Scotland Fans' 2014 6N of hell Post-mortem

First topic message reminder :

EDIT March 18th post-Scotland's capitulation to Wales

So, it's the end of the six nations. I have to say the intention of this early prediction thread was to calm all suppositions that Scotland might be anywhere near a threat this year. I have maintained that things look better with Cotter coming in (and hopefully not having to resort to 5th/6th choice wings, though that couldn't have been predicted).

Someone pointed out that in this last game if Wales had received the red card the scoreline would not have been the same in reverse. In fact I would be very worried that we still would have lost. To me it feels like it was an excuse to put the heads down/give Johnson the farewell he deserves.

Personally, I am lost for words. Not really sure where to go from here.

Anyone?

***

EDIT March 8th post-Scotland's capitulation to France.

Come hither one and all and we shall drink our sorrows away...

***
EDIT February 8th post-Scotland's capitulation to England & Ireland

I was right all along.

***

I got this in early because I did not want to see anybody from any nation suggest for any minute that Scotland has a chance of doing anything other than :

a) Cleaning their dirties in a smeg [White Wash]
b) Making lots of soup this winter [wooden spoon]
c) Scraping a win against Italy , in the dying seconds after a urine poor performance , which still might result in "b)" anyway.

No they did not beat Ireland.  
No they did not beat England.
No they did not beat France.  
No they did not beat Wales.  

They might *look* like they are going to win to any outsiders no privy to the Scotland set up, but I guarantee you no sensible Scottish fan will be expecting anything but a, b & c this season.

Why?

• We have an interim coach (for over a year!!!)who is more worried about what he says on camera than apparently coaching a sensible game plan
  
• Our breakdown is awful
  
• We have the psychological hardness of my nan - you don't know my nan but that's not good
  
• Our best players are either never played in position, not allowed to play in the XXIII at all, or are just awful at the moment. Not making the injury excuse because frankly it doesn't apply with exception of 2 key players that might be back in time. Happens in every squad
  
• etc, etc (feel free to add to this list)
  

So look, when we are compiling our 6N predictions this year, can we just for once all agree on something?

1. AN Other
2. AN Other
3. AN Other
4. AN Other
5. Maybe Scotland
6. Probably Scotland

Anyone mentions "dark horses" and "Scotland" in the same sentence without a negation clause in there somewhere (and you KNOW what I mean) I am getting our the knuckle dusters    

depressing eh! lol

Righto mr RDW. Name the next eligable (meaning currently playing pro rugby and available for selection) player who is next behind Shlong in the try scoring records! (hint, he ain't in the training sqaud)

I thought it would be Lamont, the 12 was a guess!

Visser?

Nikki Walker?

Ally Hogg with 10 lol

(disclaimer, I suspected it was Hogg but i did check on the interwebs - sue me)

Wow that's embarrasing.

Bet Brian O'Driscoll has more tries than our squad combined.

See this is why Laidlaw needs to start - we obviously don't score many tries so need to kick our goals!

Player Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop GfM Won
BJ Barrett (NZ) 2012-2013 16 2 14 57 4 11 5 0 0 16

Is this the best player ever?

A while back I think Tom Smith was our top try scorer in consecutive championships, or something silly like that.

Tries are overrated, at least that's what Toonie seems to believe.

Ahhh, tries those fabled five pointy things.
Anyone else remember the try drout a few years ago where we went an entire season without scoring one at Murrayfield! It was ended by Simon Danielli of all people!

This is depressing. On the subject of keeping things in perspective, I did find this table interesting:

Scottish Rugby Coaches

Name/Tenure/Tests/Won/Drew/Lost/Win %

Bill Dickinson	1971–1977	27	14	0	13	52.0
Nairn McEwan	1977–1980	14	1	2	11	7.0
Jim Telfer	1980–1984	27	13	2	12	52.0
Colin Telfer	1984-1984	2	0	0	2	00.0
Derrick Grant	1985–1988	22	9	1	12	43.0
Ian McGeechan	1988–1993	33	19	1	13	58.0
Jim Telfer	1994–1999	53	21	2	30	40.0
Ian McGeechan	2000–2003	43	18	1	24	42.0
Matt Williams	2003–2005	17	3	0	14	18.0
Frank Hadden	2005–2009	41	16	0	25	39.0
Andy Robinson	2009 – 2012	35	15	1	19	42.9
Scott Johnson (interim)	2012 – 2014	11	4	0	7	36.36
Vern Cotter	2014 –

Even over our mini-golden period circa-1991 when we won the Grand Slam and came 4th in the RWC, we were still only winning at 58%

Should we just be content to be competitive?

