Scotland vs France World Cup Warm Up Match - Toonie Strikes Back! Saturday 24th August

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Toonie Strikes Back!

Following on from the disastrous "New Hope" instalment last weekend all we can hope for is a no nonsense first team showing with the soul intention of righting some wrongs. France have named their side and it is full strength! They are clearly looking to win well at Murrayfield and consolidate some positions having already named their 31 man squad. Only Finnsanity can save the day...

Venue: BT Murrayfield 1:10pm KO

Teams

Scotland

1. Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls) – 35 caps
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 29 caps
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
5. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 5 caps
6. Ryan Wilson VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 43 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 25 caps
8. Blade Thomson (Scarlets) – uncapped
9. Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Clermont Auvergne) – 71 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 44 caps
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 40 caps
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 41 caps
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 8 caps
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 50 caps
15. Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 68 caps

Bench
16. Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
17. Allan Dell (London Irish) – 22 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh)– 20 caps
19. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 34 caps
20. John Barclay (Edinburgh) – 72 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) – 1 cap
23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 12 caps

France

1.Poirot
2.Guirado
3.Slimani
4.Lambey
5.Vahaamahina
6.Iturria
7.Ollivon
8.Alldritt
9.Dupont
10.Lopez
11.Raka
12.Fofana
13.Fickou
14.Penaud
15.Ramos

Bench: Chat, Baille, Setiano, Taofifenua, Camara, Serin, Ntamack, Médard

Both Horne's off the bench is a decent option, especially with their telepathic chip kick tries! Given our inability to score in the opposition 22 once we lose momentum that could be a good tactic.

Given that Russell is never going to get subbed off bar injury do we really need Hastings on the bench?

RDW wrote:

Given that Russell is never going to get subbed off bar injury do we really need Hastings on the bench?

For a warm up game yes - to give him some game time. For a test? Not if P Horne /Laidlaw /Hogg are playing as all can do a job at 10 if russell is injured

In Mike Blair's interview this afternoon, he suggested that there might only be a couple of positions still undecided

One i would imagine is in the second row. After Toolis poor showing last week, Cummings is likely playing for his slot

The other may be at centre, Hutch v Harris

Or maybe backrow, The Blade Runners gets his audition. Not sure who he would be up against though particularly as Bradbury has not played

Alternatively, Blair could just be playing mind games

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:https://www.theoffsideline.com/scotland-v-france-pete-horne/

Peter Horne speaks, and isn't too happy about how people perceive his abilities!

Fair play to him. I always say I hope he plays well and puts us doubters in our place.

PS, "Space" where is Jimbo when you need a nickname explained?

I am fairly certain he means "Spacey" who is Duncan Taylor. Apparently he is in his own world quite a lot of the time. Even to the extent of turning up for the flight to Oz without a passport because he was sure his driving license would be enough to get him through customs.

I don't like it when the players give each other nicknames: they're never as funny or apposite as when we do it.

Honourable exceptions here are the Criminal Element who called John Eales "Nobody", because nobody's perfect. They also called George Gregan's understudy "Anthems", because that was the only time he got on the field.

Also there was a captain of the Blackness who was known as "suitcases" because the rest of the team felt they were carrying him.

Fofana out for tomorrow's match with a leg strain. Replaced by Sofiane Guitoune who wins his sixth cap, bit first at centre. He enjoyed a stellar season at outside centre for Toulouse. Presume that Fickou will slide into 12 with Guitoune outside him. Less international experience than Fickou but probably more elusive with greater acceleration.

jimbopip wrote:

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:https://www.theoffsideline.com/scotland-v-france-pete-horne/

Peter Horne speaks, and isn't too happy about how people perceive his abilities!

Fair play to him. I always say I hope he plays well and puts us doubters in our place.

PS, "Space" where is Jimbo when you need a nickname explained?

I am fairly certain he means "Spacey" who is Duncan Taylor.  Apparently he is in his own world quite a lot of the time. Even to the extent of turning up for the flight to Oz without a passport because he was sure his driving license would be enough to get him through customs.

I don't like it when the players give each other nicknames: they're never as funny or apposite as when we do it.

Honourable exceptions here are the Criminal Element who called John Eales "Nobody", because nobody's perfect. They also called George Gregan's understudy "Anthems", because that was the only time he got on the field.

Also there was a captain of the Blackness who was known as "suitcases" because the rest of the team felt they were carrying him.

