Scotland Team for Saturday

First topic message reminder :

Not the U20s this time!

R Lamont Jones De Luca S Lamont Evans Parks Cusiter Jacobsen Ford Murray Gray Hamilton Strokosch Rennie Denton
Subs S Lawson Cross Kellock Barclay Blair Laidlaw Morrison

Evans is playing!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:I have a PLAN - we will sub DP after 5 minutes of play



PS FFS, this feels like trying to polish a turd

Maybe it's all a cunning plan, AR has secretly told Laidlaw he'll be starting. He then announces to the worlds media Parks is starting, thus louring the English into a false sense of security. On game day, AR goes up to Dan and asks him, "Does this rag smell of chloroform to you?"

Once Dan's been sedated, the tannoy announce that due to a late injury there will be one change to the advertised staring XV. Cue Greig Laidlaw...

Glas a du wrote:The Killer S, R & D doesn't sound the same.

With a slight tweek it looks better Sh,Re & D

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:I have another plan - am getting in extra supplies of to ease the pain - fail safe

see this is why I'm going to a bar to watch the game!

Thats a powerful back 5 and I think that will be enough to see Scotland rampage through here

Having seen that team, I'm now confident in a England "W"! Shocking selections in the backs.

I have to say apart from Parks I'm pretty happy with the team; that said if Dan Parks has a blinder and we win I won't be losing any sleep. If he can produce his 2010 form then I won't be unhappy however if he and Jackson are the only starting tens this six nations it will be disappointing.

Now that I've calmed down my rational head is back on again.

I'll be really disappointed if people boo Parks on Saturday. It's not his fault Robinson has selected him and I am sure he will give his all because he'll know there won't be many occasions like this left for him.

So whether it is the right call or not - I'll be getting right behind him and the rest of the team to beat the English!

I would be over the moon if Scotland won whilst playing 15 Dan Parks, if he does what he can do well and we win I couldn't care less and to be honest I'd rather have Parks than Hodgson (I still think he's crap).

The Kübler-Ross...theory describes in five discrete stages a largely untested, but popular process by which people deal with grief and tragedy...denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

Looks like you jumped to number 5 RDW

scotland selection is so negative no pace either and parks at 10 is a laugh england got 10 at u18 better then him scotland are getting hammered

^What a load of BULL, Parks is a shockingly one dimensional however he is better than Hodgson who's starting for England if England have a better u18 10 then why's he not playing in the Aviva and why is Parks starting for one of the top teams in a superior league?

Not a fan of punctuation, eh Adam?

adambarney wrote:scotland selection is so negative no pace either and parks at 10 is a laugh england got 10 at u18 better then him scotland are getting hammered

Wow - thanks for your contribution!

123456789 wrote:^What a load of BULL, Parks is a shockingly one dimensional however he is better than Hodgson who's starting for England if England have a better u18 10 then why's he not playing in the Aviva and why is Parks starting for one of the top teams in a superior league?

Wait, are we now defending Parks??

No, it's just a stupid comment. Parks is good at what he does and tbh rather than moaning about the decision we should get behind the team. So this is my show of support.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

123456789 wrote:^What a load of BULL, Parks is a shockingly one dimensional however he is better than Hodgson who's starting for England if England have a better u18 10 then why's he not playing in the Aviva and why is Parks starting for one of the top teams in a superior league?

Wait, are we now defending Parks??

We've gone full circle

Pace is certainly something we don't lack with Jones Evans and Lamont. All quick with the ball. The only problem is they won't see it.

123456789 wrote:No, it's just a stupid comment. Parks is used to be good at what he does and tbh rather than moaning about the decision we should get behind the team. So this is my show of support.

Sorted that for you, Numbers, no charge

Adam D wrote:Not the U20s this time!

R Lamont Jones De Luca S Lamont Evans Parks Cusiter Jacobsen Ford Murray Gray Hamilton Strokosch Rennie Denton
Subs S Lawson Cross Kellock Barclay Blair Laidlaw Morrison

Same old same old.

Sorry Scotland but miracles will need to be made for this team to take anyone by storm.

Best of luck. Any wins will be a surprise.

I predict Andy robinson to be shown the back door by the end of March.

maestegmafia wrote:

Same old same old.

Sorry Scotland but miracles will need to be made for this team to take anyone by storm.

Best of luck. Any wins will be a surprise.

I predict Andy robinson to be shown the back door by the end of March.

Yup - I agree.

