Latest news with #GregorBrown
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
France 35-16 Scotland: Three things we learned
Gregor Brown stands upThe second-row had a positive impact off the bench in nearly every game he appeared in, but Saturday was his first Six Nations start, against the best team in the competition. He was was the big breakout player of the campaign for Scotland - powerful, dynamic, skilful and still very young at just 23. Once Scott Cummings and Max Williamson reappear after injury then the options in the second-row are going to look really continue to suffer bad callsWe don't want to whinge, but some big calls went against Scotland. The England try that was given despite zero evidence that the ball was down. The late, late Finn Russell conversion incorrectly moved closer to a tougher spot, closer to the touchline, the yellow card given to Peato Mauvaka on Saturday night which should have been a red. You could easily argue that the yellow given to Jamie Richie early on was fear of coming across as sore losers, Scotland really can't go public with their gripes but they're coming out on the wrong side of these decisions quite a lot. Maybe a private summit with World Rugby might be in a host of other reasons why Scotland only won twice. Their capacity to fall asleep in games is still a concern, albeit it didn't happen in a courageous performance in Paris. Handling errors cost them in key moments. A lack of forward heft was an are not genuine contendersNo amount of guff about the golden generation is going to deflect from the fact that Scotland are not good enough to win a championship. France are miles ahead in squad depth and power. England are improving and have vast amounts of players to pick from. Ireland are now firmly in transition but they're still better than Scotland, as, er, 11 wins in a row are struggling badly for front-row forwards. There's precious little depth there and it's ruinous when they go up against the big guns who can bring quality players on to the pitch for the last 30 said, Gregor Townsend did not have much luck with injuries. The only hope Scotland have of making it to a final weekend with even a sliver of hope of a title win is if they avoid injuries to all of their key men. Clearly, they didn't this Tuipulotu, Cummings, Williamson, Josh Bayliss and Andy Onyeama-Christie didn't kick a ball. Their return can't come quickly flipside of that is the return of Ritchie to his very best form. He had a terrific tournament and has played his way into the Lions conversation.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brown 'won't take a backward step' against France
Guinness Six Nations 2025: France v ScotlandWhen: Saturday, 15 March 2025 Kick-off: 20:00 GMT Venue: Stade de France, ParisCoverage: Listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland Extra & BBC Sounds, live text coverage and highlights on BBC Sport app & website. As first Six Nations starts go, being pitched in against a rampant French side looking to win the title under the lights at Stade de France is about as daunting as they that is exactly the situation Scotland lock Gregor Brown will find himself in come Saturday night in have felt that the Scottish second row - featuring two outstanding Test servants in the shape of Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray – has lacked a little dynamism in this championship, and perhaps that explains why Gregor Townsend has turned to the 23-year-old Glasgow Warrior to add some youthful energy."He's just turned into a real top quality, sort of nuts-and-bolts number four," said Fraser Brown, BBC pundit and a former team-mate at Glasgow."He's maybe a little bit on the short side for a second row, but what he lacks a little bit in height, he certainly doesn't lack in effort."Defensively, he works really hard. He works like a back-rower in the second row. Good lineout option, quick off the floor."He's very physical, abrasive, aggressive. He carries hard, he'll make gain-line every single time."His carry height is really good. Ball presentation is very good. You get quick ball off of him." Brown will win his ninth Scotland cap in Paris having made his debut against Canada in July last year. It will be only his fourth start and it will be fascinating to see how he measures up against the giants in the French has become an important player in Franco Smith's Glasgow squad after a difficult beginning to his career at Scotstoun."He started more as back-row and played in that URC quarter-final against Leinster in 2022 that we lost by 70 points," said Fraser Brown."He had a pretty tough couple of years after that, picked up a lot of injuries. I think if you ask him now, he probably reflects on that as a pretty low point in his career, but also probably kind of the making of him because he certainly managed to develop some resilience."I've got nothing but good things to say about Gregor. I wanted him to be in the starting Scotland team from the second week of this Six Nations to be honest. I'm really pleased that he's got a start."I think it's going to be a tough ask for him in France against that pack. But certainly, knowing the character he is, he won't take a backward step."
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Brown brings 'skill and speed of a back-rower' to second row
Gregor Brown "has shown he can perform at the highest level" says head coach Gregor Townsend, after handing the Glasgow Warriors second-rower his first Six Nations is one of two changes from the side who started against Wales, with Matt Fagerson coming in at eight for the trip to Paris to take on Championship-chasing cited the 23-year-old's athleticism and technical ability as factors behind his decision to start him instead of the experienced Jonny Gray."He has done really well off the bench," Townsend said. "I thought his energy at the weekend and his carrying were excellent. He came very close to scoring a try."He is very good in the lineout, really athletic, technically really strong. Same at scrum time as well, technically very good. He's shown for us but also for Glasgow that he can perform at the highest level in the second row position."It allows us to have someone who has got the skill and speed of a back-rower but the technical ability of a second-rower to bring that out from the start this week."The win against Wales at Murrayfield last weekend was tainted somewhat by yet another drop-off in the second half, with the Scots allowing their visitors to finish within six points having been 35-8 up eight minutes into the second Townsend stressed "momentum swings" are to be expected in Test rugby and is not concerned."Teams do come back when they're well behind," Townsend argued. "We know we've got to make sure that in the 80 minutes we're still showing as much effort as we are at the start of games, but I feel we're doing that. "Last week we did dominated the last ten minutes of the game."
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Gregor Brown to make his first Six Nations start for Scotland against France
Gregor Brown will make his first Guinness Six Nations start for Scotland after being selected in the second row for Saturday's showdown with France in Paris. The 23-year-old Glasgow forward – who made his debut last summer – will take the place of Jonny Gray – who drops to the bench for the Stade de France showdown. In the only other change to the starting XV, Matt Fagerson takes over from the injured Jack Dempsey at number eight. Co-captain Rory Darge has recovered from the hip issue that forced him off in last Saturday's victory over Wales and takes his place in the back row. Edinburgh forwards Marshall Sykes and Ben Muncaster will get their first involvement of the championship after being named on the bench. Glasgow backs Kyle Rowe and George Horne drop out of the 23 altogether. The Scots are no longer in title contention but can play a part in deciding the outcome of the championship, with France requiring a victory to secure the silverware. Scotland team to face France on Saturday: B Kinghorn (Toulouse), D Graham (Edinburgh), H Jones (Glasgow), T Jordan (Glasgow), D Van der Merwe (Edinburgh), F Russell (Bath), B White (Toulon); P Schoeman (Edinburgh), D Cherry (Edinburgh), Z Fagerson (Glasgow), G Brown (Glasgow), G Gilchrist (Edinburgh), J Ritchie (Edinburgh), R Darge (Glasgow), M Fagerson (Glasgow). Replacements: E Ashman (Edinburgh), R Sutherland (Glasgow), W Hurd (Leicester), J Gray (Bordeaux), M Sykes (Edinburgh), B Muncaster (Edinburgh), J Dobie (Glasgow), S McDowall (Glasgow).
