Glasgow and Edinburgh ongoing banter thread 24 - Covid funtimes

[RDW]

First topic message reminder :

Previous gibberish

https://www.606v2.com/t69038p1050-glasgow-and-edinburgh-banter-thread-no-23-new-season-new-thread

Fixtures

Glasgow - none

Edinburgh - none

Scotland - none

[tigertattie]

Anyone else dying a little inside to see all these new signings and the fact they're born in the year 2000?

Wait till you get to the year 3000

not much will change, but we'll live under water!

[king_carlos]

Anyone else dying a little inside to see all these new signings and the fact they're born in the year 2000?

I like to tell myself that's why I hung up my boots. Because I didn't like seeing guys born in a different millennium, in their first season out the colts make me look like a tit. It's definitely that and not my laziness.

[formerly known as Sam]

Anyone else dying a little inside to see all these new signings and the fact they're born in the year 2000?

I like to tell myself that's why I hung up my boots. Because I didn't like seeing guys born in a different millennium, in their first season out the colts make me look like a tit. It's definitely that and not my laziness.

Before me knee went for the final time I had similar. I was 32 and the rest of the backline were ten years younger than me.

[RDW]

Watched the Reds v Waratahs game tonight. Was actually quite entertaining, if not the same quality as the kiwi tournament.

Main point of interest was the 50-22 and 22-50 laws, similar to rugby league. Basically you get the lineout if you kick the ball out (not straight out) from your half into the 22 or your 22 into their half. 22 dropouts are also taken from the tryline.

Basically puts huge emphasis on good attacking kicks - the 50-22 in particular is a massive advantage if executed. I suspect we'll see a lot more attacking grubbers in 22s as even if the defence touches down you'll still receive the resulting dropout in their half.

I don't think both teams were really deliberately targeting it but the news laws happened a few times - the players looked as surprised as anyone!

[tigertattie]

I dont like the 50-22 rule. Will result in a new breed of leather kicking 10s like Dan Parks.

Its wayyyyyy easier to get into the oppositions 22 by kicking it than to build phases and keep the ball. I see what World rugby are trying to do, get teams in the red zone more for more excitement, but if thats the case, just shorten the pitches by 40 yards

[RDW]

I believe the reasoning is it means you'll need to have more players in the back field, creating space out wide...

[jimbopip]

Kiran McDonald re-signs for the once And Future Champions.

[BigGee]

An interview with Jim Jim Malindeer and Danny Wilson in the Sunday Times with Mark Palmer.

JM suggests that the SRU could re-visit the London Scottish link.

Jim Mallinder says the SRU will reconsider their relationship with London Scottish as they strive to increase opportunities for aspiring young talent. The English Championship side have been forced to go part-time due to funding cuts from the RFU and last week confirmed plans to move away from the Richmond Athletic Ground where they have been based since 1894.
Previous tie-ups with the SRU, which included the loan of players and coaches, hit the buffers after clashes behind the scenes, but Mallinder, Murrayfield’s performance director, is keen to work with a club that has produced more Scotland internationals than any other.
“I don’t know if there’s anything official, but it’s one of the things we should be looking at,” Mallinder, 54, said. “It’s got that connection and in the past, lots of very good players have played for the club who are Scottish and ultimately could play for Scotland as well.
“It’s one of the various other forms [of playing opportunity beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow] that we can look at.”
Although Mallinder’s introduction to a role he began in January has been hugely affected by Covid-19, he believes there is the prospect of a silver lining in how the Scottish game has been forced to respond.

“We didn’t want Covid to happen, but it’s made us look at our game. We will have to look at our budgets moving forward, we will have to look at the size of our squads. At the moment, we’re not sure what sized squads we will need, because that will depend on the season structure.
“But one thing is pretty certain and it’s that we’ll need to rely a lot more on our young academy lads, our young Scottish players, and hopefully give them more opportunities at pro level.”
Sponsored

The union last week announced the 30 stage three academy players who will be more closely aligned to one of Edinburgh and Glasgow in the coming season. Scotland’s professional players have now completed two weeks of “voluntary fitness” sessions at Murrayfield ahead of the planned return of the Pro 14 via two derbies on August 22 and 29.
Since April, players on contracts worth more than £50,000-a-year have taken a cut of between 10-25% in their monthly wages. This agreement runs until September, but with continued pressure on SRU finances, it is expected that talks will now take place for reductions to continue.
“Potentially,” replied Mallinder when asked if the cuts could be longer-lasting. “What we’re still doing as a business is looking at all the different scenarios. It’s ever-changing. We don’t know what the autumn internationals are going to look like, whether that’s going to have to be behind closed doors, if it’s going to be full capacity or one or two-metre distancing.”
At Scotstoun, Danny Wilson has begun to announce additions to his first Glasgow squad, and wants to conclude further business. Wilson, who was most recently Gregor Townsend’s forwards coach with Scotland, believes the improvements the Warriors pack made under Dave Rennie give him a great “foundation” from which to achieve his goals.
“There are some changes of personnel, and putting my own stamp on things,” he said. “But we are fortunate across the team to have that identity and platform in place.
“We know the identity Glasgow have in attack, but what I want to really concentrate on is growing it a bit more in defence, the transition around game management, and what that looks like, especially against the big teams. We need to concentrate on our identity and have a structure in place that can deal with anything.”
Wilson, 44, is yet to formally name his captain or leadership group, but says, “gone are the days when you had a kind of headmaster and pupil relationship. It is far more a shared leadership model now.” He is relishing the chance to work with Richie Gray, the 30-year-old Top 14 winner who returns to Scotland after eight years in England and France.
“We all know he is a huge man, he is a fans’ favourite at Glasgow, and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