Unusual way to resign for the Bath Vegetable. Why play Parks when Duncan Weir can do everything Parks can do plus take and make a tackle, plus pass the ball reasonably well, plus has a bigger boot, plus is an all round better player than the extremely limited Parks. As for no back 3 cover - the mind boggles if RLamont hobbles off - he usually does. Laidlaw should start, Weir on the bench along with Hogg - who can cover FB, wing and centre. If I was any of those 3 players I would be bloody furious at the obvious RFU sleeper (thanks to an earlier poster for that suggestion). A borefest beckons - we may win it 9-6 but I doubt it. Maybe 6-6 and Vegetable will be vindicated !

Utter madness. Parks has done nothing to warrant selection above Laidlaw. How can Robinson have watched Edinburgh's demolition of London Irish at murrayfield and pick anyone other than Blair and Laidlaw.

Cusiter is a lucky boy too.

You won't get the best out of either Jones or NDL with that Wally at 10. Whilst I don't want Parks to be boooed, or anyone playing for Scotland to be boooed for that matter. But how else can the paying fans voice their frustrations.

The only thing I can think off is not to applaud or cheer when kicks and drop goals go over, that's what I'll be doing.

That old saying of forwards win games? It's never been truer. Lets hope dozer, Hamilton, Stroks and Gray stick the ball up the jumper and batter the English into submission. Lets face it we're not going to cut them to shreds in the backs.

I'm as surprised as you Scots that Parks has got the nod. Both Laidlaw and Weir are in better form at the moment.
That said, that's the team and now you need to get behind him. As much as he's lacked some form I've heard these arguments against him before and he's gone on to have a man of the match performance.
Good luck on Saturday

TJ wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

Same old same old.

Sorry Scotland but miracles will need to be made for this team to take anyone by storm.

Best of luck. Any wins will be a surprise.

I predict Andy robinson to be shown the back door by the end of March.

Yup - I agree.

I feel very sorry for Scotland's fans as this team does not represent Scotland's best players and lead at flyhalf by a player that is a mystery to why he is selected, valued, rated even, by some.

I hope a little ray of luck is shining down on Scotland this weekend, as this might not be a decent England team and they may well catch them napping.

Not one Scottish fan wants parks to play. Not a single one.

What planet is Robinson on?
-
Win lose or draw Robinson has shown he has learned FA from His criticisms as England boss. He is picking the wrong people!

[quote="RuggerRadge2611"]

The only thing I can think off is not to applaud or cheer when kicks and drop goals go over, that's what I'll be doing.

Ruuger,

But surely if his kicks are going over and you are winning the game then he's doing the job he's been picked to do.

Its just so disappointing

We have a attacking fly half in the form of his life. A complete player

We pick a limited flawed out of form player instead.

I really expect him to be booed off the field and I expect Robinson to go

TJ,

I know its hard, trust me when Gatland was constantly picking off form players like Byrne, R Jones, JT, Phillips, Bennett, Cooper FFS, etc etc he got slated from every corner.

But when they pull the Red , or Blue shirt on in your case the only thing you can do is get behind them.

I have never boo'd Wales off the pitch and I watched them through the 90s so was more than entitled to do.

I feel sorry for Laidlaw and Weir plus Hogg. I know it's a huge game but really they are all now.

I think young Weir was trying to hard to impress in his last 2 games because it just means everything for these guy's to represent there country.

Hogg must be really Pi--ed off also, certainly been one of the best at 15 this year and since the other has retired?

Having said that I will be shouting at the telly as no ticket! Come on Scotland.

The Scottish coaching team seem to be the only people in the world who think Parks is the best option at 10. I have spoken to no one else who thinks he is the form 10 in the country.

I cannot understand his selection. Other than 10 I think be has the team correct. I would have had Blair to partner Laidlaw though.

bedfordwelsh

We have seen Parks booed off the field before. I do not say its the right thing but its what will happen I think

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:The Scottish coaching team seem to be the only people in the world who think Parks is the best option at 10. I have spoken to no one else who thinks he is the form 10 in the country.

I cannot understand his selection. Other than 10 I think be has the team correct. I would have had Blair to partner Laidlaw though.

Rugger,

Them and the Cardiff Blues coaching team

the problem is Robinson has taken a step forward with almost every other position on the pitch, then shot himself in the foot with the half-back selection. I give him 6 weeks, and I hope to God that doesn't make Scott Johnson our new head coach, or, even worse, Townsend.

Neily

What is the gig with Townsend, do you guys dislike him?

