RugbyRebels

Looks like John Hardie will be looking for a club as Clermont have released him for being too injury prone and also as there is Alexander Fischer, a New Zealander who ticks all the boxes regarding a back row jackal.
Would Glasgow or Edinburgh be interested in signing him?

https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/top-14/2 ... tory.shtml

I agree Watson is the only definite in that backrow but he's not particularly small for a seven and has some power. I think the dream would be a Wilson or Barclay at six and then a Vermeulan/Vunipola type at 8 but in terms of balance could live with

6- Watson
7 - Barclay/Wilson/Thomson
8 - Thomson/Ashe/Bradbury/Fagerson

Obviously, one of the big young guns could pack down at 6 too with Wilson at 8 if it's thought that he's better off the base. Incidentally the big carrier is mitigated slightly with an on form McInally at 2 (though he seems to be playing every game at the mo!)

I always feel like Wilson is at his best when he's a sub or has been dropped for a game, like he needs to feel like he's always got something to prove. Also he's a way better 6 than 8.

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Not technically the correct thread but it's vaguely relevant to the conversation.

Zach Mercer talking to Jim Hamilton here.

ZM: Growing up, yes. Obviously, I grew up in Scotland because of what my dad did, and I went to Merchiston. There were ambitions to stay in Scotland, too. I played for Scotland U16’s and U17’s and I did the U18’s a year early, but I didn’t get picked for that squad. Then the year after, my age group for the U18’s, I didn’t hear from Edinburgh or Glasgow [Warriors] regarding contracts and then Bath came calling. Danny Grewcock was on the phone and then he came up to Edinburgh to see me. So, when a Premiership club came calling, I thought I’d be silly not to take it. I was still hoping I’d play for Scotland that U18’s season, but the squad got announced and I wasn’t in it. I was a bit surprised.

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/big-jims ... ach-mercer

I hadn't realised he'd grown up in Scotland and played age grade. The way he played at the weekend and all this chat of us needing a number 8, I sort of wish I hadn't read this.

prett sure he has been capped

whatisthejava wrote:prett sure he has been capped

No, not capped yet. He was close to getting a cap last autumn but got injured and fell down the order.

It's not on the cards anymore, I just hadn't realised it was even a possibility at one point. I hadn't seen what all the fuss was about until recently though.

He was no longer eligible the day he left the country. Not one to dwell on.

Jesus Christ fuck off. I just thought it was interesting. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

Mikey Brown wrote:Jesus Christ fuck off. I just thought it was interesting. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.

Now, now Rowanito....

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Just out of interest, who made the squad instead?

2 Tries 2 Pens 2 Conversions for Wee Dunc at Welford Road so far today

Croft_No.5 wrote:2 Tries 2 Pens 2 Conversions for Wee Dunc at Welford Road so far today

Nice. Seems he is off injured now

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switchskier wrote:Just out of interest, who made the squad instead?

To answer my own question it looks like either a Northampton academy player (Onajaife - who I think was realeased this summer) or a Worcester academy player (Dodd - who I know nothing about), with Crosbue being the other around the same age. Seems pretty daft when you read the bit of the interview below:


JH: And how was he? I know he was emotionally-invested in the Scottish Rugby Union, I don’t know if he left on good or bad terms, but what direction was he pointing you in?

ZM: Yeah, obviously he was quite high up. He worked with Glasgow and the U20’s, but unfortunately, he left on bad terms, just in regard to who was in charge there, and he had disagreements about me, too, which was an influence.
Scotland weren’t happy that I’d decided to sign for Bath and leave, but after that scenario he was like “right, bugger off, go play well down there, play for England and make them regret not offering you a contract earlier” and god knows where I’d be now if that had been the case. I’d probably still be up in Edinburgh or Glasgow, playing rugby for them.

Would he really have accepted an academy contract with the Bath offer on the table?

Mini Fagerson played u20s in that age group too IIRC. So he'd had been in the SRUs thoughts back then even if an age group below.

The SRU are pretty strict on only offering young guys academy deals, especially 17/18 year olds. It is also the reason Vellacott stayed at Gloucs apparently.

With only so many pro spaces available this man just a side effect.

I can't say I've ever felt Weir is an international but I always enjoy it when he plays well. Looks quite handy here.

http://sport.bt.com/highlights-leiceste ... 4297528564

Certainly enjoyed this more than the highlights from the Scottish teams.

Denton over for a try from a metre out, but pretty much the only thing I have seen from him at any point this season is him flailing around or being in the wrong place defensively.

Worcester battering Bristol. Presumably it’s 100% because Duncan Weir has been reinstated to the team.

Only watched the second half but weir was pretty controlled although they let Bristol have the ball

They have quite a strange pattern in attack. More often then not, their inside Center fills in at fly half. Duncan tends to be used more at second receiver.

He nearly scored today but Barnes thought the advantage wasn't going anywhere and whistles too early. When he realised his mistake he said:"sorry Duncan".

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Does anyone know how Gary Graham is going this season? I'd forgotten about him until I read Jones is looking at poaching some Welsh lad that plays openside for Worcester. I guess until he's ineligible to play for us, he still counts.

Consistently getting picked at 6 for Newcastle this season. Looks the same abrasive sort of all rounder that you’d expect, but not noticed him tearing up trees.

One thing that’s stuck in my head is Andy Goode talking on his podcast about him, I think his words were “he’s properly fucking hard”. I just wonder how many players in the Scotland pack would be spoken about in that way. I’m not suggesting that makes him an automatic pick, but I still feel we’re short a real tough bastard.

I find the whole Gary Graham thing hilarious, doing a media piece holding an England shirt, chatting about how he'd love to beat Scotland. If he was ever capped by England he'd only have been a 1 -2 cap player that disappeared into the international wilderness soon after anyway.

If I was a betting man I'd guess Gary will be capped by us ahead of England. He surely must have realised by now he has no chance of England selection and we're only a couple of injuries away from him being invited to the squad.

Mikey Brown wrote:Consistently getting picked at 6 for Newcastle this season. Looks the same abrasive sort of all rounder that you’d expect, but not noticed him tearing up trees.

One thing that’s stuck in my head is Andy Goode talking on his podcast about him, I think his words were “he’s properly fucking hard”. I just wonder how many players in the Scotland pack would be spoken about in that way. I’m not suggesting that makes him an automatic pick, but I still feel we’re short a real tough bastard.

Cheers. I can't remember the last player we had that was 'proper fucking hard'. Toony said he was still a player we were watching even after training with England, watch this space I suppose.

hugh_woatmeigh wrote:I find the whole Gary Graham thing hilarious, doing a media piece holding an England shirt, chatting about how he'd love to beat Scotland. If he was ever capped by England he'd only have been a 1 -2 cap player that disappeared into the international wilderness soon after anyway.

If I was a betting man I'd guess Gary will be capped by us ahead of England. He surely must have realised by now he has no chance of England selection and we're only a couple of injuries away from him being invited to the squad.

I thought he was a bit of a cock at the time but he seems like a fiery kind of guy, it was probably heat of the moment pish egged on by that fud Jones.