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

In my defense, a girl was buying.

IanBru wrote:In my defense, a girl was buying.

Were you actually "with her" though, or were you doing a "De Klerk"??

funnyExiledScot wrote:

IanBru wrote:In my defense, a girl was buying.

Were you actually "with her" though, or were you doing a "De Klerk"??

IanBru wrote:In my defense, a girl was buying.

You were drinking with the MFL pack?

jimbopip wrote:

IanBru wrote:In my defense, a girl was buying.

You were drinking with the MFL pack?

Given Glasgow's current pack during the world cup compared to Edinburgh's are you really making that joke??

Now if you'd said Edinburgh's backline between 2012-2013 that would have been more accurate...(less funny as a joke of course)

RDW_Scotland wrote:

jimbopip wrote:

IanBru wrote:In my defense, a girl was buying.

You were drinking with the MFL pack?

Given Glasgow's current pack during the world cup compared to Edinburgh's are you really making that joke??

Now if you'd said Edinburgh's backline between 2012-2013 that would have been more accurate...(less funny as a joke of course)

I'm not sure Ben Atiga became the man/size he is today drinking espresso martinis!!

Who do we think will feature in the game vs Ireland? Assuming if Blake or Hardie feature they will be capped for Scotland now? I'm interested to see how a lot of the newer players do if they get a chance in these games, especially some of the options in the back row.

If anything this a chance for established players to show they deserve a starting spot in the game vs Japan, and also a great way to give future Scotland players a run out so they could be in contention come the 6N next year.

Injuries to likes of Hogg, Russell, Gray x2, Nel, Dickinson, any centre, would be pretty disastrous, still so little strength in depth..

My Scotland vs Japan XV (Before warm up matches)

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray
Gray
Denton
Cowan
Ashe
SHC
Russell
Seymour
Scott
Bennett
Maitland
Hogg

The back row is going to be an interesting contest. 10 players battling it out to be selected for the final 31 man squad and some stiff competition. In my opinion we should have a solid back row for this WC as the options are pretty handy. Pro 12 champions, a Super 15 champion as well as experienced and young talents.

In my opinion, 6. Ashe 7. Hardie 8. Strauss could be a force to be reckoned with.

The front row on the other hand.. bit ropey.

Considering the squad we took to 2011 NZ WC this one looks much more reinforced. I just hope we have the right tactics for each game as 6N was really poor at times despite doing a lot of things right.

We have a bunch of warm-up games so I'd like to test a few combinations against Ireland

1.Reid 2.McInally 3.Cusack

Effectively our 2nd choice front row but the one I think we may need to call upon against USA. We need to know (a) if Cusack is fit and (b) whether McInally can be a force at 2. I'd give Fraser Brown and Jon Welsh some time in this game as well.

4.Gilchrist 5.Hamilton

Again, a combination for the USA potentially, and Gilchrist needs at least 60 minutes under his belt. Gray x2 are assured to be the first choice lock pairing regardless.

6.Harley 7.Watson 8.Ashe

I'm not interested in Hardie for this World Cup.

9.Hidalgo-Clyne 10.Russell

These guys need time together.

12.Scott 13.Bennett

These guys need time together, and to prove fitness. Horne/Vernon can get some time as well.

11.Visser 14.Seymour 15.Maitland

I want to have another look at Maitland as cover at the back.

funnyExiledScot wrote:We have a bunch of warm-up games so I'd like to test a few combinations against Ireland

1.Reid 2.McInally 3.Cusack

Effectively our 2nd choice front row but the one I think we may need to call upon against USA. We need to know (a) if Cusack is fit and (b) whether McInally can be a force at 2. I'd give Fraser Brown and Jon Welsh some time in this game as well.

4.Gilchrist 5.Hamilton

Again, a combination for the USA potentially, and Gilchrist needs at least 60 minutes under his belt. Gray x2 are assured to be the first choice lock pairing regardless.

6.Harley 7.Watson 8.Ashe

I'm not interested in Hardie for this World Cup.

9.Hidalgo-Clyne 10.Russell

These guys need time together.

12.Scott 13.Bennett

These guys need time together, and to prove fitness. Horne/Vernon can get some time as well.

11.Visser 14.Seymour 15.Maitland

I want to have another look at Maitland as cover at the back.

Will Maitland be ready by then? As an Irish fan it would be good to see as we have signed him primarily as a full back.

funnyExiledScot wrote:We have a bunch of warm-up games so I'd like to test a few combinations against Ireland

1.Reid 2.McInally 3.Cusack

Effectively our 2nd choice front row but the one I think we may need to call upon against USA. We need to know (a) if Cusack is fit and (b) whether McInally can be a force at 2. I'd give Fraser Brown and Jon Welsh some time in this game as well.

