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Disappointed to only see two Scots in the squad. You're never going to please everyone of course and there are some English players who will be feeling rightly aggrieved (Launchbury being the obvious one) but surely there's a case to be made for more of our guys going? Russell, the Grays and Watson for example.
... 12 Welshmen? :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritz
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritz
Agreed mate
Probably the only 'British' team I have had any interest in in recent years has been the British (& Irish) Lions although with every tour my interest has definitely wained. Not sure if that's because recent tours have (deservedly) seen very few Scots in the touring party and even less in the test side. Gone are the days of Irvine, Jeffrey, Nicol, Sole, Calder, Tait, the Hastings, The Milne's, Beattie etc. The halcyon days!
Or maybe it's because with each passing day I feel less 'British' but to have only 2 Scots selected despite the form of Glasgow and Scotland is shocking. Any lingering interest has dissipated......Mon the Kiwis!
Indeed was that not the team Scotland horsed in the 6 nations. The Twickenham defeat has been used as an excuse to rule out more Scots IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
And the reluctance of 2 Scots (Townsend and 1 other) to accept Gatland's invitation to get involved. There was nobody there to lobby for Scottish players.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
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Although that may be the case, Gatland and his staff have eyes and access to all matches and recordings.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
Shocking that there are 12 welshmen selected.
There was a suggestion a few weeks ago that this might happen, and that it would be an implied punishment for Townsend refusing the job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs
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I'm not having that tbh. We're a good team but as individuals we're not stand outs - Hogg excepted.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
We had a few on the fringes, I think Russell should've gone ahead of Biggar. For Ireland to have less players than Wales is farcical.
Fair point about the team thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs
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I think Watson, Russell, Nel were unlucky not to go as first picks. Others like Maitland, Gray(s) and Brown are likely to be on the reserve list as well although maybe not 1st reserve.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
They've picked Farrell as a 10 but he's likely to play 12 which means if Biggar picks up an injury either Sexton or Farrell will have to play midweek or they have to call up a reserve.
To be fair I think Nel would have gone if he hadn't been injured. It's not (just) the lack of Scottish players that I find hard to stomach, it's some of the players that have made it. Biggar over Russell or Ford, Moriarty, Henderson, Te'o, Payne. And from a purely Scottish point of view our one bad game against England has counted for far more than Wales' several poor games since last year.
He would've, although having said that it didn't make any difference for Kruis.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritz
Also wonder if the fact we'll be touring in Australia at the same time came into their thinking. There're always injuries on a tour, probably even more so in NZ. Wouldn't be too surprised to see one or more Scots called up during the tour.
I know but Wales are playing Tonga - in NZ!Quote:
Originally Posted by Fritz
Ah well, scrub that then! 🙄Quote:
Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs
Think Finn Russell and Jonny gray can feel hard done by, before his injury I also thought laidlaw would go and had an outside chance of captain. I wonder if things would have been different if it wasn't the longtime Welsh coach leading again, or if there had been some Scots among the coaching staff. Poor show if some were asked and declined, surely it's a prestigious thing to be asked to coach as well as to play
I don't think Laidlaw was ever going to go tbh. Danny Care will be ahead of him as well. Only reason might have been as mideeek captain.Quote:
Originally Posted by McD
As for the coaches the rumour mill says they were offered the assistant attacking coach job. Assistant to Howley - the mastermind of the Welsh scintillating back play...
I'm welsh and even I'm shocked about the lack of Scots. Strauss was V good, should be in instead of Moriarty for sure. Russell should be in as well.
Shocked about Launchbury. Voted in 3rd place for player of the 6 nations then doesn't get picked!!! Jamie George. Not good enough to get in the England starting line up but seeming good enough to get into the Lions squad ahead of Hartley. Makes no sense.
Gatland just gone with players that he knows as Wales coach which is wrong. If he doesn't know some of the other players games well enough he should so some more scouting and get to know their games.
Really disappointed. I hope that if there are injuries he calls up the right players.
Howley is shocking as head coach. Last time he tool control of Wales we were poor. Good as a run of the mill backroom staff type coach but not good enough to be fronting the operation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Danderhall Hibs
Ben Youngs withdraws for terribly sad reason.
Laidlaw in to replace him.
As you say, very sad reason for his withdrawal.
Yes, pleased for Laidlaw but absolutely not the way he'd have wanted to be called up. Very sad.
Horrible reason to be called up but I'm
Sure Laidlaw will handle it with class and dignity.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39868565
2019 world cup draw
Pool A: Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Europe 1, play-off winner (Europe 2 v Oceania 3)
Pool B: New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, Africa 1, repechage winner
Pool C: England, France, Argentina, Americas 1, Oceania 2
Pool D: Australia, Wales, Georgia, Oceania 1, Americas 2
They've sure started the marketing campaign early!Quote:
Originally Posted by cabbageandribs1875
Why bother doing the draw 2 years early when half the teams haven't qualified yet? makes no sense!!
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Originally Posted by Golden Bear
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Originally Posted by nellio
i'm not quite sure why so early but this might be the reason
Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The pool allocation draw is an important milestone in the run-in to any Rugby World Cup and it really helps to build excitement and momentum. With the identity of 12 teams already known, it will be of huge interest to players and fans to know which sides will be in their pool for what will be a game-changing tournament in Japan.
"While the draw is closer to the start of the tournament this time around compared to the previous RWC, it is necessary to conduct it well in advance for logistical reasons and to allow for an effective ticketing programme to be implemented.”
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/158737
Don't get it. If teams have qualified anyway then they will know to start preperations and Japan will know who's qualified as well. Doesn't matter what pool their in unless travel etc is pool specific.?
the paris round of the 7's this weekend if anyone watches :greengrin
some very good performances from scotland in paris, and after beating this seasons series winners(South Africa) in the pool stages now face them again in the cup Final, surely we couldn't beat them twice in the same tournament :greengrin
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Originally Posted by Golden Bear
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Originally Posted by nellio
Well the timing this time is at least an improvement over the last world cup.Quote:
Originally Posted by nellio