New season, new Glasgow team

First topic message reminder :

Well then - plenty of Irish and Welsh stuff on these boards so let's have a couple of threads about the Scottish clubs.

Glasgow first.

Sean gone, Toonie in - what do posters think our first XV is going to look like and how well are we going to do this season?

Possible options are as follows - likely first choice followed by other options:

1. Grant (Welsh is out for 6 months following surgery)
2. Hall (MacArthur, Gillies)
3. Cusack (Low, Kalman)
4. Kellock (Harley, Gray)
5. Swinson (Ryder, Campbell)
6. Harley (Macdonald)
7. Fusaro (Barclay)
8. Ma’afu (Wilson)

9. Cusiter (Matawalu, Pyrgos)
10. Weir (Jackson, Wight, Russell)
11. DTH (Shaw)
12. Dunbar (Morrison, Dick)
13. Shlamont (Nathan, McGuigan)
14. Ramont (Seymour, Paris)
15. Hogg (Murchie, Thomson)

Not bad cover levels all round.

Here's hoping that our new Tongan, Kiwi, Fijian, Canadian and Aussie brethren can do us proud.

And that Toonie keeps his yapper shut about his own personal philosophy that scoring tries is meaningless frippery.

Love how this thread is degenerating into random gibberish given that we don't have any rugby to watch. OK there's S15, but difficult for me to watch.

Looking forward to the new season so we can have some proper rugby debates again.

George - agree that at this stage Glasgow's 2nd 15 looks stronger than Edinburgh in some positions, but will have to see how the new players go. Roll on September, and even the pre season games.

Well sounds like Glasgow had an encouraging start to their preseason warm-up games. Both new guys McGuigan and Paris scored tries against Castres this evening. Bodes well for the new signings

Good lad, Manky.

I see that the Ruck Inspector has been made captain again for this season:

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/news/14402.php

Perhaps too much to expect some innovative thinking from Toonie on this one.

Hopefully it's because Robinson has told him that Kellock won't be much needed for Scotland this season.....I doubt it though.

Cusiter would have been another option, or even Rob Harley (although perhaps the signing of MacDonald may limit his appearances).

Safe pair of hands though in Kellock. He certainly does like to shout a bit when he's on the pitch, and loves the point at other people during rucks. Surely that's leadership?

funnyExiledScot wrote:Hopefully it's because Robinson has told him that Kellock won't be much needed for Scotland this season.....I doubt it though.

Cusiter would have been another option, or even Rob Harley (although perhaps the signing of MacDonald may limit his appearances).

Safe pair of hands though in Kellock. He certainly does like to shout a bit when he's on the pitch, and loves the point at other people during rucks. Surely that's leadership?

In the same way that General Melchitt/Fieldmarshall Hague sending troops over the top was 'leadership', yes.

If Kellock is Melchett, surely Toonie is Darling??


GENERAL MELCHETT
There is, however, one small problem.
CAPTAIN BLACKADDER
That everyone always gets slaughtered in the first ten seconds?
GENERAL MELCHETT
That's right. And Field Marshall Haig is worried that this may be depressing the men a tadge. So, he's looking to find a way to cheer them up.
CAPTAIN BLACKADDER
Well, his resignation and suicide would seem the obvious suggestion.
GENERAL MELCHETT
Interesting thought. Make a note of it, Darling.


The analogy works.....

Townsend
You look surprised, Kellock.
Kellock
I certainly am, sir. I didn't realise we had any battle plans.
Townsend
Well, of course we have! How else do you think the battles are directed?
Kellock
Our battles are directed, sir?
Townsend
Well, of course they are, Kellock, directed according to the Grand Plan.
Kellock
Would that be the plan to continue with total slaughter until everyone's dead except Field Marshal Haig, Lady Haig and their tortoise, Alan?
Townsend
Great Scott! Even you know it!

Kellock: I want to see how a game of rugby is player… so badly.

