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'I don't know if talks are still ongoing': The mystery surrounding France vs Scotland and whether Premiership players will be released

(Photo by Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Nine days out from the suggested March 26 date for the rescheduling of the postponed France versus Scotland Guinness Six Nations match, Exeter boss Rob Baxter had revealed he is in the dark on whether the match is definitely going ahead and what the status is regarding the release of his Scottish internationals.

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Baxter currently has Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and Sam Skinner away on international duty this week with Scotland who are playing Italy this Saturday at Murrayfield in round five of the championship.

Scotland boss Gregor Townsend suggested last week in the lead-up to last Sunday’s Six Nations game with Ireland that the Scots were preparing for the potential of having three matches to play on consecutive weekends.

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However, he added that the re-fixture with the French had not yet been confirmed and neither had the position concerning the released of their English and French-based players as the March 26 date falls outside the agreed Test match window governing player release.

It was last Friday when Townsend made those comments and Exeter boss Baxter was none the wiser five days later when asked what was the latest situation is regarding his Scotland contingent on a weekend when the Chiefs will be playing at Gloucester on the same night the Scots are potentially in Six Nations action at the Stade de France.

“I haven’t, no. Nothing at all,” replied Baxter when quizzed if there had been any update on France versus Scotland, the February 28 round three game that was postponed due to a virus outbreak in the French camp.

“I don’t know if talks are still ongoing, whether there has been a ‘this is what needs to happen’. I can’t quite fill you in. I imagine that Premiership Rugby will have made its stance on it to the Six Nations and it’s probably now for the Six Nations to either accept or decline it.

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“That is what I imagine is what is happening. That is probably why we are still waiting to see what happens. Now I don’t know whether some of those decisions might be made depending on the rounds of games this week, whether that affects something or not.

“It could well be that there is still circumstances that will come out of this weekend that will change. I don’t know. I don’t want to make a comment on something I genuinely don’t know anything about.”

In the meantime, there has been speculation that second row Gray is nursing an injury with Scotland. “We have spoken to Johnny. He had a sore shoulder, he has had a scan on it. It hasn’t shown anything of concern,” explained Baxter.

“I know it’s bruised and it’s sore but there is not something there where they have seen an issue that needs fixing or needs resting. It’s just going to be Scotland’s decision on how sore he is over the course of the week.”

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As for Skinner, who was left out by Scotland last weekend and instead started for Exeter in their win over Harlequins, he hasn’t been released to his club this week following Scottish training. “The fact that he has not been released back to us would suggest that he is involved in the (Scotland) 23 and that is the assumption we are working with here. We haven’t received Sam back so that sends out its own message.”

 

 

 

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AM 38 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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