[BigGee]

And another MP interview, this time with Tim Swinson and his move to Sarries.

The pipe was barely lit and the slippers were still in their bag. But six days into retirement, everything changed for Tim Swinson.

The 33-year-old had been sure this was it. That there wouldn’t be a 15th year as a professional player. He’d announced he was finished and got his ducks in a row for the next phase: completing the last year of the law degree he’s been doing alongside his Glasgow commitments, starting down the road to becoming a professional referee, and spending more time at home with his two young daughters so that wife Elly could return to work.

And then the phone rang. It was Swinson’s agent, saying Saracens were keen to find out if he fancied helping them try to get out of the Championship.

“I’d decided to retire unless I got something that was going to be an experience,” explains the 38-cap second row who is equally at home on the blindside flank. “I don’t need rugby anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy it but I wanted to experience something rather than just doing something, going somewhere, for the sake of it. Before Saracens came along, the opportunities I had weren’t enthralling. The thought of going on my own to play ProD2 in the middle of the Massif Central just didn’t fill me with any drive – I’d have been doing it purely as a job.

Swinson has a raft of emotional and personal connections to the Allianz Park outfit. Growing up in north London, he supported the club and played his first ever game, for Ruislip minis, as a curtain-raiser to a Saracens match at Loftus Road. Their current forwards coach, Ian Peel, was Swinson’s academy coach when he started out at Newcastle, while attack coach Joe Shaw was a university coach and Falcons team-mate back in the day. Swinson’s parents still live a ten-minute drive from the Saracens training base in St Albans.
“They’re my childhood club and there have always been so many ties,” he explains. “The club and I have talked about a move before. Every time I’ve been out of contract, there has been a discussion, but there’s always been something on either side that meant it couldn’t happen. This time, I said yes straight away. There wasn’t even a question of how long, how much. The contract was signed within four days of the first approach.”

Swinson’s enthusiasm for a project he can throw himself into is partly a reflection on the frustrations of the last three years at Glasgow, where a series of long-term injuries played havoc with his prospects. He still made enough of an impression on Dave Rennie for the outgoing Warriors coach to describe him as “the sharpest defensive operator I’ve worked with”, the Kiwi paying homage to his “one-man menace mentality.” Rennie also allowed Swinson responsibility for designing a rethink of Glasgow’s approach at defensive lineouts, an opportunity he embraced alongside Rob Harley and John Dalziel, the forwards coach.
Saracens, too, will expect him to contribute on and off the pitch, helping plug the gaps left in leadership as well as pure rugby by the departures of figures like Nick Isiekwe (temporary), Will Skelton (permanent) and George Kruis (at least a year).

Saracens, too, will expect him to contribute on and off the pitch, helping plug the gaps left in leadership as well as pure rugby by the departures of figures like Nick Isiekwe (temporary), Will Skelton (permanent) and George Kruis (at least a year).

“There’s a chance for them to come out of this [relegation] experience stronger, by the changeover of personnel that’s going to allow a lot of young guys to play,” says Swinson. “Being the age I am, I can offer a lot more away from the field. At times that’s what I’m going to have to do, and at times I’m going to play.
“As you get older, yes you want to play every game, but you realise it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. Sure you’re pissed off and furious: if you’re not, you’re in the wrong job. But it’s that ability to be able to leave the team announcement spitting, then walk onto the training pitch and help the guy who is playing instead of you be the best he can be.”

Swinson, who already has a politics degree and a postgraduate diploma in physiology, will still finish off that law degree, but the refereeing ambitions have been put on hold for a year. “I’ve now learned never to say never,” he smiles when you ask if we might be having the same conversation in 12 months’ time. Never one to under-populate his diary, the 2018 Calcutta Cup winner and 2015 Pro12 champion is to start some work in management consultancy, but will continue to chair Rugby Players Scotland (RPS).
In time, the founding and development of this players’ association may well be considered Swinson’s greatest achievement in eight years north of the border. It was badly needed and has already proved its worth in driving an innovative approach to the payment structure at last year’s World Cup and helping guide players through negotiations around the salary cuts and furlough brought about by the pandemic. Swinson and Bill Mitchell, the RPS chief executive, have managed to establish and thus far maintain effective relations with Murrayfield, although a major test now looms in the shape of the SRU’s likely desire to prolong pay cuts beyond the initial September cut-off.

