Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June

by Nematode Mon Apr 18, 2016 1:20 pm

First topic message reminder :

SCOTLAND'S SUMMER TESTS

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 Japan10

JAPAN V SCOTLAND

Sat 18 June 2016

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Toyota City, Aichi
Coverage: Live on BBC
KO: 7.20pm local/11.20am GMT

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Touch judges: [tbc]
Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

5 Played 5
0 Won 5
0 Drawn 0
5 Lost 0
55 Points 266

B. Recent Form

23 September 2015
Scotland 45-10 Japan
Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

09 Nov 2013
Scotland 42 - 17 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

13 Nov 2004
Scotland 100 - 8 Japan
McDiarmid Park, Perth

12 Oct 2003
Scotland 32 - 11 Japan
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

05 Oct 1991
Scotland 47 - 9 Japan
Murrayfield, Edinburgh

C. Teams

JAPAN
[*]

SCOTLAND
[*]

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 Nagoya_Grampus_game_in_Toyota_Stadium_100814

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 Nagoya_Grampus_game_in_Toyota_Stadium_100814

JAPAN V SCOTLAND
Sat 25 June 2016
Venue: Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Coverage: Live on BBC
KO: 7.20pm local/11.20am GMT

Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)

Touch judges: [tbc]

Television match official: [tbc]

A. Head to Head

[5 Played 5

0 Won 5

0 Drawn 0

5 Lost 0

55 Points 266]

B. Recent Form

18 June 2016

Japan * - * Scotland

Toyota Stadium, Toyota

23 September 2015

Scotland 45-10 Japan

Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester

09 Nov 2013

Scotland 42 - 17 Japan

Murrayfield, Edinburgh

13 Nov 2004

Scotland 100 - 8 Japan

McDiarmid Park, Perth

12 Oct 2003

Scotland 32 - 11 Japan

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

05 Oct 1991

Scotland 47 - 9 Japan

Murrayfield, Edinburgh

C. Teams

JAPAN

[*]

SCOTLAND

[*]

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 Images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTJvWqd-_KlkpmlO7gzsFERjmfrSimzpGuZnD29bHbMWedvYivBxg

Scotland / Japan history:

2015: Scotland 45-10 Japan, Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester (RWC 2015)
2013: Scotland 42-17 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh
2010: Scotland XV 24-5 Japan Select, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
2004: Scotland 100-8 Japan, McDiarmid Park, Perth
2003: Japan 11-32 Scotland, Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville (RWC 2003)
1991: Scotland 47-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (RWC 1991)
1989: Japan 28-24 Scotland XV, Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1986: Scotland XV 33-18 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)
1977: Japan 9-74 Scotland XV, Olympic Stadium, Tokyo (uncapped match)
1976: Scotland XV 34-9 Japan, BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh (uncapped match)

Scotland Squad:
Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 ST16_squad_1200_dh-700x990

Scotland's Summer Tests, 18 & 25 June - Page 5 ST16_squad_1200_dh-700x990

by **BigGee** Tue May 24, 2016 10:22 pm

EST wrote:I agree with the calls for Heathcote, at least he has been starting.

Been starting for Worcester all season. Never really got a proper chance with Scotland or Edinburgh. He is a classy player and deserves another go.

by reallybored Thu May 26, 2016 1:42 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:The 7s result and performance was completely awesome.

100% agree with those calling for Farndale. He and Hoyland ought to be our wingers next season - Farndale at 11 and Hoyland at 14. Nice contrast as well. Farndale being powerful and direct and Hoyland being short and speedy.

I'd let Bryce, Kinghorn, Scholes and Allen compete for the 13 and 15 jersey. Scholes to cover wing as well obviously, and Kinghorn covering 10 as 3rd choice behind Weir and Tovey.

I don't really see a role for Helu personally. Ship him to Glasgow if Lamont's hip starts to give him trouble.

A back-three with Farndale, Hoyland and Kinghorn would be very tidy, all young Scottish guys with bags of pace.

