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

[Edinburgh in Exile]

TBF - he didn't play a lot for Bath in any position, and what? 1 game at 7?

He's been injured a lot with us, and not particularly close to first choice when he has been fit. He's picked up a good salary though.
I wish him well, and hope he gets enough game-time to grow into the role at Worcester, as he never did for Bath.

Haha good man Which, that second last sentence makes me question the sincerity of what follows it. I absolutely understand where you are coming from mind you, if I remember rightly he was a panic signing when your cover at 8 looked ropey?

I like Balding, but, wonder, even in our shite state if he wouldn't have been better off staying up here. Probably not. Embra are fucking gash.

[Which Tyler]

Completely sincere.
From Bath's perspective, he was a panic signing when first, our prospective move for Faletau fell through (agreed by all parties until Warren said "no"); then [Redacted] decided that he didn't like playing real rugby after all, so we needed a couple of #8s (bringing in Denton and Mafi). Consequently, we will have over-paid for both of them.

None of that is Denton's fault; from his perspective, he arrived in top form, struggled to adapt to Bath's approach in a season when Bath didn't have a coherent approach, and arrived into a split dressing room and an unpopular head coach who would only play his favourites. Again, none of this is Denton's fault. He then spent about 3 months injured, recovered, and then spent about 6 months injured this season - not his fault.
He's 2nd to Faletau in his favoured position - well, who wouldn't be? and 2nd to Garvey in his back-up position; making him first choice for the bench.


He really does go with my best wishes; we never saw him at his best for Bath, but he did show that it's still in there somewhere. My feeling is that he needs the faith of the coaches, and regular game-time to learn the systems and maximise his skill-set - as opposed to the likes of Faletau or Mafi who are just full of individual brilliance regardless of what's happening around them. Give him a full pre-season and a dozen matches uninjured, and he'll come good for someone.

[Jps]

That's all very true and then hopefully best case scenario. What's more with Zach Mercer coming through at 8, there aren't going to be a million spots available, are there?

Speaking of Mercer, he's an interesting study in is he availble for Scotland or not? Now he was born in Leeds, but His RFU bio is as follows:

"Zach won caps for Scotland at U16 and U17 level before his inclusion in the England U18.

He was educated at Northowram Primary School, Halifax and Netherlee Primary in Glasgow before moving on to Williamswood High School in Clarkston, Glasgow and Merchiston Castle... Zach has captained Glasgow Warriors U16 and U18 and Edinburgh U17 and U18.

Zach’s father, Gary, won 22 caps for New Zealand at rugby league, captained Leeds Rhinos, was player-coach at Halifax and head coach at Castleford Tigers. After switching to union, he coached Glasgow Warriors, Scotland U16"

He's an immensly talented kid, but did he just play for Scotland cause his dad was coaching Scotland U16s, and since he wasn't born here, and now he lives in England, does he still qualify on residency grounds? I have no idea.

As it is, it may be academic, because although he's not on the England summer tour to Argentina, he is on the stand by list.

[Which Tyler]

Think Zach's link to Scotland is residential, and lapsed as soon as he'd Ben back in England for more than 1 month. It looks like that'll all change in 2020 though when, IIRC, 10 years total residency will also count.
I expect him to have been capped by England by then though.

[Big D]

Hutchinson banned for 2 weeks.

[OptimisticJock]

Kelly Brown is Canada's new defence coach.

[Mikey Brown]

That'll learn him.

[no sleep]

Good luck to him. Our club have had Andy Kyriakou as defence (and forwards/scrum) coach this season past and he's made a huge difference: we got promotion largely I think on the back of improved defence. Hope KB realises his first task will be to come up with a name to buy in to. We went with "Raiders", you can't just re-use "wolf pack". Seriously, I think he'll do a good job, and it's good to see a few more Scottish coaches getting on in the wider world.

[hp18]

Hutchinson banned for 2 weeks.

What did he do?




That's Reid confirmed to not nots.

[Big D]

Hutchinson banned for 2 weeks.

What did he do?




That's Reid confirmed to not nots.

Was sin binned for a tackle in the air I think.

[Cameo]

Good move for Reid. I feared that as he looks a bit unlike a professional sportsman he might not get somewhere at the top level. Will be tough in what will be a struggling team but hopefully they build their squad a bit

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Good move for Reid. I feared that as he looks a bit unlike a professional sportsman he might not get somewhere at the top level. Will be tough in what will be a struggling team but hopefully they build their squad a bit

He'd have been better staying IMO. Maybe weeg didn't offer him a deal, Kebble will have been cheaper.

[Cameo]

Yeah I was assuming he wasn't offered a deal

[Jps]

Carmichael just came on for the Force vs the Hurricanes on 42 mins. He was talked up by the commentators just as he came on.

[Big D]

Traynor has signed a short term deal with the Tigers.

[Adder]

Ruaridh Jackson to Agen. Good deal for him.

[Cameo]

Ruaridh Jackson to Agen. Good deal for him.

Who have they got at 10?

[Adder]

Ruaridh Jackson to Agen. Good deal for him.

Who have they got at 10?

here is their team for next season : http://www.allrugby.com/dossiers/transferts-sualg.html
official list will be out on the 1st of July.

It actually states below(from the25th) that they are still waiting for his signature but that he has received the offer.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Ignacio Mieres is a pretty decent 10...

[Adder]

Still no news from Agen

[Big D]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40844915

Tait and Lawson now part of a scouting set up for SQ talent.

[switchskier]

Heard that Fraser Lyle is heading down to London Scottish this season. Hope he does well but doesn't take time from Fergusson.

[General Zod]

LS sign Victorian underworld kingpin basil strang...

http://www.londonscottish.com/mobile/news/5024.php

[Big D]

LS sign Victorian underworld kingpin basil strang...

http://www.londonscottish.com/mobile/news/5024.php

6ft 5 and 110kgs is huge for a 10/12.

[Adder]

With the Force(maybe) disapearing, where will Lewis Carmichael be heading? Edinburgh?