Discuss.  

George Carlin wrote:This is depressing. On the subject of keeping things in perspective, I did find this table interesting:

Scottish Rugby Coaches

Name/Tenure/Tests/Won/Drew/Lost/Win %

Bill Dickinson	1971–1977	27	14	0	13	52.0
Nairn McEwan	1977–1980	14	1	2	11	7.0
Jim Telfer	1980–1984	27	13	2	12	52.0
Colin Telfer	1984-1984	2	0	0	2	00.0
Derrick Grant	1985–1988	22	9	1	12	43.0
Ian McGeechan	1988–1993	33	19	1	13	58.0
Jim Telfer	1994–1999	53	21	2	30	40.0
Ian McGeechan	2000–2003	43	18	1	24	42.0
Matt Williams	2003–2005	17	3	0	14	18.0
Frank Hadden	2005–2009	41	16	0	25	39.0
Andy Robinson	2009 – 2012	35	15	1	19	42.9
Scott Johnson (interim)	2012 – 2014	11	4	0	7	36.36
Vern Cotter	2014 –

Even over our mini-golden period circa-1991 when we won the Grand Slam and came 4th in the RWC, we were still only winning at 58%

Should we just be content to be competitive?

Discuss.  

Resources, Resources, Resources!

I think McGeechan, who you would have to say was our most successful coach, both at Scotland and at world level felt that it was probably realistic for us to beat England about 2 years in 10 and that was at the advent of professionalism. We have no doubt slipped back since then (but hopefully picking up a bit now)

I would be more than happy for us to be winning at 58%, that would stand up pretty well across the Northern Hemisphere as a whole, considering we now all play the SH often and usually lose! You can't get away from the fact that we have two professional teams and a very small playing base. We can be and are very competitive sometimes but sustaining it on our kind of numbers is always going to be a huge challenge. In the past we have often been just one injury away from a crisis and we have capped players that would never have had a look in from other countries.

Things are better now but we are still very thin, especially when you compare us to England and France. Wales and Ireland have enjoyed an amazing few years, but it remains to be seen if they can sustain it as well.

Matt Williams - 18%   

RDW_Scotland wrote:Sean Lamont - 12

Imagine my surprise as I logged onto this thread and saw that first without it's previous context. Was thinking blimey the Matt Scott debate has moved on fast!

Glad to see that the OP is keeping everyone in check   

For what it's worth I think Kelly Brown will make a good 7 and clearly with Saracens as well as Scotland somebody , either he or a combo of coaches (from different countries, so more likely he?) has decided it's the better decision. However I still miss him at 6, I thought he was fantastic there.

Edinburgh name the same squad as last week - so still no Matt Scott or Ross Rennie.

Surely Matt Scott can't be considered for selection for the opening games now?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh name the same squad as last week - so still no Matt Scott or Ross Rennie.

Surely Matt Scott can't be considered for selection for the opening games now?

It would be a big ask for sure. Maybe the bench at best. So would that be a centre combo of Taylor/Dunbar or Dunbar/De Luca then. I would go for the former.

I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh name the same squad as last week - so still no Matt Scott or Ross Rennie.

Surely Matt Scott can't be considered for selection for the opening games now?

It would be a big ask for sure. Maybe the bench at best. So would that be a centre combo of Taylor/Dunbar or Dunbar/De Luca then. I would go for the former.

Either way, coaches tend to stick with the same team throughout the 6N, so if Matt Scott isn't playing in the first game he might struggle to force his way back into the team - especially if Dunbar is playing well.

10p says that with Scott still out that we do infact see Shlong at 12 for Scotland with Dunbar at 13?

I'd like to see a Dunbar/Taylor combo given a whirl. They're both absolute units, and can distribute pretty well.

tigertattie wrote:10p says that with Scott still out that we do infact see Shlong at 12 for Scotland with Dunbar at 13?

That would be just about the worst combo of them all. While I can just about see Lamont as a 13 it just does not work as a 12 as he cannot pass. We have moved on from one dimensional battering ram 12's. Dunbar and Taylor can both run hard and straight, but they can pass and off load as well. Luckily I suspect the need for him to play on the wing where we are a little bit short will over ride any such madness!

