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.

Didn't everyone else Bru? I actually had Maitland at 2 because I saw him throw a pass quite straight on the telly the other day.

Indeed Glas a Du, I had no idea how to do it other than copying and pasting the whole lot and hoping for the best. Turned out better than anticipated

Oh I just made page 15!

Geoff Cross for captain and the number 12 shirt, hes the missing link in our back line

Over 700 posts, lets break out the champagne

The polls invalid. Theres an absence of a certain messiacal figure of the centre variety...

Imperialbigdave wrote:The polls invalid. Theres an absence of a certain messiacal figure of the centre variety...

Vernon?

TJ wrote:

Imperialbigdave wrote:The polls invalid. Theres an absence of a certain messiacal figure of the centre variety...

Vernon?

spot on.

Im making my bed right here, right now. Richie Vernon is the answer. His speed, handling, vision, brain, brute strength and compassion are all superior to that of the false prophet... Bennett

Front row

Grant.
Taylor
Reverend

Top notch I'd say

where's Shingler?

Glas a du wrote:where's Shingler?

Is that a game like Where's Wally where you have to search through endless team lists until you spot him?

Glas a du wrote:where's Shingler?

He's not on the List

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yeah pretty sure Laidlaw will be at 9, unless he is being rested of course...

You never know - we might see Denton at 7 and Visser at 13!

Laidlaw starts at 10, and Denton is on the bench!

15 Greig Tonks

14 Dougie Fife
13 Ben Cairns
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser



10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

9 Richie Rees



1 Robin Hislop
2 Steven Lawrie

3 Willem Nel
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Sean Cox
6 Stuart McInally
7 Dimitri Basilaia
8 Netani Talei

Substitutes
16 Andy Titterrell
17 Alex Allan
18 Geoff Cross
19 David Denton
20 Roddy Grant
21 Piers Francis

22 Ben Atiga
23 Lee Jones

So I guess Johnson isn't the interfering type. Ford still injured

MacArtur has to start against England now IMO

Glas a du wrote:where's Shingler?

Glas a du is quickly becoming a prominant WUM. Not the best of examples for a v2 writer to be setting!

Glas a du wrote:where's Shingler?

tigertattie wrote:

Glas a du wrote:where's Shingler?

Glas a du is quickly becoming a prominant WUM. Not the best of examples for a v2 writer to be setting!

I thought that was a funny comment FFS - perfectly acceptable

Lots of changes in the Glasgow squad for this week, Scotland squad members Hogg, Seymour, Maitland, Jackson, MacArthur, Low, Kellock and Wilson all start. Ryan Grant drops to the bench and he's the only replacement prop again, and this time no back row cover either, with Fusaro and Harley both listed as injured, increasing the likelihood of Brown or Denton filling in at 7 for Scotland. Hall, Dunbar, Kennedy and Horne are all listed among the replacements but Pyrgos drops out of the squad, meaning none of Scotland's scrum halves will start in that position this week. Sean Lamont also still injured, which improves Dunbar's chances of starting against England.

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/5246-townsend-rings-changes-for-northampton-clash

I'm quite concerned that we're going into the England game with Lamont, Ford , Fusaro, Rennie and Harley all still injured or likely to be fit but without any game time.

Also concerning that none of our scrum halfs are starting this week.

So looks like we're going to either have to play inexperience/new caps or people who haven't had much rugby for weeks.

Starting to look a bit concerning!

I really just don't fancy Dunbar to have his first cap against Tuilagi - Dunbar hasn't played regularly this year and I can see him having a very long afternoon if he starts!

I thought he'd been Glasgow's first choice 13 for most of the season? I'd rather have a De Luca or Ansbro available but I'm not too worried. At least not as worried as I would be if we ended up starting Dickinson or Kennedy (touch wood)!

Elsewhere, Jim Hamilton, Max Evans, Tom Heathcote, Richie Vernon, Kelly Brown and Johnnie Beattie (at 7!) all start for their clubs. Euan Murray and Richie Gray are named as replacements and Dickinson doesn't make the Sale squad at all.

