Planet Rugby Forum

Must be the fewest starters from Glasgow in a Scotland XV in a long time. Amazing if you think about the wealth of centres we currently have that Lang and Harris are starting a fully capped Scotland match together.

should be a good win against Canada. USA is much more of a banana skin, and then the Argies in their Jaguares club guise have been performing pretty well in Super Rugby so that should be a proper full-on match.

dargotronV.1 wrote:Am I going to stay up until 4am to watch all this? Am I?

No. An iPlayer breakfast in bed it is.

Doc Rob wrote:

World Class Phil wrote:Team for Canada

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh),
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow - vice-captain),
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh),
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh),
5. Grant Gilchrist ((Edinburgh - captain)
6 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh
7., James Ritchie (Edinburgh),
8. David Denton (Worcester)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scarlets);
10. Ruaridh Jackson ((Glasgow - vice-captain)
11. Bryon McGuigan (Sale)
12. James Lang (Harlequins)
13. Chris Harris (Newcastle)
14. Lee Jones (Glasgow)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)

Replacements: George Turner (Glasgow), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh), Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh).

Backrow looks tasty,

Centres... They should have enough ball to do something to justify their inclusion against a much diminished Canada side
Would have preferred if Chris Dean/Jamie Johnstone had toured instead but Harris really will have no excuse if he stinks up the shirt like he did against Wales.

Struggling to understand why we are starting with Jackson at 10. If the intention is to ease Hastings in, you’d expect us to start with Pete Horne. When did Jackson last start a game at 10? I’m guessing it was before he signed for Glasgow.

12th March 2017 - Harlequins away to Exeter.

He did get 18 minutes at stand off for Glasgow when he replaced Hastings against the Kings in October though. That should be plenty of prep for a Test match...

Match preview for Canada v Scotland:

https://www.scottishrugbyblog.co.uk/201 ... h-preview/

Bonus stat - the Scotland 23 has 499 less caps than the 23 for their last match against Italy (224 v 723).

topofthemoon wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

World Class Phil wrote:Team for Canada

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh),
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow - vice-captain),
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh),
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh),
5. Grant Gilchrist ((Edinburgh - captain)
6 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh
7., James Ritchie (Edinburgh),
8. David Denton (Worcester)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scarlets);
10. Ruaridh Jackson ((Glasgow - vice-captain)
11. Bryon McGuigan (Sale)
12. James Lang (Harlequins)
13. Chris Harris (Newcastle)
14. Lee Jones (Glasgow)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)

Replacements: George Turner (Glasgow), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh), Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh).

Backrow looks tasty,

Centres... They should have enough ball to do something to justify their inclusion against a much diminished Canada side
Would have preferred if Chris Dean/Jamie Johnstone had toured instead but Harris really will have no excuse if he stinks up the shirt like he did against Wales.

Struggling to understand why we are starting with Jackson at 10. If the intention is to ease Hastings in, you’d expect us to start with Pete Horne. When did Jackson last start a game at 10? I’m guessing it was before he signed for Glasgow.

12th March 2017 - Harlequins away to Exeter.

He did get 18 minutes at stand off for Glasgow when he replaced Hastings against the Kings in October though. That should be plenty of prep for a Test match...

To be fair Ruaridh Jackson has only spent most of his career at 10 and has almost all of his 32 caps in that position, whilst Pete Horne is a great 12 who is demonstrably not an International stand-off.

Tom English's preview: https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/44391855

Forwards look great but that 10-12-13 axis is experimental to say the least. Although, this team should still blow Canada away if we're actually making the necessary progress to challenge for the 6 nations next year.

Thankfully, it'll be a Sunday lunchtime kickoff for me so I'll be watching

zt1903 wrote:

topofthemoon wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

World Class Phil wrote:Team for Canada

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh),
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow - vice-captain),
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh),
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh),
5. Grant Gilchrist ((Edinburgh - captain)
6 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh
7., James Ritchie (Edinburgh),
8. David Denton (Worcester)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scarlets);
10. Ruaridh Jackson ((Glasgow - vice-captain)
11. Bryon McGuigan (Sale)
12. James Lang (Harlequins)
13. Chris Harris (Newcastle)
14. Lee Jones (Glasgow)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)

Replacements: George Turner (Glasgow), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh), Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh).