Majestic83 wrote:I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

Gutted about this. I've heard good things about him and as you say we are really lacking numbers at 3. Considering that’s us lost a SQ player at 10 a few months ago and now potentially losing a SQ tighthead, someone within the SRU needs to be ensuring we don't lose any more of our already limited player numbers.

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:10p says that with Scott still out that we do infact see Shlong at 12 for Scotland with Dunbar at 13?

That would be just about the worst combo of them all. While I can just about see Lamont as a 13 it just does not work as a 12 as he cannot pass. We have moved on from one dimensional battering ram 12's. Dunbar and Taylor can both run hard and straight, but they can pass and off load as well. Luckily I suspect the need for him to play on the wing where we are a little bit short will over ride any such madness!

Shlong is at 13 this weekend, maybe in preparation...

EWT Spoons wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

Gutted about this.  I've heard good things about him and as you say we are really lacking numbers at 3.  Considering that’s us lost a SQ player at 10 a few months ago and now potentially losing a SQ tighthead, someone within the SRU needs to be ensuring we don't lose any more of our already limited player numbers.

Its swings and roundabouts and in that funfair we probably win more than we lose. Did Allen look like an international quality fly half when he played in Edinburgh last week? We would not have been capping him anytime soon if at all.

I think we lost this young man a long time ago when he went into the English system. I don't think they are calling him up to stop us tying him in, but because he is a good player. He has made his choice and so good luck to him.

BigGee wrote: Did Allen look like an international quality fly half when he played in Edinburgh last week?.

Nope.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:

tigertattie wrote:10p says that with Scott still out that we do infact see Shlong at 12 for Scotland with Dunbar at 13?

That would be just about the worst combo of them all. While I can just about see Lamont as a 13 it just does not work as a 12 as he cannot pass. We have moved on from one dimensional battering ram 12's. Dunbar and Taylor can both run hard and straight, but they can pass and off load as well. Luckily I suspect the need for him to play on the wing where we are a little bit short will over ride any such madness!

Shlong is at 13 this weekend, maybe in preparation...

If he plays 13 then who plays on the wing. Seymour has been out injured for a few weeks as well. It would probably be Dougie or Maxy then!

I'd still rather go with Taylor/Dunbar, Schlong on the wing and Scott on the bench if fit

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

Gutted about this.  I've heard good things about him and as you say we are really lacking numbers at 3.  Considering that’s us lost a SQ player at 10 a few months ago and now potentially losing a SQ tighthead, someone within the SRU needs to be ensuring we don't lose any more of our already limited player numbers.

Its swings and roundabouts and in that funfair we probably win more than we lose. Did Allen look like an international quality fly half when he played in Edinburgh last week? We would not have been capping him anytime soon if at all.

I think we lost this young man a long time ago when he went into the English system. I don't think they are calling him up to stop us tying him in, but because he is a good player. He has made his choice and so good luck to him.

No, granted Allen didn't look like an international quality flyhalf against Edinburgh, but he’s still a young man and I’m sure there is a reason he’s playing for Perpignan.  Also for clarity I don’t mean that Allen should have got a full international cap for us, but maybe some time in an ‘A’ game to tie him to us.  Now to be honest I’m not that bothered about losing Allen, I was just putting it out there.

You’re possibly right about Wilson being lost to us a long time ago, but if we had beaten England to the punch it would have at least given him something to think about.  Also you’re right that he’s not been called up to the Saxons to stop him playing for us, they’ve called him up because they think he’s good enough, and if he is good enough for the Saxons then I’m pretty sure he would have been good enough to play for the Sco A side.

I understand we can’t hand out caps to everyone on the off chance they turn out to be half decent, but Wilson has been talked about for a while (as had Allen) so the SRU must have known we could lose out on him.

I agree with what you're saying and clearly we've done ok through the like of Swinson, Ryan Wilson etc, but I think I’m just more annoyed about this because of the lack of depth we have a tighthead.

With the news that Ross Rennie is off to Bristol on loan in order to 're-energise' him, it does make the decision to bring him back into the squad a little bit more perplexing and makes it far more likely that Brown will fill the 7 role.

Maybe they just wanted to keep him integrated with the squad, knowing or hoping that he will be back at some stage. Form being temporary and class permanent and all that.

