Scotland 6N lookahead

First topic message reminder :

 

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

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Ever thought about life coaching and motivation Risky?

Yes, as when motivation and effort are there - I am the best person to have in your corner

However, I will never bury my head when things are not right and I will push push push to success

That is why I have so many friends........oh......!

Right chaps, and Risky in particular, I just can't have this. 2016 it's our year.

You hear me? Our year

Don't believe me, well check this out...

GLove39 wrote:Right chaps, and Risky in particular, I just can't have this. 2016 it's our year.

You hear me? Our year

Don't believe me, well check this out...

Looks great, but why are you making your tea on a Weetabix? :-)

Riskysports wrote:

GLove39 wrote:Right chaps, and Risky in particular, I just can't have this. 2016 it's our year.

You hear me? Our year

Don't believe me, well check this out...

Looks great, but why are you making your tea on a Weetabix? :-)

Because I'd get flayed alive if anything hot touched that worktop!

Excellent work Glove.....nice cheeky glint at the end there for the ladies.......like it.

In other news:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35416723

Bennett 50/50

Ginger boy has been picked up by the rugby banter page and rugby onslaught

http://www.rugbyonslaught.com/2016/01/finally-genuine-proof-that-scotland.html?m=1

Hooraywang!

Also speaking of rugby pages, random question here. You know that unofficial Scotland one, this one https://www.facebook.com/scotlandrugby/?fref=ts any idea who runs it? Trying to get in touch.
Know it's someone on here, but for some reason I can't send direct messages to that page anymore

tigertattie wrote:Ginger boy has been picked up by the rugby banter page and rugby onslaught

http://www.rugbyonslaught.com/2016/01/finally-genuine-proof-that-scotland.html?m=1

Nice, GLove.

Never seen those pages before but I love their strapline - "BECAUSE BEING ILL INFORMED SHOULDN'T STOP YOU WRITING ABOUT RUGBY".

It's certainly never stopped Iain Morrison.

Iain Morrison - the Donald Trump of rugby journalists.

Scotland under 20's came back to beat the club international team the other night, 31 - 26

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/16/01/26/scotland-under-20-fightback-defeat-club-international-hit-out

Dunbar confirmed as being out for the first two games unfortunately, Ashe also but I'm not sure he would have figured in any case.

Dunbar for me was never in contention. He's not played enough rugby. This changes nothing.

The backrow will be made up of a varying combination including Denton, Strauss, Hardie and Cowan. The centres will comprise hopefully of Scott and Bennett and Taylor can spare Lamont's blushes on the wing.

Hello chaps,

Now without wanting to turn this thread into my personal self promotion zone, any chance you could give my newly create FB page a like https://www.facebook.com/glove39 (For the benefit of GC & some of the older dwellers on here FB is a site that allows you to marvel at how time has ravaged you over the years & to spy on your ex)

And apparently it's FB is going to be the next big thing...

P.S. if that plea hasn't convinced you, maybe this will https://vine.co/v/i5ME6n0thnz

GLove39 wrote:Hello chaps,

Now without wanting to turn this thread into my personal self promotion zone, any chance you could give my newly create FB page a like https://www.facebook.com/glove39 (For the benefit of GC & some of the older dwellers on here FB is a site that allows you to marvel at how time has ravaged you over the years & to spy on your ex)

And apparently it's FB is going to be the next big thing...

P.S. if that plea hasn't convinced you, maybe this will https://vine.co/v/i5ME6n0thnz

Done.

Currently awaiting my karma...

EWT Spoons wrote:

GLove39 wrote:Hello chaps,

Now without wanting to turn this thread into my personal self promotion zone, any chance you could give my newly create FB page a like https://www.facebook.com/glove39 (For the benefit of GC & some of the older dwellers on here FB is a site that allows you to marvel at how time has ravaged you over the years & to spy on your ex)

And apparently it's FB is going to be the next big thing...

P.S. if that plea hasn't convinced you, maybe this will https://vine.co/v/i5ME6n0thnz

Done.

Currently awaiting my karma...

Should hopefully kick in around 5pmish next Saturday...

I see Maitland is back for LI this weekend, playing fullback, hopefully he'll come through the game unscathed.

