Scotland Summer Tour, Game 2: Canada v Scotland, 14 June

by **George Carlin** Mon Jun 09, 2014 8:48 am

First topic message reminder :

Canada v Scotland Scotland Summer Tour, Game 2: Canada v Scotland, 14 June - Page 2 Dunce10

14 June 2014, KO: 14:00 EDT (19:00 BST)
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario

Live on BT Sport 2

Referee: Mike Fraser (NZ)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (SA), Nick Ricono (USA)
TMO: Davey Ardrey (USA)

A. Teams:

I. Canada

1.Hubert Buydens – (Manawatu Turbos/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2.Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates RFC) Brantford, ON
3.Jason Marshall – (Atlantique Stade Rochelais) Vancouver, BC
4.Tyler Hotson – (London Scottish RFC) Vancouver, BC
5.Jamie Cudmore – (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6.Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
7.John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8.Tyler Ardron – Captain (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON

9.Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
10.Harry Jones – (Capilanos RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
11.Taylor Paris – (SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne) Barrie, ON
12.Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13.Ciaran Hearn – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
14.Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB
15.James Pritchard – (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia

16.Ray Barkwill – (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
17.Andrew Tiedemann – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
18.Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
19.Kyle Gilmour – (Saint Albert RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saint Albert, AB?
20.Jon Phelan – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
21.Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
22.Connor Braid – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
23.DTH van der Merwe – (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK

II. Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 21 caps, 5 tries, 25 points
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors); 10 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); 87 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
12 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors); 2 caps
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 13 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 1 cap
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 30 caps, 3 tries, 254 points

1 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 1 cap
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons); 44 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs); 27 caps
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 39, 1 try, 5 points
5 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby); 5 caps
6 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens); 63 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 31 tries, 3 tries, 15 points

16 Kevin Bryce (Glasgow Warriors), uncapped
17 Kyle Traynor (Bristol Rugby); 4 caps
18 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Kieran Low (London Irish); 2 cap
20 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 1 cap
21 Grayson Hart (Edinburgh Rugby); uncapped
22 Ruaridh Jackson (London Waps); 24 caps, 18 points
23 Max Evans (Castres); 43 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

B. Form - head to head:

(includes 'Scotland XV' game in 1991)

5 Played 5
2 Won 3
3 Lost 2

(Scotland defeats were:

25 May 1991: Canada 24-19 Scotland XV
Saint John, New Brunswick

15 June 2002: Canada 26-23 Scotland
Vancouver, British Columbia)

C. Form - recent

22 Nov 2008
Scotland 41 - 0 Canada
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, Scotland

15 Jun 2002
Canada 26 - 23 Scotland
Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver, Canada

08 Jun 2002
Canada 8 - 33 Scotland
Fletchers Field, Toronto, Canada

21 Jan 1995
Scotland 22 - 6 Canada
Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland

by funnyExiledScot Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:21 am

Gilchrist and R Gray is a pretty decent second row - quite an exciting pairing. They should wind-up Cudmore as much as possible - loves to throw a punch that guy.

Any update as to whether this is being shown on TV?

by **RDW** Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:25 am

BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

by alive555 Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:42 am

i was watching an old video from 2011-2 and richie gray has regressed from initial form.

Whats noticeable is in days gone by in contact his body position was much lower and as a result he made easy yards. Now hes way too upright and gets fluffed over the touchline like a pansy. Just as he did in USA game

Cotter needs to sort this out.

by **RDW** Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:52 am

In an interview with Richie Gray he said how Cotter had given them another beasting on Tuesday, with a real emphasis on the forwards. He is starting to introduce aspects of how he wants them to play, which is good to hear as Humphries has so far proved useless in that department.

by **RDW** Wed Jun 11, 2014 9:54 am

The cycle of modern rugby tours is a demanding one. Sundays are for injury assessment and recovery while Mondays will probably include a video session of some sort and maybe some light gym work.

Tuesdays are tough. Tuesdays are sufficiently far from the last and from the next match to be properly hard work. Tuesdays are when the forwards knock lumps out of other on the training paddock and Tuesdays are when Scotland’s twin towers Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist look so whacked that they will probably leave the midday press conference in Markham’s Hilton Hotel and head straight to bed.

