Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah)

[switchskier]

And he's retired... Mixed emotions really. A truly talented player who served Scottish rugby & Newcastle well... but a lot of wasted talent through no fault of his own that we missed out on on the international stage.

Given Glasgow's issues at 8 I'm surprised he wasn't given a 1 season deal there to help blood the younger back rowers & bow out in Scotland.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/43977827

One of my favourite players back in the day (when we were really rubbish). I remember him going head to head with McCaw back in 2005 (I think) and doing pretty well. Thought he was going to be a star at that point.

[af73]

Graham is very young and not getting much game time?

With the 7s a lot this year. Been fantastic for them. Pace to spare.

Would hope Graham gets a summer tour place. Would be handy if Hughes could get back to fitness, Hoyland back to form and Nairn breaks through in the next couple of years. Always reckon having a strong running winger on one side (usually right wing) with the pace man finisher on the other is a good blend. Edin's VDM might be ready by then. Other 7's player is McFarland who might fancy a crack at 15's in time.

Kinghorn is a difficult one. Hugely talented no doubt but hope he doesn't become this decades Chris Paterson. OK on the wing for a full back and there would need to be a serious role reversal in form you'd think for him to get the 15 jersey ahead of Hogg.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I am not as optimistic as others are about Graham's prospects. He is very short and very sleight and bulking up will hinder the skills that makes him special. I suspect his future lies in 7s.

[General Zod]

I am not as optimistic as others are about Graham's prospects. He is very short and very sleight and bulking up will hinder the skills that makes him special. I suspect his future lies in 7s.

But he is pure jets man, innit!

I’ll confess to not having seen a lot of him away from the Sevens circuit. Would he be able to play fly half? Or even scrum half? Am just thinking if size is an issue, I don’t know how he compares to George Horne?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I am not as optimistic as others are about Graham's prospects. He is very short and very sleight and bulking up will hinder the skills that makes him special. I suspect his future lies in 7s.

But he is pure jets man, innit!

I’ll confess to not having seen a lot of him away from the Sevens circuit. Would he be able to play fly half? Or even scrum half? Am just thinking if size is an issue, I don’t know how he compares to George Horne?

George has good technique, is fairly stocky and a 9 can be hidden much easier in defence. Scotland just don't have the defensive bulk throughout the back line to cover someone like Graham IMO.

[OptimisticJock]

Shane Williams was too small too.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Shane Williams was too small too.

Completely different era. And Wales & Ospreys had some huge players to cover in the backline.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Plus we are diabolical enough in defence at international level without playing a 5 foot 7, 12 stone winger.

[ARM]

Graham is very young and not getting much game time?

With the 7s a lot this year. Been fantastic for them. Pace to spare.

Would hope Graham gets a summer tour place. Would be handy if Hughes could get back to fitness, Hoyland back to form and Nairn breaks through in the next couple of years. Always reckon having a strong running winger on one side (usually right wing) with the pace man finisher on the other is a good blend. Edin's VDM might be ready by then. Other 7's player is McFarland who might fancy a crack at 15's in time.

Kinghorn is a difficult one. Hugely talented no doubt but hope he doesn't become this decades Chris Paterson. OK on the wing for a full back and there would need to be a serious role reversal in form you'd think for him to get the 15 jersey ahead of Hogg.

If Hoyland, Graham can’t get a game in front of Fife or Harries they should be nowhere near a Scotland Test squad.

[Edinburgh in Exile]

Plus we are diabolical enough in defence at international level without playing a 5 foot 7, 12 stone winger.

I wouldn’t be too worried about short defenders. You don’t have to be big to tackle big players, just good. It’s the disadvantage in the air that’s the issue.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Plus we are diabolical enough in defence at international level without playing a 5 foot 7, 12 stone winger.

I wouldn’t be too worried about short defenders. You don’t have to be big to tackle big players, just good. It’s the disadvantage in the air that’s the issue.

He is sleight as well though... If he bulks up he'll slow down considerably.

I just don't see how he has a future in 15s. Superstar at 7s possibly.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Cameron Redpath in the England tour squad.