Townsend: Well, you've come to the right place, Ruck Inspector. A game of rugby hasn’t been played this badly since Olaf the Hairy, High Chief of all the Vikings, accidentally ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside.

Interesting to note Duncan Weir's comments:

"I am looking to play a lot flatter to the gain line and to drop our boys into the holes, create more movement and pose more of a threat from first receiver.

"Last season we played more for territory and to put pressure on sides and that suited my kicking game. This time around Gregor wants us posing a lot more threat going forward and I am having to develop my game to be able to supply that"


Its good to see Glasgow addressing their relatively low try scoring record, but what can Townsend do that he didn't already try with Scotland? Also will this new approach perhaps favour Jacksons' style more than Weirs? Will the new approach be to the detriment of the organised defence that served them so well last season?

What do others think?
Looking forward to the season starting so we can get some answers

Don't quite understand the criticism of Kellock being appointed captain - he's the heart and sole of the Warriors and is held in high regard by both players and fans alike. Whether he is the best 2nd row or not is a different question, but not many can argue that he is a great leader for the warriors.

Put it this way - if ever there was a player that I would want to come down with a bad dose of the squirts the night before the 1872 games it would be Kellock!

I agree, I'm being unfair. He is a good club player and a decent leader within the Glasgow squad and commands respect.

Where I draw the line is seeing him as an international captain. By international standards I don't think he's good enough as a player, and I think that detracts from his leadership.

Many parallels with Steve Borthwick.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I agree, I'm being unfair. He is a good club player and a decent leader within the Glasgow squad and commands respect.

Where I draw the line is seeing him as an international captain. By international standards I don't think he's good enough as a player, and I think that detracts from his leadership.

Many parallels with Steve Borthwick.

To date I would say Kellock merited inclusion in the Scotland squad as he was our 3rd or 4th best lock. However it looks like things have changed slightly and our depth at 2nd row is improving so perhaps there is an argument for giving Gilchrist / Swinson / McKenzie a shot instead?

While I don't think Kellock is a superstar, he does work hard and is still one of our top 3 locks, along with Gray and Hamilton. On his day he is terrifyingly brilliant, but he's mostly a good, rather than great, player. He's not terrible, as some on here often suggest.

How old is Swinson? AR has a lot more choice at lock than in previous years, I hope he gives some of the younger guys a chance, like he did with Gray.

I like Kellock, occasionally does a little too much ruck inspecting or face gesticulation but usually puts in a decent shift as well as being a cracking line-out operator. He's obviously a good leader on the pitch and says the right things off it, long-term I'd like to see Harley captain Glasgow.

For Scotland he's definitely 3rd choice and while off the bench he doesn't necessarily make a huge impact he is a safe pair of hands and his leadership really helps in tight matches.

Perhaps a season too early for Gilchrist to make the step up? But would like to see McKenzie and possibly Swinson challenging him for the bench spot come 6 Nations.

How good are Campbell, Gray Jnr, McAlpine or even Sinclair likely to be?

ReallyBored - McAlpine is a big unit and a lot of talent - although young, for me he's the potentially the best of the last four that you mentioned.

Look, sorry to upset the Kellockites out there but for a guy his size, he really should be at the coal face more. Jim Hamilton gets stuck in much more and with Gray there, Al doesn't even need to run the line out. Kellock wouldn't even be in the top four of Hines hadn't scratched his name off the team sheet.

Seems we're all expecting a lot from Swinson - here's hoping he doesn't disappoint.

GC if Hines was still available for Scotland he'd be partnering Gray, the guy is pure class.

Not related to Glasgow but Euan Murray has joined Agen on a three-month loan deal.

Captain_Sensible wrote:While I don't think Kellock is a superstar, he does work hard and is still one of our top 3 locks, along with Gray and Hamilton. On his day he is terrifyingly brilliant, but he's mostly a good, rather than great, player. He's not terrible, as some on here often suggest.

How old is Swinson? AR has a lot more choice at lock than in previous years, I hope he gives some of the younger guys a chance, like he did with Gray.

