Way too early RWC Squad

[Stones of granite]

Found it.

https://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-unio ... raw/170723

The omissions make sense then but still not happy with Richie's decision. If you can't be arsed to play in the RWC for your country then when?

Changes my opinion on the non selection. Any criticism of the coaches was wrong given this revelation.

The "can't be arsed" is nonsense. In his position with a new born and his 1st I can see exactly why he wouldn't want to be away from home now, And that is assuming (touch wood) everything has gone well with the wee ones arrival. It is not just the RWC, it is all the camps/team building/etc.

Yep. Just had a kid, struggled to get fully fit in the last few years and potentially doing a whole lot of travel to not even be first choice (or make the final squad) is a whole lot more understandable.

Plus, things have changed. These are full time professional Rugby players now, and like their professional soccer playing buddies, they will have one eye on longevity. The idea of country above all else is disappearing and will soon be as much history in Rugby as it is in fitba'.

[Adder]

Found it.

https://www.sportinglife.com/rugby-unio ... raw/170723

The omissions make sense then but still not happy with Richie's decision. If you can't be arsed to play in the RWC for your country then when?

Changes my opinion on the non selection. Any criticism of the coaches was wrong given this revelation.

The "can't be arsed" is nonsense. In his position with a new born and his 1st I can see exactly why he wouldn't want to be away from home now, And that is assuming (touch wood) everything has gone well with the wee ones arrival. It is not just the RWC, it is all the camps/team building/etc.

I'm afraid not. His name is Ostin...

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I disagree. He'd be gone for 2 months if that. Rugby players have boatloads of free time, outside of the international commitments he would have had a far better work-life balance than your average Joe. The time could easily be made up... he could retire or rule himself out of the 6N going forward but the RWC is the big one...

Getting into the team shouldn't be an issue now that we know it's his choice and not Gregor's. He is the second best lock available to Scotland and by some distance.

[Big D]

I disagree. He'd be gone for 2 months if that. Rugby players have boatloads of free time, outside of the international commitments he would have had a far better work-life balance than your average Joe. The time could easily be made up... he could retire or rule himself out of the 6N going forward but the RWC is the big one...

Getting into the team shouldn't be an issue now that we know it's his choice and not Gregor's. He is the second best lock available to Scotland and by some distance.

The players have been in and out of camp since June. I am not exactly sure when he had to make the call. It sounds like at the time of the original squad.

Having had 2 kids and been able to spend 4 weeks uninterrupted with them, if I were in his shoes (played in a WC) I would be very tempted to stay at home. That early new born phase time can't be made up later and if he wants to make that call it is very different from "can't be arsed".

[francoisfou]

He's clearly weighed up the pros and cons and has made his decision - the correct one in my opinion.
Having said that, he'll be sorely missed, but maybe he'll be available to play in the semis and the final in the event of an emergency!

[Mikey Brown]

Would we rather Swinson play 6 or Thomson play lock? I just can’t get on board with this idea Swinson can play flanker to any particularly useful level.

[Big D]

Would we rather Swinson play 6 or Thomson play lock? I just can’t get on board with this idea Swinson can play flanker to any particularly useful level.

Swinson shouldn't make the squad.

[General Zod]

I think Swinson will start in georgia. Good luck to him.

Also expect Kinghorn at full back as well.

[Mikey Brown]

Would we rather Swinson play 6 or Thomson play lock? I just can’t get on board with this idea Swinson can play flanker to any particularly useful level.

Swinson shouldn't make the squad.

My real question I suppose is what value we were actually putting on a lock that can play 6, be that Skinner or Swinson, as all our backrows bar Watson have played there plenty. 4 specialist locks would be great, I just really don't feel like ditching any of the backrows for Swinson, but it's probably begging for an injury crisis if we do that.

[Big D]

Would we rather Swinson play 6 or Thomson play lock? I just can’t get on board with this idea Swinson can play flanker to any particularly useful level.

Swinson shouldn't make the squad.

My real question I suppose is what value we were actually putting on a lock that can play 6, be that Skinner or Swinson, as all our backrows bar Watson have played there plenty. 4 specialist locks would be great, I just really don't feel like ditching any of the backrows for Swinson, but it's probably begging for an injury crisis if we do that.

All our "big games" are a week apart. The short week game is Russia.

