Italy v Scotland, 22 August

RDW_Scotland wrote:Hardie has obviously been told to show some enthusiasm about playing for Scotland! Interesting to note that he's not signed for a club yet.

Fair play to him - he's moved over here not knowing what his long term future will be. That's a big risk! Still think he'll be a good signing for Edinburgh.

“Scotland is in my blood, my grandmother was born here,” said Hardie, whose brother Grant played for Peebles in the 2009-10 season. “I’ve got to show my team-mates how much that jersey means to me and I know how much pride is in that jersey.

“I know the history, too. You know by the way the boys train and the way they talk that it’s a massive thing. It’s something I will honour. Everyone knows how much it means and I don’t want to get caught up in anything else.”

He may have never been to Scotland before his arrival in the World Cup training camp, but, like many from the southern part of New Zealand, he has found certain things to make him feel at home.

“Princes and George are the two main streets in Dunedin. Then I come here and Princes and George are the main streets here [in Edinburgh]. And many of the other road names are the same as back there.”


Whatever happens regarding selection for the World Cup, it looks like Hardie will be looking beyond Scotland to pursue his club career. He said: “I have signed for a couple of more weeks [with the SRU] and after that we will need to wait and see.

“I haven’t signed for Edinburgh or Glasgow, so I’ve taken a big risk coming over here. I want to stay in the northern hemisphere and play for Scotland if selected. I could do that by playing in England or France and I’ll need to look at my options.

“There is no fall-back in terms of going back to the Highlanders in New Zealand. There are challenges in life and this is one for me. I’m not thinking ‘what if’. I’m happy with the decision I’ve made and I’m looking forward to the weekend. I’m totally committed to Scotland now. You’ve got to back your own ability and it’s about getting out there and performing. The next few weeks are going to be important for everyone and I am no different.”

It would come as no surprise that there was a time when 
becoming an All Black was the ultimate goal for Hardie, but he insisted there were no regrets that this had proved not to be. “It wasn’t a disappointment,” he said. “I always knew I was a dual national and if Scotland give me the opportunity this week, I will take it with both hands.


“I don’t think I have to prove a point [to New Zealand]. I have come over here and have been given the opportunity. I am out of my comfort zone and that is good for me. Being out of
your comfort zone is good for players.”

Hardie, though, said that the rest of the squad had been very welcoming and keen to make the transition as comfortable an experience as possible.

“The first time I came over it felt like the first day at school,” he recalled. “I didn’t know a lot of people but the boys have been really welcoming and I’m starting to feel more at home here.

“It’s been really good and I know I’ve made the right decision. It [the move] has been in the pipeline but we had to sort out a few things and then before the Super Rugby final I knew I was coming over and I was really excited. I got over here as soon as I could.

“Before that it took a while to sort out my contract situation and it just didn’t work out the first time. I was always looking to come over here and I’ve finally got the chance and it feels like the right time to come.”

Coming straight into the intense environment of a World Cup training camp has limited Hardie’s chance to explore the country but he likes what he has seen so far and is looking forward to deepening his bond with the country.

“I have been over here for four weeks now and I’ve probably only had four days off,” he said.

“I have managed to have a 
really good look around the Edinburgh Festival and the buzz around the town has been incredible.

“Blair Cowan will take me to the beach tomorrow and that will help with recovery.

“There are a few boys from the southern hemisphere here and they’ve helped me a lot but all the boys have been good if I am honest.”

Hardie has spoken with Brendan Laney and John Leslie, below, two other Scots-qualified sons of Otago who travelled north to forge Test careers.

He added: “Brendan was going on about how great it was over here and how much he loved it.

“I met John Leslie too and he seemed to love it. Brendan Laney coached me and took me to a tens tournament. He is always in Dunedin, in and around the Highlanders. A great guy.

“He didn’t say much about when he arrived but talked more about the country and how passionate the people were. He said it was an awesome place.”

nickj wrote:Controversially I'm yet to be convinced Gilchrist isn't a massive softie. Personally I would pick the admittedly limited Hamilton over Captain Gilco as our third and bench second row every time. I think the likes of Etzebeth and Tekori will be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of us leaving Hamilton at home; with a natural 6 and the modern day equivalent of Broon frae Troon as back up to the Grays.  

jimbopip wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Yes with Captain Conman at the wheel.  

Anyway back to ints:- 

Dear Vern,
Can we have all The Warriors back so we can retain the Pro12 - that is Hogg, Seymour, Lamont, Bennett, Dunbar, Vernon, Horne, Russell, Pyrgos, Weir, Ashe, Strauss (ykwim), Harley, Wilson, J Gray, Reid, Brown and Cusack (you already broke Grant).   You can keep The Big Red Crayon if you want and maybe... errrm...  Blake and Hughes (!) for some experience - (4 games!).  
You see the Pro12 are meaningful games where we can actually win something.

Thanks

I saw the reference to the Big red Crayon and logically (at least to me) surmised you were saying Rob Harley was surplus to requirements. Upon re-reading I see Harley is on your list of players you want back.
So who the fecc is The Big Red Crayon????

RDW_Scotland wrote:^ what he said.

I'd still go with the Grays starting though.

Captain_Sensible wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:^ what he said.

I'd still go with the Grays starting though.

Problem is, if we start with the Grays we are almost guaranteed Laidlaw starting as captain.

I think selecting SHC or Pyrgos over Laidlaw is more important than selecting Gray Snr over Gilchrist.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Captain_Sensible wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:^ what he said.

I'd still go with the Grays starting though.

Problem is, if we start with the Grays we are almost guaranteed Laidlaw starting as captain.

I think selecting SHC or Pyrgos over Laidlaw is more important than selecting Gray Snr over Gilchrist.

Pyrgos was captain last week so we might see the Gray's starting with Pyrgos as captain...!

I don't think he should be TBH - it isn't overly ideal to go into a world cup with your captain only having captained your country once before.  Saying that, Gilchrist has only captained 4 times.

Suppose that leaves Laidlaw then...

RDW_Scotland wrote:So just to summarise:

At best we know only half of our best XV

We don't have a settled team that have played, fought and won together

Key players are real injury doubts

Important units - back row and centre - are still up in the air

Our captain is either going to be incredibly inexperienced or not a very good captain

We are one or two injuries away at tighthead prop and centre from having a bit of a crisis.  And not a Top Gear style 'crisis'.

One of our key players won't be capped until the world cup starts

We haven't won a game in over 10 months


So all in all we are in pretty good shape for the world cup....!

Captain_Sensible wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:So just to summarise:

At best we know only half of our best XV

We don't have a settled team that have played, fought and won together

Key players are real injury doubts

Important units - back row and centre - are still up in the air

Our captain is either going to be incredibly inexperienced or not a very good captain

We are one or two injuries away at tighthead prop and centre from having a bit of a crisis.  And not a Top Gear style 'crisis'.

One of our key players won't be capped until the world cup starts

We haven't won a game in over 10 months


So all in all we are in pretty good shape for the world cup....!

I think you've summed up the situation admirably.

Captain_Sensible wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:So just to summarise:

At best we know only half of our best XV

We don't have a settled team that have played, fought and won together

Key players are real injury doubts

Important units - back row and centre - are still up in the air

Our captain is either going to be incredibly inexperienced or not a very good captain

We are one or two injuries away at tighthead prop and centre from having a bit of a crisis.  And not a Top Gear style 'crisis'.

One of our key players won't be capped until the world cup starts

We haven't won a game in over 10 months


So all in all we are in pretty good shape for the world cup....!

I think you've summed up the situation admirably.

nickj wrote:Really? I thought we would be broadly in agreement over our best 15, even our best 23, if everyone was fit:

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray
Gray
Strauss
Question mark 1. (its likely to be Cowan)
Question mark 2.
Question mark 3. (its extremely likely to be Laidlaw)
Russell
Seymour
Dunbar (fitness permitting, if not its Horne)
Bennett
Maitland
Hogg

Reid
Brown
Cusack
Gilchrist / Harley
Question mark 4.
SHC
Horne / Scott

Prothero wrote:If Cotter and Soloman's rate him as a forward i think we can assume he isnt soft. In fact i fancy him to split up the Greys during the world cup.

Also having two Brothers on the pitch in the same position might be quite distracting? I personally would find it quite hard to remain focussed if my Brother had just Smashed up his leg in a ruck, been knocked out or punched with out clear justification (fine if he deserved it though).

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Prothero wrote:If Cotter and Soloman's rate him as a forward i think we can assume he isnt soft. In fact i fancy him to split up the Greys during the world cup.

Also having two Brothers on the pitch in the same position might be quite distracting? I personally would find it quite hard to remain focussed if my Brother had just Smashed up his leg in a ruck, been knocked out or punched with out clear justification (fine if he deserved it though).

Are you seriously suggesting vastly experienced professional rugby coaches know more about team selection than we do?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Prothero wrote:If Cotter and Soloman's rate him as a forward i think we can assume he isnt soft. In fact i fancy him to split up the Greys during the world cup.

Also having two Brothers on the pitch in the same position might be quite distracting? I personally would find it quite hard to remain focussed if my Brother had just Smashed up his leg in a ruck, been knocked out or punched with out clear justification (fine if he deserved it though).

