New Edinburgh and Glasgow Teams Thread - 2013/2014

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

We exhausted the other thread, so here we go with a new one for all of your pre-season banter needs.
 
1. Edinburgh   
 
Chairman: Jim Calder
CEO: Craig Docherty
Coach: Alan Solomons  
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
 
(a) Squad:
 
Props
Geoff Cross, WP Nel, Lewis Niven, Alasdair Dickinson
 
Hookers
Ross Ford, Steven Lawrie, Aleki Lutui, Alun Walker,
 
Locks
Sean Cox, Grant Gilchrist, Perry Parker, Izak van der Westhuizen, Robert McAlpine,
 
Loose Forwards
Dimitri Basilaia, David Denton, Roddy Grant, Stuart McInally, Ross Rennie, Hamish Watson,
 
Half Backs
Alex Black, Greig Laidlaw, Chris Leck, Harry Leonard, Piers Francis,
 
Centres
Ben Atiga, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, John Houston, Matt Scott,
 
Back Three
Tom Brown, Lee Jones, Greig Tonks, Tim Visser, Nikki Walker, Dougie Fife, Jack Cuthbert
 
(b) Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Nikki Walker from Worcester Warriors
Jack Cuthbert from Bath Rugby
Aleki Lutui from Worcester Warriors
Alasdair Dickinson from Sale Sharks
 
Players Out
 
Richie Rees to Newport Gwent Dragons
Netani Talei to Newport Gwent Dragons
Sep Visser released
Mike Penn to Moseley
Andy Titterrell to London Welsh
John Yapp to London Irish
Allan Jacobsen retired
James King retired
Steven Turnbull retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Alex Allan (Edinburgh Accies)
Chris Auld (Gala)*
Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir)*
Phil Cringle (Heriot’s)
Bruce Dick (Melrose)*
Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies)
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Heriot’s)
Neil Irvine Hess (Watsonians)*
Ewan McQuillin (Gala)*
George Turner (Heriot’s)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Accies)
 
* = new EDP player 
 
2. Glasgow  
 
Chairman: Charles Shaw
CEO: Nathan Bomrys
Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Alastair Kellock
 
(a) Squad:
 
Fraser Brown, Hooker
Finlay Gillies, Hooker
Dougie Hall, Hooker
Pat MacArthur, Hooker
Michael Cusack, Prop
Ryan Grant, Prop
Ed Kalman, Prop
Moray Low, Prop
Gordon Reid, Prop
Jon Welsh, Prop
Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Prop
 
Jonny Gray, Lock
Alastair Kellock, Lock
Tom Ryder, Lock
Tim Swinson, Lock
Leone Nakarawa, Lock
 
James Eddie, Flanker
Chris Fusaro, Flanker
Rob Harley, Flanker
Tyrone Holmes, Flanker
 
Ryan Wilson, Number 8
Richie Vernon, Number 8
Josh Strauss, Number 8
 
Chris Cusiter, Scrum-half
Nikola Matawalu, Scrum-half
Henry Pyrgos, Scrum-half
 
Ruaridh Jackson, Fly-half
Duncan Weir, Fly-half
Scott Wight, Fly-half
 
Gabriel Ascarate, Centre
Mark Bennett, Centre
Alex Dunbar, Centre
Peter Horne, Centre
Byron McGuigan, Centre
 
Sean Lamont, Wing
Sean Maitland, Wing
Tommy Seymour, Wing
D.T.H. van der Merwe, Wing
 
Stuart Hogg, Fullback
Peter Murchie, Fullback
 
(b) Player Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Richie Vernon from Sale Sharks
Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby
Jerry Yanuyanutawa from London Irish
Gabriel Ascarate from US Carcassonne
Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Barbarians
 
Players Out
 
John Barclay to Scarlets
Nick Campbell to Jersey
Ofa Fainga'anuku to Worcester Warriors
Taylor Paris to Agen
Graeme Morrison retired
Rory Lamont retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Gavin Lowe (Ayr)
Rory Hughes (Stirling County)
Jack Steele (Dundee)
Finn Russell (Ayr)
Ali Price (Bedford Blues)
Adam Ashe (Stirling County)
Will Bordill (Sale Sharks)
Andrew Redmayne (Dundee)
Fergus Scott (Currie)
George Hunter (Ayr)
Darcy Rae (Ayr)

