Scotland squad for the 6 Nations

First topic message reminder :

Scotland squad for training camp in Glasgow (January 20-23) ahead of RBS 6 Nations Championship:

Backs: Peter Murchie*, Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland*, Tommy Seymour*, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby), Max Evans (Castres), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar* Peter Horne*, Duncan Weir, Ruaridh Jackson (all Glasgow Warriors), Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby), Henry Pyrgos, Sean Kennedy* (both Glasgow Warriors) and Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby).

Forwards: Alasdair Dickinson (Sale Sharks), Ryan Grant, Dougie Hall, Pat MacArthur* (all Glasgow Warriors), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby), Moray Low, Alastair Kellock (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Sale Sharks), Jim Hamilton (Gloucester), Grant Gilchrist* (Edinburgh Rugby), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Robert Harley, Ryan Wilson* (both Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Montpellier), David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby), Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks), Chris Fusaro* (Glasgow Warriors).

* = Uncapped.

Invited to be with the squad as they recover from injury: Chris Cusiter, John Barclay and Jon Welsh (all Glasgow Warriors) Nick De Luca and Ross Rennie (both Edinburgh Rugby) and Scott Lawson (London Irish).

Note to editors: Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan) will miss the camp for family reasons as his wife is expecting their second child.

TJ wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Are Scotland going to pick a light and mobile forward pack consisting of 2 number 8's in the second row just as they famously did with good success in the 1987 Five Nations Championship where Derek White partnered Iain Paxton in the second row, which allowed for a very impressive Scottish backrow to be fielded consisting of John Jeffrey at 6, Finlay Calder at 7 and John Beattie at 8.

No need - Gray is mobile and fast as is Ford. It would be a mistake as they could get mullered in the scrums

Well Gray isn't as fast as someone like say a Johnnie Beattie or David Denton or Kelly Brown. With either 2 of these 3 genuine back row forwards in the second row, Scotland will have a very fast and mobile forward pack which they havent had for many years.

gboycottnut wrote:Are Scotland going to pick a light and mobile forward pack consisting of 2 number 8's in the second row just as they famously did with good success in the 1987 Five Nations Championship where Derek White partnered Iain Paxton in the second row, which allowed for a very impressive Scottish backrow to be fielded consisting of John Jeffrey at 6, Finlay Calder at 7 and John Beattie at 8.

But Scotland lost against England at Twickenham in 1987, despite walloping them the previous year at Murrayfield.

Going in with back row players at lock against England at Twickenham would be suicide.

The locks selected are Gilchrist, Kellock, Gray and Hamilton - all pretty big and beefy chaps. I suspect that Dean Ryan is going to go for a beefy pack, possibly with Harley or Denton operating on the flank with Kelly Brown.

TJ wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Ansbro is not the real deal?

Depends what you mean by real deal. He's not the next BOD or Guscott, but he's an impressive athlete and fairly quick. He's a useful option to have, and Irish used him at 12 earlier this season pre-injury, and it would be awesome if he could be a success there, as genuine 12's are in pretty short supply.

Slightly off subject but does anyone know much about centre Duncan Taylor at Saracens who is in their matchday 23 and who I've just read is apparently Scottish qualified? Perhaps a A team recruit in the making?

Anyone see the ROG / COX incident?
The sooner we get COX & Big Jim in the second row together the better! Such aggression

funnyExiledScot wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Are Scotland going to pick a light and mobile forward pack consisting of 2 number 8's in the second row just as they famously did with good success in the 1987 Five Nations Championship where Derek White partnered Iain Paxton in the second row, which allowed for a very impressive Scottish backrow to be fielded consisting of John Jeffrey at 6, Finlay Calder at 7 and John Beattie at 8.

But Scotland lost against England at Twickenham in 1987, despite walloping them the previous year at Murrayfield.

Going in with back row players at lock against England at Twickenham would be suicide.

