Scotland xv vs France

KickAndChase wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Manky-Flanker wrote:Awesome looking French side, but worry not, Scotland have a 6 playing 8, a 7 playing 6, a 9 playing 10, a winger playing 13, a 13 sitting on the bench, and an on form 12 and 6 sitting at home.

What could go wrong?

Better to laugh this one off than spend this week and next week moping about it. I'm starting to develop a bit of Gallows Humour with this Scotland Team.

YES! EXACTLY! This is what I do - laugh it off and approach the entire realm of Scottish rugby with amusement and sarcasm until we come good again ... which could be many , many years down the line. It's been 12 years already after all.

Someone said 3 passes to the back line ... unless that includes catching French kicks and distributing to one another I I think that's a bit optimistic. Robinson's probably instructed them to sit back and wait for kicks anyway given the 12-13 axis is there for defense only.

Why pick a lightweight backrow then a heavyweight centre pairing? Couldn't you do it the other way round and then have some attacking flair? Why bring in Blair inside Laidlaw to help him and then put Morrison outside him? Why play S Lamont at 13 when HE HAS NEVER PLAYED THERE IN HIS LIFE? Can someone find or quote a game S Lamont has played 13? Why bench De Luca if it's not for the ill discipline (seeing as R Lamont is still playing)?

We're toast. Where's that facepalm smiley.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Had Max Evans been fit I suspect Rory Lamont would have been dropped, or at least relegated to the bench.

Let's just hope the ref is red hot at the breakdown, at least that'll give Rennie and Barclay a chance to cause France some problems.

I also hope that Robinson has seen something on the videos watching France that I missed watching the Italy game, and that the selections of Barclay and Morrison are part of some masterplan strategy to nullify the French, whilst not dimming the ability of Jones and Hogg to attack.

I live in hope.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I really don't think Edinburgh's tactics can be summarised as "pass the ball to Visser".

The De Luca issue is more that he usually has Matt Scott inside him, a clever playmaker at 12 with smooth distribution skills. He gets De Luca running onto the ball, and therefore gives De Luca the chance to catch the opposition on the hop and use his quick feet at pace. Without that De Luca struggles, as we've seen in the first two matches. Lamont and De Luca isn't really an ideal combination, but I still prefer it to Morrison and Lamont. As noted above, I think Alex Grove should have been considered as an option ahead of Morrison. Grove at 13 outside S Lamont would have been defensive but would have given Jones and Hogg at least a fighting chance of showing what they can do.


Yes, most of the selections are fine, but the selection at 12 is utterly critical in achieving a certain style of play. Yes, France have better players, and the team they have put down on paper is not one we can match man to man. That they have someone like Mermoz sitting on the bench is an indicator of the talent they have. But on the road they have been vulnerable in the past. Not so much to us, but certainly to other teams who have gone out and attacked them. We need to take the game to them and unsettle them, not give them time on the ball and time to get their defence sorted.

Yes, even with Lievremont's incompetence we were defeated, but if memory serves me right that was the first game of the tournament, and we had some Robinson classics in the side. Hines at 6, Parks at 10, Walker at 14 and Southwell at 15.

donkeyprop wrote:
FES I disagree with you that the selection is utterly muddled at best, or incompetent. Even you seem to accept that with the players available it is pretty close to the strongest available side.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I think Scotland and Ireland are on the same boat to be honest

Trying to look at the positives, I am very happy to see Hogg there starting. Is Vernon not a fair bit down the pecking order though for the back rowers?

Good point Rory I'm glad we have Richie "the Bruiser" Vernon's physicality to come off the bench and give us some power in the backrow......

again!

This is one of Robinson's worst teams he has ever picked. Where if FlyhalfFactory to defend this lunacy?

George Carlin wrote:8. Why does Andrew Cotter always sounds like he's talking through a toilet roll?

flyhalffactory wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I think Scotland and Ireland are on the same boat to be honest

Trying to look at the positives, I am very happy to see Hogg there starting. Is Vernon not a fair bit down the pecking order though for the back rowers?

Good point Rory I'm glad we have Richie "the Bruiser" Vernon's physicality to come off the bench and give us some power in the backrow......

again!

This is one of Robinson's worst teams he has ever picked. Where if FlyhalfFactory to defend this lunacy?

