Scotland 6N lookahead

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Scotland 45 – Japan 10

Hardie, Bennett (2), Seymour, Russell

Scotland 39 – USA 16

Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir

South Africa 34 – Scotland 16

Seymour

Samoa 33 – Scotland 36

Seymour, Hardie, Laidlaw

Australia 35 – Scotland 34

Horne, Seymour, Bennett


Tries this world cup:

Seymour – 4
Bennett – 3
Hardie – 2
Russell, Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir, Laidlaw, Horne – 1


6 Nations fixtures:
Scotland V England
Wales V Scotland

Italy V Scotland

Scotland V France
Ireland V Scotland

I'm pretty pleased with having England first up, particularly with the injuries they currently have. I think Jones will stick fairly closely to the team that Lancaster had, at least initially, but I'm sure he'll put his own stamp on how he wants the team to play. Those messages will take time to sink in and we do at least have a pack who won't be bullied (or shouldn't be bullied) at the set pieces. That rules out a common source of points for England against us and if they do play a more expansive game, we know we have the players to capitalise (or at least pick off interceptions!).

I don't think we'll beat England, but I'm more optimistic than in previous years. Russell wasting time at 12 however for Glasgow isn't a good way for him to recapture his mojo at 10. He is vital to Scotland.

You're right about the set piece. Kieran Brookes is the most powerful English scrummager I've seen in a long time (Geordie boy don't you know, and the Kingston Park faithful haven't forgiven him for moving to Northampton (or 'that shower of pr***s' as they're often called at KP)), so we've dodged a major bullet with him being injured.

Considering how they performed at the RWC, I'd have quiet confidence in Dickinson and Nel giving the chew-toy treatment to any opposition prop feeling less than 100%.

Agreed on Brookes. I was concerned that they might bulk-up the front five with Brookes, George, M Vunipola, Launchbury and Kitchener/Attwood/Lawes/Itoje/Kruis, with Slater or Ewers in at 6, with B Vunipola at 8. But injuries/suspensions have robbed them of Brookes, Slater and Ewers, plus Attwood is suspended. I also think Jones will put Robshaw at 6 (which mirrors what we're doing with Cowan hopefully) and go with a genuine openside. Whilst this is positive territory for England, I'm not convinced that have a tighthead to match Nel, or an openside to match Hardie. 

In short, the days of Scotland just being shoved around the park should hopefully be behind us.

Hardie is a real talent - not just a prospect, but a genuine off-the-rack talent that could transform our breakdown experience.

Watching him in the 1872 was a really weird experience, especially in the first match. He was everywhere, he was horrible, he hit with aggression, yet he played with real intelligence as well. I hated him for what he was doing, yet at the back of my mind was a little smile at what he'll do to George Ford when they meet. Could be tasty.

IanBru wrote:Hardie is a real talent - not just a prospect, but a genuine off-the-rack talent that could transform our breakdown experience.

Watching him in the 1872 was a really weird experience, especially in the first match. He was everywhere, he was horrible, he hit with aggression, yet he played with real intelligence as well. I hated him for what he was doing, yet at the back of my mind was a little smile at what he'll do to George Ford when they meet. Could be tasty.

Doesn't he just. The intensity he puts in to each and every tackle is remarkable. He just dips his shoulder and drives it in as hard as he can. Playing against him must be extremely painful.

I see Maitland is out for two weeks with a hamstring problem

And also Welsh is injured, but not sure what or how long for

Welsh is less of a problem, as we have Moray Low in fine fettle down in Exeter, plus I'd be comfortable with Fagerson on the bench in any case. It doesn't matter, Nel will do the business.

Yeah I thought that,, although the Newcastle fans were saying he is a big loss for them, but I suppose that only compares too there second choice prop

low is on the bench most weeks, does he get on for any length of time?


noticed that Atkins was getting a start for Exeter, I saw something about him on here the other day that's probably why I noticed it,don't know how his form is though

I think Low is mainly used as an impact sub, but from all accounts makes a good fist of it. Given that his role with Scotland would be precisly that, I'm less concerned about him having to go for 80 minutes.