Backrow looks tasty,

Centres... They should have enough ball to do something to justify their inclusion against a much diminished Canada side
Would have preferred if Chris Dean/Jamie Johnstone had toured instead but Harris really will have no excuse if he stinks up the shirt like he did against Wales.

Struggling to understand why we are starting with Jackson at 10. If the intention is to ease Hastings in, you’d expect us to start with Pete Horne. When did Jackson last start a game at 10? I’m guessing it was before he signed for Glasgow.

12th March 2017 - Harlequins away to Exeter.

He did get 18 minutes at stand off for Glasgow when he replaced Hastings against the Kings in October though. That should be plenty of prep for a Test match...

To be fair Ruaridh Jackson has only spent most of his career at 10 and has almost all of his 32 caps in that position, whilst Pete Horne is a great 12 who is demonstrably not an International stand-off.

Yes, but Jackson still hasn't started a game at 10 in over a year, and equally demonstrably isn't an international stand-off. In fact, we've almost certainly done better with Horne at 10 in recent years than we ever did with Jackson (thinking last RWC here).

Doc Rob wrote:

zt1903 wrote:

topofthemoon wrote:

Doc Rob wrote:

World Class Phil wrote:Team for Canada

1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh),
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow - vice-captain),
3. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh),
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh),
5. Grant Gilchrist ((Edinburgh - captain)
6 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh
7., James Ritchie (Edinburgh),
8. David Denton (Worcester)
9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Scarlets);
10. Ruaridh Jackson ((Glasgow - vice-captain)
11. Bryon McGuigan (Sale)
12. James Lang (Harlequins)
13. Chris Harris (Newcastle)
14. Lee Jones (Glasgow)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh)

Replacements: George Turner (Glasgow), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Lewis Carmichael (Edinburgh), Luke Hamilton (Leicester), Ali Price (Glasgow), Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Mark Bennett (Edinburgh).

Backrow looks tasty,

Centres... They should have enough ball to do something to justify their inclusion against a much diminished Canada side
Would have preferred if Chris Dean/Jamie Johnstone had toured instead but Harris really will have no excuse if he stinks up the shirt like he did against Wales.

Struggling to understand why we are starting with Jackson at 10. If the intention is to ease Hastings in, you’d expect us to start with Pete Horne. When did Jackson last start a game at 10? I’m guessing it was before he signed for Glasgow.

12th March 2017 - Harlequins away to Exeter.

He did get 18 minutes at stand off for Glasgow when he replaced Hastings against the Kings in October though. That should be plenty of prep for a Test match...

To be fair Ruaridh Jackson has only spent most of his career at 10 and has almost all of his 32 caps in that position, whilst Pete Horne is a great 12 who is demonstrably not an International stand-off.

Yes, but Jackson still hasn't started a game at 10 in over a year, and equally demonstrably isn't an international stand-off. In fact, we've almost certainly done better with Horne at 10 in recent years than we ever did with Jackson (thinking last RWC here).

Russell and Weir accounted for all our time at 10 at the last RWC.

I suppose that's a worthy benchmark, Jackson can't be worse than Weir in my view. Although I might just be forgetting Jackson as it was so long ago he turned out at 10 for Scotland, was he definitively better or am I mis-remembering?

I reckon Jackson will be fine - he’s a much more mature, confident and assured player since he came back North.

Market Square Hero wrote:I reckon Jackson will be fine - he’s a much more mature, confident and assured player since he came back North.

Never thought i would see the day that Jackson was regarded as the safe pair of hands...

Always preferred him to Weir but he was just prone to, too many brainfarts.

Really dont like the look of those centres, hope toonie isnt taking the canuks too lightly.

dargotronV.1 wrote:Am I going to stay up until 4am to watch all this? Am I?

I'm definitely not. Not before a 12 hour shift.

Lorthern Nights wrote:

Market Square Hero wrote:I reckon Jackson will be fine - he’s a much more mature, confident and assured player since he came back North.

Never thought i would see the day that Jackson was regarded as the safe pair of hands...

Always preferred him to Weir but he was just prone to, too many brainfarts.