[George Carlin]

the more I think about it, the more I realise that we really do talk some pish on here

Yes, we do. But it's quality pish. We are the funniest posters. Fact.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

End of

[jimbopip]

Boys, it's great to be back. Paddling in pish has never been so appealing. Just two small clouds on the horizon...
Joel the introverted prop and second's skipper can't make t'Stoop because he is working at a Beer Festival on Saturday, and he expects us to "drop in" after the game. Altogether now " My dee eye vee oh arsee ee... "
Then next Saturday I get to drag my geriatric carcass out for a pre-season friendly against local rivals Maldon. All those hours at Gilmore Hill trying to translate The Battle of Maldon from Anglo-Saxon and now I'm going to be dying in a re-enactment.
I've even bought new boots and high tech skiddies with a mesh to aireate my crown jewels.  

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Jimbo my son, welcome back to Blighty. What is all this nonsense about self and my chum ASBO being sisters from Govan ? Most of our fellow Scots know that ASBO is from the countrified West West (and further West) End of our fair city and a bloody good bloke too !

I on the other hand hail from the true West End of Glasgow - residing within sound of chucking out bells of Oran Mor, the UB Chip, Tennants and Cottiers and regularly babble in comprehensively on rugby matters to any who may care to listen (most don't). fES has got the rig wrong however. With my Shakin Stevens Special jacket and cuban heels I stride between Byres and Hyndland Roads mixing with my beloved Warrior players - saw Tim Swinson out in his flip flops and sawn offs today btw.

Any way young man you are getting to that dangerous age where 'runnin aboot like a maddy' could seriously effect your drinking time - for god's sake reconsider !      

[George Carlin]

Schiz - when did my beloved Uisge Beatha on Woodlands Road become that pile of old arse biscuits that I was confronted with on a recent trip back home? Just could not believe it.

At least the Stravaign is as good as ever.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Aye George - not what it was. The Halt is still as ever mind you !  

[InjuredYetAgain]

Back on planet earth and in an attempt to reduce the pish-quotient, wtf are Edinburgh going to do? Go uncontested scrums from the first scrum of the season? Even if a replacement has been lined up, he won't have long to train with his fellow forwards to make sure that they are going backwards at the same speed in scrum formation when the opposition give it welly.
Given our recent track record of signings, though, there will be some kid with vague Scottish heritage who plays LH for an under15 side in Adelaide who has shown some potential, lined up.

[InjuredYetAgain]

Has anyone seen or heard from UIG?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Good work, c21st, J-pip and GC!

IYA, he's working his socks off at the moment, I gather, from his twa-tters

[InjuredYetAgain]

.......As a quack, ASBO? Or on his touch line moves?

[jimbopip]

Aye George - not what it was.   The Halt is still as ever mind you !  

Schiz, GC in my student days I pulled pints in the Arlington in Woodlands, run by a totally mad, mental chap called Charlie Sweeney; his one compromise towards his diabetes was to dilute his large whiskies with diet coke. They once organised a football match against The Halt: it was described as The Halt versus The Lame:drumroll: 
Am I hallucinating or do you envisage third FijianWegian interchanging with Rob Harley between second row and no6 during matches? The idea of a six and a half foot sevens player (Fijian at that) appearing on Niko's shoulder in broken play has me feeling quite tingly. Also all five, or none, of our signings wont be playing for Scotland so we can see second FijianWegian-Hall-Cusack, third FijianWegian-Ryder then Strauss -Vernon-Holmes as a pack during international weekends. I would back that against most packs in the Rabo. Vernon and 3rdFW seem to hint at a fast moving offloading gameplan, or rather a development of the gameplan from this season.
Oh how dull and predictable it is to follow the Warriors. Don't you wish you had the constant suspense and mystery that comes with supporting the MFL?

[RDW]

Back on planet earth and in an attempt to reduce the pish-quotient, wtf are Edinburgh going to do? Go uncontested scrums from the first scrum of the season? Even if a replacement has been lined up, he won't have long to train with his fellow forwards to make sure that they are going backwards at the same speed in scrum formation when the opposition give it welly.
Given our recent track record of signings, though, there will be some kid with vague Scottish heritage who plays LH for an under15 side in Adelaide who has shown some potential, lined up.

It's a fair point - even if we do get someone in ASAP it'll take them a few weeks to get up to fitness and engrained in the squad.

