Dear Vern

First topic message reminder :

Dear MR Cotter

You are still in my opinion the saviour of all things Scottish but even in your infinite wisdoms I beg you to listen to me. We can beat England and Ireland but it will only be possible if:

1. For the love of God pick the two "Killer Bs" with testicles
2. Make one of them captain
3. If you insist on playing a traditional Scottish way pick a traditional scottish scrum-half and by that I mean cusiter or Hidalgo-Clyne. Laidlaw is too slow.
4. Accept that Sean Lamont is too old for an international winger. Fife, Brown or even Visser would have been better
5. Only ever play a specialist 10 at 10 otherwise there is no cohesion.
6. Play Denton at 8, and tell him to get a short, back and sides.
7. Slap anyone who gave away a penalty today. Twice.
8. Don't let anything Johnson does or say influence you.
9. Beg Hines to come out of retirement for 3 games
10. Shout at them
11. A lot
12. Get up them and in their face. Manic aggression. We've been too passive


Vern if you somehow read this, pick this team:

1. Grant
2. Ford
3. Murray
4. Hines
5. Gray
6 Brown
7. Barclay
8. Denton
9. Cusiter
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Dunbar
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

16. Dickinson
17. Cross
18. Brown
19. Hamilton
20. Harley
21. Hidalgo-Clyne
22. Scott
23. Brown


I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt we'll call it a blip and also acknowledge the fact we have no fly-half and Clancy was in place

Harley has been picked in the 2nd row for Glasgow this weekend - not the best preparation for facing England next weekend!

Remind me why Glasgow rejeassd Tom Ryder early again??

Does also bring into question the ability of Alex Toolis, considering he's not even on the bench and doesn't appear to be injured.

Maybe they don't want to risk injuring Toolis, but I doubt it.

Loads of new guys, welcome aboard.

Risky, I love your posts but to be fair RDW blew your comments about Lamont out of the water when he told us that Castro has scored more trues at international level than Sean Lamont.

We need everyone fit and playing their best to roll the English at Twickers, we haven't got everyone fit and playing their best so I would be happier if Vern rolled the dice a wee bit. Laidlaw needs to have a think about his game and ask himself why he isn't playing like he did in the AI's.

Lamont needs to think about retiring with some dignity and not going down like Dan Parks did. He needs to quit while he is ahead.

Dunbar is a sensible choice as captain. He will most likely be at over 70% of the collisions and seems to stay on the right side of the ref. Ford has been captain and it didn't work. Johnny Gray is too young and Strauss isn't qualified and even if he was, what does it say about residency if your first game for your "adopted" country is at Captain in the world cup. I can hear some of the WUMs on here already...

my team to take on England

1. Dickinson
2. Ford
3. Murray
4. Toolis
5. Gray
6. Harley
7. Watson
8. Denton

9. SHC
10. Russel
11. Fife
12. Dunbar (C)
13. Bennett
14. Seymore
15. Hogg

16. Grant
17. Brown
18. Cross
19. Hamilton
20. Cowan
21. Hart
22. Scott
23. Visser

If we want to play a high tempo game, lets play a high tempo game.

I'm broadly in agreement Radge, although I'd swap Visser and Fife, and have Horne on the bench in place of Matt Scott. I'm a huge fan of Scott, but he clearly needs to play more rugby for Edinburgh at 12 and I'm not convinced he's adding anything for us coming off the bench.

I wouldn't have Hart involved either. Every strong game for Edinburgh seems to be followed by a duff one, and I think it's inconceivable that Cotter would drop Laidlaw completely (and harsh as well I think). I want SH-C to start, but I'd have Laidlaw on the bench.

I am going to say something controversial. I would like to see Rory Sutherland included in the squad for the Ireland game. By that point we will eb 0 - 4 anyway

I don't think even the most die hard Edinburgh fan would want Hart on the bench, and Fife is probably or 4th choice winger just now.

Sutherland is certainly playing his way into contention - I'm happy with Dickinson and Grant now though, there's no immediate rush.

He's definitely 3rd choice just now with Shrek injured!

I don't think it's that controversial at all, certainly not at the expense of Ryan Grant who has been hugely disappointing this season. Gordon Reid may have something to say about it, but Sutherland has made a fantastic impression this season in a pack that's rarely been in trouble at the set piece.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I don't think it's that controversial at all, certainly not at the expense of Ryan Grant who has been hugely disappointing this season. Gordon Reid may have something to say about it, but Sutherland has made a fantastic impression this season in a pack that's rarely been in trouble at the set piece.

I agree, not that controversial at all, he is clearly knocking on the door. I think we are being a bit hard on Ryan Grant though, he has played well enough on his last couple of games for Glasgow. He has missed out on game time for injuries and other reasons and that must have effected his form as well. He is starting on Friday night, so lets see how he goes. He is definitely playing for his place though.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
Lamont needs to think about retiring with some dignity and not going down like Dan Parks did. He needs to quit while he is ahead.