Really dont like the look of those centres, hope toonie isnt taking the canuks too lightly.

I'm intrigued by James Lang, it's not like we have that many really good centres. Huw Jones is inconsistent, Taylor and Dunbar are usually injured sadly, Horne and Grigg good but not great, Bennett hasn't looked half as good as he did two years back, Matt Scott okay.

If James Lang is a find all the better.

I like haggis wrote:

Lorthern Nights wrote:

Market Square Hero wrote:I reckon Jackson will be fine - he’s a much more mature, confident and assured player since he came back North.

Never thought i would see the day that Jackson was regarded as the safe pair of hands...

Always preferred him to Weir but he was just prone to, too many brainfarts.

Really dont like the look of those centres, hope toonie isnt taking the canuks too lightly.

I'm intrigued by James Lang, it's not like we have that many really good centres. Huw Jones is inconsistent, Taylor and Dunbar are usually injured sadly, Horne and Grigg good but not great, Bennett hasn't looked half as good as he did two years back, Matt Scott okay.

If James Lang is a find all the better.

Yeah, for all our improvements at centre there's still a chance there for someone to step up, especially at 12 given Dunbar's goose is looking a little cooked.

zt1903 wrote:Russell and Weir accounted for all our time at 10 at the last RWC.

Yeah, I checked after the last post and realised that Horne didn’t come in for Russell as my memory told me. That was clearly shite. Sorry.

I still think that when Horne has played 10 he has done better than Jackson though.

A wee bit of a reality check for those who think Japan will be an easy game in the World Cup (I haven’t seen anyone here say that tbf) as they seem to have comfortably beaten Italy. I haven’t seen the team Italy put out, but either way it’s a worry.

Nice win against SA in Paris this morning, Canada up next.

Alba wrote:A wee bit of a reality check for those who think Japan will be an easy game in the World Cup (I haven’t seen anyone here say that tbf) as they seem to have comfortably beaten Italy. I haven’t seen the team Italy put out, but either way it’s a worry.

https://asia.eurosport.com/rugby/test-m ... live.shtml

To be fair it’s not that big a shock, Italy are shite and Japan are 3 places above them in the World rankings.

zt1903 wrote:

Alba wrote:A wee bit of a reality check for those who think Japan will be an easy game in the World Cup (I haven’t seen anyone here say that tbf) as they seem to have comfortably beaten Italy. I haven’t seen the team Italy put out, but either way it’s a worry.

https://asia.eurosport.com/rugby/test-m ... live.shtml

To be fair it’s not that big a shock, Italy are shite and Japan are 3 places above them in the World rankings.

Good margin to win by mind, Japan as a decider will be a massive game.

I think we stand a decent chance against Schmidt's rugby robots. Australia got outside them and had success, we did too against them in the Aviva but let ourselves down.

I like haggis wrote:

zt1903 wrote:

Alba wrote:A wee bit of a reality check for those who think Japan will be an easy game in the World Cup (I haven’t seen anyone here say that tbf) as they seem to have comfortably beaten Italy. I haven’t seen the team Italy put out, but either way it’s a worry.

https://asia.eurosport.com/rugby/test-m ... live.shtml

To be fair it’s not that big a shock, Italy are shite and Japan are 3 places above them in the World rankings.

Good margin to win by mind, Japan as a decider will be a massive game.

I think we stand a decent chance against Schmidt's rugby robots. Australia got outside them and had success, we did too against them in the Aviva but let ourselves down.

Was just thinking that earlier actually, we had the gameplan to beat them just excecuted really, really badly. They are not that good

Sigh, open with win against SA, lose to Canada and fail to spank Russia and we miss out on Cup Quarters after a 3 way tie (on points) in the pool.

slick wrote:

I like haggis wrote:

zt1903 wrote:

Alba wrote:A wee bit of a reality check for those who think Japan will be an easy game in the World Cup (I haven’t seen anyone here say that tbf) as they seem to have comfortably beaten Italy. I haven’t seen the team Italy put out, but either way it’s a worry.

https://asia.eurosport.com/rugby/test-m ... live.shtml

To be fair it’s not that big a shock, Italy are shite and Japan are 3 places above them in the World rankings.

Good margin to win by mind, Japan as a decider will be a massive game.