MacKnocked-on wrote:I see Maitland is back for LI this weekend, playing fullback, hopefully he'll come through the game unscathed.

that's a relief.

my ideal backline for England:

9. Frodo
10. Russell
11. Seymore
12. Scott
13. Taylor
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

Tom Brown is also back for Edinburgh - relief all around - let's just hope they can avoid injury!

I know this is a bit off topic, but has anyone else been a bit surprised by the Italian 6 Nations squad?

Forwards:

Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing 92/FRA), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps/ENG), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Matteo Zanusso (Treviso), Ornel Gega (Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester/ENG), Valerio Bernabo (Zebre), George Fabio Biagi (Zebre), Marco Fuser (Treviso), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA), Jacopo Sarto (Zebre), Abraham Steyn (Treviso), Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)

Backs:

Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Carlo Canna (Zebre), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre), Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter/ENG), Tommaso Castello (Calvisano), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Kelly Haimona (Zebre), Luke McLean (Treviso), David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano), Andrea Pratichetti (Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre)

There's no Tommy 'Tomasso/Tomato?' Allen, Venditti or Furno of Newcastle or Tito Teboldi of Harelquins. Most notably though, no Simone Favaro I don't know much about Italian rugby but some familiar names seem to be missing?

Has the coach gone mad or have I (as is the norm) missed something? Is this the Italian coach wanting Zebre and Treviso out of the Pro12 and trying to make a point?

It seems a bizarre time to introduce a ton of unknown talent from clubs that make Zebre seem like they are table toppers (Marchiol Mogliano - who?). With the calls mounting to get a team like Georgia into the 6N with relegation, if this Italian team gets hammered, as it looks like, I think Italy might be on the out of the tournament as a permanent fixture.

Nematode wrote:I know this is a bit off topic, but has anyone else been a bit surprised by the Italian 6 Nations squad?

Forwards:

Martin Castrogiovanni (Racing 92/FRA), Dario Chistolini (Zebre), Lorenzo Cittadini (Wasps/ENG), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre), Matteo Zanusso (Treviso), Ornel Gega (Treviso), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Leicester/ENG), Valerio Bernabo (Zebre), George Fabio Biagi (Zebre), Marco Fuser (Treviso), Francesco Minto (Treviso), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais/FRA), Jacopo Sarto (Zebre), Abraham Steyn (Treviso), Andries Van Schalkwyk (Zebre), Alessandro Zanni (Treviso)

Backs:

Edoardo Gori (Treviso), Guglielmo Palazzani (Zebre), Carlo Canna (Zebre), Edoardo Padovani (Zebre), Mattia Bellini (Petrarca Padova), Giulio Bisegni (Zebre), Michele Campagnaro (Exeter/ENG), Tommaso Castello (Calvisano), Gonzalo Garcia (Zebre), Kelly Haimona (Zebre), Luke McLean (Treviso), David Odiete (Marchiol Mogliano), Andrea Pratichetti (Treviso), Leonardo Sarto (Zebre)

There's no Tommy 'Tomasso/Tomato?' Allen, Venditti or Furno of Newcastle or Tito Teboldi of Harelquins. Most notably though, no Simone Favaro  I don't know much about Italian rugby but some familiar names seem to be missing?

Has the coach gone mad or have I (as is the norm) missed something? Is this the Italian coach wanting Zebre and Treviso out of the Pro12 and trying to make a point?

It seems a bizarre time to introduce a ton of unknown talent from clubs that make Zebre seem like they are table toppers (Marchiol Mogliano - who?). With the calls mounting to get a team like Georgia into the 6N with relegation, if this Italian team gets hammered, as it looks like, I think Italy might be on the out of the tournament as a permanent fixture.

Yes a lot of familiar names gone, are the Bergamasco brothers retired? I watched the Glasgow game today, Favaro was interviewed at half time and said he had asked not to be considered for the 6Ns. What level of rugby are the players from Calvisano and Marchiol Mogliano used to playing week in week out, can't imagine the step up to 6Ns will be easy for them?

I'm surprised by the omissions of Furno and Favaro but when you plan to use Kelly Haimona at 10 the other team selections don't really matter!

Parisse is in there for his annual five consecutive MOTM awards. Lucky, because he's the only Italian player John Inverdale has heard of!

I also felt Italy have a strange squad. No one wants to see Italy getting pumped 5 times in a row, it would be a serious step back after some good performances from them over the last few years, notably beating Scotland and France a few times. I think they need to be patient like Scotland have been and maybe invest in project players to help fill gaps in their squad.

