Scotland 6N lookahead

First topic message reminder :

 

Scotland 45 – Japan 10

Hardie, Bennett (2), Seymour, Russell

Scotland 39 – USA 16

Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir

South Africa 34 – Scotland 16

Seymour

Samoa 33 – Scotland 36

Seymour, Hardie, Laidlaw

Australia 35 – Scotland 34

Horne, Seymour, Bennett


Tries this world cup:

Seymour – 4
Bennett – 3
Hardie – 2
Russell, Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir, Laidlaw, Horne – 1


6 Nations fixtures:
Scotland V England
Wales V Scotland

Italy V Scotland

Scotland V France
Ireland V Scotland

RDW_Scotland wrote:

gregortree wrote:Will it still be Winter in Edinburgh on w/e of 6th.?
England don't like it up them in the Winter in Edinburgh.

It will be winter in Edinburgh until 6th June.

Then there'll be a month of slightly warmer rain then winter will resume again.

You think we'll have another good summer this year? I'm not so confident.

Squad will be announced at 11am.

Twitter is down worldwide!

How on earth am I going to find out the squad and, more importantly, what the hell am I supposed to do while billing by clients for 'Preparation and Perusal'?

Working OK now.

About to be announced...

Head Coach Vern Cotter today named uncapped props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland in a 35-man Scotland squad for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations.

Glasgow Warriors’ tighthead Fagerson turns 20 tomorrow (Wednesday 20 January) meaning he could become the fourth youngest prop in Scottish history, and the youngest to represent Scotland for more than half a century (since Bill Black debuted against France at Murrayfield 1948).

Fellow propping prospect Sutherland (23) plies his trade at the opposite end of the M8 and earns selection through his increasingly impressive showings for Edinburgh Rugby since signing from Gala last season.

The young pair is among four changes to Scotland’s front-row options originally named for Rugby World Cup 2015, with 29-times capped Exeter Chiefs tighthead, Moray Low, and six-times capped Glasgow Warriors hooker, Pat MacArthur, earning selection for the first time since the summer of 2014.

Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter, said: “We’ve selected a mixture of experience with some exciting young players coming through, some of whom have experienced the Rugby World Cup and are eager to move forward, take the RBS 6 Nations head on and show that we can develop our game and be competitive.

“I think there should be confidence. The guys have worked hard and improved. There are positive signs that we can compete, and this Championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition.

“The guys believe that we can compete, dominate and secure victories in these games.”

Some 23 players capped during Rugby World Cup 2015 have earned reselection – six missing out, at this juncture, through injury (Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Henry Pyrgos, Jon Welsh, Richie Vernon) and retirement (Alasdair Strokosch) – while Cotter has rewarded the form of back-row forwards John Barclay (Scarlets), Adam Ashe and Chris Fusaro (both Glasgow Warriors), and versatile Wasps back Ruaridh Jackson, with selection.

Other notable inclusions see centres Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) and Duncan Taylor (Saracens) recover from the injuries that ruled them out of last year’s international opportunities, despite winning Guinness PRO12 and English Premiership titles respectively.

Scotland will once again be captained by Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, who requires the same number of appearances (four) to mark a half-century caps and to equal David Sole’s record as most-times as Scotland captain (25).

Lock Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) and scrum-half Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) have been invited to train with the squad when it convenes for a pre-Championship camp in St Andrews this Sunday, before returning to their clubs to continue their recovery from groin and wrist injuries respectively.

Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign gets underway with the sold-out fixture against England at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 6 February (kick-off 4.50pm) – live on BBC.

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE 2016 RBS 6 NATIONS

– FORWARDS –

Hooker
Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 94 caps
Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps

Front-row
Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 52 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 29 caps
Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

Lock
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
Richie Gray (Castres) – 51 caps
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap

Back-row
Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
John Barclay (Scarlets) – 45 caps
Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 15 caps
David Denton (Bath) – 32 caps
Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps

– BACKS –

Scrum-half
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 46 caps

Stand-off
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps

Centre
Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 33 caps
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 12 caps

Wing
Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 101 caps
Sean Maitland (London Irish) – 20 caps
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 23 caps

Full-back
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps) – 27 caps

– TRAINING WITH THE SQUAD –

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps

Interesting that barclay is back in contention. Hopefully he shows that he deserves to be there.

