RugbyRebels

So, what do we do going forward to the game against Wales?

Shame there is no way to get Jones gametime, even in a bounce game.

I think the backs will be unchanged, except maybe Price for Laidlaw due to injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pyrgos start though as VC seems to like the steady type of 9.

I dont't think the starting tight 5 forwards will change. The props had a hard shift but the subs were worse and Dell and ZJRF are learning and do contribute around the pitch.

Watson, Wilson and Strauss should start in the back row. Barclay to bench, Hardie no where. If Wilson can't make it then CdP to start. I think we need a bit more carrying and offloading than Barclay provides. With the front row we have + Watson, Wilson and Dunbar then breakdown work is covered. I wouldn't be surprised despite only being back if Denton is pulled into the training squad. We know VC likes him.

Subs, Berghan binned and replaced by Welsh. Not overly confident in either but Berghan was gubbed.

Scott to bench as he can play 12 or 13 and really deserves a go.

Is Barclay allowed back? Will he not have to take 3 weeks for failing an hie?

Big D wrote:So, what do we do going forward to the game against Wales?

Shame there is no way to get Jones gametime, even in a bounce game.

I think the backs will be unchanged, except maybe Price for Laidlaw due to injury. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pyrgos start though as VC seems to like the steady type of 9.

I dont't think the starting tight 5 forwards will change. The props had a hard shift but the subs were worse and Dell and ZJRF are learning and do contribute around the pitch.

Watson, Wilson and Strauss should start in the back row. Barclay to bench, Hardie no where. If Wilson can't make it then CdP to start. I think we need a bit more carrying and offloading than Barclay provides. With the front row we have + Watson, Wilson and Dunbar then breakdown work is covered. I wouldn't be surprised despite only being back if Denton is pulled into the training squad. We know VC likes him.

Subs, Berghan binned and replaced by Welsh. Not overly confident in either but Berghan was gubbed.

Scott to bench as he can play 12 or 13 and really deserves a go.

Think I'd agree with all of that.

Donny osmond wrote:Is Barclay allowed back? Will he not have to take 3 weeks for failing an hie?

I think the strict 3 weeks is an u18 thing. The pros have a more flexible system depending on how they do with the tests. Those series of injuries really did not help us

Cameo wrote:

Donny osmond wrote:Is Barclay allowed back? Will he not have to take 3 weeks for failing an hie?

I think the strict 3 weeks is an u18 thing. The pros have a more flexible system depending on how they do with the tests. Those series of injuries really did not help us

No whatever chance we might have had disappeared with the injuries. The cupboard is pretty bare behind the 1st XV

Absolutely no way Pyrgos will be brought in to the starting line up. He was rank rotten on Friday.

Price, brainfart aside, was very good. He got us playing with the pace I've been waiting to see for quite some time.

No chance of Denton being brought back either. He covers lock for Bath. He's a million miles off international standard.

If Barclay is injured, than surely Bradbury will be drafted.

Pretty much agreed.

Barclay and Hardie presumably out of the equation, but I think Barclay offers more than Wilson in basically every area. Wilson probably in if he's fit, though I'd also like Bradbury to get a look. CDP on the bench I guess. World Cup form Denton would be nice but the likelihood of that guy turning up (after his injuries and lack of form prior) is almost negligible.

Any idea how bad Laidlaw's injury is? Price in and I suppose Pyrgos to bench by default.

I'd bring Scott in, Jones covers plenty from the bench. It feels wrong to waste Bennet but he just doesn't seem to be latching on to anything at the moment.

Berghan can go leap in the sea. Bastard.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Absolutely no way Pyrgos will be brought in to the starting line up. He was rank rotten on Friday.

Price, brainfart aside, was very good. He got us playing with the pace I've been waiting to see for quite some time.

No chance of Denton being brought back either. He covers lock for Bath. He's a million miles off international standard.

We wouldn't. All I am saying is we know VC likes them so it wouldn't surprise me.

How far off is Duncan Taylor now?

