Scotland Autumn Internationals '16

by bsando Mon 26 Sep 2016, 10:20 am

First topic message reminder :

AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS 2016

Scotland Squad
Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped
Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 58 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 34 caps
Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 99 caps
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 58 caps
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps

John Barclay (Scarlets) – 52 caps
John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps

Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 53 caps
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps

Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
Huw Jones (Stormers) – 1 cap
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 18 caps

Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 23 caps
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 29 caps
Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 26 caps

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 45 caps

Scotland Autumn Internationals '16 - Page 4 Wallab11

Scotland Autumn Internationals '16 - Page 4 Wallab11

Saturday 12 November
Scotland v Australia, BT Murrayfield Edinburgh, kick-off SAT 14:30
Scotland Autumn Internationals '16 - Page 4 Arg10

Saturday 19 November
Scotland v Argentina, BT Murrayfield Edinburgh, kick-off SAT 17:00
Scotland Autumn Internationals '16 - Page 4 Georgi10

Saturday 26 November
Scotland v Georgia, Rugby Park Kilmarnock, Kick-off SAT 14:30

Recent Head To Head

18 Oct 2015 (RWC) Australia 35 - 34 Scotland
23 Nov 2013 Scotland 15 - 21 Australia

08 Nov 2014 Scotland 41 - 31 Argentina
20 Jun 2014 Argentina 19 - 21 Scotland

14 Sep 2011 (RWC) Scotland 15 - 6 Georgia

Recent 2016 Results

Wallabies
Australia 36 - 20 Argentina
Australia 23 - 17 South Africa
New Zealand 29 - 9 Australia
Australia 8 - 42 New Zealand

Argentina
Australia 36 - 20 Argentina
New Zealand 57 - 22 Argentina
Argentina 26 - 24 South Africa
South Africa 30 - 23 Argentina

Georgia
Fiji 3 - 14 Georgia
Georgia 23 - 20 Tonga
Samoa 19 - 19 Georgia
Georgia 38 - 9 Romania

by funnyExiledScot Mon 24 Oct 2016, 12:23 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the one. So there are 2 promising youngsters that will be looking for gametime next season.

Oh well, in which case it probably does make sense for Hardie to move on next summer. At least he'll have a 1872 Winners Medal to take with him.

by **BigGee** Mon 24 Oct 2016, 12:48 pm

I watched that Josh Bassett play for Wasps on sunday (currently keeping Halai out of the starting XV). He was linked with a Scotland call up as he was born in Edinburgh and is eligible.

He had a pretty good game until he went off injured having twisted his knee in the act of scoring a try. The pitch down in Toulouse was awful, Montpellier as well and that was probably the cause of it.

Looks a decent prospect and you can probably take it as read that if he is starting for Wasps then he is a decent player. He might struggle for game time though when Beale and Le Roux pitch up though and may fancy his chances elsewhere.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 24 Oct 2016, 1:41 pm

BigGee wrote:I watched that Josh Bassett play for Wasps on sunday (currently keeping Halai out of the starting XV). He was linked with a Scotland call up as he was born in Edinburgh and is eligible.

He had a pretty good game until he went off injured having twisted his knee in the act of scoring a try. The pitch down in Toulouse was awful, Montpellier as well and that was probably the cause of it.

Looks a decent prospect and you can probably take it as read that if he is starting for Wasps then he is a decent player. He might struggle for game time though when Beale and Le Roux pitch up though and may fancy his chances elsewhere.

Well, if he isn't good enough to knock those guys out of the Wasps XV then I'm not sure we'll want him.....

Sounds promising, and one to keep an eye on. He's played a lot of rugby for England U20s apparently, although I presume that it's just the Saxons that would impact eligibility?

Here's a Mike Penn style YouTube clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivEsP2ESTeE

Powerful looking lad.

by **RDW** Mon 24 Oct 2016, 2:18 pm

Potentially coming back up to Edinburgh for the Argentina game - there are a lot of empty seats still. Australia looks a lot busier but still a long way from a sell out.

Why do we always struggle to fill the stadium for the AIs?

by funnyExiledScot Mon 24 Oct 2016, 2:50 pm

I haven't bought any tickets this year. That's probably why.

by **George Carlin** Mon 24 Oct 2016, 3:01 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the one. So there are 2 promising youngsters that will be looking for gametime next season.

