Six nations time approaches. Your predictions and the state of your team?
Please note my record of prediction on here is utter pish thus reverse what I think perhaps?
So Scotland. Injuries are not too much of an issue but still a number of broken centres and Barclay is going to miss some / all the 6N and that will be a huge loss. Edinburgh in good form but Glasgow in a slump ( for them 😉 – only second in their conference and second in their euro cup pool)
Team –
front row – we now have plenty of internationalists and our first choice front row will stand up to anyone. Nice to see WP coming back to his destructive best. McInally is just getting better and better
Second Row – ickle jonny looks a bit off his best, who partners him is a question with no first rate answers
Back row – a swathe of good players but no big ball carrier. This cost us in the AIs as with no one to get go forward from the back row carrying then our quick recycling and fast paced game falls apart. Watson is playing really well and will be a pain in the arse to anyone and everyone. Stealing the ball several times per game and tackling like a demon – fantastic stuff considering he would be considered by many small for a back.
Halfbacks – here in lies some fun. Does wee Greig start for his calm head and kicking? or Wee George Horne for his running threat and zip? Russell is obviously no1 at 10 – but his time in France where we hoped he would be taught control and playing the percentages seems not to have worked. He is playing well but even more of a box of frogs than he was. Hastings as sub ? Going thru a loss of form right now and hardly a controlling player either. Weir? again in good form and a more controlling 10 so could be in with a shout. Peter Horne for his versatilely? and he seems to be one of those players who makes others around him play better. Hard to tell what way Tooonie will go.
Centres? Its all about last man standing I think. Hopefully Dunbar is back ‘cos we need him badly. Taylor would be useful but I think still broken? Nick Gregg is playing very well but we really need someone approaching 6’ and more than 13 st dripping wet in the centres – a pairing of P Horne and N Gregg must be the smallest centre pairing in the world in an adult team
Back 3 – here we haver riches. Its all about combinations. Hogg obviously the star and although injured should be back this week or next. Kinghorn a very different 15 but almost an equal attacking threat but not so good in defence. Perhaps he gets a wing spot. Tommy Seymour is what he is – but in good form right now. Maitland ditto and we also have Darcy Graham who is a real attacking threat but another midget although he did get a tackle and steal off a Glasgow forward in the 1872 cup
Scotland could actually put out virtually an entire set of backs who are under 5’10” and 13 stone! Lets milk those high tackle pens boys!
Scotland must be aiming to win 3 games at least but that means winning on the road in France or England or beating Wales which we haven’t done since AA was a boy! but anything less will be a disappointment
1. Dell
2. McInally
3. Nel
4. J.Gray
5. Gilcrest
6. Ritchie / wilson
7. Watson
8. Ashe
9. Laidlaw
10. Russell
11. Seymour
12. Johnson / dunbar
13. Jones
14. Maitland
15. Hogg
16. Allan
17. Ford ( others too broken)
18. Berghan
19. Fagerson M
20. Wilson
21. Horne / McDowell / graham
22. Hastings
23. Kinghorn
Final 6N table
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
England
Italy
France
Others – England – Farrell is now going to be watched for his petulance and high / no arms tackles. 2 yellows at least and they still don’t have a captain or whatever it is who can change tactics on the field. too inflexible slow and ponderous. Jones is a nitwit.
Wales seem to have injury issues but Gatland always seems to make them more than the sum of their parts but the welsh pro14 and euro form is pure pish
Ireland – the best in the NH by a long way. Hard to see who can beat them. Grand slam?
Italy – Pro 14 form is not bad and I think they might surprise a couple of teams
France – who knows?
Finally – I bet Scotland surprise with some trick plays. Townsend loves a trick play.