Scotland RWC Warm-up Matches

First topic message reminder :

Previous RWC related nonsense:
https://www.606v2.com/t58234p1000-scotland-world-cup-look-ahead-and-squad

Game 1:

  
IRELAND v SCOTLAND
15 August 2015
KO: 17:00 local
Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Game 2:


ITALY v SCOTLAND
22 August 2015
KO: 15:00 local
Stadio Olimpico di Torino, Turin

Game 3:

  
SCOTLAND v ITALY
29 August 2015
KO: 15:15 local
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Game 4:

 
FRANCE v SCOTLAND
05 September 2015
KO: 21:00 local
Stade de France, Saint-Denis

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

Post on 606V2.

jimbopip wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

Post on 606V2.

jimbopip wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

Post on 606V2.

Best post ever

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

If you're FES, round up some of the more athletic staff.

Otherwise I'd suggest lobbing the ball in the air so it soars out of shot, catching it then, throwing your pass.
The perfect Billy no mates strategy!

I played myself at rugby once!

I won 17 - 3

jimbopip wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

Post on 606V2.

Well done Jim!

RDW_Scotland wrote:What do you do if you don't have any mates?

Simple chief, throw the ball really hard at a rough stony wall. In terms of accuracy, predictability and usefulness, the ricochet will be an accurate recreation of a Laidlaw pass from an unchallenged ruck.

tigertattie wrote:I played myself at rugby once!

I won 17 - 3

I played myself at Rugby once too - got red carded for a high tackle. Looked worse in slow motion...

Manky-Flanker wrote:

tigertattie wrote:I played myself at rugby once!

I won 17 - 3

I played myself at Rugby once too - got red carded for a high tackle. Looked worse in slow motion...

We shall hencefoth call you Finn Russell

Here's something to cheer everyone up:

Excellent news, Reallybored. Just slightly spoiled by the Hobbit photobombing Matt Scott in the middle one.

Friends, I'm sorry about this:

Oh, and massive thanks RB - you've turned my day from a C to a solid B+.

Well given the injury cloud over all four of our best centres (Dunbar, Taylor, Scott and Bennett) I'd just be delighted if two of them could be fit and ready!

Anyway, how come the C/B+ oh ye of the leveraged stones?? Surely life as a Geordie trainee is at worst an A-??

FES normally you'd be right, but we've got a work experience kid in my office and I'm having to talk him through all the work I've done over the past month. The partner in my office keeps raising his eyebrows in a "Really? I don't recall telling you to do that" kind of way...

Nice to see one of Scotland best ever centres back up and running.

Its also nice that wee mark Bennett is ok again too

As a side note. That training top is utter mince! It's like urban camo gear!

IanBru wrote:FES normally you'd be right, but we've got a work experience kid in my office and I'm having to talk him through all the work I've done over the past month. The partner in my office keeps raising his eyebrows in a "Really? I don't recall telling you to do that" kind of way...

We've had a whole raft of work experience kids through the office, ranging from 15 - 17. Far too much youthful enthusiasm and enjoyment of life going on for my liking. More depressing is when their eyes glaze over after 30 seconds when you try to explain what it is you do and why. In truth I always struggle with the why.

reallybored wrote:Here's something to cheer everyone up:

My take on this is that the probables are in red, with the possibles in blue.

Top bantering everyone. Well done.

George Carlin wrote:Top bantering everyone. Well done.

By the way I was reading the new Harper Lee novel last night and her description of Maycomb, Alabama reminded me of Ayr.

To paraphrase: If you're not looking for much, there's plenty.

I quite like the song "Bread of heaven" (don't tell the Welsh)

So I've written some lyrics to go along to the tune (inspired by one foot in the grave). Please feel free to practise and we'll sing it at the next international game at HQ.

"There's a man, we can't stand any longer, he's always talking utter shoite.
He loves 8s, and doesn't play a 7, and his mullett just is'nt right.
Scotty Johnson, Scotty Johnson, please send him back home to Oz (home to Oz)
Please send that wangkerr back to Oz"

There's an interview with Matt Scott12 on the bbc site today which is slightly troubling, unless the interview is a couple of weeks old and they just published it today.

