Scotland v Tonga Saturday 30th October 2021

First topic message reminder :

Scotland v Tonga
Saturday 30th October 2021

BT Murrayfield Stadium
Edinburgh

KO 14.30
Live on Amazon Prime



Well an international for Scotland to make up for the cancelled matches this summer. We will be without our English and French based players, this match falling outside the window so it will be the opportunity to blood a few new guys and see if they look up to the pace of international rugby. It will also be the chance for the SRU to put a few quid back into its coffers after the lean times of the past few years. I am not normally in favour of playing four games in the autumn, but this time round, for the reasons mentioned, it is probably justifiable.


Tonga are unlikely to be at full strength either but those of us with medium term memories won't forget what Tonga did to Scotland in 2012, possibly the low point of a generally very low period for Scottish rugby and an event that cost Andy Robinson his job!

There is always the hint of a banana skin about a match like this with everything to lose and little to gain for Scotland. Tonga will no doubt turn up proud to represent their country and will be skillful and physical as always if probably more than a little bit under prepared.

Still our players need to be professional about this and especially those that have ambitions to develop their Scotland careers, this is their opportunity to show what they can do.

A decent win for Scotland is probably the only acceptable result for us here, so would expect a team with youngsters and uncapped players mixed with a few old hands to give it some steel. Maybe something like this:


1. Schoeman
2. Turner
3. Keeble
4. Gilchrist
5. Sykes
6. Ritchie
7. Darge
8. Fagerson M
9. Horne G - Probably should be Dobie as Georgie not playing well atm!
10. Thompson
11. Mclean
12. Johnson
13. Bennett
14. Steyn
15. Graham/Hoyland - I can't decide!

Subs

Bhatti
McInally
McCallam
Hodgson
Richardon
Dobie
Kinghorn
Tuipolotu

Anglo, this "fairly green" Tongan side includes a 37 year old stand off. If he runs past Blairhorn we're all in trouble.
Also Fokotui in the backrow will be renewing his acquaintance with most of the Scotland players. He's one Tonga player who will know that winning in Edinburgh can be very easy.
Finally, Walter Fifuta is on the wing. Glasgow have only just signed him. Six and a half foot, 18 stone and fast apparently.

funnyExiledScot wrote:GC! Get well you Ayr originating world class chap. Get yerself back to Scotland, as it sounds like the michelin star cuisine of Leith is all you need (chippie, salt n'sauce washed down with Irn Bru).

As for Kinghorn getting mashed, dream on my friend. If I had a quid for every time the phrase "deceptively quick" was deployed for Kinghorn I'd be drinking a marginally better vintage of Petrus this evening...

As an aside, I have a four tickets going a begging for the South Africa game, so PM me if interested.

Fes, ignore my PM. The Quiet Bok has invested his bawbees in a trip to Cardiff and doesn't think his liver could stand two weekends in a row.

No problem, I hadn't got round to messaging your imaginary friend. Lord knows what that number you gave me was for, but I'm sure she'd have loved me long time.

Mrspip tells me you lot on here are my imaginary friends.

jimbopip wrote:Mrspip tells me you lot on here are my imaginary friends.

Aww. You consider me a friend. Im touched.

Anglobraveheart wrote:GC, get well soon. I hope you can recover well and continue with your fitness efforts, just without the contact in boxing maybe?  
Travelling, or should I say, swimming up the M6 today, to take the junior Anglos to the Tonga game tomorrow. I have just checked the forecast, and there is sunshine from 2pm in Edinburgh. Should be a great day for the new tyros to put their hands up.
Hopefully our forwards can dominate, and give the backs loads of ball to run amuck.
I understand it is a fairly green Tonga team, so they will be very keen, as well as robust.
Could be a good match with both sides having something to prove.

No idea What forecast you have looked at. It’s down to pish down all weekend

It's not just this match where players will be playing in unfamiliar positions leading to amazement from fans.

Northampton v Tigers on Saturday (Mon the Tigers), a certain Rory Hutchinson is playing at FB :O :O :O.