Also, why is Jackson being listed as a full back! I know they tried that pre world cup, but I think he's shown at Wasps that he deserves to be played at 10.

Looks good but seems light on the wing - and I didn't know Jackson was considered to be a full back. Good to see Barclay back

Very few complaints with that squad! Lamont over Brown or Hoyland is the only one really.

Fantastic to see Sutherland and Fagerson in there, as well as Barclay being involved.

Re Lamont: Speed is temporary, class is permanent, and girth is intimidating.

101 not out.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Head Coach Vern Cotter today named uncapped props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland in a 35-man Scotland squad for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations.

Glasgow Warriors’ tighthead Fagerson turns 20 tomorrow (Wednesday 20 January) meaning he could become the fourth youngest prop in Scottish history, and the youngest to represent Scotland for more than half a century (since Bill Black debuted against France at Murrayfield 1948).

Fellow propping prospect Sutherland (23) plies his trade at the opposite end of the M8 and earns selection through his increasingly impressive showings for Edinburgh Rugby since signing from Gala last season.

The young pair is among four changes to Scotland’s front-row options originally named for Rugby World Cup 2015, with 29-times capped Exeter Chiefs tighthead, Moray Low, and six-times capped Glasgow Warriors hooker, Pat MacArthur, earning selection for the first time since the summer of 2014.

Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter, said: “We’ve selected a mixture of experience with some exciting young players coming through, some of whom have experienced the Rugby World Cup and are eager to move forward, take the RBS 6 Nations head on and show that we can develop our game and be competitive.

“I think there should be confidence. The guys have worked hard and improved. There are positive signs that we can compete, and this Championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition.

“The guys believe that we can compete, dominate and secure victories in these games.”

Some 23 players capped during Rugby World Cup 2015 have earned reselection – six missing out, at this juncture, through injury (Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Henry Pyrgos, Jon Welsh, Richie Vernon) and retirement (Alasdair Strokosch) – while Cotter has rewarded the form of back-row forwards John Barclay (Scarlets), Adam Ashe and Chris Fusaro (both Glasgow Warriors), and versatile Wasps back Ruaridh Jackson, with selection.

Other notable inclusions see centres Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) and Duncan Taylor (Saracens) recover from the injuries that ruled them out of last year’s international opportunities, despite winning Guinness PRO12 and English Premiership titles respectively.

Scotland will once again be captained by Gloucester scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, who requires the same number of appearances (four) to mark a half-century caps and to equal David Sole’s record as most-times as Scotland captain (25).

Lock Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) and scrum-half Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) have been invited to train with the squad when it convenes for a pre-Championship camp in St Andrews this Sunday, before returning to their clubs to continue their recovery from groin and wrist injuries respectively.

Scotland’s RBS 6 Nations campaign gets underway with the sold-out fixture against England at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 6 February (kick-off 4.50pm) – live on BBC.

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE 2016 RBS 6 NATIONS

– FORWARDS –

Hooker
Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 94 caps
Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps

Front-row
Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 52 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 29 caps
Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

Lock
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
Richie Gray (Castres) – 51 caps
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap

Back-row
Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
John Barclay (Scarlets) – 45 caps
Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 15 caps
David Denton (Bath) – 32 caps
Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps

– BACKS –

Scrum-half
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 46 caps

Stand-off
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps

Centre
Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 33 caps
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 12 caps

Wing
Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 101 caps
Sean Maitland (London Irish) – 20 caps
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 23 caps

Full-back
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps) – 27 caps

– TRAINING WITH THE SQUAD –

Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – 12 caps
Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps

Good to see John Barclay brought back into the fold - I actually think it'd be worth playing him at 8 like he has for Scarlets, there's a reason that three 7s win you the jackpot on the slots...

Interesting that Jacko is once again being viewed as an option at fullback and Weir is the official backup 10. If it were me, I'd swap Maitland into the backup fullback role, put Jacko as our 2nd 10 and bring Hoyland into the squad. I certainly can't see how Weir has earned a callup apart from desperation on our part. I do quite like Weir and think he can do well if he re-examines his game. Couple of seasons ago he was pretty good at positional play when he was up against Jackson, but he's not fit for international duty at the moment...

I really can’t think of anything of note Lamont has done this season on the pitch, and yet Hoyland and Brown have put in some really good, exciting displays.