Make's you wonder as well just how well SJ communicates with the professional coaches, as Soloman's clearly does not think he is right in body or mind to play for them at the moment, yet he is still picked in the national squad.

This may well be a good move for RR, but the whole picture does seem to be a bit of a mess!

EWT Spoons wrote:

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

Gutted about this.  I've heard good things about him and as you say we are really lacking numbers at 3.  Considering that’s us lost a SQ player at 10 a few months ago and now potentially losing a SQ tighthead, someone within the SRU needs to be ensuring we don't lose any more of our already limited player numbers.

Its swings and roundabouts and in that funfair we probably win more than we lose. Did Allen look like an international quality fly half when he played in Edinburgh last week? We would not have been capping him anytime soon if at all.

I think we lost this young man a long time ago when he went into the English system. I don't think they are calling him up to stop us tying him in, but because he is a good player. He has made his choice and so good luck to him.

No, granted Allen didn't look like an international quality flyhalf against Edinburgh, but he’s still a young man and I’m sure there is a reason he’s playing for Perpignan.  Also for clarity I don’t mean that Allen should have got a full international cap for us, but maybe some time in an ‘A’ game to tie him to us.  Now to be honest I’m not that bothered about losing Allen, I was just putting it out there.

You’re possibly right about Wilson being lost to us a long time ago, but if we had beaten England to the punch it would have at least given him something to think about.  Also you’re right that he’s not been called up to the Saxons to stop him playing for us, they’ve called him up because they think he’s good enough, and if he is good enough for the Saxons then I’m pretty sure he would have been good enough to play for the Sco A side.

I understand we can’t hand out caps to everyone on the off chance they turn out to be half decent, but Wilson has been talked about for a while (as had Allen) so the SRU must have known we could lose out on him.

I agree with what you're saying and clearly we've done ok through the like of Swinson, Ryan Wilson etc, but I think I’m just more annoyed about this because of the lack of depth we have a tighthead.

Much as we all like to run down the SRU from time to time and they often do deserve it, I would be very surprised if he had not been sounded out at some stage as he has very strong ties to Scotland. I believe he holds several Scottish junior records for field events in athletics!

Hopefully big Mike Cussack will recover and eventually wear the blue shirt to even up the traffic flow!

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:I notice England Saxons have included Scott Wilson the Scottish born Newcastle tight head in their squad for the game against Irish Wolfhounds. Looks like it is because they are fending off advances from Scotland as he hasn't featured much for Newcastle this season. Has only just turned 20 I think but is a great prospect. Shame the SRU couldn't get hold of his services in a position we are lacking a quality 3.

Gutted about this.  I've heard good things about him and as you say we are really lacking numbers at 3.  Considering that’s us lost a SQ player at 10 a few months ago and now potentially losing a SQ tighthead, someone within the SRU needs to be ensuring we don't lose any more of our already limited player numbers.

Its swings and roundabouts and in that funfair we probably win more than we lose. Did Allen look like an international quality fly half when he played in Edinburgh last week? We would not have been capping him anytime soon if at all.

I think we lost this young man a long time ago when he went into the English system. I don't think they are calling him up to stop us tying him in, but because he is a good player. He has made his choice and so good luck to him.

No, granted Allen didn't look like an international quality flyhalf against Edinburgh, but he’s still a young man and I’m sure there is a reason he’s playing for Perpignan.  Also for clarity I don’t mean that Allen should have got a full international cap for us, but maybe some time in an ‘A’ game to tie him to us.  Now to be honest I’m not that bothered about losing Allen, I was just putting it out there.

You’re possibly right about Wilson being lost to us a long time ago, but if we had beaten England to the punch it would have at least given him something to think about.  Also you’re right that he’s not been called up to the Saxons to stop him playing for us, they’ve called him up because they think he’s good enough, and if he is good enough for the Saxons then I’m pretty sure he would have been good enough to play for the Sco A side.

I understand we can’t hand out caps to everyone on the off chance they turn out to be half decent, but Wilson has been talked about for a while (as had Allen) so the SRU must have known we could lose out on him.

I agree with what you're saying and clearly we've done ok through the like of Swinson, Ryan Wilson etc, but I think I’m just more annoyed about this because of the lack of depth we have a tighthead.

