Jump to content

Rugby Union


kiwififer

Recommended Posts

4 hours ago, GAD said:

I think Tonnie is almost certainly away after the WC, in fact the cynic in me thinks he's only getting the WC because the SRU think we are stuffed either way. I honestly think if we'd been on the same side of the draw as Wales, England and Australia we'd be changing manager right now as well, those three teams will never have a better chance of winning it with the way the draw has gone, even if they are shite.

Aye the draw is shocking, NZ, France, Italy, SA, Ireland and us on 1 side - top 4 sides in current rankings - 5 of top 8 and the other side one top ranked 5th at best gets to the final.

2 hours ago, ajwffc said:

Some Kiwi journalists are saying that the SRU have been looking in New Zealand for the new head coach. With Leon MacDonald (current Blues head coach) getting ,mentioned if he doesn't get the All Black job  

That would be my choice if we could get him. I had thought he would get the NZ job last time, and will depend if he is holding out for that or not. Im hoping we have spoken to him as im sure he will have plenty of offers.

 

I dont think Blair has done enough to warrant the Scotland job, a few decent seasons with Glasgow then maybe but not yet.

Edited by honestly united
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's too early for Blair, although I think he will get it eventually. It was also too early for Toony, but as others have said, at least he had a pretty outstanding club career at that point.

Would love to see Rennie back in Scotland, even if it is just as attack coach until the RWC.

It would be hard to find someone who rated Danny Wilson lower than I did, but the one thing you always heard about him was that he was excellent on lineout detail, and made individuals better, so I can honestly say I'm pleased he has found a role that actually suits his talents. Anything more than that and he's totally out of his depth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, ajwffc said:

six nations squad

 

326115794_703321194464917_81300851291632

No place for Bennet, Scott or Jonson in the centre, but we call up / recall 2 30 something wingers. I am assuming Maitland will start / bench at worst as he said before he wasnt going to join up with the squad to hold pads.

Apart from the likes of Darge, Cummings and Graham who are all injured I cant think of anyone else I would have in the squad at the moment

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ruaridh McConnachie plays on the wing for Bath.  It'll be interesting to see how he plays if picked on Fri night.  

Graham, Darge and Cummings are huge players so missing them's a blow but Zander, Hamish and Fraser being included's a positive as it means they're not ruled out.

Maitland's left field for me as he's a 34yo winger/FB so I hope I'm wrong but I think his best days are behind him.

Ben Healy's a class player for Munster so I'm glad he's switched to us.  Huw Jones and Stafford McDowell are playing great just now and deserve their spots.  

Tuipulotu's becoming like Finn where he's playing so well that you can't drop him.

Sam Johnson's been long term injured and just back so no surprise he's not been picked.  

Tom Jordan and Rufus McLean are playing well so I'm surprised they've not been picked.  However, they offer Glasgow some quality for going to the Dragons next Saturday when a lot of the guys will be in Scotland camp then away to the Lions in the rescheduled game during the 6N.

Agree that Jamie Ritchie's the captain.  Gilchrist's a good squad player but he was captain when we lost the series in Argentina and he gives away too many penalties imho...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

44 minutes ago, come on shire said:

Ruaridh McConnachie plays on the wing for Bath.  It'll be interesting to see how he plays if picked on Fri night.  

Graham, Darge and Cummings are huge players so missing them's a blow but Zander, Hamish and Fraser being included's a positive as it means they're not ruled out.

Maitland's left field for me as he's a 34yo winger/FB so I hope I'm wrong but I think his best days are behind him.

Ben Healy's a class player for Munster so I'm glad he's switched to us.  Huw Jones and Stafford McDowell are playing great just now and deserve their spots.  

Tuipulotu's becoming like Finn where he's playing so well that you can't drop him.

Sam Johnson's been long term injured and just back so no surprise he's not been picked.  

Tom Jordan and Rufus McLean are playing well so I'm surprised they've not been picked.  However, they offer Glasgow some quality for going to the Dragons next Saturday when a lot of the guys will be in Scotland camp then away to the Lions in the rescheduled game during the 6N.

Agree that Jamie Ritchie's the captain.  Gilchrist's a good squad player but he was captain when we lost the series in Argentina and he gives away too many penalties imho...

Is he?   I just don’t see it.   He and Harris just seem so lacking in flair at international level.    I would argue Townsend still has no idea who his best centres are.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Savage Henry said:

Is he?   I just don’t see it.   He and Harris just seem so lacking in flair at international level.    I would argue Townsend still has no idea who his best centres are.  

