The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Squidster]

Surely Mr Lineen's position must be under threat unless we avoid ending bottom, i mean, he has no excuses because that is a very good squad of players he has at his disposal this year. Or am I being too harsh lol

Regarding the A team news, I'm happy that Callum Hunter-Hill has finally been named in the squad (pity its under these circumstances ). Hopefully the player is ok, I'm hoping its not Auterac, Hislop, Tuipolotu, Ashman, Henderson or Bayliss that's out as it would be nice to officially capture them, despite some already declaring for us (Ashman, Bayliss and Henderson have already stated to journalists that they are delighted at being picked).

Just hoping that we get to play as strong a team as possible :).

[I like neeps]

Surely Mr Lineen's position must be under threat unless we avoid ending bottom, i mean, he has no excuses because that is a very good squad of players he has at his disposal this year. Or am I being too harsh lol

Regarding the A team news, I'm happy that Callum Hunter-Hill has finally been named in the squad (pity its under these circumstances ). Hopefully the player is ok, I'm hoping its not Auterac, Hislop, Tuipolotu, Ashman, Henderson or Bayliss that's out as it would be nice to officially capture them, despite some already declaring for us (Ashman, Bayliss and Henderson have already stated to journalists that they are delighted at being picked).

Just hoping that we get to play as strong a team as possible :).

I watched the under20s game and Scotland were okay. Aside from Muncaster our guys: Dobie, Brown, Currie, Paterson who have played pro rugby aren't there whereas England had guys like van Portvilet and Fin Smith (who is SQ his dad is apparently a huge Scotland fan) have played prem rugby all season run the show. England are also a level up physically at this level, it is what it is. Wales and Italy are the more interesting games.

Not sure why Saracens bench warmer Hunter-Hill is good for us. May as well have called up Swinson who has been keeping him there.

[KingBlairhorn]

Surely Mr Lineen's position must be under threat unless we avoid ending bottom, i mean, he has no excuses because that is a very good squad of players he has at his disposal this year. Or am I being too harsh lol

Regarding the A team news, I'm happy that Callum Hunter-Hill has finally been named in the squad (pity its under these circumstances ). Hopefully the player is ok, I'm hoping its not Auterac, Hislop, Tuipolotu, Ashman, Henderson or Bayliss that's out as it would be nice to officially capture them, despite some already declaring for us (Ashman, Bayliss and Henderson have already stated to journalists that they are delighted at being picked).

Just hoping that we get to play as strong a team as possible :).

I watched the under20s game and Scotland were okay. Aside from Muncaster our guys: Dobie, Brown, Currie, Paterson who have played pro rugby aren't there whereas England had guys like van Portvilet and Fin Smith (who is SQ his dad is apparently a huge Scotland fan) have played prem rugby all season run the show. England are also a level up physically at this level, it is what it is. Wales and Italy are the more interesting games.

Not sure why Saracens bench warmer Hunter-Hill is good for us. May as well have called up Swinson who has been keeping him there.

Yeh, Fin Smith is actually of Scottish rugby royalty; his grandad is (I think) Ken Smith who was a Scotland cap, Lion, Chairman of the SRU and chairman of the IRB. One to keep an eye on for sure. I’m not totally sure though, as there were three Scottish lions with the surname smith in the 50s; he was one of them!

On the capture point, Auterac and Tuipolotu have neither earned a cap, nor is any other nation currently interested in capping them so I’m not hugely fussed. Hislop has probably earned at least an A cap, but as far as I am aware isn’t eligible for any other nation.

[KingBlairhorn]

Team is out and I’m liking the look of it. Kebble at tight head is interesting-has he got previous experience there?

Looking forward to McLean and Kinghorn on the wings, with Thomson pulling the strings. Great to see Darge start too, the English boys undoubtably won’t know his name, I expect they will by the end of the match.




