Players for Scotland's future

[Mikey Brown]

Looks like Christmas has come early for you lot. I've added James Lang to this pointless list of names I've created.

Loose-head
Dell (27), Reid (32), Bhatti (26), Allan (28), Sutherland (27), Marfo (28) ---> Kebble (27), Schoeman (25)

Hooker
McInally (29), Brown (30), Turner (27), Stewart (24), Cherry (28), Kerr (23) ---> Ashman (19)

Tight-head
Nel (33), Fagerson (23), Berghan (29), Rae (24), McCallum (24) ---> Nichol (23)

Lock
J Gray (25), Skinner (24), Cummings (22), Gilchrist (29), R Gray (30), Toolis (27), Swinson (32) ---> Hunter-Hill (22), Carmichael (24), Davidson (22)

Backrow
Barclay (32), Bradbury (24), Ritchie (23), Watson (27), Fagerson (21), Thomson (28), Wilson (30), Ashe (26), Strauss (32), Cowan (LOL) ---> Crosbie (22), Smith (23)

Scrum-half
Laidlaw (33), Horne (24), Price (26), Pyrgos (30), SHC (26) ---> Shiel (21), Dobie (18), Steele (26)

Fly-half
Russell (27), Hastings (23), Weir (28), Lang (24) ---> JVDW (25)

Centre
Johnson (26), Horne (29), Taylor (30), Scott (29), Jones (25), Harris (28), Hutchinson (23), Bennett (26), Dunbar (29), Grigg (27) ---> McDowall (21), Taylor (22), Dean (25), Johnstone (29)

Back Three
Hogg (27), Maitland (31), Seymour (31), Kinghorn (22), Graham (22), Hughes (26), Jones (31), Fife (29) ---> VDM (24), Farndale (25)

I see some geezer McDonald from Glasgow is looking at an International call up for the 6N so, any ideas on him @Mikey Brown ?

https://scrummagazine.com/mcdonald-aims ... d-success/.

Afraid not. I think that’s the lock? Seems solid enough but I can’t say it has occurred to me he might go further. As with Switch’s mentions above it’s good to know there are some more promising names to throw in the hat, but I’ve pretty much exhausted my knowledge of any current or promising players.

If anyone more informed wants to add some names then go ahead, these are just the names that jumped out at me for this transition period.

On that note, is there any expectation on when we’d expect to hear anything about a coaching shake up (far more important than tweaks in playing personnel tbh) or player retirements? I guess maybe only once the RWC is over.

[septic 9]

He's not played a huge amount for Glasgow yet so I wouldn't read too much into those comments. Fact is any player getting games at Glasgow or Edinburgh has a reasonable shout at getting called up to a squad at some point.

all so true, never fails to amaze me that some do not seem to get how few players we have. Or seem to want to read more than there is into a player being asked if he would like to play for Scotland.

McDonald has been around Glasgow for a while, academy then moved away for a season or two. Always been ok when he had a chance, but not many. This season with Gray and Cummings away he has been playing with Swinson and Harley as the locks. McDonald has been outstanding, the older 2 less than impressive. McDonald has an excellent line out and been carrying into the running lines Cummings has.

will be tough for him to get in a HC 23 when Gray and Cummings are back, but if Rennie rewards form far from impossible.

[Chunks Baws]

How has Haining been getting on at Edinburgh? Is he worth adding to the backrow stocks?

Du Preez has been playing well for Worcester apparently. He'll probably never be allowed to forget Cardiff though.

[sharvey44]

How has Haining been getting on at Edinburgh? Is he worth adding to the backrow stocks?

Du Preez has been playing well for Worcester apparently. He'll probably never be allowed to forget Cardiff though.

Haining has been playing well. Good, strong carries. A good backup to Mata.

[Mikey Brown]

I don't think 'Jonny Gray works hard' is a particularly shocking revelation but there you go.

[Big D]

I don't think 'Jonny Gray works hard' is a particularly shocking revelation but there you go.

I think with Jonny it is more a question of how impactful his actions are. No one should question his work rate.

[whatisthejava]

There are two JG one who does a tonne of work and doesnt really alter the result of the game and one who does the same but adds an extra 10%

Against Ireland first Jonny, against Japan second for me

If he could just add that aggression he sometimes has a the default position he really would be one of the best

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah. Some players you feel just need a kick in the shin on their way out of the tunnel.

Why are we so consistently unable to get the team playing with that kind of aggression though.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

How has Haining been getting on at Edinburgh? Is he worth adding to the backrow stocks?

Du Preez has been playing well for Worcester apparently. He'll probably never be allowed to forget Cardiff though.

How does Haining qualify? At 29 residency is off the table.

Edit: Given the hit & miss nature of performances and a bunch of no-shows since Du Preez's 6N match I think we can conclude it's a Scotland problem & not a Du Preez problem.

[Cameo]

Think Haining has a relative.

Du Perez has never been the same since his first bad injury. His first season at Edinburgh was outstanding

[Big D]

How has Haining been getting on at Edinburgh? Is he worth adding to the backrow stocks?