Oh well, in which case it probably does make sense for Hardie to move on next summer. At least he'll have a 1872 Winners Medal to take with him.

Scotland Autumn Internationals '16 - Page 4 Never_10

by EWT Spoons Mon 24 Oct 2016, 3:20 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Potentially coming back up to Edinburgh for the Argentina game - there are a lot of empty seats still. Australia looks a lot busier but still a long way from a sell out.

Why do we always struggle to fill the stadium for the AIs?

I'm still negotiating my ability to attend the games, so personally glad there are still tickets available.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 24 Oct 2016, 3:34 pm

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the one. So there are 2 promising youngsters that will be looking for gametime next season.

Oh well, in which case it probably does make sense for Hardie to move on next summer. At least he'll have a 1872 Winners Medal to take with him.

Have I told you my jokes about Sean Maitland never scoring any tries??

by **George Carlin** Mon 24 Oct 2016, 6:51 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:That's the one. So there are 2 promising youngsters that will be looking for gametime next season.

Oh well, in which case it probably does make sense for Hardie to move on next summer. At least he'll have a 1872 Winners Medal to take with him.

Have I told you my jokes about Sean Maitland never scoring any tries??

by bsando Mon 24 Oct 2016, 9:05 pm

What's happened to Blake? He looked like he had a lot of potential. Seemed pretty solid on the 7's tour as well.

by demosthenes Mon 24 Oct 2016, 10:51 pm

bsando wrote:What's happened to Blake? He looked like he had a lot of potential. Seemed pretty solid on the 7's tour as well.

Broken ankle.

by bsando Tue 25 Oct 2016, 4:50 am

demosthenes wrote:
bsando wrote:What's happened to Blake? He looked like he had a lot of potential. Seemed pretty solid on the 7's tour as well.

Broken ankle.

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 7:24 am

The squad will he announced this morning.

Given that we've been talking up Bradbury and Watson I bet neither of them will be in it!

by tigertattie Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:30 am

Watson will be in the squad. Not saying he'll be picked for a start or bench place, but he'll be in the squad!

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:32 am

Given our track record of predicting squads I wouldn't be surprised if Strokosh and Kelly Brown are picked over them.

by nickj Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:51 am

Looking forward to it.

On a side note, I'm astonished by the amount of abuse Hoggy has had on twitter after the Earls stuff. Who'd be a sports pro on twitter nowadays. Horrible people seem to gravitate to social media and act with impunity

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:52 am

Why is Hogg getting abuse?

by nickj Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:56 am

I think some people are accusing him of taunting Earls as he walked off. Pretty horrible stuff. Hogg seems to have put a response up that's pretty measured. https://twitter.com/StuartWHOGG_?lang=en

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 9:59 am

That one guy in particular is fairly going at it - lots of raw emotion from the Munster fans. I'd be amazed if Hogg was taunting him but I haven't seen what happened.

It probably needs Keith Earls to come out saying that Hogg wasn't taunting him but that probably still won't be enough for some people.

by tigertattie Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:28 am

You don't hear what Hogg is saying so it's hard to tell, but to me it looks as though Hogg is trying to calm Earls down and saying to get off the pitch so the match is remembered as a tribute to Foley rather then Earls kicking off that he's been cared by the ref!

by EWT Spoons Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:36 am

From the look of things Hogg was trying to calm him down and walk him off the pitch, but earls was so fired up and blaming Brown for his red card that he was not having it, and pushed Hoggy away. I think at that point Hogg just walked off shaking his head. From that folk might have taken it like he was giving Earls grief, but it didn’t look that way to me.

What I don’t understand is the folk claiming Brown made the most of it, by putting his head towards to ground so he landed on that first….effectively claiming he was risking a serious neck injury (or worse) just to get Earls a red card. Maybe it’s just me, but that seems unlikely.

by EWT Spoons Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:46 am

Squads up, looks like no Nel, Matt Scott or Sutherland

by RossAnderson Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:47 am

Squad announcement pretty much as expected. With exception of no wp nell and Scott. Guessing that's an injury/fitness concern.

by **NeilyBroon** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:48 am

Squad's out. People who can feel hard done by:

Bradbury (invited to train)
Scott
Toolis
Kinghorn

Interesting to see that CDP hasn't been put in just to be capped, is he injured still?

