will Ross Ford be fit? Turner is the worst scrummager of the lot. I'd take Pat Mac over him given the issues at 3 and 1 to a lesser extent.

Kevin Bryce must be wondering why on earth he made that move to TH. Despite the crisis he wouldn't be picked in a million years. He'd probably have made the squad as a hooker if he'd stuck with it though.