Unner twennies twenny twenny two

[sharvey44]

Job done by the U20s. FT 48-10. Left a lot of points on the park. USA were never really in the game bar a 10 min patch in the 2nd half.

Back to the championship next year. Some promising players but they’ll need to back up their performances in the 6N next season and then the championship to show that they can make the step up to pro.

[septic 9]

Job done by the U20s. FT 48-10. Left a lot of points on the park. USA were never really in the game bar a 10 min patch in the 2nd half.

Back to the championship next year. Some promising players but they’ll need to back up their performances in the 6N next season and then the championship to show that they can make the step up to pro.

I see where you are coming from but that last bit isn't right. Several from the U20 team who were relegated have cracked it all the way to full caps, and quite a few who came through after that. I see the U20s as a key part of a pathway, development pathway, not something where just results matter

TBH we do well if we stay top tier at U20, given the lack of top level exposure available to youngsters, made worse by the demise of the S6

They did look a talented lot for sure, but there was really no significant opposition. What I did like was when things were not happening they understood that reverting to an overwhelming strength, forgetting the flash stuff, would make the game very safe, and it did

[Big D]

Key thing is getting these guys game time at Edinburgh and Glasgow, or putting them into positions where they can earn time.

Hart has had some game time for Glasgow and McConnell and Currie look to have a shot at earning game time for Edinburgh.

Ollie B-L should be the 4th hooker at Edinburgh with a chance to move ahead of Harrison and then both ahead of Cherry from the end of 2025 who'll be 34 by that point. No reason Jerry B-L couldn't be exposed to game time if proven to be training better than some of the other LHPs too.

The Edinburgh coaching staff in particular need to be more open to trying the younger players.

[septic 9]

Key thing is getting these guys game time at Edinburgh and Glasgow, or putting them into positions where they can earn time.

Hart has had some game time for Glasgow and McConnell and Currie look to have a shot at earning game time for Edinburgh.

Ollie B-L should be the 4th hooker at Edinburgh with a chance to move ahead of Harrison and then both ahead of Cherry from the end of 2025 who'll be 34 by that point. No reason Jerry B-L couldn't be exposed to game time if proven to be training better than some of the other LHPs too.

The Edinburgh coaching staff in particular need to be more open to trying the younger players.

think you have your B_Ls the wrong way round Big D. Jerry is the hooker and should be getting game time next season absolutely. If he and Harrison step up Cherry can be restricted to training - if he is no longer a Scotland option then the others need exposure PDQ. Ollie is a TH prop, which is just as well and again bar Sebastian Edin are very thin on the ground there. He isn't and I don't think going to be Fagerson standard as an all round player but Fagerson played for Glasgow at 18, and OB-L is much bigger and stronger in the set piece at that age

You last sentence is on the money. Time for Edin to step up in player development, the best get through eventually but they really have consistently failed to get the best of their young players for far too many years. No doubt with an embarrassment of excellent back rows coming through they will stick with Watson etc. And have to wonder with McConnell coming through why they splashed out on bringing Bradbury back - the differenc e in work rate and pure rugby ability at the same age is startling

[Big D]

think you have your B_Ls the wrong way round Big D. Jerry is the hooker and should be getting game time next season absolutely. If he and Harrison step up Cherry can be restricted to training - if he is no longer a Scotland option then the others need exposure PDQ. Ollie is a TH prop, which is just as well and again bar Sebastian Edin are very thin on the ground there. He isn't and I don't think going to be Fagerson standard as an all round player but Fagerson played for Glasgow at 18, and OB-L is much bigger and stronger in the set piece at that age

You last sentence is on the money. Time for Edin to step up in player development, the best get through eventually but they really have consistently failed to get the best of their young players for far too many years. No doubt with an embarrassment of excellent back rows coming through they will stick with Watson etc. And have to wonder with McConnell coming through why they splashed out on bringing Bradbury back - the differenc e in work rate and pure rugby ability at the same age is startling

I really need to start getting them the right way round! I agree, it doesn't look like OB-L will be as good an all round player as Fagerson, but can develop into a decent international if given the opportunity to and if he takes it.

I think Bradbury is the classic SQ player OOC and SRU taking the easy way out by offering him a deal mixed with conservative coaches.

[Cameo]

I haven't managed to watch any of OBL. Sounds like you two have some reservations. Is that fair or is it more a comment on how high a bar Fagerson has set.

[septic 9]

I haven't managed to watch any of OBL. Sounds like you two have some reservations. Is that fair or is it more a comment on how high a bar Fagerson has set.

Of course there have to be some reservations over whether a kid just turned 18 can hack it at top level. And yes Fagerson has set a very high bar - best Scottish TH prop in many a generation. We have had stronger TH scrummagers (and he is certainly not a weak one)eg Iain Milne, but never anyone as good around the park since, well IMHO Sandy Carmichael - and that was a very different era/game. Fagerson's carrying, tackling hitting of rucks and overall work rate (including while playing 80min shifts). No-one has come close
But as I also said OBL is IMHO clearly better in the scrum than Fagerson was at the same age. That is a helluva place to start from. He carries well and works hard. I am sure he will be 2nd choice for Scotland soon enough - if someone has a severe word of warning to the Edniburgh coaching team

[BaldiePete]

if someone has a severe word of warning to the Edniburgh coaching team

And there lies the problem.