The locks selected are Gilchrist, Kellock, Gray and Hamilton - all pretty big and beefy chaps. I suspect that Dean Ryan is going to go for a beefy pack, possibly with Harley or Denton operating on the flank with Kelly Brown.

Well I did watch that 1987 Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, and the only reason why Scotland lost that day was because the pitch conditions were slightly wet and soft compared to the previous year and hence it just didn't allow for a fast rucking free-flowing style of game that Scotland had used successfully at Murrayfield the previous year when Scotland recorded their biggest ever win over England. Also another factor to considert that day in 1987 when Scotland lost was that John Beattie's rugby career was over during the match as a result of a serious head injury and the Scottish forwards really struggled to get enough lineout ball for their backs to use due to their two 6ft 4 second rows getting hugely overshadowed by the much taller 6 ft 7 England second row Steve Bainbridge.

gboycottnut wrote:

TJ wrote:

gboycottnut wrote:Are Scotland going to pick a light and mobile forward pack consisting of 2 number 8's in the second row just as they famously did with good success in the 1987 Five Nations Championship where Derek White partnered Iain Paxton in the second row, which allowed for a very impressive Scottish backrow to be fielded consisting of John Jeffrey at 6, Finlay Calder at 7 and John Beattie at 8.

No need - Gray is mobile and fast as is Ford. It would be a mistake as they could get mullered in the scrums

Well Gray isn't as fast as someone like say a Johnnie Beattie or David Denton or Kelly Brown. With either 2 of these 3 genuine back row forwards in the second row, Scotland will have a very fast and mobile forward pack which they havent had for many years.

I would have thought Gray as fast as any of those guys - he caught a centre who had a couple of m start over him in about 20 m last year. I do wish the players all published 40 m times - it would be fascinating

It does help when you are 6'10"

I guess it'll certainly not rain at twickenham in february. We can bank on that!

If it's ok with you, i'd rather dean ryan just picked players in their correct positions to the extent possible. If we wanted a more mobile pair of locks, then swinson should have been picked with gray.

Yes Swinson has probably been the best lock in Scotland this year

In the modern day, theres too much power lost at the scrum and height at the lineout to even consider putting backrowers in the second row. Its a gimmicky move that might have worked 25 years ago, but wont today.

If we didn't have decent locks or mobile forwards then a back row in the second row could make sense - but we do have decent locks and mobile forwards so no need

Except that both Gray and Swinson are both front line out jumpers, neither can play 5 effectively. Gray doesnt have the timing for 5 and Swinson doesnt have the height ( 6ft 4) but yes we could play them both and let England have easy middle line ball, the kind that allows for great attack.

Not very clever, but still if it means Al Kellock doesnt get a game it would please a lot of Scotland supporters who cant forgive big Al for not being world class and therefore he sould be dropped for anyone else who is a competent club player.

Maitland in the 6N...now that will be worth watching. Might just hang on to the Rugby channel after all..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/8178573/Maitland-named-in-Scotland-Six-Naitons-squad

Always big on pace and a good read of the game all Maitland lacked for the next level was that x factor required to break a game open when the chips are down and perhaps a bit of bulk and the hard yard stuff. Probably best classed here as a reliable speedster but more of a 'sunny day' player. Needs a good side in front of him going wellto maximise his skills so how he measures up against the traditional big boys in the 6N will be fascinating. He'll need to call on more than he's had to with other sides is perhaps one way of putting it.

Taylorman wrote:
Always big on pace and a good read of the game all Maitland lacked for the next level was that x factor required to break a game open when the chips are down and perhaps a bit of bulk and the hard yard stuff. Probably best classed here as a reliable speedster but more of a 'sunny day' player. Needs a good side in front of him going wellto maximise his skills so how he measures up against the traditional big boys in the 6N will be fascinating. He'll need to call on more than he's had to with other sides is perhaps one way of putting it.

