Squad for 6N

[Mikey Brown]

So now what?

Same exact team again? Worth crowbarring another attacking back on the bench in place of VDW? That’s the only swap I can really think of. There’s varying opinion on the performances of Price and Russell but nobody with the quality to replace them anyway.

Maybe it’s dumb to not at least have his goal kicking option, but I’d still rather watch us play with Hogg at 10 and Jones at 15 if it came to it.

We always end up completely reshuffling our backline against Wales when everyone gets injured so versatility might come in handy.

[General Zod]

I think start with the same XV barring injuries. Don’t know how serious Jamie Ritchie’s was - he looked pretty knackered when he came off.

I think we need obviously to look at the fringe defence - this was part of the reason Price didn’t start so well.

Turner - keep it up, son. Wales won’t be as bad again. Similarly, kicking practice from the tee should also take up some of those long lockdown hours.

Random thoughts before I fall asleep and miss the Super Bowl!

[switchskier]

I think start with the same XV barring injuries. Don’t know how serious Jamie Ritchie’s was - he looked pretty knackered when he came off.

I think we need obviously to look at the fringe defence - this was part of the reason Price didn’t start so well.

Turner - keep it up, son. Wales won’t be as bad again. Similarly, kicking practice from the tee should also take up some of those long lockdown hours.

Random thoughts before I fall asleep and miss the Super Bowl!

I think that you have to run it back after a game like that. Not that there are a whole lot of obvious changes to make either. Maybe Graham would be the one to consider.

Ritchie would be a big loss. There's not really a like for like replacement in the squad. Do you shift Faegerson to the flank and start Graham, or keep the former at the base?

[whatisthejava]

Teams announced today

I think for me same 23 if all are fit.

According to twitter north failed his eye test so wales team expected to be


Wyn
Owens
Francibeard
AWJ
navidi
Tuperic
Faletua

Davies
Bigger
L Williams
Watkins
Tompkins
Zammit
1/2p

Great wingers but don’t really rate 1/2p. They will get a try or 2 against the run of play so Scotland really need to put them away

[whatisthejava]

Supposedly Richie is out so

Tempted to start Graham at 6 and have Blade covering back row from the bench.

But I can’t actually remember who is in the squad

[Cameo]

Ritchie would be a big loss but I suppose it gives us a chance to give Graham a go. Thompson to bench sounds sensible.

I don't expect any unforced chances although would the surprised if the bench changes slightly.

Btw - anyone think that Steele has a funny box kick style? Seems to properly face his own line and kick it almost over his own head. Seemed to work!

[whatisthejava]

Didn’t notice the box kick but I suppose it makes a charge down harder.

[Cameo]

I've spent the last ten mins thinking about this game and now I'm worried again.

Turner played well but the lineout is easier to target second game out.

The weather's bleak so it could be tight and scratchy.

Richie looks like he is out and arguably he's in our top three players (and a key lineout option).

We are due an injury crisis.

Dan Biggar is annoying

Things are going to click for Wales sometime soon.

There's no bickering on here

[Donny osmond]

I've spent the last ten mins thinking about this game and now I'm worried again.

Turner played well but the lineout is easier to target second game out.

The weather's bleak so it could be tight and scratchy.

Richie looks like he is out and arguably he's in our top three players (and a key lineout option).

We are due an injury crisis.

Dan Biggar is annoying

Things are going to click for Wales sometime soon.

There's no bickering on here

You're right to be worried, Wales are a lot better than their recent performances suggest, and I can't help but feel our result on Sat hid a few individual performances that would've been exposed by a team playing better than England did. We have every chance of winning, but it's no gimme.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

[Big D]

With all their injuries, and playing at home, if we can't put Wales away then we are in trouble for the rest of the 6N.

[Mikey Brown]

I've spent the last ten mins thinking about this game and now I'm worried again.

Turner played well but the lineout is easier to target second game out.

The weather's bleak so it could be tight and scratchy.

Richie looks like he is out and arguably he's in our top three players (and a key lineout option).

We are due an injury crisis.

Dan Biggar is annoying

Things are going to click for Wales sometime soon.

There's no bickering on here

You're right to be worried, Wales are a lot better than their recent performances suggest, and I can't help but feel our result on Sat hid a few individual performances that would've been exposed by a team playing better than England did. We have every chance of winning, but it's no gimme.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

Yep, we're a long way from assuming any victories against other top 10 sides, even if they are a bit all over the place. The pack seem a lot more consistent in general now, but the lineout is a way behind on that front. It sounds like the lineout was a real weakness last week for Wales but they will surely have been working on it. We won't get away with it again leaving Price so exposed at the base and Russell not looking fully back up to speed, but I'd hope there's improvement there too this week.

I even saw this take from a pundit just now "With all their injuries, and playing at home, if we can't put Wales away then we are in trouble for the rest of the 6N." Shocking stuff.

Happy enough with 6. Graham 8. Fagerson 20. Chib. Not expecting much else to change.

[normanski]

I've spent the last ten mins thinking about this game and now I'm worried again.

Turner played well but the lineout is easier to target second game out.

The weather's bleak so it could be tight and scratchy.

Richie looks like he is out and arguably he's in our top three players (and a key lineout option).

We are due an injury crisis.