“It’s getting to the stage of the season where the boys are perhaps not feeling their freshest,” says Gray. “But it’s a new coach and a new start for everyone and we have to ensure we all give it one last push.

“I am determined to enjoy it while I am here because I might only have one game left. That said, I am looking forward to lying on a beach for a couple of weeks. It will be good just to shut down completely because it has been pretty full on for a year.

“I had the Lions tour last summer, the move to Castres and everything that has gone in-between with Scotland. I haven’t really had a chance to reflect on it all but I will after the Canada game, that’s for sure.”

Gray’s season lasted longer than most, with a Top 14 appearance for Castres in Paris just two weekend’s back. He talks with awe about having 12,000 fans make the trip to the French capital and, if that number doesn’t impress, then it’s worth remembering that Castres boasts a population of just 43,000 souls. Imagine Kilmarnock contesting the RaboDirect Pro 12 final and you have something similar. The big fella hasn’t had much time to get to grips with a new coach or even to understand properly what Vern Cotter is expecting from his tight forwards but, so far, Gray appears comfortable to be working under new management.

“Last week was Vern’s first time with all the guys,” said the Lions’ Test lock. “He had a small and limited input but this week has definitely been more hands-on, especially with the forwards. He wants us to play in a certain way and he’s going through the drills in fine detail.

“He wants us constantly on the move, even in training. It’s been tough but I am really enjoying it so far. He’s made a big impression in his first few weeks, that’s for sure.”

With Jim Hamilton already back in the UK after damaging his ankle during the USA game, Gray is likely to have a new partner in the shape of Edinburgh’s Gilchrist, who should add to his five caps. It is a formidable duo but they will need to be at their best since they are up against Canada’s lock of ages, Jamie Cudmore, a veteran second row forward of 35 years who played at Clermont under Cotter.

“I enjoy playing with Grant, says Gray on Grant. “He’s a very good player and he’s an out and out line-out caller. He’s a very mobile lock who gets about the pitch very well so I’m looking forward to getting the chance to play with him again.”

Happily that sentiment is reciprocated. Gilchrist is perhaps a little unlucky not to have more caps under his belt but he does play in the one position that Scotland have such strength in depth that this duo have never before paired up at Test level.

“He is a great athlete,” says Grant on Gray. “He is a good all-round rugby player, he carries the ball well. He is a good line out option. There is a good balance there and we can play well together. We played a couple of games together at under-20s.

“There are natural strengths he does well and there are natural strengths in my game. Certainly maybe not as athletic as Richie but I have introduced that to my game. With Edinburgh, I have been involved a lot in the loose. I call the line-out, too, which is something Richie is not experienced in doing.”

Unlike his giant partner, Grant is doing the entire summer tour, carrying on to Argentina and South Africa but he had the luxury of ten days of down time between the end of Edinburgh’s season and the start of preparing for this tour.

“It has been quite a long season,” say Grant, “but not making the play-offs allowed us to get away from it and come back fresher.”

“Fresh” wasn’t the first word you’d associate with Scotland’s twin locks on Tuesday but, then again, Tuesday is not a “fresh” day in the weekly cycle of Test match touring.

by **George Carlin** Wed Jun 11, 2014 10:22 am

alive555 wrote:i was watching an old video from 2011-2 and richie gray has regressed from initial form.

Whats noticeable is in days gone by in contact his body position was much lower and as a result he made easy yards. Now hes way too upright and gets fluffed over the touchline like a pansy. Just as he did in USA game

by funnyExiledScot Wed Jun 11, 2014 11:59 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Wed Jun 11, 2014 7:09 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

Perhaps the butler can step up to fill the gap, so to speak?

by reallybored Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:49 am

Think I'm going to be disappointed when the team gets announced and Bennett isn't in it.

I know his form doesn't deserve automatic selection but his form towards the end of the season was good and he could be something a bit special in our midfield. Surely this is the ideal time to cap him because the games only get tougher from here on in with Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand on the horizon.

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:39 am

Hasn't Bennett been capped yet at all?

Don't we have a tier 2 nation in the AIs as well? That'd be the ideal time as it's at home, but I still see your point. Perhaps there's been agreement that Mark wants to focus on the Commonwealth Games this time around.

But it would be crazy not to at least have him with a few caps before the World Cup - I don't see that we exactly have sufficient depth without him. If we did, it wouldn't be a problem.

