Scotland Autumn Series 2021

First topic message reminder :

I know it's probably too early for this but seeing as my Summer Tour thread was well received, I thought I'd start another one for the Autumn Series with my thoughts on the teams etc, I've got to stay on the right side of the members hahaha.

It's certainly far too early to even predict a squad as no club matches have taken place yet, both Scottish sides are in the rebuild phase (I'll be watching closely) but that's for a later date.

I would like to echo what I said on Facebook a few weeks ago which is that I hope we get to see Ashman, Auterac, Sebastian, Henderson, Tuipolotu in the autumn, in other words, hopefully they ain't poached from us haha.

Anyway, here goes with our opposition:

First up is Tonga on October 30th, KO tbc: I do not really know much about them but I would imagine we would see a youngish team in this test, seeing as a lot of them missed out on the summer tour and, supposedly this is outside the test window which means clubs aren't forced to release players if they wish. I did notice that Tonga got hammered by New Zealand who humiliated them by over 100pts, however, I see them put up a better fight against us but do fully expect us to win this one.

Then we move on to November, when clubs are obliged to release players.

7th November: Australia, KO: 1415hrs: This will be a tough test because Australia are a very good team that recently managed a test series win over France. They have very good wingers that will be tough to stop so I'm predicting a very close test which we will lose narrowly.

13th November: South Africa, KO 1300hrs: This will be our toughest test of the series imho. I've watched a lot of them over the past month and tbh they are an excellent team with quality all over the park. Even in the first test, they were creating numerous chances, Lions just got lucky with some of the ref or tmo decisions imho. What I took out of the first test was that, if you keep Kolbe quiet then you have a chance no pressure there then DVDM, Darcy etc. I'm predicting a loss here too, probably by about 15pts,though I hope I'm wrong.

20th November: Japan, KO 1300hrs: This test has the makings of being entertaining and high scoring if previous affairs are anything to go by. Against the Lions and Ireland, they put up brave fights but ultimately lost due to errors and individual brilliance of their opponents but they will believe that they can win because they have done so before. I think this will be very high scoring with us getting the win by a margin of 5.

October and November can't come quickly enough imho lol, I just can't get excited by Edinburgh and Glasgow, both will struggle in the upcoming pro 14, especially as they are rebuilding.

RiscaGame wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:These matches to be shown on Amazon Prime. I saw that on SRU Facebook, there are lots of angry responses to it which, imho is harsh but I can understand their frustrations.

Fortunately I already have Prime as I subscribed just at the end of 2019 when they were announced as the new broadcaster of Tennis, replacing sky sports.

You’d be surprised how many people kicking off about Prime, don’t realise they already have it. That’s how it was reported, when the “Rugby Mad Welsh Public” reacted to it last year. Then again, they weren’t happy that S4C could only show Welsh games in Welsh either, so you’ve probably not got it as bad.

I canni understand anger about only watching welsh games in welsh, i used to love watching the scottish club games on bbc alba but i didnt understand a word of Gaelic... now i know what "Furra linee" and "penas" mean

Tramptastic wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:These matches to be shown on Amazon Prime. I saw that on SRU Facebook, there are lots of angry responses to it which, imho is harsh but I can understand their frustrations.

Fortunately I already have Prime as I subscribed just at the end of 2019 when they were announced as the new broadcaster of Tennis, replacing sky sports.

You’d be surprised how many people kicking off about Prime, don’t realise they already have it. That’s how it was reported, when the “Rugby Mad Welsh Public” reacted to it last year. Then again, they weren’t happy that S4C could only show Welsh games in Welsh either, so you’ve probably not got it as bad.

I canni understand anger about only watching welsh games in welsh, i used to love watching the scottish club games on bbc alba but i didnt understand a word of Gaelic... now i know what "Furra linee" and "penas" mean

Me too tramptastic! I thought it was brilliant. They did a good little show and always had a great halftime interview with a Scottish player or clubside. The Gaelic provided some comical moments such as R Gray's dummy and try, "Gray.. Gray!, Richie Gray!, Richie Gray furra linee!". And of course "Pen-is fur Glasgow!"  