Given that Lamont will (surely) not be in the 23 anyway, why pick him? Brown or Hoyland would benefit far more from being involved in the squad.

Quite impressed with that Scotland squad, first in a while where I haven't felt disappointment or anger!

Good strength and depth in most positions and good to see a few form players return like Barclay.

Slightly surprised Alex Toolis isn't in the squad especially with Swinson looking like getting a ban.
Fraser Brown is very unlucky to be injured and miss out as he has been playing well.

No real surprises amongst the backs either, Jackson being listed as full back cover shows it is one position where we don't have much quality depth at all.

Can understand Lamonts selection at the moment. With question marks over Bennett, Dunbar and Horne's fitness I think he will be in to provide wing & centre cover from the bench. If those 3 were all fit and Tom Brown was fit then I would suspect he wouldn't be in the squad. Also Tim Visser wont be fit until probably the Italy game.
Overall a very promising squad.

Scotland going for the treble open-side to ruin the opposition? 6 Cowan, 7, Hardie, 8, Barclay .

It looks like a good squad on paper. Do you always pick just two No.9s? It's a specialist position and if one pulls out on the morning of a matchday you're in trouble!

With Pyrgos being injured there is a big drop in both experience and quality to the next 9:

Kennedy, Fowles, Price, Steele

All have shown promise in patches but aren't international standard.

I think if one was injured we would call up Chris Cusiter - he'd do a job off the bench in an emergency.

got a bit fed up of reading about stats on the first page, the only stat that matters:
scotland 12 - 8 ireland
24th february 2013

the last time scotland actually beat one of the big 8 countries (old 5 nations and old tri nations). three long years ago

Twitter's down again. I'm pretty sure this is how Mad Max started...

oooh i've got a feeling scotland are potential dark horses for the 6 nations this year.........

Prothero wrote:oooh i've got a feeling scotland are potential dark horses for the 6 nations this year.........

Prothero wrote:oooh i've got a feeling scotland are potential dark horses for the 6 nations this year.........

Someone had to say it

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Pyrgos being injured there is a big drop in both experience and quality to the next 9.

How far along is Pyrgos on recovery?  If he is training with the squad I would assume there must be a chance he will be fit at some point during the 6N.  But agreed, I would assume Cus would get the call if there is a need.

I'm surprised to see; Horne, Visser , Bennett and Seymour in there. None of them are fit at the moment and they will not have any real opportunity of game time before the England match.
Also, Hogg looked to be nursing his groin at times against Northampton and didn't finish the game. So Jackson as our only fit full back?

p.s. Yes Drew Mitchell did run a marvellous line to score in the last minute against Wasps but did you notice who the defender in the 13 channel was who did a great impression of an elephant tap-dancing in treacle? Yes, it was Rhuaridh Jackson.

Prothero wrote:oooh i've got a feeling scotland are potential dark horses for the 6 nations this year.........

Could be our year... https://vine.co/v/iezeaKdbeAx

Top notch as usual, Glove.

Would have quite liked a call up for Huw Jones of the Stormers instead of an injured/out of form Richie Vernon but that would have been quite left field!

Tonks needs to go back to FB as he has struggled at 10 and we are short of quality 15's. Agree re-Maitland, that he should go into back-up 15 spot and call up another wing (That Glasgow Fijian wing who has had little time looked good and deserved more playing time).

Weir has had a couple of okay games, but he can't unseat a misfiring Rusell for more than a game and that is not good enough to be an international. Jackson is a quality 10 (at the moment) and Heathcote has played well for Worcester after the Edinburgh debacle (was looking for alliteration but excommunication or exorcism did not fit). Heck Harry Leonard has done alright at Yorkshire (Leeds).

Swinson should have been dropped for that punch. Hopefully that is a sign that Cummings and/or Low are getting playing time. Please don't put Harley in the locks!

RDW_Scotland wrote:I really can’t think of anything of note Lamont has done this season on the pitch, and yet Hoyland and Brown have put in some really good, exciting displays.

Given that Lamont will (surely) not be in the 23 anyway, why pick him? Brown or Hoyland would benefit far more from being involved in the squad.