I'd be delighted if Scotland pump Italy in Italy.

I always look at the two squads and wonder how we often struggle so much against them - I think its because when we lose we have tried to play them at their own game and lost.

If teams up the tempo and are very positive against Italy they just can't cope - as Scotland showed before the world cup.

We always end up in an arm wrestle against Italy in the 6 Nations. We just can't seem to cut loose, other than the game in which Hogg picked that interception and ran the length. It's as if that 21-0 after 5 minutes is still living with the squad.

Hopefully this year will be different. With the back we have we'd be mad not to give the ball some width and stretch the Italian pack. We certainly won't bully them up front.

Of course if you want to win something - you can win the ESPN Fantasy league

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/joinminileague.do?privateCodefromMinileague=1114090-26263&privateC=true

You shouldn't need the Mini-League code, but just in case here it is: 1114090-26263.

Riskysports wrote:Of course if you want to win something - you can win the ESPN Fantasy league

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/joinminileague.do?privateCodefromMinileague=1114090-26263&privateC=true

You shouldn't need the Mini-League code, but just in case here it is: 1114090-26263.

I would enter it, but my victory was so comprehensive during the world cup that it isn't even a challenge any more...

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Riskysports wrote:Of course if you want to win something - you can win the ESPN Fantasy league

http://fantasyrugby.espn.co.uk/ESPN/en/1/joinminileague.do?privateCodefromMinileague=1114090-26263&privateC=true

You shouldn't need the Mini-League code, but just in case here it is: 1114090-26263.

I would enter it, but my victory was so comprehensive during the world cup that it isn't even a challenge any more...

Cluck cluck.....

Of course I'll enter it (if I remember to)!

The 6N one is much harder though given that the games are generally close affairs and you don't know who is likely to score tries. I've done pretty badly in the past in the fantasy leagues for 6N.

It's not like Austria V Uruguay for example!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Of course I'll enter it (if I remember to)!

The 6N one is much harder though given that the games are generally close affairs and you don't know who is likely to score tries. I've done pretty badly in the past in the fantasy leagues for 6N.

It's not like Austria V Uruguay for example!

making your excuses already......

Riskysports wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Of course I'll enter it (if I remember to)!

The 6N one is much harder though given that the games are generally close affairs and you don't know who is likely to score tries. I've done pretty badly in the past in the fantasy leagues for 6N.

It's not like Austria V Uruguay for example!

making your excuses already......

Dam straight!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Of course I'll enter it (if I remember to)!

The 6N one is much harder though given that the games are generally close affairs and you don't know who is likely to score tries. I've done pretty badly in the past in the fantasy leagues for 6N.

It's not like Austria V Uruguay for example!

To be honest I couldn't call that one. Does Arnie play for Austria?

I have had a grand total of 5 hours sleep over the weekend and drank my monthly recommended amount of alcohol in 2 days - you can forgive a man missing a few letters!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

I have had a grand total of 5 hours sleep over the weekend and drank my monthly recommended amount of alcohol in 2 days - you can forgive a man missing a few letters!

7 pints in 2 days - wow - you are my HERO :-)

Is that all the monthly recommended is??

They obviously didn't base that on the average Scotsman!

They changed it recently from 21 units to 14

To be fair I couldn't even tell you how much I consumed, other than that a number of them were completely bogging and designed to make me hurl.

A sign of a good weekend!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

I have had a grand total of 5 hours sleep over the weekend and drank my monthly recommended amount of alcohol in 2 days - you can forgive a man missing a few letters!

Good work. Just wait until you have children. You will feel exactly the same way, but without anything by way of happy memories of the night before to sustain you.

Don't worry fellow gin-monkeys, 14 units is the recommended weekly intake.

I've been saving up my units for this weekend - I'll be the sole navy-blue wearer in the clubhouse at Kingston Park on Saturday. Could be awesome, could be excruciating...

IanBru wrote:Don't worry fellow gin-monkeys, 14 units is the recommended weekly intake.

I've been saving up my units for this weekend - I'll be the sole navy-blue wearer in the clubhouse at Kingston Park on Saturday. Could be awesome, could be excruciating...

Hopefully this'll be you at full time!

