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liveinhope wrote:I realise it is heretic to say this on the Edinburgh site but there is a school of thought that suggests entirely possible that none of Bradbury,Ritchie and Kinghorn will make the final cut of 31.
liveinhope wrote:Doesn't that show incredibly difficult it must be for Cockerill etc to plan/budget for next season given the 31 aren't announced until 3rd September? I appreciate this could apply to every club but probably much worse for Scottish clubs there being only two. Difficult to get short term cover organised that late on surely.
liveinhope wrote:I realise it is heretic to say this on the Edinburgh site but there is a school of thought that suggests entirely possible that none of Bradbury,Ritchie and Kinghorn will make the final cut of 31. Equally all three could make it to Japan.
BigD163 wrote:liveinhope wrote:I realise it is heretic to say this on the Edinburgh site but there is a school of thought that suggests entirely possible that none of Bradbury,Ritchie and Kinghorn will make the final cut of 31. Equally all three could make it to Japan.
Given the way Bradbury played at 8 v England particularly his carrying and work from the base of the scrum it would be daft for him not to go.
There is every chance Ritchie and Kinghorn don't go. Even though I would have Ritchie in.
The Feral Goat wrote:BigD163 wrote:liveinhope wrote:I realise it is heretic to say this on the Edinburgh site but there is a school of thought that suggests entirely possible that none of Bradbury,Ritchie and Kinghorn will make the final cut of 31. Equally all three could make it to Japan.
Given the way Bradbury played at 8 v England particularly his carrying and work from the base of the scrum it would be daft for him not to go.
There is every chance Ritchie and Kinghorn don't go. Even though I would have Ritchie in.
I think in Ritchies favour is one he was our standout forward in the 6N and two, after Watson, he is the best 7 in the backrow group and also a very good 6.
Agree with BigD, Bradbury must be pushing as first choice 8 after his last outing, Strauss, I feel Townsend had no option in the 6N but to pick him, is unlikely to go to the RWC, Thomson remains unproven at International level so would surely need huge performances in the warm up matches to get ahead of others. So at 8 for me it is Bradbury and Wilson.
We are a bit stacked with very good 6s with Wilson, Barclay, Ritchie and Skinner the pick of the bunch. With Ritchie the next best 7, Skinner able to play second row and Wilson a good 8 option I think Barclay may be the one fighting for a spot but his leadership and experience will add weight to his selection chances.
Similarly I cant see us losing both Graham and Kinghorn as if both go, it means one of Seymour or Maitland does not which I can’t see, caveated by the injury situation when it comes time to fly to Japan
Going to be some talented players left at home with some huge decisions for Townsend to make. Think to do date injuries have always helped make his selections easier.
From an ER point of view, again without injuries having a say, I can’t see us losing all of Ritchie, Bradbury and Barclay to the RWC squad I am also not convinced Toolis will make it either despite Ritchie Grays current omission from the wider squad, and one of Kinghorn or Graham likely to be around as well.
JDCSR wrote:We do also have some great prospects in terms of stage 3 players.
Archie Erskine is a big blindside who will have been toughened up by a year in France as will Hamish Bain who is a unit of a lock.
Boyle and Darge are superb prospects at openside.
Cammy Hutchinson is an incisive runner in the centres who has also been in France.
We've already seen a bit of Hodgson and Atkinson in the second row.
I'd quite like to see these guys strengthening the side rather than journeymen.
TheSmidge wrote:Whether all of Graham, Kinghorn, Maitland and Seymour go is largely dependent upon the make-up of the squad elsewhere. In the forwards, if we take 6 props, 3 hookers, 3 locks and 5 back rowers, including Skinner as a 4/6, that makes 17. That leaves space for 14 backs, broken down as 3 SHs, 2 FHs, 4 centres and 5 wing/full-backs. Which would most likely include all 4 of those guys (plus Hogg obviously).
However, if we take 4 specialist locks AND Skinner, that's most likely an 18/13 split, which will probably rule King Blairhorn out of the equation. The only alternative would be travelling with 5 props, but that is unlikely given none of the current crop can cover both sides.
BigD163 wrote:TheSmidge wrote:Whether all of Graham, Kinghorn, Maitland and Seymour go is largely dependent upon the make-up of the squad elsewhere. In the forwards, if we take 6 props, 3 hookers, 3 locks and 5 back rowers, including Skinner as a 4/6, that makes 17. That leaves space for 14 backs, broken down as 3 SHs, 2 FHs, 4 centres and 5 wing/full-backs. Which would most likely include all 4 of those guys (plus Hogg obviously).
However, if we take 4 specialist locks AND Skinner, that's most likely an 18/13 split, which will probably rule King Blairhorn out of the equation. The only alternative would be travelling with 5 props, but that is unlikely given none of the current crop can cover both sides.
Whilst taking 6 props cannot be discounted, worth noting that nearly, if not every side only took 5 to the last world cup. So one prop may end up being emergency cover for the other side even if weak there.
TheSmidge wrote:BigD163 wrote:TheSmidge wrote:Whether all of Graham, Kinghorn, Maitland and Seymour go is largely dependent upon the make-up of the squad elsewhere. In the forwards, if we take 6 props, 3 hookers, 3 locks and 5 back rowers, including Skinner as a 4/6, that makes 17. That leaves space for 14 backs, broken down as 3 SHs, 2 FHs, 4 centres and 5 wing/full-backs. Which would most likely include all 4 of those guys (plus Hogg obviously).
However, if we take 4 specialist locks AND Skinner, that's most likely an 18/13 split, which will probably rule King Blairhorn out of the equation. The only alternative would be travelling with 5 props, but that is unlikely given none of the current crop can cover both sides.
Whilst taking 6 props cannot be discounted, worth noting that nearly, if not every side only took 5 to the last world cup. So one prop may end up being emergency cover for the other side even if weak there.
It is one of the risks that has to be taken at RWC, another being going with only 4 back-3 specialists. If it is a possibility, then I would hope that a LH and a TH will be training to cover the other side. My money would be on Bhatti and Fagerson.
JDCSR wrote:TheSmidge wrote:
It is one of the risks that has to be taken at RWC, another being going with only 4 back-3 specialists. If it is a possibility, then I would hope that a LH and a TH will be training to cover the other side. My money would be on Bhatti and Fagerson.
I remember when Low was a reasonable TH and and Welsh a better than decent LH. Then they swapped and faded from international rugby.
Agree with you though. Reckon might be Bergs covering LH during the world cup as I'm sure he was touted as covering both sides when he signed.
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