With Seymour, Visser and Maitland all a bit iffy with injury, I think this guy could be shunted out to the wing:

Nematode wrote:With Seymour, Visser and Maitland all a bit iffy with injury, I think this guy could be shunted out to the wing:

Well he's more of a try threat than Maitland so might as well!

Does Pyrgos have a long term injury? If so who is likely to be the third scrumhalf named in the squad; Hart, Kennedy, Steele? Or even McKibben possibly?

Kennedy - he's looked sharp for Edinburgh. After him it would probably be Price or maybe Cusiter (if he's not retired?).

I wouldn't actually be surprised if Jim Hamilton was tempted out of retirement for the 6 Nations. If Ben Toolis isn't fit, physically or match fir, then I'd rather have Hamilton than Swinson.

It will be an interesting when the squad is announced,

I'm glad that players like low and Jackson are at least getting time off the bench as said above it would be there role in a Scotland squad too

As for Hamilton I haven't seen him but he is part of the saracens pack at the minute and that seems to be ticking over pretty good just now so you never know.. but think he would only be a cover option

poddy89 wrote:It will be an interesting when the squad is announced,

I'm glad that players like low and Jackson are at least getting time off the bench as said above it would be there role in a Scotland squad too

As for Hamilton I haven't seen him but he is part of the saracens pack at the minute and that seems to be ticking over pretty good just now so you never know.. but think he would only be a cover option

I haven't been convinced by Jackson at international level in the past but he seems to have developed whilst at Wasps and is unlucky not to be starting ahead of Gopperth who looks far from convincing from what I've seen of him. I would think on current form Jackson is currently the likely bench 10 in the 6Ns.

MacKnocked-on wrote:Does Pyrgos have a long term injury? If so who is likely to be the third scrumhalf named in the squad; Hart, Kennedy, Steele? Or even McKibben possibly?  

I think they'd go with Kennedy, although for me I think Steele is the better prospect. Not sure how many games he's had this season. Laidlaw/SH-C are well ahead.

I thought the McKibbon things had been put to bed - i.e. he was tied to Australia?

He may just take 2 scrum halfs in the squad and add Pyrgos further into the championship once he comes back.

Perhaps we should put this conversation on hold and see how Lee Jones gets on at 9 against Racing Metro.....

Apparently the Scotland squad is due to be announced during the week starting the 18th,

poddy89 wrote:

As for Hamilton I haven't seen him but he is part of the saracens pack at the minute and that seems to be ticking over pretty good just now so you never know.. but think he would only be a cover option

Both Jim Hamilton and Kelly Brown are way off being first team regulars at Sarries now and I suspect both will leave/retire at the end of this season. Both been great servants but neither is going to play for Scotland again, partly because they have had their day and also we have better players!

It still doesn't sit right how Kelly Brown's time with Scotland ended.  Yes he's not the same player now but at the time that he was being messed about he really should have still been picked in the squads.  He was certainly better than Strokosh and Wilson!

Well Hamilton has retired in any case, and Kelly Brown was out of favour with the powers that be even when he was a first team regular at Sarries.

I'm still convinced that Brown must have provided Scott Johnson with some home truths a couple of years ago. He went from Scotland captain to not being part of the squad almost overnight.

RDW_Scotland wrote:It still doesn't sit right how Kelly Brown's time with Scotland ended.  Yes he's not the same player now but at the time that he was being messed about he really should have still been picked in the squads.  He was certainly better than Strokosh and Wilson!

I was in Dublin for the 6 Nations game in 2014 at which Johnson selected Wilson at 6 rather than Brown, who was made to play at 7. We were utterly humbled at the breakdown throughout the game and Johnson, in his infinite stupidity, subbed off Brown in the 56th minute for a horribly out of form Johnnie Beattie. Wilson made zero impact throughout the game. POM and Chris Henry completely bossed us.

Brown is rightly out of contention now, but in 2014 he should have had the 6 jersey glued to his back.

RDW_Scotland wrote:It still doesn't sit right how Kelly Brown's time with Scotland ended.  Yes he's not the same player now but at the time that he was being messed about he really should have still been picked in the squads.  He was certainly better than Strokosh and Wilson!