4.Gilchrist 5.Hamilton

Again, a combination for the USA potentially, and Gilchrist needs at least 60 minutes under his belt. Gray x2 are assured to be the first choice lock pairing regardless.

6.Harley 7.Watson 8.Ashe

I'm not interested in Hardie for this World Cup.

9.Hidalgo-Clyne 10.Russell

These guys need time together.

12.Scott 13.Bennett

These guys need time together, and to prove fitness. Horne/Vernon can get some time as well.

11.Visser 14.Seymour 15.Maitland

I want to have another look at Maitland as cover at the back.

I'd pretty much agree, apart from on 'Kiss me Hardie'. As I've said in a previous post, we seem to be in the rare position of having a few less questions over our strongest 15 than most, but we still have lots and lots of issues to address when it comes to choosing our bench and back up squad I think Fes's selection would answer a few of them.

I was going to add that I'm trying to buy myself one of the new tops (spenny!). Anyway I'm obviously keen for my cash to go to the SRU. Is buying it through the shop at Murrayfield the only way?

nickj wrote:I was going to add that I'm trying to buy myself one of the new tops (spenny!). Anyway I'm obviously keen for my cash to go to the SRU. Is buying it through the shop at Murrayfield the only way?

Most of the money goes to the manufacturer, but each individual store will make a profit from a sale so I suspect shopping at Murrayfield will be your best bet!

Cheers RDW. I think they are out of stock unfortunately

Have you looked at the Scotland rugby store online?

The online stock is different from the in store stock.

First XV or Greaves Sports are the main non-Sru ones.

I'm planning to save cash & just customize my current top.

Step 1 - Pick off the RBS logo
Step 2 - Stick on a World Cup badge
Step 3 - Stalk Doddie Weir, wait till he lets his guard down then steal his trousers.
Step 4 - Trim Weir's trousers & apply tartan detail to my current tops underarms.

GLove39 wrote:I'm planning to save cash & just customize my current top.

Step 1 - Pick off the RBS logo
Step 2 - Stick on a World Cup badge
Step 3 - Stalk Doddie Weir, wait till he lets his guard down then steal his trousers.
Step 4 - Trim Weir's trousers & apply tartan detail to my current tops underarms.

Careful now, not sure you want to share a cell with de Klerk!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GLove39 wrote:I'm planning to save cash & just customize my current top.

Step 1 - Pick off the RBS logo
Step 2 - Stick on a World Cup badge
Step 3 - Stalk Doddie Weir, wait till he lets his guard down then steal his trousers.
Step 4 - Trim Weir's trousers & apply tartan detail to my current tops underarms.

Careful now, not sure you want to share a cell with de Klerk!

Rather than a verb I thought stalk was an adjective in that sentence. With Doddie Weir's legs you would have enough tartan to make jerseys for all of us and still have a shawl to keep McMisser warm on the wing.

You underestimate Visser - it takes quite a lot of effort to make sure that you are not in the right place at the right time to make a tackle.

I miss Doddie Weir as a player. All these years of watching Kellock and I'd almost forgotten what a proper lock looks like.

It is going to be a tough one for Cotter to reduce this squad to the 31. Obviously a lot will be decided in the warm up games but assuming everyone is fit there are quite a few who are certain to make it. For me those are

Dickinson, Nel, Welsh
Ford, Brown, McInally (unproven but we will take 3 hookers)
Gray, Gray, Gilchrist,
Strauss, Cowan (although not my pick)

Laidlaw (ditto), Sam H-C,
Russell,
Bennett, Dunbar, Scott,
Seymour, Maitland and Hogg

That still leaves 11 places. (2 props, 1 SR, 4 BR and 4 backs)

I think Harley, Denton and hopefully Barclay are probables so I expect them to play quite a bit in the warm ups. That would be a decent back row for the Irish game. The last spot is a tough call but might be Ashe.

I think he will take Hamilton although I would much prefer Toolis. I hope he gets a decent run out in the warm ups to show what he can do. That would leave the 2 front rowers. Reid or Grant but not both so who is the other tight head? Or do we take an extra back row?

Who he takes as the extra 4 backs is anyones guess. Mine would be Pyrgos, Weir, Horne and Visser.

Also, I will say again that those slating Visser have short memories. A quick scan back to the 6N in 2012 (months before he qualified) show our wingers as Schlong, Max Evans and Lee Jones with cover provided by none other than Jack Cuthbert.

