RugbyRebels

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:Gray Snr wins battle of the Scots in France. Seen some criticism of the Clermont halves which include Laidlaw. Didn't watch it so can't comment on his performance.

You just can't play a fast paced game with Laidlaw.

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Laidlaw didn't play badly (swift-ish service and 100% goal kicking), but in Antoine Dupont, Toulouse (and the France XV) have one of the best scrum halves in the world so wee Greig was made to look just average. Dupont was at the heart of the Toulouse attack, making telling breaks and breaking tackles and creating space for his backs.
Richie played well when he came on early in the second half and must now surely be in Townsend's plans for Japan.

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:Gray Snr wins battle of the Scots in France. Seen some criticism of the Clermont halves which include Laidlaw. Didn't watch it so can't comment on his performance.

You just can't play a fast paced game with Laidlaw.

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If that is brand new information for the Clermont coaches they need shot.

francoisfou wrote: Richie played well when he came on early in the second half and must now surely be in Townsend's plans for Japan.

National side are now in camp as of today I think. We will find out if he is in the plans or not. Infuriatingly I suspect not.

Yep, I'd like to see it but I thought that ship had already sailed.

francoisfou wrote:

Adder wrote:

Big D wrote:Gray Snr wins battle of the Scots in France. Seen some criticism of the Clermont halves which include Laidlaw. Didn't watch it so can't comment on his performance.

You just can't play a fast paced game with Laidlaw.

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Laidlaw didn't play badly (swift-ish service and 100% goal kicking), but in Antoine Dupont, Toulouse (and the France XV) have one of the best scrum halves in the world so wee Greig was made to look just average. Dupont was at the heart of the Toulouse attack, making telling breaks and breaking tackles and creating space for his backs.
Richie played well when he came on early in the second half and must now surely be in Townsend's plans for Japan.

I watched it as I was in France until Sunday, and I agree. Greig's service was mainly much quicker than he shows for Scotland. It made me wonder if his problems with Scotland aren't at least partly down to the quality of presentation and the state of readiness of players to take the pass (or at least his confidence in their state of readiness). He did seem to slow down quite a lot in the lead-up to being hooked, though.
One impression that I did get was that his tactical kicking was poor, and led to the first Toulouse try as well as a number of dangerous counter-attacks.

I can't say that Gray stuck out for me particularly.

SHC has signed with Racing 92

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Dunbar is supposedly off to Brives.

Sounds about right. Shame.

Really thought he’d be world class at one point.

They've been promoted so not going to write him off just yet. He's only 29 - he can turn it around surely.

It is quite concerning that we've produced players that have genuinely hit "world class" level in a season or or two only to disappear into the abyss - Ryan Grant is another that springs to mind.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:They've been promoted so not going to write him off just yet. He's only 29 - he can turn it around surely.

It is quite concerning that we've produced players that have genuinely hit "world class" level in a season or or two only to disappear into the abyss - Ryan Grant is another that springs to mind.

I think barring injuries that Dunbar is done at international level. Could still have a few solid years left in him as a club player IMO. It is clear that injuries have robbed him of a lot of what made him good.

Grant was a strange one, a purple patch followed by a drop off. The law change certainly hurt him and he didn't seem to react well to it.

Big D wrote:

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:They've been promoted so not going to write him off just yet. He's only 29 - he can turn it around surely.

It is quite concerning that we've produced players that have genuinely hit "world class" level in a season or or two only to disappear into the abyss - Ryan Grant is another that springs to mind.

I think barring injuries that Dunbar is done at international level. Could still have a few solid years left in him as a club player IMO. It is clear that injuries have robbed him of a lot of what made him good.

Grant was a strange one, a purple patch followed by a drop off. The law change certainly hurt him and he didn't seem to react well to it.

But how has Dunbar gone from Scotland international to surplus to requirements at a relegated GP team in 8 months? Injuries taking their toll isn't something that just appears one day - you see them get less and less effective as time goes on. I think there's something more to this.

If you mean the scrum law changes - I agree to an extent but that doesn't explain why his all-round game deteriorated so much. It's not the Glasgow environment either as he didn't make an impact at Edinburgh or Worcester either.

Sorry to derail the thread - maybe one for another topic.

But you could also argue that with the two Scottish clubs becoming more successful we just cannot afford out-of-form players the opportunity to play their way back into form.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Sorry to derail the thread - maybe one for another topic.

But you could also argue that with the two Scottish clubs becoming more successful we just cannot afford out-of-form players the opportunity to play their way back into form.

Keeping it semi relevant to topic, I think Dunbar for example has been showing signs of dropping off for a while. And combined with the fact he isn't necessarily the best fit for the Rennie system v wages he could command then I think Dunbar is better off moving on.

Dunbars biggest issue is his movement other than in straight lines from try line to try line has been severely compromised by his knee injuries.

Confirmed on the Midi Olympique's rugbyrama site:

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/transfer ... tory.shtml

Johnnie Beattie has left Bayonne despite having a year to run on his playing contract, part-time coaching with them and having settled his young family there.

He must have had an offer from somewhere? Could he be coming home?

You sure? He is on their team sheet for next season ( published last Wednesday)

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Yup. You will have to translate the finer details though.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... is/1037521

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:Yup. You will have to translate the finer details though.

https://www.lequipe.fr/Rugby/Actualites ... is/1037521

Legit

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That's an interesting move for him. I wonder whether he has written off his international hopes after the World Cup?

I don’t see that that’s even up for debate is it? Surely he can’t expect to be involved when playing in SA?


My question would be whether he’s calling time with Sale because he knows he can likely head home before the RWC.

Mikey Brown wrote:I don’t see that that’s even up for debate is it? Surely he can’t expect to be involved when playing in SA?


My question would be whether he’s calling time with Sale because he knows he can likely head home before the RWC.

Jones was picked whilst over there.

But at his age, he and we should move on unless a real emergency.

Alex Dunbar has been picked for Brive's starting XV in tomorrow's Top14 match at Agen.
His centre partner is Stuart Olding.

francoisfou wrote:Alex Dunbar has been picked for Brive's starting XV in tomorrow's Top14 match at Agen.
His centre partner is Stuart Olding.

And he scored his side's only try in a 10-16 loss.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is on the Racing bench now at home to Castres (currently 17-0 to Racing)