Wilson I would agree with but dear old Stroks put in some pretty good performances for Scotland in his time and a few years ago was certainly worth his place at 6. That was unfortunately KBs problem in that he never really nailed down any position in the back row while being able to play across the whole row at a decent level.

Strokes was highly thought of by a lot of coaches, including VC, who picked him over Rob Harley and initially Blair Cowan, much to the surprise of the 606 selection panel (of which I was a member as well!). While being nowhere near the starting 23, he certainly did not let anyone down in the squad and you feel he must have brought something else to it as well as his playing ability.

Couldn't agree more on Strokosch. He had an absolutely storming tour to South Africa a couple of summers ago. Sadly when he moved to the French 2nd Tier he dropped off the pace. The decision to pick him for the World Cup squad was poor, and the arrival of Blair Cowan and his performance against Australia was a clear indication of why.

Does anyone know when the Super Rugby season starts?

Sure most of you will have heard of Huw Jones at the Stormers, don't suppose he could come over for a few games if their season hasn't started yet? He can play 13 and wiki says wing/fb too

Last weekend of Feb, so that rules him out. Would be interesting if a Scottish club would take him on.

Just been reading Iain Morrison's analysis of the upcoming Scotland Squad.

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/iain-morrison-vern-cotter-has-tough-six-nations-calls-to-make-1-3996438

It really is beyond awful. Even leaving aside basic errors like Jacques Brunel no longer being the coach of Italy and McKibbon not actually being eligible for Scotland some of his conclusions are utterly mind boggling.

He must be the only person in Scotland who thought Fusaro outplayed Hardie over the holiday derby's!

How does this man get paid for this tripe!

BigGee wrote:He must be the only person in Scotland who thought Fusaro outplayed Hardie over the holiday derby's!

That really is astonishing! I'd recommend he sees a doctor

That is the worst article I've read on Scottish rugby in a long time.

- John Hardie completely bossed the first leg of the 1872, scored the clinching try and was awarded MOTM. Fusaro was nowhere in that game, albeit came back strongly for the second leg. No-one serious about rugby will argue that Fusaro outplayed Hardie for a single minute of that first leg.

- David Pocock played number 8 at the WC, not flanker.

- Brunel resigned after the World Cup.

- Scotland having no cover on the wings: what does he think Brown, Fife and Hoyland have been doing?

- The section on locks is bizarre. I don't recall not being able to count our options at lock previously, perhaps because I can count higher than the fingers on one hand. We have plenty options at lock, plus the starting combination is as good as anything we've had in my lifetime. I have no hesitation in considering both Toolis brothers as viable options for Scotland. Why list Denton as a "long shot" - he isn't a lock and doesn't play there??

- The sections on openside and blindside are also odd. If Hardie doesn't start at 7 then Cotter is a fool. Because Cotter isn't a fool Hardie will start at 7. No guessing is needed. The blindside chat appears to have forgotten that Blair Cowan finished the World Cup at 6 and did a fine job. Oddly Mr Morrison appears to have forgotten, and not listed him as an option at 6 (although appears to think of the limited Ryan Wilson as a front runner for the jersey).

I think the Scotland team is absolutely nailed down, and the average age of the side is extremely encouraging:

1.Dickinson 2.Ford 3.Nel 4.J Gray 5.R Gray 6.Cowan 7.Hardie 8.Denton 9.Laidlaw 10.Russell 11.Seymour 12.Scott 13.Bennett 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

16.Reid 17.Brown 18.Welsh 19.B Toolis 20.Strauss 21.Hidalgo-Clyne 22.Jackson 23.Taylor

I don't think you need to do much guessing or take a massive leap of faith to see that give or take one or two positions on the bench possibly, that's where Cotter will go against England. It's a pretty settled side as it happens.

funnyExiledScot wrote:That is the worst article I've read on Scottish rugby in a long time.

- John Hardie completely bossed the first leg of the 1872, scored the clinching try and was awarded MOTM. Fusaro was nowhere in that game, albeit came back strongly for the second leg. No-one serious about rugby will argue that Fusaro outplayed Hardie for a single minute of that first leg.

- David Pocock played number 8 at the WC, not flanker.

