RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:

septic 9 wrote:not sure Hogg is going to be fit

Where's this from?

No pre-announcement announcement announcement on Twitter yet so it might make sense if they're waiting on a late fitness test or two.

He hobbled off at the weekend and Hogg rarely comes off if the problem isn't significant.

Mikey Brown wrote:

septic 9 wrote:not sure Hogg is going to be fit

Where's this from?

No pre-announcement announcement announcement on Twitter yet so it might make sense if they're waiting on a late fitness test or two.

I believe he is doubtful. Will not be called until team named. Even then could be pulled before KO if not right

septic 9 wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

septic 9 wrote:not sure Hogg is going to be fit

Where's this from?

No pre-announcement announcement announcement on Twitter yet so it might make sense if they're waiting on a late fitness test or two.

I believe he is doubtful. Will not be called until team named. Even then could be pulled before KO if not right

Would potentially derail my Hogg for Lions captain one man bandwagon.

Big D wrote:

septic 9 wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:
Where's this from?

No pre-announcement announcement announcement on Twitter yet so it might make sense if they're waiting on a late fitness test or two.

I believe he is doubtful. Will not be called until team named. Even then could be pulled before KO if not right

Would potentially derail my Hogg for Lions captain one man bandwagon.

Its gaining momentum, squidge mentioned him

whatisthejava wrote:

Big D wrote:

septic 9 wrote:
I believe he is doubtful. Will not be called until team named. Even then could be pulled before KO if not right

Would potentially derail my Hogg for Lions captain one man bandwagon.

Its gaining momentum, squidge mentioned him

I have been on it since the England game.

team

Can’t afford for Russell to go down early if Hoggy is carrying a few niggles, given the bench.

Otherwise all makes sense. Lang has been pretty anonymous and Maitland was excellent, really good in the England game.

Maybe Huw Jones would finally find his calling as a flyhalf.

I like that side generally. We weren’t willing to use VDW so I say good, take the risk. Really hoping Johnson is fully up to speed though.

Gilchrist and Haining is hardly inspiring but they are least some reasonably experienced heads to bring on later in the game. Why no Skinner though?

I hope Graham gets some time, harsh to be taken off for Fagerson after scoring a try and then drop to the bench, as much as Maitland was great the week before.

Ritchie back is huge. Going to be a great backrows battle.

Don't like Bharti,, Gilchrist and Haining on the bench. None feel like a form pick. If it's close late then we could lose it there.

switchskier wrote:Ritchie back is huge. Going to be a great backrows battle.

Don't like Bharti,, Gilchrist and Haining on the bench. None feel like a form pick. If it's close late then we could lose it there.

Kebble must be injured

Gilchrist over Skinner is hard to justify

Haining, meh, but as good as other available back row bench options, but only because Toonie won't bring back Wilson

Decent looking first XV. Bench selection is a bit of a mixed bag: we're in trouble if anything happens to Finn, though exciting that we could bring on Darcy and Huw Jones for a bit of mayhem later in the match

septic 9 wrote:

switchskier wrote:Ritchie back is huge. Going to be a great backrows battle.

Don't like Bharti,, Gilchrist and Haining on the bench. None feel like a form pick. If it's close late then we could lose it there.

Kebble must be injured

Gilchrist over Skinner is hard to justify

Haining, meh, but as good as other available back row bench options, but only because Toonie won't bring back Wilson

Kebble hasn't been particularly good for us but I agree he must be injured.

GG over Skinner simply isn't based on performance levels and the coaches would be lying if they say it was. GG on form is way way down the list of 2nd rows deserving a that spot. Skinner must have pissed on somebodies chips.

My big hope for this weekend - that Earls, the wee scrote, doesn't score a try. Always seems to pick up a score against us.

Haven't bothered to check whether they will be in direct opposition but if DVDM is up against Earls hopefully he makes roadkill of him.

Apart from that, I suppose a W would be decent.

ARM wrote:if DVDM is up against Earls hopefully he makes roadkill of him.

Ah, the slow-motion highlights would be a rare treat in these difficult times.

ARM wrote:My big hope for this weekend - that Earls, the wee scrote, doesn't score a try. Always seems to pick up a score against us.