I think we stand a decent chance against Schmidt's rugby robots. Australia got outside them and had success, we did too against them in the Aviva but let ourselves down.

Was just thinking that earlier actually, we had the gameplan to beat them just excecuted really, really badly. They are not that good

They are good at what they do, flair and doing the unexpected they don’t.

We need passes to stick and make sure we front up, there is also every chance they have peaked 18mths too early. Certainly a decent chance of winning the pool, equally we could do a usual go in with hope and fail to get out of the group

Yeah Ireland are really effective and we'll never beat them in an arm wrestle but if you can get them stretched they'll struggle like everyone else and we have shown we can stretch anyone.

I agree with LN. It's a big year and the world cup could be great or we get knocked out by Japan. A lot of questions - how much will Paris affect Russell, how will the loss of MacFarland affect us, what about wingers...

Sevens revert to type this season after beating SA, spanked by Canada, narrow win over Russia, spanked by Wales

Watched the highlights which weren't entertaining enough to tempt me in the whole game?

Anything interesting to report? Who was on the wing when Jones went off?

I like haggis wrote:Watched the highlights which weren't entertaining enough to tempt me in the whole game?

Anything interesting to report? Who was on the wing when Jones went off?

Bennett.

Possibly should have been Hastings and move Jackson to 15 and Kinghorn to wing. Especially as Kinghorn will likely be a wing option when everyone is available.

Just watched it back. 48-10 is a decent result, Canada were never really in it.

We played well enough mostly but were obviously a bit rusty. Set-piece was pretty dominant and contributed a few tries.

Encouraging from some of the youngsters, Lang, Carmichael, Ritchie, Bradbury and Hastings all looking good.

zt1903 wrote:Just watched it back. 48-10 is a decent result, Canada were never really in it.

We played well enough mostly but were obviously a bit rusty. Set-piece was pretty dominant and contributed a few tries.

Encouraging from some of the youngsters, Lang, Carmichael, Ritchie, Bradbury and Hastings all looking good.

what was your view on the 'second chancers'? I suppose specifically Harris?

the youngsters made a decent showing; comfortable but though we had a few more tries out there. The USA will be undoubtedly a stiffer test!

Caley_Red wrote:

zt1903 wrote:Just watched it back. 48-10 is a decent result, Canada were never really in it.

We played well enough mostly but were obviously a bit rusty. Set-piece was pretty dominant and contributed a few tries.

Encouraging from some of the youngsters, Lang, Carmichael, Ritchie, Bradbury and Hastings all looking good.

what was your view on the 'second chancers'? I suppose specifically Harris?

the youngsters made a decent showing; comfortable but though we had a few more tries out there. The USA will be undoubtedly a stiffer test!

I don’t think anyone played badly. Harris was OK, lost the ball in contact a couple of times but solid defensively.

Thought our game plan was a bit more structured than normal, lot less offloading, didn’t get it wide often enough.

Thought Canada should have played 60 mins with 14 men when their prop had an off the ball shot at Dell’s knee. Very fortunate it was only yellow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/44428170

https://theoffsideline.com/keith-russell-not-good-guys/

Wonder if any of this has influenced Finn's form and his decision to go to France?

zt1903 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/44428170

https://theoffsideline.com/keith-russell-not-good-guys/

Wonder if any of this has influenced Finn's form and his decision to go to France?

No, Finn is getting £600,000 in Paris.

Unlike his Dad Finn has grapsed rugby is a business. Is he mad at the SRU? Possibly. But he's doubling his salary is very much the reason and in interviews has been open about wanting to make as much money as possible. When Hogg signs a 1 million EUR contract with Montpellier next year is it also because he's mad at the SRU?

Dodson was always going to be like this. Scottish rugby needs Dodson who is slashing the debt whilst improving the pro teams, improving the academy pathway and getting amazing coaches on board more than it needs the Russell's of the world who are harking back to the amateur days which have gone and have been for 20 years.

He's a dislikeable man but Scottish rugby needs a dislikeable man to drag it forward.

I like haggis wrote:

zt1903 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/44428170

https://theoffsideline.com/keith-russell-not-good-guys/

Wonder if any of this has influenced Finn's form and his decision to go to France?