Is Beattie really down playing 7? He's been 8 whenever I've seen the team sheet. Gergotze (sp) plays 7.

Nah don't think Dunbar has played that much compared to last year - especially recently when Lamont has taken over the 13 shirt.

Oh wait I've just had a horrific thought- does this means Max Evans will be starting at 13??

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Beattie really down playing 7? He's been 8 whenever I've seen the team sheet. Gergotze (sp) plays 7.

Nah don't think Dunbar has played that much compared to last year - especially recently when Lamont has taken over the 13 shirt.

So it says on espn scrum anyway, Gorgodze is named at lock. Our options for playing people out of position at 7 just keep increasing!

I'd definitely rather have Dunbar than Evans at 13

The Edinburgh and Glasgow selections throw up a few interesting developments. My take:

1. MacArthur must start at hooker. He is fit and in form, Ford is neither.

2. We are screwed at 7, and it looks now that Denton and Beattie are the only options, with the other playing 8 (or possibly Wilson at 8). Our specialists just haven't had enough rugby, and I'm loathe to move Brown away from his Sarries role.

3. Laidlaw can't possibly be an option at 9. He doesn't play there for Edinburgh, and the two appearances he's had in the last 12 months weren't a great success. He's now a 10, at least until he plays club rugby at 9 to a degree of success. Pyrgos has been rested, and therefore Pyrgos and Laidlaw are my preferred half backs.

4. Outside centre is a problem. Lamont's injury makes him a doubt, and Dunbar hasn't played well at 13 this season and is currently benched for McGuigan. Grove should have been in the squad. We're struggling for a sensible option at 13 now.

The Edinburgh selection does indicate though that the SRU haven't interfered, otherwise I'm certain we'd have seen Denton at 7 and Laidlaw at 9.

Pat_Mustard wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Is Beattie really down playing 7? He's been 8 whenever I've seen the team sheet. Gergotze (sp) plays 7.

Nah don't think Dunbar has played that much compared to last year - especially recently when Lamont has taken over the 13 shirt.

So it says on espn scrum anyway, Gorgodze is named at lock. Our options for playing people out of position at 7 just keep increasing!

I'd definitely rather have Dunbar than Evans at 13

Godzilla has been bumped to lock a lot by Beattie lately - the real surpise is him playing openside.

Dunbar surely cannot be in contention for a Scotland shirt with his lack of match sharpness.

Ah, I just realised this is the last round of matches before the 6 nations starts, with no pro12 matches next weekend. So no other opportunity for players to return from injury etc. Poopie.

Reckon there'll be a late call up for Grove in light of the injuries? Shocking decision to leave him out.

My earlier optimism is slowly slipping away.

I think Dunbar must certainly be out now. He hasn't played enough this season, and when he has player, he hasn't played well enough.

I had hoped Lamont would be fit to play against England but it looks like he's injured as well, and he certainly won't be match sharp.

Running out of options frankly. Perhaps Hogg at 13, Maitland to 15 and Seymour on the wing?? At least we'd have fit players on the pitch.

I suppose Max Evans may get it out of default. The decision not to include Grove in the squad looks even sillier now. What use are Horne and Murchie?

RDW_Scotland wrote:Reckon there'll be a late call up for Grove in light of the injuries? Shocking decision to leave him out.

“This squad is for our training camp in Glasgow next week and we still have the option to add to it for the Six Nations.” - Scott Johnson

please please please

In the light of Lamont's injury it's the obvious solution

I'd go for that FES, but a Visser-Seymour-Maitland back 3 is worryingly in experienced!

In fact through in Pyrgos, Scott and Hogg and that is a ridiculously young backline! Great for the future but worrying for the present.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think Dunbar must certainly be out now. He hasn't played enough this season, and when he has player, he hasn't played well enough.

I had hoped Lamont would be fit to play against England but it looks like he's injured as well, and he certainly won't be match sharp.

WHAAAT injury?

Didnt stop england last year...

Lamont is listed an injured on the Warriors website.

