Way too early RWC Squad

[AL.]

For me, that is pretty much what we have.....RG to finish out the season and will see his way in for at least a warm up.

Anyone go on the BBC HYS, what a set of bell ends on there, Jesus.

[Big D]

No idea who the back spot could be for.

Lang?

[Mikey Brown]

Good to see Chib get a shot.

I can’t remember the last time Taylor played a handful of games without injury. I would disregard him completely. Is Scott not over concussion or just not getting picked for Edinburgh?

[Cameo]

Good to see Chib get a shot.

I can’t remember the last time Taylor played a handful of games without injury. I would disregard him completely. Is Scott not over concussion or just not getting picked for Edinburgh?

Scott played three games at the end of the season and was dropped for the last one. I had high hopes but he looked large and slow with not much cutting edge or handling. I suspect that cost him his chances for now.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I thought he looked pretty cumbersome. Wasn’t sure if it was rust or weight or what, but it’s a shame.

The fact we can’t get a single one of Dunbar, Scott, Taylor or Bennet in decent working order is ridiculous.

[switchskier]

Pleased to see Hutchinson and Faegerson in there, their form has definitely merited it. A bit perplexed by Taylor, when was the last time that he played?

Think that there are a couple of key players that will dictate how the squad will be put together. If Horne travels then there will be one less centre so if Johnson is a certainty then the others are potentially fighting for one spot which would allow all of the back three players other than Mcguigan to travel.

Similarly in the back row, if Fagerson goes then he covers Bradbury at 8 and I don't think any of Strauss, Thompson, Graham or Ritchie (wrongly) will travel as Skinner will go as a 6 and TTR will be brought in.

[francoisfou]

What a fucking waste of Ritchie Gray. I'd like to see someone defend this decision.

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

Toulouse definitely have three more games to play - four, if they get to the final. They currently lead the Top14 by seven points and are already assured of a place in the semi-finals, and I'd imagine that Ritchie will be involved in all of these games, barring unfortunate injuries.

The remaining games are:

May 19th Top14 round 25 - Bordeaux (a)
May 25th .. round 26 - Perpignan (h)

June 8th .. semi-final
June 15th .. final

Undoubtedly, his omission from the World Cup squad is a grave mistake. Let's hope he gives Townsend a few sleepless nights after finishing his season in style.

[General Zod]

What a fucking waste of Ritchie Gray. I'd like to see someone defend this decision.

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

Toulouse definitely have three more games to play - four, if they get to the final. They currently lead the Top14 by seven points and are already assured of a place in the semi-finals, and I'd imagine that Ritchie will be involved in all of these games, barring unfortunate injuries.

The remaining games are:

May 19th Top14 round 25 - Bordeaux (a)
May 25th .. round 26 - Perpignan (h)

June 8th .. semi-final
June 15th .. final

Undoubtedly, his omission from the World Cup squad is a grave mistake. Let's hope he gives Townsend a few sleepless nights after finishing his season in style.

I don’t think it’s a grave mistake - I think it’s to allow him to focus on the above matches, rest and then come in. Everyone is expecting him to pitch up - even Townsend says he expects a second row to come in.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

Toulouse definitely have three more games to play - four, if they get to the final. They currently lead the Top14 by seven points and are already assured of a place in the semi-finals, and I'd imagine that Ritchie will be involved in all of these games, barring unfortunate injuries.

The remaining games are:

May 19th Top14 round 25 - Bordeaux (a)
May 25th .. round 26 - Perpignan (h)

June 8th .. semi-final
June 15th .. final

Undoubtedly, his omission from the World Cup squad is a grave mistake. Let's hope he gives Townsend a few sleepless nights after finishing his season in style.

I don’t think it’s a grave mistake - I think it’s to allow him to focus on the above matches, rest and then come in. Everyone is expecting him to pitch up - even Townsend says he expects a second row to come in.

So if both scenarios have the same outcome how will it change Gray's focus on his domestic season?

