Bennett rejoins Warriors

Teenage future superstar, Mark Bennett, is to rejoin Glasgow Warrios on loan from ASM Clermont-Auvergne till the end of the season - Glasgow's back division gets even stronger - great news

Sorry As, have asked the mods to take my post down.

Well there is a bolt from the blue, didn't see that one coming. Shows his hunger, would have been easy for him to remain at Clermont. Great news for the Glasgow squad, lets see if he is as good as we all hope!

I wonder if, Mark Bennett turns out as good as expected, would Glasgow be able to make a permanant move for him?

I feel sorry for Edinburgh fans at the minute, ok they had the semi final last year, but since they have been watching a poor team, while their closest rivales are going from strenght to strength.

Glasgow could become a real force, soon. (they are doing well at the minute, but I think they could step up a level)

Joyous news. Bennett and Maitland to come into the backs- should see Glasgow consistent enough to nail down another spot in the playoffs. Good for the league to have Scottish representation there.

The good thing is we have Ulster, Glasgow and Scarlets all in good form but you'd also expect Munster, Leinster and Ospreys to make a run.

It's gonna be a competitive second half of the season.

Kingshu wrote:I wonder if, Mark Bennett turns out as good as expected, would Glasgow be able to make a permanant move for him?

I feel sorry for Edinburgh fans at the minute, ok they had the semi final last year, but since they have been watching a poor team, while their closest rivales are going from strenght to strength.

Glasgow could become a real force, soon. (they are doing well at the minute, but I think they could step up a level)

Agreed Kingshu, right now Glasgow are a stubborn outfit - but, with the players brought in, they have the potential to move up a level. It will be interesting to see how Benentt goes; he has been labelled as something of a savior from such a young age. I think he will make an impact, from what I have seen of him at various youth levels he looks like he has what it takes.

Potential Glasgow backline:

Cusiter/Matawalu
Weir/Rhubarb
Maitland
Dunbar
Bennett
DTH
Hogg

None to shabby!

If Glasgow do keep him, and have a good summer, ie if they lose anyone they replace they with equal or better. I see them moving up a level.

Current level is play off contenders, next summer they could be seen as Title contenders.

A good draw in H-cup could see them go well.

Only think I hold against Glasgow is crowd numbers, they should be getting an average of 8000, (I know Scotstoun can't hold that for everygame yet) but should be the target, a feel good factor and a well advertised winning team should help pull in the crowds.

EST wrote:

Kingshu wrote:I wonder if, Mark Bennett turns out as good as expected, would Glasgow be able to make a permanant move for him?

I feel sorry for Edinburgh fans at the minute, ok they had the semi final last year, but since they have been watching a poor team, while their closest rivales are going from strenght to strength.

Glasgow could become a real force, soon. (they are doing well at the minute, but I think they could step up a level)

Agreed Kingshu, right now Glasgow are a stubborn outfit - but, with the players brought in, they have the potential to move up a level. It will be interesting to see how Benentt goes; he has been labelled as something of a savior from such a young age. I think he will make an impact, from what I have seen of him at various youth levels he looks like he has what it takes.

Potential Glasgow backline:

Cusiter/Matawalu
Weir/Rhubarb
Maitland
Dunbar
Bennett
DTH
Hogg

None to shabby!

Oh hell yeah to that lineup

He shouldn't have gone in the first place. Fair enough, it shows his ambition but Clermont have a couple of All Blacks they can play at 13 when they aren't playing the guy who is ploughing the daughter of the mayor of Montferrand.

Good to see Bennett back at Glasgow either way and, hopefully, he signs a permanent contract at the end of the year. I can't help but think he would be playing for Scotland had he stayed. I'm also hoping this will settle the Glasgow back-line a bit more, i.e. keep Dunbar at 12 with Bennett at 13.

It's going to be Dunbar/Bennett vs Scott/De Luca in the 1872 cup. I can't help but think that the core of the Scotland team will start to shift from being Edinburgh based to Glasgow based. I'm starting to look forward to the six nations when we may at last compete for the title with Maitland and Bennett on board. Obviously if Bennett's any good but surely being at Clermont will have improved him.