Dan Biggar is annoying

Things are going to click for Wales sometime soon.

There's no bickering on here

You're right to be worried, Wales are a lot better than their recent performances suggest, and I can't help but feel our result on Sat hid a few individual performances that would've been exposed by a team playing better than England did. We have every chance of winning, but it's no gimme.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

Yep, we're a long way from assuming any victories against other top 10 sides, even if they are a bit all over the place. The pack seem a lot more consistent in general now, but the lineout is a way behind on that front. It sounds like the lineout was a real weakness last week for Wales but they will surely have been working on it. We won't get away with it again leaving Price so exposed at the base and Russell not looking fully back up to speed, but I'd hope there's improvement there too this week.

I even saw this take from a pundit just now "With all their injuries, and playing at home, if we can't put Wales away then we are in trouble for the rest of the 6N." Shocking stuff.

Happy enough with 6. Graham 8. Fagerson 20. Chib. Not expecting much else to change.

It’s difficult to really assess where Scotland are because of such a lack lustre display by England. God they were poor but if they had had a small piece of luck in the closing quarter then they could well have sneaked home. You aught to know me and my wife were shouting for Scotland to hang on just as we were for Wales after Davies’s brain fart at 79 minutes.

I hope the weather doesn’t fu.k up what looks to be a tasty international.

Wales have their backs to the wall but that is when they are most dangerous. Perhaps we’re regaining the Gatland knack of closing out tight and frenzied games.

[Tobylerone]

Redpath, Maitland and Ritchie out..

Lang, Graham and Thomson in..

[septic 9]

Yep, we're a long way from assuming any victories against other top 10 sides, even if they are a bit all over the place. The pack seem a lot more consistent in general now, but the lineout is a way behind on that front.

based on what? 15 from 15 on our own throw, took a couple of theirs. Pretty damned good I'd say

[septic 9]

Redpath, Maitland and Ritchie out..

Lang, Graham and Thomson in..

Graham is a good player but Maitland was soooooooooooooo good last week, so that's a blow. The other 2 changes are very very bad news

[Mikey Brown]

Yep, we're a long way from assuming any victories against other top 10 sides, even if they are a bit all over the place. The pack seem a lot more consistent in general now, but the lineout is a way behind on that front.

based on what? 15 from 15 on our own throw, took a couple of theirs. Pretty damned good I'd say

A way from saying it is consistent I meant. Fantastic on the weekend though.

[Mikey Brown]

Ah fuck. Didn’t see those changes.

[Big D]

Is Redpath injured?

[Mikey Brown]

Is Redpath injured?

Not overly optimistic wording here.

“Redpath, who made such an impressive debut against England, has a neck problem but it is hoped the 21-year-old can recover before the end of the championship.”

[Mikey Brown]

Trying to be positive though-

Lang was solid if unspectacular in our previous win over Wales.

Thomson you could say the same about his Scotland appearances so far. Not made the impact we hoped for but surely a decent backup to have, good jumper and maybe some additional knowledge of the Welsh game.

Graham offers more pace and attacking threat than Maitland. He isn’t quite as cool under pressure perhaps but he’s strong under the high ball and can play that auxiliary fullback role.

[General Zod]

Disappointed that Redpath isn’t playing. However, a chance for Lang to assume his creative mantel...

I suppose that for all our dominance at Twickenham, we didn’t leave with a load of points, so my initial fears about a lack of creativity in midfield are perhaps based on a misconception about how good we were offensively.

It would be nice to think we could get a good few points ahead then bring on Jones to add something else for the welsh to think about, but I rather fancy this will be a pretty attritional affair. Ritchie a big miss in that case, but they are not without their problems to seek. Start fast and keep going.

[septic 9]

Graham offers more pace and attacking threat than Maitland. He isn’t quite as cool under pressure perhaps but he’s strong under the high ball and can play that auxiliary fullback role.

Maitland is superb under the high ball, defending or attacking on a kick chase. And a lot taller. A lot. We are playing Wales. Biggar at 10, and temp won't get above zero. How do you think they will play? Run it from everywhere or hit it high and often?

Maitland is also a much superior defender, ideal for tight contests like last week, and probably this week given the conditions, who I think has started at 15 for Scotland and often moved there

I say that as someone who ranks Graham extremely highly. Maitland is a huge loss

[septic 9]

Thomson you could say the same about his Scotland appearances so far. Not made the impact we hoped for but surely a decent backup to have, good jumper and maybe some additional knowledge of the Welsh game.
.

lineout on own ball great, better than Richie. But neither really attack opposition ball. Thomson needs to show he is more than a luxury player who is great at league level or against poor sides. Need to see higher work rates and more aggression in attack and defence. Every time I see him he looks like he want to play like Nakawara without the physicality, and only in wide channels

[Mikey Brown]

I don't disagree with any of that. We may have different definitions of trying to be positive though.

[ARM]

Lang - there is a reason why a 21 year old who had barely met the squad was thrown into a debut away at Twickenham. Well two reasons: 1) Redpath is a very good player...and 2) Lang isn't

Thomson - yeah, like others. Has to prove he is not all fur coat and nae knickers. Big step down in workrate - carrying, breakdown, tackling - from Ritchie.

Graham - I like, but he hasn't fired this year. Hopefully he's back on it at the weekend.