Gilchrist's Whitelock experience

Young Grant Gilchrist will start his first Heino match vs London Irish this weekend. The 21-yr attributes part of his meteoric rise to the infleunce of another young lock, a world cup medal holder, 23-yr old Sam Whitelock: Whitelock mentoring - all came about as part of the MacPhail scholarship that also appears to have done great things for Harry Leonard, with John Barclay as the first recipient some years back

As you know, I'm very (perhaps sadly) excited by young Gilchrist. Big physical young player who seems to like to get involved in the rough stuff (unlike Turnbull whose early promise is yet to materialise). If Gilchrist keeps going on this trajectory then Scotland have a potentially great second row unit in the making: Gilchrist and Gray.

My eyes will be glued to the screen this weekend.

fES

Similar coverage in the Herald: Gilchrist relishes time in NZ

Not a bad place for finishing school New Zealand. The MacPhail scholarship is an excellent program, let's hope Leonard can also show us the benefits this weekend.