6 Nations 2020

[Cameo]

Hi guys, I'm back after a password related hiatus.

For me, a lot of the squad is fairly predictable but excited about a few spots.

In particular, the centres will be key. I don't know how many he will pick but I would want Johnson, Scott, Hutchison and Jones all in the mix. Let's get back to being a team with multiple threats. Russell looks like he is on top form but teams will have strategies and it is too predictable is it is just him and Hogg.

The main other interesting one (for different reasons) is loosehead (though perhaps the 23 rather than the squad. Seen a few reports that Sutherland is finding some form again but otherwise seems like a worrying time.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. It’s the best I’ve seen Bennett play for a good while though too.

How good has Jones been and how much is just us desperately wanting him to return to form?

Hutchinson hasn’t been scoring tries at the same ridiculous rate but I have a feeling he is one of those guys that just makes a backline tick, gluing everything together as well as being capable of magic moments himself. If his defence is deemed good enough.

Harris being the new defensive leader and saviour at 13 is the big one though. Will GT even look to replace him?

[Mikey Brown]

None of it will amount to anything if we can’t find a loosehead though.

[General Zod]

Welcome back.

I see Hutchison starts more often at 13 - does anyone know what he’s like at 12? If he’s good there too (and can deal with Warrenball mk II), then I can see him starting there and...Bennett at 13.

Re: loosehead - is the Berghan experiment over?

[septic 9]

How good has Jones been and how much is just us desperately wanting him to return to form?

a while back I said that Jones had to earn his place for Glasgow first. He knew what he had to do - been told what he had to do. Pleased to say it looks like he knuckled down and worked on stuff.
He has been playing very well the past few weeks. A couple of kinder rolls of the ball and the headlines would have been all about him last weekend

[switchskier]

Welcome back.

I see Hutchison starts more often at 13 - does anyone know what he’s like at 12? If he’s good there too (and can deal with Warrenball mk II), then I can see him starting there and...Bennett at 13.

Re: loosehead - is the Berghan experiment over?

Hutchinson has been playing a lot more at 12 recently to accommodate Proctor, hence a lot fewer outside breaks and tries. He can evidently play there but he seems far more dangerous one further out. I'm also concerned about the amount of rugby he's played this season, hasn't had a break in ages and is maybe starting to look a bit weary, bearing in mind this is his first season of playing week in week out.

[Mikey Brown]

Good to hear on Jones. As I said at the time was hard to tell if he biffed those two tries or it was just an unlucky bounce (or not) both times.

Hutchinson seems slightly quieter at 12, with less space to run, but has so much time on the ball he still works really well as a second distributor. I’d see a pairing with Bennett as still being a bit light in traffic though.

We need someone who can hit it up. Johnson or Scott for me.

Berghan at loosehead isn’t the worst option I suppose, particularly with Fagerson playing so well, but I’m not sure he ever really got tested there in the scrum?

[General Zod]

We need someone who can hit it up. Johnson or Scott for me.

Berghan at loosehead isn’t the worst option I suppose, particularly with Fagerson playing so well, but I’m not sure he ever really got tested there in the scrum?

Have Scott and Hutch ever played together? I don’t think so. Still, may be worth a look at some point.

For me, Fagerson starts. He’s played better than I have seen him play before. Ok, some further improvement in the scrum would be welcome, but the rest of his game has come on well.

[Mikey Brown]

Hutchinson literally just has 1 start outside Johnson, 1 sub outside Horne and 1 sub alongside Jones.

[septic 9]

Berghan at loosehead isn’t the worst option I suppose, particularly with Fagerson playing so well, but I’m not sure he ever really got tested there in the scrum?

Berghan at LH was a RWC issue only after deciding to only take 5 props. Even there he was not gong to be asked to play against the better sides. He isn't an option at LH. He should be above Nel for TH. Nel looks done to me, will only be in the squad as there is no-one else

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, doesn't seem to be featuring much for Edinburgh at the moment.

[Big D]

Hogg captain of a 38 man squad. Squad announced soon.

[Mikey Brown]

Well I'm not really a fan of a fullback as captain in general but he is one of few to show any sort of leadership and tactical nous in the last year or two.

I really hope McInally can shake off the RWC and get back to where he was as a player. We still need him, Jonny, Gilchrist etc. to be taking charge up front.

The biggest plus for me is it's not Wilson, which inevitably secures him a starting spot.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm not sure if a 38 man squad gets cut down or not. I would guess not.

Biggest questions still at loosehead, how many second rows (are TTRI or Skinner really valid options?), can we finally ditch Wilson, both centre slots and I suppose it's just a matter of McGuigan taking Seymour's spot if we want a 5th specialist back-three player? I can see GT using Harris's ability to play wing to justify his selection.