I am here............... however I dont know where you are going with your fixation, its getting a tad worrying, but glad to see your sensationlism is still right up there

Few things here

Hogg deserved his chance, and Rory played well when he went to the wing, we have also clamoured for our 9 and 10, and he has picked them so good stuff AR

Italy had a big midfield and France totally smashed them, especially with their fast back row.............. so based on that OH YES lets play NDL and Scott because they are just superb defensive centres especially as Hogg and Jones are men-mountain defenders behind the Scottish midfield, so what is the weak link in the Fench back line? well Wesley Fofana has very little experience so ok Morrison is a cart horse but hey he can target Fofana, and Schlong has played well for the Scarlets and he had a good game again Hook in 2010 on the international stage

Disappointed that Harley or McInally isnt playing at blindside as it would have balanced the back row that much better

George Carlin wrote:Interesting piece by K Ferrie Esq. in the Herald today about the method to Andy's madness:

"Robinson throws Hogg in at the deep end for Scots

Stuart Hogg will become the first teenage Scot for 40 years to start a Test match when Scotland face France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The 19-year-old, whose introduction is one of four changes in personnel after last week's defeat by Wales, could have no greater provenance since the last to do so was Jim Renwick, his fellow native of Hawick who has been acting as a mentor to the youngster.


Hogg's emergence is another triumph for the rugby-daft town and his stunning ability a further demonstration of what can be achieved if skills are honed under pressure at a sufficiently early age as Hogg himself alluded to on being called up.

"When I was a kid, we'd play full contact in the street in the Weensland area of Hawick," he recalled. "I'd be about five and there would be kids there up to about 12 or 13 years old and you'd always think about what it would be like to play for Scotland. Now I've got the opportunity to win for Scotland at Murrayfield . . . brilliant!"

Andy Robinson, the team's head coach, said he had been anxious to ensure that Hogg was introduced at the right time and believes his performance as a replacement in Cardiff indicates that is now.

"What I thought you saw from him was a really composed performance. He has that ability to handle the pressure of international rugby," he said.

In a major overhaul of the back line, Hogg's Glasgow Warriors clubmate Graeme Morrison is reintroduced at inside centre while both Lamont brothers switch position, Sean to outside centre and Rory to the wing, with Mike Blair replacing Chris Cusiter at scrum-half, albeit only in the short term, apparently.

"I think that's a great match up against [Wesley] Fofana and [Aurelien] Rougerie," Robinson said of the burly combination he has put together at centre.

"That's going to be a phenomenal battle in that midfield. Graeme's done well going back to Glasgow, captaining the side and with his performances. I feel in the way we're trying to play it's important that we're able to keep the ball through many phases. We believe that if we can keep the ball in play and play multi-phases against France we can test them and test their fitness.

"I've brought Mike Blair in. I think Cus [Chris Cusiter] has done well but has not been at his best. Mike has been at his best. We've got three fantastic nines. I believe that Cus for the long-term is our No.1 nine but I believe that sometimes you've got to make those changes and I thought that was the right one going into this game."

The only change to the pack is enforced with John Barclay replacing Al Strokosch, who has been ruled out with a broken hand.

"We felt we needed his pace to get in and secure ball for us and defensively to have the shape to turn over the French defence," Robinson said of the selection of a second specialist openside alongside Ross Rennie."

Things I Don't Understand No. 47 :

1. Why pick a lightweight back row when you're particularly worried about the set piece?

2. Why put the lightest and least defensively minded of your two opensides on the blind?

3. Why not have a proper daisy cutter like McInally or Harley if you're worried about winning ball and constantly having to defend?

4. Why pronounce in an interview that Cusiter is your preferred choice of scrum half and then select Blair?

5. How can it be the case that big centres who can't pass are more likely to keep the ball through phases then playmakers who can offload?

6. How can you select a teenager at 15 (first in 40 years, so let's have some respect for Hogg) whilst at the same time be utterly conservative in your other selections?

7. What is the rationale for betting your whole game plan on the presumption that you're fitter than your opposition?

8. Why does Andrew Cotter always sounds like he's talking through a toilet roll?

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:I'd rather comment on boring threads RDW if it meant Robinson picking the right team and us winning a few more matches for a change.

I'd even talk about knitting and Jehova's Witnesses.