Pleased to see Horne is being considered as fly half - I hope that is permanent as he really has a lot to offer the team and will get more opportunity there than in the centres.

Also pleasing to see that Harley is actually being considered in his proper position for a change.

Disappointed to see Wilson still there, but given our situation at 8 I don't think we have many other choices, and he's had some stonkers for Glasgow recently so has scraped himself back outside last chance saloon.

Thoughts?

by TheMildlyFranticLlama Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:49 am

des wrote:I heard a rumour that Watson will only stay (at Edinburgh) if Hardie doesn't. Possible petulance but I'd much rather have Watson for character alone.

Two points from Saturdays game.
1. His try celebration, sitting down, legs out straight with a casual thumbs up. The best try celebration I've ever seen.
2. When he put 2 quins forwards on their arses before eventually being brought down by 3 more players. I could hear Alan Partridge shouting "sit down" in my head.

Sorry, a bit late picking this one up, but if anyone hasn't seen the Edinburgh highlights you absolutely need to watch them for the moment when Watson sits down the Quins hooker, its absolute gold!

One of the things I really like about Watson is that even during some of Edinburgh's most dire performances over the last few years he was one player on the pitch you could count on to look like the Edinburgh jersey actually meant something to him when all too often those around him looked like they couldn't wait to get off the pitch. Such a classy player, I'm delighted he's in the squad.

by EWT Spoons Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:54 am

Nel & Sutherland both left out due to injury apparently. Dicko involved despite not playing because of injury this season. We are very light at prop.

by TheMildlyFranticLlama Tue 25 Oct 2016, 10:59 am

I'd say Scott has done more to merit selection this season than Taylor, who hasn't featured much for Saracens. Scott has been on the scoresheet a fair bit for an under-performing Gloucester side

by nickj Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:03 am

I bet Vern's spitting that Nel exacerbated his ongoing neck injury in Edinburgh's win over Harlequins

by EWT Spoons Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:06 am

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR NOVEMBER TESTS

PROP

Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 58 caps

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap

Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 34 caps

Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

HOOKER

Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 99 caps

Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps

Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps

SECOND–ROW

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps

Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps

Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 58 caps

Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps

BACK–ROW

John Barclay (Scarlets) – 52 caps

John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps

Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps

Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps

Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps

SCRUM-HALF

Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 53 caps

Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

STAND–OFF

Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps

Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps

CENTRE

Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps

Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps

Huw Jones (Stormers) – 1 cap

Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 18 caps

WING

Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps

Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 23 caps

Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 29 caps

Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 26 caps

FULL–BACK

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 45 caps
Edinburgh back-row Magnus Bradbury and the Glasgow trio of centre Nick Grigg, wing Rory Hughes and scrum-half Ali Price, have been included in the wider training group.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:11 am

Supposedly there is a row going on that the SRU have failed to pay an outstanding insurance obligation. PRL sticking their beak in again.

Surprised there is no Welsh who has played often for Newcastle as opposed to Low who has not played a great deal. Alex Allan can be considered unlucky but I rate Dell who has been playing well for longer.

Locks are about right. Toolis ahead of Gilchrist for me but for whatever reason it does not happen. Is it because Toolis is considered a pure 4 and Swinson has been outplaying him/R Gray is better than him?

Wilson keeps getting in even though Bradbury is a better player. Hopefully a call up for Bradbury before the Georgia game to get him a cap. Harley can be considered a bit lucky as well. CDP and Bradbury will replace Harley and Wilson by the 6 nations I think.

Half backs are correct.

Huw Jones has been excellent for Stormers and Taylor would have been the odd man out for Scott. Any injuries in the centres should bring Scott in. I think Scott has been hard done by. If Grigg is the next man up then we know there must have been a falling out or an injury.

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:11 am

Utterly baffled by the omission of Matt Scott - he's been on top form for Gloucester, scoring a lot of tries this season.

Bradbury could maybe feel hard done by but he was unlikely to get a lot of gametime anyway so is maybe best just developing with Edinburgh.