What about Gavin Lowe as a potential centre for Edinburgh, not a huge guy but good box of skills, great feet and electric pace.

by **RDW** Thu May 26, 2016 1:45 pm

Lowe is in the Team GB training squad although he wasn't involved in the last two tournaments.

Given that they are the only tournaments I've really watched this season I've not got much more to add!

I would be surprised if we see any of those 7s players in the squad TBH, and there's nothing stopping them being called into the Edinburgh team at some point of the season if injuries hit.

James Johnson played in pre-season games for us last season.

by reallybored Thu May 26, 2016 1:56 pm

Gavin Lowe looks like a cracking prospect, well worth watching some of his tries.

http://www.worldrugby.org/search?s=lowe

by **RDW** Fri May 27, 2016 12:41 pm

BREAKING | Scotland add Edinburgh-born Stormers centre Huw Jones to summer tour squad. More to follow

Hopefully this is followed by 'And he's signed for Edinburgh'!

by **RDW** Fri May 27, 2016 12:43 pm

Stormers centre Huw Jones has been included in the 27-man Scotland squad for next month’s summer tour to Japan.

Born in Edinburgh and educated at Millfield School in Somerset, the uncapped 22-year-old replaces Glasgow Warriors stand-off Finn Russell, who sustained a head injury in the Guinness PRO12 Play-Off in Galway last weekend.

Despite being schooled south of the border, it was a gap year to South Africa in 2012 that sparked Jones’ rugby career, after he elected to stay and study at the University of Cape Town, winning the Varsity Cup in 2014 and scoring in the final.

He was then selected for Western Province, first in the under-21 squad and then the senior Vodacom Cup team, before being called up for the Stormers last year and making 21 appearances to date.

Jones said: “I’m delighted to get this opportunity to play for Scotland. It’s a dream come true.

“I didn’t go out to South Africa with the intention of becoming a professional rugby player but, as my career progressed, it become more of a realistic goal to play for Scotland.

“The call came as a bit of a surprise but I’m thrilled and can’t wait to get to Edinburgh next month and play my part in an exciting squad.”

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, added: “We’re pleased to welcome Huw into the group and look forward to him deepening the competition in an already well-contested area of our squad.”

Jones and the rest of the Scotland squad will convene at BT Murrayfield Stadium on Monday 6 June for a short camp before their departure for Tokyo the following Saturday (11 June).

The Test matches – live on BBC – will be played on consecutive Saturdays at J1 League football stadia; the first at the Toyota Stadium in Toyota City (18 June), the second at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo (25 June), homes of Nagoya Grampus and FC Tokyo respectively.

Profile:
Huw Jones (22, centre)
Born: 17/12/1993 in Edinburgh
Club: Stormers
Height: 1.86 m
Weight: 96 kg

by Prothero Fri May 27, 2016 12:51 pm

Was about to Go off on a massive Rant then i realized Huw was born in Edinburgh, welcome aboard Shuggie Jones! censored

Dont know much about him but he isnt the biggest? he better be like shart off a shovel to make up for it in international rugby.

by **RDW** Fri May 27, 2016 12:54 pm

He's not the biggest but he's bigger than Mark Bennett who apparently is

Height: 1.83 m
Weight: 89 kg

He plays SR for the Stormers so will be used to physicality.

I understand he's not played to much for them lately though and isn't first choice.

by Majestic83 Fri May 27, 2016 1:00 pm

Prothero wrote:Was about to Go off on a massive Rant then i realized Huw was born in Edinburgh, welcome aboard Shuggie Jones!

Dont know much about him but he isnt the biggest? he better be like shart off a shovel to make up for it in international rugby.

He isn't tallest back ever but he is very powerful and pretty rapid. Seen him play a few times for the Stormers and he normally plays at 13 or on the wing. Looks a very good prospect.

by funnyExiledScot Fri May 27, 2016 2:17 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
BREAKING | Scotland add Edinburgh-born Stormers centre Huw Jones to summer tour squad. More to follow

Hopefully this is followed by 'And he's signed for Edinburgh'!

Absolutely - this is a signing I could get on board with. SQ, born in God's city and actually plays in a position where we lack depth!

by funnyExiledScot Fri May 27, 2016 2:20 pm

Burleigh and Jones. It has a nice twang to it.

by **BigGee** Fri May 27, 2016 3:40 pm

A few hints from VC here about where he sees the FH pecking order.

No calls up for Weir nor McHeathcote, which suggests he feels they both have a bit of work still to do.

Horne clearly been seen as a FH primarily and not a 12. There have always been questions about whether he is really big enough to play 12 at international level and maybe he is better suited to the FH role.

That might be where he plays more of his rugby next season at Glasgow as well unless they sign up another FH option, so this may be a part of the master plan as well.

by funnyExiledScot Fri May 27, 2016 5:16 pm

I like Horne at 10 to be honest and I can understand why Cotter and Toonie see things that way (if indeed they do). Dunbar, Scott and Taylor can all play 12 to a high standard.

It's going to be interesting to see Jackson get a couple of games. I'm a big fan of the way he plays.

by **BigGee** Fri May 27, 2016 6:16 pm

I am more than happy for Jacko to get some serious game time on this tour. He may well still be our second best FH and may now get the chance to show it. That may also have the advantage of pushing him up the pecking order at Quins next season.

by A Simply Mesmeric Try Fri May 27, 2016 6:42 pm

I am super chuffed to see Huw Jones selected. He's been on the horizon for a couple of years now. Also, it's great that it's Scotland, and not Wales, England or South Africa that's he's chosen to represent.

by bsando Sat May 28, 2016 9:10 am

A Simply Mesmeric Try wrote:I am super chuffed to see Huw Jones selected. He's been on the horizon for a couple of years now. Also, it's great that it's Scotland, and not Wales, England or South Africa that's he's chosen to represent.

My thoughts exactly. Still very young, has proven himself in a fiercely competitive rugby nation and now has the opportunity to make his mark on the international stage for Scotland.

Getting the opportunity to train with the Scotland squad and then hopefully tour to Japan is a great way to introduce him into the setup, I'm sure he would make a great addition to Edinburgh thumbsup

Lets see how he does, blank canvas for him in NH.

by **RDW** Sat May 28, 2016 9:15 am

I notice he's not even on the bench for the Stormers this weekend.

by **George Carlin** Sat May 28, 2016 5:36 pm

Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

by funnyExiledScot Mon May 30, 2016 11:09 am

George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).

by **George Carlin** Tue May 31, 2016 7:07 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).

Ah, but let's see how you get on with 2 x Baby FES hanging around your ankles and posseting on your Hackett mohair jackets before we start making jokes about being and feeling old. I'm only 4 years older than you, but with my monsters now 4 and 2 respectively, I suspect that in real terms I am about 784 years older.

by funnyExiledScot Tue May 31, 2016 11:18 am

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).
Ah, but let's see how you get on with 2 x Baby FES hanging around your ankles and posseting on your Hackett mohair jackets before we start making jokes about being and feeling old. I'm only 4 years older than you, but with my monsters now 4 and 2 respectively, I suspect that in real terms I am about 784 years older.

This is, I fear, entirely accurate. Pictures of me before and after BabyfES have the look of those before/after photos they do of Prime Ministers and Presidents after 8+ years of office. She's only 20 months old....

How's the in-house life treating you?

by **George Carlin** Wed Jun 01, 2016 9:30 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).
Ah, but let's see how you get on with 2 x Baby FES hanging around your ankles and posseting on your Hackett mohair jackets before we start making jokes about being and feeling old. I'm only 4 years older than you, but with my monsters now 4 and 2 respectively, I suspect that in real terms I am about 784 years older.

This is, I fear, entirely accurate. Pictures of me before and after BabyfES have the look of those before/after photos they do of Prime Ministers and Presidents after 8+ years of office. She's only 20 months old....

How's the in-house life treating you?

Good of you to ask. The fact that I am still working at 12.30 at night would tend to support my wife's view that it's not quite the doss that she hoped it would be. Turns out that if you are head of legal and your junior team isn't in place yet, then you tend to have quite a lot of poopie hitting your desk at the start.

by GLove39 Thu Jun 02, 2016 1:50 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).