Are you seriously suggesting vastly experienced professional rugby coaches know more about team selection than we do?

RDW_Scotland wrote:

nickj wrote:Really? I thought we would be broadly in agreement over our best 15, even our best 23, if everyone was fit:

Dickinson
Ford
Nel
Gray
Gray
Strauss
Question mark 1. (its likely to be Cowan)
Question mark 2.
Question mark 3. (its extremely likely to be Laidlaw)
Russell
Seymour
Dunbar (fitness permitting, if not its Horne)
Bennett
Maitland
Hogg

Reid
Brown
Cusack
Gilchrist / Harley
Question mark 4.
SHC
Horne / Scott

That’s probably what most of us think, but:

Nel has yet to play for Scotland
Gilchrist is clearly liked by VC – will he play instead
Who plays 6? Strauss likely but again he is yet to play for Scotland
Who plays 7? Cowan is the incumbent but at leastBarclay and Hardie are likely to form some sort of challenge
Does Denton or Ashe play 8?
Who plays 9?
Dunbar is a shoe in at 12, but if he’s not fit do you go for Scott or Horne?
Who plays 14 if Matiland isn’t fit?

And don’t get me started on the bench!

All of the top teams in the world will be going into this world cup with maybe only a couple of selection dilemnas.  I’ve just highlighted 8.

Also, the top teams in the world won’t be going into a world cup with their tighthead and number 6/8 having only just got capped!

George Carlin wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Prothero wrote:If Cotter and Soloman's rate him as a forward i think we can assume he isnt soft. In fact i fancy him to split up the Greys during the world cup.

Also having two Brothers on the pitch in the same position might be quite distracting? I personally would find it quite hard to remain focussed if my Brother had just Smashed up his leg in a ruck, been knocked out or punched with out clear justification (fine if he deserved it though).

Are you seriously suggesting vastly experienced professional rugby coaches know more about team selection than we do?

Look now, children.

We have 3 games left. The next one is a bonkers tombola jamboree in terms of selection. We knew that it would be. Empty the bathwater right out.

After this game - surely, surely Cotter will use the last two games to give his actual first choice 23 (or as near as possible available to him).

Two games to road test combinations. Two games to establish some fluency. Then a third game against Japan. And a fourth against the USA.

Is it really all that bad?

I suppose it is if the big feller is still fannying around with 'trying things out'. This has to be the LAST POSSIBLE GAME where that is acceptable.

jimbopip wrote:So would you have Henshaw in the chain mail and Earls in the camou? Or Payne in the skyline?

Prothero wrote:

jimbopip wrote:So would you have Henshaw in the chain mail and Earls in the camou? Or Payne in the skyline?

That would be a ecumenical matter.

Prothero wrote:

jimbopip wrote:So would you have Henshaw in the chain mail and Earls in the camou? Or Payne in the skyline?

That would be a ecumenical matter.

Prothero wrote:His try against Clermont looked promising, Power and pace. The bbc mentioned he wants to play for Scotland and mentioned his army background in Scottish Reg's does that Qualify him now? or Does he have to play at the Warriors for 3 years?

Doubt Toony would be chuffed if he was grabbed by Scotland straight away though.

George Carlin wrote:

Prothero wrote:His try against Clermont looked promising, Power and pace. The bbc mentioned he wants to play for Scotland and mentioned his army background in Scottish Reg's does that Qualify him now? or Does he have to play at the Warriors for 3 years?

Doubt Toony would be chuffed if he was grabbed by Scotland straight away though.

Actually don't know how the 'residence' rule operates.

Do you have to be resident and registered as a full time rugby player for the clock to start?

If not, then Junior has to be SQ now because he's lived here since he was 10.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Well I've worked in Glasgow for 5 years (living in Edinburgh) - does that add up to long enough to make me part glaswegian??

Prothero wrote:OLD SCHOOL EKKIES WHITE DOVES!!! ive gubbed a few of em in my time

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Prothero wrote:OLD SCHOOL EKKIES WHITE DOVES!!! ive gubbed a few of em in my time

GC - that is soap, so I'm a long way off yet!

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Strokxosh inclusion is another matter entirely. Currently one hand typing on my phone so can't be bothered correcting stroks name...

George Carlin wrote:

Prothero wrote:His try against Clermont looked promising, Power and pace. The bbc mentioned he wants to play for Scotland and mentioned his army background in Scottish Reg's does that Qualify him now? or Does he have to play at the Warriors for 3 years?

Doubt Toony would be chuffed if he was grabbed by Scotland straight away though.

Actually don't know how the 'residence' rule operates.

Do you have to be resident and registered as a full time rugby player for the clock to start?

If not, then Junior has to be SQ now because he's lived here since he was 10.