Glasgow should be looking to win the Rabo this year, they've definitely got the squad to do it. Keep their form up until the new year and then hopefully improve as injured players return.

15 - Hogg
14 - Maitland
13 - Bennett
12 - Dunbar
11 - DTH
10 - Weir
9 - Cusiter
8 - Strauss
7 - Barclay
6 - Harley
5 - Kellock
4 - Swinson
3 - Cusack
2 - MacArthur
1 - Grant

16 - Hall / Gillies
17 - Welsh / Reid
18 - Low / Kalman
19 - Ryder / Eddie / Campbell
20 - Wilson / Fusaro / Eddie / McDonald
21 - Matawalu / Prygos / Kennedy
22 - Jackson / Wright
23 - Horne / Lamont / Murchie / Lamont / Seymour / Paris

Now to get Gray back.

Id say Gray is really starting to regret leaving Glasgow. Glasgow are now a team to be feared in the Rabo. When is Maitland arriving? Will he be making his debut against Leinster?

Yes great so see that Bennett will hopefully, if Toonie selects him,finally get a chance to play pro rugby on a regular basis.

However given that his preferred midfield has been Horne at 12 and Dunbar at 13, either Toonie has to accept that he has been playing Dunbar out of position or drop him for Bennett. If he does the latter then that will stall Dunbar's progress. If he does the former he will be admitting he has been getting his selections wrong, not something that most inexperienced coaches are willing to do.

Last week a midfield of Nathan at 12 and Dunbar at 13 went very well so we will have to watch this space. Although as soon as Horne is available Nathan will be told to grow his beard some more and watch the matches from the stands.
Personally i thought Dunbar had a bigger impact playing at 12 last season and i would love to see a midfield of Dunbar and Bennett being given time to settle as the first choice combo.

Gray just chose a really, really poor team to leave for. He could be playing for a top European side. He would not look at all out of place in a team like Leinster or Clermont Auvergne. If he's going to play for a team like Sale, he might as well be back with his hometown club. He's not going to be going further in Europe than he would with Glasgow and he would have more chance of a domestic playoff.

I wonder what will happen when Sale don't make the Heineken Cup...

sensisball wrote:Yes great so see that Bennett will hopefully, if Toonie selects him,finally get a chance to play pro rugby on a regular basis.

However given that his preferred midfield has been Horne at 12 and Dunbar at 13, either Toonie has to accept that he has been playing Dunbar out of position or drop him for Bennett. If he does the latter then that will stall Dunbar's progress. If he does the former he will be admitting he has been getting his selections wrong, not something that most inexperienced coaches are willing to do.

Last week a midfield of Nathan at 12 and Dunbar at 13 went very well so we will have to watch this space. Although as soon as Horne is available Nathan will be told to grow his beard some more and watch the matches from the stands.
Personally i thought Dunbar had a bigger impact playing at 12 last season and i would love to see a midfield of Dunbar and Bennett being given time to settle as the first choice combo.

Completely agree - this is tremendous news.

FES - your comments please.

Lots of competition here now:

9 - Cus/Niko
10 - Rhubarb/the Meatball/Wight
12 - Horne/Nathan/Bennett
13 - Dunbar/Hogg
11 - Maitland/Schlong
14 - DTH/[no competition, really]
15 - Rory Lamont/Hogg

Add this backline to a pack that has Grant and Cusack in the front row, Kellock and Swinson in the second row and Strauss, Fusaro and Barclay as loosies and this Glasgow team is shaping up for a lot of this in the future:

GC, you are absolutely right, fES is noticeable by his absence on this tread - I can only assume that he is too busy celebrating this joyous news

Now who will young Bennett pass the bucket and spade on to next?

sensisball wrote:Yes great so see that Bennett will hopefully, if Toonie selects him,finally get a chance to play pro rugby on a regular basis.

However given that his preferred midfield has been Horne at 12 and Dunbar at 13, either Toonie has to accept that he has been playing Dunbar out of position or drop him for Bennett. If he does the latter then that will stall Dunbar's progress. If he does the former he will be admitting he has been getting his selections wrong, not something that most inexperienced coaches are willing to do.