*sigh* Another Scotland player that'll be younger than me, it's all downhill from here on in isn't it!?

by **George Carlin** Thu Jun 02, 2016 5:13 am

GLove39 wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).

*sigh* Another Scotland player that'll be younger than me, it's all downhill from here on in isn't it!?

Shut it, young person. Cry

by funnyExiledScot Thu Jun 02, 2016 3:16 pm

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:Delighted to see Shuggy Boy selected.

22 eh? I think that my haircut's older than that.

Born in December 1993. Footage of Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam will look like to him like a black and white movie does to us (by us, I mean you).
Ah, but let's see how you get on with 2 x Baby FES hanging around your ankles and posseting on your Hackett mohair jackets before we start making jokes about being and feeling old. I'm only 4 years older than you, but with my monsters now 4 and 2 respectively, I suspect that in real terms I am about 784 years older.

This is, I fear, entirely accurate. Pictures of me before and after BabyfES have the look of those before/after photos they do of Prime Ministers and Presidents after 8+ years of office. She's only 20 months old....

How's the in-house life treating you?
Good of you to ask. The fact that I am still working at 12.30 at night would tend to support my wife's view that it's not quite the doss that she hoped it would be. Turns out that if you are head of legal and your junior team isn't in place yet, then you tend to have quite a lot of poopie hitting your desk at the start.

Ah, but when you get your junior team in place it's a different ball game. I like to think of myself as Javier Bardem's hitman from No Country For Old Men (with better hair), deciding the fate of my juniors with the toss of a coin. "Call it friendo".

by **George Carlin** Mon Jun 06, 2016 6:36 am

Mr Tode - hope you don't mind but I tinkered with the OP slightly to direct it into two specific match threads.

by EWT Spoons Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:04 am

Just for those of us not based in Japan.

Both tests kick off at 11.20am GMT

by **RDW** Mon Jun 06, 2016 9:08 am

I see that Richie Gray played at the weekend.

He's gonna be knackered after a long season with very little break. Pre and post 6N (and in between 6N games) he was back in Castres playing or on the bench. It isn't an easy journey getting from Edinburgh to Castres either.

He's still 1000000 times a better option than Tiny Tim though!

by funnyExiledScot Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:55 am

It's such a shame that Gilchrist isn't fit. This tour would be ideal for him to get some game time in an international jersey.

Hope Richie Gray can cope with the workload. We can't afford for him to get injured on burn out. Tim Swinson looks as comfortable in international rugby as Nigel Farage in a Polish restaurant.

by **RDW** Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:56 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:It's such a shame that Gilchrist isn't fit. This tour would be ideal for him to get some game time in an international jersey.

Hope Richie Gray can cope with the workload. We can't afford for him to get injured on burn out. Tim Swinson looks as comfortable in international rugby as Nigel Farage in a Polish restaurant.

If only we had a 6ft 7 18st athletic alternative who has been a regular stalwart in one of the best packs in the league of the last 18 months... Whistle

by funnyExiledScot Mon Jun 06, 2016 11:58 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:It's such a shame that Gilchrist isn't fit. This tour would be ideal for him to get some game time in an international jersey.

Hope Richie Gray can cope with the workload. We can't afford for him to get injured on burn out. Tim Swinson looks as comfortable in international rugby as Nigel Farage in a Polish restaurant.

If only we had a 6ft 7 18st athletic alternative who has been a regular stalwart in one of the best packs in the league of the last 18 months...

I know. Where could such a player be found??

To be fair to Cotter, it must be difficult keeping track of so many professional teams and so many players. Easy for talented players to fall through the cracks....

by **RDW** Mon Jun 06, 2016 12:01 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:It's such a shame that Gilchrist isn't fit. This tour would be ideal for him to get some game time in an international jersey.

Hope Richie Gray can cope with the workload. We can't afford for him to get injured on burn out. Tim Swinson looks as comfortable in international rugby as Nigel Farage in a Polish restaurant.

