Way too early RWC Squad

[General Zod]

I don’t think Barclay was great either, but then again who was? He did catch a sore one relatively early, so I don’t know if that played a part. I don’t expect him to start next week.

By the time the radio broadcast had finished, Townsend still hadn’t come out the dressing room. If they’re still listening to him, that’s probably a good thing.

[sharvey44]

Looking like we’ll be on the plane at the same speed we were in 2011.
Utter shite. At least Dan Parks could put his kicks where they were needed.

[Mikey Brown]

Would anybody suggest I bother watching this if some idiot happens to stick it on YouTube? I usually can’t help but watch if I can, but this sounds really awful.

I’d like to see Hutchinson and Fagerson though.

[Adder]

Just watched the second half then.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) using Tapatalk

[Big D]

I don’t think Barclay was great either, but then again who was? He did catch a sore one relatively early, so I don’t know if that played a part. I don’t expect him to start next week.

By the time the radio broadcast had finished, Townsend still hadn’t come out the dressing room. If they’re still listening to him, that’s probably a good thing.

They have had months of listening to him though and played like that.

Barclay is in the toughest position group. If the others play well he shouldn't be on the plane. Ritchie was left having to carry out both flanking roles IMO. Hard to make turnovers when you are having to make about a 6th of your teams tackles.

[Chunks Baws]

We've conceded an average of 4 tries per game over the last six games. Our defence has been fucking awful for years, why the fuck wasn't Matt Taylor binned ages ago?

[Chunks Baws]

I don’t think Barclay was great either, but then again who was? He did catch a sore one relatively early, so I don’t know if that played a part. I don’t expect him to start next week.

By the time the radio broadcast had finished, Townsend still hadn’t come out the dressing room. If they’re still listening to him, that’s probably a good thing.

They have had months of listening to him though and played like that.

Barclay is in the toughest position group. If the others play well he shouldn't be on the plane. Ritchie was left having to carry out both flanking roles IMO. Hard to make turnovers when you are having to make about a 6th of your teams tackles.

Probably get banned for blasphemy but I wouldn't be that surprised to see Barclay not picked. Not a judgement on him after one quiet warm up game, just saying I wouldn't be surprised.

[Big D]

We've conceded an average of 4 tries per game over the last six games. Our defence has been fucking awful for years, why the fuck wasn't Matt Taylor binned ages ago?

Toonys pal.

I don’t think Barclay was great either, but then again who was? He did catch a sore one relatively early, so I don’t know if that played a part. I don’t expect him to start next week.

By the time the radio broadcast had finished, Townsend still hadn’t come out the dressing room. If they’re still listening to him, that’s probably a good thing.

They have had months of listening to him though and played like that.

Barclay is in the toughest position group. If the others play well he shouldn't be on the plane. Ritchie was left having to carry out both flanking roles IMO. Hard to make turnovers when you are having to make about a 6th of your teams tackles.

Probably get banned for blasphemy but I wouldn't be that surprised to see Barclay not picked. Not a judgement on him after one quiet warm up game, just saying I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm not sure he has shown enough in the big games at the end of the season with European places up for grabs or yesterday to suggest he can get back to his best.

If Bradbury, Wilson, Blade and Fagerson shine then he's in trouble.

[Chunks Baws]

I agree. If Chib is as good as folk say and there's been chat he's made a good impression in training then I think he'll go. I think there was a fair bit made of his ball handling, carrying and 'rugby brain'.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Looks like the "we'll do better next week" mentality comes from Toony:

"We all know we have to show a better picture of ourselves next week at Murrayfield," he added. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49382814

I honestly would not give a toss if we lost the next 2 or 3 permitting we saw actual, objective improvements - a demonstrable improvement in ball retention at lineouts & restarts, a reduction in scrum penalties, an improvement in discipline (less dumb penalties, yellow cards), less knock ons, etc. As that would actually demonstrate improvements in areas we are poor in... rather than just showing up again and hoping it fucking clicks this time.

Furious. A huge, huge waste of fucking talent.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

As Tom English says today "It would be too simplistic to say 'it's just the first game'. It's the continuation of a trend."

He couldn't be more on the money. There has been no marked improvement since Toony came in. We have regressed since the end of the Cotter era/start of the Toony one.

[francoisfou]

Richie Gray, pack your bags, check your passport is valid cos your country needs you!!

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Richie Gray, pack your bags, check your passport is valid cos your country needs you!!

Imagine being arrogant enough to think Richie Gray isn't good enough for this rabble.

[francoisfou]

Richie Gray, pack your bags, check your passport is valid cos your country needs you!!

Imagine being arrogant enough to think Richie Gray isn't good enough for this rabble.

Do you seriously believe that Townsend thinks that?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Richie Gray, pack your bags, check your passport is valid cos your country needs you!!

