AI Squad & general match thread

[BlackCat1978]

What did Gilchrist do to get dropped!? He was terrific against Fiji - again!

[Cameo]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

No idea but 6ft 5 and under 17.5st is sort of Jerome Kaino sized. So 6 may suit him better.

Haha on that basis I am Finn Russell

[Big D]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

No idea but 6ft 5 and under 17.5st is sort of Jerome Kaino sized. So 6 may suit him better.

Haha on that basis I am Finn Russell

Hi Finn. Can you get me a BMW from your new sponsors please?

What I meant was Skinner is a small second row. His size may see him better suited to 6 and occasionally cover 2nd row.

[Puja]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

[Cameo]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

Have to admit I'm normally in the camp that would rather a mobile lock than a big 6 but not seen enough of him to really judge

[Big D]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

[Puja]

Does anyone know if Skinner plays much in the back row for exeter? I suppose we have a lot of mobility with the other two

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

TBH, I'd've taken Graham at 6 myself. Skinner's very promising, but he is a lock who can play 6, rather than a proper back row.

Puja

[OptimisticJock]

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

TBH, I'd've taken Graham at 6 myself. Skinner's very promising, but he is a lock who can play 6, rather than a proper back row.

Puja

It's all part of the Toony Tombola.

[Big D]

He's played there a few times and is marked down as a flank or lock by Exeter, however most of his breakthrough has been playing lock. Seems a bizarre selection to me - surely you have enough square pegs for that square hole?

Puja

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

TBH, I'd've taken Graham at 6 myself. Skinner's very promising, but he is a lock who can play 6, rather than a proper back row.

Puja

Yes but the world cup squad may benefit more from a second row that can cover back row in an emergency than another back rower. The split is likely to be 4 second rows and 5 back rowers. We have loads of back rowers available when fit and many permutations can be selected, of which Graham may be one.

So seeing if Skinner could be an emergency 6, whilst also being selected for a game specific gameplan, isn't a bad idea IMO.

Graham has been with the squad less than a week, he will likely play next week v Argentina and will have a chance of making the RWC squad.

From where we are now if I were to take a stab at it, I would say our 2nd row and back row in the RWC squad will be:
Grays x2, Gilchrist, Skinner - Toolis if Richie Gray isn't fit
Watson, Barclay/Ritchie, Bradbury, Wilson and Thompson

[Mikey Brown]

Am I right in thinking Hines was at 6 when we beat SA in 2010 with Townsend as assistant/attack coach?

[Cameo]

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

TBH, I'd've taken Graham at 6 myself. Skinner's very promising, but he is a lock who can play 6, rather than a proper back row.

Puja

Yes but the world cup squad may benefit more from a second row that can cover back row in an emergency than another back rower. The split is likely to be 4 second rows and 5 back rowers. We have loads of back rowers available when fit and many permutations can be selected, of which Graham may be one.

So seeing if Skinner could be an emergency 6, whilst also being selected for a game specific gameplan, isn't a bad idea IMO.

Graham has been with the squad less than a week, he will likely play next week v Argentina and will have a chance of making the RWC squad.

From where we are now if I were to take a stab at it, I would say our 2nd row and back row in the RWC squad will be:
Grays x2, Gilchrist, Skinner - Toolis if Richie Gray isn't fit
Watson, Barclay/Ritchie, Bradbury, Wilson and Thompson

That makes sense. 5 back row really is quite tight for a wc (we have a little flexibility with our hookers as well). It is also a useful in game option (like swinson has done).

Still wouldnt want it as our number one choice but you have persuaded me it makes sense for this game

[switchskier]

We have at least 3 blind sides that I can think of that are injured.

I suspect this move is with an eye on the RWC squad and having some flexibility.

TBH, I'd've taken Graham at 6 myself. Skinner's very promising, but he is a lock who can play 6, rather than a proper back row.

Puja

Yes but the world cup squad may benefit more from a second row that can cover back row in an emergency than another back rower. The split is likely to be 4 second rows and 5 back rowers. We have loads of back rowers available when fit and many permutations can be selected, of which Graham may be one.

So seeing if Skinner could be an emergency 6, whilst also being selected for a game specific gameplan, isn't a bad idea IMO.

Graham has been with the squad less than a week, he will likely play next week v Argentina and will have a chance of making the RWC squad.

From where we are now if I were to take a stab at it, I would say our 2nd row and back row in the RWC squad will be:
Grays x2, Gilchrist, Skinner - Toolis if Richie Gray isn't fit
Watson, Barclay/Ritchie, Bradbury, Wilson and Thompson

This sounds about right and we know that Toonie has always liked Swinson as a player. This looks like the test run to see if he can fill that spot and if he's an upgrade or not.

I guess it's the same reason that Harris is on the bench but I'd still rather have seen Kinghorn. The idea of him at full back with Hogg providing emergency centre cover is quite exciting.

[OptimisticJock]

10. Hastings 12. Russell. 13. Hogg. 15. Kinghorn

[ARM]

10. Hastings 12. Russell. 13. Hogg. 15. Kinghorn

10 Hastings
12 Russell
14 Kinghorn
15 Hogg

Interests me.

[Mikey Brown]

Dunno if the SA team is up but Faf de Klerk starts for Sale.

[laribold]

SA Team:

15. Willie le Roux
14. Sbu Nkosi
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Aphiwe Dyantyi
10. Handré Pollard
9. Embrose Papier
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
5. Franco Mostert
4. R.G. Snyman
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Malcolm Marx
1. Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements:

16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Francois Louw, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe.

[ARM]

SA Team:

15. Willie le Roux
14. Sbu Nkosi
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Aphiwe Dyantyi
10. Handré Pollard
9. Embrose Papier
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
6. Siya Kolisi (captain)
5. Franco Mostert
4. R.G. Snyman
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Malcolm Marx
1. Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements:

16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Francois Louw, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe.

Scotland by 48.

[whatisthejava]

To close to call for me. Wasn’t really impressed with SA last week against France. As long as we don’t give them a 14 point head start I think we will be ok.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I have this horrible feeling we're going to give Papier v little attention because he's a green rookie. He's their version of George Horne but faster. A lot faster.

[BlackCat1978]

I have this horrible feeling we're going to give Papier v little attention because he's a green rookie. He's their version of George Horne but faster. A lot faster.

Hardly! He'd have to be Usain Bolt to be 'much faster' than Horne!

[laribold]

I have this horrible feeling we're going to give Papier v little attention because he's a green rookie. He's their version of George Horne but faster. A lot faster.

Given that he's a rookie I'd hope that we do the exact opposite and target him.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I just don't understand how in the first minute and a half of the game with no pressure and inside the oppo half you can take the wrong option and pass to an isolated man who inevitably gets turned over.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I mean yeah, there was some superb work done from SA to get that try but the 13 barged through about 4 white shirts from 5m out to score that... pathetic defence as usual

[Big D]

Pish. Watch that try.

Woeful kick. Wilson gets stepped then fucking doddles back. Watson partly to blame too but Wilson can't bomb up when Watson isn't there.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Is Poite forgetting he can use the TMO? The Jones block is definitely worth a look, given the ball went out of play why would you not?