Toony has complicated it for the sake of doing so.

[francoisfou]

Yeah, I dont get that one. There is mention of a chance for one forward and one back to play their way in. Does Ritchie have more games this season?

Toulouse definitely have three more games to play - four, if they get to the final. They currently lead the Top14 by seven points and are already assured of a place in the semi-finals, and I'd imagine that Ritchie will be involved in all of these games, barring unfortunate injuries.

The remaining games are:

May 19th Top14 round 25 - Bordeaux (a)
May 25th .. round 26 - Perpignan (h)

June 8th .. semi-final
June 15th .. final

Undoubtedly, his omission from the World Cup squad is a grave mistake. Let's hope he gives Townsend a few sleepless nights after finishing his season in style.

I don’t think it’s a grave mistake - I think it’s to allow him to focus on the above matches, rest and then come in. Everyone is expecting him to pitch up - even Townsend says he expects a second row to come in.

If that's the case, then it's good news. I can't imagine a Scots World Cup squad without a fit Ritchie Gray.

[Cameo]

Apparently there are rumours of Will Jordan from the Crusaders both in the squad and moving to Glasgow. Absolutely no idea if any truth to them.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Apparently there are rumours of Will Jordan from the Crusaders both in the squad and moving to Glasgow. Absolutely no idea if any truth to them.

That would be a coup & the logic does add up.

Glasgow haven't announced any replacement for Hogg.

Toony left two spots open in his squad - a back and a lock. He name-checked plenty of lock forwards but not a single back.

Jordan doesn't have a Mitre 10 or super rugby contract beyond this season.

It's a hell of a leap but it's not out of this world to suggest that both Glasgow's 15 berth & the final RWC squad are ear-marked for Jordan.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I had no idea he was SQ though.

He is, without a doubt, a future all black. The sensible thing for him to do would be to reject us and get his head down.

[Big D]

Apparently there are rumours of Will Jordan from the Crusaders both in the squad and moving to Glasgow. Absolutely no idea if any truth to them.

That would be a coup & the logic does add up.

Glasgow haven't announced any replacement for Hogg.

Toony left two spots open in his squad - a back and a lock. He name-checked plenty of lock forwards but not a single back.

Jordan doesn't have a Mitre 10 or super rugby contract beyond this season.

It's a hell of a leap but it's not out of this world to suggest that both Glasgow's 15 berth & the final RWC squad are ear-marked for Jordan.

According to Mark Palmer Townsend name checked Lang to the media. Means nothing tbf.

[Cameo]

Apparently there are rumours of Will Jordan from the Crusaders both in the squad and moving to Glasgow. Absolutely no idea if any truth to them.

That would be a coup & the logic does add up.

Glasgow haven't announced any replacement for Hogg.

Toony left two spots open in his squad - a back and a lock. He name-checked plenty of lock forwards but not a single back.

Jordan doesn't have a Mitre 10 or super rugby contract beyond this season.

It's a hell of a leap but it's not out of this world to suggest that both Glasgow's 15 berth & the final RWC squad are ear-marked for Jordan.

According to Mark Palmer Townsend name checked Lang to the media. Means nothing tbf.

My one was more fun though

[Big D]

That would be a coup & the logic does add up.

Glasgow haven't announced any replacement for Hogg.

Toony left two spots open in his squad - a back and a lock. He name-checked plenty of lock forwards but not a single back.

Jordan doesn't have a Mitre 10 or super rugby contract beyond this season.

It's a hell of a leap but it's not out of this world to suggest that both Glasgow's 15 berth & the final RWC squad are ear-marked for Jordan.

According to Mark Palmer Townsend name checked Lang to the media. Means nothing tbf.

My one was more fun though

Your one might be right.

[switchskier]

I had no idea he was SQ though.

He is, without a doubt, a future all black. The sensible thing for him to do would be to reject us and get his head down.

