Scotland 2022 summer tour

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Scotland 2022 Six Nations Lookahead

A place to discuss the rollercoaster of dark horse conversation and sheer despair. Somewhere in-between, someone will go off on a mild tangent.

Schedule
5th Feb - England (H)
12th Feb - Wales (A)
26th Feb - France (H)
12th March - Italy (A)
19th March - Ireland (A)

Scotland's recent performances
2021: 4th (3 wins, same as 2nd)
2020: 4th (3 wins, same points as 3rd)
2019: 5th (1 win, 1 draw)
2018: 3rd (3 wins, same as 2nd)
2017: 4th (3 wins, same points as 2nd)

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm sure that sort of try is your bread and butter RDW!!

Maybe 15 years ago....!

And in a parallel universe where I was good at rugby.

Any way that we can cap that kid before the English and Welsh?

George Carlin wrote:Any way that we can cap that kid before the English and Welsh?

We should do everything humanly possible and offer whatever we can!! The freedom of Ayr, a castle in the Highlands, a lifetime supply of oak aged Macallan and Karen Gillan.

I think all we can do is offer him a place in our A squad and play him which then captures him if I'm correct because he isn't going to get matchtime with England over in Australia or Wales in Saffa land.

I'm thinking though that we lose out this time as fans won't forgive Eddie for losing out on another top prospect to us.

Talking of bolters lol, it's going quiet regarding Jack Singleton. Just after the rule change on eligibility, our friends at the Scottish Thistle podcast tweeted that he is open to switching allegiances to us ?

funnyExiledScot wrote:

bsando wrote:Arundell try vs Toulon was very hoggesque. He’ll probably end up in England squad but the thought of himself and Hogg playing in same backline definitely would be exciting.

Stunning try. We should send Jimbo to his house to talk to him, and explain that he won't leave until Arundell declares for Scotland!

I vidoecalled him on the Whatthefeccsapp? He was resistant at first. Finally he admitted that he quite fancied playing for Scotland as he's not averse to a few pints in Rose Street but couldn't commit himself to playing for one of our clubs. He ruled the Luvvies out because, and I quote, "I've worked too hard and too long  to become a professional rugby player to change careers now."
He quite fancied Glasgow but said the money was going to be a problem. I pointed out that for the price of a sourdough sushi panini in London he could buy a street in Castlemilk; this weakened his resolve a little. Then I played my trump card. "Yes the wages per match may be slightly lower, young Harry, but as Glasgow usually knock off after 54 minutes you will actually be getting paid more per minute than any other team in the northern hemisphere. Other than Sarries. And Leinster. And most of the French second division."

I think we've got him.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Any way that we can cap that kid before the English and Welsh?

We should do everything humanly possible and offer whatever we can!! The freedom of Ayr, a castle in the Highlands, a lifetime supply of oak aged Macallan and Karen Gillan.

You can tell you're getting older FES - the last 3 in particular hallmarks of a 30 year old's dream.

I'm not saying it isn't a compelling package...

George Carlin wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Any way that we can cap that kid before the English and Welsh?

We should do everything humanly possible and offer whatever we can!! The freedom of Ayr, a castle in the Highlands, a lifetime supply of oak aged Macallan and Karen Gillan.

You can tell you're getting older FES - the last 3 in particular hallmarks of a 30 year old's dream.

I'm not saying it isn't a compelling package...

Oh please! I'm clearly still one of the cool trendy young kids on here!

Arundell and Dingwall named in England's training squad.

Obvious still not actually capped yet but England making their intentions clear!

Seemed inevitable, but surprised Dingwall called up again. Thought Eddie had lost interest in him.

Arundell for Scotland was a non-starter, it was never going to happen! Good luck to him, he's got something special I hope he goes on to have a great international career (but plays terribly every time he faces Scotland )

Totally agree with you TheMildlyFranticLlama, no way was EJ going to ignore the form of Arundell otherwise he'd have been hounded out of Twickenham and lambasted by every single pundit and fan.

Fraser Dingwall will either play the Baa-Baas game and finally get captured or he'll get cut from the squad when it's trimmed then get poached by us against Chile :P

But hey look on the bright side, Tom Roebuck and Fin Smith are still available lol and in true Gregor fashion, will get poached by him next month. I've probably missed one or 2 others that have been mentioned too :P.

Anyway my thoughts don't turn to Rugby until Monday when ICT have hopefully stolen St J Premiership place lol then a fortnight Wednesday our round ball team play Ukraine in a vital play off.

So I'm gonna stick Bru's stones on the line here (yep, this is still a thing) and go for a summer tour squad.

All of the Lions rested excepted VDM who, let's face it, isn't massively tested week in week out and hasn't had a challenging season with Worcester. Mcinally and Brown only travelling if they're actually fit. Gray snr maybe traveling for a last hurrah if he fancies it.

Main focus however is on teh next generation and form players.

