Scotland v France

[Chunks Baws]

Dunbar, F. Brown and Pyrgos added to the squad. Sean 'heart of a mouse' Maitland and Blair Cowan have been punted. There is speculation that this is due to their miraculous recovery from injuries just in time to turn out for their club.

http://thescotlandteam.com/2016/03/07/w ... and-squad/

[AL.]

Beat me to it:

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/dunbar- ... -scotland/

I can t do anything with the last link, where's the gossip re Maitland and Cowan come from? I thought Cowan was off with the concussion protocol?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Beat me to it:

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/dunbar- ... -scotland/

I can t do anything with the last link, where's the gossip re Maitland and Cowan come from? I thought Cowan was off with the concussion protocol?

Then LI didn't give a crap. He was back and playing immediately.

[Chunks Baws]

Beat me to it:

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/dunbar- ... -scotland/

I can t do anything with the last link, where's the gossip re Maitland and Cowan come from? I thought Cowan was off with the concussion protocol?

A couple of journos on Twitter. But like I said, it is just them speculating.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Looking at that squad list does have to make you admire what Toony is building at Glasgow. Are there any other teams in the league that could lose 17/18 players from their 23 and still remain semi competitive?

I think Denton needs to be dropped from the 23 entirely. I'd also change the make up of the bench substantially - it's not been right all tournament.

In terms of predictions, I suspect we will see a similar 23 - Pyrgos may get the bench spot. Not much else.

[sharvey44]

Can't see Matt Scott being in the mix for this weekend.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Can't see Matt Scott being in the mix for this weekend.

Doubt we'll see him again this season.

[Big D]

Dunbar, F. Brown and Pyrgos added to the squad. Sean 'heart of a mouse' Maitland and Blair Cowan have been punted. There is speculation that this is due to their miraculous recovery from injuries just in time to turn out for their club.

http://thescotlandteam.com/2016/03/07/w ... and-squad/

So I would pick:
Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray x2
Barclay
Hardie
Denton - Don't think he has been as bad as some suggest. Wouldn't be against Strauss starting though.
Laidlaw
Russell
Seymour
Taylor
Bennett
Visser
Hogg

McInally/Brown - Not much between them. McInally was embarrassed in contact twice in his last game.
Sutherland/Reid - Meh.
Low - Let ZF gain more experience around the squad
Toolis
Strauss/Denton - Can't bring myself to pick Wilson despite him having a decent game last time - he misses a lot of tackles for a back row. As does Hardie but his tackle count is a lot higher.
Pyrgos
Jackson
Dunbar - and I'd cross my fingers he doesn't get hurt.

[Cameo]

Dunbar, F. Brown and Pyrgos added to the squad. Sean 'heart of a mouse' Maitland and Blair Cowan have been punted. There is speculation that this is due to their miraculous recovery from injuries just in time to turn out for their club.

http://thescotlandteam.com/2016/03/07/w ... and-squad/

So I would pick:
Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray x2
Barclay
Hardie
Denton - Don't think he has been as bad as some suggest. Wouldn't be against Strauss starting though.
Laidlaw
Russell
Seymour
Taylor
Bennett
Visser
Hogg

McInally/Brown - Not much between them. McInally was embarrassed in contact twice in his last game.
Sutherland/Reid - Meh.
Low - Let ZF gain more experience around the squad
Toolis
Strauss/Denton - Can't bring myself to pick Wilson despite him having a decent game last time - he misses a lot of tackles for a back row. As does Hardie but his tackle count is a lot higher.
Pyrgos
Jackson
Dunbar - and I'd cross my fingers he doesn't get hurt.

Wouldnt complain about that. As you say a bit harsh on Wilson. Also Swinson was good yesterday so maybe deserves the bench but i dont mind either way.

I would quite like Fagerson to play u20s unless Glasgow have a game

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Swinson is too short to be an international lock IMO. We have some seriously big and mobile units at lock now, Swinson doesn't offer anything extra to compensate for that loss of size.

edit: Agree on Fagerson. He still has a lot of development to do but he is rather good isn't he? He made some barnstorming runs against Cardiff and he's been doing so since he broke onto the scene. Excellent scrummager for his age too.

[Big D]

Rewatched the Italy game.

So many scrum penas without so much as a word to Parisse - incredible really.

Some people worried about Bennett but he was solid but not spectacular but that's okay. We can't expect highs all the time and he used the little ball he had and made his tackles.

Hardie seems to miss his tackles when he is tackling straight on and sitting on his heels. Should be easy to rectify as he makes great hits when he gets in the right position.

[Matt Ha]

Been reading on forums elsewhere plenty of calls for Weir to return to the bench. True he's been playing well for Glasgow of late but I think he's never really going to cut the mustard at international level so would prefer to see him stay at Glasgow, a team that needs him.

[General Zod]

Am happy with weir on the bench, but I know what you're saying. I think the Edinburgh move is a good one - see what he can do with a season or two there. By 2018, we'll have a couple more people pushing him and Russell on. Can't remember their names, right enough! Rory Hutchison I think is one.

[sharvey44]

Been reading on forums elsewhere plenty of calls for Weir to return to the bench. True he's been playing well for Glasgow of late but I think he's never really going to cut the mustard at international level so would prefer to see him stay at Glasgow, a team that needs him.

Yeah. I'd rather have Rhubarb on the bench due to his versatility and similar style of FH. I cant see the kicking game being to best idea against France.

[OptimisticJock]

Weir has really hit some form these last few weeks so I'd be happy to see that rewarded but have no issue with Jackson.

[Big D]

Been reading on forums elsewhere plenty of calls for Weir to return to the bench. True he's been playing well for Glasgow of late but I think he's never really going to cut the mustard at international level so would prefer to see him stay at Glasgow, a team that needs him.

Preference would be Jackson over Weir but either over Horne. I feel like the balance of the bench would be off with Horne given the squad. Horne and Dunbar or Horne and Taylor would be a bit off and the only other option is Lamont who has shown he is a great servant but his international race is done.

Taylor is no more than a bit part wing and worry that an injury to Hogg would see Taylor to wing and Seymour to FB leaving two players out of position due to one injury.

Jackson and Dunbar/Taylor on the bench only really leaves wing as a slight problem if injury occurs. That is assuming it is the Jackson of the Wales game that turns up as FB cover.

[sharvey44]

Is the team announced today?

[Chunks Baws]

Is the team announced today?

Tomorrow apparently.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Whats the point? We don't have any late fitness tests.

[Chunks Baws]

Whats the point? We don't have any late fitness tests.

F@ck knows. Because the game is on Sunday??

[sharvey44]

Whats the point? We don't have any late fitness tests.

Because, you little ray of sunshine, it gives me something to peak my interest instead of doing work.

And I enjoy the comments that ensue on the hootsman pages

[sharvey44]

bench:

16. McInally
17. Sutherland
18. Low
19. Swinson
20. Wilson
21. S H-C
22. Horne
23. Lamont

[sharvey44]

1.Dicko
2.Ford
3.Nel
4.Gray
5.Gray
6.Barclay
7.Hardie
8.Strauss
9.Laidlaw
10.Russell
11.Visser
12.Dunbar
13.Taylor
14.Seymour
15.Hogg

[sharvey44]

50th Cap for Greig, 25th as Captain.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

A lot of positives there. The bench doesn't have the personnel I would personally choose but it's a lot more balance than it used to be. 15 cover is a bit of a problem though.

Denton deserved to be dropped and Wilson did enough to stay in the 23, fair shout.

Is Bennett hurt? Not sure that is the right call. How many times are we going to rush Dunbar back? He needs his play time to be managed.