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:49 am

When are the teams going to be announced? Scotland Summer Tour, Game 2: Canada v Scotland, 14 June - Page 2 3933776953

by **BigGee** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:51 am

Bennett really should get capped for this game, off the bench at the very least, though I would prefer him to start. If not now then when!

Lamont and Evans have both been tried in the centres and have both been found wanting at international level. Surely this is a match to look forwards not backwards. Get a creative player on the pitch and we might really see what our back three can do!

by **RDW** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:52 am

Probably tonight.

The Scotsman didn't give much away for a change - all they said is gilchrist and Gray will be in the 3nd row!

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:34 am

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

Perhaps the butler can step up to fill the gap, so to speak?

You've sowed the seeds of doubt in my mind, so I fired the poor fellow this morning. Mrs fES looked surprisingly upset.....

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 9:35 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Probably tonight.

The Scotsman didn't give much away for a change - all they said is gilchrist and Gray will be in the 3nd row!

Is that one of Scott Johnson's new concepts?

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:20 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Probably tonight.

The Scotsman didn't give much away for a change - all they said is gilchrist and Gray will be in the 3nd row!

Is that one of Scott Johnson's new concepts?

So look 'ere matey, officially there's still no regulations on how many people are in the 2nd row, right - at least last time I checked (never). So eaiih decaiided to put three 8s in the 2nd row and cawll it the 3nd row. Think it'll catch on?

What do you do with the back row?

Another 3 numbers 8s of course! I figured Schlongy could do with a run out at 6/8, Richie Vee could do with some more messing around so him at 7/8 (these are my new names for the 8s in the back row see) and then who else at 8/8 but to bring back Dan Parks. We could dooo with his faaantsy footwahrk at the back o'that scrum.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:38 am

Very good, effy

by Dorothy_Mantooth Thu Jun 12, 2014 10:58 am

George Carlin wrote:When are the teams going to be announced?

Around 5pm today.

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:24 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

Perhaps the butler can step up to fill the gap, so to speak?

You've sowed the seeds of doubt in my mind, so I fired the poor fellow this morning. Mrs fES looked surprisingly upset.....

Now all you have to do is find a way to fire the milkman.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:29 am

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

Perhaps the butler can step up to fill the gap, so to speak?

You've sowed the seeds of doubt in my mind, so I fired the poor fellow this morning. Mrs fES looked surprisingly upset.....
Now all you have to do is find a way to fire the milkman.

There's only so far you can push Mrs fES, GC - just don't even remotely suggest that the bikram yoga instructor gets the chop warning

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 11:57 am

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:BT Sport

The Argentina and South Africa game will be on Sky.

Luckily kick off is early evening on Saturday for us (7pm) - much more sociable viewing time!

Excellent - all three games in my living room. With the Wendyball World Cup, cricket tests against Sri Lanka and Wimbledon I'm going to need to let Mrs fES know that she'll be widowed for the next couple of months......

Perhaps the butler can step up to fill the gap, so to speak?

You've sowed the seeds of doubt in my mind, so I fired the poor fellow this morning. Mrs fES looked surprisingly upset.....
Now all you have to do is find a way to fire the milkman.

I've instructed the head groundsman to release the hounds tomorrow morning at the appropriate time......

by RuggerRadge2611 Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:22 pm

When is the team announced chaps?

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:24 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:When is the team announced chaps?

I'm not sure, but never mind that now. More importantly, I just heard a rumour from Asbo that the touring squad for the Scotland games is actually going to be split into two. Just like that. No warning. Erm

by cakeordeath Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:51 pm

George Carlin wrote:
RuggerRadge2611 wrote:When is the team announced chaps?

I'm not sure, but never mind that now. More importantly, I just heard a rumour from Asbo that the touring squad for the Scotland games is actually going to be split into two. Just like that. No warning.

Around "teatime" according the SRU twitter account. although don't know how reliable that is, because they have never mentioned this splinting the squad into 2 nonsense

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 12:54 pm

Have I missed something because I thought the squad split was news like 6 weeks ago?

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:10 pm

Ineffable wrote:Have I missed something because I thought the squad split was news like 6 weeks ago?

Not to Asbo. Scotland Summer Tour, Game 2: Canada v Scotland, 14 June - Page 2 Hyster10

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:26 pm

"Teatime" - nice and precise from the SRU!