I think Redpath and Harris are the preferred option when fit, but given Redpath has missed that much its been chop and change most games

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tuipulotu has been incredible recently. I was far from the only one who thought he was a decent Glasgow player and not much more for a while but he was excellent in the last two Scotland games and has carried it on with some remarkable form since.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Surprised at people not happy about Maitland. He's a class player still playing every week for one of the best club sides in Europe. The only reason he hasn't been playing for Scotland recently is because DVM and Graham are two of the best wingers in the world right now, but he's still a classy operator and will start against England for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, GAD said:

Surprised at people not happy about Maitland. He's a class player still playing every week for one of the best club sides in Europe. The only reason he hasn't been playing for Scotland recently is because DVM and Graham are two of the best wingers in the world right now, but he's still a classy operator and will start against England for sure.

Yeah I thinh he said he didn't fancy it if he is there to hold pads, which is probably fair enough at his age and something we know Townsend does tend to do with his squads. He obviously is not a long term option but from now to the world cup if he's fit and playing (he was rarely playing for sarries till the last few weeks) he's the 3rd winger and most obvious 23 for me unless we want a centre on the bench. 

Centres are very interesting but do think that unlike say 2014-18 where we generally had a first choice pair and a few specialists who could come in when needed/for injuries we don't really know what the best combo. You'd have said Harris was a shoe in a year ago but he obviously really likes Tuipulotu and Redpath who could be interesting together, and Jones in form is very hard to ignore given his history. Glad McDowell is finally getting a good run of games and showing some of his potential. Kinghorn being an option at 10 as well as back three means our 22/23 could be very interesting/changeable depending on opponents.

Assuming that those included at this stage have a chance, if only a small one, of playing against England? As from media reports a few weeks back seemed like Darcy/Darge and Zander/Watson were at similar stages so wouldn't make sense for some to be included and some not 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Genuine Hibs Fan said:

Yeah I thinh he said he didn't fancy it if he is there to hold pads, which is probably fair enough at his age and something we know Townsend does tend to do with his squads. He obviously is not a long term option but from now to the world cup if he's fit and playing (he was rarely playing for sarries till the last few weeks) he's the 3rd winger and most obvious 23 for me unless we want a centre on the bench. 

Centres are very interesting but do think that unlike say 2014-18 where we generally had a first choice pair and a few specialists who could come in when needed/for injuries we don't really know what the best combo. You'd have said Harris was a shoe in a year ago but he obviously really likes Tuipulotu and Redpath who could be interesting together, and Jones in form is very hard to ignore given his history. Glad McDowell is finally getting a good run of games and showing some of his potential. Kinghorn being an option at 10 as well as back three means our 22/23 could be very interesting/changeable depending on opponents.

Assuming that those included at this stage have a chance, if only a small one, of playing against England? As from media reports a few weeks back seemed like Darcy/Darge and Zander/Watson were at similar stages so wouldn't make sense for some to be included and some not 

 

That's the thing about Maitland for me, last two or three seasons he's been considered a good squad option or backup player for Saracens and each season has ended up back in the team. I'm also fine with him not wanting to come to squads if he had no chance of playing, at his age he's better off just staying at home and playing for his club under those circumstances, same as Ritchie Gray.

I'm actually a wee bit worried about the centres. It sounds strange, but having lots of players in the same position in form is a situation Townsend has fucked up before. It's almost better to have a couple of guys who are clearly first pick, so he can't overthink it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

51 minutes ago, flyingscot said:

Glasgow now need only 1 point against Bath to get home tie in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup after Bristol deducted 5 points due to a harsh penalty for an ineligible player.

 

 

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/disciplinary-decision-epcr-challenge-cup/

it looks like the rule they broke was one in place to stop sides signing players for just one game 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

34 minutes ago, ajwffc said:

https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com/news/disciplinary-decision-epcr-challenge-cup/

it looks like the rule they broke was one in place to stop sides signing players for just one game 

That is exceedingly harsh on Bristol. Sign player on 3 month contract after he gets made redundant at Wasps. Play him in 2 games in Europe. He then gets offer from Montellier, both club and player decide its best move and off he goes, then retrospectively he becomes ineligible due? as Bristol didnt force him to stay for the full 3 month contract?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, honestly united said:

That is exceedingly harsh on Bristol. Sign player on 3 month contract after he gets made redundant at Wasps. Play him in 2 games in Europe. He then gets offer from Montellier, both club and player decide its best move and off he goes, then retrospectively he becomes ineligible due? as Bristol didnt force him to stay for the full 3 month contract?

looking at it due to the early release cause they should have kept him out of the euro games. But the punishment still allows them  to qualify for the next round just no longer guaranteed to be at home with the fine suspended. 

It is probably the only time we see that rule broken 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...