And anyway - Dickinson was away with Scotland so technically shouldn't be available at the start of the season! So we have no LH!

Jimbo - if you fancy a change you're welcome to come join us in our misery and uncertainty!

[RDW]

In other news, Craig Chalmers has been appointed backs coach of Esher!

[Janecory]

What is the point of this utterly nonsensical thread.

[George Carlin]

The Arlington? Pioneers of the 'Free Stabbing With Every Pint' promotion?
 
Pip - I agree that with Strauss, Harley, Fozzy, Wilson (when he comes back from injury), Vernon, Ashe, Bordill and Big Nakar there is a lot of mix and match loose forward talent.
 
With Edinburgh, there simply have to be more signings on the way. It's the only option if they're letting Yapp go. He played a hell of a lot last season. Sounds from the press release that he had to head south for family reasons.
 
Anyone know when the new kit is going to be available online? Or when the leisure range for each is coming out? I like the Macon fleece that Mossy is wearing on all of the SRU videos that he's currently plopping out.

[George Carlin]

What is the point of this utterly nonsensical thread.

We're Scots, Janecory - we have long since spurned the need to have a point.
Although to answer your question, the clue is very much in the title to the OP.

[jimbopip]

What is the point of this utterly nonsensical thread.

Obviously the point of this thread is to allow those who have successfully survived a triple -humour- by-pass to look in occasionally and wonder what the point of this thread is.
RDW when next in Edinburgh and suitably attired in my Saville Row cheesecloth dungarees I will gladly join you in your uncertainty and misery, viz "Will he ever buy a round? Nope, it's my turn again."

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

What is the point of this utterly nonsensical thread.

I thought that the title was fairly self-explanatory?

What is the point of your utterly nonsensical post?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

In other news, Craig Chalmers has been appointed backs coach of Esher!

Yep, so he has accepted another appointment that fits in with his work commitments - apparently the commute to Chinnor in traffic was taking double or treble what he'd anticipated and simply making it impossible for him to combine that role with work. Although he claims to feel guilty about leaving Chinnor in the lurch, he states that he wouldn't want to fulfill a role on a half-arsed basis, which I can respect. But he's certainly not appearing at Embra - my money is still on Ally Donaldson

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

.......As a quack, ASBO? Or on his touch line moves?

As a quack, IYA

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Back on planet earth and in an attempt to reduce the pish-quotient, wtf are Edinburgh going to do? Go uncontested scrums from the first scrum of the season? Even if a replacement has been lined up, he won't have long to train with his fellow forwards to make sure that they are going backwards at the same speed in scrum formation when the opposition give it welly.
Given our recent track record of signings, though, there will be some kid with vague Scottish heritage who plays LH for an under15 side in Adelaide who has shown some potential, lined up.

It's a fair point - even if we do get someone in ASAP it'll take them a few weeks to get up to fitness and engrained in the squad.

And anyway - Dickinson was away with Scotland so technically shouldn't be available at the start of the season! So we have no LH!

This is a really odd one, they must have a signing in their pocket else this is madness to let Yapp go - rumours, gentlemen, pls?

[RDW]

Back on planet earth and in an attempt to reduce the pish-quotient, wtf are Edinburgh going to do? Go uncontested scrums from the first scrum of the season? Even if a replacement has been lined up, he won't have long to train with his fellow forwards to make sure that they are going backwards at the same speed in scrum formation when the opposition give it welly.
Given our recent track record of signings, though, there will be some kid with vague Scottish heritage who plays LH for an under15 side in Adelaide who has shown some potential, lined up.

It's a fair point - even if we do get someone in ASAP it'll take them a few weeks to get up to fitness and engrained in the squad.

And anyway - Dickinson was away with Scotland so technically shouldn't be available at the start of the season! So we have no LH!

This is a really odd one, they must have a signing in their pocket else this is madness to let Yapp go - rumours, gentlemen, pls?

I can only hope it is for personal reasons as opposed to Edinburgh choosing to let him go.  Now that would be madness.

I’m all out of rumours unfortunately!

One things for sure - for our pre season friendly on Saturday we will only have 1 loose head, and potentially none if Dickinson is due another couple of weeks pre-season!

[George Carlin]

Heard nowt on Tw@ttersphere about Edinburgh signings lately.
 
Maybe IBD or FES have been able to coax more out of senior SRU representatives over a cheeky little Sancerre or nine in one of the Old Town's rougher luxury wine bars.

