Scotland 2022 summer tour

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Scotland 2022 Six Nations Lookahead

A place to discuss the rollercoaster of dark horse conversation and sheer despair. Somewhere in-between, someone will go off on a mild tangent.

Schedule
5th Feb - England (H)
12th Feb - Wales (A)
26th Feb - France (H)
12th March - Italy (A)
19th March - Ireland (A)

Scotland's recent performances
2021: 4th (3 wins, same as 2nd)
2020: 4th (3 wins, same points as 3rd)
2019: 5th (1 win, 1 draw)
2018: 3rd (3 wins, same as 2nd)
2017: 4th (3 wins, same points as 2nd)

RDW wrote:Is Graham even fit? He's been out for a few weeks now

DG does seem to struggle to stay fit, it would be good to see him get a run out this weekend. I am not sure he is guaranteed a spot these days.

RDW wrote:The thought of Sebastian packing down against any of the opposition fills me with dread. Even Kebble on the wrong side of the scrum is a much less scary thought. Has Sebastian even been playing for Scarlets?

Big surprise on Hastings. He's been playing well in an intense AP environment, which is as good as you'll get at club level for preparing for 6N games. Kinghorn carving it up against the Dragons just isn't the same. Saying that, Finn won't come off unless injured so can see the reasoning for Kinghorn providing greater cover. But if Finn gets injured there's no way Blair should be our starting 10.

Other than that, no real complaints!

My team for England based on this:

1 Schoeman
2 Turner
3 Fagerson
4 Gray
5 Cummings
6 Ritchie
7 Watson
8 Bradbury

9 Price
10 Russell
11 VDM
12 Johnson
13 Harris
14 Steyn
15 Hogg

Subs - Sutherland, McInally, Nel, Skinner, Fagerson, Vellacott, Kinghorn, Bennett

That's attacking backline replacements but if it's a tight game Price and Finn aren't going to come off anyway. I'd be tempted to have Tuipulotu as he covers 12 and 13 but I'd love to see Bennett back! Kinghorn and Harris cover wing so we don't need a back 3 sub.

I think we are likely to go 6/2 on the bench against the more forward orientated teams France/England/Ireland. That is what Kinghorn brings to the bench with his versatility. We could then bring Darge onto the bench as well, he has got to be in their somewhere, but a specialist OS is to much of a luxury as a bench option otherwise.

Do we want to take Watson off in a close game though?

Remember he got the big turnover at the end of the England game!

I wouldn't mind seeing Skinner start over Cummings. Skinner has had a strange season for Exeter playing as 6/7 in more games than usual, however he has been playing well and has the experience working along J Gray that benefitted Cummings in these decisions.

I don't think Bennett makes the bench as then there is no cover for 12 and S Johnson gets taken off more frequently than Harris (anecdotal, happy to be proved wrong). Hutchinson offers the more versatile option at 12 though Redpath and Tuipulotu would do fine.

A 6:2 split makes sense if the weather is atrocious. If not, it is a shame for Darge but his time will come this Six Nations. Even if it is Italy.

Other than that, happy with BG's line-up.

Some great wholesome content - a thread of Andy Christie telling his family he's in the squad!

https://twitter.com/AndyChristie43/status/1483851414338220033?t=Sj3LUzp_z0929qZkJE2HXg&s=19

I hate this pre-6N period. Just enough time for the hope and nausea to build up.

I can't help but think that Toonie will have bench slots for Darge and either Tuipulotu or Redpath.

As ever, Gee's backline makes me happy but the forward pack gives me the old diarr-horea-hi-hay. Bradbury should know that he's playing for a new club contract somewhere and be chewing the furniture to start. I do wish that we had a nailed on 8 though. I realised last week that I'm still disappointed that Josh Strauss wasn't better when he finally became SQ.

It's a great squad, but the omission of Hastings is an absolute madness - you can't say Kinghorn has even been remotely tested in that position yet and we're going to be one injury away from him running the ship.

I always feel that Gregor has some blind spots when it comes to selection - and this is one of those occasions, I just can't see the logic in it.