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/scotland-add-to-coaching-team-with-double-winning-skills-specialist

New attack coach - another young up and coming coach

AB Normal is quoted as saying,

“I’ll be moving my family to Scotland. I think it is important to know the people, the history, understand how people and the players think, feel the energy, making connections which get results and build relationship with everyone in the organisation. Gregor has been very helpful in that respect and has found me a single end in Govan which my wife is really looking forward to. A quaint fishing village on the banks of the Clyde sounds just the thing after the industrial grime of Toulouse.”

Zondagh will begin his role with Scotland in early September, subject to visa.

Thats an excellent appointment, skills/attack coach for toulouse from 2019 during the rise to prominence of Ntamak, Kolbe etc? That's a fairly good start to the CV!

I would be lying if I said I had a clue about who this man is prior to this morning but that's some CV. Seems a smart appointment.

Great appointment and dare I say it possibly the best coaching team Scotland have had in pro era. Calls for Toonies head seem but a distant whisper

bsando wrote:Great appointment and dare I say it possibly the best coaching team Scotland have had in pro era. Calls for Toonies head seem but a distant whisper

Regarding the bit I've bolded: So it should, he earned his contract extension by doing well this past 6N so its only fair to back him until his renewed contract runs out, though I hope to see him in the job for a very long time.

We have an Alan Zondagh senior who has been a coach for Western Province, I can't remember much of him as it has been a while, recently he was linked to the Bulls, I don't know whether he is related to AB Zondach, might be his father.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/jamie-hodgson-eyes-scotland-return-after-being-denied-a-cap-by-covid-3367947

A very good read .

Is it possible that he gets in the Autumn squad do you think guys/girls?

He'll definitely be in the mix going forwards, and is still young. There's a lot of competition at lock however.

He may have a shout in the first game against Tonga, when it will be home players only but unfortunately i think he may struggle after that when everyone is available.

Speaking of locks, I'm sure some of you will remember Andy Cramond who didn't get a Scottish pro deal so plys his trade in France, and was famously parachuted into a Toulon team lineup full of world superstars a few years ago when he was a complete unknown.

He was let go by Toulon but signed for a Pro D2 team, then ultimately onto Biarritz after they were relegated.

Anyway, Biarritz have been promoted to the Top 14 again and he's starting for them this weekend in their first game!

Quite a journey he's had as a professional rugby player!

Hodgson is certainly in the mix for me. Behind Gray and Cummings, but his performances last season certainly putting him on a par with Gilchrist, Skinner and Toolis. Big work rate and a strong over the ball.

The player I really haven't seen anything of is Alex Craig. Views?

Well played Cramond. He clearly has staying power and a determination to make something of pro rugby.

I think we may well see a bit of a changing of the guard now with the Scottish locks.

There are some very promising up and coming players, Henderson and Craig down south who will be pushing hard to get into the squad and you can possibly add Hunter-Hill to that group as well if he starts to get some regular Premier game time with Sarries.

Gray and Cummings seem to be the incumbants at the moment and will take a bit of shifting.

Toolis and GG may be struggling to make the squad now in all honesty, bith around the 30 mark and never really become the international players they might have become. Skinner, as well, did not have quite the same season as before last year, but is a younger model.

Hodgson to me, just may not be big enough, a bit like Swinson, to be a true international lock. The more exciting youngster at Edinburgh may well be Sykes, who looks an absolute unit.

It will be interesting to see how they all perform this season.

Agreed on the Swinson comparison, quite similar players actually. If Hodgson can be the servant to Edinburgh that Swinson was to Glasgow, I'll take that.

Sykes is a block but in the games I've seen he's better suited to being an impact sub (good ball carrier). I'd like to see him over 80 minutes before forming a view.

Hadn't realised Cornel Du Preez had moved to Toulon.

Nice quiet swansong for him to finish his career - 30 games over 8 months getting smashed by massive French packs!

Richie Gray is 32 now. Are we putting him out to pasture (stud?) already?

How old was Large Jim Hamilton when he was retired and ended the era of costing Scotland 12 points per game with his completely unnecessary penalties?

George Carlin wrote:Richie Gray is 32 now. Are we putting him out to pasture (stud?) already?

