[2014 EOYT] Scotland

[iINDOMINUSxx]

So this year for us have been up and down, we had an awful six nations and came lucky out the first 3 tests in the Mid-year test then suffered a hammering in south africa even though in the last 15 minutes off the first half was actually the best i saw scotland play in a while if anyone remembered that. But with this year EOYT i'm afraid that it doesn't look good for us, I'm sure the Argentinians will be much stronger that last time, there is no hope against the all blacks and tonga we should beat but the last time they played we got a big shocker.

So the Fixtures are like this:
Scotland vs Argentina
8 November 2014
17:30 GMT (UTC+0)
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland vs New Zealand
15 November 2014
17:30 GMT (UTC+0)
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland

Scotland vs Tonga
22 November 2014
14:30 GMT (UTC+0)
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland

And For the squad, i'm hoping this is the time to pick Roddy Grant, Cornell Du Preez and Mark Bennett to get capped but we'll wait and see

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

It's going to be interesting to see if Scotland have changed their style of rugby with new management or if they will stick to their previous methods.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

hopefully so its a must or else the only direction that scotland is heading is downwards

 

[Big Ewis]

for Scotland it's kind of the same issue: lack of power up front, pretty good play on attack but not enough to make the difference. Lots of youth too, Weir at 10, Hogg at 15 and others...

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

nanana Russell at 10 is the option i think

btw if i was picking the squad i would pick a squad like this

Hooker: Pat MacArthur, Scott Lawson, Fraser Brown
Props: Alex Allan, Gordon Reid, Geoff Cross, Alasdair Dickinson, Moray Low, Euan Murray
Locks: Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist, Alastair Kellock
Backrows: Johnnie Beattie, Kelly Brown, David Denton (if fit, Ross Rennie if not), Rob Harley, John Barclay, Cornell Du Preez (if eligible Ross Rennie or Blair Cowan if not)
Scrum-Half: Sean Kennedy, Chris Cusiter, Greig Laidlaw
Fly-Half: Finn Russell, Tom Heathcote
Centres: Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne
Back-Line: Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Jack Cuthbert, Dougie Fife

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

InTheLoose today posted about scotland and vern, he definitely not like Scott Johnston at all, he admits that his players are Unprepared for the 2015 World Cup, but he does claim that they will be in 12 months,

you can read more here: http://intheloose.com/2014/09/23/scotland-unprepared-world-cup-says-coach-vern-cotter/

 

[TheSaffycen]

Scotland will do well to get out of the group. They have a very good coach now though, so he should get the best out of them.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

well i hope so anyway, he's been given alot off time to make a change and hopefully his experience will kick in, but it also depends on the squad he picks too. the only big loss atm is Matt Scott but that means i'm hoping to see a Alex Dumbar and Mark Bennett partnering, and was hoping to see Jackson start against the all blacks but that ain't happening

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I think realistically we should see improvements in Scotland in maybe 2 years under the new coach. Anything sooner would be pretty astonishing (hell 2 years would be astonishing). I think the large problem with Scotland is at youth level, Scotlands youth aren't up to the level of other nations and that carries through to the seniors. Someone in the Scottish management needs to get a proper youth programme going in Scotland so 10 years down the line you can start getting good home grown talent.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

I think realistically we should see improvements in Scotland in maybe 2 years under the new coach. Anything sooner would be pretty astonishing (hell 2 years would be astonishing). I think the large problem with Scotland is at youth level, Scotlands youth aren't up to the level of other nations and that carries through to the seniors. Someone in the Scottish management needs to get a proper youth programme going in Scotland so 10 years down the line you can start getting good home grown talent.

oh yeah most definitely, i think there isn't enough professional players to inspire the young kids into rugby and i wasn't expecting Vern Cotter to change scotland overnight, i was going to be a long process but i hope we don't sack him any-time soon, i'd say let him do what he needs to do and wait if i remember when vern joined Clermont they were struggling in the Top 14 (not 100% sure) back in 2009 i think and now they're targeting top off the top 14. But you'll be amazed with how many talented youngsters from scotland there is.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Mark Bennett got injured during the glasgow v ulster game, doesn't look like he'll get his first cap then

 

[TheSaffycen]

Mark Bennett got injured during the glasgow v ulster game, doesn't look like he'll get his first cap then

What happened in that game ? A lot of different players are keeping quiet on the subject.

Based on the summer tour squad and the little I have seen from the Pro 12.
1.Reid 2.MacArthur 3.Low/Murray(Depending on the day) 4.Gilchrist 5.J Gray 6.Brown 7.Cowan 8.Denton 9.Laidlaw 10.Weir 11.Visser 12.Taylor 13.Horne 14.Seymour 15.Maitland
16.Lawson 17.Dickinson 18.Cross 19.Swinson 20.Beattie 21.Cusiter 22.Hogg 23.Lamont

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

What happened in that game ? A lot of different players are keeping quiet on the subject.