When the backs have had the ball Scotland have run some great training ground rehearsed plays, he was a great player in his prime. I thought that would translate well in to coaching...?

He was a great player but had no coaching experience prior to Scotland, I mean perhaps its down to our limited backs, but you'd expect with Glasgow and Edinburgh scoring tries that perhaps we'd be able to get more on the international stage. Our forwards are fine its just our backs always seem to have the problem. If we do get a new coach (which wouldn't surprise me if Robbo bombs it this tournament), I'd like to see someone like Jake White take us forward or even Mike Ruddock, perhaps linking up with Scott Johnson in the summer, that combo worked well for Wales, perhaps it'd have a good effect on Scotland, THAT SAID I will reserve judgement until after Saturday, for all I know DP could pull out a stormer and silence his critics like he did in 2010, but I doubt that.

Neily,

I very much doubt Ruddock would ever work with Johnson again.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Neily,

I very much doubt Ruddock would ever work with Johnson again.

So do I in fact I would bet my life on it. Mind Parkers missis wont be North of the border so Mrs Rudock might let him off his leash

bedfordwelsh wrote:Neily,

I very much doubt Ruddock would ever work with Johnson again.

good point I remembered this after I posted it haha, okay so maybe Jake White, but either way Robbo needs to get his selection sorted otherwise I'd imagine he's out

The old saying of stranger things happen, BUT what if Scotland have a very good 6 nations with Parks at the helm?

OK I know I know but like I said stranger things have happened, maybe not often but hey had.

If you had said to any Welshman before the WC that Huw Bennett would be vital to our performance then the men in white coats would have been after you.

true but I feel parks had an absolute stormer in 2010 and yet we still failed to kick off in that tournament, then he really lost a lot of confidence in 2011 and now is restricting cardiff blues backline, on form it should have been laidlaw any day of the week.

even if parks is at his very best he is not the player to get the backs scoring tries and he is a liability in defence.

Does anyone else think that utter fud Townsend is behind this ?

Parks might have a stormer on Saturday, but hs selection based on recent form and the decision to play an appallingly limited gameplan are dreadful - I am not laying the blame at Parks's door, it is Robinson that is now the problem. Previously he could argue he had nobody else - that is simply no longer the case. Even if by some miraculous fluke we get a win (no doubt a multiple of 3 win), it will not vindicate atrocious decision-making by Robbo

Depressingly what will happen is England will be winning by half-time because Scotland won't be attacking, then Captain Robshaw will put in a huge hit on Parks which concusses him, then Laidlaw will orchestrate a wonderful comeback.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Parks might have a stormer on Saturday, but hs selection based on recent form and the decision to play an appallingly limited gameplan are dreadful - I am not laying the blame at Parks's door, it is Robinson that is now the problem. Previously he could argue he had nobody else - that is simply no longer the case. Even if by some miraculous fluke we get a win (no doubt a multiple of 3 win), it will not vindicate atrocious decision-making by Robbo

I have seen enough of Parks, come to think about it I have now seen enough of Robinson and Townsend too. Mallet and chic chalmers anyone?

Yes pls, Radge +1

England have got Mallet lined up for after the 6N. You may just end up with Scott Johnson as head coach if AR goes. God help you then

Todd Blackadder is my choice for scotland coach

TycroesOsprey wrote:England have got Mallet lined up for after the 6N. You may just end up with Scott Johnson as head coach if AR goes. God help you then

God i hope not Osprey...wouldnt be my choice at all...

I know that it's far too late now, but the decision not to include Matt Scott in the squad looks even dafter than before - once again we are fitting Schlong, decent player that he is, into a distributing role that doesn't play to his strengths, with the thrilling prospect of having Morrison, another seriously out of form player, charging off the bench as part of the formulaic 60-min substitution lark - it just gets worse

Townsend is gone once his contract expires in the summer. Robbo has shown that while he's a good coach, he's not a good selector. We need a coach with experience and someone who will guide Robbo to make better selecting decisions. Townsend seems to just nod his head and agree. I imagine the discussion about the 10 jersey went something like this

Robbo: "I'm thinking about starting with Parks for the England game, what do you think?"
Townsend: "Great idea, fantastic, inspirational."
Robbo: "Mmm this cucumber sandwich is delicious. What was that Gregor? OK Parks it is!"

I think we'll see a change to the way Scotland play once Johnson comes into the fray. With the amount of young guys coming through at the moment, it's vital that we change the coaching focus and don't go down the current route of kicking and relying on the forwards.