15. Damien Hoyland (Edinburgh Rugby)

14. Rufus McLean (Glasgow Warriors)
13. Matt Scott (Leicester Tigers) CAPTAIN
12. Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby)

10. Ross Thompson (Glasgow Warriors)
9. Charlie Shiel (Edinburgh Rugby)

1. Nick Auterac (Northampton Saints)
2. Ewan Ashman (Sale Sharks)
3. Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warrriors)
4. Cameron Henderson (Leicester Tigers)
5. Kiran McDonald (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
7. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)
8. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)

Substitutes:

16. Adam McBurney (Ulster Rugby)
17. Robin Hislop (Doncaster Knights)
18. Javan Sebastian (Scarlets)
19. Jamie Hodgson (Edinburgh Rugby)
20. Callum Hunter-Hill (Saracens)
21. Ben Vellacott (Wasps)
22. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors)
23. George Taylor (Edinburgh Rugby)

[dkm57]

Really looking forward to these games from the perspective of seeing how the players I'm not familiar with get on. For me the result is almost secondary.

[Jock42]

Thats not a bad looking team. Interesting to note that Toonies 14th choice centre is capt.

[charltom]

Well the captain is playing at home!

[KingBlairhorn]

Irish journalists already preparing their apoplectic statements if Gray is picked over Ryan.

[Big D]

Game on the TV tomorrow?

[KingBlairhorn]

Game on the TV tomorrow?

Channel 4.

Apparently Ryan is injured, it would be great to see JGray go.

[mos_eisely_]

Game on the TV tomorrow?

Channel 4.

Apparently Ryan is injured, it would be great to see JGray go.

In typical Gatland fashion, he's called up Adam Beard

[KingBlairhorn]

Has anyone else heard the A fixture is off due to COVID in the Scotland camp? Another patch of positive tests apparently…?

[I like neeps]

Has anyone else heard the A fixture is off due to COVID in the Scotland camp? Another patch of positive tests apparently…?

Yes confirmed.

[KingBlairhorn]

Grumble grumble. Guess I’ll have to cut the hedge, my wife’s suggestion, instead.

[charltom]

Has anyone else heard the A fixture is off due to COVID in the Scotland camp? Another patch of positive tests apparently…?

Yeah. Annoying. We were getting ready to go to that as we only live an hour down the road. Would have been my 3 year old daughter's and 18 month old son's first match. Grrrrr.

[ASMO]

Irish journalists already preparing their apoplectic statements if Gray is picked over Ryan.

Bet they are incandecant now then, if i was Gray and i got asked to be an injury standby i would tell Gatland to fuck off.

[Slick]

Has anyone else heard the A fixture is off due to COVID in the Scotland camp? Another patch of positive tests apparently…?

Yeah. Annoying. We were getting ready to go to that as we only live an hour down the road. Would have been my 3 year old daughter's and 18 month old son's first match. Grrrrr.

Ahh mate!

[KingBlairhorn]

Irish journalists already preparing their apoplectic statements if Gray is picked over Ryan.

Bet they are incandecant now then, if i was Gray and i got asked to be an injury standby i would tell Gatland to fuck off.

To be fair, the squad is running a bit low on line out jumpers and Jonny is much better as a lifter I think (thankfully Kevin doesn’t post on this forum or I’m sure he would be able to dismantle that statement given it’s based on nothing but my own hazy memory).

Richie must have been there or thereabouts if Navidi is getting picked too. Thanks here will be more injuries before the tests so I definitely wouldn’t be cutting off my nose to spite my face.

[Big D]

Richie must have been there or thereabouts if Navidi is getting picked too. Thanks here will be more injuries before the tests so I definitely wouldn’t be cutting off my nose to spite my face.

If they are thinking about using Bierne more as a second row and given how rotten Faletau was yesterday bringing in someone who can play right across the backrow makes some sense.

[SaintK]

Well that's a bit of bugger
Thought I was recording the England A v Scotland A match only to find it has been cancelled due to more positive Covid tests in the Scottish camp

[KingBlairhorn]

Richie must have been there or thereabouts if Navidi is getting picked too. Thanks here will be more injuries before the tests so I definitely wouldn’t be cutting off my nose to spite my face.

If they are thinking about using Bierne more as a second row and given how rotten Faletau was yesterday bringing in someone who can play right across the backrow makes some sense.

I agree with you in principle, but Murray was rotten too and he’s just been named captain!

[Big D]

Richie must have been there or thereabouts if Navidi is getting picked too. Thanks here will be more injuries before the tests so I definitely wouldn’t be cutting off my nose to spite my face.