Also, Nick Grigg invited to train yet no Matt Scott - seriously??

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:13 am

Hazel Sapling wrote:Supposedly there is a row going on that the SRU have failed to pay an outstanding insurance obligation. PRL sticking their beak in again.

Surprised there is no Welsh who has played often for Newcastle as opposed to Low who has not played a great deal. Alex Allan can be considered unlucky but I rate Dell who has been playing well for longer.

Locks are about right. Toolis ahead of Gilchrist for me but for whatever reason it does not happen. Is it because Toolis is considered a pure 4 and Swinson has been outplaying him/R Gray is better than him?

Wilson keeps getting in even though Bradbury is a better player. Hopefully a call up for Bradbury before the Georgia game to get him a cap. Harley can be considered a bit lucky as well. CDP and Bradbury will replace Harley and Wilson by the 6 nations I think.

Half backs are correct.

Huw Jones has been excellent for Stormers and Taylor would have been the odd man out for Scott. Any injuries in the centres should bring Scott in. I think Scott has been hard done by. If Grigg is the next man up then we know there must have been a falling out or an injury.

I see Toolis as a number 5 lock, and that's the role he played so effectively when paired with Bresler. For some reason he's been given the 4 shirt for Edinburgh this season.

by nickj Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:21 am

Scott's omission is odd. Unlikely, but could it be down to budgets? I read that we hadn't paid the PRL some injury bills, so it was touch and go whether our exiles would be released by their English clubs. Maybe Scott at 13 was seen as replacable by Bennett + Jones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37758144

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:22 am

I'd forgotten that Matt Scott was left out of the original world cup squad too - VC obviously just doesn't rate him (assuming this isn't Gloucester holding him back - they have released Laidlaw after all).

So here's my preferred team from that squad then the teamI think VC will pick

1 Dickinson (assuming he gets gametime before)
2 Brown / Ford
3 Fagerson / Low
4 Gray / Gilchrist
5 Gray
6 Harley / Wilson
7 Watson / Hardie
8 Strauss

9 Laidlaw
10 Russell
11 Visser
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett / Taylor
14 Seymour
15 Hogg

by **NeilyBroon** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:31 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:I'd forgotten that Matt Scott was left out of the original world cup squad too - VC obviously just doesn't rate him (assuming this isn't Gloucester holding him back - they have released Laidlaw after all).

So here's my preferred team from that squad then the teamI think VC will pick

1 Dickinson (assuming he gets gametime before)
2 Brown / Ford
3 Fagerson / Low
4 Gray / Gilchrist
5 Gray
6 Harley / Wilson
7 Watson / Hardie
8 Strauss

9 Laidlaw
10 Russell
11 Visser
12 Dunbar
13 Bennett / Taylor
14 Seymour
15 Hogg

Have to say even the alternatives on that squad I can accept - we've come a long way in the last 5-10 years! Depth is still a worry in places but I'd say as a whole has improved a lot. Particularly in the centres. The backrow is becoming less of a worry too, though 8 is still a concern.

The only one I'd be unhappy with is Ford, though he's not a bad choice, I think Fraser B is far more dynamic in the loose and really is the extra flanker/BR that Scotland needs to get posession.

by **RDW** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:35 am

You are right that they wouldn't be a complete disaster (there's no Strokosh in there) but there really is no justifiable reason to pick Ford over Brown and Gilchrist over either Gray. 6 is a problem position still - neither Harley, Wilson or Barclay are ideal options really. I really hope CDP will eventually be the big barsteward 6 that we need.

by **BigGee** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:58 am

Not really to many surprises there, I guess i can accept that Bradbury is at least training with the squad and that will give VC a chance to see him up close, same for Ali Price, who is now the number three SH with SHC dramatic fall from grace.

The main concern I guess is that three of the players, Dickenson, Horne and Taylor have hardly played this season. They are all good players, who deserve to be there on merit, but the lack of game time may catch up with them.

Scott is a bit unlucky I agree, but they have kept the squad tight and small and it would be hard to say he deserves his place more than any of the other centres, provided they are all fit.

Nick Grigg does look to have something about him and has played well when he got his chances with Glasgow. I imagine that VC fancies a closer look at him as well.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 25 Oct 2016, 11:58 am

I'm not wowed by this squad.

