Scotland RWC Warm-up Matches

RDW_Scotland wrote:

tigertattie wrote:If Japan rest thier better players against SA to try and target us, this could actually work in our benefit?

Would there be the risk of an undercooked Japan side facing off against us?

It will be our first game too remember, and if Jimbo gets his way and rests all our front line (i.e. Glasgow) players for the 4 warmup games then we'll be very undercooked too!

jimbopip wrote:This raises the prospect of Dancer-Horne-Vernon in our opening game thus giving Jackson-Meatball-Scott the USA game. This is counting on Scott being fit, otherwise it's either Tonks or Schlong at 13.

So, we can only wait with bated breath for Bennett and Dunbar to return from their day trip to Lourdes. If they're still crocked we should all go into full Private Fraser mode and stay there for the duration.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

tigertattie wrote:If Japan rest thier better players against SA to try and target us, this could actually work in our benefit?

Would there be the risk of an undercooked Japan side facing off against us?

"Undercooked"? They'd be sushi, surely.

Oh dear God....

highland_scot wrote:Advance train tickets are now available for the weekend of the Samoa match - we just got return tickets for 2 for £50. I know FES bought his months back with no discounts but for the poor/tight amongst us I thought it may be worth pointing out! Plus if you book now rather than a couple of months ago you actually get a seat reservation.

RDW_Scotland wrote:There’s a bar called Triples Bar which sells triple spirits for £4.

That’s all I can remember about the place.

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

IanBru wrote:

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

I'm a tad busy at the moment pal, but I can do a little guide for you fine folk this afternoon.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

IanBru wrote:

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

I'm a tad busy at the moment pal, but I can do a little guide for you fine folk this afternoon.

This ought to have your full attention. May I suggest the non-billable charge code of "Research" or "Other" be deployed to cover this.....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:There’s a bar called Triples Bar which sells triple spirits for £4.

That’s all I can remember about the place.

I'm going with my Dad, whose first question will be "Does that include single malt whisky?"......

highland_scot wrote:Sorry to divert the conversation from which mediocre player should be played out of position so that Matt Scott can be played out of position at 13...

.

IanBru wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

IanBru wrote:

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

I'm a tad busy at the moment pal, but I can do a little guide for you fine folk this afternoon.

This ought to have your full attention. May I suggest the non-billable charge code of "Research" or "Other" be deployed to cover this.....

CHARGE CODE 006A - PERUSING/PREPARING

'Non-Client - Non-chargeable - Bantering/procrastination/sarcasm'.

jimbopip wrote:

highland_scot wrote:Sorry to divert the conversation from which mediocre player should be played out of position so that Matt Scott can be played out of position at 13...

.

Isn't that what the Luvvies have been doing all season?

IanBru wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

IanBru wrote:

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

I'm a tad busy at the moment pal, but I can do a little guide for you fine folk this afternoon.

This ought to have your full attention. May I suggest the non-billable charge code of "Research" or "Other" be deployed to cover this.....

CHARGE CODE 006A - PERUSING/PREPARING

funnyExiledScot wrote:For me the centres debate is clear, and the order of preference for each position listed below:

12. Dunbar, Scott, Horne, (Taylor), Lamont, (Vernon), Lyle
13. Bennett, Dunbar, Taylor, Vernon, (Hogg - with Maitland at 15), Grove, (Lamont)

You'll note the lack of Scott at 13, because he's a 12. Also no mention of Russell, Jackson or Weir at 12, because they are 10s.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

highland_scot wrote:Sorry to divert the conversation from which mediocre player should be played out of position so that Matt Scott can be played out of position at 13...

.

Isn't that what the Luvvies have been doing all season?

That's only to accommodate Andries ‘Sonny Bill’ Strauss though, which is completely understandable.

nickj wrote:Any of you fine folk familiar with Gloucester? It turns out I'm heading to see Japan play twice this autumn: once to see our much anticipated 'needle' game in Gloucester and once to see their second string play the Springboks in Brighton. I do actually support Scotland, but I got a bit excited.

jimbopip wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:For me the centres debate is clear, and the order of preference for each position listed below:

12. Dunbar, Scott, Horne, (Taylor), Lamont, (Vernon), Lyle
13. Bennett, Dunbar, Taylor, Vernon, (Hogg - with Maitland at 15), Grove, (Lamont)

You'll note the lack of Scott at 13, because he's a 12. Also no mention of Russell, Jackson or Weir at 12, because they are 10s.

