Team for France

[Cameo]

Thought Id start a new thread for this. Personally the only change I would make (injury permitting) is Ford for Brown. Just don't want to lose it on the scrums early on and Brown can offer a lot off the bench.

The only other player who I thought looked a bit off was Jones but I dont think that's surprising having not played for months. Don't think itd make much sense to then drop him when he might get some sharpness back.

Id be tempted by Barclay too but think all the backrow were decent.

Need to keep the good things but just make sure we keep the intensity up. I think our plan in defence was to be uber aggressive and fly up which explains most of the missed tackles but we need to make a few more first up as come the second half the cover wont be there.

Edit: oh and maybe reid for dell

[Adder]

We have to try match their physicality while making them run a lot. They are big guys and even Picamoles gets tired after a while.

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[ARM]

Im tempted to go same again, although Reid and Ford have good shouts. Only 6 scrums on Sat so if we can keep the mistakes down then Dell brings more elsewhere on the pitch.

Keep Watson - he was brilliant and its great that we have someone with the nous of Barclay to come on if we are up going in to the last quarter.

[Adder]

A few decent lines by Scott could be the Key to unlocking their defence. The French middlefield partnership did not play well together last week. Especially Fickou. Wonder what they will put up? If they don't change the partnership, there is something to be seized there.

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[Adder]

1. Dell
2. Ford
3. Z. Fargerson.( a beast in the making)
4. Gray
5. Gray
6. Wilson
7.Watson
8. Strauss (for ball carrying, I wouldn't mind CDP, but this is probably not the time for tests)

9. Laidlaw
10. Russel

11. Maitland
12. Dunbar
13. Scott
14. Seymour
15. Hogg

16. Brown
17. Reid
18. Welsh
19. Swinson
20. Barclay
21. Price
22. Weir
23. Jones



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[General Zod]

I'd probably keep the same team, although would be tempted to swap Dell/Reid. Ford played well (they pretty much all did), but I think their scrum will cause us problems anyway, so a hooker that can get the ball out quickly would be preferable. Even then, the scrum got better after ford came on, so I've no idea really what the whole issue was about. Probably squinty driving and not being able to combat it.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Reid
Ford
Fagerson
Gray
Gray
Wilson
Watson
Strauss

Laidlaw
Russell
Maitland
Dunbar
Jones
Seymour
Hogg

Brown
Dell
Welsh
Swinson
Barclay
Price
Weir
Bennett


A mix of what I'd like and what will happen.

Realistically Ford will be the only change. Vern does not rate Gordon. The fact that Berghan didn't get on the pitch is telling, Welsh needs to move onto the bench. We know what he offers. Rest of them pick themselves.

[switchskier]

France are going to have a fair bit of the ball and will send big runners in hard around the edges. Knock them back consistently and were half way there. I'd love to have a Jason white type figure for this game but we don't really have that sort of player in the squad.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

France are going to have a fair bit of the ball and will send big runners in hard around the edges. Knock them back consistently and were half way there. I'd love to have a Jason white type figure for this game but we don't really have that sort of player in the squad.

Ireland were being knocked back/tackled behind the gain line on the regular in the first half. They're more than capable.

[Mikey Brown]

France are going to have a fair bit of the ball and will send big runners in hard around the edges. Knock them back consistently and were half way there. I'd love to have a Jason white type figure for this game but we don't really have that sort of player in the squad.

Ireland were being knocked back/tackled behind the gain line on the regular in the first half. They're more than capable.

Ireland have got some very good carriers but the sheer mass of the French forwards will be a handful.

[Adder]

France are going to have a fair bit of the ball and will send big runners in hard around the edges. Knock them back consistently and were half way there. I'd love to have a Jason white type figure for this game but we don't really have that sort of player in the squad.

Ireland were being knocked back/tackled behind the gain line on the regular in the first half. They're more than capable.

Ireland have got some very good carriers but the sheer mass of the French forwards will be a handful.

You are right... We are not worthy of victory. Our Players should be happy to be allowed to get a free trip to the Paris suburbs.

[Mikey Brown]

Thank god you were able to read between the lines there.

[whatisthejava]

Think France will be more challenging than Ireland for us, there not a better team but their willingness to play 2 men out and offload will give us issues.

But

If we can get in their faces and make them more interested in smashing us then winning I think it's their, the French are a blurb weapon right now and a lot goes through their 8 and 9. We control picamoles and Connor Murray the 9 I think it could be a close game.

[Adder]

Think France will be more challenging than Ireland for us, there not a better team but their willingness to play 2 men out and offload will give us issues.

