Japan Tour

[Big D]

2 Test tour 18/06 and 25/06 To be shown on the BBC.

I would send all U20s to the JWC and have a squad of:

Back 3: Hogg, Hoyland, Visser and Seymour if he takes 6 then add Jones
Centres: Scott, Taylor, Bennett, Horne
10's: Russell and Jackson
9's: Laidlaw, Pyrgos (is he fit? If not then Steel), Price.

Props: Dickinson, Sutherland, Reid, Nel, Low
Hooker: Ford, Rambo, Browm
2nd Row: Grays x2, Toolis, Swinson
Back Row: Barclay, Denton, Hardie/Watson (might rest Hardie), Strauss, Ashe

I would take close to a full strength team. It is only a short tour but lots to gain from it. It will be our only experience of being in Japan before the RWC and due to a the home side getting an artificial points boost there are ranking points to win.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

One full back? That won't go well.

[Big D]

One full back? That won't go well.

It's a two game tour. Squad shouldn't be unnecessarily bloated. Barring injury Hogg would start with one of Jackson and Seymour covering.

Maitland would be an option but has never pulled up trees as a FB and Bryce hasn't done enough yet to merit a look in internationally.

[OptimisticJock]

How old is Bryce?

[Big D]

How old is Bryce?

25?

[Big D]

Fairly condensed squad. But it is full strength.

Maitland makes it.

Definitely would have rested Dunbar.

Edit: On twitter.

[Big D]

[Chunks Baws]

No surprises there really. Maybe Maitland who probably doesn't really deserve it but I guess he's there to cover both wing and FB.

BBC is showing both games.

[Big D]

Bennett left out to ensure availability for Rio. Are they planning a muckle trial event? Not sure how they think they can be sure they have picked the right GB+NI team without doing something like that considering the number of XVs players they are considering.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

One full back? That won't go well.

It's a two game tour. Squad shouldn't be unnecessarily bloated. Barring injury Hogg would start with one of Jackson and Seymour covering.

Maitland would be an option but has never pulled up trees as a FB and Bryce hasn't done enough yet to merit a look in internationally.

So if you're not going to develop a back up to Hogg against Japan, when will you?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Poor Alex Dunbar, would give the lad a rest.

There are a lot of things to be positive about there - Jackson over Weir, no Cowan, Hoyland rewarded with a well deserved spot.

There are some downsides though... No Price or Bryce, persisting with Swinson, including Maitland & Denton.

It does stink a bit of Vern's favourites in many places but there are some pleasant surprises. VC clearly does not see this as a development opportunity - something I don't quite agree with.

[Matt Ha]

Would have liked to have seen Watson, but it's a small squad. Not sure what Denton has done to be selected. Happy to see Hoyland picked as we're about short on wingers.
ps When does Du Preez qualify?

[Chunks Baws]

Would have liked to have seen Watson, but it's a small squad. Not sure what Denton has done to be selected. Happy to see Hoyland picked as we're about short on wingers.
ps When does Du Preez qualify?

September or October I believe.

[Big D]

One full back? That won't go well.

It's a two game tour. Squad shouldn't be unnecessarily bloated. Barring injury Hogg would start with one of Jackson and Seymour covering.

Maitland would be an option but has never pulled up trees as a FB and Bryce hasn't done enough yet to merit a look in internationally.

So if you're not going to develop a back up to Hogg against Japan, when will you?

Maitland and Jackson are the back up 15s for now. As they have been since before the RWC bar the issue with Maitland during the 6N.

Bryce and eventually those graduating the under 20's this year need game time to show they merit selection going forward. Bryce has looked good in spells but hasn't shown he deserves the Ally Hogg, Tom Phillip or Stuart Hogg treatment of throwing them in because they've shown talent and we need options.

I think he might show enough next season with regular game time but he hasn't shown enough yet to join a short tour that will no doubt focus on the last Ireland game and existing systems.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bryce is called up to the wider squad in the AIs if he starts next season well.