If they are thinking about using Bierne more as a second row and given how rotten Faletau was yesterday bringing in someone who can play right across the backrow makes some sense.

I agree with you in principle, but Murray was rotten too and he’s just been named captain!

Squad captain. Warburton was dropped for test 1 last time. And Murray didn't take over from AWJ yesterday.

At a guess (which is all we have) it looks like they (all coaches would have had a say) have went with the senior player who had been involved from day one of the tour. The obvious candidates; Farrell and Hogg have only either just joined the squad or join today.

[Biffer]

If they are thinking about using Bierne more as a second row and given how rotten Faletau was yesterday bringing in someone who can play right across the backrow makes some sense.

I agree with you in principle, but Murray was rotten too and he’s just been named captain!

Squad captain. Warburton was dropped for test 1 last time. And Murray didn't take over from AWJ yesterday.

At a guess (which is all we have) it looks like they (all coaches would have had a say) have went with the senior player who had been involved from day one of the tour. The obvious candidates; Farrell and Hogg have only either just joined the squad or join today.

I think Ken Owens will end up as match day captain.

[Begbie]

If the rumours on social media are true, Huw Jones is off to Harlequins.

[SaintK]

If the rumours on social media are true, Huw Jones is off to Harlequins.

Rugby Pass confirming it
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/harleq ... w-jones/
Won't see much game time if Marchant, Esterhuizen and Northcote stay fit and on current form though it does give them more depth

[I like neeps]

If the rumours on social media are true, Huw Jones is off to Harlequins.

Rugby Pass confirming it
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/harleq ... w-jones/
Won't see much game time if Marchant, Esterhuizen and Northcote stay fit and on current form though it does give them more depth

He's played 15 for Glasgow all season, could be competing with Green.

Also has Marchant played a bit on the wing? Marchant is all class having him and Huw Jones competing and playing together would be exciting.

[SaintK]

If the rumours on social media are true, Huw Jones is off to Harlequins.

Rugby Pass confirming it
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/harleq ... w-jones/
Won't see much game time if Marchant, Esterhuizen and Northcote stay fit and on current form though it does give them more depth

He's played 15 for Glasgow all season, could be competing with Green.

Also has Marchant played a bit on the wing? Marchant is all class having him and Huw Jones competing and playing together would be exciting.

Didn't know that Jones has been at 15 this season.
Could be good as Im not sure Tyrone Green is really a full back as well as he's been playing and is more a natural winger.

[sockwithaticket]

If the rumours on social media are true, Huw Jones is off to Harlequins.

Rugby Pass confirming it
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/harleq ... w-jones/
Won't see much game time if Marchant, Esterhuizen and Northcote stay fit and on current form though it does give them more depth

He's played 15 for Glasgow all season, could be competing with Green.

Also has Marchant played a bit on the wing? Marchant is all class having him and Huw Jones competing and playing together would be exciting.

Marchant has been deployed on the wing and Quins have taken to having him shift there when bringing Northmore off the bench. Eddie also seems to have been considering Marchant for wing, so he might want to switch a bit more in Quins colours and that would open up centre for Jones.

[KingBlairhorn]

Ooft, that move will only go two ways. Either he absolutely lights it up or he sinks without a trace. You would hope a team of Quins’ quality would be able to support a maverick like Jones more readily than Bayonne would have.

[JM2K6]

Sounds like it would've been a fairly cheap signing given the drama with Bayonne, so not a bad bit of business. He's an upgrade on what James Lang would've been offering as a utility back.

Marchant's a 13/wing these days and yeah, Northmore has also been excellent. Green will be joined by Nick David as a fullback option next season and he's been tearing it up for Worcs, so there's no obvious spot where Jones is going to get regular games, but he'll likely be a good bench option.

[KingBlairhorn]

Sounds like it would've been a fairly cheap signing given the drama with Bayonne, so not a bad bit of business. He's an upgrade on what James Lang would've been offering as a utility back.

Marchant's a 13/wing these days and yeah, Northmore has also been excellent. Green will be joined by Nick David as a fullback option next season and he's been tearing it up for Worcs, so there's no obvious spot where Jones is going to get regular games, but he'll likely be a good bench option.