Quite how Matt Scott has been omitted I'll never know - he's been on fire this season, and it's not like Jones and Taylor have done much. Taylor has probably earned an extended opportunity based on last season's heroics, but Huw Jones ahead of Matt Scott is odd. That said, Scott is clearly enjoying his rugby at the moment at Glaws and is injury free. Hopefully he can continue his run of form and compete for a space in the 6 Nations.

Ryan Wilson is, at least, there on merit. I don't rate him, in case you were in any doubt, but he's been playing his socks off recently. I'd still pick Bradbury ahead of him on form, and CDP ahead of him on ability. Similarly with Swinson. He's been playing well recently, although I'd pick Toolis ahead of him on talent.

Prop is a mess, although hard to blame Cotter for that. Is Jon Welsh injured? Dell has done very little to earn a cap. Hopefully Dickinson can be fit in time, although he hasn't played much rugby for a while. Big chance for Fagerson here, I wish him well.

This would be my 23 for Australia and Argentina:

1.Dickinson 2.Brown 3.Fagerson 4.J Gray 5.R Gray 6.Barclay 7.Hardie 8.Strauss 9.Laidlaw 10.Russell 11.Visser 12.Dunbar 13.Bennett 14.Seymour 15.Hogg

16.Reid 17.McInally 18.Low 19.Harley 20.Watson 21.Pyrgos 22.Horne 23.Maitland

by **NeilyBroon** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:01 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:You are right that they wouldn't be a complete disaster (there's no Strokosh in there) but there really is no justifiable reason to pick Ford over Brown and Gilchrist over either Gray. 6 is a problem position still - neither Harley, Wilson or Barclay are ideal options really. I really hope CDP will eventually be the big barsteward 6 that we need.

I dunno, I quite liked Barclay playing 6, was good to have the two opensides. Harley can play very well but he's had a bit of mixed selection, which I think has contributed to his mixed performances of late. Much like Kelly Brown being shoved on openside for nearly 2 seasons.

CDP is a good, gnarly 6 and I agree it'd be nice to have him in the mix. Bradbury is a bit of a shining light at the moment, I'm keen to see what he can do.

I actually think BVC may pick Fagerson over Low, he's held his own pretty well and from what I remember of when he came on for Scotland he did alright. For a prop so young he plays well above his years!

by **BigGee** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:03 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm not wowed by this squad.

Quite how Matt Scott has been omitted I'll never know - he's been on fire this season, and it's not like Jones and Taylor have done much.

Huw Jones has actually been on fire playing out in SA for the Stormers, I think he scored a hat trick one game and made several more. He certainly has got form at the moment and deserves a decent chance. Fundementally we now are in the happy position of having a bevy of decent centres and unfortunately some good ones have to miss out.

by jimbopip Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:10 pm

Am I the only one here who feels that the inclusion of players who are on long term injury list is troubling.

Al Dickinson, hasn't played yet this season.
Grant Gilchrist, nuff said.
Peter Horne, hasn't played for about a month.
Duncan Taylor, hasn't featured for Sarries due to injury.
Dunbar, not fully fit yet.
Bennett, ditto.
Seymour, crocked at the mo.

In the backs, apart from Hogg, NoMaits and Turnstile Tim are the only ones who are 100% match fit and showing any kind of form.
The squad is predictable and settled; which is a good thing. But is also unimaginative and people are in who really shouldn't be; mainly due to injury and lack of playing time. Seriously, Dancer is still off the pace and feeling his way back to his best and if he gets injured we have Furra Linee at 10. When he's match fit and on form I quite like that BUT he has no chance of being either by then.
Doh

by **NeilyBroon** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:11 pm

BigGee wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm not wowed by this squad.

Quite how Matt Scott has been omitted I'll never know - he's been on fire this season, and it's not like Jones and Taylor have done much.

Huw Jones has actually been on fire playing out in SA for the Stormers, I think he scored a hat trick one game and made several more. He certainly has got form at the moment and deserves a decent chance. Fundementally we now are in the happy position of having a bevy of decent centres and unfortunately some good ones have to miss out.

