RugbyRebels

Seeing as it's a fortnight until our next game, I got thinking about what is our best 15 when everyone is fit and willing to play for us.

This can include include players that are eligible imminently as that makes it more interesting to debate lol.

For me, Duhan Van der Merwe, Jonny Gray, Hamish Watson and Finn Russell are definites, the other position I would say will cause friendly debate.

1. Sutherland (Schoeman if he counts but it would be a shame on Sutherland)
2. McInally
3. Fagerson
4. Gray
5. Skinner
6. Ritchie
7. Watson
8. Bradbury (debatable - Thompson/Fagerson)
9. Horne
10. Russell
11. Dugan Van De Merve
12. Johnson
13. Jones (again, debatable on form)
14. Graham
15. Hogg

Think 10, 11 and 14 (and 13 ) would be big upgrades on what we currently have available.

Sutherland
Rambo
Fagerson
Cummings
Gray
Ritchie
Watson
Probably Fagerson
Price/Horne - not much between them although for the way he wants to play Pyrgos probably suits that style better.
Russell - although that ain't happening.
Duhan
Scott - SJ is good but Scott looks as sharp as he has for years. Can't argue against SJ to be fair.
Harris - Jones can't defend, for club and country he misses more than any other 13. Hutchinson unproven at international level.
Graham
Hogg

Brown
Kebble
Nel
Skinner
Bradbury
Horne
Hastings
Kinghorn

Scott is the sort of consistent linebreaker we need but Johnson’s security and all round game would be hard to let go of. He has his moments in attack too, but I feel like the balance isn’t quite there in midfield. I’d love to see Scott get some time but not looking likely until SJ is rested.

Ritchie I still don’t really think is a 6 but he’s playing better than any of the blindsides and at least helps with continuity. Whereas Bradbury I’m not sure has the skills or consistency for 8 at this level. Thomson/Fagerson haven’t shown much at this level, but haven’t had much time either.

If VDM slots straight in it could make an enormous difference to our backline.

Mikey Brown wrote:
If VDM slots straight in it could make an enormous difference to our backline.

When does he qualify through residency?

(And following on from Cameo spelling, I'm pushing for a renaming of him to be Dougal van der Merwe - it'll help with the Scottishness )

I like that. Jim Hamilton’s ‘McVan Der Merwe’ doesn’t really roll off the tongue.

...and reminds me of Tim Visser.

laribold wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:
If VDM slots straight in it could make an enormous difference to our backline.

When does he qualify through residency?

(And following on from Cameo spelling, I'm pushing for a renaming of him to be Dougal van der Merwe - it'll help with the Scottishness )

This summer.

VDW is this autumn.

Mikey Brown wrote:Scott is the sort of consistent linebreaker we need but Johnson’s security and all round game would be hard to let go of. He has his moments in attack too, but I feel like the balance isn’t quite there in midfield. I’d love to see Scott get some time but not looking likely until SJ is rested.

Ritchie I still don’t really think is a 6 but he’s playing better than any of the blindsides and at least helps with continuity. Whereas Bradbury I’m not sure has the skills or consistency for 8 at this level. Thomson/Fagerson haven’t shown much at this level, but haven’t had much time either.

If VDM slots straight in it could make an enormous difference to our backline.

McDuhan will make a big difference if used properly. He's raw, but he is strong and rapid.

"Harris - Jones can't defend, for club and country he misses more than any other 13. Hutchinson unproven at international level."

Is that true re Jones. I know after he had a nightmare against Wales a couple of years ago, his tackle stats were actually the highest of the 13s in the 6N (not that I think he is the best defender out there but I do think that once you get that rep you get blamed for things you wouldn't otherwise).

You could also argue that Harris is unproven at international level. Certainly in attack apart from two good lines for tries from close out.

Cameo wrote:"Harris - Jones can't defend, for club and country he misses more than any other 13. Hutchinson unproven at international level."

Is that true re Jones. I know after he had a nightmare against Wales a couple of years ago, his tackle stats were actually the highest of the 13s in the 6N (not that I think he is the best defender out there but I do think that once you get that rep you get blamed for things you wouldn't otherwise).

You could also argue that Harris is unproven at international level. Certainly in attack apart from two good lines for tries from close out.

Yes, the statto Kevin Millar that does the stats for Glasgow has mentioned elsewhere that Jones is statistically the worst defender of the 13s that have played under Townsend.

I agree re Harris but he has the shirt.

Cameo wrote:"Harris - Jones can't defend, for club and country he misses more than any other 13. Hutchinson unproven at international level."

Is that true re Jones. I know after he had a nightmare against Wales a couple of years ago, his tackle stats were actually the highest of the 13s in the 6N (not that I think he is the best defender out there but I do think that once you get that rep you get blamed for things you wouldn't otherwise).

You could also argue that Harris is unproven at international level. Certainly in attack apart from two good lines for tries from close out.

Here is the article: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/analysis ... tually-is/

But as recent stats show, this really doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

Chunks Baws wrote:

Here is the article: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/analysis ... tually-is/

that is a particularly shit piece of analysis.
Jones missed those tackles because he misreads one and has poor technique in both. If you are in the backs in open play in your own 22 and miss one on one tackles, IT IS highly likely you will concede a try. Scotland are numbered up, he misses one on one, twice. The Scotland "sweeper" is Kinghorn who sweeps over and ready to mark the overlap created by wales switching the attack to the narrower side. This is standard. Otherwise sweepers" are normally there to cover kicks over or through a defence, usually the scrum half. Neither Scotland nor Wales habitually employ that strategy (see Davies' interception tries). Nor many others - they prefer another man in the line.

Think it was Jones first start for Glasgow this season, he missed 2 almost identically. TBF since then he has stepped up a fair bit