Imagine being arrogant enough to think Richie Gray isn't good enough for this rabble.

Do you seriously believe that Townsend thinks that?

He's never shown a preference for Gray. What other reason is there? He is fit, he is available and he has had a pretty damn good season. He's also played at a higher level of rugby than any other Scottish qualified lock this season. No reason at all for him to not be in the squad so you have to assume the selectors think he is not needed.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49387742

[Mikey Brown]

Yup.

[Big D]

Imagine being arrogant enough to think Richie Gray isn't good enough for this rabble.

Do you seriously believe that Townsend thinks that?

He's never shown a preference for Gray. What other reason is there? He is fit, he is available and he has had a pretty damn good season. He's also played at a higher level of rugby than any other Scottish qualified lock this season. No reason at all for him to not be in the squad so you have to assume the selectors think he is not needed.

I'd fully support Gray taking the Jim Hamilton approach and retiring.

If you can't get picked for that then you are as well focusing on a club career.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Do you seriously believe that Townsend thinks that?

He's never shown a preference for Gray. What other reason is there? He is fit, he is available and he has had a pretty damn good season. He's also played at a higher level of rugby than any other Scottish qualified lock this season. No reason at all for him to not be in the squad so you have to assume the selectors think he is not needed.

I'd fully support Gray taking the Jim Hamilton approach and retiring.

If you can't get picked for that then you are as well focusing on a club career.

I hope he doesn't. I am still optimistic he will play for Scotland again.

I've said it plenty of times before - we do NOT have the numbers to ever, ever alienate international quality players. It should never have been done with Barclay and the same applies to RG.

[whatisthejava]

Any word on the Barclays hit. Live t looked bad, on twitter after it looked like a straight red that the best ref in the world ignored

What to say except utter pish, patterns didn’t work, defensive shape was non existent , was about 50 mins in when we actually got over the ball.

Backs just ran sideways , chips over with shit,

Either toony went from winning a pro 14 to being utter crap or he is intentionally making everyone think we are pish.





Just for a minute can you imagine if that was true.

Would be the best thing o happen in rugby since that England v Italy game.

Oh well scrape into a quarter where we get battered by the all blacks

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Either toony went from winning a pro 14 to being utter crap or he is intentionally making everyone think we are pish.

Toony's Glasgow side got prison shamed with no plan B in sight plenty of times as well. Don't forget that. When it clicked Glasgow were good just like Scotland are good but they were still very much a Jekyll & Hyde team. Despite no silverware last season & a worse squad, I think Rennie got the team stepping up a level.

[whatisthejava]

Either toony went from winning a pro 14 to being utter crap or he is intentionally making everyone think we are pish.

Toony's Glasgow side got prison shamed with no plan B in sight plenty of times as well. Don't forget that. When it clicked Glasgow were good just like Scotland are good but they were still very much a Jekyll & Hyde team. Despite no silverware last season & a worse squad, I think Rennie got the team stepping up a level.

You saw the next bit where I rubished that as an idea.

But times up for toony but they will get rid of Taylor first and try and get a solid defense coach to work with him before he is fired

[Big D]

He's never shown a preference for Gray. What other reason is there? He is fit, he is available and he has had a pretty damn good season. He's also played at a higher level of rugby than any other Scottish qualified lock this season. No reason at all for him to not be in the squad so you have to assume the selectors think he is not needed.

I'd fully support Gray taking the Jim Hamilton approach and retiring.

If you can't get picked for that then you are as well focusing on a club career.

I hope he doesn't. I am still optimistic he will play for Scotland again.

I've said it plenty of times before - we do NOT have the numbers to ever, ever alienate international quality players. It should never have been done with Barclay and the same applies to RG.

I hope he doesn't but he is 30 soon and the staff don't rate him by the looks of things.

This is a contract year for him so if he were to say "that's it for me as I probably wont make the next RWC and I can sign another 4 year deal like my last one" then I think that is fair enough and I'd wish him the best of luck.

We have really missed him IMO. Almost inexcusable oversight given the issues we've had.

[Big D]

Either toony went from winning a pro 14 to being utter crap or he is intentionally making everyone think we are pish.

Toony's Glasgow side got prison shamed with no plan B in sight plenty of times as well. Don't forget that. When it clicked Glasgow were good just like Scotland are good but they were still very much a Jekyll & Hyde team. Despite no silverware last season & a worse squad, I think Rennie got the team stepping up a level.

And their backs coach could easily have still been the national sides backs coach.

[Cameo]

Wow I knew that there would be an overreaction if we played badly but not this bad. However disappointing, it's the first game of preseason against good team. Let's not sack the whole coaching team until at least after the first game of the tournament.

And that is not saying that I don't think that Gray should be in the team or that the defence is dodgy. I just struggle to see the last two years as a disaster.