Squad for Wales & England

[Mikey Brown]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fa0a ... 6aad71f5c9

The title intrigued me but can't be arsed to register to read it. Got me trying to work out exactly who is back and available.

Nell - played a half for Edinburgh, subbed for unknown reason?
Fagerson, Z - played 3rd game after comeback, uninjured?
Gray, R - played, fit, potentially available for next round
Skinner - ankle injury, potentially available for next round
Bradbury - 2 games back from injury
Wilson - out for 6N
Barclay - out for 6N
Watson - played, fit.
Fagerson, M - first game back, MOTM, fit.
Thomson - out for 6N

Horne, G - shoulder injury, potentially available for next round
Russell - played, fit.
Scott - out for 6N
Jones, H - out for 6N
Bennet - made it onto Edinburgh bench after several months out, probably not in the picture.
Dunbar - ???
Hogg - out for 6N, confirmed?

Is this about correct of the realistic contenders?

That is quite a significant portion of our good players. I'd love to shake the team up a bit for the next couple of rounds but there's an awful lot of rust among this lot. I'm a bit wary we could change a lot, continue playing with no cohesion, get battered, and have learned absolutely nothing from this tournament.

On the other hand a few of the best amongst that lot are fit again and weren't out for too long, or are showing signs of good form.

[Mikey Brown]

Bennet - did he make it off the bench yesterday?
Dunbar - is he even alive? Went on loan (though his twitter statement sounded very much like he was leaving for good) and hasn't made an appearance for Newcastle at all. Injured? Why would Newcastle sign him if he was injured?

[Big D]

Bradbury wasn't released to play.

[Mikey Brown]

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/town ... ive-return

Head Coach Gregor Townsend today welcomed the return of five Scotland squad players from injury – and added three others – ahead of this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations Test against Wales at BT Murrayfield Stadium (9 March, kick-off 2.15pm) - live on BBC.

Forwards Hamish Watson, Willem Nel (both Edinburgh) and Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) are joined by Glasgow Warriors pair Stafford McDowall (centre) and Grant Stewart (hooker) in returning to the squad.

They are accompanied by incoming trio Matt Fagerson and Byron McGuigan – who missed out on initial selection through injury – and London Irish prop Gordon Reid.

As a consequence of their inclusion the following eight players, split evenly between injury and those released back to their clubs, are no longer part of the current Scotland squad.

They are injured quartet scrum-half George Horne (shoulder), prop D’arcy Rae (ankle), hooker George Turner (graduated return to play protocol for concussion) and centre Chris Dean (back), plus prop Alex Allan, back-row Rob Harley (both Glasgow Warriors), back-row John Hardie (Newcastle Falcons) and stand-off Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors).

Full-back Stuart Hogg will not join the squad in the camp this week as he is not being considered for this Saturday’s game against Wales, following the shoulder injury he sustained against Ireland in the second round of the championship.

He remains under the joint care of the Glasgow Warriors and Scotland medical teams, with his rehabilitation progress and review ongoing.

[Mikey Brown]

No mention of Russel. I have no idea what that means. Perhaps he was never (technically) out of the squad, so it requires no announcement?

[Mikey Brown]

Why wouldn't they just release the entire list of players in the squad. Also why can't GT make his mind up on Reid? Either pick him and a give him a few games or don't.

[General Zod]

No mention of Russel. I have no idea what that means. Perhaps he was never (technically) out of the squad, so it requires no announcement?

I think that’s the reason, but the communication is poor. Again.

Anyway, Gordie Reid returns. I did enjoy his try celebration at Twickenham 2 years ago, if not the result.

Clearly going to Japan, IMHO. He’s that important to Toony’s secret plans.

In fact he’s so important to Scottish rugby that the new SRU website has him down as “now an integral part of the Warriors pack”. Pretty impressive doing that from Reading.

[Big D]

It is daft we haven't called up Richie Gray to the squad.

[Mikey Brown]

So, I think this is what we're left with. Not totally awful. Now to just come up with a game plan and try and catch/keep the ball.

Dell, Bhatti, Reid
McInally, Brown, Stewart
Nell, Fagerson, Berghan
Gilchrist, Skinner
Gray, Toolis
Bradbury, Ritchie
Watson, Graham
Strauss, Ashe, Fagerson

Laidlaw, Price, ???
Russell, Hastings
Johnson, Horne, McDowall
Grigg, Harris
Maitland, Seymour, Graham
Kinghorn, McGuigan

I think that's roughly the order they'd be selected in, but not what I'd do. Very unsure what to do about lock/blindside and 13.

[AL.]

