Rugby Union

[TheScarf]

My Scottish rugby knowledge is limited, what is Scotland's strongest backs lineup?

Laidlaw, Russell,  H.Jones, Johnson, Seymour, Maitland, Hogg?

[Mark Connolly]

9 minutes ago, TheScarf said:

My Scottish rugby knowledge is limited, what is Scotland's strongest backs lineup?

Laidlaw, Russell,  H.Jones, Johnson, Seymour, Maitland, Hogg?

If Jones and Taylor are both fit, then either/or. The rest is probably right though - Darcy Graham is great, but Hogg, Maitland and Seymour are individually class, and work brilliantly as a unit. Finn has to start in the big games, and Laidlaw is probably needed for leadership and goalkicking as much as anything else. Horne or Price coming off the bench is a better option than starting one of them with Laidlaw on the bench. And Sam Johnson has been absolutely outstanding.

[TheScarf]

9 minutes ago, Mark Connolly said:

If Jones and Taylor are both fit, then either/or. The rest is probably right though - Darcy Graham is great, but Hogg, Maitland and Seymour are individually class, and work brilliantly as a unit. Finn has to start in the big games, and Laidlaw is probably needed for leadership and goalkicking as much as anything else. Horne or Price coming off the bench is a better option than starting one of them with Laidlaw on the bench. And Sam Johnson has been absolutely outstanding.

He thoroughly enjoys a free 30 metre run in under the posts IMO.  

Edit, as does big Huw Jones.

Edited August 30, 2019 by TheScarf

[Savage Henry]

Gilchrist is definitely going and Toolis probably sealed a place when Skinner got injured. I don't see us going with less than 4 locks.
Huw Jones will be going. Berghan is being trained as the switching prop so he is surely going. Bhatti needs strong showings in the final two games. I'd take him over Reid. 

Agree on all of that.

I’d say Kinghorn will go in the backs, pretty much assuredly.

I’d guess Taylor might be struggling, judging by his relative lack of playing time, and I’d say it’s either him or Hutchinson as the wild card centre. Harris looks like he’s played himself in. That Jones can play 12 or 13 is in his favour. He’s a certainty.

It’s really the front and back row that’s the most open at this point.

The only player in that squad I’d definitely rule out is McGuigan, as well as probably Bradbury, purely on the lack of playing time.

God knows about Strauss. I guess it’s him or Thompson.

[come on shire]

2 hours ago, honestly united said:

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 

I think in hindsight "experimental" was the wrong word.  I think though Toony can afford to rest the likes of Jones and Hogg without worrying about Seymour's injury as our backs should still have too much (hopefully) for the Georgian backs IF we perform.  Johnson's still relatively new to the Scotland set-up (due to injury in the past) as is Hutchinson.  Kinghorn and D'Arcy Graham are starting to be established but still second to Seymour and Hogg just now imo.

After all it's the Georgian forwards who'll provide the force of the opposition. 

[Detournement]

Realistically the remaining choices are Bhatti Vs Reid. Turner Vs Stewart. Thompson Vs Fagerson Vs Bradbury for one place. Harris Vs Horne Vs Hutchinson for two places.

I thought Kinghorn might struggle to get in but every other country is taking five or six back three players.

[Mark Connolly]

I think most folk would have liked to see Nel wrapped in cotton wool until the Ireland game, but we need him to make sure the scrum is solid. 

The Georgians have taken over from the Argentineans as the country who see scrummaging as a national sport.

[Savage Henry]

I think most folk would have liked to see Nel wrapped in cotton wool until the Ireland game, but we need him to make sure the scrum is solid. 
The Georgians have taken over from the Argentineans as the country who see scrummaging as a national sport.

I seem to recall that England flew the Georgian team in to practice against before a Calcutta Cup game. We kicked their sorry arses all over the pitch.

To wit: Georgia - a great bunch of lads.

[honestly united]

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

[Detournement]

I think Taylor is out of the picture. The squad is named on Tuesday and he will only have played 55 minutes in two years. 

 

[frankthetank22]

Does anyone know of any streams were i can watch this Georgia game? Premier sports are wanting too much.

[Mark Connolly]

That might be the worst rendition of Flower of Scotland ever

[Mark Connolly]

Great try by Scotland

[Mark Connolly]

And another. Great for Hutchinson

[Detournement]

Hutchinson could be the man to bring the best out of Hogg.

The scrum is getting muellered.

[Detournement]

40 minutes ago, frankthetank22 said:

Does anyone know of any streams were i can watch this Georgia game? Premier sports are wanting too much.

Georgia rugby official Facebook has a stream.

[Mark Connolly]

6 minutes ago, Detournement said:

Hutchinson could be the man to bring the best out of Hogg.

The scrum is getting muellered.

The scrum doesn't bother me that much, most teams would struggle against their scrum.

It's the fact that the lineout is still a disaster that is the real concern.

ETA: "Struggle" is probably a bit far, find it difficult would be better.

Edited August 31, 2019 by Mark Connolly

[Mark Connolly]

They are pretty much permanently offside in the red zone, he's picking it up but it should probably be more than a penalty now.

[honestly united]

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

[Mark Connolly]

Matt Fagerson has been excellent so far.