Swinson is 25. He's pretty small for a lock, which does concern me slightly as we're talking up his international aspirations, but by all accounts he's a real battler, and a fully committed player.

I've never seen Kellock "terrifyingly brilliant" in a Scotland jersey.

He's also not a terrible player either. He a good club player, and an adequate lock at international level. He's pretty consistent overall. Decent lineout, carries a bit (not particularly effectively) and works hard (although again, without providing the impact you'd expect from a player his size).

He's behind Hamilton and Gray, and a good distance behind Hines. As Hines has retired from international rugby, Kellock has rightly been 3rd choice at lock. This season at Glasgow he has stiff competition from Ryder and Swinson, although I'm not sure that both of them provide the necessary bulk to form a combination (both are 6ft 4 and under 18 stone). Perhaps more likely that big Nick Campbell will make strides this season and factor into the equation as the "enforcer".

McAlpine is hardly a "unit". Tall, but I'm not sure he's fully filled out yet. He could use an extra stone of muscle in my view at his height. Currently he's 6ft 7 and 17 stone. 6ft 7 and 18 - 19 stone and he'd be some player (i.e. the same measurements as Nick Campbell and Grant Gilchrist).

As for Glasgow captaincy, I think Harley would have had it this season but for the arrival of Angus MacDonald. Kellock is probably the more likely starter, unless Campbell really comes on fast. The other option would have been Chris Cusiter, guaranteed to start, but perhaps Toonie wanted a forward.

Yes, I noticed Euge having moved. Agen placed about 8th last year so will be looking to improve on that this year. Hopefully packing down against Poux and the like will get him to up his game.

Interesting that on the Falcons threads they don't seem to be crying into their Newkie Brown.

reallybored wrote:Not related to Glasgow but Euan Murray has joined Agen on a three-month loan deal.

I'm not best pleased by this development. He was started to come into some form over the summer and I think Dean Richards would have been a good man for Murray to be under. Plus at Newcastle there are a few Scots players to keep him in touch and he's also close to the Scotland training camps. I hope this temporary move doesn't unsettle him.

Obviously there are some possible benefits. Agen will be playing to a higher standard than Newcastle I suspect, and the experience may do him some good.

Still, I'd rather he'd just settle into the Falcons 1st XV and work hard this season to continue his improvement.

Good for Scotland and relief for Andy Robinson that he's playing for a top flight club again.

They don't seem too bothered about him leaving, but he started getting his mojo back in the summer tour so lets hope it lasts. Just a sham the ABs game is on a Sunday!

George Carlin wrote:Interesting that on the Falcons threads they don't seem to be crying into their Newkie Brown.

I think that's more down to money, and the fact that they have an able and cheaper replacement. The assumption is that Agen are picking up Murray's not inconsiderable wages for the first 3 months of the season. Enough saving to allow Richards to purchase a more sophisticated array of blood capsules....

funnyExiledScot wrote:
McAlpine is hardly a "unit". Tall, but I'm not sure he's fully filled out yet. He could use an extra stone of muscle in my view at his height. Currently he's 6ft 7 and 17 stone. 6ft 7 and 18 - 19 stone and he'd be some player (i.e. the same measurements as Nick Campbell and Grant Gilchrist).

Slightly nitpicky FES old socks - the statistic you didn't mention is that Rob is only 21, which is plenty time for a professional conditioning programme to shape him. I watched him at West and he's dynamic for a lad his size. I'm less concerned at present with how large he is - he seems to be a very good footballer which can't be said about every big lump who claims to be a lock.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Interesting that on the Falcons threads they don't seem to be crying into their Newkie Brown.

I think that's more down to money, and the fact that they have an able and cheaper replacement. The assumption is that Agen are picking up Murray's not inconsiderable wages for the first 3 months of the season. Enough saving to allow Richards to purchase a more sophisticated array of blood capsules....

Apparently Tam Shepherd's have quite a tab open for our Dean.

I've always said that you can make a good rugby player bigger, you can't often make a big guy a good rugby player.