Much as we all like to run down the SRU from time to time and they often do deserve it, I would be very surprised if he had not been sounded out at some stage as he has very strong ties to Scotland. I believe he holds several Scottish junior records for field events in athletics!

Hopefully big Mike Cussack will recover and eventually wear the blue shirt to even up the traffic flow!

Clearly I can’t comment on whether the SRU had sounded him out and my earlier criticism could be wide of the mark or it could be right on the money.  I would have just assumed that given he’s Scottish he might have been inclined to play for us, had we spoken to him.   Sadly I doubt we’ll ever know for sure.  That is unless he comes out and does an interview in the same manner as Allen.

Echo your comments about Cussack

As a nation we really cannot moan about players choosing other nations. Apart for maybe wales, we are the most proliffic player poaching nation.

Now I really am being totally general here. Take with a pinch of salt

Max evans
Joe Ansbro
Tim Visser
Sean Maitland
Jim Hamliton

To name but a few are players who do not speak with a scottish Accent. Now, big Jim says he is scottish, and who am I to argue with him! But if he so chose he could just as easliy proclaim himself english

We are now aiming to get players like Strauss, Nel and Du Preez playing for Scotland! We've had the Leslie brothers, Budge Poutney, Allan Tait and many others before.

We've deffo "taken" more than we've "given"

I do agree we should do everything we can to try and keep SQ players as much as possible. We need to look at nurturing Scottish youngsters though. It's getting quite disheartening to see young players being shunned for NSQ imports!

(disclaimer - in no way does not having a Scottish accent make you "less" Scottish)

We could make a pretty decent XV of players not strictly tartan through and through:

1.David Hilton 2.Robbie Russell 3.Matt Proudfoot (although Nel and Cusack could shortly come in) 4.Nathan Hines 5.Tim Swinson 6.Martin Leslie 7.Budge Pountney 8.Eric Peters 9.We always have Scottish scrum halves 10.Dan Parks 11.Tim Visser 12.John Leslie 13.Alan Tait 14.Sean Maitland 15.Glenn Metcalfe

I'm pretty sure Alan Tait, Eric Peters and Joe Ansbro are all Scottish born (Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised in Galloway). Having just read about Rennie and McInally moving to Bristol on loan I had a look at the Bristol website and was surprised to see Bruce Douglas listed as a current player, does anyone know why disappeared off the Scotland scene? If I remember he had quite a lot of caps and we've not exactly been awash with prop options over recent seasons.

funnyExiledScot wrote:We could make a pretty decent XV of players not strictly tartan through and through:

1.David Hilton 2.Robbie Russell 3.Matt Proudfoot (although Nel and Cusack could shortly come in) 4.Nathan Hines 5.Tim Swinson 6.Martin Leslie 7.Budge Pountney 8.Eric Peters 9.We always have Scottish scrum halves 10.Dan Parks 11.Tim Visser 12.John Leslie 13.Alan Tait 14.Sean Maitland 15.Glenn Metcalfe

You could say the same about a lot of other international XV's as well, including many much better endowed with players than us. Interestingly living down in England I don't ever hear any complaints about the amounts of Tongan's, Fijian's, Samoan's, South African's, Kiwi's and now Scots (Wilson) in their set up. South African's and South Sea Islanders are beginning to pop up for Les Blues as well.

Its Globalisation, something we have to live with. I am sure that they are all very proud to represent their adopted countries. Most of our historic imports have had Scottish heritage (the less said about poor old Dave Hilton the better, but he still gave his all and interestingly considers himself to be Scottish now!). Professionalism has changed many things though and it is unlikely ever to change back.

MacKnocked-on wrote:I'm pretty sure Alan Tait, Eric Peters and Joe Ansbro are all Scottish born (Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised in Galloway). Having just read about Rennie and McInally moving to Bristol on loan I had a look at the Bristol website and was surprised to see Bruce Douglas listed as a current player, does anyone know why disappeared off the Scotland scene? If I remember he had quite a lot of caps and we've not exactly been awash with prop options over recent seasons.

Bruce Douglas may be more similar to Ross Rennie than we realise. I believe he ended up having a crisis of form when he suffered a parental bereavement as well. He moved to France and then to Worcester but never really hit the heights again. I don't think he plays all that much for Bristol, unlike Kyle Traynor, who seems to be doing ok down there. Whether he would survive in the squad should they move up to the premiership remains to be seen.

