Our good friend from Northern Ireland running touch

Looks like JB has been made the scapegoat for the Irish try last week. Obviously Hadden was starting to panic with the number of Glasgow players that were in the team. Sooner he goes the better.

Think Haddock has finally lost the plot! JB has been one of Scotlands best forwards and is now dropped like a hot potato by him! Think it is a bit late for him to make changes to the forwards for the final game? What is he hoping that it might save his job or is it that there is to many glasgow boys in the team and he is a bot worried that his pay masters may sack him? Come Frank do the decent thing and resign after the England game...oh thats right you have a contract and will not as you would forfeit any compen, great reward for failure again!!

I've given up on Scotland games, and so am quite pleased JB isn't playing. Means he will be rested and ready / raring to go when we face Munster on the 27th!

I'm with you on that one Vicki! .. but what about the Scotland A team in Romania in June? Surely you will support them!

I understand neither Morrison or JB are playing this Friday either!

What on earth is Gray even doing in the squad? He's a journeyman pro and has done nothing much in the 6N. Kelly Brown for one has been on much better form, but has been a bit of a last resort as far as Haddit is concerned.

There would also be merit (as per Kevin Ferrie's article in the Herald) in putting Ally into 2nd row and bringing Jason White back to flanker). But Ally's not even on the bench. Plot losing job losing fun all round.

Scott gray has been getting MoM's all season for Northampton. really good player

Ach, leave Mr Hadden alone. Let him pick who he wants for his last game.

I was disapointed to read that Hadden must win in England to save his job. Personally I wouldn't care if we put 100 points past England, the man has to go. Hadden has done whatever he was going to do with Scotland and the results have been rubbish.

I didn't think Scott Gray did anything special in his time on the field but then other than Euan Murray I don't think any of our Forwards stood out.

Personally I didn't think John Barclay had his best game in a Scotland shirt last week but, still, it's a bit of a knob decision to drop him like that - he has otherwise been a damn fine player every time he's pulled that blue jersey over his head. I'm sure Frank is a jolly nice chap but, sadly, he has not performed in his current role so he needs to go. I wonder where though? He can't go back to Edinburgh (unless Robinson moves up to the Scotland role?) and he can't go to Glasgow. Maybe he'll go back to Glenalmond...

Hapless Frank at it again. Complete lack of consistency in his selections and rationale behind his selections. I thought Barclay played well for Scotland against a class act who will probably wear the Lions No.7 jersey.

Using Hapless' rationale why is Ford still Hooker, Hamilton lock and Taylor No.8. Could add Blair to that list however don't think you can drop your captain as sends completely the wrong signals however no reason why the captain can't do the honourable thing as several Lion's captains have and drop yourself.

No matter what the result is on Saturday Hadden will go as he has lost the support of too many players, no real support from either pro coach, the media or the fans.

The one thing going for him is that there is no obvious choice as to who would replace him, with both Lineen and Robinson not interested in the position. Only suggestions would be Steve bates or perhaps Todd Blackadder whop would be available if the Crusaders season doesn't improve sharply.

I think I've just about had-it with the Scotland team. We must have the least settled team in the 6 Nations, with players going in and out with scant regard for performances. Hadden also persists with his favourites, despite them being past it/not up to scratch.

Surely the only way that we can hope to beat England is to play with pace in the backs and have a mobile pack in order to secure ball at the breakdowns quickly. The front row largely picks itself, although I would love to see Scott Lawson back in the squad as he offers a lot in the loose. As for the second row, Kellock has to be in the team. I thought he played fantastically against Italy, really getting himself around the park. Despite not being on top form, White would get my other 2nd row spot, if only because he can put us on the front foot in defense with some big hits. The back row would be Strokosch, Barclay and Kelly Brown. Strokosch to strengthen the defense and Brown and Barclay to play like a pair of open-sides securing ball quickly.

Cusiter has to start at 9. I personally don't see what Blair offers over Cusiter in any department, certainly not in pace of delivery. Godman is dreadful at 10. He can't relieve pressure by kicking from hand. He also plays far too lateraly, running our wide players out of space and thus negating their pace. Max and G-dog would start in the centres. Thom has to be included on the wing and Danielli would probably get the nod just due to nobody else really putting themselves forward. As for 15, without Rory we have nobody to pose a counter-attacking threat, so Hugo would have to be the pick of the bad bunch.

As for Paterson, I'm fed up of Francis and him conspiring to boost his personal tally. He is clueless about positioning when at 15, He can't kick from hand, he doesn't have any pace, he doesn't offer much in defense and he doesn't create anything in attack for those players around him. As for playing him at 10, if I wanted to watch people playing behind the gain-line I would watch 1st years.