Yes he was a stick insect last season but hopefully he's been on the chunk diet over the summer!

Plus as mentioned he is still young.

Gilchrist at 4 for the bulk and McAlpine at 5 for the athleticism and lineout - that's the future for Edinburgh right there!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Just a shame the ABs game is on a Sunday!

To be honest, I don't think Murray would have gained us much advantage over Woodcock or Franks in the scrum, and given the fast and dynamic pace the ABs put on the game, big heavy forwards are only really worth having if it translates into set piece advantage. I don't see it as the end of the world if Cross or Low were to start that game, as both put in a considerable amount more in terms of contribution in the loose.

We need forwards, from 1-8, who are going to work their socks off to (a) smash rucks and achieve quick ball for us, and (b) have the energy and dynamism to smash rucks and slow down their ball.

I'd similarly only select Jim Hamilton if he's fully fit. Against the ABs last time round he looked really slow and cumbersome. They just don't play his kind of game. They don't maul much and they don't hang about to allow the likes of him to exert his physicality. The ABs are also sufficiently competent at the set piece to prevent far better sides than us from dominating, so we ought to select carefully for that game, taking into account the enforced absence of Murray. We aren't going to dominate their set piece, so let's pick accordingly.

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:
McAlpine is hardly a "unit". Tall, but I'm not sure he's fully filled out yet. He could use an extra stone of muscle in my view at his height. Currently he's 6ft 7 and 17 stone. 6ft 7 and 18 - 19 stone and he'd be some player (i.e. the same measurements as Nick Campbell and Grant Gilchrist).

Slightly nitpicky FES old socks - the statistic you didn't mention is that Rob is only 21, which is plenty time for a professional conditioning programme to shape him. I watched him at West and he's dynamic for a lad his size. I'm less concerned at present with how large he is - he seems to be a very good footballer which can't be said about every big lump who claims to be a lock.

I completely agree. I'm just saying that I think this guy is going to be a late developer, that's all. Some players don't reach their optimal size until slightly later down the line, and I see MacAlpine very much in that category. I'm hugely excited about his potential. As other have noted, he's a proper rugby player, and is comfortable handling the ball. Hopefully we have the next Scott Murray on our hands here.

In that case Richie Gray and Fraser McKenzie might be a good bet - power and athleticism in bucketloads. I'd love to see what McKenzie can do at this level if he's had a good pre season with Sale and managed to stay injury free.

I agree about the last ABs game - Murray and Hamilton looked like cruiseliners compared to the AB props in terms of speed and turning circle.

My worry is just that we're going to get dominated everywhere else, it would be good if we managed to attack their set piece!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Gilchrist at 4 for the bulk and McAlpine at 5 for the athleticism and lineout - that's the future for Edinburgh right there!

Completely agree. Cox, Parker and VDW are just stop gaps as far as I'm concerned. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have some very promising Scottish lock partnerships developing.

Edinburgh

4.Gilchrist
5.MacAlpine

Glasgow

4.Campbell
5.Gray (Jnr)

In three seasons time those combinations could be well settled.

Cox can go and fulfil the role vacated by Danny Grewcock at Bath - i.e. the yellow card/psycho role.
Kellock can replace Borthwick like for like at Sarries.
VDW can also go to Sarries, to feel more at home.

I'm not even thinking about the ABs game right now - I'll just get myself depressed.

Gray and McKenzie sounds like a promising long term combo, but McKenzie will have to have superb start of the season for Sale if he's to force himself into contention. I suppose it'll help his cause to be packing down next to Gray week in week out. It's always good to be able to carry club combos across to international level.

RDW_Scotland wrote:In that case Richie Gray and Fraser McKenzie might be a good bet - power and athleticism in bucketloads. I'd love to see what McKenzie can do at this level if he's had a good pre season with Sale and managed to stay injury free.

I agree about the last ABs game - Murray and Hamilton looked like cruiseliners compared to the AB props in terms of speed and turning circle.