LH - Schoe, Bhatti, McCallum, Auterac (scraping the barrell a bit)
H - Turner, Macbeth, Cherry, Mcinally/Brown
TH - Nel, Berghan, Rae
L - Gilchrist (C), Gray jnr, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes
6/8 - Bradbury, Crosbie, Muncaster, Christie, Bayliss
7 - Darge, Boyle (Gordon if Darge not fit)

SH - Vellacot, Dobie, White, Pyrgos (experienced head, playing well)
SO - Hastings, Kinghorn, Thomson (for the experience)
C - Hutchinson, Dean, Bennet, Tuipolotu, Steyn
W - VDM, Graham, Rowe, Hoyland
FB - Jones, Smith

That squad will likely get trimmed down a fair bit after the Chile game

RDW wrote:So I'm gonna stick Bru's stones on the line here (yep, this is still a thing) and go for a summer tour squad.

All of the Lions rested excepted VDM who, let's face it, isn't massively tested week in week out and hasn't had a challenging season with Worcester. Mcinally and Brown only travelling if they're actually fit. Gray snr maybe traveling for a last hurrah if he fancies it.

Main focus however is on teh next generation and form players.

LH - Schoe, Bhatti, McCallum, Auterac (scraping the barrell a bit)
H - Turner, Macbeth, Cherry, Mcinally/Brown
TH - Nel, Berghan, Rae
L - Gilchrist (C), Gray jnr, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes
6/8 - Bradbury, Crosbie, Muncaster, Christie, Bayliss
7 - Darge, Boyle (Gordon if Darge not fit)

SH - Vellacot, Dobie, White, Pyrgos (experienced head, playing well)
SO - Hastings, Kinghorn, Thomson (for the experience)
C - Hutchinson, Dean, Bennet, Tuipolotu, Steyn
W - VDM, Graham, Rowe, Hoyland
FB - Jones, Smith

That squad will likely get trimmed down a fair bit after the Chile game

No surprise call ups :O?

Highland Shaun wrote:

RDW wrote:So I'm gonna stick Bru's stones on the line here (yep, this is still a thing) and go for a summer tour squad.

All of the Lions rested excepted VDM who, let's face it, isn't massively tested week in week out and hasn't had a challenging season with Worcester. Mcinally and Brown only travelling if they're actually fit. Gray snr maybe traveling for a last hurrah if he fancies it.

Main focus however is on teh next generation and form players.

LH - Schoe, Bhatti, McCallum, Auterac (scraping the barrell a bit)
H - Turner, Macbeth, Cherry, Mcinally/Brown
TH - Nel, Berghan, Rae
L - Gilchrist (C), Gray jnr, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes
6/8 - Bradbury, Crosbie, Muncaster, Christie, Bayliss
7 - Darge, Boyle (Gordon if Darge not fit)

SH - Vellacot, Dobie, White, Pyrgos (experienced head, playing well)
SO - Hastings, Kinghorn, Thomson (for the experience)
C - Hutchinson, Dean, Bennet, Tuipolotu, Steyn
W - VDM, Graham, Rowe, Hoyland
FB - Jones, Smith

That squad will likely get trimmed down a fair bit after the Chile game

No surprise call ups :O?

I'm sure there will be, but by the very nature of it I'm sure they'll come as a big surprise as always!

Any idea when squad announced :-)?

I'd imagine it won't be far off as we play our first match against Chile in exactly 31 days.

Rory Darge pictured with a full knee brace at the Glasgow awards night. So unlikely he'll be in it!

Zander Fagerson doing press for Glasgow this week says that he is hoping to tour Argentina in the summer and has not had any discussions about sitting it out as a post Lions tour rest.

In the same article, Ritchie Gray said that he has not closed door on Scotland opportunities either, making himself unavailable was more about timing than a refusal.


In truth though hard to see any way back for RG, he is 33 now and though he has been steady for Glasgow this season he has hardly looked a world class second row any more.

Zander though, due to our dearth of THs and tghe fact that he is a bit younger than some of the other Scottish Lions, might be one to consider taking along.

The squad will apparently be announced after the quarter final playoffs next weekend.

Highland Shaun wrote:

RDW wrote:So I'm gonna stick Bru's stones on the line here (yep, this is still a thing) and go for a summer tour squad.

All of the Lions rested excepted VDM who, let's face it, isn't massively tested week in week out and hasn't had a challenging season with Worcester. Mcinally and Brown only travelling if they're actually fit. Gray snr maybe traveling for a last hurrah if he fancies it.

Main focus however is on teh next generation and form players.

LH - Schoe, Bhatti, McCallum, Auterac (scraping the barrell a bit)
H - Turner, Macbeth, Cherry, Mcinally/Brown
TH - Nel, Berghan, Rae
L - Gilchrist (C), Gray jnr, Skinner, Hodgson, Sykes
6/8 - Bradbury, Crosbie, Muncaster, Christie, Bayliss
7 - Darge, Boyle (Gordon if Darge not fit)

SH - Vellacot, Dobie, White, Pyrgos (experienced head, playing well)
SO - Hastings, Kinghorn, Thomson (for the experience)
C - Hutchinson, Dean, Bennet, Tuipolotu, Steyn
W - VDM, Graham, Rowe, Hoyland
FB - Jones, Smith

That squad will likely get trimmed down a fair bit after the Chile game

No surprise call ups :O?

