Scotland squad for autumn tests

First topic message reminder :

The scotland squad for the autumn tests is named on Monday for the three tests in November.

The tests are
Argentina 8th November 5.30pm kick off at Murrayfield

New zealand 15th November 5.30pm kick off at Murrayfield

Tonga 22nd November 2.30pm kick off at rugby park, Kilmarnock

All three tests are going to be very hard and physical, scotland having just beaten argentina in the summer but what was mostly a 2nd/3rd choice argentina team, never having beaten the all blacks and losing to Tonga the last time they played 2 years ago on a dismal day in Aberdeen.

The scotland players will want to put in big performances to impress new coach Vern cotter and the team will also want to put down a marker with games running out before the World Cup.

For me winning the Argentina and Tonga games and putting in a good performance and keeping the all blacks close will be a good series for scotland.
Glasgow have had a great start to the season and will provide a lot of the squad. Edinburgh on the other hand have been poor and probably won't provide too many of the squad. Will fielding the majority of the glasgow first Xv be the way to go with one or two exiles included ?

There will probably be a squad of around 32 to 34 named on Monday.
This would be my squad

Props
Gordon Reid
Al Dickinson
Alex Allan
Euan murray
Geoff cross
Jon Welsh

Props are a little bit of a concern due to injuries and loss of form of some. Jon Welsh returns this weekend for ayr and is expected to play for Glasgow the following week. Geoff cross has just returned from injury aswell and hopefully will get more game time for London Irish as in recent tests he has been very good. The Rev seems to be getting back to good form for Glasgow and will be first choice till the others pick up form.
Loose head is a bit easier, Gordon Reid is in decent form, Al Dickinson has been oneof Edinburghs few form players and alex Allan is getting better and better. Think it will be too early for ryan grant to challenge.

Hookers
Ross ford
Pat maccarthur
Fraser brown

Hooker is a difficult position, not toomany players really pushing on in this position. Ross ford has looked fairly decent this season though still having problems with hooking and the occasional line out blip.
Pat maccarthur has had mixed form and seems to be a rotation system at glasgow with their hookers as all four are pretty equal. Fraser brown has impressed me, very accurate at set piece and is like an extra open side in open play.

Locks
Jonny gray
Richie gray
Grant Gilchrist
Tim Swinson
Lots of good quality locks to choose from but these four are the best on form. The gray brothers are very different players and should compliment each other. Richie is very athletic and strong in the line out, jonny has those qualities but has an added bite about him and really is effective in the breakdown area and is a good leader despite only being 20. Grant Gilchrist has come on leaps and bounds over the last 2 years. A bit of acombination between the gray brothers, athletic but is developing a hard edge which scotland need. Tim Swinson wins the fourth lock spot, playing well at glasgow, not the biggest lock but very powerful and gets through lots of work

Back row

Rob Harley
Kelly brown
Johnnie Beattie
Ally hogg
Blair Cowan
John Barclay

One of Scotland's strongest area if they are played in their correct positions and have the correct combination which is key. Have included ally hogg as he is in great form at Newcastle and deserves a call up. Blair Cowan has been one of the best 7s in the premiership. Been very impressed by him, big tackler, good at winning turnovers, very athletic and gets about the pitch and is good with ball in hand and also has a bit of aggression about him. Rob Harley has been impressive and is the tough niggly player you want from a six. Great line out option and tackles like a demon, also seems to have improved his ball carrying.

Scrum halfs
Chris cusiter
Greig Laidlaw
Scott Steele

A fairly easy pick, cusiter in great form at sale and Laidlaw getting better at glaws especially in the last couple games. Then there is scott steele who has really impressed at London irish. Been probably their key player. Great service and also likes to have ago himself and has created a fair few tries too.

Stand offs
Finn Russell
Duncan weir

No one is really standing out. Weir has been very consistent this season and finn Russell is starting to come into form after a later start to the season. Russell still looks the most all rounded option with a good kicking game, strong passing game and not afraid to have a go himself. Unlucky for ruraidh Jackson as he had looked very impressive at wasps. Tom heathcote has had good moments but still looks a bit short in confidence while Tonks has shifted back to full back.