So what's a good scoreline for Scotland? If we can win by a margin of more than 10 points I'll be fairly satisfied, along with 2-3 tries. Canada will be better organised than the USA, but we ought to be a bit slicker as well.

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:53 pm

Oh right I geddit. ASBO was waiting for his news by telegraph as usual.

Good scoreline is winning by 20. Acceptable is winning by 10. Unacceptable (no signs of improvement) if anything below that.

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 1:53 pm

Good is 4 tries, at least 2 created by Scotland not Canada; acceptable is 3, unacceptable any below that.

by reallybored Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:18 pm

I'm expecting a win by 20+ points, we're doing the Scottish thing and playing down our quality especially in the back-three.

Assuming the pack perform again at set-piece, I'd expect us to be able to run away with it if we can score early.

God I hope Bennett gets a chance at 13.

Edit - just saw a picture of Horne with a Canadian flag, I'm going to infer that means he's starting with Lamont.

by Captain_Sensible Thu Jun 12, 2014 2:51 pm

If Cotter picks a good centre pairing (ie, Horne/Bennett or Russell/Bennett), we should be expecting a 20+ points win. This is a team who conceded a truckload of points to Japan the other day, remember, and had their scrum marmalised, too. Smash them up front, tie in men and release our back three. It's not rocket science.

The weather won't be an issue like it was in Houston, and the squad should be more attuned to one another as well.

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:01 pm

It's why I think Lamont at 13 could work this time around anyway - while he won't be smashing through South Africa's midfield any time soon, he can probably still trouble Canada (maybe Argentina) , tie in defenders and then he's not part of the next phase anyway. It's worked for our team and for other teams in the past. I know it's not the future but if Lamont is picked it won't unsettle me.

by Solid8 Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:19 pm

Ineffable wrote:It's why I think Lamont at 13 could work this time around anyway - while he won't be smashing through South Africa's midfield any time soon, he can probably still trouble Canada (maybe Argentina) , tie in defenders and then he's not part of the next phase anyway. It's worked for our team and for other teams in the past. I know it's not the future but if Lamont is picked it won't unsettle me.

This match is an opportunity to develop the team and build confidence. Why then would the management decide to play someone:

A. Out of position (despite experience here it is not Lamont's position)

B. Who they know will not cut the mustard against top flight teams due to lack of invention and a fear of offloading

C. Who is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

Honestly, the man has been a great servant to Scottish rugby and is still useful but if Cotter was a horse trainer he'd have the glue factory on standby.

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:41 pm

CS is right - it should be either Russell/Bennett or Horne/Bennett. This isn't about "experimenting" or "trying new things", this is about rewarding form and performance, and using players in their correct positions.

Bennett is the best outside centre available for this game, and as such he should play outside centre in this game. I don't care if he has 50 caps or no caps, or whether he's 18 or 35. His club performances mean he merits selection.

The use of Russell at 12 is trickier, and if Horne is fit and ready then I'd prefer Russell at 10 with Horne at 12. It comes down to whether Horne is ready. Russell played a fair bit at 12 last season so I have no issues using him there - it also means that Jackson gets a game at 10, and Jackson competed strongly with Russell for that Glasgow 10 jersey last season, putting Weir in 3rd place.

These are all nice options to have. Finally we have some decent footballers and distributors to choose from at 10 and 12, with the abilities to bring our best back three for at least my lifetime into the game.

by Captain_Sensible Thu Jun 12, 2014 3:53 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:CS is right - it should be either Russell/Bennett or Horne/Bennett. This isn't about "experimenting" or "trying new things", this is about rewarding form and performance, and using players in their correct positions.

Bennett is the best outside centre available for this game, and as such he should play outside centre in this game. I don't care if he has 50 caps or no caps, or whether he's 18 or 35. His club performances mean he merits selection.

The use of Russell at 12 is trickier, and if Horne is fit and ready then I'd prefer Russell at 10 with Horne at 12. It comes down to whether Horne is ready. Russell played a fair bit at 12 last season so I have no issues using him there - it also means that Jackson gets a game at 10, and Jackson competed strongly with Russell for that Glasgow 10 jersey last season, putting Weir in 3rd place.