I remember someone mentioning that on the glasgow warriors forum back when he signed, and they got met with replies about how he had game breaking creativity and was a genuine option at fly half. Mind you, most of them hadnt known who maitland was until the press release...

one thing from the Scott Johnson interview, he may not be the best coach but he is a very likeable guy, much moreso than Matt Williams!

I really hope Maitland produces the goods for Scotland.

I absolutely hate it when we see good New Zealand rugby players go oversees and get all the chances in the World and dont take them and play to their full potential.

Plus ASBO would think that we'd sold him a lemon.

sensisball wrote:Except that both Gray and Swinson are both front line out jumpers, neither can play 5 effectively. Gray doesnt have the timing for 5 and Swinson doesnt have the height ( 6ft 4) but yes we could play them both and let England have easy middle line ball, the kind that allows for great attack.

Not very clever, but still if it means Al Kellock doesnt get a game it would please a lot of Scotland supporters who cant forgive big Al for not being world class and therefore he sould be dropped for anyone else who is a competent club player.

You've forgotten that both Brown and Beattie can jump. Sarries use Brown in the middle all the time, and Beattie is a superb tail jumper.

Have a think.

Borthwick does run the Sarries line really well though. Not convinced that Gray could run it as well as him.

Hamilton Runs a solid line out too. Scotland's only weak link in the Lineout seems to be Ford, and thats a shame since he is the best at everything else.

Lineout throwing is such an important part of the game though we can't afford to be losing our lineouts.

It'll be interesting to see if MacArthur gets the nod how he deals with his 1st cap in a Calcutta Cup Clash in Twickenham.

Given that Brown is an integral part of the Sarries lineout, is it really too much of a stretch to think he could impart some of that wisdom to the Scots locks? Whether Kellock is picked or not, England will still have the better lineout on paper. Parling is a top class lineout operator, and Launchbury, Wood and Robshaw are all jumping options. Parity would be a good outcome for Scotland.

Kellock is our best lineout lock, and given Ryan comments for Sky at the weekend, I'd be very surprised if he doesn't start at 5, with Gray or Hamilton at 4. Not my choice personally, I'd have used Swinson, but there's not a huge amount in it. I'd certainly go with those three ahead of Gilchrist, who is a little lucky to make the squad in my view.

I'd start MacArthur. Best workrate and tackling abilities of all the hookers, and the most reliable thrower. Ford needs to get the message, play poorly and you get dropped. Hopefully it'll light a rocket under Ford, and he can come back all the stronger.

For me if Scotland want to play a expansive open style of play they should have Brown at 6, Barclay at 7 and Beattie at 8. If however they want a tight close forward orientated gameplan they should have Denton at 6, Brown at 7 and someone at 8 perhaps even moving Richie Gray to 8 and bring in another lock thus giving Scotland 3 excellent lineout options.

This thread really has been mental - Denton at 7, Vernon at 12, back rows in the 2nd row and now Gray at 8??

I want some of what you guys have all been smoking!

MacKnocked-on wrote:Slightly off subject but does anyone know much about centre Duncan Taylor at Saracens who is in their matchday 23 and who I've just read is apparently Scottish qualified? Perhaps a A team recruit in the making?

Not heard much mate. But I'd love Sean to be taking notice of our posts. Ben Ransom is SQ too no?

I wonder whether Ben Ransom could follow his pal Tom Heathcote over from the England U20's?

RDW_Scotland wrote:This thread really has been mental - Denton at 7, Vernon at 12, back rows in the 2nd row and now Gray at 8??

I want some of what you guys have all been smoking!

Well the reason I mention Gray at 8 is that people on here have been saying he is a quick lad at sprinting/running for a guy even his size, so why not then play him at 8 which allows for another big lock to be played in the second row thus increasing Scotland's lineout options and scrummaging power.

I think it is a crazy suggestion - why play a top class 2nd row at 8 when we have plenty cover at 8 in Beattie, Denton, Brown and Vernon, and a fairly average replacement for him in the 2nd row in Kellock? Or are we going to move Denton into the 2nd row now??