Don't you dare insult the sharpest pair of sideburns the game has ever seen.
Besides,it was only because of Robinson begging him to come out of retirement that Parks played & became a scapegoat for that 2012 Calcutta Cup match. Desperate deserved a lot better from the media & fans.

Here's a nice happy thought to kick off the end of our week -

Tomorrow I'm going to a 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

They got married on the same day that Scotland last won a grand slam.

Oh RDW, if only they were Mormons. When you see the happy couple extoll the joys of polygamy.

Rewatched first half of Italy game. It really was mixture of problems.. One second the backs are punching holes the next they look clueless. Laidlaw looked a bit lost at times and to be honest I think I'd put it down to him and Horne are not used to playing together. Poor Restarts after scoring cost Scotland 8 points. Scotland let Italy get into the game when door should have been firmly shut early on, that's my consensus really.

On a side note, I managed to get a ticket next weekend for my first ever twickers match.

bsando wrote:Rewatched first half of Italy game. It really was mixture of problems.. One second the backs are punching holes the next they look clueless. Laidlaw looked a bit lost at times and to be honest I think I'd put it down to him and Horne are not used to playing together. Poor Restarts after scoring cost Scotland 8 points. Scotland let Italy get into the game when door should have been firmly shut early on, that's my consensus really.

On a side note, I managed to get a ticket next weekend for my first ever twickers match.

That's a long way to go for a humping, hope the Scots give em hell.

bsando wrote:Rewatched first half of Italy game. It really was mixture of problems.. One second the backs are punching holes the next they look clueless. Laidlaw looked a bit lost at times and to be honest I think I'd put it down to him and Horne are not used to playing together. Poor Restarts after scoring cost Scotland 8 points. Scotland let Italy get into the game when door should have been firmly shut early on, that's my consensus really.

On a side note, I managed to get a ticket next weekend for my first ever twickers match.

Good man, bsando. Can anyone recommend any decent boozers near the ground? I will be there with three English friends so will probably need sedating.

What do people want to see from the next two games?

I'd like to see a performance like vs New Zealand, pushing both teams and making their, let's face it, inevitable wins hard fought. Ideally, don't let them escape a 10 point lead throughout the match.

If Laidlaw starts though, and Beattie and maybe Swinson, I'll be donning the green shirt for the 21st...

Going to be a few enforced changes to the team now. Lamont definitely out, Horne looked well concussed, so be surprising if he is in the mix as well.

Ashe who may have been got pulled out of the Glasgow team at the last minute with a recurrence of the neck niggle, so I would doubt he is going to be in the mix as well and Edinburgh have not even played yet!

There will be a few places to be played for this afternoon. Fife and Visser in particular in a straight shootout for the second wing spot I would imagine. Toolis and SHC could play there way into the starting team and Tonks onto the bench.

BigGee, I doubt it will be a 'shootout' for places the way things are going, more like last-man standing...

Steve McColl is currently having a good game for Gloucester who are giving Northampton a bit of a doing right now. Laidlaw's goal kicking is spot on, and he's getting a bit of a dream ride from his pack which is making him look good. Still wouldn't pick him for Scotland though.

On McColl, 2 sublime bits of distribution, one an offload out the back of his hand at pace and the other a lovely long floated pass out to a man in space. Very impressive.

The after match commentary for the Scarlets game was interesting. Alan Quinlan , Dan Biggar and the other guy were scratching their heads at Barclays omission from the Scotland squad. Even MOTM James Davies was praising him in his post match interview.

Interesting that current and ex international players are championing his cause.

Here's a question - if hidalgo-clyne does somehow get picked next week with Russell, who will take the kicks?

Both are very good at domestic levels but inexperienced kicking at international.

I'd go with Sammy on current form!

Should Barclay be considered at 8?

Perhaps a touch light for number 8 at international level, I'd really like to see a backrow of
Barclay
Cowan
Denton

3 decent carrying options, plus with 2 breakdown specialists we could cause real havoc at rucks.

Nematode wrote:Should Barclay be considered at 8?

No!

If he ever does come back to international rugby then it would only be at openside. He would get murdered if he tried to be a ball carrier against a true international pack!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Nematode wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Its a good read. It did leave me wondering what happened to Diego and Juan Campbell though...

started a matchday thread for next Saturday https://www.606v2.com/t58060-6n-round-4-the-calcutta-cup-clash

Imperialbigdave wrote:

Nematode wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Its a good read. It did leave me wondering what happened to Diego and Juan Campbell though...

I remember being quite impressed with Velacott when he played for the U20s, looked like a livewire at 9. I also hope the scouts are keeping an eye on Matty Russell, scored two tries today for Warrington. Also looks like his face has recovered from being re-arranged a few months back!

Manky-Flanker wrote:

Imperialbigdave wrote:

Nematode wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Its a good read. It did leave me wondering what happened to Diego and Juan Campbell though...

I remember being quite impressed with Velacott when he played for the U20s, looked like a livewire at 9. I also hope the scouts are keeping an eye on Matty Russell, scored two tries today for Warrington. Also looks like his face has recovered from being re-arranged a few months back!