Expediency of ending sequence of defeats means the creativity fans crave must wait

AT FIRST glance the Scotland team selected to face France does not reveal the new creative midfield that the national coaches and supporters have been desperately seeking, but there are two key reasons behind that and both come back to the simple immediacy of the need to win Sunday’s Test match. The first is the reality of Scotland’s current resources. With a worrying lack of centres with high-quality passing skills, and no John Leslie-type flying in, Andy Robinson and Gregor Townsend are eagerly watching the progress of young centres Matt Scott at Edinburgh and Clermont Auvergne’s Mark Bennett. But Robinson has learned from experience, notably the early debut he handed teenage centre Mathew Tait with England, that timing is crucial to ensuring talent is not ruined through premature exposure to Test intensity, which is one reason why he is not throwing Scott a debut this weekend.

It is debatable when the best time is to expose a young player, and we could argue the point over Scott, but Ruaridh Jackson, Richie Gray, Lee Jones, Dave Denton, Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg have all been brought through from the ‘A’ team to the senior squad, from training involvement to a place in the 22, and their performances would attest to Robinson getting that right so far. Scott has joined the senior squad for training and so is, in essence, two steps behind Hogg.

The head coach and his assistants have also been sensible in allowing Hogg to remain at full-back for his first Test start this weekend. They agree with his coach at Glasgow, Sean Lineen, that the 19-year-old has the potential to excite at outside centre, but he has enjoyed only two runs there at professional level. At full-back he has found his feet and plays with real confidence, and with more time and space than that afforded at centre he will be a crucial figure in attack and defence on Sunday.

Injuries have also deprived Robinson of Max Evans (ankle) and Joe Ansbro (back). There was a hint from Robinson yesterday that he would have restored Evans to the 13 jersey and Sean Lamont to the wing had Evans recovered, while Ansbro could be a contender for the final two championship matches if he features for London Irish in the next two weeks.

Nick De Luca might have been retained at 13 but Robinson has opted instead for Lamont’s physique against 6ft 4in Rougerie. One suspects that De Luca has also paid the price for his rash sin-binning which opened the door to Wales two weeks ago.

The second key point is that as coaches are required to live in the moment while the rest of us can theorise on what may or may not happen were they to gamble with other selections, they are charged with creating a tactical plan around the players at their disposal to win Sunday’s game, and ease the pressure after four successive defeats.

So, looking at the fact that France have the most potent strike-force of any of the tournament’s sides and the best strike-rate over recent championships, having averaged nearly three per game – and three per game against Scotland in that time too (it is 20 years since they failed to touch down against Scotland) – it is understandable why defence is a primary thought.

He has resisted bringing Ruaridh Jackson back into the matchday squad, as the Glasgow fly-half needs more games after a lengthy period out injured, and is sticking with Greig Laidlaw, which chimes with the thoughts of most supporters.

However, as gutsy as he is Laidlaw is just 5ft 9in and so defence is not the strongest part of his game at Test level, as witnessed in Cardiff with one missed tackle letting 6ft 6in Alex Cuthbert in for a try and others contributing to Wales’ momentum. Laidlaw has good running and passing skills, and he is the sharpest rugby brain at Robinson’s disposal, but the idea of introducing youngster Scott alongside in the face of the marauding French back row and physical centres then becomes questionable.

Graeme Morrison’s greatest strength is his defence. He is not the free-running ball-player that Scott could be, and is still working to rediscover his best form, but he is resolute in Test rugby with great experience of nullifying French attacks.

This weekend Scotland will need that against the formidable duo of Wesley Fofana – the Clermont Auvergne youngster only made his debut against Italy but he is a potent mix of skill, pace and strength – and his veteran clubmate Aurelien Rougerie.

“I think that’s a great match-up with Fofana and Rougerie,” said Robinson. “It’s going to be a phenomenal battle in that midfield. Graeme has done well going back to Glasgow, captaining the side and in his performances, after being on the bench for us in the first game of the championship. Matt is still on that progression we have talked about. With the way we’re trying to play the game it’s important that we’re able to keep the ball for many phases. We believe that if we can play multi-phases against France then we can test them, and their fitness.

“Key to that is that the referee [Wayne Barnes] doesn’t allow France to slow the game down, but with Sean Lamont carrying the way he’s carried, and with Richie Gray, Ross Ford, David Denton and Graeme now as well, we will be able to keep the ball for many phases, and then it’s about taking the chances that we create.”

This weekend, creating chances first will be tougher than in the opening two games and this selection does not point to more line-breaks off first-phase. So how do Scotland uncork an attack to threaten the French?