Richie Gray is a very mobile 2nd row which is where he should play but we could have a great attacking weapon if he can keep up with Beattie in support.

We have to get the hang of using players in their best positions. Gray is a top class lock and should therefore be used at lock. Simple.

Whoa Whoa Whoa Horsey!

I have done a lot of moaning about Robinson not picking players in the right positions. It was and always will be my biggest criticism of his tenure.

This thread started off ok but it has become a farce with some of these suggestions. Whats worse is some people are defending suggestions of putting Gray at 8? WTF!!!

My decision to play Denton out of position is a reasonable suggestion since he is a destructive carrier, can tackle well and has in the past won turnovers for both Edinburgh and Scotland. It is a poor hand we have been dealt with injuries rendering Barclay and Rennie unable to compete, certainly for the start of the tournament.

Hence puting Denton in there instead of handing the 1st cap to either Wilson or Fusaro against England at Twickenham for the Calcutta Cup, in the opening game of the 6N is a monstrous ammount of pressure for untried and untested solid club performers.

However selections of Vernon in the centre or Gray at 8 is absolute lunacy. What the hell are you boys on the day?

Suddenly Robinson playing Hines at 6 or Dickinson at Tighthead or Sean Lamont at 12 don't seem so bonkers!

This thread is bonkers. WHy dont we just put 15 Roland Reids out on the pitch?

Schlong is facing stiff opposition but I think he's up to the task. He just has to play hard and get stuck in without wilting under pressure. He has to fight off the critics who think he lacks penetration and size.

I'm sorry but it's the simple things...

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Borthwick does run the Sarries line really well though. Not convinced that Gray could run it as well as him.

Hamilton Runs a solid line out too. Scotland's only weak link in the Lineout seems to be Ford, and thats a shame since he is the best at everything else.

Lineout throwing is such an important part of the game though we can't afford to be losing our lineouts.

It'll be interesting to see if MacArthur gets the nod how he deals with his 1st cap in a Calcutta Cup Clash in Twickenham.

You should have sent Gray off to us at Sarries instead of sending him to Sale. We would have helped out his lineout abilities.


You'll be pleased to know Kelly Brown was very good for Sarries vs Racing Metro. Work rate was very high and making some cracking tackles. Part of a Saracens backrow who dominated the breakdown battle.

KB must start at 6 for you.

beshocked wrote:

KB must start at 6 for you.

Thats Why I am saying Denton for 7 instead of Brown at 7.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

beshocked wrote:

KB must start at 6 for you.

Thats Why I am saying Denton for 7 instead of Brown at 7.

Why not just go for the Killer Bs with Denton on the bench?

Harsh on Denton but the Killer Bs when together have been a decent force for you.

Agree entirely beshocked, he was particularly good when fraser was in the bin. What I most like about brown is that he's starting to use his brain more as to when and when not to hit the ruck, when to compete and when to wait for the next ruck. That, combined with a huge engine, makes him very effective.

He also jumps at the lineout, meaning we don't necessarily need kellock purely for that role.

Barclay is injured, as is rennie, thus the debate.

Right, time to get some sense back into this thread!

This is what I think he will pick, not what I would necessarily want, but what I think he would pick.

1 Grant
2 Ford
3 Traynor (Can’t even joke about this – got to be the reverend!)
4 Gray
5 Hamilton
6 Brown (C)
7 Harley/Rennie if fit (please please please please please)
8 Denton
9 Laidlaw
10 Jackson
11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Lamont
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs Dickinson, Hall, Low, Kellock, Beattie, Pyrgos, Heathcoat, Evans, Murchie

And to an extent that would probably be my choice too. We need to win this game – end of. No shifting players out of position, no throwing loads of new caps or inexperienced people in key positions (McArthur, Heathcoat/Weir, Dunbar). We need a big pack, a solid set piece and we need strong defence in the backs

Harsh on McArthur but can see him going with Hall for his experience and get McArthur on the bench for Italy. I think we’ve got to pick Ford for everything he offers (which is much more than any other hooker we’ve got IMO) and hope his lineout works – I don’t think he is a bad thrower, he just lacks it mentally. We need to be intelligent in the lineout – do we really need to throw a high risk ball to the tail in their 22 if it is one of our rare attacking moments? Would a much less risky front or middle ball not be adequate to at least ensure possession?