Last week a midfield of Nathan at 12 and Dunbar at 13 went very well so we will have to watch this space. Although as soon as Horne is available Nathan will be told to grow his beard some more and watch the matches from the stands.
Personally i thought Dunbar had a bigger impact playing at 12 last season and i would love to see a midfield of Dunbar and Bennett being given time to settle as the first choice combo.

I agree regarding Dunbar at 12, he seemed to have more of an impact there last season. I hope Toonie plays Dunbar and Bennett, I think that partnership has a lot of balance and potential; Dunbar makes a lot of half breaks - Bennett is just the type of player to latch onto those and put our growing list of quality wingers away.

George Carlin wrote:

sensisball wrote:Yes great so see that Bennett will hopefully, if Toonie selects him,finally get a chance to play pro rugby on a regular basis.

However given that his preferred midfield has been Horne at 12 and Dunbar at 13, either Toonie has to accept that he has been playing Dunbar out of position or drop him for Bennett. If he does the latter then that will stall Dunbar's progress. If he does the former he will be admitting he has been getting his selections wrong, not something that most inexperienced coaches are willing to do.

Last week a midfield of Nathan at 12 and Dunbar at 13 went very well so we will have to watch this space. Although as soon as Horne is available Nathan will be told to grow his beard some more and watch the matches from the stands.
Personally i thought Dunbar had a bigger impact playing at 12 last season and i would love to see a midfield of Dunbar and Bennett being given time to settle as the first choice combo.

Completely agree - this is tremendous news.

FES - your comments please.

Lots of competition here now:

9 - Cus/Niko
10 - Rhubarb/the Meatball/Wight
12 - Horne/Nathan/Bennett
13 - Dunbar/Hogg
11 - Maitland/Schlong
14 - DTH/[no competition, really]
15 - Rory Lamont/Hogg

Add this backline to a pack that has Grant and Cusack in the front row, Kellock and Swinson in the second row and Strauss, Fusaro and Barclay as loosies and this Glasgow team is shaping up for a lot of this in the future:

You are forgetting Jon Welsh, Murray Low and Tom Ryder to add to the pack esp Welsh and Low propping. Given the form Scott Wight has been showing at FH and Jackson (kicking apart) interesting to see how Wee Dunky responds as he must be on the way back to fitness now. Add Henry Pyrgos at SH who looked not out of place v the ABs on Sunday for 10 mins anyway

Richie Gray went for the money to Sale. We should be getting their owner, Brian Kennedy, involved at Scotstoun as he was prepared to waste vasts sums of money with Wendyball Rangers prior to their demise and he is a rugby man at heart (head?). Then we could cut off SRU ties and get Sean Lineen back - although I admit Townsend has pleasantly surprised me so far !

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:GC, you are absolutely right, fES is noticeable by his absence on this tread - I can only assume that he is too busy celebrating this joyous news

Now who will young Bennett pass the bucket and spade on to next?

I'm just a tad confused.

When I explained why his move to Clermont was a monumentally stupid move for all concerned, you all told me I had cracked my head, failing to see that he would reap the long-term benefits and become a world class player at Clermont, learning things there that he could nowhere else.

I pointed out that he wouldn't get a sniff of proper rugby, and would fall behind the Scotland players of his age who sensibly opted to stay in Scotland, getting exposure to top flight rugby, including HC rugby, and in some cases international rugby. I was told I was wrong.

Now he is coming back with his tail between his legs, having played no senior level rugby of note, everyone seems to be delighted! What happened to the idea of him staying at Clermont and becoming one of the great European backs?? Is that now widely accepted as a silly idea?

I welcome this news. The sooner he gets back to Scotland and gets playing real rugby the better. Hopefully Clermont will make the loan permanent at the end of the season. We can't afford seeing top talent go to waste, and with Maitland, DTH and Hogg surrounding him he has plenty of top quality players to learn from in Glasgow.

I hope the message is now clear to our young talented players. Stay in Scotland, you'll get great opportunities and there are plenty top quality players to learn from. If you want to see the world and move elsewhere, deliver on the pitch first in Scotland, earn your caps from here, then move as an established international. Much better for all concerned.