But he returned to full training on Tuesday and hopes to be fit in time for Scotland's opening World Cup warm-up match against Ireland next month.
Glasgow Warriors' Bennett had a similar complaint and hopes to be fit for the tournament.
As does his club-mate Dunbar, who will return next week from a specialist rehabilitation facility in the United States, where he is receiving treatment for knee ligament damage.

"But all of us are working really hard behind the scenes and we're giving ourselves the best possible chance," said Scott, who has not played since Scotland's Six Nations defeat by Ireland on 21 March.
"I'm feeling really good and delighted to be back full training.
"I got the all clear just over a week ago and we had an off-week, so I was chomping at the bit to get back training with the guys. My first session today went really well."

Reading that it would suggest that Scott and Bennett have just, as in this week, started full training and that Dunbar hasn't yet.


Also, it does kind of shed some light on Scott's lack of impact in the 6's;

He added: "I've been able to put in a good amount of work on my upper body strength. Now I feel I have got my size back."
Scott has struggled with shoulder injuries, believing the trouble has held back his progress for about 18 months and reduced the impact he was able to make on the field of play.

Sounds like he was struggling to believe in himself, but when you consider that he couldn't get the 12 jersey for the Luvvies is that a surprise?

The article also refers to Duncan Taylor as being "doubtful": I thought he had been ruled out. This would suggest that either Jamesie would rather have a half fit Taylor over a fully fit Vernon OR we are so short of fit centres that it's Horne, Vernon and the two who are closest to fitness after that.

If injuries strike during the tournament, the midfield V Samoa could well be;

10. Jackson
12. Meatball
13. Schlong

jimbopip wrote:There's an interview with Matt Scott12 on the bbc site today which is slightly troubling, unless the interview is a couple of weeks old and they just published it today.

But he returned to full training on Tuesday and hopes to be fit in time for Scotland's opening World Cup warm-up match against Ireland next month.
Glasgow Warriors' Bennett had a similar complaint and hopes to be fit for the tournament.
As does his club-mate Dunbar, who will return next week from a specialist rehabilitation facility in the United States, where he is receiving treatment for knee ligament damage.

"But all of us are working really hard behind the scenes and we're giving ourselves the best possible chance," said Scott, who has not played since Scotland's Six Nations defeat by Ireland on 21 March.
"I'm feeling really good and delighted to be back full training.
"I got the all clear just over a week ago and we had an off-week, so I was chomping at the bit to get back training with the guys. My first session today went really well."

Reading that it would suggest that Scott and Bennett have just, as in this week, started full training and that Dunbar hasn't yet.


Also, it does kind of shed some light on Scott's lack of impact in the 6's;

He added: "I've been able to put in a good amount of work on my upper body strength. Now I feel I have got my size back."
Scott has struggled with shoulder injuries, believing the trouble has held back his progress for about 18 months and reduced the impact he was able to make on the field of play.

Sounds like he was struggling to believe in himself, but when you consider that he couldn't get the 12 jersey for the Luvvies is that a surprise?

The article also refers to Duncan Taylor as being "doubtful": I thought he had been ruled out. This would suggest that either Jamesie would rather have a half fit Taylor over a fully fit Vernon OR we are so short of fit centres that it's Horne, Vernon and the two who are closest to fitness after that.

If injuries strike during the tournament, the midfield V Samoa could well be;

10. Jackson
12. Meatball
13. Schlong

I reckon you've hit the nail on the head and its going to be Vernon, Horne and the two fittest options after that; which look like being Scott and Bennett as things stand. I really hope Dunbar makes it, but its got to be 50/50 at best. I wonder who gets the chop if Dunbar does make it - does Scott's ability to play 13 put him ahead of Vernon?

Given our curse at centre I'd be taking as many of the b*ggers to the wc as possible.  If bennett and Scott are both fit then they would be my first choice (assuming Dunbar isn't) and Horne and Vernon as 2nd choice.

