Summer Tour Squad

[no sleep]

I knew I forgot someone earlier - crosbie. Potentially the best 6 of the lot of them.

Swinson wouldn't even be in Edinburghs top 4 locks given McKenzie is a well liked club man.

I'd forgotten Crosbie too - fair enough, wonder if that means he starts against Argentina? Still not too fussed at Swinson starting, but the back row we ended up with was a horror-show.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Crosbie is injured and not touring.

[Big D]

Watched game.

Kinghorn needs to make that kick in front of the posts.
Very very lucky with penalty try.
Mini Fagerson and despite some nice touches Hastings not ready for international rugby.
Toolis needs to make more of a mark on these types of games.
Grigg not starting international quality.
On the whole we are too soft in defence.
Kinghorn looks good on the wing considering his lack of game time there.
Turner took his try well and his set piece was solid.
Bennett has to score that and he still seems "off" to me but he is getting sharper.
Big Horne was ok.

It wasn't a horrific performance but it is still a game that Scotland blew a big lead against the 15th ranked side on the world even if they are improving. And some of the same problems remain no matter who is selected - poor defence being the biggest.

[Cameo]

Watched game.

Kinghorn needs to make that kick in front of the posts.
Very very lucky with penalty try.
Mini Fagerson and despite some nice touches Hastings not ready for international rugby.
Toolis needs to make more of a mark on these types of games.
Grigg not starting international quality.
On the whole we are too soft in defence.
Kinghorn looks good on the wing considering his lack of game time there.
Turner took his try well and his set piece was solid.
Bennett has to score that and he still seems "off" to me but he is getting sharper.
Big Horne was ok.

It wasn't a horrific performance but it is still a game that Scotland blew a big lead against the 15th ranked side on the world even if they are improving. And some of the same problems remain no matter who is selected - poor defence being the biggest.

Yeah agree with most of that. Kinghorn's kicking from wide seemed good but missed the easy one. Sign of someone who doesnt kick regularly I suppose.

Possibly a bit harsh on Hastings. Good composure to pick his time and throw a good pass for the final try. I think we all know he is not really ready but I dont think today he was too bad.

Agree the main issue is the defence though. It just seems to easy to grind us down in many games

[hugh_woatmeigh]

WTF? Why did he take Taylor then? Would this not have been a superb experience for Dean or someone? Absolutely idiotic. I probably would have retained Jacko though - covers 15 and 10 and is probably one of the most capped players and his experience could be vital.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44515050

[Mikey Brown]

Jesus. Towsend’s mind really is hard to understand sometimes.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

And that also means there are only 3 out and out back rows in the squad. We were already light on options before sending Hamilton and Fagerson home.

The back 5 of the back & replacements pick themselves now. The only contests in the forwards are hooker & backup TH (possibly).

I agree MB. Toony and McFarland have really got the back row all wrong this tour. I mean we finished the game (out of choice) with Swinson and F Brown in the back row.

[AL.]

I enjoyed the game despite the silly hour and the beer withdrawal into hangover....

I would much preferred to have this tour recognised as Scotland "A" as we can safely say this was far less than our "first" team, that said I was genuinely chuffed for the USA, they took it by the short and curlies in the second half and it didn't look like fluke or anything but intent, fair play to the lot of them.

For me McGuiggan was very poor, was Australia game a blip? Hamilton and Fagerson (8) looked pretty ineffective if not doing anything specifically wrong, the centers was a calamitous decision in the first place and Grigg in particular isn't big/good enough for this level.

Missing a kick at the end is neither here nor there to me, the guy who kicked all match took it and knocked one over from there before, switching the kicker for it would be a bit out of order for me.

Am not reading too much into it.....

[Big D]

And that also means there are only 3 out and out back rows in the squad. We were already light on options before sending Hamilton and Fagerson home.

The back 5 of the back & replacements pick themselves now. The only contests in the forwards are hooker & backup TH (possibly).

I agree MB. Toony and McFarland have really got the back row all wrong this tour. I mean we finished the game (out of choice) with Swinson and F Brown in the back row.

Which means Swinson covering 6 again. I'd rather see Rambo covering back row if we are looking at emergency scenarios.

I'd go with:
Dell
Rambo if fit of not Brown
Berghan
GG
Toolis
Bradbury
Ritchie
Denton
Horne
Lang?
Fife
Horne
Bennett
Kinghorn
Hogg

It wouldn't be a surprise to see a tombola style selection.