I have already written to the SRU asking for Jimbo to tag along as Press Secretary.

I was asked but stipulated that I be allowed to take my boots, just in case. Oh and I insisted on the Macallans and Karen Gillan package.
They agreed to all my demands but for the whisky they offered Bells so it's a non starter. Karen is heartbroken apparently.

BigGee wrote:Zander Fagerson doing press for Glasgow this week says that he is hoping to tour Argentina in the summer and has not had any discussions about sitting it out as a post Lions tour rest.

In the same article, Ritchie Gray said that he has not closed door on Scotland opportunities either, making himself unavailable was more about timing than a refusal.


In truth though hard to see any way back for RG, he is 33 now and though he has been steady for Glasgow this season he has hardly looked a world class second row any more.

Zander though, due to our dearth of THs and tghe fact that he is a bit younger than some of the other Scottish Lions, might be one to consider taking along.

The squad will apparently be announced after the quarter final playoffs next weekend.

So I presume that means the Monday or Tuesday week commencing 5th June which sounds about right

Still expecting some surprises

Rory Darge interview with Mark Palmer in the Sunday Times.

His knee may not be as bad as first seemed, though would imagine that they should not be taking any chances with it.



Rory Darge has had an incredible first full season in professional rugby, learning on the job so quickly that he already looks like he has spent his entire life on the battlefields of not just the United Rugby Championship but the Test arena. He also swept the board at Glasgow’s end of year awards, where the Warriors coaches, players and supporters all voted him their player of the season earlier this week.

The 22-year-old flanker may not be done quite yet. When he tore the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee in the loss away to the Bulls last month, it was widely assumed that Darge’s campaign was finished, but an appointment with a specialist on Monday could give him the green light to get back on the training pitch.

While it still seems fanciful to imagine him in a Glasgow shirt again this season — not least because the URC quarter-final away to Leinster a week today will surely be the end of the road for Danny Wilson’s men — the Scotland tour of Argentina next month does not now seem impossible.

“On Monday, I’ll have my first ligament test,” Darge told The Times in an exclusive interview to mark him being named McCrea Financial Services Player of the Season. “If it’s healed fairly well, I’ll be coming out of the brace and it might not be too long before I’m back. Monday will be four weeks post-injury, which seems optimistic for me to come out of the brace but hopefully it’s healed well.

“I managed to avoid surgery. It was completely torn, but the MCL is one where they just keep it in a brace. It actually knits back together which I didn’t know. The body really is amazing. I’ve got the brace on 24/7: I can take it off for a shower and that’s about it. It’s a nightmare trying to sleep with it.


“Hopefully there will be more to come for me in the next few weeks. I’m just excited to watch the boys go against Leinster. It’s nervy watching, especially in these big games. Lyon [in the Challenge Cup quarter-final] was really nervy and I then did radio for the Edinburgh game [last week] which gave me something else to think about. The injury itself happened when Bob Harley and me went in to tackle Elrigh Louw, the Bulls No 8. He was just running it back. I’ve put my knee in, and I think it was a mixture of Bob and Elrigh swiping into my leg and it aggressively moved. I thought I was all right. I thought I had dislocated my knee-cap, because I’ve done that before in this leg. I got up and was able to squat, but the next time I was able to run I knew it wasn’t good.

“I hope I can be in the mix for Argentina as well: I’m waiting for Monday when I’ll have a better idea. Obviously I’d be delighted to go. When this injury first happened, I had been playing week on week on week, but now I’ve had a few weeks out, I want to get back playing.

“That’s the way I’ve done it all this year. Week on week. It’s helped me. Every game has been so big for me, all my focus has been on the weekend. I don’t know if that’s sustainable but it feels like it is and it feels like it’s the best thing for me.”

This time last year, Darge was making his first handful of Glasgow starts in the end of season Rainbow Cup, having just moved across from Edinburgh, where he had made a single appearance off the bench under Richard Cockerill.

The whole shambolic situation showed once again how easy it is for talented young players to slip through the cracks in Scottish rugby, and Darge himself has wondered where he might be now had he not been given the chance to come west.

“I saw it [the move] coming,” the North Berwick product said. “I knew that one of the however many back-rows at Edinburgh would maybe be transferred across, and I’d already thought about what would happen if it was me.


“When they asked, I’d already had time to think and I said yes immediately. It wasn’t much of a decision for me. I didn’t get many opportunities at Edinburgh so I thought ‘why not try it?’ I’ve loved it and am really glad I came over. Edinburgh have a couple of good young back-rowers who are going well at the moment, [Ben] Muncaster and [Connor] Boyle. It’s hard to know what would have happened to me, but I’m certainly very glad I came over.”

Darge has so many attributes that he has managed to bring to the fore all season, even once opposition analysts and defenders cottoned on to his threat. The open-side is brilliant at the breakdown, links the play well and carries harder and more often than we should reasonably expect from a man whose vital statistics are
a respectable but hardly monstrous 6ft 1in and 15st 6lb.