Last time a GG injury half way through the group stages saw the balance change to 3 and 6. But that was after our short week.

We should be ok with 4 and 5. Russia shouldn't be too difficult a game, they were hammered by Italy and beaten by Jersey Reds so if it came to it we could maybe even "protect" some of the 1st choice guys on the bench by not bringing them on.

[Chunks Baws]

Would we rather Swinson play 6 or Thomson play lock? I just can’t get on board with this idea Swinson can play flanker to any particularly useful level.

I saw on Twitter last night that Thomson played 1/3 of his games for the Hurricanes at lock, so you'd think he's capable in that position.

[Mikey Brown]

Yup. I imagine it would be the usual deal with players like that where you sap a whole lot of their energy with scrums and playing a tighter role in the game, reducing his chances to run free, carry and support play etc. But I'd only be considering this as an emergency 4th lock.

Maybe that's a bad idea, unfair on whomever misses out from Swinson/Toolis/Cummings, or unnecessary to have 6 backrows anyway.

[Cameo]

I know it is just online and journalists but I just have to hope coaches aren't as reactionary as some. Strauss has a few good carries with 20 mins to go against Georgia and suddenly he has to go for his carrying. Equally, Harris has one solid game out of 5/6 and he is the solid lynchpin we need.

I think one game can show a lot for someone new or returning from injury/bad form but we have plenty of evidence of what Strauss can do.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Got a feeling that Bradbury is nailed to travel to the RWC. I know he's got a knock but he's not been looked at yet and the team is named before the next game. What was the point in taking him with the group to Georgia this weekend, etc if he wasn't going to be included & had no way of putting his hand up either?

[Mikey Brown]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/620f ... afb66e7c98

[Big D]

Behind the pay wall.

Crib notes?

[Mikey Brown]

PROPS

Scotland look likely to follow the new convention of taking five, with Simon Berghan’s brief switch to loosehead against France suggesting he will be asked to cover both sides. Allan Dell played some tighthead in the South Africa under-20 team that won the 2012 Junior World Championship, but the theory is it’s easier to move from three to one than the other way round
Who goes: Allan Dell, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Zander Fagerson, Simon Berghan
Who misses out: Jamie Bhatti

HOOKERS

Stuart McInally starts in clear pole position and will likely captain. Fraser Brown seems set to travel despite not playing since suffering a foot injury in the Pro14 final, and at openside in Argentina last summer showed he has not lost any of his back-row smarts. Grant Stewart has made a fine stab at leapfrogging George Turner, not least with his improved arrows, and isn’t actually much less experienced. A mightily tight call
Who goes: Stuart McInally, Fraser Brown, George Turner
Who misses out: Grant Stewart

LOCKS

Townsend’s plans for the back-five of the scrum have been badly disrupted by the enforced withdrawal of Sam Skinner. Assuming Blade Thomson continues to recover well from last Saturday’s head knock, the Kiwi could well become the “crossover” lock/loosie, having played much of his formative rugby in the second row back home. Jonny Gray has had a hamstring tweak but probably needed the rest anyway. The big decision is whether to go with Ben Toolis’ solid bases or the rawer, all-action style of Scott Cummings
Who goes: Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Ben Toolis
Who misses out: Scott Cummings

BACK ROW

If Thomson is picked as the “hybrid” – the 2015 version, Tim Swinson, has joined training this week – it reduces the back-row congestion. John Barclay and Hamish Watson are nailed on, while Jamie Ritchie, the most consistent Scottish forward in the Six Nations, further enhanced his claims with an impressive display amid the chaos of Nice. Ryan Wilson’s leadership and lineout nous become more important in the absence of Skinner, which may leave a straight fight between Matt Fagerson and Magnus Bradbury. Bradbury (ribs) has yet to feature since Twickenham, but did the warm-up in Tbilisi and his size is a major asset
Who goes: John Barclay, Hamish Watson, Blade Thomson, Jamie Ritchie, Ryan Wilson, Magnus Bradbury
Who misses out: Matt Fagerson, Josh Strauss

SCRUM-HALVES

The only issue here is the pecking order. Ali Price is assumed to be the man best suited to the game Scotland want to play, but has yet to prove he can exert the same influence when the other team won’t play along. Greig Laidlaw’s controlling influence was writ large in the ship-steadying after the Scots again conceded early at home to France and he should start against Ireland
Who goes: Greig Laidlaw, Ali Price, George Horne
Who misses out: nobody

