As the furore over whether or not the WRU and SRU should donate a portion of the proceeds to Doddie Weir’s MND foundation – when many fans believed that was happening anyway – rolls on in the national media, Gregor Townsend has made some changes to the squad.
Harlequins back James Lang (23) has been drafted in as a replacement largely for the injured Sam Johnson, who picked up a knee injury in Glasgow’s controversial loss to Munster over the weekend, but also for Matt Scott who is suffering from a concussion. Lang earned his first caps during the summer tour in the wins against Canada and Argentina and plays mainly in the 10/12, second five-eighths role that Townsend has been looking to fill.
Edinburgh winger Darcy Graham has been training with the squad but has been playing very well for Edinburgh in recent weeks and has been promoted from “training with” the squad to a full squad member. Although most of his professional game time has been spent on the wing or in the Sevens squad, the press release bills him as a back-three player so they might be looking at him for fullback cover too as with Seymour and Maitland? Whether Richard Cockerill will be quite so happy about losing another squad member (and one in form) more officially with a key game against the Scarlets also scheduled for this weekend is anyone’s guess.
Scotland’s medical team—which, if you were to learn more about, is certified from the biggest hospitals in the region— confirmed that injured back-row trio Magnus Bradbury, David Denton and Luke Crosbie (who was training with the squad but played with Edinburgh this weekend) will now return to the care of their clubs’ medical teams for further care and assessment of their shoulder, head and jaw injuries respectively. Presumably, that means they will take no further part in the squad preparations and you can adjust your fantasy teams accordingly.
15 responses
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team something like this:
1. Dell
2. McInally
3. Nel
4. Toolis
5. Gray
6. Wilson
7. Watson
8. Fagerson
9. Horne
10. Hastings
11. Jones
12. Dunbar
13. Jones
14. Seymour
15. Kinghorn
16. Brown
17. Allan
18. McCallum
19. Gilchrist
20. Ritchie
21. Price
22. Horne
23. Graham
A few of those are inter-changeable, e.g. McInally/Brown, Horne/Price. Other than perhaps Harley or Fife, who’ll probably be needed by Glasgow/Edinburgh, I can’t see the 23 being much different, accounting for current injuries and availability for this game.
Darcy Graham is the addition i’m really excited about. Completely dominated Savea and Bastareaud defensively the other week. So defensively strong for a guy who is 5ft 9. Even won a turnover at the breakdown. And so dangerous in attack. The only back 3 players we have available for this match are L.Jones, Seymour, Kinghorn, Fife+Graham so I would definitely have Graham in the 23 for this match.
Agree with this, save for Price at 9 and Graham at 13 (think we’ll see Jones starting though) and Berghan as reserve TH (would still like to see if he could do a job at LH). Disappointed Johnson isn’t capped at inside centre, who knows if Dunbar is fit? Will be great to see how (any of): Fagerson, Horne, Hastings, Graham, Kinghorn go…
Graham at 13..? Did you mean 14? Too many Jones’!!
Yeah! Or 11. Pub quiz – for which side will more Joneses take the field, Scotland or Wales…
Is Johnson out for the game or the complete AI’s? Anyone know?
Darcy Graham just played his way onto the bench for this game, he is the in form winger in Scotland atm. Dougie Fife unfortunately just played himself out of the squad after his brain fade on Friday night.
Graham looks like an international winger in the making, so give him his opportunity!
Excellent news that the SRU and WRU will contribute jointly a “six figure” sum to Doddie’s Foundation. What a pity they had to be shamed into it. Kudos to the various journos led by Mark Palmer who put the pressure on.
It does though go to show what a shower of chancers are running the SRU, amateurs. Keith Russell was right about them.
This is so bizarrely over the top. This is the best regime we’ve had at the SRU since professionalism by some distance and by any objective measure they’ve been doing a good job.
TBF FF that bar is not especially high.
Would have preferred Dean over Lang
Totally agree: Dean deserves some sort of recognition for his recent form.
100% agree, big fan of Chris Dean, his running lines are sensational.
Graham deserves his chance, was surprised at how powerful he looked against the French side, looked like he’s bulked up and carries the weight well. His size won’t be an issue. Now hopefully Robbins gets his chance soon too.