Hope rises in the morning
WELCOME BACK: Its Monday morning and while we have had our breakfast, we can’t feed this very rare hunger. An affliction felt across Scotland, an insatiable appetite for match reports/photos/tweets/memes/podcasts and of course, newsletter, covering the game from Saturday. Settle in folks, it was real, and enjoy this Scottish Rugby smorgasbord for lunch. As ever, click below to subscribe and share with your friends (especially any English ones).
TWICKENHAM? COMPLETED IT MATE: Scotland earned their first victory at Twickenham since 1983 with a rousing victory over England, making sure the Calcutta Cup returns to (SOLD OUT BT) Murrayfield.
The narrative in the build up to the match, the 150th anniversary of the fixture, was seemingly in Scotland’s favour: the return of the on-form Finn Russell, Cam Redpath’s shift in allegiance, England’s missing players and possibly undercooked Saracens core. However, even the most faithful of Scotland fans could not have predicted their side’s total dominance in the match.
The Scots hassled and harried, were impeccable at the set piece, defended aggressively and as a unit, and kicked intelligently throughout. It was fucking great.
Highlights are here if you want to watch them again. Or, if you want a little bit of variety in your life, the full French broadcast is available on youtube. C’est tres bon!
Our reaction pod can also be listened to here.
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STATS OFF: while match stats can be misleading, here are a few to chew over.
Scotland enjoyed 60% possession and 70% territory. They made 131 carries to England’s 70; 29 defenders beaten versus just 11; 11 breaks plays a big fat zero.
Incredible.
WORK OF STU-ART: At the individual level, Stuart Hogg was good value as man of the match, beating 8 defenders over 88 metres gained, and pinning England back on multiple occasions with that beautiful spiral punt of his.
HOW ABOUT GAT THEN: The Lions ‘possibles’ Hamish Watson and Jonny Gray were superlative, far outshining their more feted rivals. The watching Warren Gatland was (surely) taking note. Sutherland once again proved his top level credentials, whilst Zander Fagerson was clearly relishing his scrum battle with a subdued Ellis Genge. His brother Matt (on his first Six Nations start) had a coming of age match at 8, and dispelled any doubts that he is made for this level. 16 Carries for 30 meters and 2 defenders beaten for Fagerson Jnr is the stuff of dreams - this savage carry where he dispatches Jonny May twice a modern day classic for Scotland highlights reels.
CAM AND HAVE A GO: Debutant Cam Redpath had an absolute blinder and bolstered his bolter credentials infront of Lions coach Gatland in the stand. He truly does seem to have everything: the step and poise to leave Tom Curry for dead; the ability to run straight and hard from off the top ball; and silky distribution skills. However, it was the nuts and bolts of his game that were most impressive, tenacity in defence and breakdown work - steel that his Dad would have been loving.
TURNER AROUND, EVERY NOW AND THEN MY ARROWS GET A LITTLE BIT SHARPER: But let’s give the unofficial MoM award to George Turner. The casual observer would have had no idea that this was Scotland’s 3rd choice hooker and that the set piece was the supposed weaker part of his game. 15/15 successful lineouts is an absolutely incredible stat, and Turner as ever showed up well in the loose, his handling and timing for Duhan’s try the match of most centres. We think George may have heard our preview pod on Thursday…
INSPIRING ART: We have always said that the Thistle has the finest and smartest listeners around. Well James Marchant, inspired by Turner’s heroics, put pen to paper on this little number.
GEECH’S GRADES: Godfather of the Lions and former Scotland player and coach Ian Mcgeechan was certainly impressed. Enough to see 8 Scotland players make his Lions XV.
LEONARDO DU VINCI: Ultimately the difference maker was the try from big Duhan with a run that left a chaos of English defenders behind him. The inclusion of Redpath as a second distributor means that the big man saw more ball than he usually does, and boy did it make a difference. Rumour has it this modern day Renaissance painting will be in the National Gallery from next week.
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LET ME BE YOUR FANTASY: The Thistle Fantasy six nations leagues kicked off with listeners battling to win a - literally - one of a kind piece of Thistle merch. Front runner after week one is…BenDover. See us after class, Ben. We do the puns around here.
Still time to join our third league, code here: 38713
BHAT-AND-BERG: while the Calcutta Cup was rightly commanding the headlines on Sunday, Glasgow announced an interesting signing that may have gone under the radar, with tighthead prop Simon Berghan making the journey along the M8.
The bad news is this may signal the end of Zander Fagerson’s time at Glasgow, as he suggested in an interview with the Times last week. Although Berghan has fallen out of favour slightly at Edinburgh, he was a popular member of the squad, and to his credit has always performed admirably for Scotland. Here’s hoping we see him and fellow new recruit Jamie Bhatti return to form at Scotstoun.
BOAN HIS WAY: Berghan’s departure leaves Edinburgh light at tighthead, with WP Nel surely close to retirement and Murray ‘Magnet’ McCallum only recently returning from injury. However, it appears that Cheetahs prop Boan Venter (able to play both sides of the scrum but favours the no. 3 shirt) is on his way to Scotland, as revealed in his recent Instagram post. Admittedly our Afrikaans ain’t great, but you get the jist.
A TEAM 72 CUP: Before the heady days of the Calcutta Cup, Scotland’s next generation were pitted against each other in the Glasgow v Edinburgh A fixture. A game so secret that it wasnt streamed and Glasgow didnt even issue a team sheet. Luckily, our part time South African correspondent, and mother of Glasgow youngster Connor De Bruyn, was on hand to let us know that he was at least playing.
SCHRODINGER’S A GAME: When the box was finally opened by the SRU, it was Edinburgh who emerges victorious 22-19. Highlights can be watched here.
WHO’S WHO: Our mole who were allowed into the clandestine fixture reported back on the top performers. Charlie Savala (Scottish Qualified, former Sydney Roosters Academy) impressed a lot of people. In one of his first games of union (yep, you read that right) he bossed the second-half and kicked his goals. One to watch with interest, and we hear he is in line for some senior game time, adding some serious challenge to Nathan Chamberlain.
In the back-row, SRU analysts report Ally Miller bossed it and was probably the best back-row on the field. One to look out for with Watson and Ritchie off for a long period. Nathan Sweeney, a young winger at Southern Knights, is said to have popped up with some real moments of magic as well.
For Glasgow young lock Gregor Brown is said to have impressed.
NEXT CABS OFF THE RANK: Interested in who might be next on the SRU talent pipeline? Talent ID manager Grant McKelvey’s Vimeo page is tantalisingly open to the public…
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