Centre
Al Dunbar
Mark Bennett
Peter Horne
Duncan Taylor

No options in the centre from edinburgh as they continue to play foreigners so 3 out of the 4 are from glasgow. All 3 are very different players but seem to compliment each other no matter what combo. Duncan Taylor has looked good at Saracens playing mostly at 13 and has won motm a couple times. Struggling slightly with other options with alex grove playing in the championship and nick de Luca playing in d2.

Wing
Sean Maitland
Tommy Seymour
Tim visser
Sean Lamont

Lots of good options to choose from Seymour is getting better each game and looks very sharp and dangerous. Maitland back from injury and an extended break which has probably been a good thing after playing pretty much 3 years without a break. Should be refreshed and certainly looked v sharp scoring an 80 m try for glasgows back up squad. Visser having a mixed season, still sharp in attack but still suspect in defence. A lot of people will disagree with sean Lamont but thought he has been v good for Glasgow and has that added physicality. For me he will be a very good impact sub. Max evans misses out despite being in good form for castres despite their poor start, has scored 2 or 3 times already this season. Dougie fyfe just back from injury and could sneak into the squad but will struggle due to edinburgh spoor form.

Full back

Stuart hogg
Peter murchie

Hogg seems to have recovered from last seasons lions syndrome blip. His attitude seems a lot better and looks a real attacking threat again. Hopefully will kick on even further and will establish himself as one of the top full backs in world rugby. Been doing a lot of work on his goal kicking to get him up to the 80% + mark. Peter murchie in great form at Glasgow as well, very solid in defence and under the high ball and pops up in the right place in attack and is deceptively quick with his long stride. Cuthbert started the season well at edinburgh but has been poor the last few weeksafterhaving to play wing. Tonks has looked ok but not as good as hogg or murchie. Steve MacColl started the season well for glaws but is injured but is one to watch out for in the future .

A year out from the world up scotland need to stop experimenting and trying out new players. They need to play the strongest team so that players are settled and can read each other which only comes with game time together.

For me the strongest lineup would be

1 Gordon Reid
2 Ross ford
3 Euan murray
4 grant Gilchrist
5 jonny gray
6 rob Harley
7 Blair Cowan
8 johnnie Beattie
9 chris cusiter (capt)
10 finn Russell
11 Tommy seymour
12 alex Dunbar
13 mark Bennett
14 sean Maitland
15 stuart hogg

16 Fraser brown
17 Al Dickinson
18 Geoff cross
19 Richie gray
20 kelly brown
21 greg Laidlaw close call with scott Steele
22 Duncan weir but tempted with Horne who is more versatile
23 sean Lamont.

That's my thoughts and my strongest current team but interested to hear others views in what is a real makeor break season for scotland.

OK lads, please humour me for a short while.
What is the point of this year's AI's? As I see it it's either
(a) pick the 23 you want for the RWC (or as close as possible) and get them playing together. Keep them together for the 6N's and hopefully get a decent win ratio to build up confidence ahead of the RWC.
OR
(b) Have a look at some fringe players and try out a few combinations to see what might work.

However, if we are at (b) then it's far, far too late to have a settled side with any kind of momentum going into the RWC.
And yet, we seem no closer to knowing our best 23. Is Mark Bennett really waiting to make his debut this close to the RWC? Do we have any idea who our best second rows are? If we persevere with Can't Throw Won't Hook for the AI's does this mean we're lumbered with him next year? What is our best back row combination? Who is our first choice 10?

With the exception of schizophrenic France all the other big nations have pretty much answered these questions about their squads already.
I'm feeling all Private Frase, and that's before the All Blacks thump us.

I agree Jimbo - I think that the one thing that could feck up Glasgow's season is injuries in these three games. Tommy Seymour is already being held together with sticky tape and I am getting that 'Rory Lamont' feeling about his 'tally ho' style of play.