My worry is just that we're going to get dominated everywhere else, it would be good if we managed to attack their set piece!

I'd certainly consider that combination if fit. Other possibles to consider are Swinson or Harley, if they both manage strong starts to the season. Gray and MacKenzie would be a very dynamic duo.

I know it sounds like I'm conceding any possibility of dominance, or even parity at the set piece, but the fact is that the ABs don't tend to make much of it anyway. If we are serious about continuing this fast paced off-loading style of play, even against the ABs, then we ought to do it properly, and select accordingly. The danger is we end up somewhere between the two. Losing solidity in the set piece, but not going for it in the backline, and ending up in a mess. Sure, the ABs are a lethal counter-attacking force, so we can just play fast and loose all the time, but they are also a very effective defensive unit, and I can't see us scoring many unless we are prepared to play at tempo and chance our arm. As we saw last time, players like Murray and Hamilton don't really cope with the pace of the ABs. I'd perhaps put Strokosch in that bracket as well. Obviously if the weather is to throw up a monsoon, then things will be different, but on a cold crisp day, I'd want each and every member of my pack able to operate at tempo in the loose.

Good point regarding Strokosh too - he also moves as fast as tectonic plates in comparison to the AB backrow. Desperately need KB back for the ABs.

Right, a up-tempo team then? Here goes...

1. Grant
2. Ford
3. Cross
4. McKenzie
5. Gray
6. Brown
7. Rennie
8. Denton

9. Laidlaw
10. Weir
11. Visser
12. Scott
13. NDL
14. Ansbro
15. Hogg

Subs - MacArthur, Low, Hamilton, Barclay, Blair, Dunbar, Brown.

I know this is turning a Glasgow thread into a Scotland one, but surely an up tempo team would have Blair at 9 and Laidlaw 10??

Fair point, RDW. Not keen on picking Blair if he isnt playing top flight rugby though.

To be fair to Murray his work rate on the summer tour was top notch and Hamilton's was much improved last year after slimming down to a svelte 19 stone.

Disagree about trying to take the ABs on at an off-loading game, we'd get killed. Against the Boks I'd advocate a quicker game plan to try and negate their colossus pack but not against the Barcelona of rugby.

Use our set-piece to disrupt their ball, especially at the line-out, and try keep them in their 22 with Weir's siege gun boot. Obviously we'll have a threat out-wide with Hogg and Visser but if we're to beat them it'll be up front.

Grant, Ford, Cross/Low (form dependent), Hamilton, Gray, Brown, Rennie, Denton, Cusiter, Weir, Visser, Scott, De Luca, Lamont, Hogg

MacArthur, Cross/Low, Kellock, Beattie, Laidlaw, Dunbar, Lamont

Good team, reallybored, that's almost exactly the line-up I'd pick to play the ABs, as I do think we'll get burned if we play high-risk rugby.

Just a few changes - I'd play Laidlaw at 9 and put Cusiter on the bench, as I think Greig provides that essential creative spark. I'd also play Ansbro on the wing instead of Sean Lamont, and put Tom Brown on the bench in place of Rory Lamont to cover wing and fullback.

Having watched my first season of Super 15 rugby. First rule against a New Zealand team, do not kick the ball to their back three! Chiefs, Hurricanes and Crusader are deadly when the back three get the ball in a counter attack situation.

Tactic possibly would be to keep it tight with the forwards. Make His Lordship McCaw be the first tackler and make sure the 2nd Scot to the break down is there before McCaw gets to his feet.

Offloading game is fine as long as their ready to defend when they loose the ball as the Kiwis pounce on any mistake.

Their set piece will range from being stable to good. Hooker is the only position they'll be weak in as both Hore and Mealamu are aging and Hike is being kept out the Chiefs by the Samoan.

To be honest I'm a little more confident about this game now that SBW is out, I was worried about what would happen when he took on Matt Scott. I'd also pick Weir because I'm afraid about Laidlaw's punting will play to their back three, however I'd pick Laidlaw or Blair at 9 for their kicking games. I'd also try to play a fast, dynamic pack to try to counteract their fast rucking game.