[Captain_Sensible]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

[funnyExiledScot]

Heard nowt on Tw@ttersphere about Edinburgh signings lately.
 
Maybe IBD or FES have been able to coax more out of senior SRU representatives over a cheeky little Sancerre or nine in one of the Old Town's rougher luxury wine bars.

Yes. I was out last night with the SRU blazeratti and I can confirm, after a few casual bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild (standard mid-week tipple in Edinburgh), that Edinburgh are "in discussions with a view to potentially considering signing" Thomas Domingo and Tony Woodcock.

Watch this space.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

There's some very good stuff on there, Sensible, I dip in myself only very occasionally (guess my moniker?!). Top review

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Heard nowt on Tw@ttersphere about Edinburgh signings lately.
 
Maybe IBD or FES have been able to coax more out of senior SRU representatives over a cheeky little Sancerre or nine in one of the Old Town's rougher luxury wine bars.

Yes. I was out last night with the SRU blazeratti and I can confirm, after a few casual bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild (standard mid-week tipple in Edinburgh), that Edinburgh are "in discussions with a view to potentially considering signing" Thomas Domingo and Tony Woodcock.

Watch this space.

Would that be for this season, fES, or several seasons hence?

[funnyExiledScot]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

If it's ok with you, I'll wait until I'm home from work before opening a link entitled "artofdomination".......

You have to respect James "the brand" Haskell. Buckets of self-belief that lad. He had an article in the Sunday Times last week, came across as a total boring plank. Still, handy blindside flanker. Despite the nonsense he spouts, I'd take him at Edinburgh in a flash.

[funnyExiledScot]

Heard nowt on Tw@ttersphere about Edinburgh signings lately.
 
Maybe IBD or FES have been able to coax more out of senior SRU representatives over a cheeky little Sancerre or nine in one of the Old Town's rougher luxury wine bars.

Yes. I was out last night with the SRU blazeratti and I can confirm, after a few casual bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild (standard mid-week tipple in Edinburgh), that Edinburgh are "in discussions with a view to potentially considering signing" Thomas Domingo and Tony Woodcock.

Watch this space.

Would that be for this season, fES, or several seasons hence?

2017-2018 season. 5 year deal apparently......

[Captain_Sensible]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

There's some very good stuff on there, Sensible, I dip in myself only very occasionally (guess my moniker?!).  Top review

Borderboy? Or PlanetoftheChimps?

They both might be Embra fans, actually. If memory serves, you're a Weedge.

[Captain_Sensible]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

If it's ok with you, I'll wait until I'm home from work before opening a link entitled "artofdomination".......

You have to respect James "the brand" Haskell. Buckets of self-belief that lad. He had an article in the Sunday Times last week, came across as a total boring plank. Still, handy blindside flanker. Despite the nonsense he spouts, I'd take him at Edinburgh in a flash.

An entirely fair point. We really should change the URL.

[George Carlin]

Heard nowt on Tw@ttersphere about Edinburgh signings lately.
 
Maybe IBD or FES have been able to coax more out of senior SRU representatives over a cheeky little Sancerre or nine in one of the Old Town's rougher luxury wine bars.

Yes. I was out last night with the SRU blazeratti and I can confirm, after a few casual bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild (standard mid-week tipple in Edinburgh), that Edinburgh are "in discussions with a view to potentially considering signing" Thomas Domingo and Tony Woodcock.

Watch this space.

That's astonishingly unequivocal for Edinburgh.
Fully expect Dodson to have signed up Richie McCaw for the 2022-2023 season. Like a fine wine from one of the SRU cellars, our Rich.

[George Carlin]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

Nice piece, Captain. Something I never thought I would say to another man.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

There's some very good stuff on there, Sensible, I dip in myself only very occasionally (guess my moniker?!).  Top review

Borderboy? Or PlanetoftheChimps?

They both might be Embra fans, actually. If memory serves, you're a Weedge.

Neither, much less frequent appearances than them

[Captain_Sensible]

I've written a preview of Glasgow's upcoming season for another rugby blog. Feel free to go over and have a gander.

http://www.artofdomination.info/great-expectations-glasgow-warriors-season-preview/

The site itself is a satirical homage to James Haskell, set up last year as an escape vehicle from the Guardian rugby pages, which had introduced some 'orrible nesting software. The articles are written by the contributors, mostly just for a laugh, and the below the line community is pretty vibrant. The more Scots the merrier. I'm sure you can all cope with living on two forums at the same time.

