whatisthejava wrote:Just because it's possible doesn't mean it will happen. I really don't think we will get close but for 40 mins I think we will be trailing but in it. When we get tired and bring on the subs it will go to shit and we will lose by 20
I reckon we’ll concede a few early, drift aimlessly for the middle part of the game, then when the subs come on after the dreaded Murrayfield wave, it will indeed go to shit.
whatisthejava wrote:Just because it's possible doesn't mean it will happen. I really don't think we will get close but for 40 mins I think we will be trailing but in it. When we get tired and bring on the subs it will go to shit and we will lose by 20
I reckon we’ll concede a few early, drift aimlessly for the middle part of the game, then when the subs come on after the dreaded Murrayfield wave, it will indeed go to shit.
No idea why I’m going really!
Cos it's the all blacks and in the infinitives of realities somewhere somehow Scotland has beaten them.
I was thinking about this. We need to eet realistic expectations across all these games in the AIs.
Marfo was decent enough, but in the context of he's 5th choice then his was good.
Marfo has 1 cap
McInally has 10 caps but 4 starts
ZJRF 13 caps and what 6 starts?
Gray 36caps
Toolis 5caps
65 caps between them with likely Beghan, Bhatti and Turner giving 5 off bench then Swinson with 33. It isn't an experienced or close to 1st choice front row arrangement
Another thing. If the coaches are wanting to play the fastest game in the world then we also need to be the fittest team in the world. That's a big ask as at the very top end of any sport the differences in fitness are minimal.
Big D wrote:Another thing. If the coaches are wanting to play the fastest game in the world then we also need to be the fittest team in the world. That's a big ask as at the very top end of any sport the differences in fitness are minimal.
Im not sure it is , Glasgow appear to be the fittest team in the pro 14 and Edinburgh aint much behind them, i also think considering our ball skills are pretty good and the fact the kiwis ball skills are exellent having a strong front 5 (set peice wise) aint top priority as we could well only scrum 3 - 4 times in the game
I think having good skills and fitness in front 5 is more important against the all blacks, against England or France i would say the opposite
Big D wrote:Another thing. If the coaches are wanting to play the fastest game in the world then we also need to be the fittest team in the world. That's a big ask as at the very top end of any sport the differences in fitness are minimal.
Im not sure it is , Glasgow appear to be the fittest team in the pro 14 and Edinburgh aint much behind them, i also think considering our ball skills are pretty good and the fact the kiwis ball skills are exellent having a strong front 5 (set peice wise) aint top priority as we could well only scrum 3 - 4 times in the game
I think having good skills and fitness in front 5 is more important against the all blacks, against England or France i would say the opposite
My two points aren't related.
It is easy to set expectations about what we expect from all the games (which is what I said) but the reality is we have a very green front row and subs and a second row without a huge amount of experience. You seem to want to turn this into size/set piece v skill when it isn't that at all. All the LHPs that are missing and Brown are all better around the park than alternatives in the squad. The loss of experience and or skills in Dicko and Dells case does make a difference or Brown being a significantly better all round player than Turner makes a difference.
It is still going to be a tough shift because they are being asked to play high tempo and the NZ forwards are relentless. We are asking them to work hard and the ABs will make our tight 5 work around the park. Every ruck will be contested, they have lots of ball so defence will be tested up front.
My second point regards the whole team. If we are going to run France and England etc off their feet and take advantage of it we need to be a lot fitter than them. Being slightly more fit won't be enough.
Luke Hamilton? Christ, we are scraping the barrel here.
He is distinctly average and a complete journeyman. Just like Cowan. I hope we do not waste caps on him when we have talents like Ritchie and Bradbury available.
Whilst Wilson is a key player I think CDP is a massive improvement in terms of what we as a team need. A carrier in the back row. I think Wilson's ideal position is at 6 or on the bench.
McGuigan is an interesting one. I never thought he'd make it after being released by the Weeg but he's quietly gone about his business at Exeter and now Sale gradually progressing from fringes of the 1st XV to one of the most prolific try-scorers this season. He certainly deserves it on merit. And I can understand the selection over Visser and Hoyland. Toony is looking for far more complete players that can fit his game plan. Although it's quite ironic - I believe Toony was head coach at the weeg when they let McGuigan go.
OptimisticJock wrote:Surprised to read he's a prolific try scorer. Never really rated him.
This season only. He has 6 tries to date. Only Jonny May and Rokoduguni have more (7) and both are in the England squad for the Aussie game.
I've only seen McGuigan play once this season. He was very good but I didn't think much of it - even bad/average players can have good games or raise their game once in a while. The call-up and stats would suggest it's been consistent this season.
He also offers better cover than other options. AFAIK he can and has played 11 through to 15.
OptimisticJock wrote:Surprised to read he's a prolific try scorer. Never really rated him.
This season only. He has 6 tries to date. Only Jonny May and Rokoduguni have more (7) and both are in the England squad for the Aussie game.
I've only seen McGuigan play once this season. He was very good but I didn't think much of it - even bad/average players can have good games or raise their game once in a while. The call-up and stats would suggest it's been consistent this season.
He also offers better cover than other options. AFAIK he can and has played 11 through to 15.
He got four of those tries in one game though which makes him a bit of a statistical oddity. Personally I put him in the same box you put Hamilton in, probably not worth the investment. Also would you really want him defending a centre channel against the all blacks? Or indeed playing against the all blacks? For me I'd far rather have had Jackson or Grigg in that slot. I'd even have gone with Kinghorn who has been creative and dangerous for Edinburgh all season long. I have to admit, I just don't get this one.
OptimisticJock wrote:Surprised to read he's a prolific try scorer. Never really rated him.
This season only. He has 6 tries to date. Only Jonny May and Rokoduguni have more (7) and both are in the England squad for the Aussie game.
I've only seen McGuigan play once this season. He was very good but I didn't think much of it - even bad/average players can have good games or raise their game once in a while. The call-up and stats would suggest it's been consistent this season.
He also offers better cover than other options. AFAIK he can and has played 11 through to 15.
He got four of those tries in one game though which makes him a bit of a statistical oddity. Personally I put him in the same box you put Hamilton in, probably not worth the investment. Also would you really want him defending a centre channel against the all blacks? Or indeed playing against the all blacks? For me I'd far rather have had Jackson or Grigg in that slot. I'd even have gone with Kinghorn who has been creative and dangerous for Edinburgh all season long. I have to admit, I just don't get this one.
While your first point may be valid, Those alternatives are not really like for like replacements. Horne covers 10 and 12. Jacko/Kinghorn cover 10/15 and Grigg 12/13. We're in a bit of a weird place wing cover wise with Maitland out and others being deemed unsuitable for the Toony game plan.
