Pre-Announcement discussion of the Scotland Squad 2014 for 6 Nations

So we kick off 2014 against Ireland (Away) on Sunday 2nd February which is just over 3 weeks away, leaving just the 2 Heineken Cup games for clubs.

Edinburgh have been developing well since then and their pack is improving, the same cannot be said for Glasgow.

Recent results have been favourable for Edinburgh, notching up victories so far against Munster, Leinster and Glouscter meanwhile Glasgow lost to the Dragons and Cardiff twice.

Edinburgh's defence is getting better, albeit from a poor starting point whilst Glasgow's attack seems blunt.


This was the most recent squad for the Autumn Internationals:

Backs M Bennett (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow), De Luca (Edinburgh), A Dunbar (Glasgow), M Evans (Castres), T Heathcote (Bath), R Jackson (Glasgow), S Lamont (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Edinburgh), S Maitland (Glasgow), H Pyrgos (Glasgow), M Scott (Edinburgh), T Seymour (Glasgow), D Taylor (Saracens), G Tonks (Edinburgh), T Visser (Edinburgh), D Weir (Glasgow).
Forwards J Barclay (Scarlets), J Beattie (Montpellier), K Brown (Saracens), B Cowan (London Irish), G Cross (Edinburgh), D Denton (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), C Fusaro (Glasgow), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh) R Grant (Glasgow), J Gray (Glasgow), R Gray (Castres), J Hamilton (Montpellier), R Harley (Glasgow), A Kellock (Glasgow), S Lawson (Newcastle), K Low (London Irish), M Low (Glasgow), P MacArthur (Glasgow), E Murray (Worcester), A Strokosch (Perpignan), T Swinson (Glasgow), J Welsh (Glasgow).
Invited to train with squad: Stuart McInally and Ross Rennie (both Edinburgh)

I don't forecast much change, except for a few players out and some in:

OUT:

Max Evans
Al Kellock
Mark Bennett (INJ)
Euan Murray (INJ)

IN:

Jack Cuthbert
Roddy Grant
Dougie Fife

Don't expect the squad release this week but there might be some rumours or daydreaming by A Massie to rant about..

(PS I'm having difficulty posting this so if it reappears somewhere, ADMIN feel free to take it down or whatever)

Nematode wrote:
IN:

Jack Cuthbert
Roddy Grant
Dougie Fife

Are you trolling us. I think you are. I am just going to go ahead and think you are.   

Hopefully with Tonks, Maitland and Hogg all fit, there should be no need for Jack Cuthbert.

I also think that Grant will miss out. SJ likes Strokosch at 6 and Brown at 7, and Barclay and Fusaro play 7 and will probably remain the squad.

Harsh on Grant, he's played well recently, probably better than Fusaro who seems to be slipping behind Holmes.

Wonder if Rennie will be fit....here's to hoping.

It wasn't a troll, just players that will make the squad but never get a game.

For all everyone is praising Cuthbert, Murchie is not half bad under the highball and has a bit more pace. Pity his injury is so long lasting.

I think Grant is at least even with Fusaro. Not too up on Low/Cowan but there could be some free spots.

If SJ was to make a XV I'd expect him to pick (given all fit):

Hogg, Maitland, Dunbar, Scott, Visser, Weir, Laidlaw; Grant, Ford, Welsh, Hamilton, Gray, Beattie/Strockosch, Brown, Denton

I'd question R Gray

in answer to the poll question

Brown (6) should captain the sqaud and be selected at 6 because Brown (6) is a 6 and he (Brown the 6) plays his club rugby at 6 because his (Brown the 6) coach understands that he (Brown the 6) is a 6.

tigertattie wrote:in answer to the poll question

Brown (6) should captain the sqaud and be selected at 6 because Brown (6) is a 6 and he (Brown the 6) plays his club rugby at 6 because his (Brown the 6) coach understands that he (Brown the 6) is a 6.

Generally I would agree with that sentiment but Brown is playing more of his club rugby at 7 these days, as a consequence of being picked by Scotland in that position plus to cover injuries. He is likely to start vs Toulouse at 7.

TT- Where would YOU like Brown though?

Riskysports wrote:TT- Where would YOU like Brown though?

I've always thought that Brown made a decent number 8

tigertattie wrote:

Riskysports wrote:TT- Where would YOU like Brown though?

I've always thought that Brown made a decent number 8

I was thinking maybe a 12 myself

I was thinking more:

1. Traynor
2. Ford
3. Kalman
4. Hamilton
5. Kellock
6. Beattie
7. Harley
8. Brown
9. Pyrgos
10. Laidlaw
11. Jones
12. Lamont
13. Scott
14. Dunbar
15. Maitland

123456789 wrote:I was thinking more:

1. Traynor
2. Ford
3. Hamilton
4. Hamilton
5. Kellock
6. Beattie
7. Harley
8. Brown
9. Pyrgos
10. Laidlaw
11. Jones
12. Lamont
13. Scott
14. Dunbar
15. Maitland

  

Could someone help - I was trying to put a picture in but it kinda didn't work. Are you able to insert pictures? (I saw something about putting it in a spoiler?)

That sounds like a job for RDW.

I think Administrators should put their mobile numbers on 606v2 so that we can contact them 24/7 with queries such as this.

Do we know when the squad will be announced?

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Do we know when the squad will be announced?

No clue, I just thought that saying the English and French were getting their squads announced we would be soon to follow (sometime next week).

Last year it was 14 January 2013

Nematode wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Do we know when the squad will be announced?

No clue, I just thought that saying the English and French were getting their squads announced we would be soon to follow (sometime next week).

Don't ever judge the organisation skills of the SRU to other unions it never ends well.

  

UPDATE: Mark BENNETT is playing for Ayr this weekend so must have regained fitness. I'd say a lack of game time will put him behind Dunbar, NDL and Scott (similar lack of game time but invaluable player now) but a possible bench vs Italy?