The point of these games absolutely cannot be (b). The time for that has gone thanks to Scott Johnson's Out Of Position Selection Pez Dispenser - the only useful purpose that these AIs serve is for Big Vern to choose as close to his best 23 as is currently available and give them time to develop some continuity.

Agreed. It's all about settling combinations now. Players like McInally and Tonks just have to accept that the World Cup is too soon for them.

Dunbar and Bennett have to play at least two of the AIs together, and I'd give them Russell at 10 as well. Harley and Cowan should likewise get at least 2 games, as should the Gray brothers at lock.

The one position I'd make an exception is hooker, where I'd like to see Fraser Brown given game time.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Agreed. It's all about settling combinations now. Players like McInally and Tonks just have to accept that the World Cup is too soon for them.

Dunbar and Bennett have to play at least two of the AIs together, and I'd give them Russell at 10 as well. Harley and Cowan should likewise get at least 2 games, as should the Gray brothers at lock.

The one position I'd make an exception is hooker, where I'd like to see Fraser Brown given game time.

Yes, agreed. I would start Russell against the Pumas and have Weir on standby for the Blackness depending on how he goes.

I recall being a bit disappointed with Harley's international play - like Swinson, he seemed a little, well, if not underpowered as such, then generally less effective than I would like him to be. He deserves another chance but I want to see more from him. The international standard has been set by Tom Wood and Peter O'Mahony now and he needs to try and match it.

I honestly believe that Ross Ford is one of the remaining members of the old, horrible legacy whereby a select few remaining players are there purely because of a lack of competition. How many other international hookers can you name in a top 12 nation who cannot accurately throw or hook. How can it possibly be acceptable to keep him? I would happily sacrifice the stone in weight that we'd give up by using Brown for someone who can actually do what the position demands. Under Andy Robinson, we had one of the safest line-outs in the modern game. No reason at all why that should change with guys like Gray, Hamilton, Harley and Beattie in a starting 8.

We need a new hooker and sadly, the answers are not Dougie Hall (great old warrior, now too old) or Pat MacArthur (sorry, but his skills go to pieces under pressure).

Finally - forgot to say this before but I am heartbroken for Gilchrist. The big feller giveth and he taketh away.

Anyone know what the chat with Johnnie Beattie is? He's not in the castres squad again.

Not the best of our only number 8 isn't match fit.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Anyone know what the chat with Johnnie Beattie is? He's not in the castres squad again.

Not the best of our only number 8 isn't match fit.

Yes that is a little bit of a worry, especially as Castres are not exactly setting the world on fire at the moment. I suspect if Dents has a full 80 mins next week, which as Edinburgh have no other back rows seems pretty likey, then he won't be to far away from a call up for the NZ and Tonga games. It sounded like he put himself about with great enthusiasm against Lyon.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Anyone know what the chat with Johnnie Beattie is? He's not in the castres squad again.

Not the best of our only number 8 isn't match fit.

Not to worry. The Squashed Goblin and the Surfbum Showpony will be flying the saltire for us against those pesky Leinster types. Quite a nice interview with young Maxwell in the Irish Times.

Lots of talk about the respective merits of picking Russell or Weir to start at 10, I would certainly go with Russell as first choice now but Heathcote is doing well at Edinburgh so he must certainly be in with a chance of being in the squad rather than Weir I would have thought.

MacK, Heathcote isn't a regular starter for the MFL is he? I know he has had a few starts recently but I put that down to the injury crisis. He doesn't seem to have nailed down the 10 shirt. But again, he is a talented lad, so do we give him four or five starts to show us what he can do? But if we do that for him when do we have a good look at Finn Russell?
It's the same story in the centres: imagine Dunbar and Scott are injured come September. Who are the next two in line? It would appear to be Bennett and Taylor. Have they ever played together at international level?
I could ask the same questions about the second and back rows.
I can't help but feel that Fern Cotton knows he hasn't got enough time to mould and then build a team capable of making a real impact on the RWC. The selection of seventeen Glasgow players (eighteen if you include Bluto who will be at the world cup) is as much pragmatism on his part as it is an acknowledgement that Scotstoun is now the rugby capital of the world.

