Scotland's 2018 Summer Tour: Darien Scheme 2.0

First topic message reminder :

Sunday 10th June 2018

Canada Vs Scotland

Sunday 17th June 2018

America Vs Scotland

Saturday 23rd June 2018

Argentina Vs Scotland



With an eye on the summer tour, whilst also keeping in mind the season isn't over for either of our pro teams - who would you "rest" for the summer tour and who would you bring along in their place?

I'd leave Russell, Price, WP Nel, Hogg, Dunbar, Barclay and Huw Jones purely because those guys have had extremely long seasons, are coming back from long term injuries and/or rarely (if ever) get a full pre-season with their clubs under their belts.

Dunbar is made of glass and could probably do with a summer of conditioning, same with WP Nel

Hogg, Jones and Russell have all had long seasons (lions tours/southern hemisphere seasons) and look a bit jaded.

Price is just off form and could do with some down time.

Barclay is getting on - would not like to injure our captain against America/Canada

With a world cup next year giving all of these guys a full pre-season could pay off in the long term.

Would also allow Townsend to have a closer look at Kinghorn, SHC/Horne (ideally take both and tell Fowles to f3ck off), Grigg, Chris Dean/Johnston/Bennett, Fagerson/Berghan/Mccalum, Bradbury.

Thoughts?

Swinson at 6 is the funniest thing I've seen since I looked in the mirror this morning at my hair.

GC just be thankful that at your age you have hair left!

I'm not that fussed about Swinson at 6 - I actually think he is more suited there at international level than in the row - where he makes no impact whatsoever.

RDW_Scotland wrote:GC just be thankful that at your age you have hair left!

How can I put this diplomatically, RDW?

Are you a baldy? A follically challenged individual? A disadvantageously untufted gentleman?

That would explain a lot of the inner anger which you release in the direction of Glasgow fans. Like Jean Grey obliterating everything in her path in X Men Apocalypse. Probably annoyed because her Game of Thrones paycheck is coming to an end.

OK George. Step away from the keyboard. Step away from the keyboard and put the Grecian 2000 down.


Jeez and I thought I had some tenuous literary references.

Is Jean Grey Khaal Drago then?

I have a full head of hair - was meant just as an old man joke!

Who did Jean Grey play in GoT?

Sansa Stark!

Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

Correct, grandpappy.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

The original is a real fox in everything she's in

BamBam wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

The original is a real fox in everything she's in

I know her from the Blacklist - absolutely!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BamBam wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

The original is a real fox in everything she's in

I know her from the Blacklist - absolutely!

Also a much better actor than new Jean Grey!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BamBam wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

The original is a real fox in everything she's in

I know her from the Blacklist - absolutely!

Excellent taste in TV sir

BamBam wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BamBam wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ah you mean the new Jean Grey not the original - here's me showing my age now!

The original is a real fox in everything she's in

I know her from the Blacklist - absolutely!

Excellent taste in TV sir

Without turning this into a TV discussion, it is a great show but suffering from most successful shows in that it is going on a few seasons longer than it should!

How have we gone from discussing how cr@p a 2nd row Tim Swinson is to discussing the pros and cons of original Jean Gray vs new Jean Gray

Oh yes, it's a Scotland thread eh!

My thoughts! Original Jean Gray is milf but new Jean Gray is oooft..............

I have no idea who the chuff Jean Grey is (Ritchie & Johnny's mum/sister?) so I'm going to lower the tone and go back to rugby, sorry folks.

I'm not sure why Swinson is in the squad, let alone starting this game. He's way down the pecking order for locks (or at least should be) and he's not a backrow player, and there are better players in that position, who are younger and would probably benefit from the game.

I can only imagine it's because he's got a few caps under his belt and has some experience. It'll be interesting to see how he goes in the BR, but hopefully it's not a long term thing.

I have never understood why Swinson keeps on getting picked. Simply not an international player. I suspect he has a good collection of photos of Toonie and Dodson in "interesting" poses

tigertattie wrote:How have we gone from discussing how cr@p a 2nd row Tim Swinson is to discussing the pros and cons of original Jean Gray vs new Jean Gray

Oh yes, it's a Scotland thread eh!

My thoughts! Original Jean Gray is milf but new Jean Gray is oooft..............

Tattie, I am au fait with "Milf" (MrsPip has still to recover from the time we walked out of an estate agents in Stirling and she commented on how nice the woman inside had been ,"Yeah, in a milfy way" piped up 15 year old Bigson.) However, "oooft"?

Is anyone else nervous about this game? I have no idea what USA will be like but what I do know is they will have some big beasts in their team. We are putting out a very inexperienced team (7 players making their first start), a lightweight second row, back row lacking balance (a second row, a 6.5 and a youngster making his debut), plus the most lightweight backline we have probably every put out in international rugby history.