The East Lothian native, who starred for the Scotland under-20 team and spent a couple of years in the Borders attending college and playing for Melrose, is keen to add some bulk while recognising the need not to compromise his mobility or general fitness.

“When we played in South Africa, physicality was the difference,” he said. “Up till then, I didn’t think the physicality was a massive difference for me in the way I play. I don’t play as a bruising type. Up until then it was maybe more just the speed.

“More is asked of you as well. Every game I play now, I’m constantly blowing. At club level, you can get away with not putting out the same numbers where you’re always, always blowing. I want to put on a bit of size and develop the physical, attritional side of the game. It’s so important and something that not just myself, but within the squad, sometimes we can do better. Obviously there are guys who do it really well, but for me personally, it’s something for me to do: get a bit more size and be able to handle those bigger guys.

“Fitness is something I pride myself on. Towards the end of the game when those bigger guys are a bit more tired, they maybe can’t use all their physical abilities for that attritional side of it. But I can still put on a bit while still maintaining that fitness. It’s been a hectic year, all the way back to our first game against Ulster which was in September. It seems so long ago now. Ulster was massive for me:
I was trying to prove I could play at this level because I’d only done it four times before.

“Every week, week on week, it has been a massive game for me. Playing URC, Europe, then Scotland, all for the first time. It’s only now I can reflect on it being a pretty mental 12 months.”

Darge has settled quickly off the pitch as well, sharing a flat in Glasgow’s east end with versatile prop Murphy Walker. He dotes on his two younger brothers, 19-year-old Arron, a centre back/right back with Hearts who has spent the season on loan with Gala Fairydean Rovers in the Lowland League, and 14-year-old Harris, a promising fly half with North Berwick High School.

On the morning of Darge’s Scotland home debut — a try-scoring one against France in March — Harris dislocated his knee in his own game, but still made it to Murrayfield via a trip to hospital.

“The Scotland stuff has been awesome,” Darge said. “It’s been hard in the moment, with it being quite an intense environment. Especially when you first come into an environment like that, you want to do well and you think hard about every little thing that you’re doing. I’ve loved it and it’s just an amazing feeling on the Saturday. That’s why you play. My debut down in Wales was emotional, but they don’t do the anthem the way they do at Murrayfield. Hearing that was properly emotional for me. My family were there and I just loved it. I can’t wait to hopefully have the opportunity to do all that again.”

Darge is a very exciting prospect, and with Boyle going well and Watson having a fair bit more to go, the 7 jersey is looking strong for years to come.

We really need to sort out number 8. Fagerson can only take us so far, and both Crosbie and Muncaster look better at 6 for me, behind Ritchie.

Very interesting to see how Bradbury gets on at Bristol next season, and whether Dempsey gets his kilt on.

So hopefully we get to see the summer tour squad next week.

I think it will be a 2 stage squad, with an A team (home based as outside the test window) going to Chile, then some going home and other players coming out to join them for the Argentina leg.

I suspect the older Lions, Hogg, Russel, Harris, Watson and Price (maybe) might sit this one out. The Scottish based ones though have had an easier end of season and will have a good few weeks off before the tour. There may be a case for Price to go as well, as we have not really brought another starting SH on yet (which we definitely need to).


So for Chile:

TH - Walker, Bergahn
H - Mathews, Cherry, McBurney
LH - Keeble (an also cover TH), Bhatti. McBeth
SR - Sykes, Hodgson, McDonald, Young
BR - Muncaster, Boyle, Crosbie, Gordon, Bradbury

SH - Vellacott, Dobie, Horne G
FH - Kinghorn, Thompson,
C - Lang, Currie, Dean, Tuipolotu
W - Hoyland, McLean, Forbes
FB - Smith, VDW (can also cover FH)


They would be joined by the following for the Argentina leg, with quite a few of the above going home.


TH - Fagerson
H - Turner, Mcinally (if fit)
LH - Schoeman, Sutherland
SR - Gilchrist, Gray J, Skinner
BR - Darge (if fit), Christie, Bayliss, Richardson (if he is fit)

SH - Price, White, Chapman
FH - Finn Smith (the Toonie curveball for this tour), Hastings
C - Bennett, Johnson, Hutchinson
W - VDM, Graham
FB - Jones


Am assuming that Kyle Steyn is out through injury

My prediction for another curveball is Tom Roebuck seeing as Sale are unlikely to make the top 4 .

Let's just hope he picks on form and not just cap players to either poach them or for the sake of capping as many as possible!

Yes, Roebuck is a good possibility as well. I also missed out Kyle Rowe from my squad.

Both have been holding down starting spots in LI and Sale and have been in good form.

Highland Shaun wrote:My prediction for another curveball is Tom Roebuck seeing as Sale are unlikely to make the top 4 .

Let's just hope he picks on form and not just cap players to either poach them or for the sake of capping as many as possible!