Fes, I have scored out the ones who are not actually in the squad, underlined the ones who do not play in that position and italicised the ones whose fitness is questionable.
That leaves

12. Horne
13. Vernon

I am putting up a worst case scenario but if our best three centres are Donald Ducked (or even two any two of them) then is Jackson or Weir at 12 worse than Schlong at 13 , or losing our best full back in order to put Hogg in at 13?

What I really want, really really want, is to be able to spend hours on here arguing over Dunbar-Bennett as opposed to Scott-Dunbar or Scott-Bennett. But we need all three to be fit for that to happen.

highland_scot wrote:

IanBru wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

IanBru wrote:

highland_scot wrote:
Anyone been to Newcastle before and able to recommend somewhere to eat/drink pre- and post-game?

I'm a tad busy at the moment pal, but I can do a little guide for you fine folk this afternoon.

This ought to have your full attention. May I suggest the non-billable charge code of "Research" or "Other" be deployed to cover this.....

CHARGE CODE 006A - PERUSING/PREPARING

I'd split between "NON-OTHER", "NON-PM" (Practice Management) and "NON-LEARN" as it is kind of educational...

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

nickj wrote:Any of you fine folk familiar with Gloucester? It turns out I'm heading to see Japan play twice this autumn: once to see our much anticipated 'needle' game in Gloucester and once to see their second string play the Springboks in Brighton. I do actually support Scotland, but I got a bit excited.

Nickj - Not sure about Gloucester but I've heard it's crap and the atmosphere is slightly menacing. We're actually staying in Cheltenham so will head over to Gloucester for the match, stay for a few cheeky ones after and get a taxi back to Cheltenham for around 7pm to carry on the celebrations there.

RDW_Scotland wrote:I must have missed the part where Weir showed himself to be a defensive rock!

I agree that Weir and Jackson should be nowhere near the 12 shirt.  And I would prefer Shlong at 12 over either of those.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I must have missed the part where Weir showed himself to be a defensive rock!

I agree that Weir and Jackson should be nowhere near the 12 shirt.  And I would prefer Shlong at 12 over either of those.

I think it's just assumed that he'd stop people because he's fat.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:I must have missed the part where Weir showed himself to be a defensive rock!

I agree that Weir and Jackson should be nowhere near the 12 shirt.  And I would prefer Shlong at 12 over either of those.

I think it's just assumed that he'd stop people because he's fat.

Weir's defensive abilities aren't too bad. My concern is the suicide passes he tends to throw in just about every international match he has played. Fairly sure the opposition will score more points off the back of Weir's mental passing than they will running through him to be fair.

George Carlin wrote:My prediction is that Richie Vernon will turn up like a gangling, pale blue, rugby ninja and administer a masterclass in centre play to anyone who dares cross his path.

Chuck Norris will publicly tweet about how scared he is of Vernon, Sir Clive Woodward will say that he was the only person in the world game who recognised Vernon's potential in the midfield, the Pope will publicly bless Vernon for his services to rugby and to awkward gangling people across the world and McKie will put him out to stud with the Scottish cheerleading team.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:My prediction is that Richie Vernon will turn up like a gangling, pale blue, rugby ninja and administer a masterclass in centre play to anyone who dares cross his path.

Chuck Norris will publicly tweet about how scared he is of Vernon, Sir Clive Woodward will say that he was the only person in the world game who recognised Vernon's potential in the midfield, the Pope will publicly bless Vernon for his services to rugby and to awkward gangling people across the world and McKie will put him out to stud with the Scottish cheerleading team.

I didn't know Richie V was from that part of town.....

EWT Spoons wrote:I can’t see Dunbar being ready for the WC.  He’s still going through rehab and depending on the type of repair they have done, he’ll need to build up strength again in his injured leg.  I can see him being injury free, but I would be amazed if he’s in a position to play international rugby until towards the middle/end of the WC.

