Looking ahead to the RWC squad

[Big D]

The discussion about the back row on the scots abroad thread got me thinking ahead to the RWC and what the squad of 31 may look like.

Assume only Taylor is out (he should be fit but let's assume not).

Using same split as last time.

Hookers (3): Rambo, Brown, Turner
Prop (5): Nel, Fagerson, Dell, Bhatti/Allan/Marfo*, McCallum
* think LH selection may be a toss up.
2nd row (4): Gray, Gray, Gilchrist , Carmichael*
* Carmichael can cover back row too.
Back Row (5): Watson, Barclay, Wilson, Thomson, Bradbury

Scrum Half (3): Laidlaw, Horne, Price*
3rd nine could lead to a surprise choice. Maybe a Christie or Vellacott.
10 (2): Russell, Hastings
Centre (4): Horne, Dunbar, Jones,
Wing/FB (5): Hogg, Kinghorn, Seymour, Maitland, McGuigan

[Cameo]

Not too much wrong with that except:

Prop: Think you meant Nel for one of your Del's and you missed Berghan. At the moment my selection would be Nel, Fagerson, Berghan, Dell and Bhatti/Sutherland

Last two backrow spots are up for grabs. Assuming Thompson is good could be a fight between Ashe, Bradbury and maybe Fagerson or Ritchie (looking v good although a different type)

I think Price is fairly sure of a spot

Think you missed a centre. I'm hoping Scott.

Room for someone to overtake Mcguigan

[Cameo]

Oh, forgot about Denton too though wouldnt personally pick him unless he shows something

[Big D]

Not too much wrong with that except:

Prop: Think you meant Nel for one of your Del's and you missed Berghan. At the moment my selection would be Nel, Fagerson, Berghan, Dell and Bhatti/Sutherland

Last two backrow spots are up for grabs. Assuming Thompson is good could be a fight between Ashe, Bradbury and maybe Fagerson or Ritchie (looking v good although a different type)

I think Price is fairly sure of a spot

Think you missed a centre. I'm hoping Scott.

Room for someone to overtake Mcguigan

I stuck with the same split of the last squad as initially named. So same number of centres.

Didn't miss Berghan. With likely only 5 spots for Props I'd take McCallum who can play both sides. I'd ensure Berghan was on holiday in Japan though. He's lost a chunk of weight but hasn't started the season well.

[ARM]

Pretty bad looking injury list already at this stage of the season with Taylor, Bennett with season-enders, Fagerson our for months and Hogg missing the AIs. Bennett may have struggled to make the plane in any event but you’d think Hogg and Fagerson will go and Taylor would have done if fit.

Still, could mean Hogg and Fagerson head into the second half of the season pretty fresh.

Decent enough squad. Bit early to be calling for Thomson in the BR. Perhaps Ashe will stay fit and have a storming season for once.

[Cameo]

Not too much wrong with that except:

Prop: Think you meant Nel for one of your Del's and you missed Berghan. At the moment my selection would be Nel, Fagerson, Berghan, Dell and Bhatti/Sutherland

Last two backrow spots are up for grabs. Assuming Thompson is good could be a fight between Ashe, Bradbury and maybe Fagerson or Ritchie (looking v good although a different type)

I think Price is fairly sure of a spot

Think you missed a centre. I'm hoping Scott.

Room for someone to overtake Mcguigan

I stuck with the same split of the last squad as initially named. So same number of centres.

Didn't miss Berghan. With likely only 5 spots for Props I'd take McCallum who can play both sides. I'd ensure Berghan was on holiday in Japan though. He's lost a chunk of weight but hasn't started the season well.

On centres you said "centres (4)" then listed 3 I think. Fair on Berghan, I just think he's quite good but yes would probs want to see if he (or someone else) could play both sides.

Realistically Townsend will surprise us all though!

[switchskier]

I'm hoping that Taylor dies get for, is nice and great and allows us to take an extra centre with one less winger, probably mcguigan.

Too much to hope that Graham gets fit and makes the leap but, whilst he's in pole position, I think that maitlands spot isn't certain.

[Big D]

Not too much wrong with that except:

Prop: Think you meant Nel for one of your Del's and you missed Berghan. At the moment my selection would be Nel, Fagerson, Berghan, Dell and Bhatti/Sutherland

Last two backrow spots are up for grabs. Assuming Thompson is good could be a fight between Ashe, Bradbury and maybe Fagerson or Ritchie (looking v good although a different type)

I think Price is fairly sure of a spot

Think you missed a centre. I'm hoping Scott.

Room for someone to overtake Mcguigan

I stuck with the same split of the last squad as initially named. So same number of centres.

Didn't miss Berghan. With likely only 5 spots for Props I'd take McCallum who can play both sides. I'd ensure Berghan was on holiday in Japan though. He's lost a chunk of weight but hasn't started the season well.

On centres you said "centres (4)" then listed 3 I think. Fair on Berghan, I just think he's quite good but yes would probs want to see if he (or someone else) could play both sides.

Realistically Townsend will surprise us all though!

Sorry hadn't noticed that

Could be anyone of Scott/Johnson/one of the crocks.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm hoping that Taylor dies get for, is nice and great and allows us to take an extra centre

Excuse me, what?

[switchskier]

I'm hoping that Taylor dies get for, is nice and great and allows us to take an extra centre

Excuse me, what?

I think that it was meant to be "I'm hoping that Taylor does get fit. His ability to cover wing allows us to take an extra centre"

[hugh_woatmeigh]

LH is a real weak position for us. I really hoped that Dicko would be able to end his career after the RWC. We have depth, it just isn't that good. Sutherland has the best short term potential of the bunch though.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

It's also worth noting that Thomson can also cover lock.

[Big D]

I'd be shocked if Thomson isn't in the AI squad.

He shouldn't be considered as a 2nd row option though except if 2 go down in a game. All WC games will be very physical* and him playing there would remove him from what he is good at or if he does that, leave the tight 5 short.

Except maybe Japan but we should be playing a 1st XV in that game.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. I'd say the depth at lock is better than at 6/8 at the moment with Barclay out (and CdP if you'd consider him) and other options either unproven or proven to be very inconsistent.

I'm assuming literally everyone would take the Grays and Toolis/GG if fit?

Watson is literally the only cert for me in the backrow. I wonder at what point in the queue Thomson will jump in.

Barclay, Bradbury, Ritchie, Carmichael (has he featured at all this season? Is he injured?) Crosbie, Hamilton (5 options at 6 from Edinburgh seems ridiculous) Wilson, Denton, Strauss, CdP, Thomson is a whole lot of players to sieve through. Or am I mad thinking that GT even wants an upgrade on Wilson?

No idea what to expect at loosehead. Marfo's performance was great but I have no idea when he'll be fit or if he can ever back it up.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I'd be shocked if Thomson isn't in the AI squad.

He shouldn't be considered as a 2nd row option though except if 2 go down in a game. All WC games will be very physical* and him playing there would remove him from what he is good at or if he does that, leave the tight 5 short.

Except maybe Japan but we should be playing a 1st XV in that game.

I just meant you can take more pure locks in a RWC squad if you have Thomson in the back row and not have to faff around with Harley or Carmichael cause they cover two. Although you could argue Carmichael will get there on performance alone so it could be a moot point.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh god, yeah, taking Harley for his “versatility” would be pretty underwhelming.