U20s edged out by Samoa, Lions Win
Scotland 14 – 17 Samoa (view coverage here) Scotland U20s battled bravely but an inability to find the cutting edge in slippery conditions saw them beaten with a last play of the game drop goal. For large parts of the game Samoa survived on instinctive handling rather than any particular shape to their game, and […]
Four Scots in 22 To Face Cheetahs
Nature metaphors continue: Lions vs Cheetahs – who will win? All four Scots in the touring party are selected to play tomorrow, with Hines and Blair on the bench and as expected our front row boys get a start alongside fellow beast Andrew Sheridan. After this match, everyone in tour will have played or at […]
Our Lions Handle Or Use Roughly Their Lions
The real winner last night was of course the word “maul” which is now experiencing something of a resurgence throughout the press.
All Change For Lions
As expected the British and Irish Lions team to face the Golden Lions on Wednesday night has been heavily rotated with only three of Saturday’s starters remaining in the shape of David Wallace (moved to 7), Tommy Bowe and Jamie Roberts. Only youngster Keith Earls was unavailable for selection after sustaining a shoulder knock. Flutey […]
British and Irish Lions Squad 2009 – Fewest Scots Ever*
I’ve been kind of excited all morning, so I shudder to think the pain the players have been going through waiting for this announcement. Backs Lee Byrne, Rob Kearney, Shane Williams, Leigh Halfpenny, Ugo Monye, Luke Fitzgerald, Tommy Bowe, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Brian O’ Driscoll, Keith Earls, Rikki Flutey, Ronan O’ Gara, Stephen Jones, […]
England Team Unchanged, but did Frank just roll a 2 anyway?
Thom’s ok, big Stroker’s ok. So that’s that out of the way. Scott Gray in? Okay, he’s looked sharp off the bench and played well season-long against these guys in the GP, so that’s justified on form. On the other hand, also sharp Chris Cusiter not in to replace out of form and probably injured […]
Big Nathan Hits the Comeback Trail For Realz
Welcome news ahead of this weekend that Big Nathan, Bigger Jim and even Big Rory have returned to training with the Scotland squad this week. While Hamilton would have been expected to roll in pretty soon, Lamont was not scheduled to return till April so that’s quite the surprise. It’s unlikely that he’s at full […]
Hot Potato – Scotland Drop The Ball Against France
With two weeks to go until the next round of Six Nations games, we Scotland fans now have a short while to sit back and gather our thoughts. So with that in mind, here are some freshly gathered ones. Frank Hadden has asserted that Scotland will “make an impact” in this tournament, although it remains […]
Hines Not on the Comeback Trail, Actually
A report up on Scrum.com gives us the skinny that unfortunately Big Nathan will not make it back in time for the France game, as he now requires exploratory surgery on his injured knee. There’s more on the BBC too. This is a big blow for us, more so now that we know how much […]
Big Nathan is on the Comeback Trail
Nathan Hines has told the BBC he hopes to be fit for Saturday’s game in Paris. Good news if he can slot in straight away with his form of the Autumn, as he was sorely missed on Sunday will he be really fit though or is it too risky? Full article and video here. And […]
My Scotland Team Set for “Glory”
This would be the team I announce tomorrow, and here’s why: 15 – Chris Paterson. This was trickier than I thought, which is a good thing. Hugo has been on fire recently, but before the recent rib injury, so was Mossy. Frank Hadden is looking for maturity of decision making from this team, having identified […]
Stephen Jones Big Ups Big Nathan
Ahh, some sense at last. In his most recent Rolling Maul (well worth a read for many reasons, primarily it seems as something to argue with your PC screen about) the esteemed Sunday Times Rugby correspondent has highlighted Big Nathan’s possible usefulness as a Lions tourist: Nathan Hines (Perpignan) He has had his injury problems, […]
MacLeod faces second drug test probe
Bit of breaking news: ahead of Frank Hadden’s announcement of his reduced squad to face New Zealand next month, lock Scott MacLeod has thrown his availability into severe doubt with the revelations that he has reportedly failed a second drug test, this time for “higher than permitted levels of testosterone”. MacLeod has insisted he is […]
Scott who?
Good News: Glasgow beat the Dragons, in what is often referred to as “one for the purists” – a fairly unexciting match played in appalling weather. Still, Dan Parks kicked his goals and marshalled Glasgow to a decent away win against a Dragons side who had talked themselves up a bit in the pre-season. Mark […]