- Brunel resigned after the World Cup.

- Scotland having no cover on the wings: what does he think Brown, Fife and Hoyland have been doing?

- The section on locks is bizarre. I don't recall not being able to count our options at lock previously, perhaps because I can count higher than the fingers on one hand. We have plenty options at lock, plus the starting combination is as good as anything we've had in my lifetime. I have no hesitation in considering both Toolis brothers as viable options for Scotland. Why list Denton as a "long shot" - he isn't a lock and doesn't play there??

- The sections on openside and blindside are also odd. If Hardie doesn't start at 7 then Cotter is a fool. Because Cotter isn't a fool Hardie will start at 7. No guessing is needed. The blindside chat appears to have forgotten that Blair Cowan finished the World Cup at 6 and did a fine job. Oddly Mr Morrison appears to have forgotten, and not listed him as an option at 6 (although appears to think of the limited Ryan Wilson as a front runner for the jersey).

I think the Scotland team is absolutely nailed down, and the average age of the side is extremely encouraging:

1.Dickinson 2.Ford 3.Nel 4.J Gray 5.R Gray 6.Cowan 7.Hardie 8.Denton 9.Laidlaw 10.Russell 11.Seymour 12.Scott 13.Bennett 14.Maitland 15.Hogg

16.Reid 17.Brown 18.Welsh 19.B Toolis 20.Strauss 21.Hidalgo-Clyne 22.Jackson 23.Taylor

I don't think you need to do much guessing or take a massive leap of faith to see that give or take one or two positions on the bench possibly, that's where Cotter will go against England. It's a pretty settled side as it happens.

That is the starting XV I would pick as well. I would have said the 23 but I saw on twitter yesterday that Jon Welsh is now a 6 nations injury doubt. Replied to someone yesterday saying he has just had an op and will be out for a few weeks, don't know any timescales though.

The only positions in the starting XV where I would say there is any real debate is the blindside position, Cowan finished the world cup very well there and is playing fairly well at London Irish, the main challenger for me would be John Barclay who has played well all season for Scarlets and came back strongly yesterday from injury, doesn't play blindside much but neither does Cowan. I probably would edge with Cowan but its a close call as both suit the game style that Cotter wants his blindside to play.
If fit I would have gone with Dunbar over Scott but Dunbar seems to be struggling with various niggles related to the knee injury, Glasgow and Scotland just need to let him fully recover and rehab and not rush him back. Best to let him get 100% long term and sacrifice him in the short term instead of rushing him back not at his best and then doing himself another long term injury.
If Visser had been fit I would possibly have had him on the wing and put Maitland to full back instead of Hogg, Hogg is not in good form and needs a bit of a kick up the backside. Being dropped may just help and Maitland when he has played for London Irish at full back has played well.

As I said above Jon Welsh tweeted yesterday that he has just had an op and is going to be out for a few weeks.
Anyone know anymore about it?

Fit and 100% on form I'd agree on Dunbar over Scott generally speaking, but there's just no competition just now as Dunbar shouldn't currently be considered - especially for the England game - and Scott is playing well.

I'm not sure I agree on Barclay at 6, and I think the ship has sailed on him.  I'd be surprised if he was included.

Hogg did pretty well against Racing, with one scintillating break. It is a shame Visser is injured as he was in red hot form.

Yeah Hogg had that one break but the rest of his game was pretty poor against Racing and also during the 1872 cup games, poor kicking from hand, poor decision making and more often than not is slipping of tackles.
I think he probably will start due to other options available but I think he is very lucky at the moment if he does retain his place.
I know the Scottish management are keeping a close eye on Barclay, Hines and Cotter have both been down to watch the Scarlets play in recent months, he's only 29 so has plenty left on the clock.

Majestic83 wrote:
I know the Scottish management are keeping a close eye on Barclay, Hines and Cotter have both been down to watch the Scarlets play in recent months, he's only 29 so has plenty left on the clock.

That's good news indeed - I personally don't think he should be binned, but we all know his history when it comes to international selection.

If he is seen purely as a 7 then he's got competition!

