Scotland 2017 6N debrief and Lions/Summer Tour lookahead

First topic message reminder :

Results

Scotland 27 - Ireland 22
France 22 - Scotland 16  
Scotland 29 - Wales 13  
England 61 - Scotland 21  
Scotland 29 - Italy 0  

Some stats:

- First time with 3 wins since 2006
- First opening round win and win over Wales in over a decade
- 14 tries scored - our best ever
- Our highest points tally (in 2014 we scored 45 points   )
- Up to 5th in the World Rankings


Verdict
Bar Twickenham this was a fantastic 6N where we won our games playing great rugby.  It was a huge monkey off our back to beat Wales and the Ireland game was a huge result for us.  The Twickenham game was a complete embarrassment but I'd like to think that was a freak result for this team as opposed to a sign that our wins over Wales and Ireland were 'lucky'.  It should keep the players grounded going forward, which is no bad thing.

All in all I'll give our 6N a 8/10

Lions hopefuls?

Pr - can't see any travelling
H Fraser Brown stands an outside chance, and could be injury cover
L - Jonny or Richie Gray stand a chance in the most competitive position
BR - I don't see any of our backrows going
SH - Laidlaw is down the list in terms of ability at 9 but may be picked as a good tourist/leader for the squad
FH - Finn Russell certainly divides opinion but personally I don't think he will travel
C - Dunbar and Jones are outside bets in what isn't actually a great position of depth for the Lions, but again may find themselves as injury cover
FR - Hogg is a near certainty and I can see another winger getting picked, probably Seymour

My prediction:

J Gray, Hogg, Seymour in the squad, Brown, Laidlaw and Jones as first choice injury cover.

Scotland’s forthcoming summer tour will be broadcast live across different channels on consecutive Saturdays this month.

Starting with the historic first ever Tier 1 international test match to be played in Singapore’s National Stadium when Scotland face Italy on Saturday 10 June the match will be live on BBC One Scotland – programme starts at 12.45pm with kick off at 1pm BST/local time 8pm and also broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland.

Interest back home will be high as new Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend begins his tenure and starts building towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

The team then head to Sydney for a showpiece tie against recent rivals Australia at the Allianz Arena on Saturday 17 June.

The game will be televised by Sky Sports – with kick-off at 5am BST/3pm local time.

The 2017 summer tour concludes in the Pacific Islands with a Test against Fiji in their capital city of Suva on Saturday 24 June.

The match will kick off at 3.30am BST/2.30pm local time and will be live streamed via the Scottish Rugby website at scottishrugby.org/live.

Scottish Rugby’s Chief Operating Officer Dominic McKay said: “This is an important tour for many reasons, not least Gregor Townsend’s first as Scotland Head Coach and a great opportunity for the team to experience conditions similar to those they will face in the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“We know Scotland fans are keen to follow the team’s progress, especially given the team has achieved its highest ever world ranking of 5th, and so I’m delighted BBC and Sky will be broadcasting the games live. The match in Fiji did present some challenges in relation to the time difference but fans can see the game live, via Scottish Rugby’s website and YouTube channel.”

Scottish Rugby will be covering the full tour and sharing videos, interviews and pictures from the squad throughout the three-week tour via its Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts.

SCOTLAND SUMMER TOUR

Saturday 10 June: Scotland v Italy; Singapore National Stadium (kick-off 8pm, 1pm BST) – live on BBC One Scotland.
Saturday 17 June: Australia v Scotland; Allianz Stadium, Sydney (kick-off 3pm, 6am BST) – live on Sky Sports.
Saturday 24 June: Scotland v Fiji; ANZ Stadium, Suva, Fiji (kick-off 2.30pm, 3.30am BST) – live on scottishrugby.org/live

Yup, think I'll give the Fiji game a miss

I'm away at a wedding that weekend - glad the decision has been taken away from me!

Although to be fair my favourite time on this forum was 3:30am on here with the people that got up/stayed up for the Fiji/Samoa games with amazing commentary.

There is the potential to stay up drinking for the Fiji game and carry on through to the 1st Lions Test. Oh to be a student again.....

A quick reminder to Scottish fans, the Wales v Scotland U20 game is live on s4c tomorrow (Tuesday) kick-off 3pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Question is where does he play? If he's strong in open field running and has good skills, yet is flakey in defence and inconsistent is 10 really any better for him?

He could develop into a very good fly-half imo but happy enough to see him continue at full-back for now.

At 6'5 he'd be a real handful on the gainline, has a decent boot, good feet and impressive turn of pace but need to see more of his distribution and game management.

Graham looks like a cracking player, at 5'8 is he too small to play full-back at the top level? (Robinson was 5'7)

Still hold out hope that Farndale will get another chance in 15s, he's definitely got the tools to be a test winger & imo could easily be involved in RWC 2019.

*Would also be interested to see Gavin Lowe get a crack in 15s, not 100% sure what position he'd be (fly-half/full-back) but he's got a great skill-set.

World Rugby don't appear to be streaming the under 20s game and although it is on S4 apparently the video doesn't work on my computer. They say they are on Facebook live but can't see that either.

Anyone had better luck?

Found it

https://www.facebook.com/s4cchwaraeon/videos/vb.166704506727790/1452742568123971/?type=3&theater

It's in Welsh unfortunately be we can't be too picky given it is the only place showing it!

Cheers RDW

Sustained Welsh pressure with us giving away a number of penalties but we're let off by an obstruction penalty on our line

Its on the S4C main channel as well, but no English commentary.