If Scotland are going to select to secure then Henderson is back from his lengthy injury (just), having come off the bench Vs Newcastle. He wasn't actually capped last summer was he and then injured before the AIs. He is also EQ.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:My prediction for another curveball is Tom Roebuck seeing as Sale are unlikely to make the top 4 .

Let's just hope he picks on form and not just cap players to either poach them or for the sake of capping as many as possible!

If Scotland are going to select to secure then Henderson is back from his lengthy injury (just), having come off the bench Vs Newcastle. He wasn't actually capped last summer was he and then injured before the AIs. He is also EQ.

Am not sure it is about selecting to secure.

Henderson, to be fair, would have been capped last summer if the games had not been cancelled and then he got injured. This tour might just come a little to soon for him as he is probably not going to get to much game time for Leicester at the business end of the season. How did he get on in his comeback game? If not this time, if he can get back up to speed, the autumn internationals may be more realistic.


Roebuck and Smith are both SQ and playing well in positions that we are not overflowing with talent. It may or may not happen this time around, but I would be amazed if the two of them had not been sounded out by the Scottish coaches.

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:My prediction for another curveball is Tom Roebuck seeing as Sale are unlikely to make the top 4 .

Let's just hope he picks on form and not just cap players to either poach them or for the sake of capping as many as possible!

If Scotland are going to select to secure then Henderson is back from his lengthy injury (just), having come off the bench Vs Newcastle. He wasn't actually capped last summer was he and then injured before the AIs. He is also EQ.

Am not sure it is about selecting to secure.

Henderson, to be fair, would have been capped last summer if the games had not been cancelled and then he got injured. This tour might just come a little to soon for him as he is probably not going to get to much game time for Leicester at the business end of the season. How did he get on in his comeback game? If not this time, if he can get back up to speed, the autumn internationals may be more realistic.


Roebuck and Smith are both SQ and playing well in positions that we are not overflowing with talent. It may or may not happen this time around, but I would be amazed if the two of them had not been sounded out by the Scottish coaches.

It was a brief comeback for Henderson as he was a sub for the final 10 mins. He looked like he'd bulked up but was still mobile and his tenacity in defence was noticeable. He was a favourite with Borthwick last season so I'd expect him to kick on with game time next season, ideally a combination of him and Chessum developing at lock would be nice.

If Smith is Finn Smith I'd be surprised if he committed one way or the other this summer. He's only just turned 20 and will probably play with the England under 20s again this summer. His grandfather played for Scotland but he's been born and raised in England. What he chooses to do next will no doubt be effected by the decisions of others after the world cup (possible retiremens voluntary or enforced). Farrell is about to turn 31, Ford is 29 and any England coach coming in will be looking at putting his own stamp on things for the next cycle and only the other Smith will under 30 after the world cup and called at flyhalf.

Scotland will have Russell in a similar boat to Ford and Farrell but Hastings at 26 and Thompson at 23. Two already called flyhalfs that will be in or around their prime in the next RWC cycle.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

BigGee wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:My prediction for another curveball is Tom Roebuck seeing as Sale are unlikely to make the top 4 .

Let's just hope he picks on form and not just cap players to either poach them or for the sake of capping as many as possible!

If Scotland are going to select to secure then Henderson is back from his lengthy injury (just), having come off the bench Vs Newcastle. He wasn't actually capped last summer was he and then injured before the AIs. He is also EQ.

Am not sure it is about selecting to secure.

Henderson, to be fair, would have been capped last summer if the games had not been cancelled and then he got injured. This tour might just come a little to soon for him as he is probably not going to get to much game time for Leicester at the business end of the season. How did he get on in his comeback game? If not this time, if he can get back up to speed, the autumn internationals may be more realistic.


Roebuck and Smith are both SQ and playing well in positions that we are not overflowing with talent. It may or may not happen this time around, but I would be amazed if the two of them had not been sounded out by the Scottish coaches.

It was a brief comeback for Henderson as he was a sub for the final 10 mins. He looked like he'd bulked up but was still mobile and his tenacity in defence was noticeable. He was a favourite with Borthwick last season so I'd expect him to kick on with game time next season, ideally a combination of him and Chessum developing at lock would be nice.

If Smith is Finn Smith I'd be surprised if he committed one way or the other this summer. He's only just turned 20 and will probably play with the England under 20s again this summer. His grandfather played for Scotland but he's been born and raised in England. What he chooses to do next will no doubt be effected by the decisions of others after the world cup (possible retiremens voluntary or enforced). Farrell is about to turn 31, Ford is 29 and any England coach coming in will be looking at putting his own stamp on things for the next cycle and only the other Smith will under 30 after the world cup and called at flyhalf.

Scotland will have Russell in a similar boat to Ford and Farrell but Hastings at 26 and Thompson at 23. Two already called flyhalfs that will be in or around their prime in the next RWC cycle.

I wish we felt as confident in our fly half stable as you do!

Toonie certainly does not feel confident about Hastings, though none of us can quite work out why.

Thompson, has looked very shaky for Glasgow this season and is only in the Scotland conversation due to lack of alternatives.

There is Kinghhorn as well, who you feel is Toonie's chosen one, though again, he has a long way to go to look like an international FH.