I think we need Shlong at 13 to give us go forward and mark Tuilagi. Yes he doesn’t pass but we’ve got players around him who does.

Finaly, and most difficult call is the back row. I’ve had a change of heart – Brown must start at 6 and I think Johnson will pick him there. As has been said his performances for Sarries have been fantastic and we need him in his best position. I think Beattie will not start and rightfully so IMO – he has been in the international wilderness for 2 years and has been to no training camps, keep him on the bench and get him angry so he has a rampaging game with 20 minutes to go. Think it is fair to say that all of us have been going on what we read and have not actually seen him play.

As for the subs, we don’t have anyone else at looshead really, and I have already mentioned Hall. Worying that Low was completely destroyed by Tom Court recently but Cross has fallen off the planet this season. Kellock is a must and mentioned Beattie too. Don’t really want to see Evans in there but can see him being picked, again for his experience.

So there we go – I think that team can beat England.

This has to be the Cheech and Chong thread - it's the only explanation for some of these suggestions. Madder than a pre-menopausal Carrie Fisher on Shutter Island. Please can we stop? Or we could keep going and debate my suggestion of putting Laidlaw in at tighthead and Jim Hamilton at scrum half.

About 9845 posts ago, someone (FES? Radge? IBD?) mentioned that the bottom line should surely be that if nobody is playing their natural role, then the lesser of the collective possible evils is only playing one player out of position.

I agree and sense should dictate that the player who is the best in their position gets to stay there. That's Kellybrows. So that means Denton at 7 for me with Fozzy on the bench.

He can come on with 30 to go and start pilfering, hopefully minimising the incidences of 'fly bouncing off the English windscreen' kind of scenarios.

beshocked wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

beshocked wrote:

KB must start at 6 for you.

Thats Why I am saying Denton for 7 instead of Brown at 7.

Why not just go for the Killer Bs with Denton on the bench?

Harsh on Denton but the Killer Bs when together have been a decent force for you.

Barclay is injured and so is Rennie. It would be akin to Wales losing Warburton and Tipuric. We won't have a specialist 7 for the whole of the 6N. Fusaro has been playing well for Glasgow but as a coach I would be reluctant to cap someone on the Flank in such a high pressure game.

MacArthur at hooker is another player I would be reluctant to cap at hooker but with Ford injured and Hall being rubbish (don't kid yourself otherwise) we have no other choice.

At least at 7 we can basterdize the squad wee bit to make it fit.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Right, time to get some sense back into this thread!

This is what I think he will pick, not what I would necessarily want, but what I think he would pick.

1 Grant
2 Ford
3 Traynor (Can’t even joke about this – got to be the reverend!)
4 Gray
5 Hamilton
6 Brown (C)
7 Harley/Rennie if fit (please please please please please)
8 Denton
9 Laidlaw
10 Jackson
11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Lamont
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs Dickinson, Hall, Low, Kellock, Beattie, Pyrgos, Heathcoat, Evans, Murchie

And to an extent that would probably be my choice too. We need to win this game – end of. No shifting players out of position, no throwing loads of new caps or inexperienced people in key positions (McArthur, Heathcoat/Weir, Dunbar). We need a big pack, a solid set piece and we need strong defence in the backs

Harsh on McArthur but can see him going with Hall for his experience and get McArthur on the bench for Italy. I think we’ve got to pick Ford for everything he offers (which is much more than any other hooker we’ve got IMO) and hope his lineout works – I don’t think he is a bad thrower, he just lacks it mentally. We need to be intelligent in the lineout – do we really need to throw a high risk ball to the tail in their 22 if it is one of our rare attacking moments? Would a much less risky front or middle ball not be adequate to at least ensure possession?