FES old socks - I suspect that the first four of those paragraphs are overstatements of the actual position but I'm certainly glad if you're glad he's here.

I do think Glasgow are missing a top quality number 4 - the guys they have are solid, if unspectacular pros. As has been said if Richie Gray was still there, then oh my!

Am pretty jealous from an Edinburgh point of view. I don't think there's much to choose between the first choice backlines - it's the back up that Glasgow stands head and shoulders above Edinburgh.

Case in point the winger - we have Visser, Jones, Brown, Fife, Visser jnr and Penn. 1 top class winger, 2 decent wingers then young pups

Glasgow have Maitland, Shlong, Rlong, DTH, Seymor - 5 top class wingers

George Carlin wrote:FES old socks - I suspect that the first four of those paragraphs are overstatements of the actual position but I'm certainly glad if you're glad he's here.

I'm genuinely delighted, it's a win:win situation for me.

If he's as good as ASBO thinks he is, then both Glasgow and Scotland will have the best player of all time on their hands. He'll be so good we don't even have to worry about picking 14 other players.

If he stinks, (a) it'll help Edinburgh win the derby and keep 21st Century quiet for a wee while, and (b) I can forever more gloat on here. In fact I may even move to Exeter and rename myself "told you so"

RDW_Scotland wrote:I do think Glasgow are missing a top quality number 4 - the guys they have are solid, if unspectacular pros. As has been said if Richie Gray was still there, then oh my!

Am pretty jealous from an Edinburgh point of view. I don't think there's much to choose between the first choice backlines - it's the back up that Glasgow stands head and shoulders above Edinburgh.

Case in point the winger - we have Visser, Jones, Brown, Fife, Visser jnr and Penn. 1 top class winger, 2 decent wingers then young pups

Glasgow have Maitland, Shlong, Rlong, DTH, Seymor - 5 top class wingers

The key for me from an Edinburgh perspective is to get Farndale and Fife more game time on the wings. Both those guys have real potential, and we ought to use them more. There's enough talent there to build depth from within.

The real difference between the sides is in the pack, where most of the Edinburgh players have been below par this season.

Cusack, Hall and Grant have been the best front row players in their respective positions in Scotland, in the case of Cusack and Grant by some distance. That's been a telling difference.

At the time he left morale in the Warriors squad was very low. They had ended the season propping up the table and the SRU instead of investing were determined to cut the wage bill. At least one of the players agents was saying that pro rugby was over in Scotland.

It's unbeleivable to look back and see how far pro rugby has come in the last 18 months, long may it continue!

I'm sure I read somewhere that Richie has a release clause in his contract, so he can go elsewhere if Sale don't qualify for the HC.

fES,

he won't stink. He is a very good centre. Saw him play a couple of times for Ayr including the Scot Cup Final v Melrose - where he was very good indeed (so was Scott Wight for Melrose that day too). Think he probably was badly advised in going to Clermont but he will learn from that.

As to the 1872 - bring it on with a backline of Hogg, Maitland, Bennet, Dunbar, DTH, Jackson/Wight, Cusiter/Matawalu and our murderous pack who do we have to fear !!!

I'm pretty sure his contract says if Sale don't qualify for the HK in 2 seasons he can leave. Not sure if this season counts or if it is next season 2. I suspect it will be if he has more than 2 years not playing in the HK he can leave - which means a minimum of 2.5 years until he can leave for just now I suppose.

He'll still only be 26 or so by then so plenty time of his career left!

He really must be gutted about his decision though....

Now, now, fES, old boy, no need to let facts get in the way of your version of events then, eh?! Bennett has undoubtedly benefited from his time with Clermont - he has progressed thru U19 to U21 to U23 where he is a bit of a star player, and has been pushing for a place in the full squad. The fact that he can't break in thru Rougerie, Fofana, and two former ABs is far from the failure that you'd like to paint it, and the fact that a coach of the calibre of Vern Cotter is keen to see him getting first team gametime speaks volumes.