[Big D]

09 May ‘Tight’ Group Named for Scotland Summer Tour





Head Coach Vern Cotter today named a 27-man Scotland squad for the national team’s two-Test summer tour of Japan next month – live on BBC.

The Test matches will be played on consecutive Saturdays at J1 League football stadia; the first at the Toyota Stadium in Toyota City (18 June), the second at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo (25 June), homes of Nagoya Grampus and FC Tokyo respectively.

The relatively short tour has allowed Cotter to select a tight group for the rematch of last year’s Rugby World Cup pool fixture where, after a tense start, Scotland produced a clinical five-try finish to win 45-10.

Cotter, said: “Being a two-match tour, rather than three, allows us to take a smaller squad; a tight group, though opportunities still remain for other players to come in.

“ This squad still has a lot of work to do to get better and this is another opportunity to analyse our last game against Ireland and the RBS 6 Nations Championship as a whole, in order to move forward.
”

ST16_squad_1200_dh“We will be working on becoming smarter in the way that we look to win, with winning, of course, being our focus.”

The majority of the squad played a key role in Scotland’s recent RBS 6 Nations campaign, with just three players in today’s selection missing out on Championship exposure – Henry Pyrgos (recovered from a wrist injury in time for the final game against Ireland but was an unused replacement), hooker Fraser Brown (absent through injury), and promising young Edinburgh Rugby wing Damien Hoyland (22).

Cotter also confirmed that Glasgow Warriors centre Mark Bennett has not been named to allow him to be considered for extended GB7s selection ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Cotter added: “The first game will be especially tough. We have five days to prepare following our arrival in Japan to face a team one place below us in the world rankings, on home soil.

“You only have to look at the crowd numbers and the passion that the Japanese people have at the Sun Wolves [inaugural Japanese Super Rugby team] fixtures at home to know that this will be a real test for the players.”

The tour has the added significance of being in the host country of Rugby World Cup 2019, with Cotter conscious of the added importance of Test results as the pool draw looms this coming season.

“We are aware of the fact that the world rankings for the Rugby World Cup are ongoing, and that the only way we’ll influence those ranking positively is to win games,” said Cotter.

“ Winning is our primary focus, while also developing our leadership group, our experience and becoming better at controlling fixtures by understanding and exploiting the opportunities in the game to build and apply pressure by varying our attack.”
”

The Test matches will be the sixth and seventh time that Scotland and Japan have met on full Test-capped terms (with Scotland unbeaten thus far), while the countries have played on five other occasions, when Scotland fielded a development ‘XV’ in 1976, 1977, 1986, 1989 and 2010.

The games will also be the first to see caps awarded to the two nations on Japanese soil; though it will be the third time a Scottish side has toured the land of the rising sun (1977 and 1989).


2016 Summer Tour (live on BBC):
Saturday 18 June: Japan v Scotland, Toyota Stadium, Toyota City (kick-off 7.20pm local)
Saturday 25 June: Japan v Scotland, Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo (kick-off 7.20pm local)

Scotland / Japan history:
2015: Scotland 45-10 Japan, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester (RWC 2015)
2013: Scotland 42-17 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2010: Scotland XV 24-5 Japan Select, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
2004: Scotland 100-8 Japan, McDiarmid Park, Perth
2003: Japan 11-32 Scotland, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville (RWC 2003)
1991: Scotland 47-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (RWC 1991)
1989: Japan 28-24 Scotland XV, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1986: Scotland XV 33-18 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
1977: Japan 9-74 Scotland XV, Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1976: Scotland XV 34-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)

It would seem VC is big on continuity and when your wins are as sparse as ours are there is some logic to it.

[Mikey Brown]

Okay. Thoughts in no real order.

How long can Denton live off the back of the RWC? Maybe he's been given a bit of leeway as Bath are such a shambles, but I'd have liked to see more of Ashe.

