KINGHORN AT 12?
Kinghorn dazzles for Edinburgh, Glasgow frustrated in Wales, and all roads lead to Rome...
WELCOME: a week off the newsletter was probably the right tonic after Scotland’s latest Six Nations defeat at the hands of the French: some time to reflect, regroup and calm down slightly. But attention now turns to this weekend’s trip to Rome, to face an Italian side that looks decidedly more banana skin-y than at the start of this tournament. This week we look ahead to a must win match for Townsend’s men, run the rule over contrasting fortunes for the Scottish pro sides over the weekend, and ask one of the most pressing questions of our time: Kinghorn at 12?
MATCHPINT: another reminder that we have once again partnered with our good friends MatchPint for this year’s Six Nations. For the chance to win FREE PINTS (and bragging rights with friends), make sure to join our league on the MatchPint app and get your predictions in. Further details below:
EDINBURGH WIN: Edinburgh delivered some much needed cheer on Friday night after a difficult week for Scottish rugby fans, with an emphatic 56-8 victory over Connacht. The bonus point victory was much needed after two defeats in their last two, and keeps the capital side firmly in the hunt for a top four spot in the URC. The DAM Health stadium was absolutely jumping, and is fast becoming a fortress for the home side.
Mike Blair’s men recovered from an underwhelming start, Connacht taking advantage of Mesu Kunavula’s early yellow card, to put just the 8 tries past their visitors, all of them converted by Boffelli (who is fast becoming Scottish First Minister elect). David Cherry - on his 50th cap - and Glen Young - who looks a real player - crossed after good play in the tight, but the rest of Edinburgh’s scores came from flowing backline moves, Blair Kinghorn and Chris Dean, the Thistle’s very own Sweet Prince, forming a razor sharp 10-12 combination, soured only by the fact that they are both sadly Rodneys (Edinburgh Accies to the layman). Blair will also be delighted with how quickly the youngsters at his disposal have taken to the pro game - Muncaster, Boyle, Williams and Courtney have all shown up well in recent weeks, while there were promising debuts on Friday night for Rudi Brown (depressingly still in school!) and Jamie Campbell.
Highlights below:
KINGHORN AT 12? For whatever reason, Blair Kinghorn appears to divide Scottish rugby fans. Fans cite his versatility and skill set, and point to the fact that for a very long time he was the most exciting attacking player in the Edinburgh line up; while detractors claim he is too selfish and flashy for a top level ten. The Kinghorn-at-10 experiment was always likely to take time to bed in, but this season Edinburgh are a transformed side, and the man in question has had a big part to play in that. His performance against Connacht was a reminder of all that is good about Blair: a wide range of passes, a priceless ability to get his hands free in the tackle, and a willingness to take the ball to the line (in a way that Jaco simply doesn’t). There will be stiffer tests to come, and there remain doubts over how well he can manage a game that calls for more kicking than miss passes, but so far the experiment looks worth sticking with. We have said it on the podcast for some time - only partly in jest - but how about inside centre as Kinghorn’s long-term position? He would have to adapt to a very different position defensively, but in theory his skill set lends itself well to a second playmaker option. Sure the Sweet Prince will have something to say about that though…
SCARLET LETTER: Alan perhaps planted the kiss of death on the Warriors this week with his bold claim that Glasgow had a better chance of a bonus point victory away to the Scarlets than Edinburgh did hosting Connacht. And Danny Wilson’s men were more than happy to blow this prediction out of the water, going down 35-10 to their Welsh hosts.
Glasgow were quickest out of the blocks, racing into a deserved 10-0 lead after Jonny Matthews touched down. However, a Scarlets try before the break swung the momentum away from the visitors, who offered very little resistance to four further tries from the home side. The defeat was compounded by the loss of Oli Kebble to injury (concussion/broken nose according to Wilson), which could have repercussions for the national side, while Ollie Smith, Cole Forbes, Sam Johnson, Fraser Brown and Jack Dempsey all departed early through injury or illness.
This was a bad day for Glasgow however you cut it. Ultimately the match pitted the form team in the league (the Warriors had taken 24 points from a possible 25 in their last five matches) against a 13th placed Scarlets side searching for their first win in four. Once again the knives are out for Danny Wilson. Although Glasgow remain in the top four, there is a sense of frustration amongst the Scotstoun faithful as to how inconsistent their team can be. At present it is the youngsters showing up the old guard, who now seem long in the tooth as opposed to wily veterans - is it time to move on from Wilson, Harley, Gray and Weir, and really put faith in the likes of Thompson, Smith, Dobie and co?
Highlights below:
PER L’ITALIA: all roads lead to Rome this Saturday, as Scotland look to get their Six Nations campaign back on track. Scotland have not lost to Italy since 2015, a streak of victories that has included five successes away from home. Combined with the Italians’ recent form - they have not won a Six Nations match for approximately fifty years, or something like that - and we should be expecting a relatively comfortable victory. But the picture for Scotland is now quite different than it was post-England, and the Italians will be targeting the fixture as their only realistic chance of victory in this year’s tournament. Townsend’s men will still be firm favourites over an Italy side that can be described as stuffy at best, yet we shouldn’t take anything for granted come Saturday afternoon.