Based on the summer tour squad and the little I have seen from the Pro 12.
1.Reid 2.MacArthur 3.Low/Murray(Depending on the day) 4.Gilchrist 5.J Gray 6.Brown 7.Cowan 8.Denton 9.Laidlaw 10.Weir 11.Visser 12.Taylor 13.Horne 14.Seymour 15.Maitland
16.Lawson 17.Dickinson 18.Cross 19.Swinson 20.Beattie 21.Cusiter 22.Hogg 23.Lamont

i didn't watch the game but from what i've seen from the game glasgow's were switched off tries were scored by errors in glasgows defence and sloppy passing and with that squad idt Maitland will play fullback and tbh i dont see him playing. it will probably still be Hogg at fullback but i wouldn't mind seeing Peter Murchie there or Jack Cuthbert. for the 10 jersey i hope not to see weir start, i'd rather see Finn Russell or Tom Heathcote as i think Heathcote is fitting into edinburgh alot better then i thought he would and there is still no confirmation to say that Denton will be able to play and for centre i would move Horne to Inside centre and swap Duncan Taylor for Alex Dunbar and we might be onto something.

 

[TheSaffycen]

i didn't watch the game but from what i've seen from the game glasgow's were switched off tries were scored by errors in glasgows defence and sloppy passing and with that squad idt Maitland will play fullback and tbh i dont see him playing. it will probably still be Hogg at fullback but i wouldn't mind seeing Peter Murchie there or Jack Cuthbert. for the 10 jersey i hope not to see weir start, i'd rather see Finn Russell or Tom Heathcote as i think Heathcote is fitting into edinburgh alot better then i thought he would and there is still no confirmation to say that Denton will be able to play and for centre i would move Horne to Inside centre and swap Duncan Taylor for Alex Dunbar and we might be onto something.

I mean the injury to Bennett.
Could start Hogg over Maitland, but with Laidlaw then Weir can play in a 10 role without having to kick. Could even play Hogg there if he doesn't have to kick. Also I wouldn't drop Taylor for anything seriously. I would have him start for Saracens against Clermont on Saturday, he has been monumental for us this season. Without Denton I would start Beattie and have Ashe on the bench or Strokosch possibly.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

I mean the injury to Bennett.
Could start Hogg over Maitland, but with Laidlaw then Weir can play in a 10 role without having to kick. Could even play Hogg there if he doesn't have to kick. Also I wouldn't drop Taylor for anything seriously. I would have him start for Saracens against Clermont on Saturday, he has been monumental for us this season. Without Denton I would start Beattie and have Ashe on the bench or Strokosch possibly.

idk as i said i didn't watch the match but i'm actually sure he was tackled in a illegal hit apparently, but also i think he's fine now and will play against bath i think. and i haven't watched alot off Aviva premiership especially Saracens matches is he doing well, and how is Blair Cowan playing, i haven't seen a game yet where he hasn't scored a try this year it sounds like he is really playing well. and how is Jim Hamilton playing at Sarries ?

 

[TheSaffycen]

Hamilton hasn't started many games for us, came on against Bath but he didn't play well. He adds a lot of brunt to our pack and if you guys are playing Argentina then you will need him for a bit of ballast, then your scrum starts looking a bit big ! Hamilton, Gray, Denton are all big carriers.

 

[Peat]

He lost consciousness while being held up in a maul against Ulster. Judging from Townsend's comments seemed fully recovered by the time he left the ground anyway. Wouldn't be surprised to see him start the next game.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Hamilton hasn't started many games for us, came on against Bath but he didn't play well. He adds a lot of brunt to our pack and if you guys are playing Argentina then you will need him for a bit of ballast, then your scrum starts looking a bit big ! Hamilton, Gray, Denton are all big carriers.

aye, so how is Blair Cowan doing apparently he is really playing well

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

the training squad will be announced on monday.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

here is the squad to for autumn tests surprised to see Grant Gilchrist being captain, and Ross Ford is there still but no Pat MacArthur ? probably our best hooker atm. and no John Barclay ? tbh i haven't seen him play in a while so idk. but no kelly brown is not putting me in a good mood now, and no Jim Hamilton idk if that is good or bad but considering his performance at sarries atm think its best not to include him

FORWARDS: Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors), Johnnie Beattie (Castres), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan, Geoff Cross (both London Irish), Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (both Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist CAPTAIN (Edinburgh Rugby), Robert Harley, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Euan Murray, Gordon Reid (both Glasgow Warriors) Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan), Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors).

BACKS: Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Cusiter (Sale Sharks), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Dougie Fife, Tom Heathcote (both Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester), Sean Lamont, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos, Tommy Seymour (all Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby), Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

Invited to train with the squad: Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby).

Not considered through injury: David Denton (returning from injury, Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant (returning from injury, Glasgow Warriors), Ruaridh Jackson (knee, London Wasps), Ross Rennie (knee, Bristol Rugby), Matt Scott (shoulder, Edinburgh Rugby), Jon Welsh, Ryan Wilson (both returning from injury, Glasgow Warriors).