No, Finn is getting £600,000 in Paris.

Unlike his Dad Finn has grapsed rugby is a business. Is he mad at the SRU? Possibly. But he's doubling his salary is very much the reason and in interviews has been open about wanting to make as much money as possible. When Hogg signs a 1 million EUR contract with Montpellier next year is it also because he's mad at the SRU?

Dodson was always going to be like this. Scottish rugby needs Dodson who is slashing the debt whilst improving the pro teams, improving the academy pathway and getting amazing coaches on board more than it needs the Russell's of the world who are harking back to the amateur days which have gone and have been for 20 years.

He's a dislikeable man but Scottish rugby needs a dislikeable man to drag it forward.

Hmmm.

Club rugby is in a funk, playing numbers are well down and that is concerning. So just because the national side is doing ok and the pro sides are ticking along all is not fine in the Scottish rugby house.

This is only one side of what went on but proper leaders whether they are dislikeable or not don’t run roughshod over employment law and treat their supposed lieutenants like shit.

It’s not clear on what Russell was trying to do so no idea if he is attempting to hark back 20 years but what is clear is that 20 years ago the club game was in far better shape and that’s where we get the players and supporters of the future from.

It is interesting Keith Russell has neglected to tell us his ideas and where the SRU is going wrong. It's all well and good saying he's a dictator but which ideas did he say no to? It's all well and good being against the Super Six but what's the alternative? This not fit for use Mish mash of professional, semi pro and amateurs that just happens to be dominated by the richest 'amateur' clubs? The Super Six could be a disaster but the domestic game currently is anyway as you say and clubs have folded without it so why not give it a go.

Agreed, Dodson can't treat people how he did with Keith Russell and the SRU will have a tighter lead.

Club rugby has been in a malaise for a long time, far longer than Dodson has been in Scotland. Happily, the national side are doing well, the professional teams are as good as ever and finally we're doing something about the domestic leagues and the school game. A lot of people are doing very good jobs and Dodson hasn't bullied them out so maybe he's ruthless and if you're no good you're out? If so hopefully that continues but with better HR.

Dougie Fife called up to touring squad as cover for the injured Lee Jones.

I like haggis wrote:

zt1903 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/44428170

https://theoffsideline.com/keith-russell-not-good-guys/

Wonder if any of this has influenced Finn's form and his decision to go to France?

No, Finn is getting £600,000 in Paris.

Unlike his Dad Finn has grapsed rugby is a business. Is he mad at the SRU? Possibly. But he's doubling his salary is very much the reason and in interviews has been open about wanting to make as much money as possible. When Hogg signs a 1 million EUR contract with Montpellier next year is it also because he's mad at the SRU?

Dodson was always going to be like this. Scottish rugby needs Dodson who is slashing the debt whilst improving the pro teams, improving the academy pathway and getting amazing coaches on board more than it needs the Russell's of the world who are harking back to the amateur days which have gone and have been for 20 years.

He's a dislikeable man but Scottish rugby needs a dislikeable man to drag it forward.

Without making any value judgement on the strategy for domestic Rugby, do you not think that your employer sacking your father, in the manner that they did, might affect you?

zt1903 wrote:

I like haggis wrote:

zt1903 wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/rugby-union/44428170

https://theoffsideline.com/keith-russell-not-good-guys/

Wonder if any of this has influenced Finn's form and his decision to go to France?

No, Finn is getting £600,000 in Paris.

Unlike his Dad Finn has grapsed rugby is a business. Is he mad at the SRU? Possibly. But he's doubling his salary is very much the reason and in interviews has been open about wanting to make as much money as possible. When Hogg signs a 1 million EUR contract with Montpellier next year is it also because he's mad at the SRU?

Dodson was always going to be like this. Scottish rugby needs Dodson who is slashing the debt whilst improving the pro teams, improving the academy pathway and getting amazing coaches on board more than it needs the Russell's of the world who are harking back to the amateur days which have gone and have been for 20 years.

He's a dislikeable man but Scottish rugby needs a dislikeable man to drag it forward.

Without making any value judgement on the strategy for domestic Rugby, do you not think that your employer sacking your father, in the manner that they did, might affect you?

Not as much as £600,000 would.

