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

[Croft_No.5]

Just watching Cowan playing extremely well for LI. Even playing at both 9 and 7 for 10 minutes. Good to see

[Adder]

Laidlaw off to Perpignan at the end of the season

[Mikey Brown]

Good to know he’s needed somewhere and can eek a couple more years out of his France gig. Good for him.

[francoisfou]

Laidlaw off to Perpignan at the end of the season

..and he could still be playing Top14 rugby if Perpignan are promoted. They're currently in the mix with Grenoble, Oyonnax and Colomiers who've opened up a 10 point gap on the club in 5th place.

[General Zod]

Castres 0 - 27 Racing 92.

Just sayin’, like.

[AL.]

Not a Scot abroad but still, mild envy....

Cotter to Fiji, head coach.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Not a Scot abroad but still, mild envy....

Cotter to Fiji, head coach.

Yeah we definitely screwed that one up. He'll be well paid but their union are a small fish commercially when compared to us.

We deserve it for not taking decisive action after the RWC though. Some great coaches became available and will be available in the summer. The SRU have done nothing.

[ARM]

I see Schmidt is talking to Bath

Just sayin like...

[General Zod]

Super Rugby is back!

Murray Douglas starting in 41 degree heat for Brumbies v Reds.

SQ to keep an eye on this year are...

Shaun Stevenson, Full-back, Chiefs (played today)
Will Jordan, Full-back, Crusaders
Finlay Christie, Scrum-half, Blues
Josh McKay, Wing/Occasional FB, Highlanders

Am not sure what Nathan McBeth (loosehead) or Auchtermuchty’s finest, Kwagga van Niekerk (back row), are up to now. They have represented us at junior level, but I don’t know if they’ve gone back to SA for a bit while the super rugby is on.

Have probably missed a few. Would be good to have a list, so if anyone fancies adding to it..?

There are also a load of people called Angus playing for Australian teams. No idea if they’re Scottish, or if their dads just liked AC/DC.

[septic 9]

I see Schmidt is talking to Bath

Just sayin like...

think Bath denied that.

[whatisthejava]

His kid has quite a severe disability and that was his main reason for leaving Ireland (spend more time with his kid) so I’d be surprised if Schmitt coaches outside of NZ again.

[ARM]

His kid has quite a severe disability and that was his main reason for leaving Ireland (spend more time with his kid) so I’d be surprised if Schmitt coaches outside of NZ again.

Except he and his family have chosen to remain in Dublin "for the foreseeable future". He was quoted on this during the WC.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Super Rugby is back!

Murray Douglas starting in 41 degree heat for Brumbies v Reds.

SQ to keep an eye on this year are...

Shaun Stevenson, Full-back, Chiefs (played today)
Will Jordan, Full-back, Crusaders
Finlay Christie, Scrum-half, Blues
Josh McKay, Wing/Occasional FB, Highlanders

Am not sure what Nathan McBeth (loosehead) or Auchtermuchty’s finest, Kwagga van Niekerk (back row), are up to now. They have represented us at junior level, but I don’t know if they’ve gone back to SA for a bit while the super rugby is on.

Have probably missed a few. Would be good to have a list, so if anyone fancies adding to it..?

There are also a load of people called Angus playing for Australian teams. No idea if they’re Scottish, or if their dads just liked AC/DC.

idk if he's playing but Aidan Ross of the Chiefs is SQ

[Chunks Baws]

Is he definitely SQ? I saw yesterday the he has brothers called Angus, Campbell and Hamish

He played today and I think he went over for a try.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Is he definitely SQ? I saw yesterday the he has brothers called Angus, Campbell and Hamish

He played today and I think he went over for a try.

Either dad or grandpa I've heard. Given the names of those kids I'd assume it's the dad. Then again wouldn't most Scots know that Campbell is a clan name?

[Cameo]

BTW Will Jordan went over for his 9th and 10th tries in 9 appearances for the Crusaders. I think we can safely say that he won't give up on playing for the ABs for a good while yet.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

BTW Will Jordan went over for his 9th and 10th tries in 9 appearances for the Crusaders. I think we can safely say that he won't give up on playing for the ABs for a good while yet.

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

[Chunks Baws]

BTW Will Jordan went over for his 9th and 10th tries in 9 appearances for the Crusaders. I think we can safely say that he won't give up on playing for the ABs for a good while yet.

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

[General Zod]

BTW Will Jordan went over for his 9th and 10th tries in 9 appearances for the Crusaders. I think we can safely say that he won't give up on playing for the ABs for a good while yet.

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

For me, I think Horne and Price are better than Christie at the moment. We also have a couple of good young uns, whose names I can’t remember right now. That’s probably why he’s not been given a shot up here. All very well just getting him capped, but we’d really need to give him a contract with Edinburgh (or Glasgow). Sending him back to NZ after a summer tour (in the middle of the super rugby season) isn’t going to do him any favours.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

BTW Will Jordan went over for his 9th and 10th tries in 9 appearances for the Crusaders. I think we can safely say that he won't give up on playing for the ABs for a good while yet.

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

It wasn't that clear but my point was that Christie should have been capped by us years ago in the event that he did turn out good enough to be an AB. We need to be having conversations and making invitations to guys like Ross BEFORE the ABs start getting interested.

FWIW - I think he would Christie a valuable addition to the Scotland squad regardless.

[Big D]

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

It wasn't that clear but my point was that Christie should have been capped by us years ago in the event that he did turn out good enough to be an AB. We need to be having conversations and making invitations to guys like Ross BEFORE the ABs start getting interested.

FWIW - I think he would Christie a valuable addition to the Scotland squad regardless.

