Dalziel Rugby Club

I see Hadden has names a 23 man squad that the team will be picked from to face france - but that he is looking to add another back;

John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors), Mike Blair (Edinburgh, Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Dave Callam (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Nick De Luca and Ross Ford (both Edinburgh), Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers), Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), Nathan Hines (Perpignan), Allister Hogg, Allan Jacobsen and Gavin Kerr (all Edinburgh), Rory Lamont (Sale Sharks), Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), Euan Murray (Northampton Saints), Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Paterson (Gloucester), Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh), Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Simon Webster (Edinburgh), Jason White (Sale Sharks).

What do you think? What would you say are the major shocks?

I assume that means Andy henderson is fit again? If so, he's a definite starter for me.


(I split this into a new thread, and added the poll!)

So the team has been named - Paterson on the bench (I assume he will come on for Parks if he is not on his game) and De Luca starting.

The rest of the bench looks quite handy as well.

Will be interesting to see the pack weights as well - suspect we will have the 2nd heaviest after England in the 6Nations?

See Gary Strain is starting for the U20s on Friday night - no mention of Simmo - is he injured???


Scotland team (sponsor Murray) to play France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday 3 February (kick-off 3pm)

15 Rory Lamont (Sale Sharks)

14 Nikki Walker (Ospreys)
13 Nick De Luca (Edinburgh)
12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors)
11 Simon Webster (Edinburgh)

10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Mike Blair (Edinburgh)*

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh)
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh)*
3 Euan Murray (Northampton Saints)
4 Nathan Hines (Perpignan)
5 Jim Hamilton (Leicester Tigers)
6 Jason White (Sale Sharks) CAPTAIN
8 Dave Callam (Edinburgh)*
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors)*

Substitutes

16 Fergus Thomson (Glasgow Warriors)*
17 Gavin Kerr (Edinburgh)
18 Scott MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets)
19 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors)*
20 Chris Cusiter (Perpignan)
21 Chris Paterson (Gloucester)
22 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh)

* = Member of Scottish Institute of Sport

Not too sure about Nikki Walker, but aside from that, it's not a bad team!

strockosh doesn't even make the bench i thought he was playing amazing with gloucester

Walker!!! No Hogg!!! Callam!!! No Strokosh!!!!!
Does Frank Hadden watch / read anything lots of other well informed and credible people are saying about players. jeez never saw Walker or Callam given the talent that is available.
Not so comfortable now about our chances!

jeez, i forgot about hogg - he's not in the 22 either I'd have prefered him at no8 to callam, but i don't see much of the pro teams so maybe i'm not best placed to comment. I think Taylor is the 1st pick and would have been there if not for the thumb injury.

Roddy - about the U-20's,

Good to see strainer starting. As for Simmo, I cant say officially, but i heard he's been dropped from the squad altogether. I know they wanted him to turn into a prop last season, as the general opinion was he wasnt fit/fast enough for international rugby at back row. And i think he's still been playing club rugby as a back row...

He was in the 24 in December for the game against the Glasgow "back up squad" but not seen any reference to him since. No mention of him on the Heriot's site either where I think he has played 2nd row on occasion.

Simmo would admit that he, as well as a few of us, needs to train hard to keep the weight off....

Problem will be front rowdon't have a an international class prop but it depends on which French team turn up and our best goal kicker on the bench squeaky bum time all game

I can't see why Jonnie Beattie doesn't even touch the fringes of the team. He Kelly Brown and Barclay have been awsome this year. Think that Jason White should move to 2nd row to accomodate the Glasgow back row or dropped altogether. Stokosh should be at least on the bench.

Back line is good, with maybe Walker being a week link as he doesn't have much experience, but put it this way. Out of 15 Ospreys 14 Start this weekend with the best one (Marshal) obviously can't be involved.

Scotland have a real chance this year but it will be tough in every game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/chec ... m=1&nbwm=1 you can listen to the U20 game online! though I think its near full time.

edit: currently losing 12-6

Full time: Scotland 6 (2 Pens) France 12 (2 tries, 1 conv)

I wrote earlier.....Walker!!! No Hogg!!! Callam!!! No Strokosh!!!!!
Does Frank Hadden watch / read anything lots of other well informed and credible people are saying about players. jeez never saw Walker or Callam given the talent that is available.
Not so comfortable now about our chances!

I rest my case: Walker was a shambling unassertive hulk caught out of position too often and pushed out of touch by the wee Frenchies!!!
Callam, (and Big Jace !!!), was out of condition and lacklustre!
Paterson brought some much needed urgency and unsettled the French back line...after all Parks rarely (if ever) makes a line break...too predictable.
Where were the chasers! the hustlers! the tacklers! Woeful. For me De Luca in the second half started to show fast feet and fast hands ...needs more time and better support.

Bring in Strokosh, Hogg, Paterson maybe Tom Evans.

Thoughts lads?

I agree Rod,

I would bring in Beattie and play White at 2nd Row. Jim Hmilton does nothing on a pitch. We need creative players, so play a back row who can throw the ball about. I would stick with Parks as i think Patterson's tactical game is too rusty, but i would bring Chris in somewhere. On wing or Full back if Lamont is injured.

De Luca did look to be a threat. Think nerves got to him a bit, but he will come good.