Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah)

[BaldiePete]

Hodgson on the bench for Bristol in the Friday night game against Sale who have Warr on the bench. Reed not in the Sale 23.

[BaldiePete]

Russell and Redpath start for Bath with Bayliss not making the bench. They’re playing Saracens who have Not Yet Scottish Burke starting. Russell v Burke could be interesting.
Richardson starts again for Sharks against the Stormers. He’s getting good game time at the moment because Mbonambi is injured.
Cam Henderson starts for Leicester against Harlequins. Hurd not in the 23.
Hutchison on the bench for Northampton against Newcastle. Millar-Mills not in the 23.
Newcastle have Gordon, McDonald and McCallum starting. Leatherbarrow not in the 23.

[BaldiePete]

In France, White is again not in the 23 for Toulon. It’s a very strange selection, if the team they put up on Twitter is correct. Danglot starts at 9 but there’s no scrum half on the bench. It looks like Paulo Garbisi is the bench scrum-half cover. The listed number 23 is Setiano who is a prop. Number 18 is Ribbans, a 2nd row.

[Mikey Brown]

Bath absolutely spanking Saracens. Russell has the ball on a string.

[Which Tyler]

Finn and Cam were having fun today

[BaldiePete]

Kinghorn at 14 for Toulouse against Stade Francais. Ramos is clearly first choice full back when everyone is fit so Kinghorn is fighting for selection as a winger. There seems to be plenty of rotation amongst the wingers so this week Capuozzo has dropped down to the bench.

[francoisfou]

Blair Kinghorn is said to have signed a new deal until 2028.

[BaldiePete]

WTF - it’s Friday already. I had no idea what day of the week this was.

Friday
McCallum, McDonald and Gordon started for Newcastle against Harlequins (and lost 38-14)

Saturday
Russell starts for Bath against Northampton. Bayliss on the bench. Hutchison starts for Northampton.
Henderson starts for Leicester against Gloucester who have Harris starting.
Warr on the bench for Sale against Gloucester. Reed not in the 23.
Kinghorn not in 23 for Toulouse who appear to have picked pretty much a 2nd XV for their match against La Rochelle. Keeping the team fresh for their match against the Sharks in Durban next weekend.
White on the bench for Toulon against Racing 92. I think this might be his first game since the Autumn Internationals.
Hodgson starts for Bristol against Saracens.

[Puja]

Telegraph says that Townsend has approached Fergus Burke about being understudy to Russell.

Puja

[BaldiePete]

He might think that the injury-prone Adam Hastings can’t be relied on to be available as backup, although I’d expect Tom Jordan will be filling that role in the short-term. Russell might play until the 2027 RWC when he’ll be 35. Will Burke want to be a backup for that long, assuming he gets ahead of Jordan? On the other hand, it’s probably going to be Burke’s only chance to play international rugby. I can’t see NZ or England being interested in him.

[Puja]

He might think that the injury-prone Adam Hastings can’t be relied on to be available as backup, although I’d expect Tom Jordan will be filling that role in the short-term. Russell might play until the 2027 RWC when he’ll be 35. Will Burke want to be a backup for that long, assuming he gets ahead of Jordan? On the other hand, it’s probably going to be Burke’s only chance to play international rugby. I can’t see NZ or England being interested in him.

I was gonna say, he's unlikely so see much with England with us having the two young Smiths for the foreseeable and Ford likely until the 2025, so he might think he can outlast Russell and challenge Jordan to be first choice for a bit. He's not a bad player, but I don't think he'll set the world alight for anyone at international level.

Puja

[BaldiePete]

Hodgson has returned to Edinburgh for surgery on a tricep injury.

[BaldiePete]

Friday
European Challenge Cup

Harris starts for Gloucester
Craig starts for Scarlets. Hepburn on the bench.

[BaldiePete]

Saturday

Sharks versus Toulouse

Mbonambi reruns so inevitably Richardson returns to the bench
Kinghorn starts at 14. 



Leicester Tigers versus Ulster
Henderson starts

Munster versus Saracens

Not Yet Scottish Fergus Burke starts for Saracens. 


Stade Francais versus Northampton Saints
Hutchison starts, Hunter-Hill and Savala on the bench.


Stormers versus Sale
Warr and Reed both start


Montpellier versus Lions
Unsurprisingly Hogg is not in the 23.


Ospreys versus Newcastle Falcons
Leatherbarrow starts with McCallum on the bench.

Sunday

Bath v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Russell starts with Bayliss on the bench in a 5:3 split so he probably won’t be needed on the wing.

Toulon v Harlequins 

White on the bench

[Which Tyler]

Bath v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Russell starts with Bayliss on the bench in a 5:3 split so he probably won’t be needed on the wing.

Don't be silly now, it's the usual 6:2 bench

[BaldiePete]

Bath v ASM Clermont Auvergne
Russell starts with Bayliss on the bench in a 5:3 split so he probably won’t be needed on the wing.

Don't be silly now, it's the usual 6:2 bench

Never having heard of Ethan Staddon I assumed that since was listed as no. 23 he was a back. How naive of me.

[Which Tyler]

It's JvG's Bath, the 23 shirt is reserved for the backup #8 - even with a 7:1 bench
Of course, I wouldn't expect you guys to know that

[Mikey Brown]

Is it a slight OCD thing by chance? I hated the change to 23 and scrumhalves being number 21. I’ve slowly accepted it but hate seeing them at 22.

The French chaos of having reserve tighthead at 23 is somehow okay though.

[Cameo]

Hutchison ended up playing 10 with Savala at 12 I think.

Is Savala actually SQ? I had thought, probably wrongly that he was just one who might qualify in the future.

[BaldiePete]

Hutchison ended up playing 10 with Savala at 12 I think.

Is Savala actually SQ? I had thought, probably wrongly that he was just one who might qualify in the future.

He was called into the squad at the end of the 2023 6N (but not used). Unless someone has fucked up, he’s SQ.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64942683

[BaldiePete]

Friday
Newcastle v Montpellier
Newcastle resting a few for the more important league battles ahead have Leatherbarrow starting and Macdonald on the bench. No sign of McCallum or Gordon.
Hogg not in Montpellier 23.

[BaldiePete]

Saturday
Leinster v Bath
Russell starts, Bayliss in his now customary place on the bench.

Northampton v Munster
Hutchison starts, Hunter Hill on the bench.

Scarlets v Vannes
Hepburn starts, Craig on the bench.

Sunday
Bordeaux v Sharks
Richardson not in the Sharks 23. Gray not in the Bordeaux 23.

Toulouse v Leicester
Kinghorn switches to left wing for Toulouse
Henderson starts for Leicester with Hurd on the bench.

Saracens v Castres
Soon To Be Scottish Burke starts for Saracens

Sale v Toulon
Reed starts for Sale, Warr not in the 23.
White gets his first start since ( I think) before the Autumn Internationals.

Bayonne v Gloucester
Harris not in the 23.

[Cameo]

Good news for White.

Has Gray played at all since he got injured - I've lost track?

[BaldiePete]

Good news for White.

Has Gray played at all since he got injured - I've lost track?

I don’t think so. If he doesn’t play next week he shouldn’t be considered for the squad against Italy.

[Adder]

White struggles to shine when compared to Serin.