I think both of them are promising, but neither have really nailed down a starting place for Edinburgh yet, so that probably excludes them from international rugby. Let them play regularly and get more experience and maybe go on the summer tour. I do agree about Sean though, as he clearly is never going to retire himself, then someone else is going to have to do it for him!

You could say the same about the other SHs as well, they all just need to concentrate on gaining experience and playing well. If they manage that, then their time will come.

IanBru wrote:Top notch as usual, Glove.

Cheers! Really think that is a true anthem for Scotland fans. Now if I was in charge of the PA at murrayfield...

Hazel Sapling wrote:Would have quite liked a call up for Huw Jones of the Stormers instead of an injured/out of form Richie Vernon but that would have been quite left field!

Tonks needs to go back to FB as he has struggled at 10 and we are short of quality 15's. Agree re-Maitland, that he should go into back-up 15 spot and call up another wing (That Glasgow Fijian wing who has had little time looked good and deserved more playing time).  

Weir has had a couple of okay games, but he can't unseat a misfiring Rusell for more than a game and that is not good enough to be an international. Jackson is a quality 10 (at the moment) and Heathcote has played well for Worcester after the Edinburgh debacle (was looking for alliteration but excommunication or exorcism did not fit). Heck Harry Leonard has done alright at Yorkshire (Leeds).

Swinson should have been dropped for that punch. Hopefully that is a sign that Cummings and/or Low are getting playing time. Please don't put Harley in the locks!

Huw Jones sounds like he's more likely to play for England anyway long term but centre we should be fine for given we have Taylor and Dunbar fit - even Jackson can cover 12, worst comes to worst.
http://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/2015/04/30/stormers-huw-looks-set-for-england

I was a bit meh about this squad as there are so few new caps, but then I remembered that Stern Vern capped a lot of players in the last 9 months, so we're slightly ahead of the curve in comparison to the other home nations who have endured quite a few retirements post World Cup.

Positions of concern have to be the 2nd rows with a big drop in quality below the Grays. Swinson simply isn't an international class lock and Toolis is just coming back from injury.
Then we have the wings where Visser is injured, Maitland has barely played this season and we have a bloke who is old enough to remember Scone being the capital of Scotland.

On the plus side I'm delighted to see Barclay and Low back in the fold, and the front row looks like a real blend of experience and youth.

My starting team (if all fit) for England would be

1: Alasdair Dickinson
2: Stuart McInaly
3: WP Nel
4: Richie Gray
5: Jonny Gray
6: John Barclay
7: John Hardie
8: David Denton

9: Greig Laidlaw
10: Finn Russell
11: Tim Visser
12: Alex Dunbar
13: Mark Bennett
14: Tommy Seymour
15: Stuart Hogg

16: Rory Sutherland 17: Moray Low 18: Ross Ford 19: Ben Toolis 20: Josh Strauss 21: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 22: Ruaridh Jackson 23: Matt Scott

Cotter speaks:

Ryan Wilson has been left out of Scotland's Six Nations squad, which features uncapped props Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland.

Glasgow Warriors flanker Wilson, 26, has been cited for allegedly grabbing the testicles of an opponent in Sunday's defeat by Northampton Saints.

Tim Swinson, 28, who has been cited following a yellow card for punching in the same match, is in the squad.

"We made a decision with Ryan before he was cited," said coach Vern Cotter.

"We're happy with the way he has been improving but we feel that the [other] players are playing better than he is at the moment.

"I had a good talk with him last week. He is focussing on his game and he could come into contention as the competition goes on.

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter
Cotter led Scotland to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals
"Rory Sutherland has impressed us. He is coming through. We have worked with him and we think he has the quality to become an international player.

"Zander has done exceptionally well for a 20-year-old prop. He has proved that he has that competitive desire to do well.

"Both these players will get exposure at some stage."

The New Zealander, whose side lost all of last year's Six Nations matches, hopes his players can do "the simple things better" and continue the momentum and progress made at the World Cup, when the Scots reached the quarter-finals.

Experienced Scarlets back-row John Barclay, 29, is selected, having been considered and then left out of the final squad that went to England for last year's showpiece.

Scotland begin the championship at home to England then visit Wales and Italy before hosting France and finishing in Ireland.