Heathcoat has played a lot of rugby this season - whenever he's not started he's ended up playing anyway through injury!

Yes, RDW but my point is...is he the automatic first choice 10? If he isn't should we be looking to put him in that position for Scotland?

jimbopip wrote:Yes, RDW but my point is...is he the automatic first choice 10? If he isn't should we be looking to put him in that position for Scotland?

I wasn't suggesting picking him ahead of Russell who looks to be the best choice at 10 but he is playing well enough at Edinburgh (eg Man of the match against Lyon) to be an option for the 22 instead of Weir who looks to have some weaknesses in his game under pressure.

As for scrumhalf, Cusiter wasn't playing for Sale today, is he injured? If so will it be Pyrgos or Laidlaw that partners, presumably, Russell? It's obviously irrelevant to this thread but Danny Brough is the form Scottish scrumhalf currently, played a blinder in another excellent win for Scotland RL at the weekend, only have to lose by less than 17 points against France on Friday to become European Champions and qualify for the 2016 Four Nations. Excellent effort and some cracking players in the squad.

Its got to be Weir and one of Heathcote and Russell. Weir is frighteningly the most experienced 10 we have unless you count Laidlaw.

This Scotland team has to be built with a core of Glasgow players and play a similar game to Glasgow.

Cusiter is injured I believe. Injuries are racking up a bit and has already cost us the captain. Who will captain now?

I am firmly in the Russell camp as well, especially for the first game, but I suspect that Weir will get a start in one game as well, probably Tonga and that all three of them will get some game time.

Heathcote seems to be doing what we hoped and getting better as he plays more games. He will end up in the selection equation as well but the smart money is on Russell. He is the best prospect and we can't just not play him because he lacks experience. We need to make sure that he gets the experience!

How many pro starts does Russell have?

TJ wrote:How many pro starts does Russell have?

Not sure - about 15ish - definitely less than 20 overall appearances.

Weir has four times that. Doesn't make him better though.

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:How many pro starts does Russell have?

Not sure - about 15ish - definitely less than 20 overall appearances.

Weir has four times that. Doesn't make him better though.

No it doesn't but do you not think its a bit soon for Russell?

TJ wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:How many pro starts does Russell have?

Not sure - about 15ish - definitely less than 20 overall appearances.

Weir has four times that. Doesn't make him better though.

No it doesn't but do you not think its a bit soon for Russell?  

That's always a concern. However, ultimately I just think that we should choose the best players and leave managing their mental state to the coaches. From what I've seen of Russell, he's a particularly confident sort and he's built like a hurling player - not heavy, but a knot of wiry muscle.

In terms of simple age comparisons, Finn is 22 now. Paddy Jackson made his full cap Irish debut in the Six Nations about a fortnight after he turned 21. I think that we focus too much on age as it is difficult to make a like for like comparison - it depends entirely whom the relevant youngfeller is competing against for the shirt. Sexton was 23 when he started for Ireland because O'Gara was a difficult man to displace - it wasn't because he wasn't good enough to have started earlier. The knock on effect applies - Madigan was 25 before he got a shot although most Leinster fans would tell you he was ready earlier.

We don't have that luxury/problem. We don't have a Morne Steyn incumbent whom Russell is trying to unseat. If you're good enough, you're old enough. Please can nobody make a Jimmy Saville joke at this point.

Russell is young and inexperienced but he's already played in a Pro 12 semi final and final, as well as gaining a couple of caps for Scotland so he's not new to the big time.

Argentina and New Zealand is obviously a massive step up, but I think he's ready for it. As as been said Weir is a bit of a rabbit caught in the headlights sometime and Russell has so far shown that his has plenty composure.

Montpellier were putting a lot of pressure on him at the weekend but he always coped with the situation.

So I'd start Russell, although it wouldn't be a complete disaster if Weir started - will be interesting to see if he's learned from his bad season for Scotland last year.

