Scotland v Wales ratings thread
Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 11:30 am
These may seem a bit high - I have my second half specs on but good fun nonetheless. Quite a few players deserve to be singled out for their performances
Reid - 8 - really stabilised the scrum - the welsh got no change out of him at all. Good carrying and disruptive rucking.. sending AWJ flying at his own ruck in the first half was the highlight. Should have done better on the fringe for one of Webb's breaks.
Brown - 7 - he didn't set a foot wrong and the set pieces were perfect. Having said that I thought he had one of his quieter games in the loose & at ruck time actually.
Fagerson - 9 - Got the better of Mr Evans I thought. Offered himself as a carrier far more than the rest of the front row and I cannot believe he has only just turned 21. Phenomenal.
R Gray - 9 - I thought he outplayed Jonny today actually. Since the two of them have paired up consistently I think Richie has found a new lease of life. He's playing some of the best rugby of his career right now (or it could be the Toulouse move..). Don't think he made as many tackles or runs at Jonny but his runs were far more industrious - I'd imagine he made much more metres. He was also the first forward to the ruck at the end of the first half when we got turned over (Wales piled 10 men into it!)
J Gray - 8 - Excellent game, trucked the ball up when he had to and made his tackles as usual.
Barclay - 8 - I think we've found our new captain. Superb.
Hardie - 5 - maybe he would have played a stormer along with the rest of the team in the second half but Scotland need to move on from him just as they did with Cowan.
Wilson - 8 - Miss pass & conceding quite few pens probably lost him a couple of points but he was phenomenal otherwise. He was obviously out on his feet after 70 mins but still made his hits and carries. We really need to make sure we have the correct players in the 23 so that we can react to stuff like this. I'd have probably brought on Swinson even though he'd be OOP.
Price - 8 - the break showed exactly what he brings to the camp. Quick at getting the ball out as well although a couple of horrible passes but he will learn. Thought he also made a couple of superb tackles when Wales made their clean breaks.
Russell - 9 - clanger of a first half but he was world class in the second.
Visser - 8 - again may seem low but we cannot overlook the first half. It had me questioning whether he could hack it at international level - 3 turnovers conceded, plus missed tackles & batting balls back so they're 50/50. Having said that, the second half he was the difference. He was involved in pretty much all the turning points of that half - he bundled Webb into touch when Pyrgos couldn't get a hand to him, he was clinical with his try and he played an important role in Seymour's score. Really delighted he shut me and many others up.
Dunbar - 7 - good at ruck time & in defence. Used as a decoy far too often for my liking. He only had 3-4 carries maybe. I appreciate a lot of this is due to how we play - forwards often at first receiver and finn loves a miss pass but he needs to get into the game more.
Jones - 7 - As with Dunbar I don't think he's quite hitting his straps. He did a lot of good things though. That run at the end of the first half was excellent.
Seymour - 9 - World class. Not only has he got pace but he is just such a clever player. He works with Hogg so well.
Hogg - 9 - Where would we be without him? Defence still needs work though. Despite not having many tackles to make he missed more than anyone else.
Subs
Dell - 7 - made a real nuisance of himself when he came on. Good carries - more than Reid I believe! Didn't do enough to oust Gordon.
Ford - 6 - decent 10 min shift. Didn't do enough to get the shirt from Brown.
Watson - 9 - would be a 10 but point deducted for Webb's non try when the balls pilled out of the scrum. It was his side and whilst the second rows have to take some blame you cannot let that happen. Absolutely brilliant otherwise - turnovers, carries, tackles... perfect.
Pyrgos - 8 - he was excellent and may well have done enough to get the shirt from Price. Although he really should have tackled Webb when he scooped up that loose ball. He never should have been able to get near the try line.
Reid - 8 - really stabilised the scrum - the welsh got no change out of him at all. Good carrying and disruptive rucking.. sending AWJ flying at his own ruck in the first half was the highlight. Should have done better on the fringe for one of Webb's breaks.
Brown - 7 - he didn't set a foot wrong and the set pieces were perfect. Having said that I thought he had one of his quieter games in the loose & at ruck time actually.
Fagerson - 9 - Got the better of Mr Evans I thought. Offered himself as a carrier far more than the rest of the front row and I cannot believe he has only just turned 21. Phenomenal.
R Gray - 9 - I thought he outplayed Jonny today actually. Since the two of them have paired up consistently I think Richie has found a new lease of life. He's playing some of the best rugby of his career right now (or it could be the Toulouse move..). Don't think he made as many tackles or runs at Jonny but his runs were far more industrious - I'd imagine he made much more metres. He was also the first forward to the ruck at the end of the first half when we got turned over (Wales piled 10 men into it!)
J Gray - 8 - Excellent game, trucked the ball up when he had to and made his tackles as usual.
Barclay - 8 - I think we've found our new captain. Superb.
Hardie - 5 - maybe he would have played a stormer along with the rest of the team in the second half but Scotland need to move on from him just as they did with Cowan.
Wilson - 8 - Miss pass & conceding quite few pens probably lost him a couple of points but he was phenomenal otherwise. He was obviously out on his feet after 70 mins but still made his hits and carries. We really need to make sure we have the correct players in the 23 so that we can react to stuff like this. I'd have probably brought on Swinson even though he'd be OOP.
Price - 8 - the break showed exactly what he brings to the camp. Quick at getting the ball out as well although a couple of horrible passes but he will learn. Thought he also made a couple of superb tackles when Wales made their clean breaks.
Russell - 9 - clanger of a first half but he was world class in the second.
Visser - 8 - again may seem low but we cannot overlook the first half. It had me questioning whether he could hack it at international level - 3 turnovers conceded, plus missed tackles & batting balls back so they're 50/50. Having said that, the second half he was the difference. He was involved in pretty much all the turning points of that half - he bundled Webb into touch when Pyrgos couldn't get a hand to him, he was clinical with his try and he played an important role in Seymour's score. Really delighted he shut me and many others up.
Dunbar - 7 - good at ruck time & in defence. Used as a decoy far too often for my liking. He only had 3-4 carries maybe. I appreciate a lot of this is due to how we play - forwards often at first receiver and finn loves a miss pass but he needs to get into the game more.
Jones - 7 - As with Dunbar I don't think he's quite hitting his straps. He did a lot of good things though. That run at the end of the first half was excellent.
Seymour - 9 - World class. Not only has he got pace but he is just such a clever player. He works with Hogg so well.
Hogg - 9 - Where would we be without him? Defence still needs work though. Despite not having many tackles to make he missed more than anyone else.
Subs
Dell - 7 - made a real nuisance of himself when he came on. Good carries - more than Reid I believe! Didn't do enough to oust Gordon.
Ford - 6 - decent 10 min shift. Didn't do enough to get the shirt from Brown.
Watson - 9 - would be a 10 but point deducted for Webb's non try when the balls pilled out of the scrum. It was his side and whilst the second rows have to take some blame you cannot let that happen. Absolutely brilliant otherwise - turnovers, carries, tackles... perfect.
Pyrgos - 8 - he was excellent and may well have done enough to get the shirt from Price. Although he really should have tackled Webb when he scooped up that loose ball. He never should have been able to get near the try line.