George Carlin wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:I can’t see Dunbar being ready for the WC.  He’s still going through rehab and depending on the type of repair they have done, he’ll need to build up strength again in his injured leg.  I can see him being injury free, but I would be amazed if he’s in a position to play international rugby until towards the middle/end of the WC.

Agreed - I also don't want Dunbar to feck the rest of his career trying to come back too early. If we can get two of Scott, Dunbar and Bennett back, then that's probably good enough.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

In short, Scott(12), Dunbar and Bennett will all be ready.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

In short, Scott(12), Dunbar and Bennett will all be ready.

Care to bet your stones on that? I'd say bet IanBru's but I hear they are currently over-utilised in this regard...

The breathtaking cynicism that abounds in modern sport can be summed up in a single job title: International Resettlement Adviser for the Scottish Rugby Union.

Among the key accountabilities listed on the job description are “To advise and assist Scottish Rugby with the identification, recruitment, relocation, resettlement and integration of professional rugby players, coaches and other employees (and their families, as required) from overseas, particularly those from the Southern Hemisphere.” Other unions are equally guilty of exploiting the eligibility loopholes but the SRU’s commitment to trampling all over the traditional principles of international rugby is staggering in its brazenness.

Last week, John Hardie was called up to Scotland’s World Cup training squad. The 26-year-old New Zealander plays for the Highlanders but has precious little connection to the highlands that he is poised to represent aside from a grandmother living in Fife. Hardie has never stepped foot in the country let alone meet any of the teammates who will pleased to hear that he previously stated: “I’ve always aspired to be an All Black but rugby can be pretty cruel at times. You just have to deal with what is dished up.”
Lord knows what impact that will have on team morale let alone that on a whole generation of Scottish players who have in effect been told that their union would rather import than nurture talent. Nowhere is that message made more explicit than in the make-up of Edinburgh’s 39-man squad in which there are 15 Scottish-born players.

Those that cannot find a tartan connection in their family tree like Hardie or Hugh Blake, a New Zealander who was promoted to Scotland’s Six Nations squad before playing even pulling on a Edinburgh shirt, are deemed “project players” who can qualify to take on Proud Edward’s army by doing a three-year residency stretch. By coming over in 2012, South Africans Josh Strauss and WP Nel employed this route to swap the proteas for the thistle in time for the World Cup.

In a sense neither the SRU nor the players are not to blame. As Hardie admitted, the All Blacks were his Plan A, representing Scotland was his consolation prize (rugby can be so cruel). Both he and the unions are merely exploiting loopholes that should have been closed a long time ago. This is not to say that foreign-born players should be banned from representing another country. The world is now a globalised community. The Vunipola brothers and Taulupe Faletau came to Britain from Tonga as youngsters and no one bar Donald Trump would begrudge their right to represent England and Wales.

The residency rule should reflect that migration occurs, but the fact that “project players” exists in the rugby vernacular demonstrates that it urgently needs overhauling. By doubling the qualifying period to six years, the short-term opportunism of recruiting a player three years out from a World Cup would be eliminated. The grandmother rule should have also been scrapped as soon as the Grannygate saga of Brett Sinkinson and Shane Howarth exposed its folly.

Yet the rules, as they are, suit the many tier-one nations, who are content to continue cherrypicking southern-hemisphere cast-offs. But each time that a player like Hardie is parachuted into a national set-up on the flimsiest of pretexts, the integrity and identity that make-up the heart of international rugby is eroded.

At some point, World Rugby has to decide what it wants international rugby to be. Is it a contest between the best each nation has to offer? Or is it a glorified version of the club game with countries reduced to being no more than franchises relying on the strength of their scouting rather than the depth of their domestic talent?

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:I can’t see Dunbar being ready for the WC.  He’s still going through rehab and depending on the type of repair they have done, he’ll need to build up strength again in his injured leg.  I can see him being injury free, but I would be amazed if he’s in a position to play international rugby until towards the middle/end of the WC.

