Scotland - World Cup General Thread

[Majestic83]

This should serve as our general moaning thread between World Cup matches.

     
SCOTLAND V JAPAN
23 September 2015
Kingsholm - Gloucester

    
SCOTLAND v USA
27 September 2015
Elland Road - Leeds

          
SCOTLAND v SOUTH AFRICA
03 October 2015
St James Park - Newcastle

      
SCOTLAND v SAMOA
10 October 2015
St James Park - Newcastle                                       

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP:

Props: Al Dickinson, Ryan Grant, Gordon Reid, Willem Nel, Jon Welsh

Hooker: Fraser Brown, Ross Ford, Stuart McInally

Lock: Grant Gilchrist, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray and Tim Swinson

Loose Forward: David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss, Alasdair Strokosch and Ryan Wilson

Scrum Halves: Greig Laidlaw (captain), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Henry Pyrgos

Fly Half: Finn Russell, Duncan Weir

Centre: Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Matt Scott and Richie Vernon

Wing: Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser

Full Back: Stuart Hogg

[Guest]

I will throw up in my mouth if we select Weir, Hardie, Blake and Strockosh.

[tigertattie]

They're runnning late!

[tigertattie]

for anyone at work who's IT don't block youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzMKl0mZvF4&feature=player_embedded

[NeilyBroon]

I don't know if one thread will be able to handle the #Barclaygate rage

[EWT Spoons]

I will throw up in my mouth if we select Weir, Hardie, Blake and Strockosh.

Is that if all of them are selected or will it apply if even just one of them is in?

[R!skysports]

Is this too long a twitter handle

#BeingScottishisanhonour-playingforScotlandisalottery

[EWT Spoons]

I'm watching the announcement on my phone, with the sound off. I'm hopeful for a lot of visuals. Maybe less of Kellock and the lass chatting would also be a good start.

[NeilyBroon]

I'm watching the announcement on my phone, with the sound off.  I'm hopeful for a lot of visuals.  Maybe less of Kellock and the lass chatting would also be a good start.

You're not missing much, he needs his own subtitles

[George Carlin]

They've started.

Who is the lady and is she standing on a box?

She looks to be the same height as Al Kellock!

[George Carlin]

Edit: You might have worn a tie, Al, for farks sake.

[tigertattie]

get on with it FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bsando]

here we gooooo

[NeilyBroon]

nice awkward crowd...

[EWT Spoons]

They've started.

Who is the lady and is she standing on a box?

She looks to be the same height as Al Kellock!

Rumours are they've dug a hole for kellock to stand in, which they forced Barclay to dig!!

#barclaygate

Sorry this is terrible chat, I'm just killing time

[EWT Spoons]

Without sound this makes little sense, but Strokosh is there and Swinson. I assume this is the squad

[NeilyBroon]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE JOKING.

[RDW]

[NeilyBroon]

Has Barclay taken a dump on Vern's bed or something???

[GLove39]

Hardie?

[Guest]

DUNCAN WEIR?!?!?!

If anyone suggests it's to shut up shop and close a game out, they need to show me the last time he played a match without splicing 50% of his kicks

[Guest]

Dunbar not fit. Laidlaw captain.

[alive555]

no barcs
no cowan
weir in
no harley
hardie in
stroker in

oddballs ????

[GLove39]

I’ve always aspired to be an All Black but rugby can be pretty cruel at times. Just have to deal with whats dished up

[NeilyBroon]

1 step forward... 3 back... I think those forward choices were a huge error, possibly a fatal one against S.A. Strauss was to be expected, but one openside who has ONE cap is utterly mad.

[Guest]

Did he really say that, Glove? Barclay must be absolutely raging.

[Guest]

Hogg's foot is in a cast btw - unlikely to feature on Saturday?

[George Carlin]

I am updating the OP on an ongoing basis as soon as Twitter confirms the positions

[IanBru]

OK, OK, this just...

... I've got nothing.

[IanBru]

Vern Cotter: "We've got some good players and some... guys who have worked very hard..."

Our head coach there, summing up the reality of Scottish Rugby today.

[RDW]

Swinson hasn’t even been in the training squad having been injured then playing with Glasgow. Hardie arrived a few weeks ago.

Harley and Barclay really do have a right to be aggrieved.

[GLove39]

Did he really say that, Glove? Barclay must be absolutely raging.

yep, lets just hope he turns out to be better in the world cup then he is at PR
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/latest/john-hardie-kiwi-back-row-gets-scotland-call-up-1-3831427

[NeilyBroon]

especially if Stroks is the other choice. I was seriously hoping the Mail had got it wrong. Well... it wouldn't be tradition if we didn't underperform.

Our first choice backrow could be good but with 2 caps between the flank (Strauss and Hardie) and a young 8 (Denton) there is concern. I hope to God Barclay is at least the back up plan if Hardie is injured. Swinson, I mean, what the f-

[Weegie Wizard]

I actually cannot believe Stroker has made it. How on earth is he in the squad?? To select him ahead of any of Barclay, Cowan, Watson, Ashe, Wilson or Haley is beyond stupid. I can only think Vern liked the look of him when he came up against him in France. I'm actually quite pleased Hardie is there but why is he the only 7?

The backs are not bad. Shame Dunbar hasn't made it and I would have preferred Jackson to Weir.

