Ireland vs Scotland

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Ireland v Scotland

Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Sunday, 2 Feb 2014
Kick-off: 15:00

Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Assistant referee: Jaco Peyper (SARU)
Assistant referee: Mike Fraser (NZR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

A. Squads

1. Ireland

Backs:
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster), Craig Gilroy (Dungannon/Ulster), Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster), Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Gordon D'Arcy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Keith Earls (Young Munster/Munster), Luke Fitzgerald (Blackrock College/Leinster), Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Connacht), Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster), Felix Jones (Shannon/Munster), David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster), Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster), Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster), Kieran Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht) *, Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster), Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster), Eoin Reddan (Lansdowne/Leinster), Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92), Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster)

Forwards:
Rodney Ah You (Buccaneers/Connacht) *, Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster), Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues) *, Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster) *, Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster), Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster), Iain Henderson (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster), Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *, David Kilcoyne (UL Bohemians/Munster), Mike McCarthy (Leinster), Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster) *, Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster), Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster), Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster), Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster), Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster), Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster), Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)

* Uncapped player

2. Scotland

Forwards:
John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs:
Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Head To Head

127 Played 127
57 Wins 65
65 Losses 57
5 Draws 5
203 Tries 210
104 Conversions 109
111 Penalties 131
17 Drop Goals 38
1,344 Points 1,303

C. Recent Form

24 February 2013
Scotland 12–8 Ireland

10 March 2012
Ireland 32–14  Scotland

27 February 2011
Scotland 18–21  Ireland

D. Teams

1. Ireland



15. Rob Kearney (UCD/Leinster) 49
14. Dave Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) 2
13. Brian O'Driscoll (UCD/Leinster) 128
12. Luke Marshall (Ballynahinch/Ulster) 4
11. Andrew Trimble (Ballymena/Ulster) 50
10. Jonathan Sexton (Racing Metro 92) 38
9. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster) 22
1. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster) 42
2. Rory Best (Banbridge/Ulster) 70
3. Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster) 34
4. Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster) 10
5. Paul O'Connell (Young Munster/Munster) (capt) 88
6. Peter O'Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) 19
7. Chris Henry (Malone/Ulster) 9
8. Jamie Heaslip (Dublin University/Leinster) 60

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 30
17. Jack McGrath (St. Mary's College/Leinster) 3
18. Martin Moore (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
19. Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster) 7
20. Tommy O'Donnell (UL Bohemians/Munster) 2
21. Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster) 17
22. Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) 5
23. Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 21

* Denotes uncapped player

2. Scotland




15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) 15 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps, 1 try, 5 points
12 Duncan Taylor (Saracens) 6 caps
11 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) 82 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps, 1 try, 2 conversions, 9 points
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) 24 caps, 3 tries, 23 conversions, 54 penalties, 223 points
1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) 71 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
4 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier) 50 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) CAPTAIN 60 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby) 17 caps

Replacements:

16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
18 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby) 23 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Richie Gray (Castres) 33 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier) 26 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors) 64 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
22 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) 16 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
23 Max Evans (Castres) 37 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Eoin Reddan could be out,Isaac Boss will replace him in the squad if the reports are correct.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3558_9139904,00.html

Nematode wrote:I'm going to miss parts of SJ, he just injects that casualness missing in sport:

Like something in my wine cabinet ."

Don't we all Rab C, don't we all.

I laughed out loud when I read the back row. Are any of them in their best position? I can't even begin to imagine the thought process behind that one. The rest of the team makes perfect sense, at least it is logical and you can see what he's trying to do. But... Wilson is, at best, 5th choice no6 at Scotstoun. Dozer is way behind Beattie and Wilson as an 8. I'm beginning to think that Brclay was left out of the squad so Kellybrows wouldn't feel too embarrassed about being picked at 7.
However,
Taylor-Dunbar could be very interesting. Dunbar is a very smart distributor and should bring his wingers into play.
There is a lot of energy on the bench and if we're still in the game with 20 to go then Beattie, Gray and Matt Scott can certainly up the tempo and all are potential match winners. Of course we also have Max Evans. I'm just mildly surprised he isn't starting at 6.

I can't believe both Strokosch and Barclay are fit and yet we have Wilson (6) and Brown (7) on the flanks. That's daft.