I did find Hastings omission odd. Kinghorn seems more of a super sub. Hastings covers 15 too right? That is some quality to have in your backline (Russel, Hastings, Hogg - needs an islander to add some extra magic…). I’m a bit concerned about playing against Scotland this year, usually I wouldn’t be…

That almost sounds like a complement Mikey!

I don't recall a time in recent memory when 5 of our likely starting 7 in the backline were recently all B&I Lions.

I’m still getting worried. I’m seeing glimmers of hope. You know, the kinda hope that kills ya!

And it’s not just us Scotland fans with our hype train and blue tinted glasses.

Worrying times.

Almost to the stage where I miss the days of knowing it was a straight fight between us and the azzuri for the spoon. Well. Not quite.

Farrell out of the opener which if anything will make our life more difficult, as Smith will be left to run the game. Will probably be a more balanced backline for England now too.

Really hope Andy Christie impresses in training as I'd like to see him capped this 6N , especially seeing as he can cover a number of positions.

Ben White I'm not so sure on but tbh, he may get capped in summer if not this 6N.

Rory Darge will most certainly make his debut at some point as will Ben Vellacott.

Kyle Rowe may too but will he get ahead of Dancing Darcy, Electric Rufus or beast King Duhan? I'd expect him to maybe make his debut in Argentina too but we never know lol

Nice bit of back story on Andy Christie in an interview with Mark Palmer in the Sunday Times.



Few expected Andy Christie to be named in Scotland’s Six Nations squad on Wednesday, least of all the man himself. Before the start of the week, the Saracens back-row forward had never spoken to Gregor Townsend, the head coach, and even now, several days later, the 22-year-old still can’t quite believe he is set to feature in the Championship he grew up adoring.

“It’s been absolutely incredible, a complete surprise,” he says. “I only heard from Gregor for the first time on Monday and then on Tuesday he was ringing me to tell me I was in the squad, so everything has happened very, very quickly.

“Any rugby fan loves the Six Nations: it’s the biggest annual tournament you can watch. That part of it still doesn’t feel real. Being in a Scotland squad is one thing, but being in a Scotland Six Nations squad, that’s still sinking in.”

Christie delighted social media by posting heartwarming videos of the FaceTime calls he made to his parents and grandparents to share the happy news. Born in Bristol and schooled at Harrow, he qualifies for Scotland through his maternal grandmother, Margaret, who is from Glasgow. Margaret’s husband, Kenneth, also has Scottish roots, and indeed it is he who carries the Christie surname. Andy’s mother, Victoria, went to university in Edinburgh and “has always identified as being Scottish”.

In a rugby sense, Christie was part of the Scottish Exiles programme and played for the national under-16 team alongside the likes of Ross Thompson and several members of the current Scotland sevens side. His grandparents were always there to support and facilitate.



“My grandad and I would always fly up to Scotland together the first few times I was in the squad,” says Christie, who has long worked closely with Kelly Brown, the former Scotland back row now coaching at Saracens. “I can remember Exiles camps as well where they would pick me up from school on the Friday, drive me up to Sheffield, stay over the whole weekend while I was training then drive me back down after. After everything they’ve given me, it was great to share that moment with them the other day when I was named in the squad.”

Another of his colleagues in that under-16 team was Cameron Redpath. The centre went on to play for both Scotland and England at under-18 level, while Christie found himself shifting to the red rose. “I trialled for the Scotland under-18s and didn’t get in,” he reveals. “I then got into the England under-18s the following year so I played for them.”

A further 12 months later, in the summer of 2018, Christie was invited to turn out for the Scotland under-20 side aged 19, but opted to take up an offer that had come through Saracens to spend several months in Wellington, New Zealand. He and team-mate Elliott Obatoyinbo were embedded in the academy side of the Mitre 10 Cup outfit there, playing local club rugby for Petone. The biggest takeaway for Christie was learning from Rodney So’oialo, the former All Black loose forward who at that time was an academy coach at Wellington.

“Getting the chance to do sessions with a guy who has won 60-odd caps for New Zealand was incredible,” he recalls. “We worked on absolutely everything and that time was massive for my development. I was coming off a season with a load of injuries, and I just thought that going down there would be better for me than playing for the [Scotland] under-20s.




