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

[Adder]

Eric de Cromières (Clermont's President) on the John Hardie situation:

Google Translate
The third Scottish John Hardie line is currently in your walls. For an imminent signature?

E.D.C. Scottish-Kiwi John Hardie is here, right now. He is a player with whom we have been in contact since April. Then he had to have his back surgery, which cooled us down a bit. But we continued to follow his trail. His profile interested us, that of a tackler-scraper that we have never hidden to seek. This should open up new opportunities for us in the rucks sector. John is with us and he is currently working in rehabilitation with our medical department. Our relationship is clear: if he is fit, he will sign. The decision will be made within two to three weeks.



Original
Le troisième ligne écossais John Hardie est actuellement dans vos murs. Pour une signature imminente ?

E.D.C. : L’Écossais-Kiwi John Hardie est effectivement chez nous, en ce moment. C'est un joueur avec lequel nous sommes en contact depuis le mois d'avril. Ensuite, il avait dû se faire opérer du dos, ce qui nous a un peu refroidis. Mais nous avons continué de suivre sa piste. Son profil nous intéressait, celui d'un plaqueur-gratteur que nous n'avons jamais caché rechercher. Cela doit nous ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives, dans le secteur des rucks. John est donc avec nous et il travaille actuellement en réhabilitation avec notre service médicale. Notre relation est claire : s'il est apte, il signera. La décision sera prise d'ici deux à trois semaines.

[Cameo]

Finn Russel starts in Racing Metro's first game of the season away at Toulon. Now that's an exciting first game

[francoisfou]

Here's the opening line of the match report on the Rugbyrama site :

TOP 14 - Le Racing réalise un grand coup en s'imposant avec le bonus à Toulon (25 à 9). Emmenés par un très grand Finn Russell, les Franciliens frappent déjà très fort.

Russell's two tries and two conversions in an emphatic win over Toulon is impressive.

[Adder]

I saw the game. He did ok with the ball he got . Toulon's defence was impressive and it took a yellow card to open it up. Russell attacked the point where Fekitoa should have been twice and it worked. He missed a couple of kicks and and a kick to touch but it was a windy evening in Toulon. He also made a brilliant intercept on his own try line which he then blew.





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[francoisfou]

[quote="Adder"]I saw the game. He did ok with the ball he got . Toulon's defence was impressive and it took a yellow card to open it up. Russell attacked the point where Fekitoa should have been twice and it worked. He missed a couple of kicks and and a kick to touch but it was a windy evening in Toulon. He also made a brilliant intercept on his own try line which he then blew.


In Toulon or on the box?

[Adder]

Illegal online streaming

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[Mikey Brown]

I saw the game. He did ok with the ball he got . Toulon's defence was impressive and it took a yellow card to open it up. Russell attacked the point where Fekitoa should have been twice and it worked. He missed a couple of kicks and and a kick to touch but it was a windy evening in Toulon. He also made a brilliant intercept on his own try line which he then blew.





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So, a bit of a mixed bag? Who would have thought it.

Still sounds like he’s a threat though so can’t really complain.

[Adder]

Slightly more positive than that (man of the match after all) but it wasn't a spotless performance

I saw the game. He did ok with the ball he got . Toulon's defence was impressive and it took a yellow card to open it up. Russell attacked the point where Fekitoa should have been twice and it worked. He missed a couple of kicks and and a kick to touch but it was a windy evening in Toulon. He also made a brilliant intercept on his own try line which he then blew.





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So, a bit of a mixed bag? Who would have thought it.

Still sounds like he’s a threat though so can’t really complain.

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[Mikey Brown]

Aha. I missed that part. It sounded like two jammy tries with a big hole in the defence.

[General Zod]

Are les highlights of the Finn Russell show out yet? I can’t find anything yet.

[Adder]

Are les highlights of the Finn Russell show out yet? I can’t find anything yet.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Are les highlights of the Finn Russell show out yet? I can’t find anything yet.

The usual mixed bag. Some brilliant stuff and some idiotic basics he should be getting right - kicking out on the full/dead, etc.

[Mikey Brown]

Thank god you’re here.

[Cameo]

Are les highlights of the Finn Russell show out yet? I can’t find anything yet.

The usual mixed bag. Some brilliant stuff and some idiotic basics he should be getting right - kicking out on the full/dead, etc.

Just out of interest, who is your favourite fly half? Russel makes mistakes but some of your comments give the impression that there are 10s out there who never miss touch or only do so if they are having a complete shocker

[General Zod]

Ne pas mal, monsieur Finn.

Right - I’m getting premier sports. Have buckled.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Are les highlights of the Finn Russell show out yet? I can’t find anything yet.

The usual mixed bag. Some brilliant stuff and some idiotic basics he should be getting right - kicking out on the full/dead, etc.

Just out of interest, who is your favourite fly half? Russel makes mistakes but some of your comments give the impression that there are 10s out there who never miss touch or only do so if they are having a complete shocker

No, Russell is the best we have. But the mistakes that Russell makes are totally avoidable which is why it is infuriating. Missing basic kicks to touch is not the same as an ambitious attacking move not coming off.

People on this forum seem to forgive Russell's failure at these basics because he is an exciting, flair player. I simply do not see how the two are related. Being an attack-minded player does stop you calming down and booting the ball safely into the stands when you have a pen. Two completely different skillsets - being good at one does not detract from the other.

If it was once in a while I wouldn't mention it but it has consistently been happening for two, now third, seasons. And that is in spite of it being 'hidden' somewhat last season as Hogg took over a lot of these duties.

[Cameo]

Yeah, Im not saying the mistakes are good, but I do think that "solid" players make similar mistakes that get overlooked. Look at Sexton for example in the last six nations whose kicking at goal and from penalties was very erratic (though very good at times). I remember in the wales game he had a simple pen to take them three scores clear, decided to take a quick tap and lost the ball. Wales then nearly came back.

Neither that or Russel's mistakes are good play but one gets overlooked and the other gets turned into an example of lack of effort/practice etc.

Either way, let's hope he continues to develop at Racing and doesnt become jaded from too many games

[General Zod]

Duncan Weir snatches at a last-kick-of-the-game drop-goal to win for Worcester v Wasps. Just wide, but he looked like he played well.

[Adder]

Russell (Racing) Vs Laidlaw (Clermont) at 4.30pm

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[OptimisticJock]

Just turned on in time to see Russell miss touch

[Adder]

Just turned on in time to see Russell miss touch

Classic!

He didn't do too badly with the few balls he had. Unfortunately the forwards didn't turn up. 20+penalties.
Laidlaw had a great game though.

[Big D]

CdP had an operation and requires another on his larynx. That's a bad one.

[Tobylerone]

Duncan Taylor has ACL injury. Only recently restored to match fitness.
The Fairies have him on top of their Scottish list.

[Mikey Brown]

Poor guy. His variety of injuries is really something.

In case anyone is interested- 21 caps and 12 starts in his 5 years since getting capped for Scotland. Just turned 29. http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/pl ... view=match

[General Zod]

Gutted for the lad. Suppose you could think it’s a longer rest for his head, but still. Thought he’d tear it up this autumn.

Still, a chance beckons for someone else...