Especially as there might currently be more competition for the Scottish 15 jersey with Hogg, Graham and Kinghorn all showing potential.

[af73]

Things I'd never thought I'd see in my lifetime #59875......

Imagine. We are nearly at the stage where (mostly) sane people are daring to speak out loud that a player could, possibly, be turning down the All Blacks in order to press his case for a Scotland jersey against more serious competition!

We'll be discussing our 1st ever win over New Zealand next!

[Mikey Brown]

Just thinking about how many back three players go, reading that rather dull Beeb article about Townsend's squad options they thought he might consider leaving out King Blair and using Taylor to cover 15.

Assuming we're not poaching that Kiwi lad, I'd think Graham, Maitland, Seymour, Shoehorn, Hogg covers everything pretty well. Is that too many?

I can never recall what a normal RWC squad looks like numbers wise. I even feel like you'd want 3 full front rows but takes up so many spots.

[Stones of granite]

Just thinking about how many back three players go, reading that rather dull Beeb article about Townsend's squad options they thought he might consider leaving out King Blair and using Taylor to cover 15.

Assuming we're not poaching that Kiwi lad, I'd think Graham, Maitland, Seymour, Shoehorn, Hogg covers everything pretty well. Is that too many?

I can never recall what a normal RWC squad looks like numbers wise. I even feel like you'd want 3 full front rows but takes up so many spots.

Have we even got 3 full front rows?

[Cameo]

Just thinking about how many back three players go, reading that rather dull Beeb article about Townsend's squad options they thought he might consider leaving out King Blair and using Taylor to cover 15.

Assuming we're not poaching that Kiwi lad, I'd think Graham, Maitland, Seymour, Shoehorn, Hogg covers everything pretty well. Is that too many?

I can never recall what a normal RWC squad looks like numbers wise. I even feel like you'd want 3 full front rows but takes up so many spots.

I like Taylor but the media really are obsessed. He has never been a consistent starter for Scotland and while he has been good at times he has never been a world beater. I see why we could do with him in the centres but until he plays a warm up at least, the idea that we will be dropping Kinghorn from the squad with Taylor covering fullback seems bizarre. Personally, I would start Kinghorn on the wing.

[ARM]

Just thinking about how many back three players go, reading that rather dull Beeb article about Townsend's squad options they thought he might consider leaving out King Blair and using Taylor to cover 15.

Assuming we're not poaching that Kiwi lad, I'd think Graham, Maitland, Seymour, Shoehorn, Hogg covers everything pretty well. Is that too many?

I can never recall what a normal RWC squad looks like numbers wise. I even feel like you'd want 3 full front rows but takes up so many spots.

I like Taylor but the media really are obsessed. He has never been a consistent starter for Scotland and while he has been good at times he has never been a world beater. I see why we could do with him in the centres but until he plays a warm up at least, the idea that we will be dropping Kinghorn from the squad with Taylor covering fullback seems bizarre. Personally, I would start Kinghorn on the wing.

One of these players that has risen in everyone’s estimation by not playing...and the fact that he is in the squad of a big European club.

Good player but bit of a punt with so little rugby under his belt, even if he makes it though a warm up or two.

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. Pretty much. Thought it was just me.

I just didn’t want to start banging on about Scott again, though his forms not there and he’s been almost as injured as Taylor.

[Big D]

We have plenty of full back cover without Taylor.

After Hogg one of Maitland and Seymour can cover full back fine with Graham and Hastings also being there.

Hutchinson could probably play there too if it came to it. Although I've based that on nothing more than having transferable skills from his time as a 10.

WRT front row. At the last WC every team rocked up with 5 props. Scotland only used 2 THs the whole tournament.

[Mikey Brown]

I suppose I just don't see the point in a 5th prop (who plays one side) in an age where all props are specialists. If you bring Bhatti, for instance, and then there's an injury to (one of our very injury prone tightheads) Nel/Fagerson it seems a waste of a spot.