I don't give a stuff how old or experienced our players are. Let's just get the best fit and available XV on the pitch.

My concern about Hogg at 13 isn't youth or experience, it's that I don't rate him particularly at 13, and think he's much better at 15.

Scott at 12 is a no brainer. His age is irrelevant. He's the best 12 we have by a country mile.

Scott's played at 13 a bit, but that would just shift the problem to inside centre. How about 12 Vernon, 13 Scott!

Horne is obviously in the squad as an option at 12 but I'd much rather Grove was called up!

this is looking grim.

Horne is nothing more than an ok club player. Fine for the Glasgow squad, but he's not an international quality centre.

We need Grove. He's fit and has been playing to a good standard at 13 all season. He's also strong defensively.

When you think of some of the rubbish we've had to persevere with over the years, Alex Grove's number of caps is an injustice.

Actually I think Vernon at 10 should be an option. England are going to train thinking Laidlaw will be at 10 and send runners down his channel, imagine their surprise when they have to deal with the Vernonator!

"Surprise" would be one word, "delight" another!

Let's just pray we don't get any more injuries this weekend. We're thin on quality as it is, and I'm very pleased to see that Ryan Grant isn't starting. Lose him and we're doomed.

I guess this means that Evans is going to play 13 for us, which is far from ideal. Either that or Grove gets a call up, or the far more unlikely situation (at least I hope it's unlikely) is a Horne at 12 and Scott at 13 pairing.

Please call up Grove.

Grove isn't in the Worcester side this week and nor was he last week, but I don't know if they take the Amlin seriously. He's played most of every Prem match and I can't see anything anywhere about him being injured.

Grove simply has to be called up now. Maxwell Evans hasn't played well for Scotland for ages and coming up against Barritt and Tuilagi is likely to be turned into road kill.

Sean Lamont isn't really the answer at 13 either if we are being honest with ourselves. We want to see Maitland, Visser and Hogg on the ball as much as possible.

They won't see much of it with Lamont trying to beat the English defence on his own.

Imperialbigdave wrote:Actually I think Vernon at 10 should be an option. England are going to train thinking Laidlaw will be at 10 and send runners down his channel, imagine their surprise when they have to deal with the Vernonator!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:They won't see much of it with Lamont trying to beat the English defence on his own.

At least Sean Lamont tries to beat the defence. Evans tries to run away from it!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:They won't see much of it with Lamont trying to beat the English defence on his own.

At least Sean Lamont tries to beat the defence. Evans tries to run away from it!

My biggest criticism of Sean Lamont is that he is a greedy bam who never passes the ball.

Hence he was the won't pass half of the old : Can't Pass / Won't Pass inside centre options for Scotland in the days where Morrison and Lamont shared the shirt.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:They won't see much of it with Lamont trying to beat the English defence on his own.

At least Sean Lamont tries to beat the defence. Evans tries to run away from it!

and he runs away from it sideways! Don't confuse this with him running at space. He just looks for the patch of grass furtherest away from the defense. I've even seen him head for his own try line WTF!!!

Cairns is in the Edinburgh lineup though, if he has a stormer against sarries there is a good chance he'll be called up, seeing as a lot of the England team are a Sarries contingent.

If Cairnsy had come back from injury a few weeks earlier I think he would have been a genuine option. However after 15 months out injured 2 and a half games isn't enough to then step into Internationals IMO

NeilyBroon wrote:Cairns is in the Edinburgh lineup though, if he has a stormer against sarries there is a good chance he'll be called up, seeing as a lot of the England team are a Sarries contingent.

I'd disagree, he's only played roughly 3 (pro team) games in over a year after recovering from injury. There is no way he's ready for international rugby yet, even if he plays out of his skin against Sarries I would say at best there is a very, very slim chance he'd be called up.

I think it is a bridge too far to expect Cairns to get the call with his recent return.

Deffo a cairns/scott centre pairing in the future perhaps, but not just now

(ps lets get this thread to 1000 posts lol)

Schlong Lamont has a rib injury and we all know how long they take to heal - looks like Wee Max gets a start