[Cameo]

And that also means there are only 3 out and out back rows in the squad. We were already light on options before sending Hamilton and Fagerson home.

The back 5 of the back & replacements pick themselves now. The only contests in the forwards are hooker & backup TH (possibly).

I agree MB. Toony and McFarland have really got the back row all wrong this tour. I mean we finished the game (out of choice) with Swinson and F Brown in the back row.

Which means Swinson covering 6 again. I'd rather see Rambo covering back row if we are looking at emergency scenarios.

I'd go with:
Dell
Rambo if fit of not Brown
Berghan
GG
Toolis
Bradbury
Ritchie
Denton
Horne
Lang?
Fife
Horne
Bennett
Kinghorn
Hogg

It wouldn't be a surprise to see a tombola style selection.

Looks about right apart from Lang (even if fit). He has had 30 mins at 12 so I think it is rash firing him in at 10. I would stick with Hastings.

[Big D]

And that also means there are only 3 out and out back rows in the squad. We were already light on options before sending Hamilton and Fagerson home.

The back 5 of the back & replacements pick themselves now. The only contests in the forwards are hooker & backup TH (possibly).

I agree MB. Toony and McFarland have really got the back row all wrong this tour. I mean we finished the game (out of choice) with Swinson and F Brown in the back row.

Which means Swinson covering 6 again. I'd rather see Rambo covering back row if we are looking at emergency scenarios.

I'd go with:
Dell
Rambo if fit of not Brown
Berghan
GG
Toolis
Bradbury
Ritchie
Denton
Horne
Lang?
Fife
Horne
Bennett
Kinghorn
Hogg

It wouldn't be a surprise to see a tombola style selection.

Looks about right apart from Lang (even if fit). He has had 30 mins at 12 so I think it is rash firing him in at 10. I would stick with Hastings.

Did Townsend not pick him in the squad as a 10? I may have imagined that. Would be strange to list him as a 10 then give him no game time there.

[no sleep]

Think Townsend said somewhere that he sees him as a 12. I'd go with Horne at 10, just because he's the most experienced there (even though I see *him* as a 12) - we could do with putting out the strongest possible team for this one.

[Mikey Brown]

I’d be interested to see the two able to switch back and forth but if I had to choose it would be 10. Lang 12. Horne.

[OptimisticJock]

Think Townsend said somewhere that he sees him as a 12. I'd go with Horne at 10, just because he's the most experienced there (even though I see *him* as a 12) - we could do with putting out the strongest possible team for this one.

I thought that too but wasn't sure. Assuming it'll be Horne at 10 with that in mind.

[Big D]

Too many knocks to the head for me clearly. Either way, I guess if Horne is at 10 then Lang is at 12 or vice versa.

[AL.]

Also just jumped into my head, Bennet has turned into a ball hog.....

[Mikey Brown]

Also just jumped into my head, Bennet has turned into a ball hog.....

Seems a classic case of a once-lethal attacker desperately trying to make something happen.

[AL.]

My thoughts exactly.....

Is Matt Scott injured?

[Mikey Brown]

Not as far as I can tell. Signed for Edinburgh and then didn’t play again for Gloucester. Just got ditched entirely despite reliably crossing the line. Not big enough for Ackerman I think.

I’d love to have seen him there but as others have said a good pre-season on his return to Edinburgh might be more valuable in the long run. Especially given recent injuries.

Though you might think the same of Bennet.

[Chunks Baws]

15. Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 61 caps

14. Dougie Fife (Edinburgh) – 7 caps
13. Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 4 caps

10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps
9. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh) – 12 caps
2. Stuart McInally CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 17 caps
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh) – 9 caps
4. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 37 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist VICE CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 24 caps
6. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh) – 3 caps
7. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 33 caps
8. David Denton (Leicester Tigers) – 41 caps

Substitutes:
16. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) – 10 caps
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
19. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 11 caps
20. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 1 cap
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scarlets) – 11 caps
22. James Lang (Harlequins) – 1 cap
23. Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 3 caps

[Mikey Brown]

What the actual fuck?

[Adder]

A lot more leadership in the pack... And that's it

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[whatisthejava]

I wonder if they see Brown moving to 7 as a way to deal with his concussion issues.


Its not like we have a glut of hookers

[Cameo]

Haha, that is interesting. If he picked a proper backrow and a bit more bulk in the centres I'd be okay with it but at least you can't say that we havent used this tour to find out sone things!

[Big D]

I don't get Townsends obsession with Swinson or Grigg.

Surely we'd learn more by starting Ritchie?