These are all nice options to have. Finally we have some decent footballers and distributors to choose from at 10 and 12, with the abilities to bring our best back three for at least my lifetime into the game.

I agree with every single word of this.

by alive555 Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:07 pm

Teams out :-

Lamont at 13, 4 changes, 2 forced.

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 21 caps, 5 tries, 25 points
14 Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors); 10 caps, 1 try, 5 points
13 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); 87 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
12 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors); 2 caps
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 13 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 1 cap
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 30 caps, 3 tries, 254 points

1 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 1 cap
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons); 44 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3 Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs); 27 caps
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 39, 1 try, 5 points
5 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby); 5 caps
6 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens); 63 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 31 tries, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes
16 Kevin Bryce (Glasgow Warriors), uncapped
17 Kyle Traynor (Bristol Rugby); 4 caps
18 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 29 caps, 1 try, 5 points
19 Kieran Low (London Irish); 2 cap
20 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 1 cap
21 Grayson Hart (Edinburgh Rugby); uncapped
22 Ruaridh Jackson (London Waps); 24 caps, 18 points
23 Max Evans (Castres); 43 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:31 pm

Disappointed to see Brown at 7 and Lamont at 13, I'd have retained Blair Cowan (with Brown at 6) and used Bennett at 13 (with Lamont replacing Evans on the bench) but otherwise very happy with that.

Good luck to Bryce and Hart as well in potentially winning their first caps.

by Guest Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:41 pm

Kelly Brown. 7. picard

did SJ and Cotter toss for team selection?

Surely KB must have something to do with this. That's 3 coaches now.

by **BigGee** Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:43 pm

Just a little bit perplexed as to why Bennett is not even on the bench. Not counting Swinson, who came in as cover and will get plenty of game time in the next two games, he is the only player who has not even been in the match day squad. Even players like Bryce and Traynor are likely to pick up caps here which they barely deserve.

The only thing I can think of is that they are planning to take him on the second part of the tour as well and might play him there. That may actually make sense as it is not clear who will play OC on that part of the trip. Is Dunbar going to be fit? We know Lamont and Evans are going home so who does that leave. Hoggy stepping up is a possibility or bring Bennett along and play him.

If they are just going to send him home without a crack at the whip it does seem rather unfair and I would imagine that he would be becoming a little disillusioned by all of this. I have no doubt that he is a better OC than Sean Lamont, surely there must be some method in this madness!

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 5:54 pm

It's pretty damning for Edinburgh that there are only 3 players out of 23 from the pro side! In fact there are only 7 from Glasgow, meaning that of the 23 there are 10 based in Scotland and 13 exiles.

I realise the split squad (hold the press ASBO) has lead to these selections being pretty artificial in that respect, but still, 10 from the 23 is not very many.

by **BigGee** Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:00 pm

Ineffable wrote:Kelly Brown. 7. did SJ and Cotter toss for team selection?

Surely KB must have something to do with this. That's 3 coaches now.

There has been an element of giving everyone a game on this tour (apart from Bennett!). Barring an injuries in the match I think we will see KB go back to 6 and Cowan coming on at 7 at some point in the game. Its probably the best way of mixing things up.

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:07 pm

Canucks:
1.Hubert Buydens – (Manawatu Turbos/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saskatoon, SK
2.Aaron Carpenter – (Cornish Pirates RFC) Brantford, ON
3.Jason Marshall – (Atlantique Stade Rochelais) Vancouver, BC
4.Tyler Hotson – (London Scottish RFC) Vancouver, BC
5.Jamie Cudmore – (ASM Clermont Auvergne) Squamish, BC
6.Jebb Sinclair – (London Irish/Atlantic Rock) Fredericton, NB
7.John Moonlight – (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
8.Tyler Ardron – Captain (Ospreys/Ontario Blues) Lakefield, ON
9.Phil Mack – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
10.Harry Jones – (Capilanos RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
11.Taylor Paris – (SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne) Barrie, ON
12.Nick Blevins – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
13.Ciaran Hearn – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Conception Bay South, NL
14.Jeff Hassler – (Ospreys/Prairie Wolf Pack) Okotoks, AB
15.James Pritchard – (Bedford Blues) Parkes, NSW, Australia

16.Ray Barkwill – (Niagara Wasps RFC/Ontario Blues) Niagara Falls, ON
17.Andrew Tiedemann – (Castaway Wanderers/Prairie Wolf Pack) St. Albert, AB
18.Jake Ilnicki – (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Williams Lake, BC
19.Kyle Gilmour – (Saint Albert RFC/Prairie Wolf Pack) Saint Albert, AB?
20.Jon Phelan – (Castaway Wanderers/Atlantic Rock) Montreal, QC
21.Gordon McRorie – (Calgary Hornets/Prairie Wolf Pack) Calgary, AB
22.Connor Braid – (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
23.DTH van der Merwe – (Glasgow Warriors) Regina, SK

Hmm. Paris, Hassler, DTH. Wings a definite threat.