[Mikey Brown]

[Mikey Brown]

1. Dell, Sutherland, Bhatti
2. McInally, Brown, Turner
3. Fagerson, Berghan, Nel
4. Cummings, Gilchrist
5. Gray, Toolis, Craig
6. Bradbury, Crosbie
7. Watson, Ritchie, Gordon
8. Du Preez, Haining

9. Price, Horne, Pyrgos
10. Russell, Hastings
11. Graham, McGuigan
12. Johnson, Scott
13. Harris, Jones, Hutchinson
14. Maitland, Steyn, Tagive
15. Hogg (c), Kinghorn

Right...

[Mikey Brown]

Didn't occur to me that Craig, Gordon, Haining or Tagive would even be considered.

Great to ditch Wilson but what has Fagerson done to turn GT off? I know he's been banned but I thought he was back next week?

Skinner and Thomson presumably just down to game time?

Why the fuck do we need 8 players who can play on the wing?

[Mikey Brown]

I just watched Tagive's highlight reel in which he managed to beat only 2 defenders. What the fuck is this guy doing there? Am I missing something?

[Big D]

The thing with Tagive, is that he is at best 6th choice and that is before the summer when the latest JockBok qualifies (read some say he is eligible for NZ game rather than waiting until the AIs).

Squad is ok with injuries to some who probably would be picked. Bennett a little unlucky but other 13s have been playing well.

[switchskier]

1. Dell, Sutherland, Bhatti
2. McInally, Brown, Turner
3. Fagerson, Berghan, Nel
4. Cummings, Gilchrist
5. Gray, Toolis, Craig
6. Bradbury, Crosbie
7. Watson, Ritchie, Gordon
8. Du Preez, Haining

9. Price, Horne, Pyrgos
10. Russell, Hastings
11. Graham, McGuigan
12. Johnson, Scott
13. Harris, Jones, Hutchinson
14. Maitland, Steyn, Tagive
15. Hogg (c), Kinghorn

Right...

Tagive? Haining? Gordon? Not remotely close to first choice for their clubs and it's not as if there are other countries lining up to claim them. The whole point of Haining was that he'd be available during the 6N. Also annoyed at Steyn over Horne and Bennett. Feeling all a bit Greg about that squad.

[Big D]

1. Dell, Sutherland, Bhatti
2. McInally, Brown, Turner
3. Fagerson, Berghan, Nel
4. Cummings, Gilchrist
5. Gray, Toolis, Craig
6. Bradbury, Crosbie
7. Watson, Ritchie, Gordon
8. Du Preez, Haining

9. Price, Horne, Pyrgos
10. Russell, Hastings
11. Graham, McGuigan
12. Johnson, Scott
13. Harris, Jones, Hutchinson
14. Maitland, Steyn, Tagive
15. Hogg (c), Kinghorn

Right...

Tagive? Haining? Gordon? Not remotely close to first choice for their clubs and it's not as if there are other countries lining up to claim them. The whole point of Haining was that he'd be available during the 6N. Also annoyed at Steyn over Horne and Bennett. Feeling all a bit Greg about that squad.

Haining started the season strongly and is in there as a 3rd 8 and possibly 4th 6. He will be available for Edinburgh and if he isn't then at least one of the other back rows will be. That's not counting Fagerson and/or Skinner who may come back in later.

Steyn and Horne only very occasionally play the same position and I doubt in this case he is in the squad as a 13 rather than 4th choice wing given there are 3 other 13s in there.

[Big D]

This might be the 1st Townsend squad with only one real head scratcher. Seems like progress.

[Mikey Brown]

Only 1?

I think Steyn has been playing really well for what it's worth. Though I can't see the back-three as an area we'd be looking to experiment that much.

[Big D]

Only 1?

I think Steyn has been playing really well for what it's worth. Though I can't see the back-three as an area we'd be looking to experiment that much.

Yes, I think most omissions can be easily explained. Fagerson, if not injured is a strange one.

Squad filler places doesn't really bother me so Tagive or no Tagive doesn't bother me.

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough. You're probably right about the omissions, there's just some slightly odd looking names in there. Maybe it's good to have some young, energetic guys looking for a break rather than Reid, Wilson, Horne etc. frustrated at holding tackle bags.

Fagerson is now free to play again. Perhaps missing the 1872 games cost him but he really should have taken that spot ahead of Haining.

Very curious to see how much we respond to this perception of being physically soft and mentally a bit weak, how much of that the coaches think they can fix on or off the field etc.

I hadn't spotted that GT resisted the temptation to selection Duncan Taylor.