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kiwififer

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FFS. Pete Horne over Hutchinson and Jones. I'd much rather have taken a chance on the young lad or even the player who has the higher potential than a guy who is a great club rugby player but not quite up to the international standard we want to be achieving now. Mediocrity in multiple positions isn't what we should be after. If that's the case where's Rob Harley? 

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Watching it on mute in work and it looks like a badly organised school prize-giving. Nobody has really thought about how long it takes to read everything out, and for each person to make their way onto the stage.

The wee kids who are already up there are getting restless, mucking about and occasionally one or two of them clap as the next guy wanders up awkwardly.

Edited by Jaggy Snake
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Watching it on mute in work and it looks like a badly organised school prize-giving night. Nobody has really thought about how long it takes to read everything out, and for each person to make their way onto the stage.

The wee kids who are already up there are getting restless, mucking about and occasionally one of two of them clap as the next guy wanders up awkwardly.

 

I’m reminded of the Scotland World Cup 98, with a song about coming home featuring Colin Hendry trying to replicate Ronaldinho by kicking a football around Glasgow airport. It was a portent of things to come.

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24 minutes ago, Savage Henry said:

 


I’m reminded of the Scotland World Cup 96, with a song about coming home featuring Colin Hendry trying to replicate Ronaldinho by kicking a football around Glasgow airport. It was a portent of things to come.

 

There's a lot going on here. 

Edited by Detournement
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No surprises after the leak then.

I would have taken Bhatti over Reid just due to age and impact off the bench. Reid is the safe option in the scrum but Bhatti has done well against the Leinster/Ireland front row for Glasgow. I'd have taken Stewart over Turner for superior scrummaging and throwing and the fact that Turner is prone to huge brain farts.

In the centres Peter Horne is a very lucky man. He sold two tries in the game vs France but still makes it while Hutchinson and Jones miss out despite Hutchinson doing brilliantly and Jones being quiet but solid compared to Horne. Harris is obviously in for his defensive abilities. Duncan Taylor will surely play this weekend and we'll see more of whatever Townsend has seen to decide he is back on form.

I'm worried Blade Thompson is going to be Cornell Du Preez II. Taking a journeyman Kiwi with concussion issues over Bradbury or Fagerson leaves a bit of a bad taste.

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When Huw Jones was dragging England defenders over the try line 18 months ago you would never have thought he wouldn't make the world cup squad, but his form has fallen off a cliff this year. Horne gets the pick because he can play in a few positions imo, thought Hutchison might have done enough at the weekend to make it in.

At least for a change we are debating about guys who didn't get picked, been plenty world cup squad where we were struggling to fill 31 places with decent quality.

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I think Jones has been hard done by. It's less than 12 months since his stormer against the Boks.

He has had bad luck with injuries and hasn't been able to build any momentum with Glasgow. He got injured for Glasgow in April 2018 at Ulster. Came back for a couple of games then went with Scotland for the AIs and does well. He came back and scores against Lyon over there then starts the home game in horrific weather and doesn't get a pass. After that he gets injured again then comes back for Scotland then gets injured again. After that it's a couple of sub appearances for Glasgow, one start for Scotland in Nice where the pack got smashed and 30 minutes on Saturday which seemed to be mostly box kicks, scrum resets and TMO reviews.

He certainly hasn't shown any form since the AIs due to lack of game time but that doesn't seem to count against Thompson or Taylor. Given that Hutchinson couldn't have done any more in Georgia we can assume that he wasn't going before that game. Not giving Huw Jones a run out with Finn Russell in those circumstances makes it look like Townsend didn't want to take him which is disappointing considering how much he has contributed.

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It was always going to be the case that some big names were going to miss out in the centres and the back row. It does seem a bit strange that Thompson and Taylor can go having played no rugby in the last year, but Jones can't. It also seems to me that Fagerson, Bradbury, Jones and Hutcheson from back row and 13 all offer line breaks and yards in attack, something we look a little lacking in all of a sudden.

Suppose it's Townsends neck on the line here, and he's made some bold calls, but if things don't go well you know the selection of Harris, Horne and Thompson are the three that are going to be thrown back in his face, regardless of how they play.

Anyway, I'd guess the starting line up against Ireland will be-

Dell, McInally, Nell, Gilchrist, Gray, Barclay, Watson, Wilson

Laidlaw, Russell, Maitland, Johnson, Taylor, Seymour, Hogg

That's about as good a Scotland XV as we've had since the 90s, and the only really irreplaceable player is Russell. 

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3 hours ago, Detournement said:

Anyway more importantly we now know who Glasgow will have available to absolutely scud the Pro14 mugs.

Kebble, Stewart, Rae, Davidson, Swinson, Harley, Gibbins, Fagerson, Frisbee, Thomson, Jones, McDowall, Jones, Steyn, Jackson.

5 points thank you.

Expect to see Jamie Dobie get a lot of game time at 9.

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There have been plenty of Glasgow games that Huw Jones hasn't played in but he's rarely been on the injuries list. He was never likely to go with so little game time.

Hutchison is unlucky. Townsend obviously likes Pete Horne and Harris did enough, and is a little different to the others.

Blade Thomson is very fortunate, but with injuries there's still a chance Bradbury or Matt Fagerson could be called upon.

Edited by Jaggy Snake
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EDn1P1AXUAAh1ao.jpg:large

That's an exciting looking team. Johnson and Taylor has massive potential if Taylor is really 100% again. I expect a big performance from Zander as well, he's been waiting a while for some decent game time.

Hastings hasn't been great so far but he's flown under the radar due to no one competing for his spot. Hopefully he shows some progress on Friday.

Edited by Detournement
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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!

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5 hours ago, honestly united said:

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!

I know what you mean, but Brown is miles better than Turner or Stewart. It's worth the risk.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49588651

Nice interview with Ryan Wilson, showing the human side of these guys as they wait on the call. IMO Bradbury and Matt Fagerson are more skilful players and better athletes, but Wilson more than makes up for it in attitude, decision making and shithousery. I think we're a bit too nice as a team, and that's partly why we start games and tournaments slowly - it takes them a while to get fired up. Jonny Gray is the kind of guy you'd like your daughter to bring home. Wilson's desire to beat the opposition just to watch them cry is infectious and I think we're better with him in the team, and definitely in the squad.

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