“It was really cool. I stayed with a Scottish family, the McCormacks. Great family. I learned a lot. It was one of those trips where it’s when you get back that you appreciate it a lot more. Things like the way they play, especially compared to how we often play here, which can be quite structured and regimented — they are a lot more free-flowing over there. That benefited me, allowed me to get valuable minutes and express myself a bit, which is quite hard sometimes with the pressure you are under here.”

Christie was selected by England under-20s in 2019, playing against the Junior Springboks in a team that featured the likes of new Eddie Jones call-up Alfie Barbeary. “Scotland was still always in the back of my mind,” he says. “You don’t sign anything or stop yourself doing anything by what happens at under-20 level.”

Christie was one of the big beneficiaries of Saracens’ year in the Championship, even if Townsend feels that it is this season where — at a higher level — the former Old Albanians man has gone to another one himself.

“The Championship was huge for me, just for feeling comfortable with the boys in the team and integrating myself as a member of the squad. I was still making mistakes, but making them at a higher level surrounded by better players and learning how that works, learning how to be yourself in a team without forcing things.



“It feels weird calling this [season] a breakthrough year myself, but it’s the first year I’ve been consistently involved in the team, rotating and that kind of thing. I do feel my performance level has improved. I’m happy at the moment with where my game is and I just want to keep improving as much as I can.”

Christie scored a try from No 8 in the Challenge Cup defeat by Edinburgh last month, but has looked equally comfortable in either of the other back-row jerseys. Townsend said the other day that he believes No 6 is Christie’s best position, a verdict endorsed by seasoned Saracens observers, and while the man himself has a slight preference for being in the middle, such versatility may help him in the coming weeks. Especially with Townsend apparently minded to explore a 6-2 forwards to backs split on the bench to accommodate Rory Darge, an open-side specialist. If there is indeed room for a generalist, Christie could well find himself fighting it out with the likes of Josh Bayliss.

“I do enjoy playing No 8 due to the increased ball carrying,” he says. “I like to think I’m quite decent in lineouts so that often helps in a six jersey, but ultimately I like to play my game, try to get through as much work as possible: make as many tackles as I can, make as many carries as I can, just benefit the team where I can. It doesn’t massively matter to me where I play. I don’t feel it massively impacts my game.”

Christie has never been to Murrayfield on match day, which would make for quite the introduction if he is included in the 23 for the Calcutta Cup on February 5. The England players in the Saracens ranks have already been winding him up. “I’ve had a lot of ‘Andy McChristies’,” he laughs. “People singing the national anthem at me and making me sing the national anthem to them.

“I’ve never watched a game live at Murrayfield, so that would be quite special. There are a fair few things that have to happen before I’m in that mix, but that’s obviously a little bit in the back of my mind. I’m trying not to focus on that stuff because there is so much I need to do to get myself anywhere near that kind of readiness. There’s so much I need to learn, which is the challenge I’m really looking forward to first and foremost.”

The 10s fascinate me - Kinghorn and Smith specifically.

Eddie would have wanted lots of experience around Smith going into Murrayfield.
He's also a stubborn bugger though, so with Farrell out I doubt he will bring Ford back in now.
So, Smith stays at 10, with maybe Slade moving to 12 as 2nd receiver with Care or Youngs nailed on at 9. People saying Atkinson at 12, but I think that's too little experience for Eddie.


I saw Kinghorn for Edinburgh on Friday night v Brive. He looked pretty good and distributed well. Mike Blair hooked him at 60 minutes for Savala, as he did v Cardiff for Jaco, straight after a couple of handling errors and when his head went down straight after. That is where he is just now: you can get 60 minutes out of him at 10 at a URC / European Challenge Cup level. Can you get 60 minutes out of him as a 10 at International Level? No bleedin chance.
I'd rather have Hogg or Redpath deputising there, and I have no idea what Townsend is up to!

Edit: I should have put this in the Calcutta Cup thread...