The plan is obviously to keep the tempo high and try and run them off the pitch, but I can see this being an uncomfortable 80 minutes. Good thing it will happen while we’re asleep!

You are right, RDW, it is not an especially big side. Which is probably why Swinson is at 6: the Trumpettes will be looking to smash it up the middle and he has the bulk and the "dog", as the Criminal Element say, to stand up to them. The front five are inexperienced but look fairly mobile and pacey. The back row; Fagerson's debut, Hamilton's second or third start, Swinson - not a 6. OR...a six who will get stuck right in all day long (and is an extra line out option), a genuinely exciting prospect at 8 who may just be a very special player, and a 7 who has everything to play for including the chance of a Glasgow contract!

Yes, the backs look like an under 15 side but if we win the battle in the forwards then we could run the colonials off the park.

However, if their forwards are on top

jimbopip wrote:

tigertattie wrote:How have we gone from discussing how cr@p a 2nd row Tim Swinson is to discussing the pros and cons of original Jean Gray vs new Jean Gray

Oh yes, it's a Scotland thread eh!

My thoughts! Original Jean Gray is milf but new Jean Gray is oooft..............

Tattie, I am au fait with "Milf"  (MrsPip has still to recover from the time we walked out of an estate agents in Stirling and she commented on how nice the woman inside had been ,"Yeah, in a milfy way" piped up 15 year old Bigson.) However, "oooft"?

"oooft"

Definition: An exclamation of extreme hotness

Example: "Oi Tam, go an see how hot it is outside (in a 35 degree heat) - Tam goes outside and says "oooft, it's roastin man"

or

"Oi Tam, check out the legs on that beauty - Tam turns and looks and replies "oooft"

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is anyone else nervous about this game? I have no idea what USA will be like but what I do know is they will have some big beasts in their team. We are putting out a very inexperienced team (7 players making their first start), a lightweight second row, back row lacking balance (a second row, a 6.5 and a youngster making his debut), plus the most lightweight backline we have probably every put out in international rugby history.

The plan is obviously to keep the tempo high and try and run them off the pitch, but I can see this being an uncomfortable 80 minutes. Good thing it will happen while we’re asleep!

Any proper stat gurus out there? I think this start XV could be the least capped team we've ever rolled out in a test match!

tigertattie wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is anyone else nervous about this game? I have no idea what USA will be like but what I do know is they will have some big beasts in their team. We are putting out a very inexperienced team (7 players making their first start), a lightweight second row, back row lacking balance (a second row, a 6.5 and a youngster making his debut), plus the most lightweight backline we have probably every put out in international rugby history.

The plan is obviously to keep the tempo high and try and run them off the pitch, but I can see this being an uncomfortable 80 minutes. Good thing it will happen while we’re asleep!

Any proper stat gurus out there? I think this start XV could be the least capped team we've ever rolled out in a test match!

Sorry Tattie to ruin this for you so early, but it's not even the least capped team we've put out this tour.

Starting 15 against Canada - total caps 177 (squad 225)
Starting 15 against USA - Total caps 182 (squad 327)

Swinson, Hoggy, Pete Horne, all have quite a few caps, plus Denton and Gilco on the bench boosts this squad up.

Chappeau Mr Spoons.

Tattie, he's ooft.

True story: I got a big smile and a 'hi' from Famke Janssen (the original Jean Grey) when she was walking her dog on Bleeker Street in New York.

It is one of the 8 Cool Things I have done in my life. I cannot recall offhand what the other 7 of them are.

I am also a bit worried about this game - particularly as the Yanks squished the Russians in their previous game. Their pack must have been eating Omaha sirlions and steroid Lucky Charms for as long as they've been sitting on midaddy's knee.

AJ McGinty & Blaine Scully are the only names I recognise in the US team.

Imagine if Carlin Isles and Perry Baker were the US wingers.
Some serious pace.

Should be a good game.

Samu Manoa of Toulon will add a bit of grunt...

The Scotsman made an interesting point this morning that when the Gray brothers are back playing, Scotland could end up with 3 sets of brothers all playing at the same time at some point in the future - almost half the team!

RDW_Scotland wrote:The Scotsman made an interesting point this morning that when the Gray brothers are back playing, Scotland could end up with 3 sets of brothers all playing at the same time at some point in the future - almost half the team!

The Grays
The Hornes
The Fagersons

Isnt there another couple of brothers floating around the squad that I've forgotten about?

Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

Ahhhh that might be where I'm getting it!

I seem to have it in my head that there's a mini Marfo or someone else running about too

If Gary Graham decides to change over to Scotland, Guy did not look like a bad prospect.

Is Ross Dunbar in the u20's related to Alex?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team. Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team.  Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

His name's Nathaniel, he's played for Scotland u16s and u18s, so there's obviously some interest there.