If only we had a 6ft 7 18st athletic alternative who has been a regular stalwart in one of the best packs in the league of the last 18 months...

I know. Where could such a player be found??

To be fair to Cotter, it must be difficult keeping track of so many professional teams and so many players. Easy for talented players to fall through the cracks....

Of course if such a player did exist he would only get picked if he had earnt it though - just like Adam Ashe and Kevin Bryce did when they were called up!

by **RDW** Mon Jun 06, 2016 1:30 pm

Speak of the devil...

Scotland lock Richie Gray will join their tour of Japan late after Castres' qualification for the Top 14 play-offs.

They sealed a top-six finish with Sunday's 35-14 victory over Stade Francais, securing a quarter-final next weekend, when Scotland fly to Japan.

Even if Castres beat Montpellier to make the last four, Gray will join the national team after the game "no matter what", according to an SRU spokesman.

The Scots have five days on arrival to prepare for the first Test on 18 June.

They arrive in Tokyo on Sunday, before travelling on Wednesday to Nagoya, adjacent to Tokyo City, the venue for the first Test.

Castres do not play Montpellier until Sunday, 12 June at 1615 French time, and the SRU expect Gray to travel to Japan "on the next flight available". But he is not likely to arrive in Japan until late Monday or Tuesday.

The rest of the squad are gathering at Murrayfield on Monday, 6 June, for a pre-tour training camp until Thursday.

Head coach Vern Cotter will be keeping his fingers crossed that nothing befalls Gray in what will be his last game for Castres before a move to Toulouse next season.

The 26-year-old is one of only three locks, alongside younger brother Jonny and Tim Swinson, named in the 27-man squad.

The original party has already been shorn of centre Alex Dunbar, wing Tim Visser and fly-half Finn Russell, with Matt Scott, Sean Lamont and uncapped South Africa-based centre Huw Jones replacing them.

The second Test takes place in Tokyo on 25 June, with both matches broadcast live on BBC Scotland television, radio, and online.

Not great news!

I wonder if they would have only picked 3 locks if they knew this from the beginning.

He surely won't be starting in the 1st test if he's played 6 days previously, including a flight to Japan.

by Hazel Sapling Mon Jun 06, 2016 1:50 pm

I wonder if he will call up Toolis (or Harley) to cover. Are there limits on squad size?
R Gray should be left to recover but it is too late for that now

by funnyExiledScot Mon Jun 06, 2016 1:58 pm

No doubt he'd call up Rob Harley. I mean, if you need a lock a specialist blindside flanker is the next best thing....

by **NeilyBroon** Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:16 am

In other news Scotland u20 15-10 Australia???

by **RDW** Wed Jun 08, 2016 8:27 am

Aye, great result!

Has been discussed so far on these threads

https://www.606v2.com/t62900p450-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-xii-twelve-monkeys

https://www.606v2.com/t63321p50-2016-world-rugby-u20-championship-tournament-thread

by **RDW** Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:42 am

Honest interview with Huw Jones - I particularly like the bit in bold! Laugh

He's under contract for another season with the Stormers so the SRU would have to buy him out. Maybe worth giving him another season and taking him on next year? He is only 22

Scotsman wrote:He was born in Edinburgh, given a Welsh-sounding name, raised in England and has spent the past four years in South Africa but Huw Jones insisted yesterday there is only one country for him.

The newest recruit to the Scotland squad for the upcoming tour to Japan spoke to the media at BT Murrayfield yesterday and explained that any Welsh connection was distant and South Africa, for whom he qualifies on residency, has never been entertained. He may speak with a Western Cape-infused English accent but was keen to pledge allegiance to the land of his birth.

“I’ve always supported Scotland when watching the Six Nations growing up and had a Scottish flag hanging above my bed since I was 11 or so,” said the Stormers centre.

“I’ve still got the flag in Cape Town now. I wasn’t expecting to get the call at all but when I did it didn’t take long to make the decision.”