It doesn't make him Jonah Lomu but it is useful as a point of reference.

Weegie Wizard wrote:Also, I will say again that those slating Visser have short memories. A quick scan back to the 6N in 2012 (months before he qualified) show our wingers as Schlong, Max Evans and Lee Jones with cover provided by none other than Jack Cuthbert.

It doesn't make him Jonah Lomu but it is useful as a point of reference.

Absolutely. +100.

I honestly think we should write the SRU's match-day programmes.

Tim Visser: "Useful as a point of reference"

IanBru wrote:I honestly think we should write the SRU's match-day programmes.

Tim Visser: "Useful as a point of reference"

Richie Vernon: "Better than Andy Craig, sh*tter than Mark Bennett".

A whole new player rating system could flow from this!

This is great!

Roddy Grant: "Because he'd give you a cap"
Andy Henderson: "Yeah I know, me neither."
Rob Dewey: "Form is temporary, class is elusive."
Nick De Luca: "A first-rate second-rate man." (It's not often I get to quote Wendell Phillips!)

Al Kellock: "If you're not looking for much, there's plenty".

Graeme Morrison: "Better without the ball".

John Beattie: He was brilliant in 2010
Kelly Brown: I know the name not sure where from, think she went to my school, pretty sure she had lovely breasts

Finn Russell: "Like your friend's attractive sister - you know you shouldn't feel this way, but you do."

Ross Ford: "A throw away from being a good hooker".

Willem Nel: "Is that Ryan Grant in my back pocket?"

Jack Cuthbert: "Oil tankers have feelings too you know!"

Ryan Wilson: "The dark knight rises"

David Denton: "Because I'm worth it"

Ryan Wilson: "When the chips are down he is in your corner"

Weegie Wizard wrote:Ryan Wilson: "When the chips are down he is in your corner"

We have a winner!

Apologies if this has already been covered, but are any of our warm-up games going to be televised?

The Ireland game is on Sky and the rest are all on BT I think.

Just noticed that the Currie Cup starts tomorrow on Sky as well. A good chance to watch the Scotland stars of the future

Weegie Wizard wrote:The Ireland game is on Sky and the rest are all on BT I think.

Just noticed that the Currie Cup starts tomorrow on Sky as well. A good chance to watch the Scotland stars of the future

Don't joke. If there's a reasonably useful tighthead, one without wandering eyes, do let Toonie know......

IanBru wrote:This is great!

Roddy Grant: "Because he'd give you a cap"
Andy Henderson: "Yeah I know, me neither."
Rob Dewey: "Form is temporary, class is elusive."
Nick De Luca: "A first-rate second-rate man." (It's not often I get to quote Wendell Phillips!)

Sean Lamont: He tries really hard, bless him

Tim McMisser: A safe tackle is an air tackle

Seam Lamont: The faster the feet, the slower the speed

Hamilton - One more card and I will have the pack

123456789 wrote:Sean Lamont: He tries really hard, bless him

You've got this one wrong!

Sean Lamont: "Tries lots, few tries"

Dan Parks - He's the best of what's left.

Rory Lamont - Patron for Vrolik's Syndrome

I was thinking about our dire performances in the 6n and 2 weaknesses were clear ;-

1. Scrum. Our front row is poor .Our props are not great and as a result we get targeted in the scrum, give away too many scrum penalties and are minced in the maul. Its very poor.

2. Back row. We were getting heavily out penalised and out turnovered by the oppo. I read in the irish game it was over 3:1 in irelands favour. Not going to win many matches like that,
Given we apparently have so many quality options thats an area i expect to see new personnel and serious improvement.

Those have to be 2 areas we need to address in the warm ups and wc . The backs im not worried about if they are fit.

The other waekness is ball carriers. That should be improved with strauss coming in, but I think we need 1 more really good ball carrier ...

alive555 wrote:I was thinking about our dire performances in the 6n and 2 weaknesses were clear ;-

1. Scrum. Our front row is poor .Our props are not great and as a result we get targeted in the scrum,  give away too many scrum penalties and are minced in the maul. Its very poor.

2. Back row. We were getting heavily out penalised and out turnovered by the oppo. I read in the irish game it was over 3:1 in irelands favour. Not going to win many matches like that,
Given we apparently have so many quality options thats an area i expect to see new personnel and serious improvement.

Those have to be 2 areas we need to address in the warm ups and wc . The backs im not worried about if they are fit.

