honestly united

So, when's the pro14 kicking off then.... That was thoroughly disappointing, we started really well good kicks in behind, then first attacking line out we over complicate things (FFS some players had even touched the ball yet) make a mess of the move, we end up back in our own 22 and Ireland score. All the tries were our mistakes, Ireland didn't really look a threat with the ball, we just gave them the opportunity to score time and again. Luckily we have Samoa (by a distance the 3rd best of the islanders, and a shadow of the side of the late nineties) and Russia before we play Japan. I'm hoping for wholesale changes, hopefully guys like fagerson Cummings, Bradbury Ritchie price will inject some pace and go forward ball.

I think I would prefer SA, so win against Ireland is vital, but not by much. Psychologically we have beaten them a few times in the recent past, whereas we have never beaten NZ, and I just think our style of play is suited to playing against SA as at times the are susceptible to a quick style of rugby

Fiji ran out of steam big time in the 2nd half - brilliant first half performance, hopefully they can get a bit more balance and get teh win against Wales. Argentina unlucky, but both sides completely different in each half France looked good first half, and Argentina were pretty poor, but completely turned out round in the 2nd half and looked like they would get the win until the drop goal, and then France looked like they were doing there best to lose it at the end. 2 enjoyable games before the main event of NZ v SA

It would probably be Laidlaw or Hogg - both have played there before - Laidlaw the more likely

What was final score? Think it ended 36-33 ish to Glasgow. Very Glasgow performance in that as soon as we got the ball we scored, then Ulster would get possession and take and age scoring inching down the park. Some good performancies but its hard to read anything into these games as both sides used over 30 players (we used 3 9's during the game) and it was more about getting the new players (and there has been a lot over the 2 games) used to the style of play. Not a bad performance given that a lot of these guys wont have played at pro level before given they are academy players or just come over from the club game. I expect a big difference over in South Africa where I expect it will be the strongest team we can put out.

If anyone is interested Glasgow v Ulster friendly is live here https://www.glasgowwarriors.org/fanzone/glasgow-warriors-v-ulster-live! currently 14-12 up just before half time

France played a lot more Tier 2's up to pro era - as the played the Euro Cup every season, and there was a time that NZ wouldn't play 3 test tours against Scotland so we would only get 1 or 2 games against them and we filled in with Japan / Fiji to make up the trip. But also we have been to US / Canada, Argentina and Pacific a lot more than other countries. However I think the last 4 years we have had a good balance to our tests I did think it was dreadful that New Zealand have played Italy 14 times, yet have played Fiji / Tonga / Samoa combined only 18 and there near neighbours

Shamelessly stolen from the Tier 2 rugby forum, since the last world cup SCotland have a better than 50% record vs other T1 countries, and have actually played more Tier 2 countries than anyone else. Think thats a big improvement on the previous periods where we couldn't buy a win

I thought it was a bizarre decision to have it on a Friday, rather than the Saturday especially as it will be what 9.30 or 10.30 pm kick off in Georgia for the TV. You would have though early saturday would have been better

Gutted for Murdoch I dont think we should rush and sign just anyone, as we do have Kelly, Doc, Kerr and also Bell, Adams and Geggan that could cover - i wonder if we will revert back to 4-4-2 to compensate? However if there is money and someone quality available we should try and get them, given Doc, Adams and Geggan are all injury prone and bound to be out at some point, Kelly is still young and Kerr is getting on a bit so both will probably need a rest at some point - its not urgent but we should be looking at options. Not to be harsh but could we punt Ross back to Aberdeen and look to get someone else on loan?

Eurosport reckoned a mechanical problem, for Pogacar, too. As he lost a good bit of that by the 2nd time check. Im sure Millar commented that he was definetly on hte replacement bike as it didn't have a number on. Pogacar looks to be future grand tour winner, really disappointing if he goes to Ineos though. Also been impressed by Soler who would have had the stage win if he wasn't called back to help Quitana, and put in a solid TT as well

I make it that its only Brown that hasn't played at all, I know there are still a few weeks to go until the first game, but must be a bit of a risk going in with no game time after such a long injury lay off. Johnson and Taylor better rip things up on Friday otherwise there could be a few questions to answer!

1 game before the world cup kicks off, and our first choice centre pairing haven't actually had any been on the pitch at the same time as each other yet. And having either Horne or Harris on the bench are hardly game changers - at least Jones or Hutchinson gives you a try scoring threat coming on

I still hope the leak is wrong and its a completely different squad announced later, but I cant think why Horne is getting selected over Jones and Hutchinson. We have Laidlaw and Hogg to act as 3 or 4th choice 10 in an emergency (Hutchinson can also play 10). I can only think he doesn't want Taylor playing 12 so has picked Horne as back up 12 and Harris back up 13. As he has got rid of Dunbar there isn't much choice there now

I think it shows how far Scottish Rugby has come in the last few years, when you think players like Dunbar, Grey Sr, Grigg, Hardie, Swinson, Cowan, Weir, Pyrgos are not even in the wider training squad, nevermind making the final cut. I was thinking a few days ago that Rory Hughes looked a decent find when he broke through, but seems to have been hampered by injury, but not that long ago he would have been a big deal, no he's just lost in the noise. On another note Im quite dissapointed for Georgia - I had hoped for a better performance to put further pressure on the 6 Nations to either expand or look at a 2 tier structure (ie incorporate the Nations Cup as a 2nd Div) but a scoreline like that doesn't help them. They remind me in a way of the Scotland of Dan Parks / Chris Paterson era where our forwards could compete with everyone else, but our backs were hopeless so we never scored any tries against decent oposition. Georgia obviously have the pack, they have a few good scrum halfs, but their backs just dont cut it the top teams. Having watched a few of the Nations cup games, their backs look good against Spain / Russia / Romania but just cant cut ut against the top teams. That will only come when they start to get more games against the top teams