The prop situation is weird, why are Edinburgh so much stronger?

I'd really like to have seen Watson but I understand Hardie with Barclay covering from 6 is perfectly adequate. Wilson seems a bit lucky since 6/7/8 are all covered very well.

Scrum-half is uninspiring but yeah it should do the job.

Good to see Jackson involved and happy with him/Seymour/Maitland going to fullback. I think we're all in the same boat re; Maitland? He needs to show a bit more than being a nice gliding runner. He scored a belter the other week, but played like a complete pansy other than that. You could say all the same of Visser.

Also agreed that Bryce looks a talent, but no rush.

Swinson has too many caps.

Hasn't Dunbar snapped his other leg off now or something?

[Big D]

I've not seen Bath play but noticed Denton was starting their last few.

I know that they've had issues with Mafi but WT noted on another thread that he had been better lately but better is a relative term.

6 and 8 are a worry. Denton is inconsistent, Barclay into his 30s, I'm still not sold on Strauss and if Wilson is the answer then we need to ask a different question until he consistently shows something at a high level (catch 22 though).

[switchskier]

Had a bit of a think about this and think that I'm quite happy with it. We're not in a position to take Japan lightly and continuity in the squad will help. We'd all like to see some youngsters breaking through but they need to show something at club level first.

Saying that two choices I'd quibble with. Hardie needs to be rested as he's played two consecutive seasons of rugby now. I also wouldn't have taken Maitland who's not been great for LI. Neither Jones nor Brown has his abilities but I'd have liked to see their form rewarded. Either way I hope that Visser gets the start.

[hp18]

I've not seen Bath play but noticed Denton was starting their last few.

I know that they've had issues with Mafi but WT noted on another thread that he had been better lately but better is a relative term.

6 and 8 are a worry. Denton is inconsistent, Barclay into his 30s, I'm still not sold on Strauss and if Wilson is the answer then we need to ask a different question until he consistently shows something at a high level (catch 22 though).

He's gone.

Denton tends to play well for Scotland, Strauss is much improved at that level.

[Mikey Brown]

I feel Strauss could do with stringing some games together for Scotland, but agreed we shouldn't just be offering that up for nothing.

I just have this feeling that 6. Strauss 7. Watson 8. Ashe could be fantastic, with very little to base it on.

[Lizard]

The tests should be on at a good time for us in NZ. It should be interesting to see how Japan fare after a good RWC. Regrettably they won't have Leitch who apparently wants a rest (and I hope this is not due to any French Club style pressure from my Chiefs on him).

[Big D]

Strauss is much improved at that level.

To be fair that is true. I still have the same concerns as before regarding him, but credit where it is due.

I'd almost have been tempted to pick Bradbury for the tour as a flyer. He has nearly always impressed me off the bench for Edinburgh and offers real impact but still way too early for him.

I feel Strauss could do with stringing some games together for Scotland, but agreed we shouldn't just be offering that up for nothing.

I just have this feeling that 6. Strauss 7. Watson 8. Ashe could be fantastic, with very little to base it on.

With Ashe at 22, Richie at 19, Bradbury at 20, CdP 25, Denton 26, even Wilson at 27 and no doubt others (Ally Millar for example) who will come through the youth or appear from nowhere I am not sure Strauss will ever have a chance to get an extended run in the side. He obviously should if form merits it but there will be plenty of different options for VC and the next coach to try out and find a balance.

Although 6 and 8 are short term concern it is actually 7 that is the longer term worry IMO.

[Mikey Brown]

Strauss is much improved at that level.

To be fair that is true. I still have the same concerns as before regarding him, but credit where it is due.

I'd almost have been tempted to pick Bradbury for the tour as a flyer. He has nearly always impressed me off the bench for Edinburgh and offers real impact but still way too early for him.

I feel Strauss could do with stringing some games together for Scotland, but agreed we shouldn't just be offering that up for nothing.