The 22-year-old’s parents, William and Hilary, are graduates of Edinburgh University and remained in the city to pursue teaching careers. His mother’s father was Scottish – a Forbes – so Jones would be Scottish qualified even if he hadn’t been born at the old Eastern General hospital in Leith, while his dad was a primary teacher at George Watson’s College. “His claim to fame is he once coached Scott Hastings,” revealed the man who hopes to follow the legendary former centre into the dark blue No 13 jersey.

Jones is currently trying to shake off a foot strain as the squad prepares to fly out to the Far East tomorrow for a two-Test series on 18 and 25 June. However, even if coach Vern Cotter doesn’t manage to get Jones on to the pitch and locked in as official Scotland property, there doesn’t seem much cause for concern that he may yet opt for the country that has become his adopted home and the making of him as a professional rugby player.

“I don’t think South Africa would ever consider me,” said Jones. “I wouldn’t ever consider South Africa an option. I would never support the Springboks, let alone want to play for them. They know that, I’ve told them.”

After spending his first two years in Musselburgh, the Joneses moved south and Huw attended the famous Millfield School in Somerset, where he played scrum-half and stand-off, but was not completely serious about the game until he went out to South Africa, first on a gap year and then staying on at Cape Town University (UCT). He had initially intended to study in south Wales and, while he believes his father’s heritage is too distant to have any tangible qualification for the red jersey, his remarks about the Principality’s second city would probably rule him out at any rate.

“I didn’t plan to play rugby in South Africa, I took a gap year at a prep school, just a year out because I was planning to go to Swansea uni, to study history, but while I was in Cape Town my brother, who was at  Swansea, said it was rubbish.

“So I got an opportunity to study at Cape Town, and play Varsity Cup rugby which is quite high profile and I decided to go with that. I studied Italian, French, psychology and media the first year, and then halfway through second year I had to stop studying because that’s when I started playing with the Stormers.”

While at school he took part in a Scottish Exiles Under-18 training session, which didn’t lead to anything, and it was not until he was playing Varsity Cup that he reappeared on the Scottish rugby radar.

Jones explained: “Gavin Vaughan, who is an analyst at Glasgow, watches a lot of rugby and saw some Varsity games and when he checked the UCT Wikipedia page I was listed as Scottish on that so he got in contact with me on the back of that.”

That led to a visit to Scotstoun in 2014 and Jones said: “I have chatted to Gregor [Townsend], I watched a game against Munster when I was there. It’s a nice place and they took good care of me, Al Kellock gave me a good tour of the stadium. They have a great squad. I’ve had contacts with them and chatted to them a bit but I wanted to stay at the Stormers.”

Earlier this week, the Scotland backs coach Jason O’Halloran suggested that it would be preferable if Jones could move to one of the Scottish pro teams. Jones accepts that the unusual scenario of playing for a southern hemisphere club and a northern nation brings complications with the different seasons, but hinted it may not be the easiest issue to resolve.

He explained: “I’m under contract until October next year. I don’t have a clause to get a release so if I was to come away it would have to be some very good negotiating, but I haven’t thought about that. I’d obviously consider it, but there’s no telling whether I’d go for it, it would depend on which club and the circumstances and all the rest of it.

“I haven’t had that conversation [with O’Halloran] but I can see his point of view that it would help but at the moment I’ve only just got involved and hoping to get my first cap. I’m still concentrating on club rugby with the Stormers.

“Super Rugby finishes at the beginning of August, then Currie Cup after that but I was released to this so I’m sure if I was picked again for the autumn Tests it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Six Nations next year? I suppose that’s another issue, but we’ll cross that bridge if it comes.”

by funnyExiledScot Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:04 am

Wait until he sees Glasgow!!

by **RDW** Fri Jun 10, 2016 9:24 am

by lostinwales Fri Jun 10, 2016 11:22 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:...
“I didn’t plan to play rugby in South Africa, I took a gap year at a prep school, just a year out because I was planning to go to Swansea uni, to study history, but while I was in Cape Town my brother, who was at  Swansea, said it was rubbish....

As a former employee of Swansea Uni I couldn't possibly comment

laughing

by **George Carlin** Fri Jun 10, 2016 5:55 pm

lostinwales wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:...
“I didn’t plan to play rugby in South Africa, I took a gap year at a prep school, just a year out because I was planning to go to Swansea uni, to study history, but while I was in Cape Town my brother, who was at  Swansea, said it was rubbish....