Fergus Bradbury played for the u20s last year I think

Pat_Mustard wrote:Fergus Bradbury played for the u20s last year I think

Massive lad, but not up to scratch, apparently.

I've cracked it!

It's Bradbury. He has a "wee" brother Fergus who weights in at over 20 stone!

*don't you just hate it when someone gets there just before you!

Leander wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team.  Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

His name's Nathaniel, he's played for Scotland u16s and u18s, so there's obviously some interest there.

Fair, my memory clearly isn't what it used to be

Wonder what Matt did to warrant such a boring name by comparison to his brothers.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Wonder what Matt did to warrant such a boring name by comparison to his brothers.

No really cares about middle children, do they?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Wonder what Matt did to warrant such a boring name by comparison to his brothers.

I bet his given name is actually Mattias or Mattimusmaximus

his pals just call him Matt

EWT Spoons wrote:

Leander wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team.  Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

His name's Nathaniel, he's played for Scotland u16s and u18s, so there's obviously some interest there.

Fair, my memory clearly isn't what it used to be

I felt interested in that enough to google him and it seems he is at school down south, Sherborne and also has a credit to Bath Rugby Club by his name when in the Scottish Age Grade teams. So probably has some potential as a player, it is fair to say.

Maybe there will be another Fagerson coming over the horizon, he certainly has the genes.

Did all three Milne brothers not play together in one game for Scotland?

Where there not three Calders all capped as well, though not at the same time?

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Leander wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team.  Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

His name's Nathaniel, he's played for Scotland u16s and u18s, so there's obviously some interest there.

Fair, my memory clearly isn't what it used to be

I felt interested in that enough to google him and it seems he is at school down south, Sherborne and also has a credit to Bath Rugby Club by his name when in the Scottish Age Grade teams. So probably has some potential as a player, it is fair to say.

Maybe there will be another Fagerson coming over the horizon, he certainly has the genes.

Did all three Milne brothers not play together in one game for Scotland?

Where there not three Calders all capped as well, though not at the same time?

There's a photo somewhere on social media of the three of the together. Now, Matt's a big lad, but let's just say he looks like a weed next to the other two. And Zander looks pretty svelte next to Nathanael. Mini Fagerson ain't so mini.

Fun fact, Jim and Finlay Calder are twins, but never played together for Scotland. Finlay won his first cap after Jim's last, I think.

Leander wrote:

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Leander wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is there not a youngest Fagerson in his teenage years just now?

I'm sure there was an article ages ago about the Fagersons and I think the chat was the youngest (and biggest) has no interest in rugby and is a violin player or something along those lines.

in terms of other brothers, Finn has a brother, but I doubt he'll be troubling the national team.  Ben Toolis has a brother, but he's back in oz, but you never know, in the future.

Can't think of any others.

His name's Nathaniel, he's played for Scotland u16s and u18s, so there's obviously some interest there.

Fair, my memory clearly isn't what it used to be

I felt interested in that enough to google him and it seems he is at school down south, Sherborne and also has a credit to Bath Rugby Club by his name when in the Scottish Age Grade teams. So probably has some potential as a player, it is fair to say.

Maybe there will be another Fagerson coming over the horizon, he certainly has the genes.

Did all three Milne brothers not play together in one game for Scotland?

Where there not three Calders all capped as well, though not at the same time?

There's a photo somewhere on social media of the three of the together. Now, Matt's a big lad, but let's just say he looks like a weed next to the other two. And Zander looks pretty svelte next to Nathanael. Mini Fagerson ain't so mini.

Here it is - https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxbO47jqtI/?hl=en&taken-by=zanderfagerson

Few points of order

Iain Milne played with David Milne (David only got one cap) then Iain played two matches with Kenny Milne (Kenny and David never played together)

The Calder Twins did indeed have separate careers from each other and never played at the same time (which is proper odd)

Zandar Fagerson looks to be the chunkiest of the Fagersons (as aptly put by Mark Bennett) - This was then followed by a slightly controversial comment from Fraz Brown

There also seems to be a 4th Fagerson boy. Not pictured. maybe he is the violinist?

What about sons of former players? (Not to put undue pressure on too early!) but Christian Townsend is in the u16s and might end up competing with A Hastings to play 10 outside Charlie Shiel - against C Redpath perhaps! Any more in the pipeline?

That is a great picture of the three of them and a few amusing posts, generally on the theme of what the food bill must be like when they are all at home!

Mrs Quinnell probably had the same sort of problem down in Llanelli once upon a time with a husband and three sons who were all big lads and all played for Wales!

They must go out and kill a cow most days I would imagine!

Not international level but at my local team in Edinburgh there was a father-son combo playing together. Father a prop, son a second row so they were fighting the same battles on the pitch as well which was great!