Surely Toonie can't be joining the French national set up. Even their self destruct button isn't that big.. and I was a townsend fan till the recent Russell debacles.
It'll be interesting I don't think Farrell can operate in a Nick Evans attacking back line. Sarries and England are very structured
Christ, sounds like a great kid, just wish Exeter would stop playing him at 7.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/13/christ-tshiunza-rugby-union-exeter-wales-interview
It’s interesting that England are having a Live on-screen reveal of the 6N squad on Monday. Previously it was social media. I wonder why, does Borthwick have some explaining to do?
What's the betting Booth is saying "you just can't coach that!"
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lVNIIiPuwf0
Tipuric. The best centre never to play in the centre.
Looks like he’s coming back in to some form.
AA - I’m not sure you do coach those skills in an openside. The surprising thing is he keeps running the same line and doesn’t go towards the ball. He is a freak of a player.
Rennie to Scotland?
I hope not
Scotland will never be a top job. That leaves us with either failed coaches or up and coming ambitious ones looking to make their name before they get a top job. I'd rather have the latter
Assuming Townsend moves on are there any candidates that know about Scottish rugby and have international management experience(edit) other than Rennie?
Nope - but why is that a precondition?
I would go for a young coach who has proved themselves at the next tier down either a minor international coach or one with a good record in a high quality league.
If yo limit us to that then its a very short list of candidates. In fact Rennie may be the only one
Eddie Jones becomes Aussie coach!!
Oh balls, WC revenge, earliest we could meet them is in the 1/4.
Interesting!!
England Six Nations squad
Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, George McGuigan, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis.
Backs: Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Dan Kelly, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Youngs.
At last - on form players! Can we also assume Borthwick will play people in their club position? He's enough players to do so, and some exciting talent in the backs for Nick Evans to play with.
Assuming Townsend moves on are there any candidates that know about Scottish rugby and have international management experience(edit) other than Rennie"
Richard Cockerill, if he's dropped by Borthwick. Dragged Edinburgh up from its usual slouched lazy can't-be-arsed self until Jockland ean out of cash. Coached in France. And obvs coaching (though not head coach) with Ingurlund.
Assuming Townsend moves on are there any candidates that know about Scottish rugby and have international management experience(edit) other than Rennie?
Franco Smith is going to be moved into the Scotland job after the WC, I reckon. Glasgow will be given whoever they are given.
I didn't really rate Rennie as a Glasgow coach and I was surprised he got the Australia job. Not surprised he was sacked and also not all that surprised they gave the job to Jones. I just think it's really funny and I'm looking forward to the press going into complete meltdown when Australia knocks England out of the WC.
Because we all know that's what's going to happen, right? 🙂
Cockerill did a good job with Edinburgh but hit his limits. Its a no to him
I don't want a second rate coach . I want someone who is young and ambitious who is well proven but still on the upward path of their career
The general (Franco smith) might be a good call tho - he certainly seems to have done well with the soapdodgers
The general (Franco smith) might be a good call tho – he certainly seems to have done well with the soapdodgers
I can't help but think the Scotland job was dangled (or just flat out promised) before he took the Glasgow job. He seems a bit above the level that the SRU thinks Glasgow deserve.
Richard Cockerill, if he’s dropped by Borthwick
No chance, he was literally offering to fight Embra players while in charge there. Cotter back pretty please.
Not Cockerill please, he hit the buffers at Edinburgh. I wouldn't mind Cotter or Rennie.
Aye Cockers did a lot of good at Edinburgh as by 'eck they were soft when he arrived but it quickly became clear he could take them no further. Not that Blair is exactly looking good right now either.
Its always going to be difficult as the SRU does not have the funds to pay the very best and also that the Scotland job will always be less attractive than the big countries which is why IMO the best coaches we can get will be up and coming ambitious ones looking to make a name for themselves before moving onto a top job
We were really lucky to get Cotter- an exception to that. Best coach we have had in the pro era
But most recently at Fiji, I hope we could compete with them financially.
Can we also assume Borthwick will play people in their club position? He’s enough players to do so, and some exciting talent in the backs for Nick Evans to play with.
It looks like a specialist 6 at 6 for me but will have to see.
Cotter back pretty please.
Cotter for the Scotland job with Franco staying at Glasgow could be an ideal combination.
Not going to happen though. Cotter would be well within his rights to tell the SRU to swivel if they offered him the job.
It looks like a specialist 6 at 6 for me but will have to see.
That’d be novel, I don’t think it’s been a regular feature (for England) since Richard Hill played the position. That’s 20 years ago!
Wales squad
Forwards: Rhys Carre (Cardiff), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets, capt), Bradley Roberts (Dragon), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Rhys Davies (Ospreys), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Teddy Williams (Cardiff), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Backs: Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Dan Biggar (Toulon), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Owen Williams (Ospreys), Mason Grady (Cardiff), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Keiran Williams (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), Liam Williams (Cardiff).
Some interesting decisions in this!!! Grady, Tshinza and Jenkins for example. No idea what 1/2p offers but who else is there?
I also see Scotland have had a nibble at Aussie cast offs, like what they taste and are now at England cast offs...... How do supporters feel about this. If Wales were picking ex players of other international teams it wouldn't sit right with me tbh
If Wales were picking ex players of other international teams it wouldn’t sit right with me tbh
If Scotland couldn't find a Scottish coach it wouldn't sit right with me...