If any of you eejits on here find you have tickets going spare for the game.... let me know. The sojourn to Execeterr was so jolly Caz the quiet Bokkie and Big Jase want to go to Murrayfield. 3 or four tickets would be much appreciated. ven to the point of paying for them.

https://www.606v2.com/t70519p50-the-calcutta-cup-saturday-5-feb-2022

For those who haven't noticed

The more I think about Hastings and his exclusion from the squad, the more I believe that we’ll see Scotland using the 6-2 split. Hastings is having a really good season with his new club. Leaving him out can’t just be a decision based on form. Surely Townsend has a plan and it involves having one less backline player to allow for another forward? Hastings wouldn’t be getting much game time if the 6-2 split is utilised most games and Kinghorn seems likely to start on the right wing or as a sub. Thought?

bsando wrote:The more I think about Hastings and his exclusion from the squad, the more I believe that we’ll see Scotland using the 6-2 split. Hastings is having a really good season with his new club. Leaving him out can’t just be a decision based on form. Surely Townsend has a plan and it involves having one less backline player to allow for another forward? Hastings wouldn’t be getting much game time if the 6-2 split is utilised most games and Kinghorn seems likely to start on the right wing or as a sub. Thought?

It's probably the only logical explanation, though I expect Kinghorn will start on the bench and more likely come on at wing/full back. He might get a start against Italy as well if Toonie really does see him as his back up FH.

How on earth has Blarehorn leapfrogged Son of Ligind to the fly half bench spot?

George Carlin wrote:How on earth has Blarehorn leapfrogged Son of Ligind to the fly half bench spot?

We are having the same arguments on the England threads. Flexibility (and gambling on the health of the no.1 no.10)

George Carlin wrote:How on earth has Blarehorn leapfrogged Son of Ligind to the fly half bench spot?

I think that, possibly, Haircut has proved himself as a more than capable second choice 10 without offering anything too different.  Dancer lite as it were. Also, whoever is to be the third 10 in the World Cup needs to start accruing game time .
I'm not convinced that Blarehorn is the answer but who else is there? Ross the Wonder Kid had had a torrid couple of weeks and probably doesn't have enough time to build enough international experience.  Blarehorn has the big advantage of having lots of international experience.  He can play well at that level. We just don't know if he can play 10 well at that level.  Actually we don't know if he can consistently play well at club level.

P.s. Mrspip and I failed our LFT's and are now self isolating.fecc fecc feccity fecc

I haven't watched lots of club rugby since before Christmas so can someone tell me, is poor Blair that bad, he is getting constantly lambasted on here so I'm wondering why ?

I did see our game v Japan and tbh, he wasn't that bad, nothing spectacular but not disastrous either.

I think we'll see more of Thompson in July, possibly another 10 too if Russell is rested, that will be the start of the world Cup prep imho, the 6N certainly isn't the time for that.

Anyway, only less than 2wks to go .

A little personal update to let you peeps know why I haven't been watching much rugby of late. I am in the process of doing research on houses in or around the Elgin area because I am really considering following my dream of working in an outdoor nursery, which is over 100miles away from my current home in Thurso .

Hope you peeps are keeping well, especially the Glesga fans who'll be disappointed after Saturday lol.

jimbopip wrote:

P.s. Mrspip and I failed our LFT's and are now self isolating.fecc fecc feccity fecc

Sorry to hear that Jim. Hope you both not got it to badly and it is just an inconvenience.

In the general scheme of things, covid hospital admissions have plumeted in London this past week and we seem to be well past the worse.

That's probably no great consolation to you though and there is clearly enough of it still kicking about out there.

Get well soon.

Highland Shaun wrote:I haven't watched lots of club rugby since before Christmas so can someone tell me, is poor Blair that bad, he is getting constantly lambasted on here so I'm wondering why ?

I did see our game v Japan and tbh, he wasn't that bad, nothing spectacular but not disastrous either.

I think we'll see more of Thompson in July, possibly another 10 too if Russell is rested, that will be the start of the world Cup prep imho, the 6N certainly isn't the time for that.

Anyway, only less than 2wks to go .

A little personal update to let you peeps know why I haven't been watching much rugby of late.   I am in the process of doing research on houses in or around the Elgin area because I am really considering following my dream of working in an outdoor nursery, which is over 100miles away from my current home in Thurso .

Hope you peeps are keeping well, especially the Glesga fans who'll be disappointed after Saturday lol.