How old was Large Jim Hamilton when he was retired and ended the era of costing Scotland 12 points per game with his completely unnecessary penalties?

Big Jim was famously 'retired' by Stern Vern by missing out on 2015 WC selection. Vern deciding to pick Swinson - who wasn't even involved in any of the pre-season and had been on his honeymoon - over Hamilton who was in the best shape of his life!

George Carlin wrote:Richie Gray is 32 now. Are we putting him out to pasture (stud?) already?

How old was Large Jim Hamilton when he was retired and ended the era of costing Scotland 12 points per game with his completely unnecessary penalties?

I think it is pretty hard to see RG playing for Scotland again. He seems to struggle to put a run of games together now and in all honest from what we saw last season, has not been good value for money for Glasgow.

We would need to see a lot more of the old RG to get him back in a blue shirt and am not convinced that player is still there.

That comment, Gee, while possibly/probably accurate is painful to read.
Tempus fugit ya bass!

I don't mean to sound harsh or ageist but imho we need to be looking at the youngsters, not the old guard.

Yes Richie Gray is playing very well just now but he isn't the future of Scotland's Rugby team, players like Rufus McLean, Cammy Henderson etc are.

A mix of experience and youth is the way to go .

Anyway, not long to wait now until the tests and all I can say is thank god because, after last night I will watch more rugby than football because we tend to attack more rather than play turgid against MINNOWS plus I can get away from arguing with the fans on Facebook groups for defending the manager etc lol

AS has been mentioned before it's a big season for Toolis and Gilchrist to show whether they're relevant at international level anymore. For all the jokes from the west, both won't let anyone down for Scotland so it's good to have them for depth, but neither are going to take us to the next level as a team either.

I've always liked Toolis and he had a good run for Scotland a few years ago. Last season was a write off for him due to injury though so he'll just want to get back playing. I can't believe he's only 29 - feels like he's been around forever!

Gilchrist is 31 so still got a few years left, and appears to be doing a full pre-season with Edinburgh so will be in good shape to claim a place with Scotland.

Sam Skinner is another who hasn't quite lived up to the initial hype, and again needs to get himseld back playing regular rugby.

Then there's the many youngster coming through - hopefully one of them does a Scott Cummings and burst onto the scene and make an instant impression at international level.

https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/how-a-granny-from-greenock-paved-the-way-for-sione-tuipulotu-to-become-a-scotland-cap-contender-3374649

A very good article on Sione Tuipulotu which is well worth a read , there's another one on The Offside Line.

Sounds like he has real ambitions of playing for us, though he does concede that its unlikely in the Autumn, which is surprising because he could easily be in the matchday squad against Tonga?

Interesting article. It's great to see centre so competitive for Scotland, after some truly dark times. We could realistically put out three or four combinations that wouldn't look out of place in international rugby.

We just need a couple more viable options at tighthead, 8 and on the wing, and happy days.

I see Cockers is now to coach the England forwards. Really can't see Eddie Jones and Cockers getting on well!

RDW wrote:AS has been mentioned before it's a big season for Toolis and Gilchrist to show whether they're relevant at international level anymore. For all the jokes from the west, both won't let anyone down for Scotland so it's good to have them for depth, but neither are going to take us to the next level as a team either.

I've always liked Toolis and he had a good run for Scotland a few years ago. Last season was a write off for him due to injury though so he'll just want to get back playing. I can't believe he's only 29 - feels like he's been around forever!

Gilchrist is 31 so still got a few years left, and appears to be doing a full pre-season with Edinburgh so will be in good shape to claim a place with Scotland.

Sam Skinner is another who hasn't quite lived up to the initial hype, and again needs to get himseld back playing regular rugby.

Then there's the many youngster coming through - hopefully one of them does a Scott Cummings and burst onto the scene and make an instant impression at international level.

Toolis and Gilchrist.

Hmm. Is Cummings really better? It's hard to tell. I never felt that Toolis really got a chance in a run of games. Gilchrist never won me over - his size means he should be much more influential than I ever remember him being. And something about his big, pudding-like kisser makes me want to spray silly string into it.

What is everyone's favourite tech leprechaun Graham Love up to these days? Anyone know?