CH-CH-CH-CHANGES? In the aftermath of defeat to France, social media was awash with fans calling for the head of Townsend, Russell and Hogg amongst others, but do we think it is time for the Tombola?
There is perhaps an argument for dropping Russell, more with the short-term in mind: a bit of a rocket to show him that he is not in fact, undroppable. That would point to Kinghorn coming in to the run-on team. Whilst the Kinghorn-at-10 experiment has showed early promise, it remains exactly that - an experiment - and a must-win away match in the Six Nations feels like a risky lab setting. How about a return from the international wilderness for Adam Hastings, who has been in great form for Gloucester this season? Our social media spies suggest that Hastings and housemate Chris Harris are on their travels together somewhere, presumably to the Oriam - although knowing the pair of them they could be heading to Ibiza for a couple of days of Vitamin D.
Elsewhere in the backline, there is a case for bringing Mark Bennett into the starting fifteen to provide a greater attacking spark in the outside channels. However, Harris is still the man in possession of the 13 shirt, so besides a straight swap it is difficult to see where else the Edinburgh centre would fit in. Maybe Italy is a good time to give Ben Vellacott his first taste of international rugby, even if just off the bench?
In the forward pack, Rory Darge’s outstanding performance on debut against France surely merits another outing for the flanker against Italy. Haining was fairly ineffective in his maiden outing at blindside, so expect him to drop out for the returning Hamish Watson (presuming he has fought off Covid). The front five will likely remain unchanged, although Turner was good off the bench last week and Fagerson continues to struggle for form.
DU-BAN? one change Townsend might be forced into making is on the wing, following Duhan Van Der Merwe’s red card playing for Worcester at the weekend. The decision has divided the good and great of Twitterdom, but on balance it probably did merit a sending off - players know they are running the risks with any sort of forearm/elbow to the head or face these days. However, the act was clumsy rather than malicious, and Duhan’s previously good discipline might save him from a ban. Controversially, might a week off ahead of the bigger challenge of Ireland do the winger some good?
Ironically the player on the receiving end of Duhan’s forearm was none other than Kyle Rowe, who could come into the side in the event of a ban for Van Der Merwe. He has been in cracking form for London Irish this year, and his selection would be merited. Alternatively, Townsend could turn to Kyle Steyn although the more likely option looks to be Rufus McLean, who interestingly was not involved with Glasgow at the weekend.
O’GARA ON FINN: former Ireland 10 and current La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara had some interesting views on Finn Russell’s recent form, expressed in the video below for OTB Sports. Using his in depth knowledge of the game in France, O’Gara questioned how anyone could conceivably recover from playing in a brutal Top 14 match late into a Sunday evening to take their place in a tough national camp the following morning. Maybe the strains of such a quick turnaround goes some way to explaining Russell’s slightly underwhelming showings of late. Listen to what he has to say from 17 mins on:
TOONIE OUT? long-suffering Scottish rugby scribe Mark Palmer is never afraid to ask the tough questions, and his latest piece in the Times has him wondering whether Townsend is the right man to lead this “golden generation” of players onto the next stage of their development.
Check out the article in the full using the following link (paywall), but here is a morsel to wet the appetite:
URC X SHREK: here at Thistle HQ we have not been shy in expressing our reservations about Roc Nation’s involvement in the Pro 14. So far we have been treated to vague promises around collaborations with some of Roc Nation’s most high profile acts (Fat Joe playing at the DAM Health would be sweet to be fair), greater access to music rights in stadiums (what?) and not much else really. But have no fear, the gurus of Roc Nation clearly have a plan, as shown by the URC’s latest social media strategy:
SCOTS ABROAD
Harlequins v Newcastle: Huw Jones (13) v Tom Marshall (8) - Jones getting on the scoresheet to make it 4 in his last 5 for the Quins
Bath v Bristol: D’arcy Rae (3) and Josh Bayliss (6) v
Gloucester v Northampton: Adam Hastings (10), Andrew Davidson (19), Alex Craig (20) and Charlie Chapman (21) v Fraser Dingwall (12), Rory Hutchinson (15) and Nick Auterac (17)
London Irish v Worcester: Kyle Rowe (14), Alan Dell (17) and Henry Arundell (23) v Isaac Miller (2), Duhan Van Der Merwe (11), Jack Owlett (18) and Fin Smith (22)
Saracens v Leicester: Callum Hunter-Hill (4), Tim Swinson (5), Andy Christie (6), Sean Maitland (14) and Duncan Taylor (22) v Matt Scott (12)
Exeter v Sale: Sam Skinner (5) and Stuart Hogg (15) v Ewan Ashman (2), Tom Roebuck (14) and Byron McGuigan (14)
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