General Zod wrote:How far off is Duncan Taylor now?

Not involved in the last few weekends. Which should probably count him out for the rest of the 6N.

By the way. No Laidlaw. No Barclay. Then who should be captain? J Grey, I guess although it is a lot to ask of such a young man who hasn't had much experience of international rugby. Ford is another possibility.

Matt Ha wrote:By the way. No Laidlaw. No Barclay. Then who should be captain? J Grey, I guess although it is a lot to ask of such a young man who hasn't had much experience of international rugby. Ford is another possibility.

Are you saying they're already ruled out?

Got a link?

Laidlaw and Barclay are not is Scotlands care so they wont even know the full extent of the injuries yet. Team update was:
The Scotland medical team issued the following squad update after yesterday’s 22-16 loss to France in Paris.

Captain and scrum-half Greig Laidlaw injured his ankle in the 24th minute. As an exile player, he now returns to his club, Gloucester, for further assessment during the fallow week of the RBS 6 Nations.

Back-row forwards John Barclay, and his replacement John Hardie, both sustained head knocks in the game and are subject to the completion of the HIA process.

Barclay also requires further assessment on a shoulder injury, the management of which – this week – will take place at his club, Scarlets.

Centre Alex Dunbar passed his HIA 1 during the match but developed some symptoms, possibly in keeping with concussion, after the match. Hooker Fraser Brown also came off for a HIA and didn’t return field of play.

Both players will now be treated as a concussion and will be subject to the graduated return to play protocol.

Josh Strauss sustained a heavy blow to his flank and will require further care and assessment.

Dunbar have any captaincy experience?

Great, didn't see that last post.

Someone else then. I guess Ford may be back in if Brown is shagged.

Mikey Brown wrote:Dunbar have any captaincy experience?

Great, didn't see that last post.

Someone else then. I guess Ford may be back in if Brown is shagged.

CDP CAPITAIN!!!

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:

Matt Ha wrote:By the way. No Laidlaw. No Barclay. Then who should be captain? J Grey, I guess although it is a lot to ask of such a young man who hasn't had much experience of international rugby. Ford is another possibility.

Are you saying they're already ruled out?

Got a link?

I'm just assuming, perhaps wrongly.

If Laidlaw, Dunbar, Barclay are all out (could happen), then Gray would be my call. Ford may be playing well, but he's never been a good captain. Only other certain starts who're unlikely to be pinged for collapsing or too green/unsuitable would be Seymour.... A wing should not be captain.

Yeah - J Gray for me.

If all the above are out, I'd probably have Ford as vice, or, if he's not starting, errrrr. Feck it, Hoggy.

I don't want to pile too much on Gray, at least not with the permanent captaincy. So maybe a couple of games this 6 nations would be good. Though I don't know how long I see Greig keeping it with Townsend.

Same pack from last week and I'd like to see Price, Russell, Maitland, Scott, Dunbar (Jones), Seymour, Hogg. Then I guess Pyrgos, Weir, Jones (Bennett)?

Bench not overly inspiring there, forwards will be tricky too with Brown and the back row worries.

Who was captain after Barclay left injured? Cause they were anonymous. Not a peep to Peyper.

If that's what J Gray brings as a captain (may have been someone else mind..) then no thanks.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Who was captain after Barclay left injured? Cause they were anonymous. Not a peep to Peyper.

If that's what J Gray brings as a captain (may have been someone else mind..) then no thanks.

Tom English said something about the vice vice capitain being KO'd on the bbc . I guess that it was Hardie.

We should think about this. Scotland were missing their first-choice props. They then lost their captain, their vice-captain and their vice-captain's replacement very early in the game. All the while, their scrum got obliterated.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38959235

Still, someone should have stepped up.

Barclay was capt while he was on the pitch, no idea who took it on after he went off.

I think he means Barclay's replacement, rather than VC replacement. No way was Hardie captain.

The fact that we have no idea who it is speaks volumes.

Can Jason White still move around at least a little bit? I'd have given my arm for him on Sunday.