Shame he didn’t go to World Cup, will be a big loss to Scotland

Watching South Africa v Ireland under 20s on YouTube – Sam Prendergast is going to be some player.

Cracking match the u 20s.

Hogg was not going to be sure of his place in the WC squad unless he was at his best.  No way could he do a swansong as a sub.

Who else is a 15 in the squad after Kinghorn? Hastings I would imagine, but if you get some injuries it will be a worry.

Ollie Smith but only 3 caps.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66180468

Sexton’s hearing today, hope he has got the jammy Dodgers ready!

This is a bloody long zoom call, must be a shed load of biscuits involved….

..

World Cup year is it, ok, let’s wake up!

Nice to see Eddie Jones doing so well with Aus!!

NZ looking very sharp and SA not looking shoddy either.
I’m not sure what we’ll learn from the Wales warm up games – a couple of likely scrappy games against England, where both teams try to convince themselves they’re well prepared and a drubbing by SA.

At least we can have two Taine’s in the back row, that’s very All Blacks😆😆😆

Oh, what a surprise!!!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/66183082

Was a zoom meeting I think, I assume he sent a bloody good hamper of biscuits!

Was a zoom meeting I think, I assume he sent a bloody good hamper of biscuits!

Several hampers, it started Thursday and didn’t announce the fudge until Monday!!

Can world rugby arrange jaco to be the ref of Ireland’s first game?

His on field antics were always pushing it from a super competitive player but he should never have been allowed on the pitch as a spectator and if he was a club “official” then he and the club should be hauled over the coals. I’m saying this with my green tinted glasses on.

Great interview with Duhan

Kind of wish he’d brought his brother to Edinburgh too.

So, I’m about to sign up to Amazon Prime to watch the Italy v Scotland game this afternoon. Who else will be watching? Any idea if both teams are at full strength. Any predictions?

Both teams are quite changed from the 6N.  Both teams trying out new combos and fringe players.  Predictions?  tight messy game.  Scotland should be too strong but I wouldn’t bet my house on it – or anything more than a few pennies.  I’ll be watching via my favourite doidgy feed

Teams

Scotland

15Smith
14D Graham
13Harris
12McDowall
11Steyn
10Healy
9Price
1Sutherland
2Turner
3Walker
4Skinner
5Cummings
6Crosbie
7Darge
8Fagerson

Substitutes

16McInally
17Bhatti
18Sebastian
19Henderson
20Bayliss
21Dobie
22Kinghorn
23Redpath

Italy

15Pani
14Bruno
13Menoncello
12Morisi
11Ioane
10Allan
9Page-Relo
1Zani
2Faiva
3Ceccarelli
4Sisi
5Zambonin
6Ruzza
7Zuliani
8Halafihi

Substitutes

16Manfredi
17Fischetti
18Alongi
19Iachizzi
20Cannone
21Garbisi
22Da Re
23Mori

Its a dreich day in Edinburgh which will not help either team

Cheers tj. I didn’t realise it was being played in Edinburgh.

Squeaky bum time

<p>I never doubted! Still on track to finish third in the group. </p>

Scoreline flattered us but a lot of new combinations, some new players, some just back from injury

Ireland are going to rue not capping Healy – he just booked his place in the WC squad

The wee man is back!  He just can’t stop scoring.

Ruddy shame the WC groups are so lopsided.  Not a chance we will get out of the group and we may not win a game!

Wonder if Prime will allow me to sign up for a free month again? Must have done it twice already.

Can’t get my head around Jevan Sebastian playing international rugby 😀😀😀. He doesn’t seem to have lost any weight or got fitter, scrum went well though!

Ruddy shame the WC groups are so lopsided.

England look to have the easiest pool, potentially Wales pool isn’t too bad but Wales are really lacking quality at the moment so will struggle to put away Fiji who are looking decent at the moment, beat Samoa quite comfortably the other day.  Wales usually have a core of 4 or 5 top players who are Lions test quality surrounded by some less good players. Currently, well you could argue a case for Faletau on top form but he hasn’t been on that for a while and is currently injured and might not make world cup and you could try stretching an argument out for LRZ but that is a stretch, other than that there’s nothing.

Scotland have a very good group of players right now.

Finn is perhaps the best 10 in the NH right now if not the world ( who else?  Ntamack?  Mo’uanga?).  Duhan and the wee man would walk into pretty much any team.  We have quality back rows to spare.

Props as always an issue

Wales side to face England: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Max Llewellyn, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Corey Domachowski, Ryan Elias, Keiron Assiratti, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Jac Morgan (captain), Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Henry Thomas, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Mason Grady.

Some interesting choices, not a very strong team. England have a much smaller training squad so likely to be far more “first choice”.

Halfpenny to miss his 100 cap with a back spasm during the warm up. Grady to wing and LRZ to 15.

Duhan and the wee man would walk into pretty much any team.

😄😄😄

Let’s see NZ….no, SA no, Fra no, Aus no, Ireland yes, Wales, well obviously.

You could make a stronger argument for Duhan alone but not both.

Finn is perhaps the best 10 in the NH right now if not the world ( who else?  Ntamack?  Mo’uanga?

Bauden Barrett..

Some interesting choices, not a very strong team.

I have no idea how Wales will get on, but I’m fairly excited at the mo 😀

Scotland have a very good group of players right now

A Scottish friend who’s into his rugby, predicts that Scotland will beat SA in the World Cup!

A Scottish friend who’s into his rugby, predicts that Scotland will beat SA in the World Cup!

It’s not out of the question

Bauden Barrett..

doesn’t play 10 often anymore I don’t think

It’s not out of the question

But its not in the answer 🙂  Has anyone seen a  flying pig?

You should see how good the wee man is at the WC.   Scoring record is fantastic and pace to burn.  If he was anything but a Scot he would be being lauded

doesn’t play 10 often anymore I don’t think

Not for NZ, mostly 10 for Blues though Either way he’s still better than Russell.

A fabulous player for sure and I’ll give you its arguable 🙂

Scotland team for the France game.  this looks to me pretty much what will be our first choice team

Dancer is captain *shocked pikachu face*

15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 44 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 34 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) – Vice-captain – 16 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 28 caps

10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) – Captain – 69 caps
9. Ben White (Toulon) 14 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 21 caps
2. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 73 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-captain – 62 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 57 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
20. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps
22. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 6 caps
23. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps

England’s group looks a bit easier than Scotland’s 😂

3 of the world top 5 in one pool.  Scotlands pool.  The pools are extraordinarily lopsided  top 3 teams in each pool world rankings
Pool A 2nd, 3rd, 14th
pool B 1st, 4th and 5th

Pool C 8th, 9th, 10th

Pool D 6th, 7th, 12th

I’m going to make a prediction – Scotland will get two wins in the group stage and won’t go through.

I doubt you will get great odds on that – seems highly likely.  We might only win one tho.  should be able to beat Romania.  Tonga is the banana skin

England team to face Wales:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)

14. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 18 caps)

13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 15 caps)

12. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps)

11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)

10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 21 caps)

9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 87 caps)

1. Ellis Genge © (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)

2. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)

3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)

4. David Ribbans (Toulon, 5 caps)

5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)

6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)

7. Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 14 caps)

Replacements
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, uncapped)

17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)

18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)

19. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)

20. Tom Willis (Saracens, uncapped)

21. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)

22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)

23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 56 caps)

Interesting blend of new & old on and off the bench, and no Farrell….  Good to see Care back in the side!

England should thrash Wales since England will have 16 players on the pitch.