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Fans satisfied that form players have been rewarded by Scotland
Gregor Townsend has named his Scotland side to face Ireland this weekend at the Aviva Stadium and the starting XV only contains five players that started in their last outing versus Japan at the World Cup.
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Retirements and injuries in the wake of the RWC have forced Townsend’s hand when making this selection, not to mention Finn Russell’s recent misdemeanour which has seen him banned.
With that being said, many players that will start in Dublin are being rewarded for their good form over the past few months.
Edinburgh’s summer signing Nick Haining, who joined from Premiership outfit Bristol, is a surprising call at No8, but one that equally warrants a start which will be his first cap for Scotland.
The 29-year-old is slightly fortuitous with injuries to Magnus Bradbury, Blade Thomson and Matt Fagerson, but there would still be a compelling case for him to start, which many Scotland fans have said.
(Continue reading below…)
Jamie Joseph is desperate to avoid a club versus country conflict in Japan
The Australian-born loose forward has competed with Bill Mata for the eight shirt this season in Edinburgh, which is a good indication of where his game is at the moment as he has been able to hold the Fijian back.
Although his age may concern some, particularly at the beginning of a new RWC cycle, Scotland supporters have highlighted that form players should play, regardless of the circumstances.
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I missed he was injured. Haining deserves his chance, let's hope he is the big carrying number 8 we have lacked in many games
— Martin welsh 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 (@accts_cowboy) January 30, 2020
I like it.
There are obviously a few names missing but this is a good squad.
Good to see Haining and Sutherland get a start. Same with Hutch on the bench.
Two years ago I thought Cornell’s career was over so it’s nice to see him back. https://t.co/ZQibcUMIOI
— Alex (@Atholl1844) January 30, 2020
If all three no.8s were available for Edinburgh right now I'd be picking Haining.
For Scotland well, let's rule out BBM, and Cockerill doesn't even pick Bradbury at 8 very often. He is the future but he's also injured. CDP has never done quite enough consistently enough for me— The Burgh Watch (@theburghwatch) January 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/RugbyMccaw/status/1222849617156616192?s=20
In the backs, Huw Jones has also been praised for bouncing back after the disappointment of missing out on the RWC. The outside centre is starting to produce the kind of performances for Glasgow Warriors that he showed when he first arrived at Scotstoun.
Good looking team👍🏴👍
Delighted to see Huw Jones back…he’s really on form again!
Great opportunity for Adam Hastings to shine!
Disappointed that Duncan Weir didn’t make the bench.
Curious about WP Nel…injured maybe?
All in all though…a good team🏴
GO SCOTLAND!!#ASONE— Alan Carroll (@AlanWantsIndy) January 30, 2020
That’s a great looking team! A really strong pack that should have plenty of bite and aggression. Talented set of backs! Great to see the back on form Huw Jones starting and great to see Hutchinson in there.
— Winedown (@winedownpreston) January 30, 2020
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Jones is starting ahead of Rory Hutchinson, who is yet another player that has been spurred on after missing out on the RWC.
He is also having an impressive campaign with Northampton Saints and will have a fascinating battle with Jones to see who will start throughout the tournament and indeed the coming years.
With a lot of disruptions leading into the Six Nations for Scotland, chiefly the Russell debacle, pressure has mounted on Townsend. But he can now hope that his players bring the form they have shown for their clubs this season to the national team.
WATCH: World Rugby have added pressure on teams to improve their results in 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
The side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
4 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
4 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
4 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
4 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to comments