Barclay is in danger of becoming our 'King Over the Water' - more and more highly esteemed with every minute he doesn't play for Scotland. If he's picked again, great, but maybe we should temper our expectations a little.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Majestic83 wrote:
I know the Scottish management are keeping a close eye on Barclay, Hines and Cotter have both been down to watch the Scarlets play in recent months, he's only 29 so has plenty left on the clock.

That's good news indeed - I personally don't think he should be binned, but we all know his history when it comes to international selection.

If he is seen purely as a 7 then he's got competition!

If they view him as just a 7 then yes I think he will struggle to get in the team. He has improved a lot of areas of his game while being at the scarlets and playing across the back row, his ball carrying has improved greatly and is making some big yards.
Him and Cowan are similarish type players and really isn't much between them, the one area Barclay does have an advantage over Cowan is that Barclay is a very good lineout option.

Majestic83 wrote:As I said above Jon Welsh tweeted yesterday that he has just had an op and is going to be out for a few weeks.
Anyone know anymore about it?

He was replying to a tweet by the Pen and it did not sound very promising 'some time' was how I think he phrased it, not 'a few weeks'

In terms of backs ups that leave Low in the number one spot and then surely it has to be Fargerson. I would probably have preferred that he was not chucked in quite this soon, but events may be overtaking us and he is probably only one more injury away from a call up. He is someone who should probably be in the squad for the experience though, it is a matter of when, not if he gets capped. We should not forget that he is still only 19 though and has an awful lot to learn. The U20s were probably banking on him and if not then Glasgow will need him in the international window anyway. All very interesting and hard to see where it is going to go.

How old was Samson Lee when he was capped? He was pretty young too.

Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.

RDW_Scotland wrote:How old was Samson Lee when he was capped? He was pretty young too.

Indeed it is possible to be capped as a TH that young and surely Fargerson will be within the year. Hanging on until the summer tour or next autumn may be better for his development longer term though but who is to say. He seemed to take the racing pack in his stride on saturday and not many international packs will come up any harder than that. If yoiu are good enough then you are old enough and all that!

I always remember the Argentian prop who laid out Paul Ackford many moons ago, he was only 19 or so and an absolute monster, eating raw steak from about 6 months old i imagine. I think he was call Mendez or something like that. You kind of expect that with Argentinians though, less so with scots. we must be doing something right in our player development.

He was a No.8 as a youngster but someone spotted him and told him that he was not tall enough or fast enough to play in the back row so he had better get on the pies and become a prop. He seems to have taken that advice to heart!

His younger brother is even bigger apparently!

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Agreed, finally we have a bit of depth in the centre. Taylor is equally good at 12 or 13 and would surely have gone to the WC ahead of RV had he been fit. He has been starting for Sarries on merit and is keeping some very good players out of the team.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Given that Scott/Taylor are both our second choice players I'd say we're not doing badly at all if we do have to rely on those two. That's with injuries to Dunbar/Bennett (1st choice) but also to Horne/Vernon (3rd choice). That's 4 of our top 6 centres injured, and yet we can still trot out what looks on paper to be a pretty decent combination.

BigGee wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Agreed, finally we have a bit of depth in the centre. Taylor is equally good at 12 or 13 and would surely have gone to the WC ahead of RV had he been fit. He has been starting for Sarries on merit and is keeping some very good players out of the team.

I agree both are very good centres but potentially without Bennett and Dunbar at the beginning of the 6Ns then it's hard to think who might be the best choice for the bench spot, obviously Horne is out and I'm not sure Vernon is quite the answer either (he hasn't been playing much for Glasgow recently). Dean is surely too raw still for international rugby so that leaves Lamont ready for yet another 6Ns I guess.
From what I've seen of Taylor he has a very good all round game, strong defender but also a good link player, seems to set up a fair number of tries.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Given that Scott/Taylor are both our second choice players I'd say we're not doing badly at all if we do have to rely on those two. That's with injuries to Dunbar/Bennett (1st choice) but also to Horne/Vernon (3rd choice). That's 4 of our top 6 centres injured, and yet we can still trot out what looks on paper to be a pretty decent combination.

