Name your AI Training Squad

[Big D]

So before the European games come around who would be in your AI training squad. No idea when it is actually scheduled.
Assuming those with injuries - Ashe, Denton etc will remain injured unless stated below:

Forwards:
Props: Dickinson (if fit), Nel, Sutherland, Fagerson, Welsh, Reid
Hookers: Ford, Rambo, Brown
2nd Rows: Gray x2, Gilchrist, Swinson, Cummings (if fit)*
Back Row: Hardie, Barclay, Watson, CdP (may as well cap him now), Strauss, Wilson, Bradbury

Backs:
9: Laidlaw, Pyrgos, Price
10: Russell, Jackson, Hastings*
Centres: Scott, Dunbar, Bennet, Taylor, Horne (if he is fit), Hutchinson*
Back 3: Seymour, Visser, Hogg, Maitland, Hoyland (if fit), Kinghorn*

*To train with the squad. I always believe young talent should be asked to train with the squad to expose them to what the main international team does.

[Cameo]

Only name that springs to mind is that suffer guy, Huw Jones. I don't know how it would worknow with release etc but if Horne is injured he could be an option

[Big D]

Only name that springs to mind is that suffer guy, Huw Jones. I don't know how it would worknow with release etc but if Horne is injured he could be an option

Totally forgot about him. He'd be in - centres are getting crowded but competition is good.

[switchskier]

Are Strauss and Dunbar fit?

Part of our problem is that some of those guys will get picked regardless of form because there aren't any other options. Realistically who else could be selected in the back-row? If he was fit I'd be tempted to have Harley in there ahead of Strauss.

Does anyone know what the status of Maitland is? Possible place for Lee Jones if he's still not flavour of the month?

It's just plain weird seeing the centers as our strongest positions.

[Big D]

Are Strauss and Dunbar fit?

Part of our problem is that some of those guys will get picked regardless of form because there aren't any other options. Realistically who else could be selected in the back-row? If he was fit I'd be tempted to have Harley in there ahead of Strauss.

Does anyone know what the status of Maitland is? Possible place for Lee Jones if he's still not flavour of the month?

It's just plain weird seeing the centers as our strongest positions.

Dunbar played on Friday and looked ok, unless he was injured and I didn't notice? There are a few injury clouds around a few though.

Strauss is due back imminently IIRC. Harley also injured and has never been more than solid club pro IMO.

Maitland has been involved with Sarries this season. Bagged a couple IIRC.

[switchskier]

Are Strauss and Dunbar fit?

Part of our problem is that some of those guys will get picked regardless of form because there aren't any other options. Realistically who else could be selected in the back-row? If he was fit I'd be tempted to have Harley in there ahead of Strauss.

Does anyone know what the status of Maitland is? Possible place for Lee Jones if he's still not flavour of the month?

It's just plain weird seeing the centers as our strongest positions.

Dunbar played on Friday and looked ok, unless he was injured and I didn't notice? There are a few injury clouds around a few though.

Strauss is due back imminently IIRC. Harley also injured and has never been more than solid club pro IMO.

Maitland has been involved with Sarries this season. Bagged a couple IIRC.

Dunbar picked up a shoulder knock around about halftime on Friday and played through it. Sure I saw somewhere that he was being evaluated for something more serious.

[Big D]

Guy thomson would be an interesting proposition but from what I've read I believe Wales are at an advanced stage of discussions with him.

Qualifies as his Dad was born on Jersey.

[OptimisticJock]

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Guy thomson would be an interesting proposition but from what I've read I believe Wales are at an advanced stage of discussions with him.

Qualifies as his Dad was born on Jersey.

That's hilarious and desperate. If he's keen on Scotland by all means, include him... he's not worth chasing though.

[Big D]

[emoji38]

Was hoping for a bigger reaction out you Baz. [emoji24] [emoji24]

You've changed. [emoji6]

[OptimisticJock]

[emoji38]

Was hoping for a bigger reaction out you Baz. [emoji24] [emoji24]

You've changed. [emoji6]

I'm on to you lot

[Big D]

Guy thomson would be an interesting proposition but from what I've read I believe Wales are at an advanced stage of discussions with him.

Qualifies as his Dad was born on Jersey.

That's hilarious and desperate. If he's keen on Scotland by all means, include him... he's not worth chasing though.

Agreed. Trying to get a bite out of Baz and failing [emoji20]

[Mikey Brown]

I've basically just rearranged the initial post based on the starting XV I'd like at the moment. Though some players I simply haven't seen enough to be sure of.