Du Preez has been playing well for Worcester apparently. He'll probably never be allowed to forget Cardiff though.

How does Haining qualify? At 29 residency is off the table.

Edit: Given the hit & miss nature of performances and a bunch of no-shows since Du Preez's 6N match I think we can conclude it's a Scotland problem & not a Du Preez problem.

Haining qualifies through a Dundonian granny.

[Big D]

Think Haining has a relative.

Du Perez has never been the same since his first bad injury. His first season at Edinburgh was outstanding

He's had two of the worst injuries Scottish qualified players have had in recent memory.

That ankle break then that bad throat injury were awful.

[Chunks Baws]

Haining qualifies through his Granny.

Oops Big D beat me to it.

[Mikey Brown]

Has Haining done anything yet? He’s realistically going to be 3rd choice behind Mata and Bradbury, no?

About to catch up on the Edinburgh game from the weekend so will look out for him. Certainly seemed the combative type, and a good lineout option, but I thought may be a tad limited. I’ve seen very little of him though.

[Chunks Baws]

Has Haining done anything yet? He’s realistically going to be 3rd choice behind Mata and Bradbury, no?

About to catch up on the Edinburgh game from the weekend so will look out for him. Certainly seemed the combative type, and a good lineout option, but I thought may be a tad limited. I’ve seen very little of him though.

He's playing well but probably won't get capped unless we have a lot of backrow injuries. He'll be a valuable player for Edinburgh when the 6N comes around.

[Big D]

Has Haining done anything yet? He’s realistically going to be 3rd choice behind Mata and Bradbury, no?

About to catch up on the Edinburgh game from the weekend so will look out for him. Certainly seemed the combative type, and a good lineout option, but I thought may be a tad limited. I’ve seen very little of him though.

He's playing well but probably won't get capped unless we have a lot of backrow injuries. He'll be a valuable player for Edinburgh when the 6N comes around.

Agreed.

He has shown he is more than capable of filling in for the 1st team. Which is exactly what was needed. Edinburgh bar being pumped by Leinster 2s have started well this year and he has been a good part of it.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Just watched the game and was actually very impressed in the short period he was on the field.

Hard to tell in a game with a scoreline like that but some very good performances in there. VDM's MOTM for 3 walk-ins without beating any defenders was a bit silly, but Crosbie, Bradbury, Scott and Bennet looked class. Bradbury really could do with targeting weak shoulder rather than head-on collisions but it's still enjoyable watching him bounce people off the floor like that.

[Chunks Baws]

Has Haining done anything yet? He’s realistically going to be 3rd choice behind Mata and Bradbury, no?

About to catch up on the Edinburgh game from the weekend so will look out for him. Certainly seemed the combative type, and a good lineout option, but I thought may be a tad limited. I’ve seen very little of him though.

He's playing well but probably won't get capped unless we have a lot of backrow injuries. He'll be a valuable player for Edinburgh when the 6N comes around.

Agreed.

He has shown he is more than capable of filling in for the 1st team. Which is exactly what was needed. Edinburgh bar being pumped by Leinster 2s have started well this year and he has been a good part of it.

Yeah, players like Haining and Murray Douglas are looking like shrewd signings.

[Big D]

Haining apparently has fucked his thumb which is a shame but with Mata and Bradbury available there should be cover.

[Mikey Brown]

Why am I already excited about the 6 nations? What possible reason could I have for thinking we're now going to turn the corner? I really hope we view this as a chance for a fresh start.

Just pondering how we whittle down the options for the 13 shirt. Maybe we give this a run out?

10. Hutchinson
11. Jones
12. Grigg
13. Bennet
14. Harris
15. Taylor

[Chunks Baws]

Why am I already excited about the 6 nations? What possible reason could I have for thinking we're now going to turn the corner? I really hope we view this as a chance for a fresh start.

Just pondering how we whittle down the options for the 13 shirt. Maybe we give this a run out?

10. Hutchinson
11. Jones
12. Grigg
13. Bennet
14. Harris
15. Taylor

I wouldn't get too excited, we'll be fighting it out for the spoon with Italy.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm not suggesting it's justified at all, I'm more just surprised at myself that this is happening yet again. I could still write out a team-sheet of basically the same players who got humped by Ireland (who in turn got humped by NZ, who got beaten by Eng) and end up thinking we're going to come good.

[septic 9]

Why am I already excited about the 6 nations? What possible reason could I have for thinking we're now going to turn the corner? I really hope we view this as a chance for a fresh start.

Just pondering how we whittle down the options for the 13 shirt. Maybe we give this a run out?

10. Hutchinson
11. Jones
12. Grigg
13. Bennet
14. Harris
15. Taylor

because you've been on the funny juice again? Or playing Soccer manager fantasy team? Are you suggesting that a starting backs in the 6N? Or what?

[Mikey Brown]

Just avoiding doing any work really. I'm sorry.

[septic 9]

Just avoiding doing any work really. I'm sorry.

lazy barsteward

don't apologise, explain!