I think we need Shlong at 13 to give us go forward and mark Tuilagi. Yes he doesn’t pass but we’ve got players around him who does.

Finaly, and most difficult call is the back row. I’ve had a change of heart – Brown must start at 6 and I think Johnson will pick him there. As has been said his performances for Sarries have been fantastic and we need him in his best position. I think Beattie will not start and rightfully so. e has been in the international wilderness for 2 years and has been to no training camps, keep him on the bench and get him angry so he has a rampaging game with 20 minutes to go. Think it is fair to say that all of us have been going on what we read and have not actually seen him play.

As for the subs, we don’t have anyone else at looshead really, and I have already mentioned Hall. Worying that Low was completely destroyed by Tom Court recently but Cross has fallen off the planet this season. Kellock is a must and mentioned Beattie too. Don’t really want to see Evans in there but can see him being picked, again for his experience.

So there we go – I think that team can beat England.

RDW I have been a big fan of Ford, and probably always will be. If the opening game was anything other than England at Twickenham I would be starting MacArthur. However in such a massive game if Ford is fit he starts. It's the harshest call in the entire squad because MacArthur has been the better player, however I couldn't send him into the lions den and ask him to perform. That would just be wrong IMO. He starts against Italy.

Have to disagree with Harley at 7 though, and Denton at 8. You can speak for yourself with regards to not seeing Beattie Play. He demolished Sale and Cardiff blues with his ball carrying. I am a fan of Dentons but he can't hold a candle to Beatties destructive ball carrying. The man just looks like he can't be stopped. Anyone who can force Gorgodze out of the no.8 position because he can carry better is just the sort of guy I want to play no.8 for Scotland.

Denton for me would make the best choice for 7, as I said he is quick around the park, runs good support lines and wins his fair share of turnovers. He is also got more international experience than Harley. I would have Harley on the bench ready to replace Brown at 6 or at a push Denton at 7.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Right, time to get some sense back into this thread!

This is what I think he will pick, not what I would necessarily want, but what I think he would pick.

1 Grant
2 Ford
3 Traynor (Can’t even joke about this – got to be the reverend!)
4 Gray
5 Hamilton
6 Brown (C)
7 Harley/Rennie if fit (please please please please please)
8 Denton
9 Laidlaw
10 Jackson
11 Visser
12 Scott
13 Lamont
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Subs Dickinson, Hall, Low, Kellock, Beattie, Pyrgos, Heathcoat, Evans, Murchie

And to an extent that would probably be my choice too. We need to win this game – end of. No shifting players out of position, no throwing loads of new caps or inexperienced people in key positions (McArthur, Heathcoat/Weir, Dunbar). We need a big pack, a solid set piece and we need strong defence in the backs

Harsh on McArthur but can see him going with Hall for his experience and get McArthur on the bench for Italy. I think we’ve got to pick Ford for everything he offers (which is much more than any other hooker we’ve got IMO) and hope his lineout works – I don’t think he is a bad thrower, he just lacks it mentally. We need to be intelligent in the lineout – do we really need to throw a high risk ball to the tail in their 22 if it is one of our rare attacking moments? Would a much less risky front or middle ball not be adequate to at least ensure possession?

I think we need Shlong at 13 to give us go forward and mark Tuilagi. Yes he doesn’t pass but we’ve got players around him who does.

Finaly, and most difficult call is the back row. I’ve had a change of heart – Brown must start at 6 and I think Johnson will pick him there. As has been said his performances for Sarries have been fantastic and we need him in his best position. I think Beattie will not start and rightfully so IMO – he has been in the international wilderness for 2 years and has been to no training camps, keep him on the bench and get him angry so he has a rampaging game with 20 minutes to go. Think it is fair to say that all of us have been going on what we read and have not actually seen him play.