The other waekness is ball carriers. That should be improved with strauss coming in, but I think we need 1 more really good ball carrier ...

The solution to point 1 is Willem Nel. Not a monster scrummager but rarely does he crumble. I also think Dickinson is a better player than he showed in the 6 Nations. There's also the chance that Mike Cusack is going to be fit and firing at the World Cup. He has absolutely destroyed his opposite number at times, although he's yet to show full effectively under the new scrum rules.

2 was largely down to Blair Cowan, who seemed to constantly get on the wrong side of the ref. Whilst it showed that he was competing a lot on the floor, getting it right with the ref is half the battle. His performances in the 6 Nations are why Cotter is looking at Barclay again, and also Hardie. I still think Hamish Watson should get a chance against Ireland. His form for Edinburgh last season was excellent. Strauss is assured to play 6, and I think it'll be one of Denton or Ashe at 8.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

alive555 wrote:I was thinking about our dire performances in the 6n and 2 weaknesses were clear ;-

1. Scrum. Our front row is poor .Our props are not great and as a result we get targeted in the scrum,  give away too many scrum penalties and are minced in the maul. Its very poor.

2. Back row. We were getting heavily out penalised and out turnovered by the oppo. I read in the irish game it was over 3:1 in irelands favour. Not going to win many matches like that,
Given we apparently have so many quality options thats an area i expect to see new personnel and serious improvement.

Those have to be 2 areas we need to address in the warm ups and wc . The backs im not worried about if they are fit.

The other waekness is ball carriers. That should be improved with strauss coming in, but I think we need 1 more really good ball carrier ...

The solution to point 1 is Willem Nel. Not a monster scrummager but rarely does he crumble. I also think Dickinson is a better player than he showed in the 6 Nations. There's also the chance that Mike Cusack is going to be fit and firing at the World Cup. He has absolutely destroyed his opposite number at times, although he's yet to show full effectively under the new scrum rules.

2 was largely down to Blair Cowan, who seemed to constantly get on the wrong side of the ref. Whilst it showed that he was competing a lot on the floor, getting it right with the ref is half the battle. His performances in the 6 Nations are why Cotter is looking at Barclay again, and also Hardie. I still think Hamish Watson should get a chance against Ireland. His form for Edinburgh last season was excellent. Strauss is assured to play 6, and I think it'll be one of Denton or Ashe at 8.

3. And I think this is to most important one. We had a captain that had no presence and was not respected by the opposition or ref.

Our scrum was poor, but also we got no decisions and no influence - and that is the captains job. The same is for the turnovers. Our lack of a viable Captain is hurting us as much as the other 2 points

funnyExiledScot wrote:

alive555 wrote:I was thinking about our dire performances in the 6n and 2 weaknesses were clear ;-

1. Scrum. Our front row is poor .Our props are not great and as a result we get targeted in the scrum,  give away too many scrum penalties and are minced in the maul. Its very poor.

2. Back row. We were getting heavily out penalised and out turnovered by the oppo. I read in the irish game it was over 3:1 in irelands favour. Not going to win many matches like that,
Given we apparently have so many quality options thats an area i expect to see new personnel and serious improvement.

Those have to be 2 areas we need to address in the warm ups and wc . The backs im not worried about if they are fit.

The other waekness is ball carriers. That should be improved with strauss coming in, but I think we need 1 more really good ball carrier ...

The solution to point 1 is Willem Nel. Not a monster scrummager but rarely does he crumble. I also think Dickinson is a better player than he showed in the 6 Nations. There's also the chance that Mike Cusack is going to be fit and firing at the World Cup. He has absolutely destroyed his opposite number at times, although he's yet to show full effectively under the new scrum rules.

2 was largely down to Blair Cowan, who seemed to constantly get on the wrong side of the ref. Whilst it showed that he was competing a lot on the floor, getting it right with the ref is half the battle. His performances in the 6 Nations are why Cotter is looking at Barclay again, and also Hardie. I still think Hamish Watson should get a chance against Ireland. His form for Edinburgh last season was excellent. Strauss is assured to play 6, and I think it'll be one of Denton or Ashe at 8.

One part of me agrees with you Fes, but then that means no Rob Harley. I mean the fit and hungry Harley not the walking dead we saw towards the end of the season.Back row selection will be as brutal as a Jim Hamilton nude selfie.

p.s. This is mainly for GC who seems to like these things... we have all dreamed of hearing the Murrayfield crowd roar as we run, or walk menacingly, out the tunnel with the rest of the Scotland team but yesterday I stood facing Princess Daughter in her wedding dress waiting for the father-daughter dance to begin and as the first few bars of "My Girl" began all her girlfriends standing round the dancefloor went, "aaahh". You can keep your Murrayfield.