Then the always mercurial Russell and I don't know what to say about him!


There is definitely room there for a good young FH. Finn Smith may only be 20 but is playing regularly at the right level. Whether he wants to play for Scotland or not is another question and I genuinely feel sorry for these young men who have to make these calls and if and when he does, it should be respected.

He may want to delay his call as you suggest, but I would be amazed, as I said before, if he has not been sounded out, just as I believe Arundel was. He may be a better bet to switch in all honesty as I don't see Smith, Ford or Farrell going anywhere that quickly and I don't see any of them retiring straight after the WC.

I'm not sold on Finn Smith. He's alright, but not exactly demanding his selection other than the fact he's SQ (and therefore viewed through the SQ goggles). He's no better that Thomson IMO.

RDW wrote:I'm not sold on Finn Smith. He's alright, but not exactly demanding his selection other than the fact he's SQ (and therefore viewed through the SQ goggles). He's no better that Thomson IMO.

Have you been watching Glasgow recently?


After a promising start last season, Thompson has had a bit of a case of second season syndrome. He has not been helped of course by the general Glasgow performances of course, so not all down to him. Hopefully he will come again, but at the moment he does not remotely look like an international FH. Finn smith at 3 years younger, looks like the player with more potential atm.

Thompson should get the A team gig against Chile this summer and hopefully re-discovers his mojo next season.

Not saying he's better than Thomson, just we've not seen anything to suggest he's a future international class 10 - he's just SQ and plays in the premiership which tends to subconsciously give players elevated status.

That may still come, and if he's picked then fine, but I don't think we should be rolling out the ref carpet or anything.

Well it would not be a Toonie selection without a curveball or two.

Let's be honest, there is not a lot else to be excited about at the moment. I have to say, after the disappointment and all the shenanigans of the 6N, I do feel a bit flat about this tour. Hopefully the ones that go can put in some performances to re-inspire me.

They could do a lot worse than watch the way the Ukrainian team played us at football tonight!

BigGee wrote:Well it would not be a Toonie selection without a curveball or two.

Let's be honest, there is not a lot else to be excited about at the moment. I have to say, after the disappointment and all the shenanigans of the 6N, I do feel a bit flat about this tour. Hopefully the ones that go can put in some performances to re-inspire me.

They could do a lot worse than watch the way the Ukrainian team played us at football tonight!

Well after that shambles I'm actually looking forward to watching Rugby again because they won't put in as abysmal a performance as these duds did tonight!!

Yes things are certainly flat in the Scottish rugby world, but if the whole idea is to peak at the World Cup then I guess we're doing it right.....remember last time we were great in the few years leading up to the cup then crap during the tournament.

I still don't think that's the best cycle for Scottish rugby (i.e. focussing on a world cup that we have zero chance of getting anywhere) but everyone else does it so we have to as well!

In terms of the summer, I think a comfortable win over Chile (blooding a load of youngsters) then winning one test against Argentina + competitive performances in the others would be pass marks (particularly if we rest our Lions). Argentina will be absolutely gunning for this and I don't see us having the easy read we got in 2018.

Highland Shaun wrote:

BigGee wrote:Well it would not be a Toonie selection without a curveball or two.

Let's be honest, there is not a lot else to be excited about at the moment. I have to say, after the disappointment and all the shenanigans of the 6N, I do feel a bit flat about this tour. Hopefully the ones that go can put in some performances to re-inspire me.

They could do a lot worse than watch the way the Ukrainian team played us at football tonight!

Well after that shambles I'm actually looking forward to watching Rugby again because they won't put in as abysmal a performance as these duds did tonight!!

Careful Shaun

This is the Scottish rugby team remember!

RDW wrote:I'm not sold on Finn Smith. He's alright, but not exactly demanding his selection other than the fact he's SQ (and therefore viewed through the SQ goggles). He's no better that Thomson IMO.

Finn Smith isn't ready for international rugby and hasn't really made the 10 shirt at Worcester his own completely. He's definitely got something about him and his England under 20 appearances went beyond assured. He seems to have that time on the ball and a really good kicking game. Another year to mature and stamp his authority on the Wuss 10 shirt and it might be a different story.

I'd expect both unions to have been in contact with him. I honestly think he could end up better than Marcus Smith is now before the next world cup. Advantage Scotland might be Eddie's preference to have his alternative flyhalf options to be versatile Farrell plays 10/12 and Bailey 10/15, Ford may well be back out the squad because of that as well this summer.

Vellacott has not travelled to SA, did he not get injured in the last game.

He must be a doubt for the tour now as well I guess. Could open up a slot for Chapman?

Finn posted a picture of him on holiday wearing a leg brace, so he almost certainly won't be going either. Which may be no bad thing.

Touring squad announced on Wed

Mark Palmer's take on who we may or may not see in it, in Sunday Times



On Wednesday, Gregor Townsend will announce his squad for a summer tour that features a rare outing for the Scotland A team against Chile in Santiago on June 25, before three full Tests against Argentina, in San Salvador de Jujuy on July 2, Salta on July 9, and Santiago del Estero on July 16.