At his best Jones was a top international centre. His best was quite a few years ago now though. If he could refind that form I’d wager he could force himself into the starting lineup. Unfortunately I’m not convinced he will.

[JM2K6]

Sounds like it would've been a fairly cheap signing given the drama with Bayonne, so not a bad bit of business. He's an upgrade on what James Lang would've been offering as a utility back.

Marchant's a 13/wing these days and yeah, Northmore has also been excellent. Green will be joined by Nick David as a fullback option next season and he's been tearing it up for Worcs, so there's no obvious spot where Jones is going to get regular games, but he'll likely be a good bench option.

At his best Jones was a top international centre. His best was quite a few years ago now though. If he could refind that form I’d wager he could force himself into the starting lineup. Unfortunately I’m not convinced he will.

Yeah, absolutely - but even if he doesn't he's still a good and flexible squad player.

[Slick]

Sounds like it would've been a fairly cheap signing given the drama with Bayonne, so not a bad bit of business. He's an upgrade on what James Lang would've been offering as a utility back.

Marchant's a 13/wing these days and yeah, Northmore has also been excellent. Green will be joined by Nick David as a fullback option next season and he's been tearing it up for Worcs, so there's no obvious spot where Jones is going to get regular games, but he'll likely be a good bench option.

At his best Jones was a top international centre. His best was quite a few years ago now though. If he could refind that form I’d wager he could force himself into the starting lineup. Unfortunately I’m not convinced he will.

Yeah, absolutely - but even if he doesn't he's still a good and flexible squad player.

I’m quite happy to say that Jones at his best is absolutely world class. Real world class, not Johnny May world class

I think he needs a move like this to challenge himself, he is not a comfort zone player. Honestly, I think he will tear it up and you have a brilliant signing

[Slick]

On another note, for the Scottish posters as this is as good a thread as any, I’m up with the family round the Kyle of Lochalsh… my god, it has been 22 degrees and blue sky the last couple of days. I’ve done a lot of travelling and I have never been anywhere as beautiful as this, just incredible

[Soapy]

On another note, for the Scottish posters as this is as good a thread as any, I’m up with the family round the Kyle of Lochalsh… my god, it has been 22 degrees and blue sky the last couple of days. I’ve done a lot of travelling and I have never been anywhere as beautiful as this, just incredible

Yep, it is tremendous. The rain and midges can get in the way of the beauty for chunks of the year ...

Glad you've lucked out with the weather and enjoying the hol.

[KingBlairhorn]

On another note, for the Scottish posters as this is as good a thread as any, I’m up with the family round the Kyle of Lochalsh… my god, it has been 22 degrees and blue sky the last couple of days. I’ve done a lot of travelling and I have never been anywhere as beautiful as this, just incredible

Lucky bugger. Edinburgh was forecast great weather yesterday and today. Yesterday was a pea souper all day (at least where I am) and today has started the same.

[SaintK]

At his best Jones was a top international centre. His best was quite a few years ago now though. If he could refind that form I’d wager he could force himself into the starting lineup. Unfortunately I’m not convinced he will.

Yeah, absolutely - but even if he doesn't he's still a good and flexible squad player.

I’m quite happy to say that Jones at his best is absolutely world class. Real world class, not Johnny May world class

I think he needs a move like this to challenge himself, he is not a comfort zone player. Honestly, I think he will tear it up and you have a brilliant signing

Really?
So why isn't he in the Lions squad and where's he been the past couple of years?

[vball]

Inverness is lovely and bright. No midges here either.
And we have a castle and a bridge too ... not very good ones, but we do.

[westport]

Are the Romania and Georgia games, if they go ahead, being shown on telly?

[S/Lt_Phillips]

On another note, for the Scottish posters as this is as good a thread as any, I’m up with the family round the Kyle of Lochalsh… my god, it has been 22 degrees and blue sky the last couple of days. I’ve done a lot of travelling and I have never been anywhere as beautiful as this, just incredible

You picked the right week! I was up on Skye last week, and the weather was a bit mixed (i.e. normal for Skye). Managed to get up Bla Bheinn on Monday, but abandoned the attempt at Bruach na Frithe (Friday) as the cloud wouldn't lift, despite the forecast. Still a beautiful part of the world.