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'Disdain for the coaching ticket is clear' - Senior Scotland players slammed
Six senior Scotland players who were disciplined internally for breaching team protocols on a boozy night out in Edinburgh last weekend have been slammed online.
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BBC Scotland yesterday broke the news that British & Irish Lions trio Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg and Ali Price, as well as Sione Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham and Sam Johnson, incurred the wrath of team management after they left the team hotel to head to a bar in Edinburgh following their return from Rome.
The Scottish Rugby Union acknowledged a disciplinary issue had arisen but declined to confirm the identity of the players.
A statement read: “The Scotland management team have this week dealt with a post-match matter involving six players following the game against Italy last weekend.
“The players involved have been spoken to individually and those conversations and outcomes will remain private.
“Preparations for the match against Ireland this week have been good and the whole squad is fully focused on achieving a positive result on Saturday.”
Of the six players allegedly in question, captain Hogg, Graham, Johnson and Price, who won his 50th cap it Italy, are all in the starting XV for Saturday’s match against Ireland in Dublin, while Russell was a surprise omission from Gregor Townsend’s team, with the talismanic stand-off starting on the bench.
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Tuipulotu has been released to play for Glasgow against Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship on Friday evening.
While some suggested that six rugby players going out for a drink after a win was no big deal, but for the most part, the behavior of senior players involved was panned. It is also being suggested that the incident is indicative of a broader culture of indiscipline in the camp and lack of respect for head coach Gregor Townsend among the senior player group.
“Poor discipline on the pitch and poor discipline off the pitch. The vast majority of the Scotland squad adhered to protocols last weekend. Some didn’t, including some of the most senior players. I somehow doubt that Johnny Sexton and co were out on the town on Saturday night,” wrote BBC Scotland Chief reporter Tom English.
Poor discipline on the pitch and poor discipline off the pitch. The vast majority of the Scotland squad adhered to protocols last weekend. Some didn't, including some of the most senior players. I somehow doubt that Johnny Sexton and co were out on the town on Saturday night https://t.co/fVxd4YcBlQ
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) March 18, 2022
English later wrote in his column that the ‘lack of professionalism is remarkable’.
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“What are the innocent squad members thinking? The ones who adhered to the rules. What does it say about the unity of the squad and authority of the management when an element within that squad – including supposed leaders – go rogue and have to be instructed to return to the team base? This is amateur hour stuff.
“It’s not exactly Presbyterian strictness to ask elite athletes to respect house rules for one more week when coronavirus positives are on the rise. That’s just common sense. That fact that the six couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see that calls into question their judgement, to put it mildly.”
Scottish Daily Mail journalist Rob Robertson wrote: “This story makes you think whether Gregor Townsend can survive this after such a poor Six Nations. No discipline in the camp.”
Exclusive story from @TEnglishSport and @AndyBurke_ . This story makes you think whether Gregor Townsend can survive this after such a poor Six Nations. No discipline in the camp. https://t.co/BYGF5To1Cl
— Rob Robertson (@ROB_Robireland) March 18, 2022
Broadcaster Andrew McKenna wrote: “If I were Gregor Townsend I’d have the proper raging hump. That’s not just 6 players, that’s basically your core group – the guys who are supposed to set and drive the standards. Added to which, for some of them, it’s not their first case. Big games are essential tomorrow.”
If I were Gregor Townsend I'd have the proper raging hump. That's not just 6 players, that's basically your core group – the guys who are supposed to set and drive the standards. Added to which, for some of them, it's not their first case. Big games are essential tomorrow
— Andrew McKenna (@talkMacca) March 18, 2022
Rugby writer Paul Williams wrote that Russell being involved in another escapade of this nature ‘didn’t help himself’.
“I absolutely love Finn Russell as a player. He’s class. But he’s doesn’t help himself sometimes.”
I absolutely love Finn Russell as a player.
He's class.
But he's doesn't help himself sometimes.
— Paul Williams (@thepaulwilliams) March 18, 2022
Many questioned the respect held within the camp by senior players for Townsend.
“His [Finn’s] disdain for the coaching ticket is clear. And it’s not surprising tbh. And hes far more important to the team than Hogg. So the hypocrisy is real tbh.”
His disdain for the coaching ticket is clear. And it's not surprising tbh. And hes far more important to the team than Hogg. So the hypocrisy is real tbh.
— Hugh Curran (@hughcurran) March 18, 2022
Others were pessimistic about Townsend’s future given the episode coming in the context of another boom and bust Six Nations for Scotland.
“A wholly average six nations and senior players who clearly don’t respect him. Dropping Russell tomorrow seems to be the last roll of the dice. When Ireland inevitably beat us by 20+ Townsend should do the decent thing and resign,” wrote one fan.
A wholly average six nations and senior players who clearly don’t respect him. Dropping Russell tomorrow seems to be the last roll of the dice. When Ireland inevitably beat us by 20+ Townsend should do the decent thing and resign. https://t.co/hU3aJgqyk2
— Andrew Johnstone (@AndrewJohnstone) March 18, 2022
Scotland now face daunting task of Ireland in Dublin, potentially with a group of players and a coaching ticket under more pressure than ever to perform.
additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments