6 Nations 2020

[Mikey Brown]

Where is Gilchrist?

[General Zod]

Thought Gilchrist was just cut from the 23. No reason he couldn’t come back - I forgot about him, to be honest!

I see Gregor has apparently liked this tweet from Rassie Erasmus...

[Cameo]

Would Cummings plus Skinner be good enough in the lineout? Both strike me as the stockier sort of second row but would much prefer them to Toolis starting.

neither are stocky in any way shape or form. Both are loose head locks rather than tight head locks. Both are decent to better in he lineout, Cummings is the main Glasgow jumper these days which has been going well.
The issue is whether they would have the combined ballast to lock out a scrum, and whether Skinner is ready yet. Cummings has played tight head lock for Glasgow, Skinner doubt has. Toolis packs down behind the TH for Edinburgh and has an excellent lineout, he is favourite, should be anyway

Yeah, stocky was the wrong word but they are each on the shorter side for international locks. Not a problem in itself though as they are both dynamic.

If Skinner can show fitness and form he would be my pick. I don't mind Toolis but don't think he offers that much round the pitch compared to some.

[switchskier]

In regards to the drinking:

The senior leadership team made a decision without FR, a member of that group.
The decision seemed not to take into account foreign playing players.
I can understand FR’s frustration with that.

In regards to GT:

As was evident last year at Twickers the game plan was/is shite. We were shite in the WC and if team members are saying maybe we should look at a different plan and are being ignored then that’s an issue.

Also as hinted in the article FR isn’t alone in his views but he’s not on the SRU payroll so can speak up without fear of losing his pro contract.

I have some sympathy with this. I'd hate to be bound by a set of team rules that I had no say in, were fairly arbitrary and created a clear split between two parts of the team. Put that on top of 12 months of frustrations and poor results and I can see why it's spilled over. It's interesting to read this article with what Barclay said on the rugby pod this week. Paraphrasing but it was along the lines of "some blokes speak for the sake of saying things but finn speaks up when he thinks it's important to do so".

More widely I can see this being a major issue for Scotland in the future if coaches can't bridge the gap between those that come through the academy system and those that don't. We don't have enough players to favour one set over the other.

some of you guys seem to think there isn't always a team protocol on drinking and that it shouldn't apply to everyone. It was discussed by the senior leadership group according to Russell, so loads of players had no input. Maybe they should have waited until Finn arrived so they could agree the same thing (2 drinks) they have been agreeing for several seasons. Or get pissed until Finn arrived and told them they only should have had 2 drinks.
It did not come as a surprise to Russell. He chose to make an issue about something his mates did, with no involvement from Townsend or Dodson. Then chose to make it about something else. Big problem, one the team can do without

You're ignoring the fact that the leadership group met before the squad was fully assembled and was meant to contain Russell. In the age of WhatsApp, or even just a phone with a speaker, it shouldn't be beyond a functioning adult to check in with one of the members of the group before making a couple of entirely arbitrary decisions.

Who else is in that leadership group? I'd be surprised if Maitland isn't.

[Donny osmond]

Thought Gilchrist was just cut from the 23. No reason he couldn’t come back - I forgot about him, to be honest!

I see Gregor has apparently liked this tweet from Rassie Erasmus...

What's not to like? Everyone, not just in the current spat, but everyone in the squad should be taking notes.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

[Big D]

Can we move on from Finn drinking, not drinking, being an alcoholic or otherwise.

We have lost two games we should have won and now haven't scored a try in competitive rugby against a 6N team in over 240min of rugby (not counting the RWC friendly games).

Worryingly. we haven't scored more than 1 try against Wales and Ireland under Townsend, generally the two best defences we face in the 6N. In the 7 games we have had against them under Townsend we haven't been able to break them down consistently. We have cut loose against other teams but Townsend hasn't been able to come up with the formula to break the better defences down. Once Edwards get France better drilled they will become harder to break down too.

[General Zod]

We are 0/6 if you add in women and the recently-relegated U20s. Still, at least Murrayfield is full enough to pay for the high heid yins.

[Chunks Baws]

Can we move on from Finn drinking, not drinking, being an alcoholic or otherwise.

We have lost two games we should have won and now haven't scored a try in competitive rugby against a 6N team in over 240min of rugby (not counting the RWC friendly games).

Worryingly. we haven't scored more than 1 try against Wales and Ireland under Townsend, generally the two best defences we face in the 6N. In the 7 games we have had against them under Townsend we haven't been able to break them down consistently. We have cut loose against other teams but Townsend hasn't been able to come up with the formula to break the better defences down. Once Edwards get France better drilled they will become harder to break down too.

Yes, the Russell shit is an unwelcome distraction and I reckon Townsend should be saying it's no longer up for discussion until after the tournament. He won't be picked at all this 6N, so lets forget about it for now.

On to the next game and I can see us getting beat by Italy, they'll be up for this match. Hopefully Skinner is up to speed and called up to replace JG.

[Mikey Brown]

Our support play and ball retention is just absolute fucking garbage. I haven't a clue what we would be capable of in attack until we can reliably keep the ball for 3+ phases.

[General Zod]

Our attacking 5 metre line-outs are rugby comedy at the moment.

[Chunks Baws]

Our support play and ball retention is just absolute fucking garbage. I haven't a clue what we would be capable of in attack until we can reliably keep the ball for 3+ phases.

I saw it pointed out after the Ireland game that when we pick and go to attack the try line we are doing it solo, instead of in pods. It's nuts. I'm not sure if it's a coaching issue, players being dumb or a bit of both.

[Mikey Brown]

Our support play and ball retention is just absolute fucking garbage. I haven't a clue what we would be capable of in attack until we can reliably keep the ball for 3+ phases.

I saw it pointed out after the Ireland game that when we pick and go to attack the try line we are doing it solo, instead of in pods. It's nuts. I'm not sure if it's a coaching issue, players being dumb or a bit of both.

It's quite incredible how clunky our transition from making yards around the fringes to playing it out to the backs is. It's as if we switch our attacking mindset completely as soon as the pace of the ball changes.

I thought it was largely a Laidlaw thing before but often the scrum-half will slow it down and we start to try attacking through the fringes, but we're left with a bunch of our tight forwards all stood out in the back line. Or even more infuriatingly in a static pod formation waiting for a pass, while a lone runner picks and goes from the base to get turned over.

Sorry I'm just regurgitating what you said straight back at you. It's just so painful to watch. It can't simply be that all our players have such poor rugby instincts can it? We do this so consistently it's baffling. Where has our clearout game gone?

[Donny osmond]

This has been driving me crackers for years, it didn't start under GT but it has continued unfortunately.

For the first time I can remember I wished Scotland were playing like Ireland last weekend. Ireland are specialists at the quick pick and go close to the line that sucks in defenders and creates holes. We are the polar opposite, slow, clunky, telegraphed, badly organised, crap.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

[Mikey Brown]

This has been driving me crackers for years, it didn't start under GT but it has continued unfortunately.

For the first time I can remember I wished Scotland were playing like Ireland last weekend. Ireland are specialists at the quick pick and go close to the line that sucks in defenders and creates holes. We are the polar opposite, slow, clunky, telegraphed, badly organised, crap.

Sent from my CPH1951 using Tapatalk

Yep, I dislike the way they play and their general hatred of rugby, but they should be a good example to us of how to be more effective and more efficient without really having any monstrous athletes. They just tend to do everything with so much more precision and ferocity than we do, aside from those 5-10 minute bursts at the start of a game or when the clock hits 80 and we're 2 scores behind.

[septic 9]

I have some sympathy with this. I'd hate to be bound by a set of team rules that I had no say in, were fairly arbitrary and created a clear split between two parts of the team. Put that on top of 12 months of frustrations and poor results and I can see why it's spilled over. It's interesting to read this article with what Barclay said on the rugby pod this week. Paraphrasing but it was along the lines of "some blokes speak for the sake of saying things but finn speaks up when he thinks it's important to do so".