Wonder what Toonie thinks of that, is it an option for us too lol.

Highland Shaun wrote:It's not just this match where players will be playing in unfamiliar positions leading to amazement from fans.

Northampton v Tigers on Saturday (Mon the Tigers), a certain Rory Hutchinson is playing at FB :O :O :O.

Wonder what Toonie thinks of that, is it an option for us too lol.

Versatility is no bad thing!

He's such a talented player but just doesn't seem to fit the mould with Toonie. His time will hopefully come.

tigertattie wrote:

Anglobraveheart wrote:GC, get well soon. I hope you can recover well and continue with your fitness efforts, just without the contact in boxing maybe?  
Travelling, or should I say, swimming up the M6 today, to take the junior Anglos to the Tonga game tomorrow. I have just checked the forecast, and there is sunshine from 2pm in Edinburgh. Should be a great day for the new tyros to put their hands up.
Hopefully our forwards can dominate, and give the backs loads of ball to run amuck.
I understand it is a fairly green Tonga team, so they will be very keen, as well as robust.
Could be a good match with both sides having something to prove.

No idea What forecast you have looked at. It’s down to pish down all weekend

BBC and Met Office Tiger.  Both showing sunshine from 2pm. I'll take my sun block with me

jimbopip wrote:Anglo, this "fairly green" Tongan side includes a 37 year old stand off. If he runs past Blairhorn we're all in trouble.
Also Fokotui in the backrow will be renewing his acquaintance with most of the Scotland players. He's one Tonga player who will know that winning in Edinburgh can be very easy.
Finally, Walter Fifuta is on the wing. Glasgow have only just signed him. Six and a half foot, 18 stone and fast apparently.

Hi Jimbo, I had read that the club tied Tongans had not been released, salary to our France and England based players.
We too have a 'green' side, but ably supported by some good experience and 3 Lions.

I've just read in ToL that Tonga have 6 first caps starting and 2 on the bench. NZ based players have not travelled, but French based are released for the game.

Highland Shaun wrote:

thefinalthistle wrote:Get well soon GC! Something to read whilst you while away the hours in recuperation:

https://thefinalthistle.wordpress.com/2021/10/28/toony-tombola-versus-tonga/

Personally think it would've been the perfect time to bleed McCallum back in, alongside capping Richardson ASAP. The most important thing from this series will be getting Ashman and Bayliss capped!

Another very good article Andrew .

Agreed - keep them coming.

Thanks all for the messages of support and predictable sledging.

GC… boxing? At your age?! What were you thinking!

Delighted to hear you’re on the mend. Obviously your doctor is unfamiliar with Scottish rugby or they’d have instantly banned you from watching these games. No recovering patient needs the soaring blood pressure that comes with watching Scotland attempt to play rugby!

Well have fun everyone, particularly those going to Murrayfield at long last.

It's a really scratch Tonga team so we should be aiming for a decent win, even with the inexperience team we have out.

I suspect it'll be a high scoring game!

Flounder, common sense says that any decent international side should hammer that Tongan XV. And we are a decent international side. More than decent most times.
However, we are also Scotland.
I await the kick off with trepidation.

Good start by Tonga

Was that not knocked on?

No good try for Mclean, his first of many!

Penalty Tonga

7-3 Scotland

That was a great try.

And another for Mclean who really looks born to this stuff!

Got to hand it to blairhorn also for the pass

tigertattie wrote:Got to hand it to blairhorn also for the pass

was a great set piece move, from the line out they pulled defenders in. Then created the skip pass overlap.

Another penalty to Tonga

14-6 Scotland

Kinghorn lucky there, that had interception written all over it!

And then blairhorn flings a stinker

Another good set piece try, Scotland look very dangerous when they move the ball

Tonga showing how to stay in the game by kicking your penalties, their kicker is good

19-9 Scotland

Schoeman powers over, the new caps are having their day for sure!

Steyn not wanting to be undone goes over for his second.