As a former employee of Swansea Uni I couldn't possibly comment

by **RDW** Mon Jun 13, 2016 8:51 am

So Japan warmed up with a narrow 26-22 win over Canada. I don't know what kind of team they had out but it is a positive sign the game was so close given Canada is a team we'd tend to comfortably beat.

It will still be a tough game that we certainly can't take for granted, but if we perform to our potential I can see us running out comfortable winners in the end - being Scotland I'm sure there'll be some scares along the way though!

Looking to team selection I suspect he'll stick with the core of the 6N team go for something like:

1 Dickinson
2 Ford Rolling Eyes

3 Nel
4 Swinson (Richie played yesterday and won't be arriving until today / tomorrow)
5 Gray
6 Barclay
7 Hardie
8 Denton

9 Laidlaw
10 Jackson
11 Seymour
12 Horne
13 Taylor
14 Maitland
15 Hogg

Although we may see Struass at 8, Scott at 12 or Hoyland getting a start on a wing. I wouldn't be surprised if he picked Wilson in there either.

by **BigGee** Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:15 am

I think we will see Hoyland debut off the bench and I fancy that Scott will start at 12, other than that I would agree with the team.

I think he might rotate things around a little for the second game and I fancy that Huw Jones will get a run off the bench as well for that one provided that he is fit. He has a niggly foot injure by all accounts.

by jimbopip Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:21 am

My main concern is the schedule. The team arrived in Japan yesterday and my experience of jet-lag is that it tends to bite about three days after the journey. Oh and it's worse travelling east to west, which the squad have just done. So they should be feeling grotty on Wednesday which is their travel day to Nagoya. I can't see them being fit and ready to play come Saturday. Also, if Handsome Richie played yesterday there's no way he will be fit to start on Saturday.

by **RDW** Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:26 am

jimbopip wrote:My main concern is the schedule. The team arrived in Japan yesterday and my experience of jet-lag is that it tends to bite about three days after the journey. Oh and it's worse travelling east to west, which the squad have just done. So they should be feeling grotty on Wednesday which is their travel day to Nagoya. I can't see them being fit and ready to play come Saturday. Also, if Handsome Richie played yesterday there's no way he will be fit to start on Saturday.

Scotland to Japan is East to West? I didn't realise Japan was commonly referred to as being in the 'far west'.... Very Happy

by jimbopip Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:35 am

Sorry Mr Editor in chief... that should have read west to east. Doh

But remember what Ian Dury once sang, "It takes a lot longer to get to Paris going North"

He also penned the immortal, "There ain't half been some clever bastards". He must have spent some time on these boards, surely.

by **RDW** Mon Jun 13, 2016 9:39 am

Coming from one of the most pedantic clever bastards on the forum I'll take that as a compliment!

When I went to New Zealand the jetlag was much worse going there - took about a week to get over it. I was fine during the day and getting to sleep but the problem was staying up late - half 7 and I was wanting to go to sleep! These pesky Japanese putting the kick off time at 7:20pm...

by jimbopip Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:21 am

RDW, anyone who called you a clever I am a twonk of the highest order would only be half right. Whistle

Cos you is clever like.

We have no need to worry about jet lag, or losing a day's training mid week or Gray snr being unavailable... the whole jaunt has been organised by the towering intellectuals at HQ. What could possibly go wrong?

by **RDW** Mon Jun 13, 2016 10:24 am

BigGee wrote:I think we will see Hoyland debut off the bench and I fancy that Scott will start at 12, other than that I would agree with the team.

I think he might rotate things around a little for the second game and I fancy that Huw Jones will get a run off the bench as well for that one provided that he is fit. He has a niggly foot injure by all accounts.

I'd personally start Scott for Horne and have Horne covering 10 and 12 on the bench, but given that he was originally not included in the squad I think VC might go for Horne instead. Saying that, it depends if Horne is viewed as a 12 or a backup 10.

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