The main thing for me on BK is that he hasn't really been tested at 10 so far. Edinburgh haven't exactly had a tough run of fixtures and he's been looking great in attack. Put him up against a Leinster or Ulster and see how he goes when we're not able to play our free flowing attacking game.

The 6N is the most intense and brutal environment there is so it will be a huge step up for him if he does get called upon. It took Finn Russell years to add game management and control to his repertoire - he's now outstanding at it (with the odd moment of madness), and BK is very much at the beginning of the journey at the top level.

Thurso to Elgin - how will you cope with being so far south??

I don't know lol, but I would manage .

Get well soon, young Jim. 

That will teach you to take your comedic sensibilities to a local bar and get spiked with an Omicron and Diet Vimto.

RDW wrote:

Highland Shaun wrote:I haven't watched lots of club rugby since before Christmas so can someone tell me, is poor Blair that bad, he is getting constantly lambasted on here so I'm wondering why ?

I did see our game v Japan and tbh, he wasn't that bad, nothing spectacular but not disastrous either.

I think we'll see more of Thompson in July, possibly another 10 too if Russell is rested, that will be the start of the world Cup prep imho, the 6N certainly isn't the time for that.

Anyway, only less than 2wks to go .

A little personal update to let you peeps know why I haven't been watching much rugby of late.   I am in the process of doing research on houses in or around the Elgin area because I am really considering following my dream of working in an outdoor nursery, which is over 100miles away from my current home in Thurso .

Hope you peeps are keeping well, especially the Glesga fans who'll be disappointed after Saturday lol.

The main thing for me on BK is that he hasn't really been tested at 10 so far. Edinburgh haven't exactly had a tough run of fixtures and he's been looking great in attack. Put him up against a Leinster or Ulster and see how he goes when we're not able to play our free flowing attacking game.

The 6N is the most intense and brutal environment there is so it will be a huge step up for him if he does get called upon. It took Finn Russell years to add game management and control to his repertoire - he's now outstanding at it (with the odd moment of madness), and BK is very much at the beginning of the journey at the top level.

Thurso to Elgin - how will you cope with being so far south??

I would never feel safe staying in a town that contained the Dandy Lion.

A few squad changes

Maitland comes in with Rowe and DVDM listed as unwell (which must surely be code for Covid positive)

Josh Bayliss got concussed at the weekend so he is sitting things out for the moment. We have a lot of back row in the squad, so no more additions on that front.

Maitland will do a job if called upon. Not sure if he will and we may see Darcy and rufus on the wings. Though that is frighteningly small and pretty wobbly defensively. Might might that maitland is called on to play 14 or 11 to cover whichever speedster Toonie goes with on the other wing.

If VDM is out (which will be a huge blow) I think Maitland should be one of the wingers. The other combos are a bit too green for my liking!

I think Steyn may have something to say about being on the right wing! Certainly Maitland would make a huge amount of sense on one wing if the weather is rubbish.

If not, Graham and McLean are fighting it out for the left wing spot. Would be surprised if both of them were to be ignored with VDM out. Steyn and Maitland are not as good going forward and having someone who can create something out of nothing would suggest better intent.

Toonie says they're recovering well and should be in the mix. Great to have so much depth on the wings, I'd love to see some of the newer wingers making the most of their opportunities. That is why Maitland has so many caps, he's given little reason to be dropped from the Scotland shirt up until now when there is a bit more competition and he's getting on a bit. I saw that he linked up well with Daly who scored a peach of a try last weekend. Some very good footballing skills by Maitland in the build up. Perhaps that also influenced Townsend to give him a phone.

Really, if DVDM (who is a shoe in) and Rowe are getting over their illness (which may or may not be covid) then he really should stick to his guns and pick them over Sleepy Sean.

Don't get me wrong, he has been a great player for us, but i have my doubts about how effective he may still be come the next WC.

If everyone is fit, then our wingers should be

DVDM
Graham (who struggles to string games together without getting injured)/Mclean/Steyn/Rowe/Maitland - probably in that order

Mclean and Rowe have the X factor, Steyn is the younger Maitland clone, very good all round game, which is an attractive option with an out and out try scorer, DVDM, on the other wing whoes game also lacks some of the finer features.

