posted Mar 16, 2008

I don't have any personal problem with Dan Parks and I like the fact that he talks on the field and congratulates the forwards when they make a decent play. However, he has major flaws in his game that contribute to Scotland being so limited at international level.

1. Takes the ball deep and no attacking threat. Opposition back row and backline don't have to worry about him.

2. His kicking is excellent when he has time, but he gets charged down on an alarming number of occasions. Against England, one partial charge down could have gifted england a try when I don't think they could have scored against my old school side.

3. Defensive frailties and telegraphed passes as well documented.

Not just his fault, but he is forever linked with Frank Hadden and both need to go.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2008

How can you possibly give Dan parks 4 points, unless the score is out of 100. creating two tries for the opposition, missing numereous tackles and growing a stupid moustache to boot, I assume the writer of this article meant to say -4. PS 606 please can you update your pages sooner as you appear not to have the story of Haddocks resignation

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2008

Some of these player ratings are low in my opinion. Had it not been for Parks' succession of appalling errors Scotland would have won this game relatively easily, and I think some of the pack (Hines, Murray, Jacobsen, MacLeod and Thomson) would have jumped up a point or two on the basis that Scotland got a result.

Scott Lawson I'd say deserved a 7, I thought he looked good and full of running when he came on.

Parks would have got a 0 from me. Maybe finally Haddon we see what the rest of the country have been, for what seems like an eternity now.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 16, 2008

Southwell-5
Danelli-4
Henderson-5
Morrison-6
Webster-5
Paterson-7
Parks-3
Blair-8
Jacobsen-5
Thomson-6
Murray-3
Hines-5
Mcleod-5
Strokosch-8
Hogg-7
Taylor-5

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 17, 2008

solidsecondrow.
how can you give danelli a 4? he was only on for 5 minutes.....
Taylor getting a 5? what game were you watching....
Murray a 3? whats your reasoning?

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 17, 2008

to be fair to dan parks you could see he was trying play more attacking game, the two passes that went to ground were put in front of players to encourage them to hit th ball at pace. he made a decent half break his kicking was intelligent and i dont know how many tackles he acyually missed becasue scotland missed 5 in total. maybe he was trying to force it too much whcih lead to the interceptions. think its a bit ridiculous the abuse this guy gets. go and watch him play for glasgow and then you'll see why he's got 40 odd caps!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 17, 2008

my scotland team for the first test against argentina in the summer would be...
15 rory lamont
14 sean lamont
13 simon webster
12 ben cairns
11 thom evans
10 chris patterson
9 mikey blair

1 alan jacobson
2 ross ford
3 euan murray
4 nathan hines
5 jason white
6 Alasdair Strokosch
7 ross rennie
8 ally hogg

16 fergus thompson
17 craig smith
18 ally kellock
19 simon taylor
20 rory lawson
21 phil godman
22 nick de luca

its an attacking team that requires a brave coach to pick it. but if they played expansive rugby they could strecth any team and ask some real questions, and it would be bloody entertaining to watch! i cant bare to watch another 80 minutes of pick and goes for 5 phases then an aimless kick by hugo southwell up the park, or someone dropping the ball in our own half!!

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 17, 2008

We'll need Simon Taylor at his bullish best to make inroads into Argentina and I'd certainly be watching Jim Hamilton at Leicester this season for glimpses of form. If Scotland shed too much in the pack, Argentina will spare no prisoners. Lawson should be on the bench ahead of Thompson - he's simply a better player.

Otherwise I've no issues with trying Cairns on this tour. 12 is the big problem position for me in the starting XV and despite an ok game on Saturday, Morrison's hands do not inspire me. If Cairns can play well in that shirt for Edinburgh between now and the end of the season then give him a go. Same goes for Thom Evans - he's a different type of winger to the others we have and should be given a chance against Argentina. The pack should remain similar to the one that defeated England - it clearly has the potential to develop into a decent unit and the backs need the best platform possible in order to try some new things.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 17, 2008

Glasgow rosie

I think you are fighting a losing battle trying to defend the indefensible. The reality for Parks is that at Magners league level yes he can do a job for Glasgow but on the International scene he can not deliver what is expected. Am still not sure how he got players player at the RWC (afterall he cost us points against Argentina with a chargedown kick)

The outcry and the pressure that Parks has faced this season has been down to Hadden picking him when he has been out of form for Glasgow in the run up to the tournament and this has been translated into his form against both France and Wales.

His cameo roles in the final 3 games have all been calamitous either costing us field position or tries(due to poor kicking / passing).

Saturday must go down as the worst ever performance by a Scotland 10 – no matter what way you look at it and because of that he should no longer feature in this squad.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Mar 23, 2008

i think that dan parks has to go Scott Murray should be starting in the second row again y has frank hadden dropped him???

add comment | complain about this comment