The Russell question is actually quite healthy. Last season it was Rhuaridh/ Meatball with Laidlaw as third choice, and Heathcote as a possible. Rhuaridh is out for a lengthy spell and a youngster has forced his way into the reckoning. That's the sort of problem coaches love.
However.
Jonny Gray is an outstanding young talent, as it would seem is the one armed man in the MFL second row. How many caps do they have between them? Have they ever played together? Have either of them ever been paired with Handsome Richie? It's not as if either of them has suddenly burst onto the scene a la Russell.
Also.
For how long have we been crying out for an alternative to Can't Throw Won't Hook?
And
Do we have a squad which is so bountifully stocked in the back row that Beattie, Hogg, Brown and Barclay are surplus to requirements?
I wonder if old Fern isn't preparing the "This tournament was one too early for the , potentially, outstanding group of players we have here. So please put another four years on my contract."

TJ wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:How many pro starts does Russell have?

Not sure - about 15ish - definitely less than 20 overall appearances.

Weir has four times that. Doesn't make him better though.

No it doesn't but do you not think its a bit soon for Russell?  

I am a great believer that is they are good enough they are old enough

And it is time for us to start trusting the younger ones - relying on the older 'experienced' heads has not worked out too well for us in the last 10 years

I think Russell needs to be our starting 10, at least against the Pumas to see how he goes.  Weir had a poor 6 nations (that drop goal aside) and at International level he’s never really seemed to be comfortable.  Not writing him off by any stretch, as he’s still young, but I think at this stage Russell just seems to be able to do everything Weir can and more, and he’s a year younger.

With regards to the rest of the team, given the raft of injuries we’ve managed to pick up, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Denton or even Ashe (although probably too early for him realistically) called up to the squad for the backrow.   Beattie appears to be the only out and out No. 8 in the squad  (unless I have forgotten someone) so some form of cover there would be useful.  

Any word on Seymour?  Heard he went off in a neck brace on sat?  Hopefully that was purely precautionary and he’ll be back in time, as arguably he is our most inform winger at the moment.  Also did Maitland go off injured as well?

At this rate we’ll be down to Tim “tackling optional” Visser and Sean “scoring optional” Lamont on the wing.  Whilst both will do a job, I think Seymour and Maitland are much better options.  Also to be clear, I rate Tim and Sean, and if you could combine them into one player (Tim’s scoring, with Sean’s heart and workrate) then they would be a hell of a player, just independently they have flaws.  The prospect of Visser trying to stop anything down his channel against the All Blacks is terrifying.

With the current crop of injuries I wonder if Euan Murray might get the call to captain Scotland?

It's a tough one to call, had Barclay been selected he would have been my choice. Giving Laidlaw the Captaincy would be an error. He plays much better when concentrated on Playing and kicking the goals.

We have ok depth to swallow the loss of these players. The captaincy is another matter altogether.

The number of injuries does seem to be stacking up, hopefully this weekends Pro12 games won't make the problem worse although I expect a lot of the Scotland players will be rested, as long as it doesn't compromise Glasgow's league form too much.

There is a Scotland training camp until Wednesday, so surely those in the squad won't be involved at the weekend.

Difficult one to decide on Russell though - really he could do with another start for Glasgow.

The one thing to consider is maybe both Weir and Russell will play. Dunbar broke down again on Saturday so surely must be doubtful. That does open up the possibility of Weir at 10 and Russell at 12. That does seem to work quite well for Glasgow when they play it like that. You could also wonder about Peter Horne getting called into the squad, but it looks like he got injured at the weekend as well.

Matt Scott will be a terrible miss.

Horne and Hidalgo Clyne have both been called in to the squad as cover for Dunbar and Cusiter

BigGee wrote:The one thing to consider is maybe both Weir and Russell will play. Dunbar broke down again on Saturday so surely must be doubtful. That does open up the possibility of Weir at 10 and Russell at 12. That does seem to work quite well for Glasgow when they play it like that. You could also wonder about Peter Horne getting called into the squad, but it looks like he got injured at the weekend as well.