I think most of us are more surprised about the inclusion of Taylor over Scott to be honest. Duncan's undoubtedly a fantastic player but he's recovering from injury still. I'm surprised Huw has been included, especially after a long season! He needs to get over here sooner rather than later if he's continuing to play for Scotland!

by funnyExiledScot Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:34 pm

BigGee wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm not wowed by this squad.

Quite how Matt Scott has been omitted I'll never know - he's been on fire this season, and it's not like Jones and Taylor have done much.

Huw Jones has actually been on fire playing out in SA for the Stormers, I think he scored a hat trick one game and made several more. He certainly has got form at the moment and deserves a decent chance. Fundementally we now are in the happy position of having a bevy of decent centres and unfortunately some good ones have to miss out.

I stand corrected. I'll be honest, I've yet to see Jones play so me lumping him in with Taylor (who I rate very highly but who hasn't played much this season) was pure laziness. Perhaps the Scotsman will hire me.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:43 pm

Peter Horne had a good few games at the start of the season so less concerned about that and it was a broken bone so should not be too unpredictable. 10 is still a problematic position with whatever is hampering Jackson at Quins and the failure of Heathcote to establish himself as the starter at Wuss. Weir is a nothing proposition at this point.

Dunbar has looked okay. Bennett was fantastic against Leicester so not sure the criticism of Bennett is necessarily correct. I think Scott and Bennett or Scott and Jones are the form centre pairings to try. Scott should be peeved about Taylor getting in. There has to be more to that story.

by MacKnocked-on Tue 25 Oct 2016, 12:51 pm

I just can't understand the inclusion of Gilchrist over Toolis, watching Gilchrist he just never seems to contribute much in any game, quite powder puff for the size he is. Toolis deserves to be in, he must be pretty peeved by now.
Ritchie Gray doesn't seem to be featuring much for Toulouse so far either, two games this season according to Wiki.

by jimbopip Tue 25 Oct 2016, 1:00 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:Peter Horne had a good few games at the start of the season so less concerned about that and it was a broken bone so should not be too unpredictable. 10 is still a problematic position with whatever is hampering Jackson at Quins and the failure of Heathcote to establish himself as the starter at Wuss. Weir is a nothing proposition at this point.

Dunbar has looked okay. Bennett was fantastic against Leicester so not sure the criticism of Bennett is necessarily correct. I think Scott and Bennett or Scott and Jones are the form centre pairings to try. Scott should be peeved about Taylor getting in. There has to be more to that story.

Yes he was. However, he wasn't due to start that match and only did so because Dunbar pulled out just before kick off. Again, Johnson-Dunbar started against Munster. I do feel that Dunbar-Bennett is probably Glasgow's first choice pairing, but recently they have not been starting together almost certainly due to lack of match fitness and/or injury. And given that the Tombola is now due to go into overdrive then I wonder how much game time Taylor, Dunbar or Bennett will get before then. Is Huw Jones actually playing at the moment?

by Hazel Sapling Tue 25 Oct 2016, 1:24 pm

Western Province made it to the Currie Cup semi finals on the 16th of October and Jones came off the bench. Can't see match report to see how much time he got. He started a bunch of games for them at 12 and was fantastic. I don't think it was form that kept him off the field.

After a long season he will have had 2 weeks to himself to recover a bit before starting Scotland training camps.

by tigertattie Tue 25 Oct 2016, 2:07 pm

Did Matt Scott refuse to do any rabbit shenanigans?

by funnyExiledScot Tue 25 Oct 2016, 2:13 pm

tigertattie wrote:Did Matt Scott refuse to do any rabbit shenanigans?

That's probably it!

"Sorry Vern, but I had a pet rabbit when I was younger and have become an avowed vegetarian. I'd rather not slaughter the rabbits with my bare hands".

"That's it, you're barred from international rugby".

by **NeilyBroon** Tue 25 Oct 2016, 2:42 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
tigertattie wrote:Did Matt Scott refuse to do any rabbit shenanigans?

That's probably it!

"Sorry Vern, but I had a pet rabbit when I was younger and have become an avowed vegetarian. I'd rather not slaughter the rabbits with my bare hands".

"That's it, you're barred from international rugby".

Swinson was clearly biting the rabbits by the neck to kill them, top choice for BVC.

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