More widely I can see this being a major issue for Scotland in the future if coaches can't bridge the gap between those that come through the academy system and those that don't. We don't have enough players to favour one set over the other.

some of you guys seem to think there isn't always a team protocol on drinking and that it shouldn't apply to everyone. It was discussed by the senior leadership group according to Russell, so loads of players had no input. Maybe they should have waited until Finn arrived so they could agree the same thing (2 drinks) they have been agreeing for several seasons. Or get pissed until Finn arrived and told them they only should have had 2 drinks.
It did not come as a surprise to Russell. He chose to make an issue about something his mates did, with no involvement from Townsend or Dodson. Then chose to make it about something else. Big problem, one the team can do without

You're ignoring the fact that the leadership group met before the squad was fully assembled and was meant to contain Russell. In the age of WhatsApp, or even just a phone with a speaker, it shouldn't be beyond a functioning adult to check in with one of the members of the group before making a couple of entirely arbitrary decisions.

Who else is in that leadership group? I'd be surprised if Maitland isn't.

I ignored nothing. You ignored all the points I made. Russell and Maitland played a game, did some corporate and rushed to an airport to get in a plane. The protocol agreed was always going to be agreed. Thinking it shouldn't apply because you didn't get a say is childish and gives probably 18 of the 25 retained players a get out.
Russell knew a decision would be taken, if he seriously thought they would wait until 9 until he arrived before deciding if they could have a drink, 2 drinks or 3 drinks he is as delusional as yourself. If he thought they might make a decision he could have taken the initiative and made his views know.

either way, surely the way to deal with it wasn't to deliberately go against it and walk out. Just maybe ask if he could be consulted in advance next time. Folk need to stop making excuses for him. He is a wonderful talent and we will miss him, but he behaved poorly and has now talked himself out of a return.

[Adder]

[General Zod]

Darcy oot for the rest of the Championship.

Gutted for him - hope Kinghorn and Maitland stay the course.

[Cameo]

Ooh good. Just helps build the unreasonable optimism for 2021

[General Zod]

Ooh good. Just helps build the unreasonable optimism for 2021

[Chunks Baws]

Russell and Toony have buried the hatchet according to journalists on Twitter. He won't play in the 6N though, but will help out with preparation for the France game. Likely to play next in SA.

[General Zod]

Finn and Townsend have apparently made up. Finn not back until our springbok-smashing tour in the summer. More in the Daily Heil.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby ... ssion=true

[Big D]

Russell and Toony have buried the hatchet according to journalists on Twitter. He won't play in the 6N though, but will help out with preparation for the France game. Likely to play next in SA.

I don't believe they have. That sort of rift isn't healed in a short time over a couple of phone calls.

This'll blow up again.

[Chunks Baws]

Russell and Toony have buried the hatchet according to journalists on Twitter. He won't play in the 6N though, but will help out with preparation for the France game. Likely to play next in SA.

I don't believe they have. That sort of rift isn't healed in a short time over a couple of phone calls.

This'll blow up again.

I might be a bit premature with the hatchet burying but talks are on going, which is progress. It's also positive if he's helping out with the France game, even if it's just a bit of "local knowledge".

Lewis Carmichael has replaced CdP in the squad too.

https://www.theoffsideline.com/finn-rus ... ssion=true

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Does anyone know where you can get a full seat map of Murrayfield? Have 2 sets of 2 to France but can't recall which set includes the aisle seat...

[Still septic]

Does anyone know where you can get a full seat map of Murrayfield? Have 2 sets of 2 to France but can't recall which set includes the aisle seat...

no.

But a wee trick is to go to the edin ticketing site as if to buy a match ticket for any edin game, in the area you have a ticket for. Select same or similar seat, put it in your basket. Basket will give full seat row and number. No need to complete purchase of course


Or ring the ticket office and ask which seat is which