But

If we can get in their faces and make them more interested in smashing us then winning I think it's their, the French are a blurb weapon right now and a lot goes through their 8 and 9. We control picamoles and Connor Murray the 9 I think it could be a close game.

You mean Serin? he is a very interesting player, a bit in the Price Mould.

Anyway, if time has taught me anything is that Scotland lack Consistency. France will be fired up after their defeat to England. We will play alright but lose by a Score. As per usual. We are not worthy... humble...humble...

[Adder]

Thank god you were able to read between the lines there.

Not easy, because what you said could be true.

[ARM]

Two week break after the game so hopefully the boys get some time out to climb le Tour, dine well and generally see the sights so that they can at least take something from the weekend.

[Donny osmond]

Ireland were being knocked back/tackled behind the gain line on the regular in the first half. They're more than capable.

Ireland have got some very good carriers but the sheer mass of the French forwards will be a handful.

You are right... We are not worthy of victory. Our Players should be happy to be allowed to get a free trip to the Paris suburbs.

Dont be such a dick, he made a perfectly valid point.


As to Scottish team, I would bring Barclay in for Wilson, whom I've never been an admirer of (altho he did very well on Saturday). Obv Laidlaw will be retained, which if he plays like he did in the first half against Ireland will be exactly what we need, but if he slows up like he did in the 2nd half will be crap.

Biggest concern is our scrum, particularly the front row which has not been up to standard the last few years. I dont mind them not pushing the opposition backwards, as long as they dont get pushed back themselves.

[Adder]

Ireland have got some very good carriers but the sheer mass of the French forwards will be a handful.

You are right... We are not worthy of victory. Our Players should be happy to be allowed to get a free trip to the Paris suburbs.

Dont be such a dick, he made a perfectly valid point.


As to Scottish team, I would bring Barclay in for Wilson, whom I've never been an admirer of (altho he did very well on Saturday). Obv Laidlaw will be retained, which if he plays like he did in the first half against Ireland will be exactly what we need, but if he slows up like he did in the 2nd half will be crap.

Biggest concern is our scrum, particularly the front row which has not been up to standard the last few years. I dont mind them not pushing the opposition backwards, as long as they dont get pushed back themselves.

??? ... I do what I want!

PS: I really don't know how to read this?

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[Adder]

Two week break after the game so hopefully the boys get some time out to climb le Tour, dine well and generally see the sights so that they can at least take something from the weekend.

Maybe they will get to see the sun as well.

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[Big D]

Biggest concern is our scrum, particularly the front row which has not been up to standard the last few years. I dont mind them not pushing the opposition backwards, as long as they dont get pushed back themselves.

Do you mean the standard of the last few years? Or that our scrum hasn't been good for a few years?

[ARM]

Ireland have got some very good carriers but the sheer mass of the French forwards will be a handful.

You are right... We are not worthy of victory. Our Players should be happy to be allowed to get a free trip to the Paris suburbs.

Dont be such a dick, he made a perfectly valid point.


As to Scottish team, I would bring Barclay in for Wilson, whom I've never been an admirer of (altho he did very well on Saturday). Obv Laidlaw will be retained, which if he plays like he did in the first half against Ireland will be exactly what we need, but if he slows up like he did in the 2nd half will be crap.

Biggest concern is our scrum, particularly the front row which has not been up to standard the last few years. I dont mind them not pushing the opposition backwards, as long as they dont get pushed back themselves.

Donny, time of the month?

I'm pretty sure Adder is just continuing his mockers appeasement that he employed pre-ireland.

[switchskier]

Think France will be more challenging than Ireland for us, there not a better team but their willingness to play 2 men out and offload will give us issues.

But

If we can get in their faces and make them more interested in smashing us then winning I think it's their, the French are a blurb weapon right now and a lot goes through their 8 and 9. We control picamoles and Connor Murray the 9 I think it could be a close game.

You mean Serin? he is a very interesting player, a bit in the Price Mould.

Anyway, if time has taught me anything is that Scotland lack Consistency. France will be fired up after their defeat to England. We will play alright but lose by a Score. As per usual. We are not worthy... humble...humble...

We've been consistently rubbish for long stretches of time.

[Donny osmond]

I was thinking that our front row hasnt been good enough for the last few years.

[Mikey Brown]

I'd be tempted by all of Reid, Ford, Barclay (for Wilson) and Scott (for Jones) but I wouldn't like to change all of them.

[Mikey Brown]

Though holding on to some of our pacier guys like Watson and Jones/Bennet on the bench may be a viable tactic. We don't want to wrestle with them but they'll take some grinding down no matter what.