A Weir-Russell-Bennett combo is just too lightweight at international level I think, we'll get little go forward. Very skilful though!

I wonder how the Messiah will get on against the All-Blacks. If his father is wearing 10 it might be an interesting game.

The midfield is a really interesting area for Debate. Russell for me has to start at 10. Any Glasgow combination that involves Bennet works for me in the midfield.

I'm in the Russell camp on this one, the lad is playing away fixtures in the top tier European competition and has had exposure to Rabo play-off rugby. He is ready for a start in my opinion, although Laidlaw is probably the right partner for him at 9 given Cusiter's fitness (would take the goal kicking responsibilities off him as well). Instructions to Laidlaw would be to move the ball quickly though, as he did on occasion for Edinburgh and as he has been for Glaws this season. None of that slow box kicking nonsense that Scott Johnson had him doing. Russell needs good sharp ball in order to maximise his abilities.

It should be Russell at 10, Dunbar at 12 and Bennett at 13 for the first two games (at least). If Dunbar is not fit, and Scott is out, then it will be Duncan Taylor at 12, although I'd probably go with Horne personally.

Personally I think Pyrgos might be a better partner for Russell.  They play with each other at club level so understand each others game and Pyrgos seems to have come on leaps and bounds* recently.  Individually it could easily be argued that Laidlaw is the better player, but as a combo Pyrgos and Russell should in theory be stronger.


*trying that expression out, not sure I’m happy with it.

Pyrgos is playing well, and does seem to raise himself on the big stage which is important (the old McGeechan phrase of Test match animal spring to mind), but his passing can completely go to pot at times (and I don't mean speed of pass, but rather accuracy). Still, he's on good form and I certainly wouldn't be concerned were he to start. The bigger thing for me is whether you'd want Russell to shoulder goal kicking responsibilities from the get go.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Pyrgos is playing well, and does seem to raise himself on the big stage which is important (the old McGeechan phrase of Test match animal spring to mind), but his passing can completely go to pot at times (and I don't mean speed of pass, but rather accuracy). Still, he's on good form and I certainly wouldn't be concerned were he to start. The bigger thing for me is whether you'd want Russell to shoulder goal kicking responsibilities from the get go.

I don't see why the B&I Lions kicker should shirk kicking duties. If Hogg was kicking for the Lions when he was playing surely he could take on kicking duties and take them away from the halfbacks altogether?

Hogg is not an international goal kicker. He is not a 10 either. Repeating Gatland's howlers should not be the blueprint. Didn't he miss a complete sitter for the Lions??

If the halfbacks are to be Pyrgos and Russell then Russell should take the kicks, although Messiah can shank the long rangers.

I think we're pretty well stocked for kickers, in order of preference;

Laidlaw
Weir / Russell
Pyrgos
Hogg
Bennett

Horne and Hidalgo-Clyne called up as injury cover for Dunbar and Cusiter, doesn't say whether the injured pair are expected to play.  Also, Maitland and Seymour haven't joined up with the squad yet due to concussion protocol which possibly indicates Seymour isn't as badly injured as feared.

Of that lot, I feel Dunbar would be the biggest loss.

12:17:43

funnyExiledScot wrote:Hogg is not an international goal kicker. He is not a 10 either. Repeating Gatland's howlers should not be the blueprint. Didn't he miss a complete sitter for the Lions??

If the halfbacks are to be Pyrgos and Russell then Russell should take the kicks, although Messiah can shank the long rangers.

I was meaning about kicking. I would rather have Lamont at 10 than Hogg, that should clear up any misinterpretation of what I mean. Hoggs kicking isn't bad at all.

If Laidlaw starts he should take the kicks. However I wouldn't have him as captain. He takes on too much himself. I reckon we could see a proper left field captaincy choice from Vern.

Dougie Fife is surely going to be replaced by GC's mildly racist uncle Dougie!!!