I agree that Denton is lucky to be picked ahead of Beattie, but at least Denton is a number 8, and he hasn't been playing badly this season (that Munster game aside). He'll miss having Du Preez along side him though.

Back row aside, it's entirely the team I predicted and the team I would go for, so I'm fairly pleased. Hamilton makes sense given the opposition and the conditions. He'll do his usual panto act at the Irish lineout, and try to replicate his niggly performance from last year. He'll get in their faces and distract them from their principal functions.

Delighted to see Swinson finally getting a start. You just know he won't let us down, and similarly I'm pleased to see Matt Scott deemed fit enough to be on the bench.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I can't believe both Strokosch and Barclay are fit and yet we have Wilson (6) and Brown (7) on the flanks.

As an Ireland fan, I'm not at all unhappy about that. Scotland do have some good depth in the back row though. It's still a decent unit.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm not as worried about Sean Lamont defensively as I am about him being an attacking threat. When was the last time he beat his opposite number one on one, or produced a sharp finish??

In attack he's a bludgeon, looking for contact at every opportunity. He can step, but he doesn't have the gas to take him away from the opposition defenders.

Still, I'd pick him for this contest as well. There's sadly noone better with a claim to the left wing. Tom Brown is currently playing for Edinburgh but he's only had a few games. Visser is injured, and DTH selfishly decided to play for Canada. So it's Sean Lamont by default.

It's a shame players like Farndale and Fleming appear to have dropped off the radar. We're short of options on the left wing.

Farndale is playing for the u20s this weekend. Still a bairn, remember.

In general I think we all (Scots) expected something like this to be the team, there aren’t any huge surprises, which I suppose is to be expected with the limited player numbers we have. No real complaints about the selection and our bench looks strong.

That is of course with the exception of the back row, not really sure what SJ is thinking here.  This will either be a masterstroke by totally confusing the Irish (long shot) or will backfire massively.  I fear it’ll be the latter.

Has Strokosh really been playing well this season? Perpignan have been pretty porr this season and he didn't get picked for the last 2 HK games, the last of which was a dead rubber granted.

He is a favourite of SJ though.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Still - I predict we'll lose by 15 points, get very depressed next week, and then crush the French the following week (before losing to Italy).

The lot of the scotland fan   

That Scottish front 5 is massive but your backrow doesn't look as niggly as it used to in my eyes.

There were times when I really lamented our lack of an actual 7 against you guys, this year will not be one of them. Denton used to be one of my favourite players but not so anymore. Hoping we can really test your relatively inexperienced midfield pair.

The other point to make is what happens if Weir gets injured, given we don't have a specialist fly half in the squad.

There are options: (1) Laidlaw moves to 10 with Cusiter on at 9, or (2) Hogg moves to 10 with Maitland slotting in at 15 and Evans coming on to the wing or (3) Scott comes on at 10.

Don't fancy any of those options personally. Let's just hope Weir stays fit!

Laidlaw will be covering 10 surely?

funnyExiledScot wrote:The other point to make is what happens if Weir gets injured, given we don't have a specialist fly half in the squad.

There are options: (1) Laidlaw moves to 10 with Cusiter on at 9, or (2) Hogg moves to 10 with Maitland slotting in at 15 and Evans coming on to the wing or (3) Scott comes on at 10.

Don't fancy any of those options personally. Let's just hope Weir stays fit!

(2) would bet he best option, I think. Laidlaw would still be a speed bump as he was when we last played him there, and Scott has never played FH at a professional level. Hogg defends well, has enough pace to keep the opposition defence interested, passes well and can kick the ball a country mile.

But yeah, please stay intact Dunky!

FES what if Weir has a stinker? I'm not sure it will matter. The team looks to have Gatlandball as its raison d'etre, you are an effete MFL so you'll understand foreignspeak, so the 10 will just need to shovel the ball to Taylor or punt it as long as possible. Hogg can do both of those. Maitland would be safe at 15, but that means Evans at 14!
Doomed.

I'd have my money on Hogg, rightly or wrongly!

That's the obvious solution, but he hasn't played at 10 for a while and has been quite open about focusing back at 9. Completely different skillsets and training routines. I'd consider him emergency over only, rather than a viable tactical solution.