Robinson alluded to his plan when he stated that the route to progress on Sunday lies with his side’s ability to retain possession and test France’s fitness levels. The French coach Philippe Saint-Andre pinpointed that on Tuesday, highlighting how his players were not used to games where the ball was in play for 46 minutes, as when Scotland played Wales. He cited Stade Francais’ match with Toulon in the Top 14 as showing a ball-in-play time of just 26 minutes. Robinson came up with another statistic of time.

“If you watch the Top 14 games the ball is in play around 26 seconds for each phase of play,” he said, “where we’ve been playing for two or three minutes of phases. They have a more stop-start nature to their game, so that’s where we have to try to impose our game, but you can only do that if you keep the ball.

“If we keep the ball and keep going forward then we can ask questions of this team, but if we are turning over ball or dropping passes it will allow France to get into the game.”

With the blend of big ball-carriers through the pack and at centre, and experience in retaining possession, phases will be the key to bringing the back three of Hogg, Rory Lamont and Lee Jones into play, sapping French energy and cracking open holes.

It all starts with an almighty battle in the forwards where Scotland need good set-piece ball, and to uncover real improvement at the breakdown, but with the pack growing with each game and two openside flankers picked in Ross Rennie and John Barclay Scotland are certainly going for it.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:From my favourite Hootsman journalist and Andy Robinson's loyal dugg (dog) Ferguson :

Expediency of ending sequence of defeats means the creativity fans crave must wait

AT FIRST glance the Scotland team selected to face France does not reveal the new creative midfield that the national coaches and supporters have been desperately seeking, but there are two key reasons behind that and both come back to the simple immediacy of the need to win Sunday’s Test match. The first is the reality of Scotland’s current resources. With a worrying lack of centres with high-quality passing skills, and no John Leslie-type flying in, Andy Robinson and Gregor Townsend are eagerly watching the progress of young centres Matt Scott at Edinburgh and Clermont Auvergne’s Mark Bennett. But Robinson has learned from experience, notably the early debut he handed teenage centre Mathew Tait with England, that timing is crucial to ensuring talent is not ruined through premature exposure to Test intensity, which is one reason why he is not throwing Scott a debut this weekend.

It is debatable when the best time is to expose a young player, and we could argue the point over Scott, but Ruaridh Jackson, Richie Gray, Lee Jones, Dave Denton, Greig Laidlaw and Stuart Hogg have all been brought through from the ‘A’ team to the senior squad, from training involvement to a place in the 22, and their performances would attest to Robinson getting that right so far. Scott has joined the senior squad for training and so is, in essence, two steps behind Hogg.

The head coach and his assistants have also been sensible in allowing Hogg to remain at full-back for his first Test start this weekend. They agree with his coach at Glasgow, Sean Lineen, that the 19-year-old has the potential to excite at outside centre, but he has enjoyed only two runs there at professional level. At full-back he has found his feet and plays with real confidence, and with more time and space than that afforded at centre he will be a crucial figure in attack and defence on Sunday.

Injuries have also deprived Robinson of Max Evans (ankle) and Joe Ansbro (back). There was a hint from Robinson yesterday that he would have restored Evans to the 13 jersey and Sean Lamont to the wing had Evans recovered, while Ansbro could be a contender for the final two championship matches if he features for London Irish in the next two weeks.

Nick De Luca might have been retained at 13 but Robinson has opted instead for Lamont’s physique against 6ft 4in Rougerie. One suspects that De Luca has also paid the price for his rash sin-binning which opened the door to Wales two weeks ago.

The second key point is that as coaches are required to live in the moment while the rest of us can theorise on what may or may not happen were they to gamble with other selections, they are charged with creating a tactical plan around the players at their disposal to win Sunday’s game, and ease the pressure after four successive defeats.

So, looking at the fact that France have the most potent strike-force of any of the tournament’s sides and the best strike-rate over recent championships, having averaged nearly three per game – and three per game against Scotland in that time too (it is 20 years since they failed to touch down against Scotland) – it is understandable why defence is a primary thought.

He has resisted bringing Ruaridh Jackson back into the matchday squad, as the Glasgow fly-half needs more games after a lengthy period out injured, and is sticking with Greig Laidlaw, which chimes with the thoughts of most supporters.

However, as gutsy as he is Laidlaw is just 5ft 9in and so defence is not the strongest part of his game at Test level, as witnessed in Cardiff with one missed tackle letting 6ft 6in Alex Cuthbert in for a try and others contributing to Wales’ momentum. Laidlaw has good running and passing skills, and he is the sharpest rugby brain at Robinson’s disposal, but the idea of introducing youngster Scott alongside in the face of the marauding French back row and physical centres then becomes questionable.