I'm going to keep using that one as long as I can 🙂
If Wales were picking ex players of other international teams it wouldn’t sit right with me tbh
It doesn't sit well with me but its not a major issue. Wales have plenty of previous for attracting folk who qualify for more than one country.
Which players are you thinking of?
Which players are you thinking of?
Jack Dempsey 10 (ish) caps for Australia and
Former England wing Ruaridh McConnochie is one of four uncapped players named in Scotland's Six Nations squad.
Bath's McConnochie, 31, appeared at the last World Cup, but earned the second of his two England caps three years ago so is eligible to switch nationalities.
So uncapped apart from his two caps for England.
Seems a step too far to me.
Not bothered about non Welsh coaches, they are not on the pitch.
Wales have plenty of previous for attracting folk who qualify for more than one country.
Not really the same is it, loads of players qualify for far more than one team. We are talking picking players who have played international rugby for other countries.
Which players are these that scotland have picked? I can think of one junior all black ( not full all black)
Not sure what the issue is, tbh.
It's sport. You do everything within the rules to win. I think most international level competitors want to play at international level and I very much doubt their skills are going to be diminished based on which badge they are wearing.
Are you worried they won't work as hard cause they're wearing a blue jersey?
If your argument is that the rule is wrong then your beef is with World Rugby rather than Scotland.
Sorry - missed your post naming the players.
Ruaridh McConnochie - clearly scottish - look at his name. 🙂 Weird pick tho. I have never heard of him and we have plenty of wingers.
Dempsey has earned his place playing for Glasgow.
No I'm not hugely happy about this but its a provision that is there IMO WR mucked this up. It should have been only if you were going from a higher tier to a lower one. At least he is a player who has scottish ancestry and has played for 3 years in Scotland
At 31 he's pushing the prime winger category. As you say not short of wingers.
A lot of England players expressing the wish to play for Tonga. Which is worse going back to tongann team taking places or being poached from tongan team?
Seems a step too far to me.
Not bothered about non Welsh coaches, they are not on the pitch.
Me too, I get its the rules so fair play on Wales for doing it, but its a shit rule.
I don't mind it for tier 2 or below but you should be able to join a senior tier 1 team after playing in another tier 1 team at senior level.
Eg I don't mind if england players go to georgia and then they qualify as a team for tier 1 next year but just skipping over after a 3 year wait is crap.
It should have been only if you were going from a higher tier to a lower one.
100% agree.
fair play on Wales for doing it,
They haven't, Scotland have. It's not a big issue just interesting thing to comment when squads announced.
Wonder what sort of team Gatland will pick.
Changing of the guard 15?
Loopy
Dyer
Grady
Hawkins
Adams
O Williams
T Williams
Faletau
Morgan
Tshinza
Beard
Jenkins
Francis
Owens (captain so no Lake)
Carre
I went and had a look on the rugby forum I am on. No controversy over Dempsey as he has scottish ancestry and has done his time playing in Scotland ie he is committed to Scotland
McConnichie is not well accepted given when he was younger he was offered a place in the Scotland squad and turned it down. I think he is only there for injury cover given our first choice wings are injured leaving us with only a couple of experienced wings but the consensus is that another Scots wing like could have been brought in but the contenders are young and inexperienced.
They haven’t, Scotland have.
Apols, I lost the details...
I went and had a look on the rugby forum I am on.
What's the view on Healy's swift elevation to the Scottish Squad? Munster forum I frequent all wish him well, all of the negative sentiment is to the Province / IRFU for letting him go. I've watched a lot of him for Munster, he has a cannon of a boot and a great pass his limitations seem to be defences don't expect him to run and for a big guy he is an average defender. There had been signs recently that these elements were improving.
Im conflicted basically but at least he has made his choice in early parts of his career. I can't help feeling if he had been made first choice at Munster and / or given a sniff of a Irish callup he would not have moved to Scotland. I don't like being the second best option. He does have a scottish parent IIRC
As an aside why can't Scotland produce fly halves? Ive been following Scots rugby for 50 years and far too much of the time especially since professionalism we just have not had a decent 10
Dan Parks? Phil Godman? Gordon Ross? would any of them have got a game for any other tier one nation? We produce an endless stream of quality back rows and 9s and a good few full backs but 10s? IN that 50 years I can only think of 2 real quality 10s. Rutherford and Russell. Townsend was part great player part donkey. Chalmers was competent but dull. Patterson nearly made it and perhaps would have done with a coaches fullbacking
I honestly don't get this, if he is considered decent by the coaches, then great, you have a new player. End of. What's with all the drama?
Also Dan Parks, not quality? What shyte.
he was not known as desperate Dan for nothing! A good servant to Scottish rugby and persuaded to come out of retirement against his better judgement when he was a real disaster. But would he have been anywhere near another home nations team? the only international class thing he had was his sideburns! Have you got rose tinted glasses on?
You could argue Ireland have only produced one quality 10 in the last 15 years it's just he has gone on for ever. Ulster have Billy Burns at 10, very similar to the Healy situation, he has a fair few caps for Ireland. We have a few now with potential but certainly no one to replace Sexton which is why we are persisting with him even though he will be 38 at the World Cup.