I had never heard the Suitcases one, brilliant

Scotland are clear favourites today which shows how big the Murrayfield factor is - the bookies are normally right...!

Here we go!

France been offside around 4 rucks already

Ah FFS

That pass from Horne should never have gone

Yep, poor decision there

We've been a lot more aggressive at rucks which is good to see.

Finn is having a mare so far which is not!

Scottish backrow already looking much much better than last week

Our attack is looking pretty blunt just now

Yes you can see the new backline is rusty, especially Russell but no surprise I guess

What's with all the miss passes to the wing without committing any defenders?

Classic Wilson stupid penalty killing all momentum!

yeah lot of errors so far, unlucky there after all the good defensive work

France keep turning the scrum

Nice Scrum!

Centres aren’t doing themselves any favours currently, they’ve been porous in defence and turgid in attack.

Ah unlucky great idea there from Russell. Shame Hogg couldn't collect it

Feck me we made that difficult but so important to get the try!

Great team try there! Needed that desperately

Well that try completely changes the complexion of the game. It's definitely better than last week but we've still got a lot of issues.

Positives - dominant scrum, much more aggressive at rucks

Negatives - too many mistakes and penalties, defence still looking dodgy, attack pretty turgid, lineout malfunctioning

Maitland has had a good half and Watson has been busy, but no real standouts otherwise. Classic 'mercurial' Finn so far.

I will say, to give him his due, Harris has been aggressive in defence so at least hes got the desire to play for scotland!

We've had some good turnovers from Watson but most of which were the result of big physical hits behind the gainline from Thomson - nice to finally have a big dominant 8!

Also, on the Wilson penalty, I thought it was harsh, Ramos had his hands involved in the ruck, saw Wilson coming and disengaged just before wilson hit. Smart by Ramos, by the letter of the law probably correct decision but when you are that dedicated to clearing out the ruck it's difficult to stop!

Tramptastic wrote:Also, on the Wilson penalty, I thought it was harsh, Ramos had his hands involved in the ruck, saw Wilson coming and disengaged just before wilson hit. Smart by Ramos, by the letter of the law probably correct decision but when you are that dedicated to clearing out the ruck it's difficult to stop!

I think it was for taking the man out past the ruck, which he definitely did!

Turner has been a bit over keen and a poor throw when we had good field position. I expect Stewart will debut in the 2nd half and I'm really interested to see how he goes.

Thomson is looking solid as a defender and carrier. Small error by him in contact at the end losing the ball and getting a bit isolated but a very good debut so far.

Harris looks good in defence and did well to collect that pass from Kinghorn at speed. Still the centre partnership is a bit lifeless in attack and I'd like to see some better lines in the 2nd half.

Horne has pulled it back after his horror start but only in defence really.

2nd row is looking really solid and the front row are doing a brilliant job. Gordon Reid looks to be doing a solid job at rucks and scrum (that intercept pass he threw now though!! eek)

Kinghorn on early, usual case of good in attack but a bit loose in defence and a knock on from him followed up by a good take in the air later.

Laidlaw looks sharp, liking his work rate in this game so far and controlling the backline well.

how was that not a penalty? Clearly going forwards before turning

Turner's throwing not going so well

It's the little things with Kinghorn isn't it - that should have been a soft pass to Hogg but he absolutely fired it at him

Great chance from Kinghorn

Time to get Stewart on

What a line!!!

Great line Chris Harris! That's what you need when you're not getting anywhere with the forwards

France look rattled

Doesn't look good for Skinner - he's not had much luck with injuries at Murrayfield.

Set piece might struggle now losing a lock - the French pack just now is massive.

Ryan Wilson has had s decent game, stupid penalties aside

Great defence! and Kinghorn made a tackle!!

Stewart looking sharp so far, very impressed. He closed that big hole well in defence with a nice tackle and a good first throw.

Ahhh crap pass from Berghan!

Sounds like Blairhorn is just omitting the basics!

Harris has played well today

tigertattie wrote:Sounds like Blairhorn is just omitting the basics!

He's actually scrambled in defence really well. He did make a mistake with the ball though.

Great result! What an improvement. That's 3 in a row at home against France

RDW wrote:It's the little things with Kinghorn isn't it - that should have been a soft pass to Hogg but he absolutely fired it at him

I thought he was passing to Horne and Hogg tried to pluck it out.

I hope you all saw the batman insignia on Ryan Wilson’s wrist sweatbands!