Scotland RWC 2011

[RAWWeyman]

I haven't yet seen a thread of this nature, so I thought seeing as every other country has had a similar thread, we should shed some light on the ever-unpredictable Scots!

My squad:

1. Euan Murray
2. Ross Ford
3. Alan Jacobsen
4. Richie Gray (Had an astonishing 6N, great work rate, tackle rate, breakdown work)
5. Ali Kellock (c) (Also had an impressive 6N, a good leader who works well with gray)
6. Kelly Brown (much better at 6 than at 8)
7. John Barclay (a reliable openside)
8. Johnnie Beatie

9. Rory Lawson (a very trustworthy scrum-half)
10. Ruaridh Jackson (a promising young talent)
11. Simon Danielli (had a successful season with the Ulstermen)
12. Sean Lamont (a fast, physical presence in the midfield)
13. Joe Ansbro (**** passer, but good line breaking and turn off pace)
14. Max Evans (brilliant, just brilliant in my opinion)
15. Chris Paterson (a safe choice for fullback, reliable kicker and defender)

16. Alasdair Dickenson
17. Scott Lawson
18. Nathan Hines
19. Alasdair Strokosch
20. Rory Lawson
21. Dan Parks
22. Hugo Southwell


Now, I may be making all the wrong decisions here but this is purely because I'm not scottish and I am no expert in scottish rugby - so don't chop my balls off if I've made any stupid errors with this selection!!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No room for Rory Lamont? Heaps better than Southwell

Props wrong way round as well, along with Euan Murray playing like s**t since leaving Saints, Moray Low will take his starting spot (or should)

 

[RAWWeyman]

Havent watched Rory lamont playing for toulon this year, is he on form then?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Wow, no room for Hines in the starting XV. This Gray guy must be the business as Hines is a player I wouldn't mind play for the Springboks.

I have huge respect for Scotland; they can strangle any team on the day and look like they have become a lot more consistent than in the past. Obviously England is a stern challenge in the pool stages. I have no idea what to expect from Argentina but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Scotland in the play-offs.

PS you have Lawson at 9 and 20.

 

[Gavin]

I don't think Rory has had much game time this season, though as Olyy said he is much better than Southwell.

 

[RAWWeyman]

Trust me, Gray is most certainly the business.

 

[Gavin]

Even after a pretty good Six Nations, I think Scotland have a pretty tough task in getting out of their pool. The key players for them will be Gray, Jackson, Lamont (both brothers) and Evans.

 

[RAWWeyman]

And Ansbro potentially? Or am I the only one who rates him...

 

[RAWWeyman]

oh mike blair at 20, my apologies

 

[THE_DINGMEISTER]

Cusiter is also trying to make his comeback into the Scotland squad (playing in the Shute shield at the moment) and Rory would have played in the Six Nations a lot more if he hadn't been injured playing for Toulon.

 

[psychic duck]

I agree almost totally with that selection, apart from Rory Lamont for Southwell on the bench, and Euan Murray at tighthead not loosehead

I also want to fit Nathan Hines in there somehow, maybe for Beattie like they did in the 6N

and I'd have Cusiter in if he's fit enough

 

[The Tuilagi Brothers]

1. Alan Jacobsen
2. Ross Ford
3. Euan Murray
4. Richie Gray/ Nathan Hines
5. Ali Kellock (c)
6. Kelly Brown
7. John Barclay
8. Johnnie Beatie

9. Rory Lawson
10. Dan Parks
11. Nikki Walker (is he injured?)
12. Sean Lamont
13. Joe Ansbro
14. Max Evans
15. Chris Paterson

16. Alasdair Dickenson
17. Scott Lawson
18. Nathan Hines
19. Alasdair Strokosch
20. Rory Lawson
21. Dan Parks
22. Rory Lamont

 

[RAWWeyman]

You've put Rory Lawson in twice aswell.. MAN THAT BOY IS EVERYWHERE!!

Also Gray over Hines anyday.

 

[iWin]

You've put Rory Lawson in twice aswell.. MAN THAT BOY IS EVERYWHERE!!

Also Gray over Hines anyday.

Incredible workrate, isn't it?
Dan parks was subbing and starting in that last one as well. I can only assume you meant for Rory Jackson to start.

I'd also agree with Olyy about Murray. He's done bugger all for a while now. Can't justify putting him in the squad, let alone starting, based on anything other than reputation.

 

[SoRadical]

1. Alan Jacobsen
2. Ross Ford
3. Euan Murray
4. Richie Gray/ Nathan Hines
5. Ali Kellock (c)
6. Kelly Brown
7. John Barclay
8. Johnnie Beatie

9. Rory Lawson
10. Dan Parks
11. Nikki Walker (is he injured?)
12. Sean Lamont
13. Joe Ansbro
14. Max Evans
15. Chris Paterson

16. Alasdair Dickenson
17. Scott Lawson
18. Nathan Hines
19. Alasdair Strokosch
20. Rory Lawson
21. Dan Parks
22. Rory Lamont

Richie Gray is awesome, but Nathan Hines has been consistent for Leinster all season and for me is hugely underrated. I know it's not realistic seeing as he is captain and all, but what would you make of dropping Kellock for Hines? Forgive me if I'm missing out on something but from what I've seen of Al Kellock he isn't exactly inspirationally brilliant.

