Big D wrote:Have you seen Ford recently? Barely 3rd choice at Edinburgh. Kerr didn't do a lot wrong to make me want Ford back. 1 blown line out was all he really did wrong.
Wouldn't be throwing Zander back in after 4 months out.
I feel better having watched it back. Even with all who were missing, our usual slow start (Toony needs to stop this in happens too often) we were 33-3 up with 69min gone and Ritchie was denied a clear cut penalty. And Hogg denied a try due to ref incompetence after italy score 1.
That doesn't excuse the blow up in the last 10min. We continue to miss more tackles than we should (I'm fed up moaning about it), Harris needs to talk more for the 2nd. Jones wouldn't have made that mistake. Jones despite the odd miss tackle is important to the defensive shape. Hastings and Harris must do better for the 3rd.
We did get key guys off early like Rambo who no doubt will be playing 70-80min next week.
Swap Gray, Hardie, the Hornes and Maitland in the 23 for Skinner, Graham, Price, Hastings and Harris it looks a decent 23.
Brown back for France and I think we are in a decent place with more to come back and add completion.
I'm not suggesting Ford start or even come off the bench but he's a superior player to Lawson, why can't he fill the role he filled last year? Pick two green hookers to blood as opposed to 3.
We are in RWC year. If we have any senior hooker go down then 1 of these guys will be going to the RWC. As well blooding them now and seeing how they fit in or react at this level especially as Brown must be with the camp now or very soon if there's a chance he is fit for France.
I have always defended Ford and been an apologist at times for him but he's fallen off so quickly the last few months it's been surprising imo. He'd be there as a mentor only. I'd hope he already is mentoring Cherry.
May also be a sign that Wilson would rather look to the future compared Dan Mac last year.
Just watched the first half so far but seems decent enough. Should be more points on the board but Russel keeping the pressure on very well and Sam Johnson playing well. I'd keep him in whatever Horne's fitness.
Still struggle with carriers in the forwards and I like how they are trying to use mauls off slow ruck ball but havent quite got it right yet.
Actually, very happy overall. We know that our subs bench isnt the strongest at the moment but was very controlled by the starters with flashes of brilliance. I also thought Russel's kicking game was the best I have seen it.
Townsend will also have been happy to get some key players off early even if it didnt help in this game.
Hogg also looked sharp. That obstruction call looked very harsh
So I keep reading that “the wheels falling off” at the end was obviously because Laidlaw was off. I can’t say I was paying enough attention in the final 10 minutes to say one way or the other.
It seems like an easy bit of journalism to me, but maybe there’s something to it. In fairness I would quite like him on at the end of games if things are tight, but largely because I’d like to start Price/Horne.
Mikey Brown wrote:So I keep reading that “the wheels falling off” at the end was obviously because Laidlaw was off. I can’t say I was paying enough attention in the final 10 minutes to say one way or the other.
It seems like an easy bit of journalism to me, but maybe there’s something to it. In fairness I would quite like him on at the end of games if things are tight, but largely because I’d like to start Price/Horne.
Harris does his job better and Hastings makes a tackle they don't score no 2 or 3 the way they did.
Having watched it again, although last 10 not great at all I feel much better about it.
Incidently, apparently the ref apologised to Hogg after the game about his disallowed try. Think Bigi did well to play that one up once he realised he had been done!
Damn. I mean it'll be great to see Kinghorn get some games there but it's worrying that Hogg seems to be pick up a (seemingly unrelated?) injury every 2 or 3 games for Scotland at the moment.
Mikey Brown wrote:Damn. I mean it'll be great to see Kinghorn get some games there but it's worrying that Hogg seems to be pick up a (seemingly unrelated?) injury every 2 or 3 games for Scotland at the moment.
Easily done when
1 - opposition single him out for foul treatment, and
Personally speaking, I'd be happy to never see Harley in a Scotland jersey again. His place on the bench v Ireland wasn't justified and he proved it with his crap display when he came on. I'd rather Crosbie was in ahead of him or even Gary Graham, at least give him a chance to show us what he's got. I'm feeling a bit glass half empty about this tournament now and part of me thinks we should just fuck it off and give some young guys some game time. With our injury list is so bad it's the perfect excuse. It's surely more beneficial than giving journey men like Harley more games or playing Grigg over McDowell.
Harris has to get the 13 shirt for France surely. Grigg is the Harley of backs. Actually the Fusaro of backs would be more apt.
Keep Johnson where he is best and see how it goes with two strong runners in midfield. I know Harris hasn’t exactly shone yet, but we need to find out now rather than later if he’s up to it. If we need an option at 13 who can straighten the line and defend well in heavy traffic he’s probably the best bet, given Dunbar is totally gubbed.
