Scots Abroad VIII (or let's spot the new messiah) - The New Era

[BaldiePete]

Saturday Games

Playing in England

Gloucester
Mann - not selected (not available ) against Saracens

Saracens
Onyeama-Christie - starts against Gloucester
Burke - bench

Bath
Russell - starts against Northampton
Redpath - not selected
Harris - bench
Bayliss - starts

Northampton
Rory Hutchison - starts against Bath
Smith - starts
Millar-Mills - bench
Caqusau - not selected

Bristol
Jordan - starts (at 10) against Newcastle
Grahamslaw - not selected

Newcastle
McCallum - starts against Bristol
Hodgson - not available
Gordon - starts
Leatherbarrow - starts
Cammy Hutchison - bench


Playing in France

Bayonne
Johnson - bench against Stade Francais

Bordeaux-Begles
Gray - bench against Clermont Auvergne

Has Mann been injured? This time last year, or a little earlier, he was the big new thing

He started or benched throughout October, wasn’t selected in November and has been listed as injured since 28/11.

[BaldiePete]

Friday Games

Playing in England

Sale
Warr - bench against Bristol
Reed - not selected
Logan - not selected

Bristol
Jordan - starts (at 10) against Sale
Grahamslaw - not selected

Newcastle
McCallum - starts against Gloucester
Hodgson - starts
Gordon - starts
Leatherbarrow - starts
Cammy Hutchison - not selected

Gloucester
Mann - not selected (not available ) against Saracens

[Cameo]

I see Logan is / has been playing a bit in the Championship with Caldy. Don't really have a good idea of the level of the Championship any more, but better than not playing at all.

[BaldiePete]

I see Logan is / has been playing a bit in the Championship with Caldy. Don't really have a good idea of the level of the Championship any more, but better than not playing at all.

I know bugger all about the Championship in England (sorry the Champ ) but I’ll put him in as a Caldy player if I can get team info.

[septic 9]

I see Logan is / has been playing a bit in the Championship with Caldy. Don't really have a good idea of the level of the Championship any more, but better than not playing at all.

its a bit of a mixed bag these days, Caldy (just) in the bottom half. Top team Ealing want promotion but ground does not meet standards. Ealing are well financed, a good side with plenty of URC and GP experience, who would bring in a few if promoted and hold their own. Couple of Scots -Adam Nicol and Geordie Gwynne. Gwynne very good in U20 last season IIRC, Nicol long felt to be a terrific prospect at TH was in Glasgow academy but moved on in his early 20s. I gather he is has gone really well at this level.
Couple of other good sides but the division is a bit like our premiership - Ayr and others, Ealing and others. General standard better than up here, Ayr would give Ealing a game but couldn't see them winning it

[BaldiePete]

Very unusually Turner gets a start for Harlequins this week. He’s usually on the bench.

Saturday Games

Playing in England

Bath
Russell - starts against Exeter
Redpath - starts
Harris - not selected
Bayliss - not selected

Exeter
Chapman- bench against Bath

Northampton
Rory Hutchison - bench against Harlequins
Smith - starts
Millar-Mills - starts
Caqusau - not selected

Harlequins
Turner - starts against Northampton

Playing in France

Bayonne
Johnson - starts against Montpellier

Montpellier
Masibaka - bench against Bayonne
Price - starts
Hogg - not selected

Bordeaux-Begles
Gray - not selected against Racing 92

Perpignan
Ritchie - starts against Toulouse

Toulouse
Kinghorn - not selected against Perpignan (they’ve definitely put out a 2nd XV for this one).

[Cameo]

Good that Turner is getting a start. Not looked as impressive as I hoped since he came back. I hoped for a refreshed version, he has looked like a tired one.

Good on Robbie Smith building his career like this.