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

[General Zod]

I would have thought it’s a chance to pick them up half-price or similar. As in if someone’s got 18 months left on their contract, Glasgow or Edinburgh say that we’ll take them and pay half their wage for the rest of the contract.

Farrell to Edinburgh?

[Adder]

Du Prez un Weir selected for Worcester this evening against Castres.*

You can sign up https://www.epcrugby.com/challenge-cup/ ... eo/epcrtv/to view the game.

[Chunks Baws]

Hamilton Burr is on the bench for the Hurricanes v Crusaders.

[General Zod]

Hamilton Burr is on the bench for the Hurricanes v Crusaders.

Sounds like a dialect, or an actor playing the protagonist in a 1970s American detective series.

Anyway, good luck to the lad.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I would have thought it’s a chance to pick them up half-price or similar. As in if someone’s got 18 months left on their contract, Glasgow or Edinburgh say that we’ll take them and pay half their wage for the rest of the contract.

Farrell to Edinburgh?

I'm not sure a loan deal like that would be truly compliant as the original wage would still leave them in breach of the salary cap.

[Adder]

SHC playing for Lyon vs Northampton at 1pm.

[whatisthejava]

Thought he did pretty well.

[Mikey Brown]

How did Hutchinson get on? Not totally sold on Jones’s return to form.

Price however. Yes.

[Big D]

Sarries gone from the prem. Wonder whether Maitland will move now.

[General Zod]

How did Hutchinson get on? Not totally sold on Jones’s return to form.

Price however. Yes.

I saw ten minutes of that game and he made one cracking pass and a good break. I think it was him anyway!

Price - agree. He did really well and would hopefully keep an offside defence a bit more honest than we’ve seen in previous years.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Sarries gone from the prem. Wonder whether Maitland will move now.

He is OOC.

[Mikey Brown]

Sam Skinner starts at 8 for the Exe A side. Might be nothing, but could be an intriguing move. Won't get any first team time there though so probably moot.

[whatisthejava]

Him and Baxter see his long term position as 8 or they did when he broken into the scotland team

[General Zod]

Him and Baxter see his long term position as 8 or they did when he broken into the scotland team

That’s how I see him - would add some depth for us there. In fact, if he keeps his good form from before his injury, he’s a shoo-in for the squad in the next few years with his versatility.

[Mikey Brown]

Him and Baxter see his long term position as 8 or they did when he broken into the scotland team

Where did you get that from?

[whatisthejava]

Him and Baxter see his long term position as 8 or they did when he broken into the scotland team

Where did you get that from?

It was widly reported last year when he broke onto the scene but i think Baxter is trying to develop his all round game

[Which Tyler]

It was widly reported last year when he broke onto the scene but i think Baxter is trying to develop his all round game

It's worth remembering that what Baxter wants from his backrow, and what anybody else in ruby wants for their backrows - are very different things.
His ideal set-up is
6: Bulky ball carrier in heavy traffic - what everyone else calls #8
7: Tall guy, tackle demon, lineout option - what everyone else calls #6
8: Smallest of the 3, good hands and a turn of pace - what everyone else calls #7

[Mikey Brown]

Him and Baxter see his long term position as 8 or they did when he broken into the scotland team

Where did you get that from?

It was widly reported last year when he broke onto the scene but i think Baxter is trying to develop his all round game

I'd never seen that to be honest. Somebody on this board had mentioned trying him at 8 but I never knew why and have only ever seen him feature for Exeter at 4 or 6.

I've wondered if he's quick enough to play in the backrow in general, but he's got a good amount of fight and aggression while still being pretty composed with ball in hand.

[Cameo]

Yeah, while it is good to have someone who's can cover both, I generally think it is a shame to turn a mobile second row into a relatively immobile backrow

[Mikey Brown]

That was my thought. He's got good hands but I thought grunt was his big selling point.

Not honestly seen that much of him though. Just second hand hype from Exeter.

[Mikey Brown]

Hutchinson starts for Saints tonight. Not sure what that means as I don’t suppose Saints have any reason to rest him ahead of the 6 nations.

[switchskier]

Hutchinson starts for Saints tonight. Not sure what that means as I don’t suppose Saints have any reason to rest him ahead of the 6 nations.

He's played a lot recently but I guess that Northampton didn't expect dingwall to get called up and proctor is out with a concussion so their options are limited.

Dell also benching for LI. That move isn't working out for him yet.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Dell also benching for LI. That move isn't working out for him yet.

If it works out it'll take a while. I'm glad he's gone to the GP though - if he's going to become an international prop he needs to become a better scrummager. As it stands he is small and shit.

[Mikey Brown]

You’re a true poet, Hugh.

[francoisfou]

The Scots in this weekend's Top 14 fixtures:

SH-C starts for Lyon against Toulon
Greig Laidlaw on the bench for Clermont against Stade Français
Alex Dunbar starts for Brive v Pau
And, quelle surprise!, Finn Russell is in Racing's starting XV at Castres.

Richie Gray isn't in the group for Toulouse's match on Sunday v leaders Bordeaux.