 

[Darwin]

Incredible workrate, isn't it?
Dan parks was subbing and starting in that last one as well. I can only assume you meant for Rory Jackson to start.

I'd also agree with Olyy about Murray. He's done bugger all for a while now. Can't justify putting him in the squad, let alone starting, based on anything other than reputation.

I'm assuming Murray still doesn't play on Sundays? If this is the case, I don't think they can afford to take him in the squad.
Scotland only has one pool game on a Sunday, but it is a crucial match (versus Argentina). In the the (unlikely) event that Scotland win their pool, their quarter final (and semi-final) would be on a Saturday. However if they get second in their pool (perhaps a more realistic goal) their quarter-final would be on a Sunday, as would their semi-final, and also final (if they make it that far). Therefore if Scotland get second in the pool Murray won't be able to play any further part in the tournament (and Scotland would effectively be down to 3 props..)!

If Murray isn't selected for this reason he wouldn't be the first - Michael Jones was excluded from the All Blacks 1995 RWC as he would have been unavailable for the quarter and semi-finals, as these were played on Sundays.

 

[Seaton]

And Ansbro potentially? Or am I the only one who rates him...

Nah, Scotland need more POCs in the team, give us some speed for once

As for Hines, bench is the answer now that MacLeod is gone, he really hasn't done a lot to justify his presence in the starting team for the last 6-8 or so games.

As for Murray, who else is there?

Oh, and we'll have to wait and see how Cusiter comes along, we need him considering that Blair has been a little off the pace in recent seasons

 

[grantyboyh14]

Nathan Hines is a good player but i wouldnt risk it with him starting because he does have a bit of a short fuse.

also i would have anybody instead of murray he's just awful and i wouldnt have jacobson either he just isnt international material

also would have cusiter starting he supposedly played very well down in australia.

 

[dullonien]

I was glad to see Scotland moving away from Parks in the 6 nations, and I think they need to continue to do so. He's been aweful for the Blues, and doesn't seem to understand how to actually play an attacking role. He looks like a scared child on the field the majority of the time, too scared to get close to the opposition in attack and unable to tackle half the time in defense. With Paterson in the team to take the kicking duties, he doesn't offer anything atall, although he'll have to be involved on the bench as Scotland simply don't have anyone else unfortunately.

I know he's done some good things in a Scotland shirt, particularily in the 2009/2010 season where he looked to have turned a corner, but he's shown nothing of note for a while now, and isn't showing any glimpses that he can suddenly up his game again.

On the Murray debate, I feel he's simply a waste of space at the moment. Whilst I don't knock him for having his beliefs and not playing on Sundays, the unfortunate truth is that there is no space for that in a limited WC squad. He'll only be able to play three games and will be missing arguably the most important game against the Pumas as darwin_23 pointed out. If he was in the form of a few years ago where he was up there with the best in the world, then you could be justified in accommodating him, but that simply isn't the case. He's been poor, very poor, so what's the point?

 

[Easdon]

I was glad to see Scotland moving away from Parks in the 6 nations, and I think they need to continue to do so. He's been aweful for the Blues, and doesn't seem to understand how to actually play an attacking role. He looks like a scared child on the field the majority of the time, too scared to get close to the opposition in attack and unable to tackle half the time in defense. With Paterson in the team to take the kicking duties, he doesn't offer anything atall, although he'll have to be involved on the bench as Scotland simply don't have anyone else unfortunately.

I know he's done some good things in a Scotland shirt, particularily in the 2009/2010 season where he looked to have turned a corner, but he's shown nothing of note for a while now, and isn't showing any glimpses that he can suddenly up his game again.

On the Murray debate, I feel he's simply a waste of space at the moment. Whilst I don't knock him for having his beliefs and not playing on Sundays, the unfortunate truth is that there is no space for that in a limited WC squad. He'll only be able to play three games and will be missing arguably the most important game against the Pumas as darwin_23 pointed out. If he was in the form of a few years ago where he was up there with the best in the world, then you could be justified in accommodating him, but that simply isn't the case. He's been poor, very poor, so what's the point?

Unfortunately, I totally agree with you - Murray used to be one of my top players in the squad but he's just not up to it now - total loss in form and it's true that whilst his beliefs are very noble and it's good to see someone stand up for what they believe in there has to be a point where if he can't be available then he won't take up a place. I'm pretty confident in our pack as a whole to be honest, have to say I would include Hines in the squad on the bench, purely because he can over at second row or flanker which could be useful to have.

It's the back line where we really need to shine - Jackson, Lamont, Ansboro, Evans, Paterson etc are all great players in their own right but they need to gel much better and start to execute. Hopefully we'll see some real promise in the autumn tests against Ireland and Italy and that'll give the boys real confidence going into the cup.