Yup, Russell would be a phenomenal signing for the SRU if at all possible. I'm convinced he would have a massive impact in union and would score tries for us at international level, he's young, fast and very elusive, something of the Jason Robinson about him in playing style.
Obviously the SRU had permission from Salford to speak to Kevin Locke but it would be great if they could do something with Warrington regarding Russell. He would fit in perfectly at Glasgow with them losing DTH, Maitland and Niko next season. Come on SRU, get it sorted.

MacKnocked-on wrote:

Manky-Flanker wrote:

Imperialbigdave wrote:

Nematode wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Its a good read. It did leave me wondering what happened to Diego and Juan Campbell though...

I remember being quite impressed with Velacott when he played for the U20s, looked like a livewire at 9. I also hope the scouts are keeping an eye on Matty Russell, scored two tries today for Warrington. Also looks like his face has recovered from being re-arranged a few months back!

Yup, Russell would be a phenomenal signing for the SRU if at all possible. I'm convinced he would have a massive impact in union and would score tries for us at international level, he's young, fast and very elusive, something of the Jason Robinson about him in playing style.
Obviously the SRU had permission from Salford to speak to Kevin Locke but it would be great if they could do something with Warrington regarding Russell. He would fit in perfectly at Glasgow with them losing DTH, Maitland and Niko next season. Come on SRU, get it sorted.    

Sadly I think he is contracted with Warrington up to 2017...

Manky-Flanker wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:

Manky-Flanker wrote:

Imperialbigdave wrote:

Nematode wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/31783522

From Murrayfield to Malaysia - Scottish rugby's talent search

Saw this squirreled away on the BBC site.

Its a good read. It did leave me wondering what happened to Diego and Juan Campbell though...

I remember being quite impressed with Velacott when he played for the U20s, looked like a livewire at 9. I also hope the scouts are keeping an eye on Matty Russell, scored two tries today for Warrington. Also looks like his face has recovered from being re-arranged a few months back!

Yup, Russell would be a phenomenal signing for the SRU if at all possible. I'm convinced he would have a massive impact in union and would score tries for us at international level, he's young, fast and very elusive, something of the Jason Robinson about him in playing style.
Obviously the SRU had permission from Salford to speak to Kevin Locke but it would be great if they could do something with Warrington regarding Russell. He would fit in perfectly at Glasgow with them losing DTH, Maitland and Niko next season. Come on SRU, get it sorted.    

Sadly I think he is contracted with Warrington up to 2017...

You never know, perhaps Warrington would be keen to do business depending on what the SRU could offer, from what I read Salford had agreed the terms of the aborted Locke transfer. Russell would be a really exciting signing in any case.

BigGee wrote:

Nematode wrote:Should Barclay be considered at 8?

No!

If he ever does come back to international rugby then it would only be at openside. He would get murdered if he tried to be a ball carrier against a true international pack!

He did actually start at number 8 back when Scotland beat Australia in Newcastle, although it looked more like a horses for courses selection.

I agree that he's a 7 and only a 7. I'm personally of the view that Cowan is our best 7, although where I differ from Cotter is that I think Barclay is our next best option, despite Watson's rapid rise through the ranks. Pleasing to see Fusaro back in action though. My instincts say that he's not big enough for the international game, but if his form is good enough he should continue to be given a chance. With Scotland now looking to attack the wider channels, we need forwards able to keep up and support. Cotter clearly recognised this when seeking to explain the rapid rise of Hugh Blake. Fusaro certainly falls into that category as well.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

BigGee wrote:

Nematode wrote:Should Barclay be considered at 8?

No!

If he ever does come back to international rugby then it would only be at openside. He would get murdered if he tried to be a ball carrier against a true international pack!

He did actually start at number 8 back when Scotland beat Australia in Newcastle, although it looked more like a horses for courses selection.

I agree that he's a 7 and only a 7. I'm personally of the view that Cowan is our best 7, although where I differ from Cotter is that I think Barclay is our next best option, despite Watson's rapid rise through the ranks. Pleasing to see Fusaro back in action though. My instincts say that he's not big enough for the international game, but if his form is good enough he should continue to be given a chance. With Scotland now looking to attack the wider channels, we need forwards able to keep up and support. Cotter clearly recognised this when seeking to explain the rapid rise of Hugh Blake. Fusaro certainly falls into that category as well.

I would say it is very close between Cowan and Barclay. Cowan has probably been the form 7 in the English premiership and Barclay likewise has probably been the form 7 in the guiness pro 12.
I would be happy with either starting at 7 for Scotland. Where Barclay would be very useful is yes he is primarily a 7 but he can cover No 8 and Blindside very well so would be the ideal man for the back row spot on the bench.
I think it is disgraceful that since Scotlands player pool is so small that people inside the national set up cant get over their stubbornness and select one of the form players in European rugby at the moment.

I certainly concur with that last point. We are too small a nation to base selections on anything other than merit.