We examine some of the key issues informing selection for what will be Scotland’s last traditional summer expedition before the 2023 World Cup. By the time the Scots return from South America, it will be less than 14 months until their tournament opener against the reigning champions, the Springboks, in Marseille.

Can the Lions keep roaring?
Eight senior Scotland players — Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Chris Harris, Ali Price, Hamish Watson, Zander Fagerson, Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland — have been on the go to a greater or lesser extent since the British & Irish Lions’ tour of South Africa last summer. The relative lack of stature of this trip makes it an obvious opportunity to give at least some of them a well-earned rest before another epic campaign that will segue straight into the delights of a World Cup conditioning camp.

Russell has already said that he has struggled to cope, both physically and mentally, with the workload since returning to Racing 92. It would surely make sense for the golden boy to sit this one out, and to allow Blair Kinghorn more time as a Test stand off while also reintegrating Adam Hastings. This may all be moot anyway, given the knee injury Russell is nursing. Hogg is understood to be keen to travel, but sometimes he needs saving from himself, while Harris and Fagerson — key men in pivotal positions — would also benefit from putting up their feet. Price has declared himself available, but now would be a good time to see more of Jamie Dobie and Ben White at this level, and the usual run of back-row options means Watson’s presence is not essential. By contrast, Sutherland and Van der Merwe have not exactly been overworked in their debut seasons at Worcester, and would prove useful against the always attritional Pumas.

Who gets the nod to captain?
You strongly suspect that a big part of Hogg’s motivation to tour is about not giving Townsend an easy route into a changing of the guard with the captaincy. The coach was decidedly non-committal when asked about Hogg’s prospects in the role at the end of the Six Nations, which finished amid a whirl of innuendo about the so-called “Boozegate” scandal. Details remain sketchy and contested about precisely what happened before, during, and after a group of largely senior players, led by Hogg, left the team hotel to drink in an Edinburgh bar in the hours after their return from the March win in Rome. For some time, the most likely next leader has appeared to be Jamie Ritchie, but though the loose forward is recovering well from the hamstring injury that ended his season in the opening Six Nations game against England, there is no need to rush him back ahead of such a big year. If Hogg does not travel, or is not selected as skipper, it would bring the likes of Grant Gilchrist and Price into the equation, or perhaps even veteran hookers Stuart McInally and Fraser Brown, provided they are picked.



Which new/returning faces might we see?
There will still be room for someone to make a late run between this year’s Autumn Nations Series and the 2023 Six Nations, but realistically this tour is Townsend’s final opportunity for experimentation to anything like a wholesale degree. Ollie Smith’s fine form in the second half of the season should be rewarded with a call-up, and there may well be space for Ross Thompson, Luke Crosbie, Rufus McLean, Jamie Hodgson, Josh Bayliss, Andy Christie, D’Arcy Rae and Marshall Sykes — players of whom we have seen a little, but not yet a lot, in the dark blue shirt. And what of George Horne, one of the dominant figures on Scotland’s last trip to Argentina four years ago, which brought a thumping 44-15 win in Resistencia? The scrum half’s seemingly inexorable progress has stalled badly of late, largely due to injury and, one could argue, his decision not to move to a club where he has more chance of a regular start. The 27-year-old remains richly talented but must regain some semblance of momentum — could this summer be where it all begins again for him? There will doubtless be the usual Townsend curveballs — what price a shout for Fin Smith or Charlie Chapman, both of whom are Scotland-qualified? — but the biggest news of all would be a return for Richie Gray, who has been playing some of the best rugby of his life. It has never been adequately explained why the Glasgow lock remains squarely out of the picture — if there is a fundamental impediment on his side or on Townsend’s, they should let it be known.

Who takes centre stage?
Centre has become an area of vast strength in depth for Scotland, but it still feels like Townsend is yet to find a convincing pairing in part two of his reign — the segment, after embarrassment in Japan, when he decided to move away from all-out attack. Harris has been a fixture since then, and a bloody good fixture at that, but if he doesn’t tour, it should provide scope for those like Mark Bennett, Rory Hutchinson and Huw Jones to strive to replicate their explosive club displays in the Test arena. The Sione Tuipulotu experiment has been nothing like a success, while what Sam Johnson can and cannot do is now well established. Could Townsend return to his more daring roots and play two out-and-out attackers in the centre, with one of them a second playmaker to take some of the weight off whichever of Russell and Kinghorn is at 10? Hutchinson has filled that role to great effect for Northampton this season and is long overdue another chance with Scotland. Cameron Redpath would be the obvious choice, but would benefit from a full pre-season at Bath after his latest injury woe.

Who to hang our hat on at hooker
The number two shirt is one of the few — very few, in fact — without a seemingly definitive owner at this stage in the World Cup cycle. George Turner started all but two of the team’s outings in 2021, but he was left on the bench for a couple of games in the recent Six Nations, having seemed to waylay a little of his trademark explosiveness. Ewan Ashman, who enjoyed such a brilliant start to life in Scotland colours last November, will surely be first or second-choice hooker in France next year, so should start at least a couple of these games. It will also be interesting to gauge whether or not Townsend feels that Brown and/or McInally have reached the end of their natural usefulness. What could count in their favour is that the Chile game will have to be contested by home-based players — those drawn from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors — as it falls outside World Rugby’s summer window.