Agreed - I also don't want Dunbar to feck the rest of his career trying to come back too early. If we can get two of Scott, Dunbar and Bennett back, then that's probably good enough.

I think Dunbar will be ready.

I had the same op and was back playing in 9 months. And that was while receiving physio from an overweight Devon lady who tapped on her computer muttering "bit longer" while I stood on one of those pogo moon balls.

I would hope that the facilities available to Dunbar are slightly higher in quality. Plus the fact that the surgery now compared to 12 years ago will be vastly superior. His problem will be mental - worrying if it will happen again. However, I would imagine that sports psychology is another major part of the rehab process.

In short, Scott(12), Dunbar and Bennett will all be ready.

RDW_Scotland wrote:To take matters away from Bru’s stones, there’s a fairly damming article in the Torygraph about Scotland’s selection policy.

They do make a good point in the opening paragraph!

The breathtaking cynicism that abounds in modern sport can be summed up in a single job title: International Resettlement Adviser for the Scottish Rugby Union.

Among the key accountabilities listed on the job description are “To advise and assist Scottish Rugby with the identification, recruitment, relocation, resettlement and integration of professional rugby players, coaches and other employees (and their families, as required) from overseas, particularly those from the Southern Hemisphere.” Other unions are equally guilty of exploiting the eligibility loopholes but the SRU’s commitment to trampling all over the traditional principles of international rugby is staggering in its brazenness.

Last week, John Hardie was called up to Scotland’s World Cup training squad. The 26-year-old New Zealander plays for the Highlanders but has precious little connection to the highlands that he is poised to represent aside from a grandmother living in Fife. Hardie has never stepped foot in the country let alone meet any of the teammates who will pleased to hear that he previously stated: “I’ve always aspired to be an All Black but rugby can be pretty cruel at times. You just have to deal with what is dished up.”
Lord knows what impact that will have on team morale let alone that on a whole generation of Scottish players who have in effect been told that their union would rather import than nurture talent. Nowhere is that message made more explicit than in the make-up of Edinburgh’s 39-man squad in which there are 15 Scottish-born players.

Those that cannot find a tartan connection in their family tree like Hardie or Hugh Blake, a New Zealander who was promoted to Scotland’s Six Nations squad before playing even pulling on a Edinburgh shirt, are deemed “project players” who can qualify to take on Proud Edward’s army by doing a three-year residency stretch. By coming over in 2012, South Africans Josh Strauss and WP Nel employed this route to swap the proteas for the thistle in time for the World Cup.

In a sense neither the SRU nor the players are not to blame. As Hardie admitted, the All Blacks were his Plan A, representing Scotland was his consolation prize (rugby can be so cruel). Both he and the unions are merely exploiting loopholes that should have been closed a long time ago. This is not to say that foreign-born players should be banned from representing another country. The world is now a globalised community. The Vunipola brothers and Taulupe Faletau came to Britain from Tonga as youngsters and no one bar Donald Trump would begrudge their right to represent England and Wales.

The residency rule should reflect that migration occurs, but the fact that “project players” exists in the rugby vernacular demonstrates that it urgently needs overhauling. By doubling the qualifying period to six years, the short-term opportunism of recruiting a player three years out from a World Cup would be eliminated. The grandmother rule should have also been scrapped as soon as the Grannygate saga of Brett Sinkinson and Shane Howarth exposed its folly.

Yet the rules, as they are, suit the many tier-one nations, who are content to continue cherrypicking southern-hemisphere cast-offs. But each time that a player like Hardie is parachuted into a national set-up on the flimsiest of pretexts, the integrity and identity that make-up the heart of international rugby is eroded.

At some point, World Rugby has to decide what it wants international rugby to be. Is it a contest between the best each nation has to offer? Or is it a glorified version of the club game with countries reduced to being no more than franchises relying on the strength of their scouting rather than the depth of their domestic talent?

As Hardie admitted, the All Blacks were his Plan A, representing Scotland was his consolation prize (rugby can be so cruel)

RDW_Scotland wrote:My favourite bit:

As Hardie admitted, the All Blacks were his Plan A, representing Scotland was his consolation prize (rugby can be so cruel)