Agree on Gilchrist. With his frame you feel he should be so much more influential in games, hence my doubts over the decision to make him captain. He doesn't strike me as a leader. Plus I saw him running on the cycle paths in lockdown and unless he started running in Biggar, I have concerns over his stamina given the pace he was going!!

Toolis is very solid and consistent, but I think Cummings has the 5 jersey pretty locked down. Just seems to make a difference when he plays.

I have never really been a fan of Gilchrist, remember when he broke trying to obliterate the USA 9 in the 2015 world cup? He ran full pelt at the wee man and then collapsed in pain on the ground before he made contact rupturing muscles in his groin in the the process. It made stern Vern's decision to select Gilco over big Jim Hamilton seem rather odd.
However, I will admit that Cockers managed to mould him into a solid international second row. Able to play nearly a full match and not look like he is about to collapse with exhaustion after every effort. He can tackle, win decent amounts of lineout ball and able to be used (sparingly) as a ball carrier.
I do think Cummings is a level above and as he fills out to become physically more powerful he will become more and more influential. His lineout and defence are already excellent. he runs great lines as a ball carrier and plays with a real edge to his play, looking to dominate contacts and disrupt opponents when he can.

New Scotland strip isn't the most elegant thing I've ever seen:



Peter Vardy must be upset that they couldn't pay enough to eclipse the Scotland crest entirely.

Probably the biggest logo I've ever seen - especially compared to the modest BT Circle of Corporate Branding.

Another shirt where the Macron guys minced into the design meeting and shouted "Ragazzi, we have to start with clubwear in mind".

Yeh, that isn't a classy top! I'm still of the somewhat old fashioned view that international jerseys shouldn't be sponsored!

Me too. Why don't they literally spray branding on everything else but just leave the shirt front alone? Or put it on the back - Peter Vardy 'wings'.

I actually like the strip apart from the stupid big V above the sponsor, however, I will NOT pay £100 for it, that is a ridiculous price for a strip, has it always been as, steep as that!?

I begrudge giving SFA or Caley £40 for their respective football strips so no way will I pay £100 for a Rugby strip, Scotland or not!

Yay, Gallagher Premiership back next weekend but annoyingly, Channel 5 have stopped showing Highlights (last year was their last ever according to Google) so I may have to fork out for a BT subscription, only to watch Rugby highlights .

The sponsor logo seeks really high up - if it was lower down it wouldn't look as bad.

They maybe don't want the logo being stretched by the average fan's gut!

https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/2021/09/15/scouting-out-scotland-autumn-nations-series-provides-townsend-with-tough-tests/

Here's a good article on the Autumn Internationals though it's very vague but I found it an interesting read.

Well the Wallabies have just beaten SA for the 2nd week in a row.

They play a very similar style to Scotland - Dave Rennie's obviously been taking notes from Townsend.

They're a young, attack minded team but have learnt that they need to front up in the forwards and in defence.

Going to be a hell of a test against them in November!

Great opportunity to turn over SA too.

I tell you what. Scotland ladies have done tremendously well with their win against Ireland. I saw the last 10 mins live last night, and have just watched the first half on catch up. It's a good game, and our ladies have progressed leaps and bounds, and played a great all round game in their first half.  It's great to see their progress.

Not sure how many on here read The Times Newspaper but as its on a pay wall, there's no point in posting a link to the online article lol but, Mark Palmer has a piece in it today all about Ewan Ashman and I'm delighted to say that, England was never an option for him (quote from the man himself) and that he had to tell the England coach as soon as he came to Sale training earlier in the year, "I'm Scottish, I only want to play for Scotland".

So all that worry over the initial article saying EJ was going to poach him was unnecessary lol as it was never going to happen .

That made my Sunday as soon as I saw the article .

Anglobraveheart wrote:I tell you what. Scotland ladies have done tremendously well with their win against Ireland. I saw the last 10 mins live last night, and have just watched the first half on catch up. It's a good game, and our ladies have progressed leaps and bounds, and played a great all round game in their first half.  It's great to see their progress.

Yeah it was s huge win ,- hopefully they can make the big next step.

