honestly united

I always tend to watch all the video's and download the official album to give the songs a listen to before the semi's start (insert kenneth williams gif here), but will probably wait until they are all out As above there are always a fair few that just dont translate from video / recording onto the big stage. From Jana Burchcheska for Macedonia trying to do an up tempo pop song at 7 months pregnant (Dance Alone was a cracking tune in 2017 - didnt get to the final) to quirky comedy song of Who the hell is edgar last year. A lot is either down to the singer being bad live and the video / recording are autotuned or they change the song too much before the final that the live version is so much worse than the original. It goes the other way as well, as the main men of Moldova Zdob zi Zdub were much better live I thought than the video

On my way back from Cardiff and still can't get over the complete collapse in the second half. All the Welsh fans we spoke to before the game and up to half were expecting a hammering. However we were telling them that they were playing Scotland and we are always inventing new ways to lose games. I'm just glad we got the win in the end, but a lot of work needed this week, France will be reeling from there loss and will be wanting to put that right.

I thought Crosbie was more of a open side so not sure why Ritchie is prefered at 7. Also all the press has been about Christie and his 3 MoM performances for Sarries, and doent even get on the bench. I supposed if there was any game you would want to have 2 uncapped props on the bench this is it, but it doesnt fill you with confidence, especially if we get similar next week against France. Hopefully we can get 60 or 70 minutes out of Fagerson and Schoeman, Im sure Fagerson has played full 80 before. I've also just realised we only pick 1 fullback in the entire squad, and given McLean's injured do we even have anyone that plays FB as first choice, not just wingers or centres that can fill in?

I really enjoyed season 1, and was really looking forward to season 2 but it was dreadfull stuff. All the we are the special investigators stuff was cringy at best, and was all lets kill people rather than actually investigating anything, it really was poor.

Given if we were only have to dish out contracts to cover this season, its approx 20 weeks so £10k - £15k per week we have to work with, so you would think the budget is there, its getting the right players in / who's available / wants to come

Im also thinking Sarries having to stick to a salary cap has something to do with it as well!

Just seen that Farrell to Racing has been confirmed, probably thats him finished with England now

His 2 sisters are both internationals 1 plays for England, the other Scotland. He's had 2 stints at Edinburgh and manged a combined 4 apperances, he's hardly played above Championship level, was at Wasps where he manged 9 games over 2 seasons, and this season he's only started twice for Northampton, and come off the bench 13 times. He's 31 and only played about 60/70 games, surely we have someone at Glasgow or Edinburgh more worth of a call up.

He played vs Bath & Edinburgh this month and looked OK

At the moment, Im expecting us to beat Wales and Italy away and lose in Dublin as per. Apart from Sexton Ireland havent lost anyone that makes a difference, a different 10 probably makes them less efficent / accurate, but there pack will still be bossing everyone and will get the 'rub of the green' from the refs The 2 home games are the most interesting that I think could go either way. France at home is usually close, the old adage of France not travelling well, the 2 pre WC games were fairly close, and we've given them a game the last few years so I can see go either way. The England game I've no idea. On the one hand over hte last few years we've had their number, and they have been pretty dreadful for a while and the WC will have lulled them into a false sense of security. However they have also cleared out a lot of dead wood and have a crop of youngsters coming in. They also have a full team of players in France who they arent picking (for example I thought Willis was excellent for Stade against Bath). I think it either clicks and they are challenging, or they are scrapping with Italy and Wales for the wooden spoon. Im thinking it'll finish, could be either in each position 1/2 - Ireland / France 3/4 - Scotland / England 5/6 - Wales / Italy

Townsend needs to work on his excuses, Ritchie dropped as captain as hes been out injured and not guaranteed to be picked to start, so picks Darge as co-captain who is out injured and definitely wont play first 2 weeks. Agreed Ritchie probably rubs refs up the wrong way, but I dont think picking Russell as captain is a good choice, your better leaving him to concentrate on his own game

I thought the Georgian lad was first-ish choice as well?