Graeme Morrison’s greatest strength is his defence. He is not the free-running ball-player that Scott could be, and is still working to rediscover his best form, but he is resolute in Test rugby with great experience of nullifying French attacks.

This weekend Scotland will need that against the formidable duo of Wesley Fofana – the Clermont Auvergne youngster only made his debut against Italy but he is a potent mix of skill, pace and strength – and his veteran clubmate Aurelien Rougerie.

“I think that’s a great match-up with Fofana and Rougerie,” said Robinson. “It’s going to be a phenomenal battle in that midfield. Graeme has done well going back to Glasgow, captaining the side and in his performances, after being on the bench for us in the first game of the championship. Matt is still on that progression we have talked about. With the way we’re trying to play the game it’s important that we’re able to keep the ball for many phases. We believe that if we can play multi-phases against France then we can test them, and their fitness.

“Key to that is that the referee [Wayne Barnes] doesn’t allow France to slow the game down, but with Sean Lamont carrying the way he’s carried, and with Richie Gray, Ross Ford, David Denton and Graeme now as well, we will be able to keep the ball for many phases, and then it’s about taking the chances that we create.”

This weekend, creating chances first will be tougher than in the opening two games and this selection does not point to more line-breaks off first-phase. So how do Scotland uncork an attack to threaten the French?

Robinson alluded to his plan when he stated that the route to progress on Sunday lies with his side’s ability to retain possession and test France’s fitness levels. The French coach Philippe Saint-Andre pinpointed that on Tuesday, highlighting how his players were not used to games where the ball was in play for 46 minutes, as when Scotland played Wales. He cited Stade Francais’ match with Toulon in the Top 14 as showing a ball-in-play time of just 26 minutes. Robinson came up with another statistic of time.

“If you watch the Top 14 games the ball is in play around 26 seconds for each phase of play,” he said, “where we’ve been playing for two or three minutes of phases. They have a more stop-start nature to their game, so that’s where we have to try to impose our game, but you can only do that if you keep the ball.

“If we keep the ball and keep going forward then we can ask questions of this team, but if we are turning over ball or dropping passes it will allow France to get into the game.”

With the blend of big ball-carriers through the pack and at centre, and experience in retaining possession, phases will be the key to bringing the back three of Hogg, Rory Lamont and Lee Jones into play, sapping French energy and cracking open holes.

It all starts with an almighty battle in the forwards where Scotland need good set-piece ball, and to uncover real improvement at the breakdown, but with the pack growing with each game and two openside flankers picked in Ross Rennie and John Barclay Scotland are certainly going for it.

The Title says it all :

"Expediency of ending sequence of defeats means the creativity fans crave must wait"

Seriously...... Robinson, Townsend and ferguson must take us all for utter fools. Can't they see that the reason we are being defeated is because we are toothless in attack and cause the defences no problems whatsoever? The sequence of deafeats is not going to end untill we can start to threaten the defences we are attacking.

"One suspects that De Luca has also paid the price for his rash sin-binning which opened the door to Wales two weeks ago."

Yet Rory Lamont remains unpunished. NDL made a mistake on Sunday against Wales that probably did contribute to us losing the match, but I would take a Scott and NDL partnership over this bish bash bosh crash merchant centre we are going to have to endure on Sunday.

"So, looking at the fact that France have the most potent strike-force of any of the tournament’s sides and the best strike-rate over recent championships, having averaged nearly three per game – and three per game against Scotland in that time too (it is 20 years since they failed to touch down against Scotland) – it is understandable why defence is a primary thought."

Because playing a defencive game has worked really well for the last 20 years?

"Graeme Morrison’s greatest strength is his defence. He is not the free-running ball-player that Scott could be, and is still working to rediscover his best form, but he is resolute in Test rugby with great experience of nullifying French attacks."

See point above ^

“I think that’s a great match-up with Fofana and Rougerie,” said Robinson. “It’s going to be a phenomenal battle in that midfield."

I wouldn't really call it a battle , that suggests both sides have an equal chance of winning.

"Robinson alluded to his plan when he stated that the route to progress on Sunday lies with his side’s ability to retain possession and test France’s fitness levels."

These are professional rugby players, not the Alloa 3rd XV. Testing their fitness when they have had a 3 week recovery since their last test match is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard him say.