You know that you'll always be welcome down in Devon, and I'll even prepare a special dish of humble pie for your visit!

In fear of incurring the Bennett related wrath of fEs, I still think that going to Clermont was the best move - if offered the opportunity at the end of this season, I would personally go back.

Fair enough, Hogg and Weir (his closet contemporaries at Glasgow) have a season of Pro rugby behind them, but the lad is still only 19 - he has loads of time on his side. The experience of learning from the likes of Rougerie, Fofana, Stanley and King, in my opinion, will stand him in better stead than a season of playing for Glasgow and training with Morrison, Dunbar and Nathan.

In saying all of this, i'm delighted he is back - looking forward to seeing if he can prove himself on the pitch.

Really hope Bennett goes well.

Richies release clause isn't worth anything then. Didn't he sign up for 3 years?

I think he is 3 years, but if it meant that if they didn't actually manage to qualify this year and failed again next year he could move. He signed it before Sale had secured qualification for this year.

Yes, but they did qualify for this year, so now he has to give them 2 years to try again so either way he now has to finish his 3 years.

Err does that make any sense?

That's what I was meaning- if they hadn't qualified this year he could have left sooner.

Yes, thats what I meant too.

I'll get my coat.

I'd say there would have been a relegration clause, or if not Sale may want him off the books if then went into championship, If Glasgow want him back, they should hope Sales form continues.Dlasgow have some depth now even Troy Nathan isn't getting a game!

Glasgow build good squad get some really good Players, move to Scotstoun Stadium, some exciting players as well, just look at the players in this season
Angus Macdonald
Tim Swinson
Viliami Ma'afu
Sean Lamont
Taylor Paris
Nikola Matawalu
Josh Strauss
Sean Maitland

The Lamont's back and Maitland are big pluses, if Glasgow can fill Scotstoun now they will be th ecomplete team, ready to push up to among the best in Europe

13th in Euro table but should break into top 10.
It would be an exciting time to be a Glasgow fan, things are finally being put in place by the SRU

Who is this Bennett character anyway?

Is that the same guy who had a games for the Warriors and then decided pro rugby for a HC cup qualified team and current Pro 12 Playoff team wasn't good enough and decided to go back to playing age grade rugby on the continent?

Maitland doesn't leave NZ till the 23rd of November, so he'll be on his way when we play Leinster and it'll probably be too short a turn around to get him involved in the Munster game a week later. That would mean that he potentially makes his debut against Edinburgh on the 21st!

That would be 3 pro12 games and a couple in the HC before the 6N next year

Another reason to be glad that Bennett went abroad would be the treatment handed out to Alex Blair - a youngster with much promise gets injured and is shown the door come the end of the season

Bennett chose Claremont mainly for financial reasons. He was offered a pitiful contract (in pro rugby terms) by the SRU. Old Regime just offered all youngsters the same contract, arrogantly thinking the almost gurantee of first team games and international honours (A team) would be enough to get kids to sign.

Bennet was the first to have real options elsewhere and chose to double his money abroad, while gaining experience living abroad.

Under the current regime, I would bet that this situation would never have arisen and Bennet would have 20+ games under his belt by this point.

Lets just hope he is 1/2 as good as the amount of column inches he has taken up! I am sure he will be..

Anyway chaps stops me bickering with the Edinburgh Young Conservatives on the Int forum !!!

PS Asbo

the top lip is now like a young Merv Hughes effort (remember the Aussie quickie bowler). Mrs 21st none too happy and avoids me. Anyway I feel chuffed after only 2 weeks effort !

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Another reason to be glad that Bennett went abroad would be the treatment handed out to Alex Blair - a youngster with much promise gets injured and is shown the door come the end of the season

Word from inside Murrayfield was ABlair had a serious attitude problem. Living off his brothers coat tails and not putting in the work.

Also think he was a unique case in that he was fairly screwed physically - lots of long term injuries that might have meant he would never be able to cope with pro rugby.

He's only just got back to playing after over 2 years, which is a long time to be paying someone.

It doesn't quite sit right, but you can maybe understand why they let him go.

Blair's had no luck. He tore a hammie with Accies in late October, so I'm guessing that he's still out.

