Glasgow and The Disapproving Neighbours 18 At Last! Whose Round is it?

I'll Put A Funny Sub-Title Here

RDW_Scotland wrote:All and all I don't think we can complain about someone of Barclay's calibre and experience joining - he may even come straight in as captain. From a personal perspective he may see it as a chance to lay down long term routes in the city for his family, with his kids no doubt going to one of the many private schools to choose from. The SRU will also look after him better than anyone to prolong his career.

nickj wrote:Good move. Further mea culpa from the SRU. Bringing back someone they 'pushed away' not so long ago.

BigGee wrote:

nickj wrote:Good move. Further mea culpa from the SRU. Bringing back someone they 'pushed away' not so long ago.

I would probably argue that Barclay would not be the player he is now had he not left Glasgow. It got him out of his comfort zone and challenged him to improve as a player. He was cruising in his last year at Glasgow and I can absolutely see why Toonie offloaded him. He has matured as a person and a player since then and will be a great addition to Edinburgh now, both on and off the pitch.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Edinburgh's pack continues to look fantastic for next year.

Dell, McInally, Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Barclay, Watson, Bradbury

Sutherland, Turner, Berghan, Bresler, McKenzie, CDP, Ritchie, Miller

Hazel Sapling wrote:Edinburgh's pack continues to look fantastic for next year.

Dell, McInally, Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Barclay, Watson, Bradbury

Sutherland, Turner, Berghan, Bresler, McKenzie, CDP, Ritchie, Miller

Edinburgh Rugby have signed South African playmaker Jaco van der Walt, two days before the squad departs for the southern hemisphere for the first time on Guinness PRO14 duties.

The 23-year-old former Lions star will join the squad before they set-off for Bloemfontein and will be available for selection immediately having signed a two-and-a-half-year deal.

As a highly regarded youth prospect, van der Walt progressed through the Golden Lions academy, representing the Ellis Park outfit at every possible age-grade. The playmaker was subsequently selected in the South African Schools squad following impressive form for the Johannesburg-based side.

Van der Walt made his first-team debut for the Golden Lions during the opening match of the 2014 season and has since gone on to make 33 appearances for the 2015 Currie Cup winners, scoring 147 points in the process.

Van der Walt made his Super Rugby debut for the Emirates Lions in 2015. The playmaker has made 22 appearances for the Ellis Park outfit and played a major role in helping the side reach this year’s Super Rugby final.

Edinburgh Head Coach, Richard Cockerill, said: “Jaco is a skilful young player who is equally adept at stand-off or fullback. He’s an excellent goal kicker and will provide cover in key areas for us.

"We’re delighted that he’s chosen to be part of what we’re building here at Edinburgh.”

EWT Spoons wrote:He's 31, he's taken a few knocks of late
I think he's being pretty sensible.  one.

JB wrote:On Saturday, Scotland play New Zealand for the 30th time in 112 years.

Twenty-eight wins and two draws; not a fantastic record to say the least. You might say that we owe them one. What I do know is that I have played in three of the 30 and I have yet to know what it feels like to score a try against them. To say they're a magnificent side is like saying Edinburgh is a beautiful city. Some things are just so obvious that they don't need saying.

Speaking of Edinburgh, the news is out. I've spent the last few weeks playing a straight bat to the story about me joining Richard Cockerill and the boys from next season. I've been in press conferences and it's all been a bit of a game. I couldn't say anything until the time was right.

Scots captain Barclay joins Edinburgh
The time is now right. I'll be very sad to leave the Scarlets but I'm very excited to be joining Edinburgh. It's a two-year deal although I hope the relationship extends beyond that. I certainly don't see retirement on the horizon any time soon. I've chatted at length with Richard about what he needs from me and where he sees the club going. I firmly believe he's turning things around there now. For me, it's one more adventure at a new club. For my family, it's a chance to return home.

I need to talk about the Scarlets because they do, and always will, mean an awful lot to me. I joined them not fully knowing if it would work out or not. No player knows for sure. Some people thought it was an odd move to make, but it came at a time when Glasgow didn't want me anymore, a time when I needed a fresh start.

I wasn't at a crossroads, but I needed a new challenge. Scarlets had a great history and a great reputation for playing an exciting brand of rugby. I thought the move would help my career. I was right.

The locals made it easy for me. They welcomed me in and supported me. Captaining the club on occasion was a huge honour. It wasn't lost on me that here I was, an outsider, leading this very traditional Welsh club. To be captain on the day we won the Pro12 last season isn't just the proudest day of my time with them, it's without doubt one of the highlights of my 14-year rugby career.

Those were amazing weeks. The way we played in the run-in? I still get goosebumps even thinking about it. Some guys go through their whole career without ever winning anything and I was quite aware of that going into the final. To win playing the way we did will live forever in my memory.

What will I miss? The boys, the community. Wales and Llanelli will always hold a special place in our family. We have two boys and one of them was born in Wales. Our third child, due in six weeks, will be born in Wales too, so two of our three children will have been born in Wales. Finn is four-and-a-half and attends Welsh speaking school. The link will always be there.

What we did with the Scarlets, I'd love to do with Edinburgh. This is an exciting time for the club. There's a sense that things are on the move after the disappointment in recent years. That's something that I'm looking forward to immensely.

Of course, that's way down the line. It was reassuring to get my contract sorted early, as it's allowed me to focus all my energy on the autumn series. Since the final whistle against Samoa, facing the All Blacks has constantly been on my mind. It's been 10 years since I played them first, a game that happened to be my debut.

It was the day before my 21st birthday, a World Cup match with Richie McCaw wearing the seven jersey opposite me. He was one of my rugby heroes. Fast and ferocious, smart and incredibly tough; in my opinion, he's the best player who ever played the game.

We lost 40-0. I remember sitting on a bean-bag back at the hotel and thinking, 'this isn't how I imagined my first cap going!'. I've had two more cracks at them since and haven't got near them. The rugby calendar, injuries, and non-selection means you don't know when you'll next get the chance to play against New Zealand. When you get the chance, you have to make it count, something I believe I don't think we did last time we faced them. We've beaten some very good sides this year and I'd like to think that we're in good shape going into this game on Saturday.

We've worked incredibly hard on the training ground and in our analysis but the important thing is that we go out with an intent to play and have a go at New Zealand. The win over Australia in Sydney in the summer highlighted that - the ferocity and accuracy, the creativity and execution - is what's needed again. We need to lay it all out there and see what happens. We'll have another capacity crowd at BT Murrayfield. It'll be a monumental occasion. Challenges like this are what you dream of as a rugby player.

John Barclay was talking to BBC Sport Scotland's chief sports writer, Tom English

RDW_Scotland wrote:He really does write fantastically well - better than any other rugby column I've seen. He's exactly the kind of guy Edinburgh needs.

BigGee wrote:Yes, I just read that as well. Well maybe he will go on, maybe not. See how the body and the desire holds on.

I think this is a very good signing for Edinburgh, they really do seem to be on the right track now.

EWT Spoons wrote:Aye, I was just being needlessly pedantic

tigertattie wrote:four months for feckin your finger?

I know a few single ladies who might want to be a bit more careful then!

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:He really does write fantastically well - better than any other rugby column I've seen. He's exactly the kind of guy Edinburgh needs.

Isn’t it technically Tom English writing who is just chatting with Barclay.