Problem then is who plays against who.  Scott & Bennett's dodgy shoulders would make me wary of playing them against the like of Samoa and RSA due to their physical nature, but they are the two best teams in our group, so ideally the best players should be playing in those games.

But would Vernon's size help against those teams?

I think the warm up games will tell us a lot.  If Scott and Bennet come through unscathed and playing to close to their ability then I think they will play against Samoa and RSA.

Agreed - I can't see Cotter taking many chances with his centres, so I think we'll take four specialists plus Horne as 3rd fly half/centre. Vernon has a very good chance of making it adn quite right. He finished the season strongly.

John Hardie has been added to the training squad.

http://thescotlandteam.com/2015/07/15/hardie-added-to-extended-scotland-squad/

It's the rapture!! I really wish I'd worn a tie today.

Wonder if that means he's going to sign for one of the pro teams

EWT, it must surely. It would be a bit of a kick in the stones for all involved if he came here, trained, didn't make the national squad, then got back on the plane to Peter Jackson Land.

So I was wrong, John Hardie has joined the training squad!  

Hope he makes the most of this chance.

IanBru wrote:EWT, it must surely. It would be a bit of a kick in the stones for all involved if he came here, trained, didn't make the national squad, then got back on the plane to Peter Jackson Land.

Aye figured it must, but there has been no chat (other than speculation on here) about his future, unless I've missed it.

Edinburgh don't need him, so I'm hopeful if he is joining a pro team it's Glasgow. Failing that he might be moving to a french/english/welsh/irish side (I should have just written NH) which would be nice, but I suspect he's away to the Weege.

IanBru wrote:EWT, it must surely. It would be a bit of a kick in the stones for all involved if he came here, trained, didn't make the national squad, then got back on the plane to Peter Jackson Land.

Why is it any different to picking and English born player with a vague link (Kieran Low) to Scotland playing in England?

MAKE HIM CAPTAIN!!!

cp10 wrote:

IanBru wrote:EWT, it must surely. It would be a bit of a kick in the stones for all involved if he came here, trained, didn't make the national squad, then got back on the plane to Peter Jackson Land.

Why is it any different to picking and English born player with a vague link (Kieran Low) to Scotland playing in England?

No, my point is that we want him to stay. It would be a disappointing outcome if he didn't make the squad and then didn't stay with a pro-side long term to have another bite at the national squad apple.

Wow. This is a risk. I have a horrible feeling it might backfire on Cotter et al. I dearly hope its been well communicated to the squad and everyone's on board. I can see the sarcy tweets now. On the club front, I wonder if Favaro's injury is worse than people thought

Good luck to Hardie coming over and pushing for a spot in the world cup squad. Not sure if he is really needed though. I would put him on par with the other 3 opensides in the squad. The major concern about Hardie is his recent injury record. He hasn't played much in the last 2 seasons for the Highlanders due to various knocks.

Like a few others have said surely he must be coming north to play his club rugby, however Edinburgh and Glasgow are both overloaded with opensides. Glasgow have Favaro, Fusaro, Holmes and bordill. Edinburgh have Grant, Watson, Ritchie and Du Preez can do a shift there, there is also Hugh Blake who we don't know what team if any he will be at.
If they knew for a while that Hardie was coming over why did Glasgow sign Favaro?

Agree - it's a very odd sequence of events. If the SRU and Toonie are feeling brutal, they'd probably concede that Hardie is a better 7 than any of the options at Glasgow, and therefore they could bring him over and pack off Fusaro, Bordill or Holmes elsewhere. Tough call.

Absolutely no need for him at Edinburgh though. I wouldn't ditch Watson or Grant, and Solomons likes Du Preez as a 7 as well (and with Manu and Denton in the squad we could well play three number 8s to cheer up Scott Johnson).

Does seem like Glasgow would be his best bet, with the players FES mentions being moved on, but that does also depend on when their contracts are up.

Whilst there is no need for him at Edinburgh, that does strike me as exactly the reason why he'll end up with us.  Its the crazy planning the SRU are renowned for.