There's some very good stuff on there, Sensible, I dip in myself only very occasionally (guess my moniker?!).  Top review

Borderboy? Or PlanetoftheChimps?

They both might be Embra fans, actually. If memory serves, you're a Weedge.

Neither, much less frequent appearances than them

Mystery solved, saw your post.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Nice one, Sensible - replied to your comment

[RDW]

Fairly sure I'm meant to be discouraging any mention of a rival forum...

V2 forum is awesome.

[Captain_Sensible]

Apparently Edinburgh are releasing some 'big news' today.

Hopefully that means new players, rather than a new wine list for the SRU bar.

[Captain_Sensible]

Fairly sure I'm meant to be discouraging any mention of a rival forum...

V2 forum is awesome.

Yes it is. But, the forum I linked to contains representatives from other nations, even Wales, that are not insane.

Hard to believe, I know.

[funnyExiledScot]

Fairly sure I'm meant to be discouraging any mention of a rival forum...

V2 forum is awesome.

Yes it is. But, the forum I linked to contains representatives from other nations, even Wales, that are not insane.

Hard to believe, I know.

That I can't believe. No rugby thread is complete without a Welshman who refuses to countenance that all Welsh players are anything but world class, an Irishman who believes that Keith Wood is a respectable pundit and BOD genuinely can walk on water.......and a Scotsman who thinks Mark Bennett should be allowed in a car without a booster seat.

[EWT Spoons]

Edinburgh have signed former Stormers & Biarritz LH, Wicus Blaauw.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicus_Blaauw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkPnzSDFup8

A loosehead - all makes sense now

[GLove39]

Edinburgh have signed former Stormers & Biarritz LH, Wicus Blaauw.

That surname will sound awesome on BBC Alba! Blaaaaaaauuuuuuw fur the lineeeeeeeeeeee

[tigertattie]

Seeing you guys love rumours, here is one for you

Allegedly, After being caught out and about in his tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows, ASBO went into a fit of rage and was seen running through the St Enoch centre taking his clothes off as he went!
Again, allegedly, it was then reported that after two bottles of mcewans export, he purchased some KY jelly and was last seen heading into the darkness with a goat on a leesh!

allegedly!

The rugby season reallly needs to hurry up and get started..............................

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Seeing you guys love rumours, here is one for you

Allegedly, After being caught out and about in his tweed jacket with leather patches on the elbows, ASBO went into a fit of rage and was seen running through the St Enoch centre taking his clothes off as he went!
Again, allegedly, it was then reported that after two bottles of mcewans export, he purchased some KY jelly and was last seen heading into the darkness with a goat on a leesh!

allegedly!

The rugby season reallly needs to hurry up and get started..............................

feic it, c'mon tattie, man, we agreed that this would be our little secret! And it wasnae ma tweed jacket (dinna own wan o'them), it was ma hi vis

[funnyExiledScot]

Edinburgh have signed former Stormers & Biarritz LH, Wicus Blaauw.

That surname will sound awesome on BBC Alba! Blaaaaaaauuuuuuw fur the lineeeeeeeeeeee

6ft 1 and nearly 19st. Now we're talking.

Nel, Ford, Blaauw, Gilchrist and Atkins - that's some serious beef! Stick Basilia, Rennie and Denton behind that front five and we may even win the odd game this season.....

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Steady  

[funnyExiledScot]

I'm sorry, I got carried away. What was I thinking.....

[RDW]

Hells yeah – this is much more like it! They guy is a beast, only 27, and got plenty experience. Very, very happy.

However I think we should hold out our expectations for the short term – we could see Nel took half the season to get up to speed with the fitness and style of play in the league, this guy will probably need the same.

Very good signing though.

Shame we didn’t still have Yapp – Dickinson, Yapp, Hislop and this new guy would give us very solid loosehead options to cover the whole season.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree on the warning re: fitness. We learned a painful lesson last season regarding fitness and time to get up to speed. Still, that didn't seem such a big problem for Strauss at Glasgow. They just used him flat out for 60 minutes then replaced him.

Hopefully we can do the same. 60 minutes of Blaauw and Nel followed by 20 minutes of Dickinson and Cross should suffice.

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