Matt Scott isn't a bad tackler, but I see your point about SBW - lots of excellent defensive 12s have been made to look a bit silly when playing against him.

Scott can look forward to tackling Ma'a Nonu instead...

reallybored wrote:Disagree about trying to take the ABs on at an off-loading game, we'd get killed. Against the Boks I'd advocate a quicker game plan to try and negate their colossus pack but not against the Barcelona of rugby.

Use our set-piece to disrupt their ball, especially at the line-out, and try keep them in their 22 with Weir's siege gun boot. Obviously we'll have a threat out-wide with Hogg and Visser but if we're to beat them it'll be up front.

Depends on the weather. If a stormy monsoon, then yes, take them on upfront by all means. If dry, a limited game plan based on the set piece and kicking the ball away is the surest way of losing. Yes, it may well limit the damage, but in terms of us developing our game to best suit the players available, and giving ourselves any chance of victory (which is slim whichever way you look at it), we must be willing to take risks.

If anything it's against the Boks that you most need the likes of Murray and Hamilton. The ABs will take us on all over the park, but most specifically out wide. They will play hard and fast through the middle and around the fringes and then strike out wide with quick ball. No other team in the world is as adept at finding space out wide and creating mismatches, and it all stems from the speed of their play. The Boks are a different beast. They are physical in every position and look to win every contact. They will target our scrum and maul, and will bash away with ferocity at every opportunity. The good news is that they are as likely to ignore an overwhelming overlap as any side in order to take a drop goal through Steyn, or hammer away a few more phases through the middle. Exactly why players like Murray, Hamilton and Strokosch are more suited to countering the Boks. The Beast's technique has also been taken apart by Murray before, and I'd like to see that happen again. The ABs front five isn't as physically imposing, but it is technically very good. I see no advantage to be gleened in "taking them on up front", certainly not at the expense of being able to live with the pace of the game that they will undoubtedly be seeking to play.

If we are to impose our own game on any of these sides, it should be the same game that we've been working on over the last few months. Keep the ball, off load in the tackle where possible, looking to move the point of contact at every opportunity, using Blair and Laidlaw to find any chinks in the opposition and get runners like Visser, De Luca and Hogg into mismatches against their forwards. Avoid kicking the ball away at all costs, and if it must be done, chase like our lives depended on it. Heads up rugby with plenty confidence. Yes, we'll make mistakes and we may well lose to the top two sides in the world, but you never know, we may actually improve as a team and learn something.

Clearly if conditions are as they were against Australia something different will be required, and in those circumstances we need to adapt (and I think the team selection would be different as well). But assuming conditions are fair and the ground hard, we should not revert to the Hadden/Parks game plan of keep it tight, kick to the corners, use our lineout to stiffle their ball and kick points when on offer. I don't think that plays to our strengths any more.

Wow you guys have gone seriously off piste since I was last here, with the exception of FES's last well reasoned post.

Let's resume;

Swinson for Scotland - decent player in AP last season in a losing team and haven't even seen him play for Glasgow yet.
Laidlaw/Weir- Laidlaw is still playing 10 afaik and while a very good 9 that's where he'll play for the time being. As for Weir kicking it down the AB's back 3's throats don't think so.
Dunbar - I like him, but I'd like to see him own his starting spot at Glasgow before seeing him as an option against the World Champs.
Beattie - was rubbish last season. Hopefully comes good after his move until he does having him anywhere near a Scotland team is a joke.

Re: Dunbar, I really do hope he beds down as the preferred 12 at Glasgow this season. Although not a particularly creative distributor, he is quick on his feet, has a nice turn of pace and is pretty physical. Those attributes in themselves create opportunities for others. Stick a quick silver DHT (or Hogg) outside him and that could be a really sharp combination for Weir or Jackson to work with.