I really hope Rennie comes back to Edinburgh next season. Grant, for all his form, is a decent sqaud member. A handy bench option as I've seen him play at 8 for Edinburgh in the past!

From a Scotland point of view though it is great. The more players we have playing overseas the better. Gives the youngsters some space at Edin/Glas (unless Solomons brings in more saffas)

tigertattie wrote:I really hope Rennie comes back to Edinburgh next season.  Grant, for all his form, is a decent sqaud member.  A handy bench option as I've seen him play at 8 for Edinburgh in the past!

From a Scotland point of view though it is great.  The more players we have playing overseas the better.  Gives the youngsters some space at Edin/Glas (unless Solomons brings in more saffas)

If Rennie were to move to Bristol on a permanent basis next season then perhaps John Hardie may be the man to replace him?

MacKnocked-on wrote:I'm pretty sure Alan Tait, Eric Peters and Joe Ansbro are all Scottish born (Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised in Galloway).

How right you are (I knew about Ansbro already).

How about Lineen and Denton then instead......

funnyExiledScot wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:I'm pretty sure Alan Tait, Eric Peters and Joe Ansbro are all Scottish born (Ansbro was born in Glasgow and raised in Galloway).

How right you are (I knew about Ansbro already).

How about Lineen and Denton then instead......

Alan Tait certainly took on the North of England accent during his League days.

In the centres; Taylor-Dunbar could work out really well.
However Rab C Johnston may just plump for De Luca - Schlong. Which would guarantee that Maitland and Fife would have error free games on the wing.

Just watched Saints v Castre, primarily to see how big Richie is playing at the moment. I have to say he did not disappoint. He was hitting rucks, tackling, carrying well and showing good hands when he had the ball. Very solid in the line out as well. He played the whole 80 mins and was still flying around the park at the end.

He looks to be right back in good form. Maybe it took him a little while to settle down there, especially after the lions, but he looks very comfortable there now. Hard to see him not starting for Scotland.

Can I selfishly promote my new thread on the intl page?

It has a poll for a Scotland XV vs Ireland where you can select your ENTIRE team to play Ireland. The idea is a poll along with a written team will make it easier to identify the trends in fan selection.

Cheers

I am now veering back to an overexcited overoptimistic stance. Why you may ask?

1) Hogg looks back to form
2) Fife looks like a decent player
3) Tonks is looking good - cool and plays heads up rugby well
4) Barclay looks to have rediscovered his mojo
5) Gray senior is coming into form

4) - shame he's not in the squad then!

RDW_Scotland wrote:4) - shame he's not in the squad then!

Can he not be added? :-(

AS a Scotland fan we are only allowed two views - either hopeless pessimism - "wooden spoon again" or overoptimistic rose tinted glasses "the grand slam is ours for the taking"

TJ wrote:I am now veering back to an overexcited overoptimistic stance.  Why you may ask?

1) Hogg looks back to form
2) Fife looks like a decent player
3) Tonks is looking good - cool and plays heads up rugby well
4) Barclay looks to have rediscovered his mojo
5) Gray senior is coming into form

    

Well its either that or go and stick my head in the oven - to remember its an electric oven!

TJ wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:4) - shame he's not in the squad then!

Can he not be added?  :-(  

AS a Scotland fan we are only allowed two views - either hopeless pessimism - "wooden spoon again" or overoptimistic rose tinted glasses "the grand slam is ours for the taking"

Yes, I think that's the rules, TJ

Johnston did say in his interview that this was a training squad and there are still chances for some not included to be in the 23,, maybe a good showing from Barclay was needed and will be called upon,, I think he will be in rennies place as he is only just back and rennie was in the squad to gain some familiarity and bond with the squad looking at building the squad for the world cup I guess,, so I think that if he Barclay is doing well he could be one that comes in and makes the matchday squad

RDW_Scotland wrote:4) - shame he's not in the squad then!

Errmmm - just looked at the Scotland squad on the SRU site and Barclay is in it the squad of 40 that is. Where do we see a squad without him?

Aha - just seen the 36 man squad on the Beeb website and he is not in it. SRU just not updating?

TJ wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:4) - shame he's not in the squad then!

Errmmm - just looked at the Scotland squad on the SRU site and Barclay is in it the squad of 40 that is.  Where do we see a squad without him?

Dunno where that 40 man squad came from as SJ has only ever announced a 36 man squad!