Highland Shaun wrote:Not sure how many on here read The Times Newspaper but as its on a pay wall, there's no point in posting a link to the online article lol but, Mark Palmer has a piece in it today all about Ewan Ashman and I'm delighted to say that, England was never an option for him (quote from the man himself) and that he had to tell the England coach as soon as he came to Sale training earlier in the year, "I'm Scottish, I only want to play for Scotland".

So all that worry over the initial article saying EJ was going to poach him was unnecessary lol as it was never going to happen .

That made my Sunday as soon as I saw the article .

Great news on Ashman, Shaun.
I think that he will be a strong candidate for first choice hooker in the generation to follow Fraser Brown, Alan McInally and George Turner.
I can see Ashman coming North, with Glasgow a likely destination as FB is likely to be the first to step back from Scotland duty in a couple of years as he is now a very senior player.
I really rate FB, he's a great player.

All we need now is for Cameron Henderson to publicly declare allegiance just like Josh Bayliss, Ewan Ashman, Sione Tuipolotu and Ben Vellacott have done.

Henderson was in the squad for the cancelled summer games, so it seems pretty unlikely he will change his mind now.

England are not exactly short of second rows either!

Not long to wait now .

Definitely impressed with performance of Darcy Graham, Pierre Schoeman, Ben Vellacott and Luke Crosbie last week. Unfortunately I didn't see all of Glasgow game, only the last 10+mins so can't comment on their Scots, however, I have them on record for Saturday as I'm working.

Unfortunately, Josh Bayliss was at fault for one of tries Bath conceded last weekend too. Will get rest of PL highlights tomorrow once the league upload their 40min highlights video (these damn ads after 15mins need cut out though lol).

Hopefully I can contribute to a couple of match day threads during the AIs lol, probably the Sunday ones as I will watch the Saturday ones later on at night due to work commitments . It's time I got to rile members ahahaha (not that I would mind you), I've been liked too long and that's not how forums work, right.

Ps, please be advised I'm joking with the last paragraph, I would NEVER rile or fall out with members unnecessarily :P

Has Schoeman qualified for Scotland now?

Old Man wrote:Has Schoeman qualified for Scotland now?

His birth certificate now shows "Pie McSchoeman"... proper ancient scottish name like that, what even is a "South Africa"? never heard of it, Pie was born in Scone, fought at Bannockburn and was our first elected First Minister.

He's the most scottish man you've ever met.

Tramptastic wrote:

Old Man wrote:Has Schoeman qualified for Scotland now?

His birth certificate now shows "Pie McSchoeman"... proper ancient scottish name like that, what even is a "South Africa"? never heard of it, Pie was born in Scone, fought at Bannockburn and was our first elected First Minister.

He's the most scottish man you've ever met.

You must brush up on your geography mate, South Africa is the Southern most province of Scotland. It has a better climate, lots of sunshine, I am surprised not more of you "northeners" come down south for a weekend away, it sin't that far away.

Old Man wrote:You must brush up on your geography mate, South Africa is the Southern most province of Scotland. It has a better climate, lots of sunshine, I am surprised not more of you "northeners" come down south for a weekend away, it sin't that far away.

Hey, I take issue with this Old Man.......

Clearly the ancient Scottish territory of Otago, NZ is further South than South Africa!

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

Old Man wrote:You must brush up on your geography mate, South Africa is the Southern most province of Scotland. It has a better climate, lots of sunshine, I am surprised not more of you "northeners" come down south for a weekend away, it sin't that far away.

Hey, I take issue with this Old Man.......

Clearly the ancient Scottish territory of Otago, NZ is further South than South Africa!

Oops, forgot about that. These pesky New Zealanders always have to one up us in everything.

FFS it now looks like SA are not happy about having to be in a secure bio bubble for their tour North so could pull out!!

We don't want another non tour ffs, it was bad enough during Summer. Not sure if there would be a replacement for them as nothing has been said by Australia, Japan and Tonga on bubble life so I'd presume their still planning on coming across.

Yeah Springbok players have been in a bubble since before the Lions series, SARU has come out and said another secure bubble enforced on their players is not acceptable.

That would mean the Bok players will not have seen their families for six months by the time the European tour is over.

So they sent their players home to be with their families, because of SA being on the red list, they would have to be enforced into a quarantine bubble upon arriving in Europe.