1. Dickinson* Sutherland Reid (Allan)
2. Brown Ford MacInally
3. Nel Fagerson Welsh
4. Jonny Toolis/Swinson
5. Richie Gilchrist Cummings?
6. Barclay Bradbury Ritchie?
7. Hardie Watson
8. Strauss CDP Denton?*

09. Pyrgos Laidlaw Price
10. Russell Jackson Hastings?
11. Maitland Visser
12. Scott Taylor Horne* Hutchinson?
13. Dunbar Bennett
14. Seymour Hoyland
15. Hogg Kinghorn?

Some random thoughts:

Allan next in line if Dickinson isn't fit? I'm torn whether to have MacInally backing up Brown. Is MacInally accurate enough for this level yet? Is Fagerson ready? He certainly looks impressive whenever I see him, but don't want to ruin him.

Lock is just a matter of who fills in when Gilchrist gets injured. Swinson is admirable but won't ever be more I don't think.

Barclay I guess is still the most rounded option at 6? Is Bradbury ready? I really hope we don't field a backrow of Strauss, Hardie, CDP. It's just too ridiculous.

Kinghorn and Hastings should be trying to put some pressure on Jackson as 10/15 replacement on the bench, but a bit soon for that I imagine.

I want Dunbar in if fit, I don't really mind where but Scott is currently playing better than Bennett. What's the deal with Horne?

Wings haven't changed much. Seymour and whoever else is being the least flakey. Maitland seems to be finishing well at the moment and is the best fullback cover. I wish they'd each just pick a wing and stay there.

[Adder]

Petrie said he felt Bradbury would get called up for one of the big autumn tests(aka Argentina or Australia)

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

[hp18]

Petrie said he felt Bradbury would get called up for one of the big autumn tests(aka Argentina or Australia)

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

He's earned it.

[Big D]

Petrie said he felt Bradbury would get called up for one of the big autumn tests(aka Argentina or Australia)

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

He's earned it.

Agreed. After an encouraging performance from Strauss on Friday I hope he takes that into the internationals. Strauss at 8 with Bradbury off the bench looks a good option to me.

Hutchinson seems to be getting involved more in saints match day squads. Not sure if it's due to injury or not.

[Big D]

Petrie said he felt Bradbury would get called up for one of the big autumn tests(aka Argentina or Australia)

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

He's earned it.

Agreed. After an encouraging performance from Strauss on Friday I hope he takes that into the internationals. Strauss at 8 with Bradbury off the bench looks a good option to me.

Hutchinson seems to be getting involved more in saints match day squads. Not sure if it's due to injury or not.

[Big D]

Centre is tricky spot really but this time could be who is injury free. Not sure how Jones is playing in SA so could be a wild card. Scott is playing well, Bennett is showing good signs, is Dunbar ever going to put together a decent run of games injury free again?

[whatisthejava]

This could well be a very competitive AI squad

but for me we have enough talent but we still have not found way to make guys play above themselves the way way the great teams do

id like to think it could be there and Toonie could be the guy that releases it

[hp18]

Centre is tricky spot really but this time could be who is injury free. Not sure how Jones is playing in SA so could be a wild card. Scott is playing well, Bennett is showing good signs, is Dunbar ever going to put together a decent run of games injury free again?

While I'm not counting my chickens, Dunbar played (iirc) 3 full games, rested, full game, not selected, pulled out in warm up. That's not a weak run. He's the third/fourth player this season to pull out just before a game.

[Big D]

Centre is tricky spot really but this time could be who is injury free. Not sure how Jones is playing in SA so could be a wild card. Scott is playing well, Bennett is showing good signs, is Dunbar ever going to put together a decent run of games injury free again?

While I'm not counting my chickens, Dunbar played (iirc) 3 full games, rested, full game, not selected, pulled out in warm up. That's not a weak run. He's the third/fourth player this season to pull out just before a game.

It's not a weak run, but it is 4 games over 7 weeks ending in pulling out in the warm up presumably with at best case a niggle? For Glasgow he can be managed due to rotation etc. But in terms of Scotland I think whether he can hold up to a good run of internationals injury free again is still unsure*. I really hope he does, I really like watching him play. First and foremost for the player, it would be good to see him go on a good run like half a season without something being up.

* He's obviously been unlucky with some major injuries but he's probably played less than half the games he could have for Scotland since his debut.

[laribold]

I think I read somewhere that Dunbar pulled out at the weekend due to illness rather than injury.
Can't remember where I saw that though...

[Croft_No.5]

Yes read it was a chest infection

[Big D]

That's good news.

[Tobylerone]

That's good news.

Ah, Scotland, where a chest infection is classed as good news..