STAND-OFF

To get Scotland out of a pool where one false move could prove fatal, Finn Russell will have to start three games. Russia, who were thumped 85-15 by Italy last month and lost at home to Jersey last midweek, should not demand his presence. The obvious move here is Adam Hastings, but with composure and decision-making still an issue for the 22-year-old, Townsend could opt to take the 2007 route with one out-and-out 10 and some non-specialist backup. This way, both Pete Horne and Rory Hutchinson get on the plane. The challenge comes if one of them has to start against someone other than Russia, but Hastings would not necessarily inspire much more confidence in that context
Who goes: Finn Russell
Who misses out: Adam Hastings

CENTRES

First the easy bit: Duncan Taylor and Sam Johnson are both going. Now the hard part. What to do with the other two spots. Well, if we sacrifice Hastings, two slots become three, in which case our choices are Hutchinson, Chris Harris and Pete Horne, Townsend’s default inside centre and second playmaker in the Taylor injury years. Missing out would complete a spectacular fall from grace for Huw Jones, but as Hutchinson showed against Georgia, he offers a similar individual threat, is a more natural defender and is bang in form. His stand-off experience is not the most recent, but helps tip the balance. Harris does not have Jones’ pace, but his is a game of robust foundations. Scotland have enough players capable of winning a game – Harris is one of those who can help you not to lose them.
Who goes: Duncan Taylor, Sam Johnson, Pete Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Chris Harris
Who misses out: Huw Jones

BACK THREE

There are four whose claims seem incontestable: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Sean Maitland and Darcy Graham. Blair Kinghorn has played Test rugby at both full-back and centre and the warm-up games suggest he has been working on the aggressiveness of his chase and his all-round levels of involvement. Taylor has also been a starting full-back for Scotland, which could convince Townsend to grant Hastings a reprieve, with the knock-on effect of Harris being bracketed with the back three. In that case, it’s Kinghorn who likely suffers

Who goes: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Sean Maitland, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn
Who misses out: Byron McGuigan

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone actually heard anything solid on Chib’s concussion status? Why are we so terrible with injury updates?

[Big D]

Mark Palmer is usually pretty spot on with info but leaving Hastings out would be a massive shock IMO.

[Mikey Brown]

I mean I definitely don’t think he’s positing it as the likely selection, but it’s interesting to see some of those choices.

[Cameo]

Mark Palmer is usually pretty spot on with info but leaving Hastings out would be a massive shock IMO.

I for one would be much happier Hastings starting a key game at 10 than any of the other backups.

Palmer at least has some logic to his selections though albeit I'm still struggling with Harris (and the three lock idea)

[Big D]

Mark Palmer is usually pretty spot on with info but leaving Hastings out would be a massive shock IMO.

I for one would be much happier Hastings starting a key game at 10 than any of the other backups.

Palmer at least has some logic to his selections though albeit I'm still struggling with Harris (and the three lock idea)

Yeah it would be better with Hastings.

We went with 3 locks on the last RWC after GG got hurt but that was after our short week. Not sure I'd want to do it from the start.

[General Zod]

I can see where he’s coming from with the Hastings thing. Would certainly be a shock.

As far as 3 locks go, again, it makes sense if Thomson is picked. Would have made even more sense if Thomson and Skinner were there, but that’s not to be. If we are doing it, much as I think Toolis is a good player with plenty of caps left in him, I’d pick Cummins.

[Mikey Brown]

It's tough. I'm not sure I could say I've actually seen any evidence of it but Toolis seems to be acknowledged as our best set-piece lock. Cummings just looks a more natural rugby player and good in the loose, but I don't know that I'd necessarily take both vs Thomson + another backrow.

He's a good jumper, though our lineout continues to be utter garbage regardless of who is playing. Interestingly (presuming we follow the trend everyone else does of having their strongest scrummager on the tight-head) packs down on the tight-head, even alongside Gilchrist, who in turn will pack down on the TH ahead of Skinner, which I found surprising.

[General Zod]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49541590

Bbc take on it. Doesn’t acknowledge that Kinghorn has significant experience at full back, but other than that it’s a decent read.

Having read a few articles now and doing my best not to work, I think Hastings is indeed vulnerable. Would be a big call, but I guess that’s Toony’s Job.