Who would be a selector?

I am just happy that the selection dilemmas are about who to leave out rather than "who on earth can we pick? "

WE have basically a settled squad with our best players fit and in form ( although Finn has been his usual self - one fabulous game I watched then a couple of weeks later just very average!)

Kinghorn - I rate him much more than many on here. He really has been going well for Edinburgh. Its too much of a luxury to have a 10 on the bench especially with a 6/2 split when they are only going to get to play if Russell is injured. So a back who can cover many positions is a good bet for the bench. Unfortunately for Kinghorn this may be where he ends up - supersub!

Maitland has never let Scotland down. I have no issues if he ends up in the side even if he does not have the magic of the wee man Darcy or the bulldozer of DVM

Huge bummer Big Dooey is out - he is our main weapon in broken play, really. 

Trying to decide on our no.8 is a bit like trying to decide on a Subway sandwich when you don't really like sandwiches. Or Subway. I just look at the Irish loose forward set and realise that we do have quite a long way to go in key positions.

George Carlin wrote:Huge bummer Big Dooey is out - he is our main weapon in broken play, really. 

Trying to decide on our no.8 is a bit like trying to decide on a Subway sandwich when you don't really like sandwiches. Or Subway. I just look at the Irish loose forward set and realise that we do have quite a long way to go in key positions.

If the spine of your team is 2, 8, 9, 10 and 15 over the past decade now we've started to develop some really good depth in some of those positions (2&9), a world class 1st choice pick at 10 and 15 but 8 stands out like a sore thumb for the lack of quality.

I really hope this is a permanent change in quality we see in Bradbury but more importantly i reaaaaaaaaly hope Jack Dempsey decides to commit to being Scottish. Ooft he's some player like.

Toonie said he thought both DVDM and Rowe would be over their illness (which may or may not be covid) by next week.

Hopefully both and especially Duhan will be fit for the CC.

Glasgow and Edinburgh teams are up for the weekend. May give us a few clues regarding selection? Graham and Bradbury starting as with Maclean and Steyn

Mclean and Graham both playing this weekend and may well be fighting for the same shirt, Neither has actually played all that much this season, so probably both need a run and to prove to Toonie that they can stay fit.

DVDM and Rowe back playing for LI and Worcester this weekend, so clearly over whatever illness they had!

Hoggy, JG and Skinner all playing for Exeter as well.

Ben White interestingly sits out for LI whilst Vellacott is on the bench for Edinburgh.

Hutchinson starts for Saints. Christie and Maitland on the bench for Sarries.

Redpath starts at centre for bath, he definitely needs the game time and with Tuipoltu released back to Glasgow, you would imagine it is between him and Johnson for the 12 shirt next week.

Harris starts for Gloucester against Newcastle.


I think that has covered most of our exiles, quite a lot of them playing this weekend, hopefully they all come through unscathed.

Johnson vs Redpath is a toughie. Johnson never lets us down and yet I still feel Redpath offers more potential in attack (handy with Harris at 13).

Great that Duhan is back and let's hope he stays fit. He's pretty key to our attack.

Redpath is having a very good game for Bath tonight, he might just be shading it atm

BigGee wrote:Redpath is having a very good game for Bath tonight, he might just be shading it atm

I'm being forced to watch Encanto instead....

funnyExiledScot wrote:

BigGee wrote:Redpath is having a very good game for Bath tonight, he might just be shading it atm

 I'm being forced to watch Encanto instead....

Bad luck

Bath beat Quins

Redpath may have played himself into the 12 shirt, he certainly looks fit now.

80 minutes from Darcy Rae too!

With bath winning tonight has Red path played him self in to the Scotland squad or out of it?

Out of it obviously.

are you being serious or taking the p again?

What do you mean maj?

Cheers for the update on players getting game time this weekend Gee.

Good to see Redpath back in action again and building confidence. And with Bath taking down the reigning champs no less. I’m sure we’ll get a better idea of what he’s like at international level this 6N. He would probably be my starting 12. As well as his strong defence and attacking ability what I really like about him is that he brings good footballing skills to the 12 jersey. Something that Johnson lacks unfortunately. Tough call though as Johnson is a classy player too.