Haven't bothered to check whether they will be in direct opposition but if DVDM is up against Earls hopefully he makes roadkill of him.

highly likely I think. IIRC both VDM and Lowe usually play left wing, Maitland right, altho both he and Earls do either

Is Richie Gray injured? The only change I’d make is Skinner for Gilchrist

I think I would have gone Graham over Maitland. Maitland was very good v England but other than that I would say he has been average (although solid) for a while. On the other hand, I think quite how good Graham has been since he first came in has been massively underrated. He scores from range, he scores in traffic, he gets involved and makes ground through the middle, he tackles and gets the odd turnover, he's decent for a little guy under the high ball.

Ally wrote:Decent looking first XV. Bench selection is a bit of a mixed bag: we're in trouble if anything happens to Finn, though exciting that we could bring on Darcy and Huw Jones for a bit of mayhem later in the match

The attack does worry me to be honest. While we have Finn, Hogg and VDM we have a chance. This relies on all being fit on form and an obliging opposition not intent on knee-capping them (other body parts also available). How often are those stars going to align?

Hopefully Jones is given longer than the "if I must" seven minutes Toonie has afforded him thus far.
Johnson may add some line breaking but our midfield has been a bottle neck for a while. I keep hearing about Harris' defensive strengths but good as they may be, the drop off in attack compared to Jones is far greater than Jones supposed defensive frailties compared to Harris.

Harris is on 25 caps now. No longer a novice and should bear reasonable comparison to Jones' 28 games. No contest.

Its the knock on effect (no pun intended) that hurts us most. We become even more reliant on Finn or Hogg to create or conjure from nothing or throw a long one to VDM to do the same. Too easy to defend or, in Irelands case, 'take out of the game'

I get we needed to reign in the fastest rugby in the world stuff but we have gone too far the other way in my view. Scotland, in any sport, is never going to win close ones where a ref's decision or defeat from jaws of victory are factors.

Our red zone coversion continues to be appaling but have sacrificed the long range, multi vectored attack for the safe & predictable dressed up as 'defensive solidity'.

Reading the justfication behind Gilchrist over Skinner, GT says that club form & previuos displays for the national team were deciding factors. Sound reasoning.....baffling conclusion & selection.

Cameo wrote:I think I would have gone Graham over Maitland. Maitland was very good v England but other than that I would say he has been average (although solid) for a while. On the other hand, I think quite how good Graham has been since he first came in has been massively underrated. He scores from range, he scores in traffic, he gets involved and makes ground through the middle, he tackles and gets the odd turnover, he's decent for a little guy under the high ball.

Maitland was brilliant v England.
oud back himself more but doesn't make mistakes, excellent defence. Smart player
He is usually excellent under the high ball, best we have. Do you think, just maybe Ireland, will launch a few high ones for Earls to barge into the catcher? Better the 6'1" 15st plus than the 5'8" 13st one under that

septic 9 wrote:

Cameo wrote:I think I would have gone Graham over Maitland. Maitland was very good v England but other than that I would say he has been average (although solid) for a while. On the other hand, I think quite how good Graham has been since he first came in has been massively underrated. He scores from range, he scores in traffic, he gets involved and makes ground through the middle, he tackles and gets the odd turnover, he's decent for a little guy under the high ball.

Maitland was brilliant v England.
oud back himself more but doesn't make mistakes, excellent defence. Smart player
He is usually excellent under the high ball, best we have. Do you think, just maybe Ireland, will launch a few high ones for Earls to barge into the catcher? Better the 6'1" 15st plus than the 5'8" 13st one under that

Yeah, Maitland is good under the high ball (although I wouldn't say he is really dominant) but I think Graham is excellent in that area for his size. I just think Graham offers more all round but can see why the call was made.

Predictions? I reckon that Ireland strangle the game and us and end up winning by around 9. Their pack will make it a stuffy game and we won't be able to unpick them off slow ball.

We're playing Ireland so time for a bit of ref ranting. If that's a maul why is it not a penalty for Henderson dragging it down?

I want a replay for knock on by earls please

Scotland dragging arse. They need to get into this.

I hate Ireland and everyone in it.