I just have this feeling that 6. Strauss 7. Watson 8. Ashe could be fantastic, with very little to base it on.

With Ashe at 22, Richie at 19, Bradbury at 20, CdP 25, Denton 26, even Wilson at 27 and no doubt others (Ally Millar for example) who will come through the youth or appear from nowhere I am not sure Strauss will ever have a chance to get an extended run in the side. He obviously should if form merits it but there will be plenty of different options for VC and the next coach to try out and find a balance.

Although 6 and 8 are short term concern it is actually 7 that is the longer term worry IMO.

I get that. As I say, I want to see Ashe anyway, presumably Richie/Bradbury need a bit longer to develop (that's a guess, I haven't really seen them), CDP I'd not thought of as a Scotland player if I'm honest, Denton has shown himself to be horrendously inconsistent and Wilson has been too hit and miss at this level too so far.

I wasn't suggesting giving Strauss the shirt for a season but he seems to have dropped in and out of the side at both 6 and 8. I certainly feel he could have done with some of the chances Wilson/Denton were given. If it turns out he's shit then at least we know.

I didn't realise Ashe was still so young. He seems to have been around for a while.

[Big D]

Strauss is much improved at that level.

To be fair that is true. I still have the same concerns as before regarding him, but credit where it is due.

I'd almost have been tempted to pick Bradbury for the tour as a flyer. He has nearly always impressed me off the bench for Edinburgh and offers real impact but still way too early for him.

I feel Strauss could do with stringing some games together for Scotland, but agreed we shouldn't just be offering that up for nothing.

I just have this feeling that 6. Strauss 7. Watson 8. Ashe could be fantastic, with very little to base it on.

With Ashe at 22, Richie at 19, Bradbury at 20, CdP 25, Denton 26, even Wilson at 27 and no doubt others (Ally Millar for example) who will come through the youth or appear from nowhere I am not sure Strauss will ever have a chance to get an extended run in the side. He obviously should if form merits it but there will be plenty of different options for VC and the next coach to try out and find a balance.

Although 6 and 8 are short term concern it is actually 7 that is the longer term worry IMO.

I get that. As I say, I want to see Ashe anyway, presumably Richie/Bradbury need a bit longer to develop (that's a guess, I haven't really seen them), CDP I'd not thought of as a Scotland player if I'm honest, Denton has shown himself to be horrendously inconsistent and Wilson has been too hit and miss at this level too so far.

I wasn't suggesting giving Strauss the shirt for a season but he seems to have dropped in and out of the side at both 6 and 8. I certainly feel he could have done with some of the chances Wilson/Denton were given. If it turns out he's shit then at least we know.

I didn't realise Ashe was still so young. He seems to have been around for a while.

I guess the problem is that Denton has actually been pretty good for Scotland since Strauss has become eligible which has only been 8 months or so. In the 6N he had a poor game v Wales but in the England game he looked bad due to Vunipola playing well but led the ball carrying and defensively was industrious as anyone in the team. A bit like Richie Gray he becomes a lightening rod for criticism.

Richie and Bradbury need time (will probably start to challenge more in 2017/18 or 18/19) but I wouldn't be surprised to see Bradbury make a bigger impression next season for Edinburgh.

CdP will be a good option once he has a good summer off. He's looked short of his best lately. Obviously we'd all prefer the Scots lads to come through but playing by the rules he will become an option.

[Big D]

Anyway thoughts for the line up for the 2 games? I wouldn't start Ford but I imagine he'll play.

Game 1 ( Game 2 changes)
Dickinson Sutherland
Brown Rambo
Nel [
Gray
Gray
Barclay Strauss
Hardie
Denton
Laidlaw Pyrgos
Russell Jackson
Visser Hoyland
Dunbar Horne
Taylor
Seymour
Hogg

McInally Brown
Sutherland Dickinson
Low
Swinson
Strauss Wilson
Pyrgos Laidlaw
Horne Russell
Maitland