In the plus column, I can't wait to see Strauss play

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Well some astonishing picks, but who knows.

But it's done, and I for one will not give less than 100% support to them all.

Well, maybe only 84% to Stroks.

[R!skysports]

What have Weir and StroTosh done to be in the same room, let alone in the team

Shocking and depressing

Ah well- the run of complete tosh comtinues

[tigertattie]

Daily Mail spot on!!!!!!!!!!! WoW!!!!!!!!!!

[EWT Spoons]

Props:
Dickinson
Grant
Reid
Nel
Welsh

Hookers
Brown
Ford
Rambo

2nd row
Gilco
J & R Gray
Swinson

Back Row
Hardie
Strokosh
Wilson
Strauss
Dents

Scrum Half
Laidlaw (capt)
Pyrgos
SHC

Stand off
Finn
Weir

Centres
Scott
Bennett
Vernon
Horne

Back 3
Visser
Seymour
Maitland
Hogg
Lamont

[IanBru]

I'll say that Swinson was really outstanding against Japan when we last played them - man of the match, if I recall.

He's exactly the kind of mobile lock that you want against that kind of opposition.

That being said... Where in the name of sweet Fred Astaire is Rob Harley??

[MacKnocked-on]

Swinson is a bizarre choice really, looks seriously under powered at international level any time I've seen him play. Toolis is obviously a far better player. Would even have gone for Hamilton over Swinson personally, Swinson isn't going to help the rolling maul defence much.
Not so bothered about Weir, he's not great by any means but the alternative was Jackson and for me he's never shown himself to be international standard, Russell is so far ahead of the alternatives.
Barclay and Cowan both very unlucky.

[NeilyBroon]

more than anything I'm annoyed because it sends out the complete wrong message to players.

"Just play your best game, listen to my pointers, and I'll still not pick you if you're not on my Christmas card list."

This reeks of Johnson. Was it me or did Vern almost seem reluctant to name that squad? Even grumpier than usual?

[Majestic83]

Backs pretty much spot on.

Some of those forwards selections are an absolute joke. Swinson, Stokosh and Wilson in ahead of Harley/Hamilton, Cowan and Barclay are laughable.

Cowan & Barclay both impressed during the warm ups and are the type of back rowers who would suit Scotlands quick game plan. Both skilful, athletic and quick.
Strokosh on the other hand is none of those things.

[R!skysports]

The continuing list of coaches picking their friends continue it seems


Why have the warm up games, why pretend to care how well people play, why lie to the fans

This has really Peee d me off.

I hate favourism and this smacks of it

Wier - so bad, he would be sacked from being the Scottish Donut boy

Not even going to watch this weekends game - can not be bothered

[R!skysports]

And this depresses me as much

Laidlaw (capt)


A continued failure - with loss after loss as captain, yet, still picked as certain to start as captain

[demosthenes]

And this depresses me as much

Laidlaw (capt)


A continued failure - with loss after loss as captain, yet, still picked as certain to start as captain

Certain to start as Scotlands RWC captain? Don't say that to Al Kellock!

[alive555]

So Hardie has no back up at 7 ???? I mean the breakdown is one of our main weaknesses !! This is bizarre . who is the bench option ?

[R!skysports]

My 1st team from that


Props: Al Dickinson, Willem Nel,
Hooker: Ross Ford,
Lock: Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray
Loose Forward: David Denton, John Hardie, Josh Strauss,
Scrum Halves - Greig Laidlaw (captain),
Fly Half: Finn Russell,
Centre: Mark Bennett, Matt Scott
Wing: Tommy Seymour, Tim Visser
Full Back: Hogg

[EWT Spoons]

Not really sure what more Barclay could have done, both Strokosh and him played in games against Italy.

Barclay, looked brilliant whereas Strokosh looked far from it and yet it's the bald one going to the WC, whilst the talented one sits home.

Incidently I have nothing against Strokosh, he's a decent bloke and I'm sure will try hard for Scotland, but Barclay is so much better, it's concerning Cotter doesn't seem to see this.

[Senlac]

Anyone else notice that, with the exception of Laidlaw as Captain in the middle, the entire front row when they were all lined up at the end were forwards...except Richie V.

Am I being paranoid or could there be anything in that? I mean, if you're going to stand a back with all the forwards, you might do it for height reasons to make the pic look more symmetrical, but you'd usually do that by sticking the tallest guy at the back, not the front!

Nothing would surprise me with this selection. Like all others, cannot understand the ommission of Barclay & Harley. Hardie looked very good, and at a push I could accept him over Cowan if Barclay as in there, but having him as the only 7 beggars belief!

[NeilyBroon]

Now I've calmed down... Our first choice 8 could do a good job. I still think Barclay is better than Hardie, but I don't have a huge issue with him playing.

Strauss will be excellent, I have no doubt of that, and Denton's playing like he used to.

As for the backs they are spot on, minus perhaps Tonks/Jackson who can consider themselves a little unlucky.

I think I'm just gutted for the forwards who got shunted to the side so injustly, it makes those warm-ups feel like an utter waste of time. It seems to me there are players there Vern would have played regardless of the results.

I hope Barclay goes back to Scarlets and shows Vern what he's missing, as if he hadn't already. I even feel for Cowan who is by far better than Strokosh, at 6 AND 7!

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