As soon as these guys are capped that is the end of their NZ super rugby career (and potential AB career). There is no way they give that up for one cap at a young age. Even if the SRU offer a cap and a contract they aren't turning down super rugby and potential All Black caps. As soon as the SRU start sniffing all the NZRFU need to do is say we are keeping an eye on you and that's the end of it for the player. There is zero chance a kiwi, or someone who has grown up as a kiwi turns their back on that.

[septic 9]

Without a doubt. Once they start playing like this there is little point in even approaching them. It's about capping high potential individuals before the ABs are seriously considering them.

Christie, for example, should have been capped on a summer tour already.

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

It wasn't that clear but my point was that Christie should have been capped by us years ago in the event that he did turn out good enough to be an AB. We need to be having conversations and making invitations to guys like Ross BEFORE the ABs start getting interested.

FWIW - I think he would Christie a valuable addition to the Scotland squad regardless.

it might come as a surprise to you, although it really shouldn't after your hissy fit about Tommy Allan, but the player gets a say in it as well.
You have no idea if Christie was approached or when. Seems to me capping him "years ago" when the player had (still has for all we know) AB ambitions is more than a wee bit fanciful. To come north he would need a contract, if it happens now it will most likely be after the next RWC cycle when he gives up the ABs and looks for a pension pot

Stick to football manager on your x-box

[Cameo]

I don't think Christie is anywhere near the AB's. He's 24 and on his third Super Rugby team now and I think he's played less than 20 Super games. If he was on our radar would there not have been a serious attempt to get him signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow?

It wasn't that clear but my point was that Christie should have been capped by us years ago in the event that he did turn out good enough to be an AB. We need to be having conversations and making invitations to guys like Ross BEFORE the ABs start getting interested.

FWIW - I think he would Christie a valuable addition to the Scotland squad regardless.

it might come as a surprise to you, although it really shouldn't after your hissy fit about Tommy Allan, but the player gets a say in it as well.
You have no idea if Christie was approached or when. Seems to me capping him "years ago" when the player had (still has for all we know) AB ambitions is more than a wee bit fanciful. To come north he would need a contract, if it happens now it will most likely be after the next RWC cycle when he gives up the ABs and looks for a pension pot

Stick to football manager on your x-box

Jeez, can you two stop you bickering.

FWIW I am massively against capping every Scot abroad who has a wee bit of potential so that they are tied just in case they turn out good. I don't (massively, under the current rules) have a problem with picking someone with limited Scottish connections but players need to at least get onto a summer tour on merit before they can think about a cap.

Doing otherwise makes a mockery of the team and is hugely unfair on the selected player. Do you tell them your plan or do you pretend that you think they are good enough and will stay in he squad?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

It wasn't that clear but my point was that Christie should have been capped by us years ago in the event that he did turn out good enough to be an AB. We need to be having conversations and making invitations to guys like Ross BEFORE the ABs start getting interested.

FWIW - I think he would Christie a valuable addition to the Scotland squad regardless.

it might come as a surprise to you, although it really shouldn't after your hissy fit about Tommy Allan, but the player gets a say in it as well.
You have no idea if Christie was approached or when. Seems to me capping him "years ago" when the player had (still has for all we know) AB ambitions is more than a wee bit fanciful. To come north he would need a contract, if it happens now it will most likely be after the next RWC cycle when he gives up the ABs and looks for a pension pot

Stick to football manager on your x-box

Jeez, can you two stop you bickering.

FWIW I am massively against capping every Scot abroad who has a wee bit of potential so that they are tied just in case they turn out good. I don't (massively, under the current rules) have a problem with picking someone with limited Scottish connections but players need to at least get onto a summer tour on merit before they can think about a cap.

Doing otherwise makes a mockery of the team and is hugely unfair on the selected player. Do you tell them your plan or do you pretend that you think they are good enough and will stay in he squad?

I agree to an extent but imo Christie was good enough at the time given the circumstances. Price was drifting in and out of patches of good form and still does, Laidlaw and Pyrgos were Laidlaw and Pyrgos & Horne was still stepping up. The fact Toony looked to Vellacott suggests he was looking to expand the options as well.

[septic 9]

Jeez, can you two stop you bickering.

I'm calling out bullshit posted by someone who thinks no-one thinks of things his super brain does, and that players are there to obey commands as to whom they should play for. X-box management.

FWIW the SRU have a hugely extensive scouting network, and if X-box boy knew Christie was SQ so does the SRU. And I say the SRU because scouting not a specific Townsend remit, nor is his the sole voice in deciding who comes over here for a pro contract and who does not (altho he will have a major input).

As BIg D pointed out, Christie taking one cap while overseas kills his AB ambitions and quite likely his next super rugby contract - it not as if he has been a nailed on starter for years is it?
And apart from Huw Jones, I don't think we have ever capped someone when playing in the SH (unless there is an ancient case for someone already capped) and that was on the clear understanding that he would sign up to come here.

We do not cap anyone from anywhere unless we think they will play more than one game for us. And we have players in and around squads before we decide to cap them - even Jones was with the squad before that decision to cap him was finally taken.

X-box bot has now I see referred to Vellacott. As per, SRU has a wide network. Vellacott of course played for us all through age grade. Townsend had a conversation (as he has had with others in the same situation - young SQ playing in England) to see where he stood on his SQ status. Vellacott did not commit either way.
Anyone who has any knowledge of the position of these players and funding of Eng teams knows that making the wrong decision can cost you your next contract - if called to a full squad they will give an answer, but they cannot afford to commit otherwise.

No doubt X-box boy dislikes him as well now