Interesting RDW - not totally convinced about where Beattie will be but Johnson's response in the Hootsmon today when he was asked about Beattie was interesting:

“I’ve been trying to get a gauge on Johnnie myself. I think everybody had views on him and I was trying to be as objective as I could. I thought his form was very good and he provides... something that we don’t have a lot of in Scotland. He’s got a wonderful skill-set and I think he’s done really well to go to a strong rugby team in France and compete, and dominate in his position.”

Fair enough radge - but do you think Johnson would do that?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fair enough radge - but do you think Johnson would do that?

I'm not sure. But then whats the point of the discussion. Robinson didn't exactly come on these forums and let us pick the team!

If he did we might not have been so mind numbingly rubbish!

read: Beattie will play.

I think I disagree with quite a few of you on MacArthur/Ford, because I think the former should start vs England. To win this game our set piece has to be rock solid, and we have to make every scrap of possession count. The only hooker that can deliver that on current form is MacArthur. Yes he’s inexperienced but he’s also on form, and selecting him will give him a huge confidence boost anyway. If we select Ford it is a tacit confirmation that no matter how badly he plays, when push comes to shove he’ll be in the team. That is a terrible basis on which to run selection for a team.

Fair enough Radge. I’ve got to disagree with you with Denton though – I’d say his carrying was at least on a par with Beattie. Beattie has more pace and maybe makes more breaks, but Denton’s carrying is absolutely brutal – they way he fires himself into contact is incredible and must be draining on defences. So the way I see it get Denton to do what he does best for 50-60 minutes and bring on Beattie when the defence is tired and there’s a bit more space.

Can you imagine the boost it will give if we have Denton rampaging about for 50 mintues then Beattie dusts himself off and brings himself into the fray??

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fair enough radge - but do you think Johnson would do that?

I'm not sure. But then whats the point of the discussion. Robinson didn't exactly come on these forums and let us pick the team!

If he did we might not have been so mind numbingly rubbish!

But at least Robinson did produce 2 wins over Australia during his tenure as Scotland coach which is more than what Wales have achieved in the same time V all 3 of the Southern Hemisphere giants under Warren Gatland.

gboycottnut wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fair enough radge - but do you think Johnson would do that?

I'm not sure. But then whats the point of the discussion. Robinson didn't exactly come on these forums and let us pick the team!

If he did we might not have been so mind numbingly rubbish!

But at least Robinson did produce 2 wins over Australia during his tenure as Scotland coach which is more than what Wales have achieved in the same time V all 3 of the Southern Hemisphere giants under Warren Gatland.

Oh no- the last thing this thread needs is the Welsh getting involved and arguing!!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Fair enough Radge. I’ve got to disagree with you with Denton though – I’d say his carrying was at least on a par with Beattie. Beattie has more pace and maybe makes more breaks, but Denton’s carrying is absolutely brutal – they way he fires himself into contact is incredible and must be draining on defences. So the way I see it get Denton to do what he does best for 50-60 minutes and bring on Beattie when the defence is tired and there’s a bit more space.

Can you imagine the boost it will give if we have Denton rampaging about for 50 mintues then Beattie dusts himself off and brings himself into the fray??

Fair play RDW, that sounds pretty good to me. I'd probably have Beattie starting vs Italy though, I really want to see Scotland punish them early on this year, ie, not get drawn into an arm wrestle and then try not to lose. Scotland have also been lacking energy in lots of parts of games they've lost, resulting in easy tries for opposition. 2010 in Wales was brutal to behold, but Scotland simply had no answer for the Welsh resurgence (apart from making silly errors and getting sin binned). Last few England victories over us have basically been England holding on for 65 minutes then making a concerted effort to win, by which time Scotland usually throw in the towel. Its pretty rubbish and hopefully with so many younger players now Scotland will actually last a full 80 minutes in attack and defence.