With Edinburgh I think we'll get more of the same this season (hopefully with better league results). Glasgow will be really interesting this season, but in the forwards and the backs this season. Intriguing.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Re: Dunbar, I really do hope he beds down as the preferred 12 at Glasgow this season. Although not a particularly creative distributor, he is quick on his feet, has a nice turn of pace and is pretty physical. Those attributes in themselves create opportunities for others. Stick a quick silver DHT (or Hogg) outside him and that could be a really sharp combination for Weir or Jackson to work with.

I agree 100% with this. It would be a mistake for Glasgow to automatically go back to playing Morrison at 12 - give Dunbar the shirt, let him grow into it and keep him there if he plays well. I'd like to see him push for a cap during the 6 Nations if he has a good start to the season, as we need genuine competitors to Matt Scott at international level. He also covers both centre positions, which is useful.

As for the ABs game, I'm going to be stubborn and stick to my guns on a Laidlaw/Weir halfback partnership. Weir can offer a lot with ball in hand, particularly with a creative 9 (Laidlaw) and 12 (Matt Scott) on either side of him. I really think we'll need his massive clearing kicks to relieve pressure on our line. Hogg can clear from penalties, but from open play you need a flyhalf with a big nudge if you're going to be besieged on your own line for long periods, as we probably will be. It would be a huge ask to give him his first competitive start vs the ABs, but he's dealt with everything thrown at him so far.

Of course, all this depends on Laidlaw getting game time at scrum half for Edinburgh, which is unlikely.

Captain Sensible (I loved 'Happy Talk' by the way, the first song I ever remembered hearing on Top Of The Pops, which shows my age) - I agree that we need a conventional 10 skillset and also that we need to keep Laidlaw on the field.

The key is certainly whether Robinson intends to continue with the offloading game. I think that almost certainly he is and this alone will be enough to keep the halfback hinge that swept the SH opposition this summer.

Two interesting side issues:

1. Will Blair now fall out of favour as (officially) he is no longer playing in a top flight division?

2. As Robinson has a history of preferring Jackson to the Meatball, what does this mean for an alternative game plan? As I've banged on about on other threads, Jackson doesn't play an offloading game as well as Laidlaw and doesn't play a tactical kicking game as well as Weir. Would be a mistake to choose him but it's possible.

George Carlin wrote:Captain Sensible (I loved 'Happy Talk' by the way, the first song I ever remembered hearing on Top Of The Pops, which shows my age) - I agree that we need a conventional 10 skillset and also that we need to keep Laidlaw on the field.

The key is certainly whether Robinson intends to continue with the offloading game. I think that almost certainly he is and this alone will be enough to keep the halfback hinge that swept the SH opposition this summer.

Two interesting side issues:

1. Will Blair now fall out of favour as (officially) he is no longer playing in a top flight division?

2. As Robinson has a history of preferring Jackson to the Meatball, what does this mean for an alternative game plan? As I've banged on about on other threads, Jackson doesn't play an offloading game as well as Laidlaw and doesn't play a tactical kicking game as well as Weir. Would be a mistake to choose him but it's possible.

I think I'm too young for Happy Talk (sorry!) - I only used Captain Sensible because it was my nickname at school.

AR says he's willing to pick non-top flight players, so I'm pretty sure Blair will get a look in. If not I'm obviously happy to see him play Cusiter as long as he performs for Glasgow.

If they pick Jackson at 10 then they really need Laidlaw at 9 for the place-kicking. Jackson's technique is nowhere near international standard. You're right about him falling between two Laidlaw and Weir shaped stools - he's a decent third choice at the moment, nothing more. Unless he edges out Weir in a fair fight at Glasgow, it would be very silly for AR to select him.

Am ancient (35).

No shame there, George. 35 is the new 25, don't you know.

At least, that's what I'll console myself with in nine years time.

Captain_Sensible wrote:No shame there, George. 35 is the new 25, don't you know.

At least, that's what I'll console myself with in nine years time.

My haircut's older than that.

Don't worry guys, just think of ASBO. Now he's old enough to be Mark Bennett's great grandfather......