John Barclay playing for Scotland against Scarlets
Barclay (left) could return for Scotland in the Six Nations having missed the World Cup
"We've selected a mixture of experience with some exciting young players coming through, some of whom have experienced the Rugby World Cup and are eager to move forward, take the Six Nations head on and show that we can develop our game and be competitive," said Cotter.

"I think there should be confidence. The guys have worked hard and improved. There are positive signs that we can compete, and this championship will give us another opportunity to measure ourselves against very good opposition in a tough competition."

Fraser Brown, Grant Gilchrist, Henry Pyrgos, Richie Vernon and Jon Welsh are currently injured but Edinburgh lock Gilchrist and Warriors scrum-half Pyrgos will train with the squad.

Tournament veteran Alasdair Strokosch has retired from international duty.

Mark Bennett, Peter Horne, Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser are included, despite nursing injuries.

"If all goes well, he could be available in three weeks so he may be available for the first game," Cotter said of Bennett.

"There's half a dozen players in the squad that, if the game was this week, they wouldn't make the squad."

Among those who make the squad, John Hardie, Stuart McInally, Willem Nel and Josh Strauss are yet to play in the Six Nations.

"I think the group can believe that they can compete and lift to another level again after the World Cup," added Cotter

I like the squad on the whole, and delighted to see Fagerson and Sutherland in there. Also pleasing to welcome back John Barclay and great that both Dunbar and Taylor are considered fit enough.

Of the squad there are only two places I disagree with:

Swinson - I would have picked Alex Toolis. He's had a better season thus far and should be rewarded for that.

Lamont - well past his best now and with Brown and Hoyland at Edinburgh having strong seasons there's really no need to go back to Lamont. He's too slow off the mark and doesn't have the skillset. I'd have been bold and selected Damian Hoyland.

MacArthur isn't good enough but I think the injury to Fraser Brown has forced Cotter's hand. Depth at hooker is a bit worrying, and I had hoped that Bryce and Turner would have come through a bit more.

Cotter is spot on about Wilson. There are other players operating at a higher level. There always have been!

Here's another alarming stat the further reinforces how tough the 6N is for Scotland - Stuart Hogg has only won 3 six nations games of out his 19 appearances!!

2 of them against Italy

I worry about our reserve front row. I'd say our 2nd choice behind Dicko, Fordy & Nelly is actually Sutherland, Rambo & Fagerson. Fagerson is exciting for a 20yr old! And was very impressive when he came off the bench against Northampton. So much better than Puafisi.
A combo of Reid, MacAurthur and Low gives me the shivers. Would compete at Pro12 level, but test level... I think not. It's a good thing we can mix and match!

Plus, Moray Low hasn't exactly nailed the Exeter 1st team starting spot for a while. He''s been benching at best. He started at the weekend in the Champions Cup loss against Bordeux-Begles, and that was most definitely a 2nd choice line up. Scotland A caps Byron McGuigan (who scored) and Ollie Atkins also started that game. I think he's an unknown quantity at test level. Fingers crossed he can step up (again).

A part of me is happy that the Ewan Murray the Pious is not available any more. He did great things on his day, but having to replace him because he didn't play on a Sunday was farcical. Me thinks that if we had more tighthead props at the time, he would've never played again after becoming a zealot.

I don't think Scotland would have discarded Euan Murray but for the lack of options.

Clearly if we'd had a better tighthead than him then he wouldn't have played - a fairly obvious statement - but I don't think Scotland would have accepted a lesser tighthead on a Saturday just because Murray wouldn't play/train on Sundays. In fact we didn't.

I was actually quite impressed by the SRU stance on the whole matter. They didn't ever pretend the situation was ideal and yet supported Murray.

I am very pleased with that squad, which has incredibly been chosen with one eye to current form. Lots of little things to talk about over the weeks to come but what I did realise is that the blindside berth (which has long been a problem for us, really) must be occupied by either Cowan, Denton or Strauss - any of which I would be happy with.

Let's assume that Hardie has the 7 shirt nailed on, so does that mean we will actually see a loose forward selection that is both functional, balanced and intelligent? Item:

6. Cowan/Strauss
7. Hardie
8. Denton/Strauss

20. Barclay

JB seems the obvious bench candidate due to his ability to cover flanker and no.8 with genuine competence and his ability as an ex-soapdodger to meet people off the bus if strictly necessary.