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:07 pm

I hope so - I'd like to see more of Cowan at 7. He's had a strong season and deserves a shot at it.

We are getting closer to having a bit of depth in international rugby. Discounting those selected on Saturday, we could field the following as an alternative 23 (fitness allowing):

1.Grant 2.Ford 3.Murray 4.J Gray 5.Hamilton 6.Harley 7.Barclay 8.Denton 9.Cusiter 10.Weir 11.Seymour 12.Scott 13.Dunbar 14.Fife 15.Murchie

16.Shiells 17.MacArthur 18.Welsh 19.Swinson 20.Wilson 21.Pyrgos 22.Heathcote 23.Bennett

We really have come a long way in the last decade, and whilst the XV isn't a huge amount better relative to its opponents, we certainly have more exciting options for Mr Cotter to choose from than either Haddock or Robbo.

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 12, 2014 6:09 pm

Agreed - there's some pace in that Canada backline, but Visser and Maitland are both pretty electric at full tilt as is Stuart Hogg. For once in a while pace really isn't an issue for Scotland anymore.

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Thu Jun 12, 2014 7:58 pm

BigGee wrote:Just a little bit perplexed as to why Bennett is not even on the bench. Not counting Swinson, who came in as cover and will get plenty of game time in the next two games, he is the only player who has not even been in the match day squad. Even players like Bryce and Traynor are likely to pick up caps here which they barely deserve.

The only thing I can think of is that they are planning to take him on the second part of the tour as well and might play him there. That may actually make sense as it is not clear who will play OC on that part of the trip. Is Dunbar going to be fit? We know Lamont and Evans are going home so who does that leave. Hoggy stepping up is a possibility or bring Bennett along and play him.

If they are just going to send him home without a crack at the whip it does seem rather unfair and I would imagine that he would be becoming a little disillusioned by all of this. I have no doubt that he is a better OC than Sean Lamont, surely there must be some method in this madness!

Pathetic. A weak selection, ignoring form, and back to shoe-horning players into the wrong positions - no a great start, Mr Cotter warning

by GLove39 Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:17 pm

Mad thought, but at the weekend it'll be cap number 88 for Schlong.
Given his plan to play at the World Cup, there's the AI's (3), the 6Nations (5), warms ups (4), then the tournament itself (4+).

There's a chance that he could join the 100 cap club! Now wouldn't that be something.

by **RDW** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:27 pm

Really disappointed to see Kelly at 7 - looks like we're stuck with it.

by **BigGee** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:34 pm

Much as I like Sean Lamont and he has been a great servant to Scottish rugby, he should not be a 100 cap player. He is a 100% effort player every game, but never really was the same player after his knee injury which cost him a yard of pace. That he has gained so many caps after that is unfortunately a sad reflection on where Scottish rugby has been at over the past 10 years. We have got some pretty good options at wing now and at OC. He is nowhere near the front of the queue.

by **RDW** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:41 pm

Given that he's tried harder than anyone else in the professional era to make Scotland successful, I'd have absolutely no issues whatsoever with Lamont getting 100 caps.

If every player had his desire, work rate and commitment we would have been much more successful.

by **BigGee** Thu Jun 12, 2014 8:52 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Given that he's tried harder than anyone else in the professional era to make Scotland successful, I'd have absolutely no issues whatsoever with Lamont getting 100 caps.

If every player had his desire, work rate and commitment we would have been much more successful.

I would have an issue with that, not for what he has done and I agree with you about him leading the way in terms of effort and commitment, but rather that to get to 100 he would need to play continuously between now and the world cup. For all his qualities we do have better players now, younger, faster and more skilful and they should be getting the caps now, not Sean.

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