Tonga falling off tackles now, it is going to be a long afternoon for them.

31-9 Scotland

That is the second time Graham has been steamrollered by Fifita. It is tough on him against such a big man, but a better team would take advantage of that.

Wingers just dream about days like these!

All three speedsters Mclean, Graham and Steyn involved in that one

Hat trick for Steyn

Tonga just doesn't have the organisation to play these tier one teams.

Old Man wrote:Tonga just doesn't have the organisation to play these tier one teams.

They are missing a raft of players unfortunately with it being outside the window, apparently 9 come into the squad next week, it is a tough ask for them.

Scotland playing well though

ADHD Kid will be sore tomorrow morning. It'll be interesting to see if Toonie hooks him for Thompson; Blarehorn to 15. Or keeps Blarehorn at 10 where he hasn't been totally convincing. Not actually bad either just not very good.
Fifth looks to have potential.

Graham got clattered again there. He is to brave for his own good sometimes

Such a p!sser I’m still at hospital and not home where I would be watching this. It sounds like men against boys.

What I hope we don’t do (because Sanzar trams wouldn’t) is take our foot off the gas. I want another 6 tries in this half. These kids need to realize that they’re playing for future test shirts.

Tonga get a deserved try from close range after Harley gets a YC

41-14 Scotland

Thompson and Dobie on for their debuts

Kinghorn goes back to FB

That may well be a card, took him in the air and hit his head

Its a YC

That looked pretty high on Johnson as well

What a pass from Ritchie, Haining gets the try

Kyle Steyn MoM - he certainly has had a good game

A fourth try to Steyn comfirms his MoM performance

60-14 Scotland at FT

A decent afternoons work and a few players have definitely put their hands up for the next few weeks and the harder games

Still in hospital GC?That must be a bad case of rickets you have there. World class rickets from Ayr?
Titman and Seaman were superb.
Blarehorn wasn't 100% convincing.
Shona played like it was his 20th cap.
But for me Thompson and Dobbie were the big positives. Thompson look more like an international 10 than Blarehorn and Dobbie looked very comfortable.

I can see Dobie overtaking Georgie this series and establishing himself as Price deputy.

Horne with Vellacott and Sheil coming up hard on the rails may slip down the pecking order.

We surely can't keep all three of our top SHs at Glasgow though and surely one of them will be moving on, maybe Georgie would benefit from a move away where he might have to work a bit more on his game management, which is letting him down atm

Jimbo, your assessment is spot on. I thought that the new cap second rows were also solid.
Rob Harley has become a very big unit. Didn't really notice him much live at the game, but maybe it was his groundwork and breakdown efforts that are difficult to see from a distance with my ageing eyes.
It was really good to see the new caps show up so well.
I've read that DVdM stored 2 tries in Wuss's first victory of the season this afternoon, but there was no mention of Rory Sutherland. Also Matt Scott was not listed for Leicester.
Do we know why Sutherland and Scott didn't play today?
Sam Johnson took a cheap shot to the head today, hopefully he will be ok, but we may need Matt Scott as a replacement?

Anglobraveheart wrote:Jimbo, your assessment is spot on. I thought that the new cap second rows were also solid.
Rob Harley has become a very big unit. Didn't really notice him much live at the game, but maybe it was his groundwork and breakdown efforts that are difficult to see from a distance with my ageing eyes.
It was really good to see the new caps show up so well.
I've read that DVdM stored 2 tries in Wuss's first victory of the season this afternoon, but there was no mention of Rory Sutherland. Also Matt Scott was not listed for Leicester.
Do we know why Sutherland and Scott didn't play today?
Sam Johnson took a cheap shot to the head today, hopefully he will be ok, but we may need Matt Scott as a replacement?

Leicester rotate a bit and Scott has played most games this season.

Good to see VDM hit some form, he will need it based on how the two wingers played today!

Not sure about Sutherland, but Schoeman and Bhatti would not let us down if they played.


We suddenly seem to have a bit of depth!