Planning? What's planning? On that note it looks like Newcastle are set to pinch the SRU's very own, already SQ version of Taqele Naiyaravoro, Scotland Sevens international Joe Nayacavou. I did wonder whether he could switch from the back row to the wing? http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_61750,00.html

I'd like to think he'd be at Edinburgh if anywhere. Glasgow have a massive number of 7's already whereas Edinburgh have Watson, Grant and du Preez (in an emergency). Also worth noting that Roddy's contract extension is only till the end of the season.

What wouldn't you have given to be in the room when John Barclay and Hugh Blake were told the news?

This really doesn't sit well with me - we're turning into a bit of a farce. Is anyone else parachuting random players in who have never set foot in the country? I suspect not. Why do we even need him? What will the likes of Roddy Grant and Chris Fusaro make of this?

VC can spin this all he wants, but it smacks of desperation.

You just know that right now Toonie is trying to decide which of Blake and Fozzie will be 12 and which 13 next season. Favaro is covering Schlong. Obviously.

I welcome players who are Scottish Qualified, deciding to wear the thistle and take on the responsibility of upholding the reputation's and dignity of the greats who wore the Jerseys before them but this should be done at the beginning of a World cup cycle not 5 mins before the tournament starts. I like Big Vern but stuff like this Sticks in the Craw.

I've Said it before and i'll say it again, The SRU HAS A DUTY to young laddies that commit to what is a minority sport in Scotland to give them a clear pathway to the top of the game. This sends the message that no matter how hard you work you will always be inferior to players from other countries who have bigger player numbers. Roddy Grant isnt exactly the purest of Jock Tamsons Bairns but i would say he has far more right to be in the extended squad than Hardie.

RDW_Scotland wrote:This really doesn't sit well with me - we're turning into a bit of a farce. Is anyone else parachuting random players in who have never set foot in the country? I suspect not. Why do we even need him? What will the likes of Roddy Grant and Chris Fusaro make of this?

VC can spin this all he wants, but it smacks of desperation.

I really want Scotland to do well but this ... Dont mean to be disrespectful but in a way, scotland is to NH rugby what greece is to the european union.

whocares wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:This really doesn't sit well with me - we're turning into a bit of a farce. Is anyone else parachuting random players in who have never set foot in the country? I suspect not. Why do we even need him? What will the likes of Roddy Grant and Chris Fusaro make of this?

VC can spin this all he wants, but it smacks of desperation.

I really want Scotland to do well but this ... Dont mean to be disrespectful but in a way, scotland is to NH rugby what greece is to the european union.

Nope - Greece is losing all its best people and can't attract any foreign talent...

I have this feeling that Hardie may end up at Edinburgh, it is almost inconceivable that he won't get a contract with one of the teams next year. I wondered with Roddy Grant only getting a one year contract if that meant he was on his last year with the club. There was talk of him going anyway and perhaps he only was kept on because of the world cup.

I would like Blake to stay with Glasgow, maybe playing a bit of sevens as well next year. Neither Fusaro nor Holmes are more than solid club players and I suspect both will struggle to be kept on longer term. Bordill unfortunately is always going to struggle for game time to prove himself. He would benefit from a loan out to a championship side next year.

Kind of makes you feel as well that VC does not feel very confident about Cowan or Barclay either and is looking for a better option.

What are you all havering about. You sound like a bunch of Welsh villageists. This is serious international rugby, if he's the best we've got in the position then play him. Or would you rather give a player a game because 'he deserves it', because he's a young Scots laddie, that way does not win things. Sorry but have to be hard headed about this and get our best 15 on the pitch.

Rant over.

Im sure if we filled the team 1 to 14 ( Hoggy at 15 obvs ) with southern Hemisphere guys we might actually win something, BUT we would be throwing out the bairn with the Bathwater. Murrayfield gets filled every Spring by Punters who feel a connection to there kith and kin, who have played on the same pitches, went to the same Schools, got in fights in the same kebab shops, Not by people who are desperate to see the team win the world cup.

Yes a player who "deserves" the position should play, because they have earned the respect of there team mates and coaches. Rugby even at the top level require's the right combination of people on the pitch to win. The Whisky must be blended just right for the perfect Dram.