Le Pizza Crunch

Mar 22, 2021

WELCOME: The Spring Equinox has come and gone in the week since we last spoke, and even in Scottish rugby terms this week has been more light than dark. A thumping win, a (slim) chance at a second place finish, and a big dollop of #hoggatten hysteria all make sure the light column shines bright through Glasgow’s loss to the Dragons. Importantly, Friday night lights vs France means we only have 5 days to wait to bask in the glow of being (a bit) relevant to the closing proceedings of a tournament. Read on for all you need to know, and some other bits and pieces that have made us laugh this week. As ever, make sure to share with friends and foe alike, and get involved int he comments section.

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CINQUUANTA SCOZIA: Scotland were convincing in their 52-10 win against Italy, running in 8 tries on the back of a frankly ludicrous 721m made in attack. The stats below tell the story of the day as Scotland managed to assert themselves in all facets of the game. If we are honest with ourselves, there should have been more points. Italy were abject, but as John Barclay said in the post match, these big wins don’t come for free in international rugby. This was the highest points total Scotland have racked up in a single Six Nations fixture.

POP YOUR CHERRY: up front Dave Cherry showed he wasn’t planning to give up the #2 jersey without a fight with an impressive brace of tries, and Sam Skinner showed exactly why fans had been calling for his return to the starting XV. Hamish Watson - man of the match of course - did what he does and turned in another genuinely world class performance.

Here is Cherry’s first international try. If you are interested in his second, imagine this exact try being scored at the other end of the field.

Guinness Six Nations @SixNationsRugby

David Cherry gets his first international try! 👏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Great work from the Scottish pack. #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvITA

YOUNG AND WILD AND FREE: the Scotland back line had a lot of time and front foot ball to enjoy themselves yesterday. Jones (more on him below) and Van Der Merwe in particular were rampant, with Duhan bagging a double and generally terrorising the poor Italian defence, beating a record-equalling 15 defenders. Hogg at ten was, frankly, fine and more than enough for a day like Saturday, but we all saw enough to see that it is not a viable option for more than a free hit. Scott Steele applied himself well and put his back row training (sorry…) to good use to burrow over for a try of his own. On balance, his service maybe lacks the zip of Ali Price’s, but he certainly did enough to show he is comfortable at this level.

Duhan’s second was probably the pick of the tries, thanks to a class assist from Price.

Guinness Six Nations @SixNationsRugby

He was never going to be caught there! 💨 Duhan van der Merwe with another try for Scotland. #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvITA

LUCKY NUMBER 13: Huw Jones delivered a timely reminder to the SRU/Bayonne/Warren Gatland of his ability when given the opportunity to play in his preferred position. His metres made and clean breaks tally shoot him to the top of the Scotland “all time” list (well, since 2009).

Jones has certainly looked back to his old self since he has been given chances at 13 by both Glasgow and Scotland. It is a shame to see him leaving Scotland, particularly for a lower level French side like Bayonne. But put yourself in his shoes. Out of form he was asked to play out of position and - as we understand it - asked to take a sizeable pay cut by the SRU. A reported £300k a year and 25 degrees average temperature in the South of France is tough to turn down.

For now the SRU are paying his wages, and in return he has given Townsend a headache at 13 ahead of the France game.

Russ Petty @rpetty80

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THE RESULT THAT MATTERS: Scotland got to their four try bonus point faster than anyone else in the tournament. It took just 28 minutes to reach the milestone achieved by Wales in a slugging half hour, and the Irish in a paltry 48. England, holders of “the reverse triple crown”, took a positively glacial 50 minutes. Must be worth an extra point or two? Surely? The fourth was particularly good.

Guinness Six Nations @SixNationsRugby

Silky link-up play from Scotland. Their 4th try of the half 🔥 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvITA

FRIDAY NIGHT WAFFLES: After France’s comeback heroics denied Wales a grand slam, it all comes down to France v Scotland in Paris this Friday night. Scotland can still technically finish second but it will require an era defining performance against a French team looking for their first Six Nations title since 2010. The human calculator Kevin Millar has worked out the various permutations.

Kevin Millar @topofthemoonGW

Here are the remaining permutations for @Scotlandteam in this season's @SixNationsRugby. Will it be 4th, 3rd or even 2nd for the dark blues? #AsOne

TOMBOLA TIME: After ringing the changes vs Italy, what can we expect on Friday night? Fraser Brown made a try scoring return to Glasgow that should all but guarantee him the hooker shirt, albeit the 5 day turnaround may work against him. While Cherry and Turner have performed admirably, Brown is on another level and a big game on Friday could put him back into the Lions discussion. All eyes will be on Jonny Gray and whether he can make a return from injury. We understand he sustained some fairly significant shoulder ligament damage vs Ireland, but that Townsend is hopeful of him returning to action this weekend. Cummings has left to camp so it will be between Skinner and Gilchrist to partner him. We would stick with Skinner. The back row of Richie, Watson and Fagerson picks itself, provided no one is carrying injuries.

BACK TO IT: Behind the scrum expect Price to return to the 9 jersey and - if fit - Finn to make it back at 10. Racing 92 have released him so it will all be down to whether he passes all the necessary return to play protocols. The centre is interesting and, despite his heroics this weekend, we expect Harris to return at 13. This game will be about containing the French, and Harris is the squad defensive leader. Jones and Harris did finish the Italy game at 12 and 13, however, so you wonder if we could see that again. The last time they started together in the centre was Cardiff 2018 - and we all know how badly that went. In the back three we would expect to see Maitland return to the wing in place of Darcy based on his defensive capabilities. That being said, as friend of the pod Gary Heatley breaks down below, the back three is awash with quality, so perhaps Darcy’s prolific try scoring rate will put him over the top in a game that requires a lot of points.

Gary Heatly @G_HMedia

Stuart Hogg: 22 Test tries Sean Maitland: 15 Test tries Darcy Graham: 9 Test tries from just 18 games Duhan van der Merwe: 6 Test tries from just nine games Can't remember a time in recent history when @Scotlandteam have had such quality to pick from in the back three 🔥

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DRAGONS BEATS WARRIOR: No, not some fairy-tale gone wrong, just another nail in the coffin of Glasgow’s season. The Ospreys’ had effectively ruled out Champions Cup rugby for the Warriors next season by beating Leinster away (somehow?), but if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. Despite starting brightly, Glasgow faded badly after the break, with defeat consigning Wilson’s charges to the second tier of European rugby next year. Keep an eye on our social channels for a live show in Siberia next year.

RAISE THE RUF: While this year has been a bust, you cant help but be excited by the young talent that Danny Wilson’s side are bringing through. In the last two weeks Rufus McLean has scored his first professional try, been called up to the Scotland squad, and then tonight scored a try of such quality that it will probably be played in highlights reels for years to come. The Ruf, the Ruf, the Ruf is on fire!

Premier Sports 📺 @PremierSportsTV

Oh my word...Rufus McLean! 😱 Astonishing speed, great feet, and a special individual try for the @GlasgowWarriors wing 🔥

AOB

Modest to a fault, it was great to see Scottish rugby legend Dr James Robson gain the recognition he truly deserves, after notching up an incredible 250 matches with the national side.