Pat MacArthur, Tiny Tim and Methuselah Lamont do indeed stand out like bananas in a bunch of grapes, but injury has forced Vern into it to an extent. I would have been thrilled to see Hoyland in there, but he is pretty bloody green to be honest and whilst he has been impressive at times, he is often more inconsistent than my wife in a restaurant swearing blind she doesn't want chips and then bloody eating all of bloody mine. Er, for instance.

I'm surprised that Swinson has been named or a fifth additional lock hasn't been included in the squad. Tiny Tim looks like he will be facing a ban so it would have made sense to include Alex Toolis or Atkins. Hopefully Cotter isn't thinking along the lines of Denton or Ashe as stand-in locks?

MacKnocked-on wrote:I'm surprised that Swinson has been named or a fifth additional lock hasn't been included in the squad. Tiny Tim looks like he will be facing a ban so it would have made sense to include Alex Toolis or Atkins. Hopefully Cotter isn't thinking along the lines of Denton or Ashe as stand-in locks?  

I'd imagine someone will be swapped in if Swinson is indeed banned. I don't think the rules on 6Ns squads are so stringent are they?

Just realised that The Sun lied to us, no Kevin Sinfield in the squad! Shock horror

Anyone else worried about the back 3?

Hogg is not playing well and insists on taking those pointless LR kicks
Seymour hasn't scored so far this season (?)
Visser is injured
Maitland hasn't been a regular starter at Irish/injured
Jackson... well, he's a 10...

I think it's too soon for Hoyland, although he is the top joint tryscorer in the pro12 (amazing given he's playing for Edinburgh). Then you've got the likes of Tom Brown who has played fairly well and Dougie Fife who can cover back3 + 13. Also Tonks is a more natural choice for FB reserve surely?

I'd still have Hogg, Seymour, Maitland & Visser, however, I feel if VC's including Fagerson for experience, surely you have to put in Hoyland (omit Lamont) and maybe Tonks/Brown who are FBs and have game time there for their clubs.

Nematode wrote:I'd still have Hogg, Seymour, Maitland & Visser, however, I feel if VC's including Fagerson for experience, surely you have to put in Hoyland (omit Lamont) and maybe Tonks/Brown who are FBs and have game time there for their clubs.

Perhaps he feels that props need more time with the squad to be able to work with the other forwards, and that replacement backs can more easily be 'slotted in' to the systems?

demosthenes wrote:

Nematode wrote:I'd still have Hogg, Seymour, Maitland & Visser, however, I feel if VC's including Fagerson for experience, surely you have to put in Hoyland (omit Lamont) and maybe Tonks/Brown who are FBs and have game time there for their clubs.

Perhaps he feels that props need more time with the squad to be able to work with the other forwards, and that replacement backs can more easily be 'slotted in' to the systems?

Schlong doesn't need time with the forwards! He'll slot right in to the front row!

Also good news for us from the England camp http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35347015

The bad news is they still have good wingers even if Ashton gets cited...

Much as it'll upset the faithful at Rugby Park, I really hope Toonie rest all the Scotland squad players ahead of the dead rubber against Racing.

Nice piece from Tom English...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35354504

It is worrying though - the lack of form from some players. Perhaps the high intensity of test matches will bring them back to their playing best.

Although I still think we'll get battered by England, I'm hugely looking forward to the battle of the packs.

NeilyBroon wrote:Also good news for us from the England camp http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35347015

The bad news is they still have good wingers even if Ashton gets cited...

Mate, thats bad news for you if anything! I'd much rather see us line up with Nowell and Watson than that big girls blouse

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:Nice piece from Tom English...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35354504

It is worrying though - the lack of form from some players. Perhaps the high intensity of test matches will bring them back to their playing best.

Although I still think we'll get battered by England, I'm hugely looking forward to the battle of the packs.

I have a feeling you could well be right there.

15. Hogg Looked less than 100% when he came off against Saints; seemed to be nursing his groin
14. Seymour Glasgow fans are beginning to forget what he looks like; could he possibly be match fit for the England game?
13. Can he possibly rise from his sick bed in time? It would be a miracle.
12. Scott12 and Dunbar both seem fit.
11. McMisser crocked

We could easily see a back three of Schlong-Jackson- NoMaits. Lots of tries there. Lots of attacking prowess.

The English will be quaking in their boots.