Not sure if this adds much but is a handy site for some info every now and then, I was going to say it is fairly twat free as well and then thought most of you lot will probably be on it anyway....

https://www.scottishrugbyblog.co.uk/201 ... -update-4/

[Big D]

Not sure if this adds much but is a handy site for some info every now and then, I was going to say it is fairly twat free as well and then thought most of you lot will probably be on it anyway....

https://www.scottishrugbyblog.co.uk/201 ... -update-4/

That fella posts on a few of the other boards too. Keeps a load of stats.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

It is daft we haven't called up Richie Gray to the squad.

You don't even need to play him but he offers something that nobody else in the squad does - he's probably one of the biggest non-PI professional players on the planet. Mental.

[whatisthejava]

Think they want him to focus on club with an eye on the WC. Think he will be the 4th lock with his brother, Skinner and GG

[Mikey Brown]

That’s what I would have assumed. I’d be tempted to do the same but is our lineout going to be good enough? Is it actually any better with Toolis or am I just imagining that he’s the only one that regularly challenges opposition ball well.

Oddly I heard somebody talking about how he’s supposed to be one of the better scrummaging locks too but I struggle with the idea given his frame in comparison.

[Big D]

Think they want him to focus on club with an eye on the WC. Think he will be the 4th lock with his brother, Skinner and GG

I understand they don't want to play him, there is some sense in that. But he has been in what 2 of Townsends squads? It would have been valuable to have him over for a few days to get some seeds planted before the summer camp. When fully fit there is every chance he is our best second row still (TBC pending performances).

[Big D]

That’s what I would have assumed. I’d be tempted to do the same but is our lineout going to be good enough? Is it actually any better with Toolis or am I just imagining that he’s the only one that regularly challenges opposition ball well.

Oddly I heard somebody talking about how he’s supposed to be one of the better scrummaging locks too but I struggle with the idea given his frame in comparison.

I do think we have missed him. He would get a lot of stick for "flopping" on ruck but a high percentage of the time he cleared the ball and it was available.

[General Zod]

That’s what I would have assumed. I’d be tempted to do the same but is our lineout going to be good enough? Is it actually any better with Toolis or am I just imagining that he’s the only one that regularly challenges opposition ball well.

Oddly I heard somebody talking about how he’s supposed to be one of the better scrummaging locks too but I struggle with the idea given his frame in comparison.

I do think we have missed him. He would get a lot of stick for "flopping" on ruck but a high percentage of the time he cleared the ball and it was available.

I reckon he needs a good, tight Rory Hughes style haircut. There would be considerably less flopping in the eyes of the referee. He could still bleach it.

[Mikey Brown]

Maitland and Harris out.

[AL.]

Maitland and Harris out.

Blessing in disguise? Bit harsh on (just) Maitland, it goes for Seymour too, lack of urgency from both with Seymours three steps forward two in from touch then take contact getting predictable...

Fresh blood in the side would be of benefit all round for me, something is stagnant.

[Chunks Baws]

Maitland and Harris out.

Blessing in disguise? Bit harsh on (just) Maitland, it goes for Seymour too, lack of urgency from both with Seymours three steps forward two in from touch then take contact getting predictable...

Fresh blood in the side would be of benefit all round for me, something is stagnant.

Seymour and Maitland are coasting on reputation. Chuck in some fresh blood for these last two games. We'll learn a lot more about them before the WC in games against Wales and England than we will against Georgia. I'd start D Graham, G Graham and McDowell.

[Mikey Brown]

Agreed. I actually felt Seymour was more in need of a good, hard dropping, but this at least (presumably) gets Graham in. I remember writing off McGuigan as Webster v2, but we're really crying out for some players that are at least going to show a bit of fire and enthusiasm.

Except Grigg. Grigg small. Small bad.

I really do like the look of McDowall, would that be at 13 outside Johnson?

[whatisthejava]

I think Id move Johnson to 13 and leave Stafford at 12 as I think he would have to much to do

Although im not against a Horne/Johnson 12/13 with Stafford coming on at 60 to run at the welsh 10 and a tired Hadleigh

[Mikey Brown]

I've not been aware of Johnson ever playing 13 except a couple of times to accommodate Horne, maybe it was just a bad day but I wasn't sure about him there. Might well have played there more than McDowall though.

I can't quite work out if I'm serious about putting McDowall in or not, he's very young, hasn't dealt with second season syndrome yet and the team is hardly brimming with confidence. The second option might be better, though Horne himself always seems to be best off the bench.

[OptimisticJock]

Poor wee JJ. Can't even get a look in on a Rugby forum.

[AL.]

Seeing a lot of people ariound the interweb calling for Graeham (G not D) as he adds "niggle" or "attitude", if coming on and sticking an elbow out late on a kicker, missing (and that player diving) and then shoving when clearly in the wrong is niggle then they can keep it.....