We are no doing so well after a promising start. Just has a warning for repeat penalties and they have just scored.

Wales score from an interception.

Wales look like the best team we've faced so far apart from the ABs - could be a tough game

Nice hands from Scotland's backs set up a try for Scotland

and Scotland score right back, a very well worked try scored by that man Darcy Graham

Eastgate makes up for his earlier howler and kicks the extras

I maybe spoke too soon - Scotland with another try with great strength from Ross McCann to burst through tacklers to score (he does have great pedigree after all!)

In the grove now as another good attack results in a Ross McCann try, Scotland look very dangerous with the ball and Eastgate has found his kicking boots as well. 14-5 Scotland.

For all the promising attack, the defence remains shoddy. Welsh 13 straight through the middle for a try under the posts.

Its like watching super rugby, tackling seems to be optional at the moment.

thanks for the updates my droogies.

The Scotland driving maul still working like clockwork, as it has all tournament. Another try to Scotland, made that one look very easy

Our U20s seem to be pretty damn good? Evidently a lot of very special talent on the cusp of greatness. Shame we don't really have anywhere for them to devlop.

Scotland have another driving maul on the stroke of half time, this time it is held up. Should have scored there really but 19-12 Scotland at the interval.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Our U20s seem to be pretty damn good? Evidently a lot of very special talent on the cusp of greatness. Shame we don't really have anywhere for them to devlop.

To be fair a good few of them are already with Pro sides, north and south of the border and on the evidence of this tournament, a few more could be joining them. It is particularly encouraging that we have managed to carry on from last year, when we seemed to have a very good crop of youngsters. I thought that losing a lot of them would mean a more fallow year but have been very happy to be proved wrong.

We lost a lot of key players last year and I'd never heard of a lot of these players - credit to the academy setup that we are still competitive.

We are absolutely mangling the Welsh lineout. Hunter-Hill is having a great game and is really some prospect.

Lucky for you Edinburgh fans that we gave him to you!

RDW_Scotland wrote:We lost a lot of key players last year and I'd never heard of a lot of these players - credit to the academy setup that we are still competitive.

and the exiles setup!

With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:We lost a lot of key players last year and I'd never heard of a lot of these players - credit to the academy setup that we are still competitive.

and the exiles setup!

God bless the United Kingdom and the many mixed-nationality people out there!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:We lost a lot of key players last year and I'd never heard of a lot of these players - credit to the academy setup that we are still competitive.

and the exiles setup!

God bless the United Kingdom and the many mixed-nationality people out there!

amen to that!

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

Maybe not next season, but he is exactly the hard grafting type of lock that you need and that Cockers will like. Definitely one for the future.

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

Maybe not next season, but he is exactly the hard grafting type of lock that you need and that Cockers will like. Definitely one for the future.

And Bresler (maybe McKenzie too) will probably only have another season left before they are released.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

Maybe not next season, but he is exactly the hard grafting type of lock that you need and that Cockers will like. Definitely one for the future.

And Bresler (maybe McKenzie too) will probably only have another season left before they are released.

Just don't ruin him after all the hard work in Glasgow to develop him!

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

Maybe not next season, but he is exactly the hard grafting type of lock that you need and that Cockers will like. Definitely one for the future.

And Bresler (maybe McKenzie too) will probably only have another season left before they are released.

Just don't ruin him after all the hard work in Glasgow to develop him!

That's our specialty!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Toolis, Bresler, McKenzie, Gilchrist and Carmichael he might not see much gametime!

Maybe not next season, but he is exactly the hard grafting type of lock that you need and that Cockers will like. Definitely one for the future.

And Bresler (maybe McKenzie too) will probably only have another season left before they are released.

Whilst I think McKenzie is a good player, he's realistically not going to be anymore than a squad player. I would hope that CHH would get a few chances next year.

Also to add to your list, I think Gilco only signed a 1 year deal as well, so could possibly be off after next season as well.

Yeah certainly the season after next we should see Carmichal and CHH stepping up as senior players.

Matt Fargerson is a prospect, but his hands let him down, he keeps dropping the ball in very promising places. We should have scored again there.

for anyone who works for a company that blocks facebook links

http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/e_live.shtml

BigGee wrote:Matt Fargerson is a prospect, but his hands let him down, he keeps dropping the ball in very promising places. We should have scored again there.

He's at a good place with Glasgow to increase his skills. If he was at Edinburgh he'd have no hope!

we're looking quite good.

The Welsh Lineout is pretty awful

Shame our loosehead felt that cutting infield was a better option than passing 1 metre to his left to give a 2 on 1

Robbie Nairn needs a bit of catching practice as well!

tigertattie wrote:we're looking quite good.

The Welsh Lineout is pretty awful

Shame our loosehead felt that cutting infield was a better option than passing 1 metre to his left to give a 2 on 1

That is why he is a prop!

Dammit, try from Wales and touchline conversion.

3 down 9 to go.

Wales score right against the run of play, all coming from that dropped catch by Robbie Nairn. These things all count.

25-22 Wales with 10 mins to go. To win this need to take our chances, which we have not done this half.

Another 5 metre line out to us

Darcy Graham does it again. Scores under the sticks after about 20 phases. Amazing stuff!

Hooray! Graham is bloody sharp and hard to stop

29-25 Scotland. 3 mins to play

Scores after the ball went bouncing along the ground.

Maybe coaches should start employing messed up passes as a tactic!

could this be the game? can we hold out till time is up?

and we lash up the restart. Scrum Wales on our 22