I wonder if the John Barclay interview on the BBC website today is an indication that he will be playing this weekend? He and Hardie in tandem have to be worth a shot.

MacKnocked-on wrote:I wonder if the John Barclay interview on the BBC website today is an indication that he will be playing this weekend? He and Hardie in tandem have to be worth a shot.    

Hmm. There's no way that Hardie would be jettisoned now, so potentially JB is either at 8 or at 20.

I like the idea of 2 opensides, but without losing bulk.

Maybe 6 Strauss 7 Hardie 8 Barclay wouldn't be too bad. It's certainly got a lot of attitude.

George Carlin wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:I wonder if the John Barclay interview on the BBC website today is an indication that he will be playing this weekend? He and Hardie in tandem have to be worth a shot.    

Hmm. There's no way that Hardie would be jettisoned now, so potentially JB is either at 8 or at 20.

I like the idea of 2 opensides, but without losing bulk.

Maybe 6 Strauss 7 Hardie 8 Barclay wouldn't be too bad. It's certainly got a lot of attitude.

Thought Denton was our best back-row forward at the RWC, can't see him being left out.

Like the idea of two opensides but up against a big physical England pack on the opening weekend, I'd err on the side of caution and go for Strauss' power with either Barclay or Cowan on the bench for he final 20 minutes when the game opens up a bit.

George Carlin wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:I wonder if the John Barclay interview on the BBC website today is an indication that he will be playing this weekend? He and Hardie in tandem have to be worth a shot.    

Hmm. There's no way that Hardie would be jettisoned now, so potentially JB is either at 8 or at 20.

I like the idea of 2 opensides, but without losing bulk.

Maybe 6 Strauss 7 Hardie 8 Barclay wouldn't be too bad. It's certainly got a lot of attitude.

I think you could be a bid of the mark Dode. I reckon Dozer will start at 8 with Barcs at 6 and Hardie at 7. He's already spoken about it in the Torygraph stating Vern will play with 2 7s so Denton can focus on carrying.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/scotland/12135059/Scotland-have-the-edge-over-England-insists-David-Denton-ahead-of-Six-Nations-opener.html

The Torygraph wrote:If Scotland could dominate the breakdown, it may well be decisive to the outcome of Saturday’s match, believes Denton. With England playing without a specialist scavenger on the openside, John Hardie is likely to be the game’s most influential player, and there is scope for Scotland to play a second openside or a six-and-a-half like John Barclay.
“I do [like Scotland playing with twin opensides] because then I can just focus on just carrying the ball and on my turnover work and defensive work.
“That’s now an area where I can make a difference, and it’s massively important for us to be able to get those turnovers and play off good ball.
“A few of the England back rows might be in different positions from those they are used to and that may unsettle them a little.”

I'll be amazed if anything other than

6 Cowan
7 Hardie
8 Denton

Is selected.

Whether that is right or not I think that's what he'll go with - continuity from the world cup.

Apparently Jones has offered Vern cotter a written apology for calling us favourites for next week. In the ESPN article it states :

"Jones is famed for his verbal sparring and admitted it is key in the build-up to any match."

I'd personally edit it thusly:

"Jones is famed for his verbal sparring and admitted it is key in the build-up to any match. being a Class A Walloper"

No doubt wishful thinking but with Hardie and Barclay on the field at the same time and hopefully Nel doing a number on England's loosehead then we could potentially see Laidlaw lining up quite a lot of kicks at goal....throw in a try or two as well...

I would really like to see Barclay Hardie & Denton as part of a backrow, but given Barclay doesn't really play at 6, and Cowan did well in the WC at 6, it would probably would be best not to mess with that.

Not sure Strauss has done anything to justify being in the team. He's not been playing at the same level that saw him get a call up to the WC squad, and at the WC he really didn't stand out. He's also been out for a while with concussion has he not?

I think the sensible option would be sticking with Cowan, Hardie and Dents, with Barclay on the bench.

I couldn't give two shiny sh!tes about the backrow.

Whoever can defend the rolling maul get's my vote.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:I couldn't give two shiny sh!tes about the backrow.

Whoever can defend the rolling maul get's my vote.

Tackle round the ankles at a lineout. Can't think of any other rolling maul defence that won't suck in additional defenders.

We were extremely naive in our maul defence during the RWC and to be honest I can't think of any way we'll be able to change that.