honestly united

From what I remember at the time there was some French clubs looking at Townsend. So the SRU decided fast tracking him ws the best way to keep him. Im sure it was so the SRU didnt have to buy him out a contract at a later date as he would have been off otherwise

I mostly agree but with the changes above - i think Gatland will go with Williams, Farrell and Price as the back replacements as covers all bases.

Cockerill was definitely the right coach at the right time, but I think he has taken them as far as he could. Blair is a good shout for taking over. Im hoping the new super 6 set up as well as developing players for the future starts to develop coaches for the future also as with only 2 senior team the options are limited unless you already have your foot in the door in a club in England / France as an ex player

Looking at the team and combinations, you could say that this could be the starting front row, back row, and outside backs

Updated for new seasons league & League Cup group matches Motherwell 1999/00 Celtic 2001/02 Lochee United 2008/09 Devronvale 2009/10 Sunnybank 2010/11 Clachnacludin 2012/13 Stirling Albion 2014/15 Peterhead 2015/16 Cowdenbeath 2015/16 Brechin 2015/16 Aberdeen 2016/17 Airdrie 2017/18 East Fife 2017/18 Forfar Athletic 2017/18 Dumbarton 2017/18 East Stirlingshire 2017/18 Banks of Dee 2017/18 Montrose 2017/18 Hibernian 2017/18 Stenhousemuir 2018/19 Rangers 2018/19 Beith 2018/19 Auchinleck Talbot 2018/19 Berwick Rangers 2019/20 Wrexham 2019/20 Ross County 2019/20 Alloa Athletic 2020/21 Hearts 2020/21 Stranraer 2020/21 Annan Athletic 2020/21 Livingston 2020/21 Clyde 2020/21 Dunfermline 2021/22 Albion Rovers 2021/22 Falkirk 2021/22 Kilmarnock 2021/22 Edinburgh City 2021/22 St.Mirren 2021/22 Dundee Utd 2021/22 QoS 2022/23 Morton 2022/23 Arbroath 2022/23 Raith Rovers 2022/23 Hamilton 2022/23 Inverness CT 2022/23 Partick Thistle 2022/23 St.Johnstone 2022/23 Elgin City 2022/23 Annan Athletic 2022/23 Dundee 2022/23 Queens Park 2022/23 Cove Rangers 2022/23 So played everyone outwtih Celtic and Moterwell, in the last 8 years - First game vs Cove Played more than half of all league teams in last 3 seasons, more than 75% in last 4 seasons

I would think Hogg is in the definite starter category, Im still not convinced Watson is, as I can see Gatland going with Beirne at blind side and either Curry or Navidi at open side. Sutherland is in the probable starter range, as is VDM but with Adams, Watson and probably Williams as competition for starting and bench its going to be tough. Harris is in with a shout, as has put in some decent performances but and not seen much of the other centres as of yet. Fagerson I think is at best going to get a spot on the bench. Price might have a better chance as it sounds as if AWJ may be flying out to join up with the squad. If he does return and get into the 15 then that means Gatland can drop Murray. Russell I would have nailed on as on the bench atr a minimum, but the injury might rule him out

Just having a look at the Burnley U23's and they are due to play Rangers on Wednesday and have pencilled in another game on Saturday but no details (says tbc) I am assuming thats against us as we dont have a LC game that day? https://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/content/u23s-to-start-warm-up-at-rangers Also whats the odds of our loan player being Mick Mellon's son?

Im thinking Hogg, Harris, DVDM, Price and Sutherland could all be in line to start the first test

Smith getting the call infront of Sexton and Ford is quite amusing

Biggars pass was forward VDM no chance of getting it

Watson lookng iffy as well so far - Williams at half pace for the try there

Scotland Georgia game called off now as well. Dissapointing as there were a few players we were looking to get capped over the summer - hopefully we dont lose out on any of those. Was also looking forward to seeing how some of the youngster got on stepping up a level.

Lions trying to arrange a re-match against the sharks for Saturday

I've done it from the opposition 22, not my own - wasnt meant though!!

Finn the only back on the bench Looks like Murray, Biggar, Davies, Hogg, Williams, Harris, Beirne and Watson all missing out / close contacts

As well as the players being available for loans at bigger clubs not usually confirmed until August, there is usually more free's at the end of August to look at also. These are usually players that were signed on longer contracts that are told they dont have much chance of getting a game and would be better looking elsewhere - like what happened with Smith when he signed for us. But agreed there doesn't seem to be as many players knocking about looking for clubs - i wonder if thats the players just taking the deals clubs have offered rather than look elsewhere, or clubs offering more deals to current squads?

I'd expect Muirhead to be in at CH rather than maybe Baird, and Chalmers in the middle - still doesnt look much better though. Am i correct in thinking Houston has played centre mid at some point - would he be an option there with McAlister at RWB? Not that it makes for a better team mind...

Had my hopes up with it being bespoke, after last years bespoke away kit set a high bench mark. Comes up short, and just a bit meh. Not bad, just not that great.

Thought Price was excellent, the one thing that Gatland will have noticed is his box kicks were all on the money. Watson was excellent as always, and deserved MOTM. I thought Farrell as has been said was way of the pace, and doesnt suit the fast game, which is strange as the English forwards seem to have taken to it for the most part, dropped to passes, and was at fault for the first try as seemed to have no idea what he was doing at the ruck and just left the blind side open. Harris looked really good, was refreshing when the pundits were talking about starting Finn as the centre partnerships seemed to be Aki, Harris or Henshaw and would Russel be OK kicking.

5 minutes or so he made up in about 15k up the colombier. Its more about how much Pogacar wins by than if he wins now

The one rider I just dont get is Quintana - everyione knows he cant TT, yet he never seems to attack in the mountains to make the time back, except for one stage when he is usually out of contention anyway. The problem is going to be that teams wont take it in turns to attack (as I doubt a bit of behind the scenes strategy between teams is no allowed) is that once someone attacks, all the big guns that can will react not just Pogacar. I am intrigued to see how van der poel goes in the big mountains, as he look good in the summit finish a few days ago - not sure if he has the gas to do it all day though - although today may be a good indication

In other news Edinburgh free up more wages with Sutherland joining Worcester for next season. Not having checked but they may be a bit short on props now with Bhatti, Bergham and now Sutherland all away this summer

It is allso two teams at different points in the age range cycle (Most of the Scottish side is about 18 years old and the Italian side are at the end of the cycle). TBF we should have enough players coming through every year not to be losing this heavily to Italy. Its not like we just didn't have kids born for a year in Scotland. There might be some missing due to being in the A side (havent checked on Smith, Thompson etc), although the Italian player development seems to be miles ahead of ours at the moment - although the got trounced in the 6 nations the majority of that squad were early 20's

From the highlights and his show reel, his link up play and passing looks decent, works hard at closing down defenders and puts himself about abit

You can tell how far Froome is off the pace when he completes the TT over a minute slower than Cavendish - he's over 3 minutes down on the leader at the moment. I would like to think he's either saving everything for a crack at a mountain stage as he's not going to win, but thats way off it.