"It all starts with an almighty battle in the forwards where Scotland need good set-piece ball, and to uncover real improvement at the breakdown, but with the pack growing with each game and two openside flankers picked in Ross Rennie and John Barclay Scotland are certainly going for it."

Another abortion of a statement. The bulk of the bqckrow carrying and tackling responsibility now sits with Denton, and he is going to have to hope Gray, Ford and Cross get their sleeves rolled up and help him with tackling and carrying duties because he is going to have one long shift on Sunday if they don't.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:The Leaky defence is actually something of a myth. Lets just take the HC this year for example.

Castres Conceded 19 tries
RM92 conceded 19 tries
Bath Conceded 15 tries
Northampton Conceded 16 tries
Glasgow Conceded 12 Tries (more than Edinburgh, pay attention Andy Robinson)
Toulouse conceded 11
Glaws Conceded 11
Edinburgh Conceded 11 Tries
London Irish Conceded 11 tries
Munster Conceded 10 tries

Of course statistics like this only tell part of a story but Edinburgh don't concede as many tries as most people think.

They conceded one more try than Munster and only 3 more than Leinster.

funnyExiledScot wrote:What worries me is that there seems to be an acknowledgement in that articles that both Lineen and Robinson think Hogg should play at 13.

Why on God's earth would we do that? He played at 15 for the U20s, at 15 for Glasgow at the start of the season (with great success), at 15 for Scotland A (he was outstanding) and at 15 against Wales, where his appearance has earned him many plaudits.

I've only seen him have quiet games twice for Glasgow, and both times were at 13.

We have Bennett coming through, and Grove, NDL, Ansbro and Max Evans as good options at 13 (and Sean Lamont apparently). At 15, other than Hogg, we have Rory Lamont and Jim Thompson, possibly also Tom Brown. None of those have really convinced yet, although I hope next season with CP gone that Thompson can really stake a claim.

Hogg is better at 15, and we have a far bigger craving for cover at 15. This whole 13 business is nonsense. He should not be mucked about. He could become a really great 15.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

I'd quite like Glasgow to take a look at Jackson at 12 personally. He's perhaps lightweight but with the right 13 and wingers it could work.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Looking to the future, thought I'd take a look at what strength in depth we have across the backline:

9: Greig Laidlaw (I'm ignoring Blair, Cusiter and Lawson cos we might have them for the next 3 or so years, but I'd expect their powers to be on the wane) - possible alternatives are Ross Samson & Murray McConnell

10: Ruaridh Jackson, Duncan Weir, Harry Leonard, Gregor Hunter, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

11: Tim MacVisser (ignoring Sean Lamont for same reasons as SHs)

12: Matt Scott

13: Joe Ansbro, Nick de Luca, Alex Grove, Mark Bennett, Robbie Fergusson

14: Lee Jones, Max Evans, Sean Maitland, Jamie Farndale

15: Stuart Hogg, Tom Brown

There's a fair bit of talent coming thru (and I'm sure that I've missed some), but there are some worrying shortages, most notably at 9, 11 & 12. Any thoughts?

123456789 wrote:
15. Hogg
14. Jones
13. Evans
12. Scott
11. Visser
10. Laidlaw/Weir
9.Cusiter/ Blair

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Looking to the future, thought I'd take a look at what strength in depth we have across the backline:

9: Greig Laidlaw (I'm ignoring Blair, Cusiter and Lawson cos we might have them for the next 3 or so years, but I'd expect their powers to be on the wane) - possible alternatives are Ross Samson & Murray McConnell

10: Ruaridh Jackson, Duncan Weir, Harry Leonard, Gregor Hunter, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

11: Tim MacVisser (ignoring Sean Lamont for same reasons as SHs)

12: Matt Scott

13: Joe Ansbro, Nick de Luca, Alex Grove, Mark Bennett, Robbie Fergusson

14: Lee Jones, Max Evans, Sean Maitland, Jamie Farndale

15: Stuart Hogg, Tom Brown

There's a fair bit of talent coming thru (and I'm sure that I've missed some), but there are some worrying shortages, most notably at 9, 11 & 12. Any thoughts?

bsando wrote:

123456789 wrote:
15. Hogg
14. Jones
13. Evans
12. Scott
11. Visser
10. Laidlaw/Weir
9.Cusiter/ Blair

Now that would be good backline!! Really hope it eventuates.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fusaro isn't a number 8 - he's like 5ft 9!