Yes - I think we now have options for ball carriers with Denton coming back to fitness, Ashe breaking through and Strauss becoming Scottish. Bear in mind that ball carrying doesn't have to be done solely at 6 and 8. If Barclay plays 7, he's played a fair bit at 8 for Scarlets so must have developed his carrying a bit. Watson isn't huge but is deceptively powerful as well. Add on Gray *2 who both carry well (though in different ways), Dickinson and Nel, we do have some carrying presence there.

Greig Tonks wants to play 10... which is interesting as I'd say he is probably around about 4th or 5th choice as a 10... Do we think if he focused on just playing 10 he could do a job there and maybe start pushing for 3rd spot? From what I understand he's been a bit of a mixed bag for Edinburgh.

Another interesting point in the article is about Maitland wanting to play at 15. He's a lot like Hugo Southwell, solid but not spectacular. When he started he was running great lines on the wing, people seem to forget that he sets up quite a few tries, which isn't necessarily your classic winger style, but works well on the counter. This said I think he's had some misfortune with injury which probably hasn't helped him, but I think he's better on the wing and offers a bit more than Lamont, he's smart he's just not been on form this season.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33797179

I'm sure most people know I'm a big fan of Tonks, and I think he's got the attributes to be our back up 10. Where he is lacking is consistent experience running games from 10, especially at international level where he's never played 10.

To me he's a better defender and attacker than Weir, and more of a threat with ball in hand. Weir's general game management and kicking is better though (when he's not being a headless chicken)

He's a better defender and kicker than Jackson, and a better runner with ball in hand, but Jackson trumps him for the ability to lead the attacking shape of the whole team, not just individual breaks.

Tonks and Horne are similar in terms of general skill set, but Tonks is more solid in defence (noting that Horne has improved significantly. I'd say they are both on a par in terms of ability at 10 just now. The deciding factor may come down to VC deciding whether he needs a back up 12 or back up 15 in the squad. That and their performances in the warm ups.

Yeah RDW, I'd agree with that wholeheartedly.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

alive555 wrote:I was thinking about our dire performances in the 6n and 2 weaknesses were clear ;-

1. Scrum. Our front row is poor .Our props are not great and as a result we get targeted in the scrum,  give away too many scrum penalties and are minced in the maul. Its very poor.

2. Back row. We were getting heavily out penalised and out turnovered by the oppo. I read in the irish game it was over 3:1 in irelands favour. Not going to win many matches like that,
Given we apparently have so many quality options thats an area i expect to see new personnel and serious improvement.

Those have to be 2 areas we need to address in the warm ups and wc . The backs im not worried about if they are fit.

The other waekness is ball carriers. That should be improved with strauss coming in, but I think we need 1 more really good ball carrier ...

The solution to point 1 is Willem Nel. Not a monster scrummager but rarely does he crumble. I also think Dickinson is a better player than he showed in the 6 Nations. There's also the chance that Mike Cusack is going to be fit and firing at the World Cup. He has absolutely destroyed his opposite number at times, although he's yet to show full effectively under the new scrum rules.

2 was largely down to Blair Cowan, who seemed to constantly get on the wrong side of the ref. Whilst it showed that he was competing a lot on the floor, getting it right with the ref is half the battle. His performances in the 6 Nations are why Cotter is looking at Barclay again, and also Hardie. I still think Hamish Watson should get a chance against Ireland. His form for Edinburgh last season was excellent. Strauss is assured to play 6, and I think it'll be one of Denton or Ashe at 8.

Agree with all of the above.

Nel and Cusack need to play a part in at least 3 of the warm-up games or they'll be wasted from a front row perspective. I was also p!ssed with our 6N scrum. That lack of control meant we were always scrabbling for possession and I just don't believe that our scrum is that far behind the opposition.

Don't start me on Cowan. No other openside in the 6N gave away as many penalties as he did. The hair flies around, he throws himself around and looks busy but can also vanish for large chunks of the match and he just doesn't seem to be smart enough with the referees. We know what he can do. If Barclay, Hardie and Blake don't each get gametime in this run of 4 matches, I will be very disappointed. There are a dozen reasons not to choose Blake or Hardie but I couldn't give less of a toss about any of them.

We do also need a captain who doesn't think he sole role is to remember to say "BT" before the word "Murrayfield" in post-match interviews.

Lovely story Jimbo - treasure the memories.