I guess the assumption is that Weir is robust enough to survive the full 80 minutes. Hardly a ringing endorsement of Jackson's abilities.

Glad so see Weir getting the start - and hopefully he has been told the shirt is his. He needs to calm down a bit but his kicking could come in very handy - lots of territory.

Captain_Sensible wrote:(2) would bet he best option, I think. Laidlaw would still be a speed bump as he was when we last played him there, and Scott has never played FH at a professional level. Hogg defends well, has enough pace to keep the opposition defence interested, passes well and can kick the ball a country mile.

But yeah, please stay intact Dunky!

Not sure Hogg's two matches for the Lions give him a better claim to be honest. He played a bunch of farmers behind one of the better packs on the planet, and then the Brumbies, where he was utterly shown-up.

If the Lions destroyed him as a player and as a man by messing him about, I can't see how shoving him around for Scotland and asking him to cover 10 (presumably he'll have to train there at times this week if he genuinely is to provide cover) would be treating him differently?

Won't his lack of confidence just continue, leaving him a gibbering wreck for years to come??

I personally don't think he'll be able to take this mental torture. It's taken him over 6 months to recover from the Lions asking him to play 10.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Captain_Sensible wrote:(2) would bet he best option, I think. Laidlaw would still be a speed bump as he was when we last played him there, and Scott has never played FH at a professional level. Hogg defends well, has enough pace to keep the opposition defence interested, passes well and can kick the ball a country mile.

But yeah, please stay intact Dunky!

Not sure Hogg's two matches for the Lions give him a better claim to be honest. He played a bunch of farmers behind one of the better packs on the planet, and then the Brumbies, where he was utterly shown-up.

If the Lions destroyed him as a player and as a man by messing him about, I can't see how shoving him around for Scotland and asking him to cover 10 (presumably he'll have to train there at times this week if he genuinely is to provide cover) would be treating him differently?

Won't his lack of confidence just continue, leaving him a gibbering wreck for years to come??

I personally don't think he'll be able to take this mental torture. It's taken him over 6 months to recover from the Lions asking him to play 10.

Firstly, he was chucked in against the Brumbies with a bunch of guys outside him who were just off the plane, and a bunch of forwards who weren't winning the ball. I don't think it told us anything about his suitability at FH. Neither, indeed, did the game vs the farmers. But, he has played for Glasgow at 10 on a few occasions. Skills-wise, he's a more suitable candidate for the position than Scott or Laidlaw.

I also don't think we should be making guesses into Hogg's mental state - it's an unknowable. All I will say is that he didn't look crushed by the Lions tour - his form problems this season appear to be more to do with trying too hard on return from injury.

When has Hogg worn the 10 jersey for Glasgow? I hadn't realised he'd played pro rugby other than the dirt track Lions games (which you've rightly discounted).

In international terms clearly the most viable option is to move Laidlaw to 10, because he's played international rugby in that position before. I don't like it though. I'd have had either Jackson or Tonks on the bench personally.

I 100% agree about Hogg's mental state. I was being sarcastic, and I agree that his form seems to have picked up the more he's played since coming back from injury, which would seem to me to be a better explanation......

funnyExiledScot wrote:When has Hogg worn the 10 jersey for Glasgow? I hadn't realised he'd played pro rugby other than the dirt track Lions games (which you've rightly discounted).

In international terms clearly the most viable option is to move Laidlaw to 10, because he's played international rugby in that position before. I don't like it though. I'd have had either Jackson or Tonks on the bench personally.

I 100% agree about Hogg's mental state. I was being sarcastic, and I agree that his form seems to have picked up the more he's played since coming back from injury, which would seem to me to be a better explanation......

Sorry, missed the sarcasm. Internets, eh?

I remember Hogg playing at 10 for Glasgow against Connacht last season, and a few more occasions. He never started there, though, which is a problem for my 'Hogg @ 10' theory.

I wouldn't be heartbroken by Laidlaw at 10, but if the weather is dreich we'll probably lose the territory battle due to Laidlaw's shorter kicking range.

Sounds like we're all on the same page. Stay injury-free Meatball.