A lot more comfortable than I was expecting, the pace of our forwards is excellent, we are recycling really quickly which is helping us to pick out the gaps. Also watched France destroy Italy earlier, puts our 2 performances into perspective

I think the 4 at 2nd row are all now gauranteed to be in the squad now that Skinner is injured. Hooker is McInally, then Brown if fit, its between either Turner or Stewart for last spot, if not both go. Prop Dell and Nel I would have as starters, as said above Bergham seems to have had time at both sides so will go. Reid vs Bhatti is interesting, Reid is much better at set piece but Bhatti gives you more about the park and probably fits our style of play better but if you had Reid & Nel proping, as against France your going to get good front foot ball at the scrums, and as we wont be going backwards wont be giving away scrum penalties. Zander gets in as the other tighthead tighthead. You would expect the squad split to be 17 / 14 forwards and backs so that leaves 5 in the backrow. Watson is a certainty as the only out and out openside, so its 4 from Strauss, Barclay, Ritchie, Bradbury, Wilson, Thompson, Fagerson. I would think one of the backrows will be picked to also cover 2nd row which is one of Fagerson & Wilson. I think Barclay goes as can play all 3 was also captain. I think one of Strauss ot Thompson as an old fashioned 8. I would take them all if we could, and wouldn't want to be picking, and could come down to GT picking certain players for certain games. At the moment I think the ones missing out will be Ritchie, Bradbury and 1 of Fagerson / Strauss / Thompson only on we haven't seen Bradbury yet so may not be fit and Ritchie has been out the picture since the 1st French game. the 3 9's and 2 10's both go so your left with 9 players over centre and back 3. Maitland, Hogg and Johnson I would say are definites, as are Seymor and Taylor depending on fitness. so that leaves 4 spots between Jones, Graham (most likely probables) then 2 of Kinghorn, McGuigan, Harris, Horne Sr and Hutchinson

I dont think its experimental at all. For me Johnson is 1st choice 12, at the moment no one has 13 nailed down yet. This time last year Jones owned the shirt, but he's quite out of form at the moment, Harris is solid but unspectacular, Taylor could play there but for me is still to prove his match fitness, and Hutchinson I haven't seen enough of so will be interesting to see what he can do starting. I think its Kinghorn's last chance to impress at Full Back as I would have him as about 5th choice at the moment. To me he looks much better on the wing. Although as McGuigan hasn't been seen in a while he may be ahead of him in the pecking order. Graham is 3rd choice winger for me behind Seymour and Maitland

Was Roche still in Red at the time? Missed the last few days

Im suprised Taylor isn't getting more game time as you would assume he's going to be in the squad. Although thats just maybe because Tom English seems to big him up all the time as he plays for Sarries. Got to see Fagerson getting a run at 8, but the back row is so competitive, I would say only Watson is a definite at this point. Bradbury may have lost his chance being injured. Saying that I would have the following as nailed on definites for the squad Nel, McInally, Grey, Watson, Laidlaw / Price / Horne jr (all 3 SH's will go) Russell & Hastings, Maitland and Hogg so only 20 places and about 30 guys you could make a case for taking. You could have the likes of Jones, Bhatti, Bergham, Toolis, Gilchrist who have pretty much been ever presents in the squad over the last few years missing out on the world cup

The majority of their forward are all playing top14 or D2 in france so are top quality pro players, their backs (outside their their scrum half) are more semi-pro level. We need to play smart, and look to pin them in their own 22 and not give them easy field positions and not get into an arm wrestle. If we can get quick ball and attack wider than we were against france and get forwards running at the 10/12 channel rather than close to rucks and mauls we should win comfortably. If we try and keep it tight and give away possession cheaply it could be a long night

I think he didn't want to miss his club pre-season and first few league games (the league season in France kicked off this weekend) and jeopardise his club contract, to attend the Scotland camp if there was a chance he wouldn't be going to Japan, plus his wife due to give birth he might not have been able to go either. Probably didn't want to leave her alone in France either and be probably as far away as possible on the planet. Skinner missing out is going to have a big impact on the squad balance I think. the mix will probably be 18 forwards 13 backs I had thought the squad would have been 5 props, 3 hookers, 5 2nd rows & 5 back row (Skinner at 2nd row but able to cover back row also) then 3 scrum halfs, 2 Stand offs, 4 centres, 3 wingers and 1 full back (with hastings, maitland and seymour covering FB, and Taylor able to cover wing). I think now your into the realms of still going 5 and 5 2nd and back row, but looking at Brown / Turner / Stewart covering back row from hooker

As much as I agree we don't want injuries we need to make sure everyone is match fit and raring to go for the Ireland game

Next game is going to be an interesting selection - we obviously need to win as dont want to be the first tier 1 team to lose to Georgia, and they are going to be right up for it at home, but its also the last chance for any fringe squad players to make a case for selection. And anyone with an injury to prove they are fit enough to go. I beleive the final 31 is announced after the game. Agreed Taylor needs the full game and i'd maybe start either Hutchinson or Jones outside him, Grey's not had a run yet, both Fagersons have only had 40 minutes so far, we've not seen Bradbury or Johnson, Horne the younger has only had 2 brief cameo's from the bench. I'd start Nel, either Brown (if fit) or McInally just to anchor the scrum a bit. Maybe give Maitland a run at full back to give Hogg a rest and maybe give Graham another run on the wing

It is the new Glasgow tops that have not been officially released yet I thought it was going to be something else that i didnt get, like new kit with old sponsor