The match day programs will be easy to correct. Instead of re-printing them all, just score out "Fife" with a pen and leave it at that!

no one will notice the difference!

I would not worry about Russell's kicking, he seems to have nerves of steel and hardly ever misses. Let him kick, he and Heathcoat are the best 2 kickers we have.

BigGee wrote:I would not worry about Russell's kicking, he seems to have nerves of steel and hardly ever misses. Let him kick, he and Heathcoat are the best 2 kickers we have.

I was only suggesting it in case he struggles from the kicking tee and it affects his wider game performance. I'm not too worried about it.

Remember that when we won the 5 Nations in 1999 we had Kenny Logan kicking, and he couldn't kick for toffee. Had Duncan Hodge, picked for his kicking, not got injured and stayed at 10 I don't think we'd have won that tournament or scored the bucket loads of tries we did that year. We shouldn't compromise the entire backline to shoe horn in a quality kicker (not that Russell is anywhere near as duff a kicker as Logan).

For me I do wonder if Russell would not be better served playing for glasgow aqnd getting some good gametime under his belt rater than going to sit ont eh bench in the AIs. ~Sure he is a talent - but its not his age or the comparision to the irish 10s above that bother me - its that he has so few pro starts under his belt. He needs more matches starting at 10. Its an issue that did Weir harm IMO spending too much time on the bench and not enough actual match time.and its a real issue for young scots in pivotal positions. Russell should have far more starts before internationals.

Its just an opinion but to start someone at 10 in internationals with so little experience seems inherently risky to me.

I think Russell has proved he can play at Pro12 level, he started first choice the latter part of last season and played in the big games. Toonie had no qualms putting him into the lions den at Montpellier on Saturday, despite the fact that Weir had a good game the previous week.

International rugby is a step up again from European games, some decent Pro 12 players never make the adjustment, it could be argued that Weir comes into that category. The only way Russell will get the required experience to play internationals is to play internationals. The coaches need to decide who has the best potential of our FH's and to press on with them in the driving seat. We don't have an incumbent and so the shirt is there for the taking.

For my money Russell is the one who has the greatest potential, he has passed all his tests so far with flying colours so until proved otherwise, we can hope he will do the same at the next level as well.

God I'm excited about the potential back-line we're going to have, honestly can't remember the last time it looked so potent plus there's plenty of competition.

Just hope our pack can deliver at the set-piece and provide some decent front-foot ball in the right areas.

I'd like to see

1 - Reid
2 - Ford
3 - Murray

A big unit with plenty experience, should be solid enough at scrum time and offer good grunt work around the park. Ford's throwing will be under the micro-scope as ever.

4 - Gray
5 - Gray

Another very hefty unit to add further ballast to the scrum, plus two tall line-out options.  Both have exceptional work-rates in the defence, with Jnr doing the dirty grunt work hopefully we'll see Snr stretching his legs a little like he used to.

6 - Harley
7 - Cowan
8 - Beattie

Well balanced unit, huge responsibility on Beattie to re-create the go forward Strauss provides Glasgow to get us on the front-foot.  Cowan should give us some pace in attack while Harley will tackle all day and just generally be a nuisance.  Plus Beattie and Harley are good line-out options.

Harley is out tho - broken cheekbone.

TJ wrote:Harley is out tho - broken cheekbone.

When'd that happen?

Pictures of him training today on SRU twitter feed.

TJ wrote:Harley is out tho - broken cheekbone.

That was Roddy Grant, unless Harley did as well, but no news on that front from the medical bulletin.

BigGee wrote:

TJ wrote:Harley is out tho - broken cheekbone.

That was Roddy Grant, unless Harley did as well, but no news on that front from the medical bulletin.

Mistaking Harley for Roddy Grant! Insinuating that all red heads look alike... should be a ban

TJ wrote:Harley is out tho - broken cheekbone.

Seriously dude, don't do that to me.

After sitting through 'Fury' with a look of 'ewwwwww' constantly etched on my face, I'm not sure if I can handle another shocking disappointment today.