Once his contract is up, this year i think, he would have to sign for one of the regions to continue playing for Wales until he reaches the cap limit to move out of Wales. He was probably stuck between re-signing for Gloucster / some else in England or France for a decent wage but not playing with Wales and the no doubt abuse he would get for turning his back on Wales, and signing for one of the regions on half at best of what he would get elsewhere. As he's one of the poster boys for Welsh rugby not playing he would have got some backlash. Pretending he's always wanted to play in the NFL is the easy way out, he's still going to get paid a decent amount, he can go away for a year or 2 in the hope that either the cap limit is scrapped, or the regions get more funding / start paying higher salaries or his NFL career takes off and he doesnt have to worry about it.

For all the doom and gloom around Scottish rugby its come to something that we now have more than 3 current lions players, and we are able to not pick 3 in our wider squad nevermind not picking 3 in a match day 15. For me Sutherland is a big miss. I dont know enough on Hepburn or Hurd to comment, Hepburn is a strange one, I can see him being a Graham type pick, cap him and he cant go back to England. I havent seen a lot of him this season Watson missing as well, he looks 3rd choice openside behind Darge and Crosbie, but I would have had him in as cover as Darge misses probably the first 2 games at least. To be fair the squad is for the first 2 games at Wales and home teo France and we will probably get some changes for the other games so always a chance they will come back in

Shocking call from the ref, big sides getting the call again

Shocker from the Exeter full back

I think it will depend on how Farrell wants to play. For example could you imagine a back line of Russell, VDM, Huwipolitu, Graham behind a completely dominant pack? If Farrell wants to win in style (and lets be honest we could send Scotland A over and give Australia a match at the moment) you dont want to be playing dull Gatland-esque rugby you pick Russell. I think he will be looking at a huge series win in style which would be good for the Scotland backs and back row, but will look to ensure a dominant scrum and line out which will favour the Irish / English front 5

We never did sign Mubtumbo did we

The BBC has the SRU / GT interested in Finn Smith (Northampton), Tom Roebuck, Aaron Reed and Gus Warr (Sale) and Jacob Beetham (Cardiff). I suppose it must be cheaper and easier than paying for proper player development in Scotland

You could gut the squad, if you could get someone in now to replace BGM, that knew the scottish game, and was someone that players wanted to play for, you would maybe have an idea of who was coming to the end of their contract at other clubs, was an upgrade on who we currently have, fits the style of play we wanted to implement etc and start speaking to them now about next season we could be in a decent position. They would also have 4/5 months to get to know the squad and if anyone is worth keeping. Rather than wait to the end of the season with everyone knowing Bullen is leaving, the players we have that we want to keep maybe look elsewhere as they dont know who is coming in etc, we are behind everyone else (again) in recruitment and end up with the dregs as usual.

So out of the 12 signed I'd go with maybe 3 starters, 2 back up keepers, maybe another 2 or 3 ok for the bench. If we do leave it to the summer its going to be some rebuild job for somone coming in. Surely if you know he is going in the summer, you would want someone in sooner rather than later to get to know the current squad, who if any you extend for next year etc

Was a great signing for Edinburgh, and probably one of their best players for many years, but right time to let him go. Was probably a cheap option when he came in but would have been looking at a big wage, which will be better spent elsewhere, and Embra have some decent options in the back row now.

I wasnt keen on him when he first came in, but his recent run i've quite liked. He's a not to bothered if he goes as he's good but hardly integral to whats going on. Free's a wage etc

Biggest question from last night was what was Jones wearing? Tracksuit and gloves? He looked like the guy, who was someones footballer mate who occasionaly played on the wing if you were really short but didnt do anything.. Also that is probably the least video ref in a match in some time, did they even have one? I cant remember them going to it all game

tbf was he not injured for the 6N and WC?