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Another reason to be glad that Bennett went abroad would be the treatment handed out to Alex Blair - a youngster with much promise gets injured and is shown the door come the end of the season

Ouch - the sound of a barrel being scraped....

I think DOT is probably right. Bennett rated himself very highly, wanted to earn more money and was disappointed that the SRU didn't role out the red carpet. Personally, assuming he's half as good as most seem to think he is, I think they should have. Some players are better than others and strategically more important to keep. We should have done more to keep Bennett on these shores.

Thankfully he's been discarded sooner rather than later, and at 19, the damage will be quickly erased by a couple of strong performances in the Rabo. It took Stuart Hogg roughly 5 games in the Rabo to show us that he had the skills, so there's no reason why Bennett can't play himself into international contention in short order (assuming he gets picked of course).

He seems to be talking about it as if it's pretty permanent on twitter, hopefully Clermont will have added to him as a rugby player and Glasgow and Scotland will get years of quality as a result

LeinsterFan4life wrote:Id say Gray is really starting to regret leaving Glasgow. Glasgow are now a team to be feared in the Rabo.

I'd say that Gray will be lucky to get on the Lions Tour at this rate. It may be the case that he was more of a big fish in a small pond playing in the Rabo but the odds are really against him when he's playing for relegation candidates in the Premiership and wooden-spoon candidates internationally. It's a bit of a shame but I think he may well be overlooked in favour of a player who has performed in the Heineken Cup knock-out stages or won away in Paris for the national team. John Barclay missed selection for the 2009 Lions and he looked like a world-class player at that stage. Now he's fallen way off that. Hopefully Gray doesn't follow suit.

As for Glasgow in the Rabo, we've made the play-offs a couple of times based on pretty awesome away form but missed out on home semi-finals really due to a lack of try-bonus points. With Toonie looking like he might actually not be as horrible a coach as everyone expected him to be, a decent set of centres (i.e. not Henderson, Morrison or Dewey) and one of the best back-threes on paper in the league, I would expect Glasgow to be getting a home semi-final. Given that the Heineken Cup has already gone for Glasgow and Leinster have slipped up a couple of times in the Rabo final in recent years, I don't think winning the Rabo is beyond the realms of possibility for this team. Then again, Bennett and Maitland may end up turning up and not being that interested...

Dorothy_Mantooth wrote:Bennett chose Claremont mainly for financial reasons. He was offered a pitiful contract (in pro rugby terms) by the SRU. Old Regime just offered all youngsters the same contract, arrogantly thinking the almost gurantee of first team games and international honours (A team) would be enough to get kids to sign.

Is that simply based on speculation? Very much doubt Clermont offer foreign youth players lucrative contracts.

He was offered the chance to go and develop at one of the best clubs in Europe, which has a better youth system than Scotland and where he can learn from genuinely World Class players. They'll want him back at the end of the season, may have had limited opportunities so far but he's still young and Fofana didn't really break into Clermont 1st XV until he was 22.

Delighted he's at Glasgow for this season but would love to see him become first choice at Clermont with Fofana over the next few seasons and be competing for Top 14 titles or Heineken Cups.

According to 123456789 Bennett on Twitter is suggesting the move is pretty permanent, which is what I'd expect.

He was injured most of last season, and now he's fit, they've sent him back. I don't think we'll be seeing him and Fofana forging the next great European centre partnership. The hype on Bennett is frankly ludicrous, given he hasn't played professional rugby properly yet!

Perhaps there is a fair bit of hype around him on this forum, fES, that is true, but knowledgeable rugby commentators (coaches, former players, etc) have also been singing his praises and building the lad up - I would be surprised if they are all wrong too. I actually don't think there's much wrong with hoping that his talent is fulfilled - 13 is a (relative) weakness for Scotland right now, so if he can ultimately take the shirt and deliver, then all to the good. Now, back to work, ye grumpy git!!!

I'm on the FES camp with this one - I'd be delighted if he was the next superstar but will wait until I see him playing regular pro rugby before commenting!

Plenty stand out under 20 players haven't made the step up - let's hope he's different.