If Glasgow had his Dad earning £90,000 and a bonus per year do you think Finn would've accepted at least £200,000 less? Clue: he wouldn't.

Maybe his protest was the Wales game

I like haggis wrote:It is interesting Keith Russell has neglected to tell us his ideas and where the SRU is going wrong. It's all well and good saying he's a dictator but which ideas did he say no to? It's all well and good being against the Super Six but what's the alternative? This not fit for use Mish mash of professional, semi pro and amateurs that just happens to be dominated by the richest 'amateur' clubs? The Super Six could be a disaster but the domestic game currently is anyway as you say and clubs have folded without it so why not give it a go.

Agreed, Dodson can't treat people how he did with Keith Russell and the SRU will have a tighter lead.

Club rugby has been in a malaise for a long time, far longer than Dodson has been in Scotland. Happily, the national side are doing well, the professional teams are as good as ever and finally we're doing something about the domestic leagues and the school game. A lot of people are doing very good jobs and Dodson hasn't bullied them out so maybe he's ruthless and if you're no good you're out? If so hopefully that continues but with better HR.

I also find it quite unsavoury that following his dispute with the SRU Keith Russell is discussing Finn in public (see following article)...quite unprofessional imo. I've no doubt Finn thinks these things if that's what he's saying, and I've no doubt that he is hurt by the whole thing too, but from what I can tell Finn has been quite careful at avoiding getting dragged into his dad's personal spat with the governing body and so so I think KR discussing his son in public like that ain't a good look.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44431964

dargotronV.1 wrote:

I like haggis wrote:It is interesting Keith Russell has neglected to tell us his ideas and where the SRU is going wrong. It's all well and good saying he's a dictator but which ideas did he say no to? It's all well and good being against the Super Six but what's the alternative? This not fit for use Mish mash of professional, semi pro and amateurs that just happens to be dominated by the richest 'amateur' clubs? The Super Six could be a disaster but the domestic game currently is anyway as you say and clubs have folded without it so why not give it a go.

Agreed, Dodson can't treat people how he did with Keith Russell and the SRU will have a tighter lead.

Club rugby has been in a malaise for a long time, far longer than Dodson has been in Scotland. Happily, the national side are doing well, the professional teams are as good as ever and finally we're doing something about the domestic leagues and the school game. A lot of people are doing very good jobs and Dodson hasn't bullied them out so maybe he's ruthless and if you're no good you're out? If so hopefully that continues but with better HR.

I also find it quite unsavoury that following his dispute with the SRU Keith Russell is discussing Finn in public (see following article)...quite unprofessional imo. I've no doubt Finn thinks these things if that's what he's saying, and I've no doubt that he is hurt by the whole thing too, but from what I can tell Finn has been quite careful at avoiding getting dragged into his dad's personal spat with the governing body and so so I think KR discussing his son in public like that ain't a good look.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44431964

Indeed, and it is very hard to know how much of the truth is being spoken. For instance, it is quite possible (probable even) that Finn never got a contract offer from the SRU, but that might have been after extensive discussions with his representatives made it clear that any offer the SRU could make would be insulting.

It's all a little unsavoury. The SRU obviously erred in their handling of the situation - as far as I can see they have held their hands up to that now and will pay the appropriate compensation. I'm not sure the mudslinging about anything and everything outside of this specific issue is helpful or appropriate. Fair enough, criticise the SRU for their poor employment practice, but what Keith Russell thinks about Super 6, the amateur game or even Finn is a completely separate issue and not something I particularly have much interest in.

Think we should be reasonably pleased with the Canada game. I thought everyone played pretty well and a few did really well.

I liked the look of Hastings, possibly a bit naive on a couple of occasions but his vision and skills were excellent. Carmichael

Keith Russell said 'obviously Finn wanted to go to France for years and the SRU knew this was in the background but they didn't make him an offer' ... DUH. Everyone knew he was off for big money in France irrelevant of his dad.

Russell's views on the super 6 are important because he'd have been the man in charge of implementing it I presume as he was head of domestic rugby? No surprise if he was against the policy he's gone.

He's trading on his sons name. 'Finn didn't want to be in the middle of this' .... Well you've done a mighty fine job of dragging him in.