I think a compelling case could be made that Scott and Taylor is our first choice. Poor Dunbar has been crocked for nearly a year and in that time Scott was finding form during the RWC and is now seemingly on an upward trajectory at Edinburgh, playing some very good rugby.

Taylor on the other hand IMO even before Bennett's injury would be one of the first names on my Scotland team sheet. He has been in scintillating form for Sarries, making great hits scoring tries and keeping Bosch confined to the bench.

I just hope with every fibre in my being that Lamont is not being considered in the centre.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Given that Scott/Taylor are both our second choice players I'd say we're not doing badly at all if we do have to rely on those two. That's with injuries to Dunbar/Bennett (1st choice) but also to Horne/Vernon (3rd choice). That's 4 of our top 6 centres injured, and yet we can still trot out what looks on paper to be a pretty decent combination.

I think a compelling case could be made that Scott and Taylor is our first choice. Poor Dunbar has been crocked for nearly a year and in that time Scott was finding form during the RWC and is now seemingly on an upward trajectory at Edinburgh, playing some very good rugby.

Taylor on the other hand IMO even before Bennett's injury would be one of the first names on my Scotland team sheet. He has been in scintillating form for Sarries, making great hits scoring tries and keeping Bosch confined to the bench.

I just hope with every fibre in my being that Lamont is not being considered in the centre.

Fair chance he will be the utility backs sub on the bench given all the current injuries.

MacKnocked-on wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Given that Scott/Taylor are both our second choice players I'd say we're not doing badly at all if we do have to rely on those two. That's with injuries to Dunbar/Bennett (1st choice) but also to Horne/Vernon (3rd choice). That's 4 of our top 6 centres injured, and yet we can still trot out what looks on paper to be a pretty decent combination.

I think a compelling case could be made that Scott and Taylor is our first choice. Poor Dunbar has been crocked for nearly a year and in that time Scott was finding form during the RWC and is now seemingly on an upward trajectory at Edinburgh, playing some very good rugby.

Taylor on the other hand IMO even before Bennett's injury would be one of the first names on my Scotland team sheet. He has been in scintillating form for Sarries, making great hits scoring tries and keeping Bosch confined to the bench.

I just hope with every fibre in my being that Lamont is not being considered in the centre.

Fair chance he will be the utility backs sub on the bench given all the current injuries.

Surely Jackson, Hoyland, Brown, Kinghorn are all more suitable options than Sean "The Glacier" Lamont?

Is Vernon crocked too?

MacKnocked-on wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:Unfortunately looks like Bennett is now a doubt for the start of the 6Ns, likely to miss Glasgow's remaining Euro games in any case. Fingers crossed but it could well be that Scott and Taylor are the only two fit centres available for the first game/s.  

Not a bad thing to be honest. I would rather Bennett was playing but Duncan Taylor has been a key component of a very dominant Sarries setup. Certainly quite a physical combination.

Given that Scott/Taylor are both our second choice players I'd say we're not doing badly at all if we do have to rely on those two. That's with injuries to Dunbar/Bennett (1st choice) but also to Horne/Vernon (3rd choice). That's 4 of our top 6 centres injured, and yet we can still trot out what looks on paper to be a pretty decent combination.

I think a compelling case could be made that Scott and Taylor is our first choice. Poor Dunbar has been crocked for nearly a year and in that time Scott was finding form during the RWC and is now seemingly on an upward trajectory at Edinburgh, playing some very good rugby.

Taylor on the other hand IMO even before Bennett's injury would be one of the first names on my Scotland team sheet. He has been in scintillating form for Sarries, making great hits scoring tries and keeping Bosch confined to the bench.

I just hope with every fibre in my being that Lamont is not being considered in the centre.

Fair chance he will be the utility backs sub on the bench given all the current injuries.

I certainly hope not. I haven't seen Lamont play well for a very long time and his statement re: being the fastest in the Glasgow squad also suggests to me that he's taken one to many bangs to the head. Too slow off the mark to be a winger, not skillful enough to be a centre. When was the last time he actually played a run of games at centre anyway?

Should I'd say that better options would be to either play Jackson at 10 and move Russell to centre, or have Jackson come in at 15 and move Hogg to centre.

I'd sooner have Hoyland or Brown on the bench than Lamont.