Rant Over.

Paterson, if I remember correctly, scored all of Scotland's points last week from the boot. There's a saying in rugby that you start your team selection with your best goal-kicker. I can understand why Frank would want to try to accommodate him. One of his biggest howlers earlier in the 6N was leaving him out of the team.

I feel that is one of the biggest problems in our game; we are happy to settle for kicks. In order to win games we must be able to maintain posession, gain yards up the field and ultimately be able to take any try scoring opportunities. Not, as is the case with us, pick up scraps when the opposition infringe within kicking distance.

I understand that penalties are an important aspect of the modern game, but it shouldn't be our only avenue of scoring points.

This is really my problem with Hadden and the Paterson situation. Francis continually puts Paterson in the team when there might be someone who is able to offer more to our game. I see his inclusion as an admission that we have settled for penalties over tries, as there are other players who offer more in the position that he occupies. I'm not necessarily saying that we would be transformed without him, but there is always a doubt in my mind.

I am not suggesting that Dan should come back, I know his time has been and gone. I do wonder though what kind of abuse he would be getting just now if he been playing and putting the exact same kind of performances as Godman.

Hadden tells the guys stay in Scotland ignore the big pay cheques down south and in France. Then after one below average performance, after many good ones he gets drop for a guy who took the cheque and who now in his 30s is never going to be part of a Scotland team that goes to the next level.

I disagree Derek. I am suggesting that Dan SHOULD come back! His time has not gone.

I wish I was alone in this but I fear I'm not. Lately I have been feeling such apathy towards the Scotland team. I didn't even consider buying any more tickets for the 6N after the Wales farce and other than next years Calcutta Cup, don't think I'll bother again.

The thing is I am now expecting my team to run out, go through the motions, do the bare minimum and give the same old "we're hurting after last week" and "we let ourselves down" excuses afterward. This does not seem to be a team that is afraid of losing and certainly not one that has any real passion about them.

I really love this game and in the past have been unable to speak for days after Scotland games but can't remember the last time I was out of my seat in the middle of a beer fountain shouting..... Oh yes, I remember now. Italy were 21 points up after 7 minutes.

When other sides have a run of bad form folk start getting nervous. England, France, Wales have all kicked coaches to the wall for less than this but we seem to just carry on and put up with it. I for one don't think having our arses handed to us 10 times a year before struggling to beat the Italians as acceptable. Am I alone??

I know what you mean Sunday 5. My wife said to me after the match last Saturday - I suppose that will be you sulking all weekend. No, its good news - at least it is almost certain Haddie will go. I am convinced we could have beaten Wales if he had picked the right side and he has struggled to understand that picking the right guys in the right position is the first essential of selection. This team just beggars belief. Role on Munster.

I agree with Alan, Dan is not past it and one of the exciting prospects for next season is to have a backline that will bring out the very best in Dan and vice-versa. I hope Dan stays at Glasgow to prove my point.

Once again the men from Glasgow have been treated shamefully by the so-called Scottish "selectors", and the faceless men who pull the strings. It is totally unacceptable, and a disgrace. I's time you Scots boycotted the test matches played in Scotland. As far as Godman goes, he's not fit to even tie up Parks' shoelaces.

Slightly worried by one of the comments above - is there a chance that Dan could be moving on next year? Is his contract up for renewal this year?

Yes, I believe his contract runs up to the end of the season.

Well done to Kevin Ferrie for the attached article -
http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2496466.0.Only_good_results_will_earn_coaches_respect_they_crave.php
-sounds as though Hadders and Co struggled at the press conference. We can also thank Frank for possibly ruining any (slim) chance that JB had of making the Lions squad by dropping him for a 31 year old - so much for a youth policy!! JB has been one of the most consistent players at Glasgow this season as well as Scotland - where is the rationale??

Forget the Lions .. I care about Scotland! JB is a key player for the world Cup in 2011. That is what we should be aiming for now .. a young team to give them experience .. built to give good ball to the Evans boys in the backs.

In the press conference Hadden said that leaving John out was a a tough call as he has been "exceptional" since he came into the team. Question is then why leave him out?????????????

Because he let Stringer through! Sorry, the open side should be focussed on getting to the stand off, its for the rest of the back of the line to handle breaks round or through the line.

A bit unrelated to this post but can anyone confirm the Parksy's contract runs out at the end of the season, any word on him resigning????????