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Scotland fans astonished Richie Gray has been overlooked after Sam Skinner's injury
Scotland fans are shocked that Gregor Townsend has not opted to call up Richie Gray after Exeter lock Sam Skinner was ruled out of the World Cup with a hamstring injury sustained last weekend.
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Glasgow Warriors’ Tim Swinson has been called upon instead, leaving many fans questioning what the former British and Irish Lion has to do to be noticed by Townsend.
A few eyebrows were raised when the Toulouse forward Gray was initially excluded from Scotland’s World Cup training squad, but many could understand the rationale behind such a decision. The 30-year-old has been seriously hampered by injuries over the past few years and his form subsequently dropped.
However, with the Top 14 season still ongoing when the training squad was announced, some thought Gray was being given a chance to prove his fitness. Although he did not always start ahead of Joe Tekori or Riche Arnold, Gray won the French league with Toulouse and started against Bordeaux in the first game of their new season last Saturday.
Although it is unlikely that Gray will reach the form that he showed at the beginning of the decade, the fans feel that he should be picked ahead of Swinson if he is fully fit. Although the 38-cap Swinson is a fine player, the 6ft 9in Gray has proved in the past that he is one of the best locks in the game on his day.
Amid criticism in Scotland that Richie Gray isn't involved for World Cup, Gregor Townsend's management insist they are not to blamehttps://t.co/V92TvBHWHY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 27, 2019
Scotland have claimed it was Gray’s own wish to be excluded for the World Cup, but some fans on Twitter feel there must be something going on between Gray and Townsend for the head coach to persistently overlook the 62-cap veteran.
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While it was a shock that he initially did not make the training squad, the fact that he was not the next option at lock has baffled many. This is what has been said:
And not Richie Gray? What’s he done wrong?
— Sir John R Campbell (@JohnRCampbell2) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/theow45/status/1166305952171220993?s=20
I’m surprised that Richie Gray hasn’t been called up? Would love to know what the story is there??
— Dougie Lowe (@dougielowe) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/GShandy00/status/1166307239440859136?s=20
Still no Richie Gray is a joke https://t.co/aDq9oOR4Kn
— Blair Wilkie (@blair_shuffle) August 27, 2019
RICHIE GRAY??????
— SyKoro72 (@sykoro72) August 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/DougallChops/status/1166305608422871040?s=20
What about the France’s champion Richie Gray????? I’ve nothing against Tim I’m a Warriors fan but it’s pure bogging for Richie.
— ???????Alisdaire14??????? (@Alisdaire14) August 27, 2019
While some have speculated that playing in France has hampered Gray’s chances of playing for Scotland, it is clear that the die has been cast regarding the possibility of him making the World Cup.
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Whether he will play for Scotland again under Townsend is to be seen, but he won’t be travelling to Japan next month unless there is another injury.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
2 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
40 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
40 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
2 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to comments