I really wonder if any of the MFLs (or SJ) glad to see Duncan Weir starting have actually watched him play since his return from his leg break. He has been average at best. His kicking from hand and tee really poor. I am a Dunky Weir fan but he needs more game time. Appreciate there are not many other options but to throw him into this game and expect 80 mins out of him is madness. That and the peculiar back row - Wilson has roared back from injury and is on belligerently good form - BUT AT 8 ffs! If Johnston does not want to play Barclay then why not play Fusaro (on good form) at 7 and Brown at 6. Utterly bizarre    Hope I'm wrong but can see a pumping on the cards.

Weir - I agree its a tough call for him but hopefully he will take it as a vote of confidence and play well. I agree he has not really shone so far this year in the gametime he has had.

Lots of unknowns in the starting 15 but that is a great back 3 and some impact off the bench. i think this has the potential to be a close run thing, key factors are scotland taking their chances and their defence

Ryan Wilson is a seriously good player, in wet and dry conditions. He played a stormer in the A game last year and was the pick of the Glasgow forwards against Toulon. I am very happy with his selection and who knows they may do a bit of mix and match across the back row.

This is a ball carrying side and I would imagine that is what has counted against Stroks and Harley as neither are great carriers. It does look like we are planning to take the game to them. Denton will be a battering ram and will be the sub, barring injuries, Wilson may go to No.8 at that point. Beattie has had the lurgy this week, or he may have started, but in all honesty I would say that Ryan Wilson does have the form to start.

I don't think we can just sit back and defend and hope to get a result, this is a more positive selection and I like it. It is also Weir's chance to put his name on the shirt, he may not get many more chances so really needs to take this one. Tonks is breathing down his neck and if he plays well on Friday night will be on the bench for sure next weekend. Scott needs game time, bringing him back off the bench is the right thing to do.

I will be watching the A game with interest on Friday night to see if anyone else puts their hand up. There is some genuine competition out there now and I can see the team changing a fair bit this year from game to game.

I think 10 is really our problem position - no-one has grabbed it and held it in a death like grip.

All our options have a huge * beside them

Hopefully giving a run our for the mBall will help him build up his confidence and performance.

I never feel confident with Jackson - he reminds me of NDL - does some good stuff, but ALWAYS looks like he is a micro second away from a brain fart

Jackson has had his opportunities but has never really grabbed them. In international rugby you just should not get so many chances. We have said the same thing about DeLuca for long enough, it is only lack of alternatives keeping him in the team. Lets now see what the alternatives can do!

Got seriously confused between Paddy Jackson and Ruaridh Jackson there for a minute- confusing weekend for Jackson watchers.

TJ wrote:Weir - I agree its a tough call for him  but hopefully he will take it as a vote of confidence and play well.  I agree he has not really shone so far this year in the gametime he has had.  

I blame the Lions.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

TJ wrote:Weir - I agree its a tough call for him  but hopefully he will take it as a vote of confidence and play well.  I agree he has not really shone so far this year in the gametime he has had.  

I blame the Lions.

??????????? What - the nice ikle puddy cats ????

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:I really wonder if any of the MFLs (or SJ) glad to see Duncan Weir starting have actually watched him play since his return from his leg break.   He has been average at best.   His kicking from hand and tee really poor.    I am a Dunky Weir fan but he needs more game time.   Appreciate there are not many other options but to throw him into this game and expect 80 mins out of him is madness.   That and the peculiar back row - Wilson has roared back from injury and is on belligerently good form  - BUT AT 8 ffs!  If Johnston does not want to play Barclay then why not play Fusaro (on good form) at 7 and Brown at 6.  Utterly bizarre    Hope I'm wrong but can see a pumping on the cards.

21C
Like everyone else I am praying for a 10 to stand up and perform at an international level for at least two games on the trot, but my heart sank when I read that the wee Dunky was starting and no back-up 10 on the bench, as lets be honest he has been consistently poor for the Glasgow this term, I would have selected Tonks on the bench at least or if it was me I would have taken a deep breath and played Weir on Friday and Tonks on Sunday.

Some terrible selections, with Rennie injured, the next best is Barclay who has been outstanding the last month in a new side and its expected for him to get used to the set up and hence form perhaps dropping. But what do we do?..... select Brown at openside and Wilson on the blind flank come on ffs!!

Some great selections, Like the midfield a lot and the back three will stand up to any of the 6Ns opponents, I am a Schlong fan and still think he doesn't deserve the flak he gets on here, the stats will show again his work rate off the ball and his defence... that's just as vital as a burst of speed.

Finally the bench is pretty good and glad Scotty will have some game time as he could be the game changer, just hope the coaches are not turning him into a super-utility player centre-flyhalf

Sorry for not updating the OP - new family member put paid to any chat on these boards.

I would take exception to any claim that Wilson isn't there on merit and I'm just delighted to see him on the field. He was the fulcrum of Glasgow's form during last year's international window and captained the side a number of times. He just returned from injury, scored on his return debut and by all accounts had a huge game against Toulon.

He is a wonderful carrier and offloader and has huge cardio. It's the most welcome surprise of the selection for me, although v hard on Strokosch given his form in the Quadrangular. SJ has already tried Beattie at 6, why not Wilson? We know by now that Johnson prizes versatility in his loose forwards - Ross Rennie has said in interviews that he is not wedded to openside specialists for that reason.

Ireland should still have too much, but that is a wet weather team with a good positional kicker out of hand and a tight five that will be a colossal pain in the hole to play against.

Flyhalf,

you are of course correct DW has been poor but he only comes on for 20 mins or so. The guy needs game time but not at this level. It is somewhat ironic that Ruriadh Jackson has been playing out of his skin for The Warriors and is dropped after all the average performances when he was selected ! I agree with you again and would have Tonks on the bench in case DW has a stinker. Like the centre partnership and with Scott on the bench looks interesting. Dunbar has been good this season. Great for Ryan Wilson who has really come back with a bang, as it were !  

GC - has the sprog arrived?

If so hearty congratulations!   

He has indeed. Thanks very much.
Thankfully he looks like his mother.

Congratulations GC

I'll second that, congratulations GC   

Aye George - well done my man and warmest congrats to Mrs GC. Will he represent the UAE at rugger (do they have an int team there?) or the land of his father now    

Congrats GC!   

Happy days GC    Wish all three of you every happiness.

Congratulations   

Mr C (and Mrs C)   

Damn good news, I am certain your little bundle of joy will enrich your lives immeasurably.

Good Stuff Big Fella

Tonks to at least be on the bench come the game in Wales.

Mark my words

Ps grats on the bub George.

Talk of Fitzgerald and McCarthy not being involved now

Congrats GC!

Good, solid team.....except for the backrow. As a fully paid up member of the 'Kelly Brown is a six' club, I still can't fathom why you would shoe-horn the best six (certainly in my eyes) available into another position, especially considering the quality we already have at open side. It seems to be a permanent thing though, I know he has been playing there for Sarries, so I guess i will have to deal with it.

Still can't see past anything other than a win for out Celtic brethren, but I live in eternal hope.

You know that moment when even a double facepalm isn't quite enough?

So on sky rugby, an Irish coach was talking about how dangerous and how much of a threat Stuart Hogg is. (Very complimentary, thanks). He is a FB, that's where he wants to play and his unique talent is open field running. He's had a stint at ten in the Lions and wasn't quite as good as he is at FB.

Que Scott Hastings:

"I have said all along that Hogg, who has been selected at fullback, should really start at fly-half," Hastings told skysports.com

How can you take that seriously when he says:

"Rory Grant has put in some stirling performances for Edinburgh ... Rory must feel really unlucky not to be involved"

If you know so little about the club game in Scotland to not know the name of one of the best players, when punditry is your career, then why should people believe you when you talk about moving Hogg to 10?

    

I know it's petty but it grinds my gears seeing a paid rugby commentator being so slack.

Congratulations the Carlins, a growing wee family   

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Flyhalf,

you are of course correct DW has been poor but he only comes on for 20 mins or so.  The guy needs game time but not at this level.    

Weir had some starts for Glasgow as well - and didn't make the most of the opportunity. a lucky boy to get the nod

Well done George!! We might see you posting more regularly during the day (local time here) while you're up the night there!

I noticed on BBC text last night that the team annoucement stated Beattie had a virus. Perhaps explains the inclusion of Wilson. I'm sure he'll grab his opportunity with both hands.

congrats GC!