Jones knows exactly what he is doing.

[Chunks Baws]

Cameron Redpath in the England tour squad.

Jones knows exactly what he is doing.

He's a tedious prick. He did the same with Velacott and Graham during the 6N.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Cameron Redpath in the England tour squad.

Jones knows exactly what he is doing.

He's a tedious prick. He did the same with Velacott and Graham during the 6N.

Redpath needs to be very careful here. 5 mins off the bench as a pawn in Eddie's wee game and he could never play international rugby again.

[Cameo]

That just seems a strange pick. Fine bring him along for training but on a summer tour. I kind of hope they have to play him and he screws up.

And before anyone says it I dont think this is a missed opportunity by Townsend/the SRU. He is clearly not ready for international rugby so we shouldnt be trying to tie him to us by giving him a cap

[Stones of granite]

That just seems a strange pick. Fine bring him along for training but on a summer tour. I kind of hope they have to play him and he screws up.

And before anyone says it I dont think this is a missed opportunity by Townsend/the SRU. He is clearly not ready for international rugby so we shouldnt be trying to tie him to us by giving him a cap

Purely out of schadenfreude? It wouldn't help anyone, and would end the lad's international career before it started. Maybe even finish him as a pro.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

That just seems a strange pick. Fine bring him along for training but on a summer tour. I kind of hope they have to play him and he screws up.

And before anyone says it I dont think this is a missed opportunity by Townsend/the SRU. He is clearly not ready for international rugby so we shouldnt be trying to tie him to us by giving him a cap

Nail on head. Which is exactly why this is just one of Eddie's games. The English can delude themselves into believing otherwise if they wish.

I trust that his Dad has made it abundantly clear to him what is happening here. If he genuinely feels English then he should have no regrets about potentially coming off the bench for 10 mins only to never play international rugby again. A very realistic possibility.

[Chunks Baws]

That just seems a strange pick. Fine bring him along for training but on a summer tour. I kind of hope they have to play him and he screws up.

And before anyone says it I dont think this is a missed opportunity by Townsend/the SRU. He is clearly not ready for international rugby so we shouldnt be trying to tie him to us by giving him a cap

Bit harsh. I don't for one second believe Jones thinks he's an international class player yet and he's definitely being a knob again. But at the end of the day the lad was born in France and raised in England, he probably doesn't feel that Scottish.

[Cameo]

That just seems a strange pick. Fine bring him along for training but on a summer tour. I kind of hope they have to play him and he screws up.

And before anyone says it I dont think this is a missed opportunity by Townsend/the SRU. He is clearly not ready for international rugby so we shouldnt be trying to tie him to us by giving him a cap

Bit harsh. I don't for one second believe Jones thinks he's an international class player yet and he's definitely being a knob again. But at the end of the day the lad was born in France and raised in England, he probably doesn't feel that Scottish.

Yes, I dont fully mean that and was only wishing it so that Eddie's games come back to bite him. Absolutely nothing against the player himself and if he wants to play for Emgland he is more than entitled to.

[whatisthejava]

Problem for England is if they blatently do this they run a real risk of players understnading future earning potential is being affected and refusing caps until they believe they are at a level where they can get lots of caps

[Chunks Baws]

Interesting to see that Gary Graham hasn't even been included in the list of 'not considered' players.

[Big D]

Taylor extends at sarries to 2021.

[General Zod]

Taylor extends at sarries to 2021.

Good.

Blade Thomson - he of the fabled Scottish granny - has just scored for Hurricanes v Reds in a surprisingly competitive first half.

[switchskier]

TTR playing for Tolouse against Castre currently. He had an utterly ineffective first half and was hooked on 47 minutes with his side 23-6 down. However he's back on, Castre have had a man sent off and the comeback is on. He looks a much better player with Tolouse going forwards, pretty much always the second man to a ruck, though he's still doing a lot of flopping down on top of it when he gets there.

[switchskier]

Laidlaw and Russell in the squad for the barbarians game against England. You'd have to think that the mindset suits one more than the other.