Hard to get excited about the summer tour due to the last Scotland outing plus the recent club gubbings! Argentina will be looking and definitely fancy a chance for revenge. Maybe he'll prove me wrong but I feel it'll be status quo tactical malaise until Toonies contract is up post WC, unless this is a psychological masterclass in sandbagging... 2 years of absolute dirge then we go to France, score 50 tries in the group stages and absolutely hammer SA, NZ and France to win the world cup. Maybe the SRU knows something we don't.

Hopefully there'll at least be some pleasant surprises in the squad and maybe a good result. For me this tour is mostly redemption for sidelined players. I want Bennett to play a key role in centre along with Hutch and one of those two to cement their place over Harris or at least get Toonie to believe they can deserve more than 5 minutes and can also defend. Shug might have to be a utility option but should definitely be up there too. If Smith can get a couple of cracks at fullback that should get us started nicely looking at Hoggs succession.

Forwards we really need to find a tighthead who can do the business when fagerson is injured or is conceding a penalty every breakdown. Who is the answer there? Any thoughts??

If we can hold Nel together with deep heat and tape then he could give us 15 minutes off the bench at the next WC. Berghan and McCallum the next cabs off the rank I guess...?

Tell you what, Luke Crosbie has timed his return from injury well having had a barnstorming last month for Edinburgh. The fact that Blair brought him straight back into the starting XV says everything.

He's exactly what you want in a modern back row - athletic, powerful and a good ball player. His height makes him a lineout option too. He's a big carrying option too which we can always do with.

He should tour!

RDW wrote:Tell you what, Luke Crosbie has timed his return from injury well having had a barnstorming last month for Edinburgh. The fact that Blair brought him straight back into the starting XV says everything.

He's exactly what you want in a modern back row - athletic, powerful and a good ball player. His height makes him a lineout option too. He's a big carrying option too which we can always do with.

He should tour!

He played really well in SA I thought, maybe the pick of the Edinburgh forwards. Now thst they have decided he is a 6 not a 7 he will do a lot better.

Finn Smith is rubbish...

https://twitter.com/willrobertsport/status/1533407154253836288?t=GpTaKZ1h23muWAM-tdQ1Yw&s=19

RDW wrote:Finn Smith is rubbish...

https://twitter.com/willrobertsport/status/1533407154253836288?t=GpTaKZ1h23muWAM-tdQ1Yw&s=19

He's very raw (perfectly acceptable for someone just turned 20) but he's got the potential to be an absolute world beater. I'd expect him to have a substantial highlights reel at the end of next season. His game management is good for a young flyhalf as well, just need him to opt for England...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2022/06/07/scotland-plan-raid-england-under-20-fly-half-fin-smith/

A wee hint at the "surprise" in tomorrow squad ?

Roebuck and Chapman have been playing well for their clubs and don't seem to be interesting the England selectors who have an abundance of riches in those positions.

Finn Smith would be quite a coup if he was to choose Scotland. As the article says, he has strong links to us via his grandfather and England don't seem to be chasing him to hard either.

Squad announcement is going to be very interesting tomorrow.

Finn Smith would be a result for you guys. Early days, but he could end up being very good.

Squad for summer tour :

Scotland 2022 Summer Tour Squad

Forwards

Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks) - 2 caps

Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) - 22 caps

Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby) - 18 caps

Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) - 5 caps

Andy Christie (Saracens) - 1 cap

Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) - 1 cap

Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) - 21 caps

Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) - 4 caps

Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) - 21 caps

Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) - 47 caps

Grant Gilchrist (Captain) (Edinburgh Rugby) - 53 caps

Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) - 67 caps

Jamie Hodgson (Edinburgh Rugby) - 5 caps

Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh Rugby) - uncapped

Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) - 9 caps

Javan Sebastian (Scarlets) - 1 cap

Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) - 20 caps

Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors) - 18 caps

George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) - 25 caps

Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) - uncapped

Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) - 49 caps

Glen Young (Edinburgh Rugby) - uncapped

Backs

Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby) - 24 caps

Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) - uncapped

Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) - 27 caps

Adam Hastings (Gloucester Rugby) - 26 caps

George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) - 17 caps

Damian Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby) - 4 caps

Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) - 5 caps

Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) - 24 caps

Huw Jones (Harlequins) - 31 caps

Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) - 31 caps

Rufus McLean (Glasgow Warriors) - 2 caps

Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) - 51 caps

Kyle Rowe (London Irish) - uncapped

Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) - uncapped

Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors) - 1 cap

Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) - 5 caps

Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors) - 16 caps

Ben White (London Irish) - 4 caps

Glad Javan has got back into the fold, he has become our number 1 tighthead this season moving ahead of WillGriff John & Samson Lee. Scrummaged really well in the final game of the season against the Stormers.