“It’s never been about fighting or combatting the union. We just want players to be treated fairly,” says Swinson. “We’re not always going to be right. That’s why that collaboration with the SRU is really important. Everyone is working hard to make it better. We’ve had some disagreements, but there is dialogue and things have improved.”
Swinson starts at Saracens next Tuesday, and this week will undergo day surgery to ease the eye condition he’s been struggling with for the past two years.
“It’s called Keratoconus, and it basically means the cornea in my right eye has gone from being dome-shaped to bulging out like a cone. The op links the collagen above the cornea to stop it happening, then you use solid contact lenses to reshape the cornea. At the moment, because of the shape of my cornea, when I put standard contacts in, it makes you feel like you’re in a fishbowl.
“I’ve been playing without contacts. I spend my day with glasses on then have to go in ‘blind’. My job means it hasn’t actually affected me all that much: you can run into rucks with one eye.”
Even with perfect vision, you never know what’s round the corner.

[NeilyBroon]

Interesting the LS talks are on again, although given how many times it has failed I'm not holding my breath. Plus the requirement for EQ players makes it very difficult to make it a Scottish base (I know there's a significant contingent of Anglo-Scottish players given the greater popularity of the sport down here but as soon as they pick Scotland they'd have to move on potentially to ensure the numbers are okay), unless the pro14 feels like introducing the celtic London sides (very unlikely given they'd presumably also need the RFU's blessing, not to mention the other unions) I can't see it working this time around either.

Good to see that Swinson has got a dream opportunity to finish his career. He's a grafter so has definitely earnt it.

[king_carlos]

Former Scotland U20 flanker Teddy Leatherbarrow has been released by Sale. He could be a good project as a stage 3 academy player. Unlikely for Edinburgh with the impressive Darge, Boyle and Muncaster but might fit well at Glasgow. I'd probably take Devante Onojaife ahead of Leatherbarrow but both are talented flankers.

[RDW]

That's a hell of a name!

[bsando]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCSjocEgV6P/?igshid=csstzkxfhs6w

Mr Greig signs for Shining Arcs!

Great news for him, he was so popular over there that I’m sure him and his family will have a wonderful time. Great way to finish his career!

[jimbopip]

That's a hell of a name!

I can see it in the Telegraph cryptic crossword; 1950's rocker and market trader who specialises in s&m clothing.

On a serious note Sale have a very expensive pack and with the Curry brothers it would always be difficult for young Leatherbarrow to make his way into the side. He may just be the 7 Glasgow are looking for.

I also see that Scott Steele (Torygraph crossword clue: Gaelic Stalin with tendency to pass) has been released by the NotNots. he could fill the tricky fourth scrum half position.

I followed the earlier comments about our experiences of turning up for training and being swamped by fitter and faster youngsters and realising that retirement (in playing terms ) can't be avoided. Well, young Pipetto has started training at my old club. I taxied him to training the other evening and as I was dropping him off in the car park the car stared shaking from the sonic reverberations of Caz the Quiet Bokkie conducting the warm up drill. I thought I'd walk over to pitch side and say hello to Bigson; I just love seeing him being first team captain.
As ever, I was greeted by abuse from the older players, "Fahkin 'ell look what the cat's dragged in. " was the welcome from the angry Munsterman who doubles as the club president.
"Don't fret Niall, I don't have my kit on so you won't be shown up this evening." was my pithy response.
"Well you should have your kit on, we're running a vets/seconds this year and there's a place for you in it."

Well, my ego was stroked and I spent a few minutes talking nonsense with a few people I hadn't seen since Lockdown began. It was weird and wonderful to be on green grass and surrounded by noise and movement and people. Returning home I told Mrs Pip. "Are you feccin mad?" is the short version of her considered and caring reply.

I could hack the pre season training (even the private training to get to a level where I could attempt pre-season training). I could survive, just, the bumps and bruises once the real games begin. But when I thought about hooking against a front row of strangers... about being in the middle of a maul...about that moment after I'm tackled and I pull the tackler over me so he's off his feet and can't roll away "penalty to us? thank you sir."... All those strangers breathing over me.
I can't see myself going anywhere near a rugby field this year.

[tigertattie]

Jim, it's not the scrum you need to worry about, it's not the impact of their giant No 8 clattering into you from a pick and go, it's not the speed in which their inside centre will crash into you from an inside scissor move, it's not the pressure of half their pack laying on top of you in a maul you need to worry about.............

........... It's the rolling pin to the back of the head you get from Mrs Pip when you limp in half cut after your first game of the season!

[tigertattie]

Waaaaa haa haa haaaaaaaaaaa

Oh my guiddy aunt this made me laugh today!

Annoucement of wee Greeg's signing for a new club. He and one of his team-mates have thier names sounded out phonetically for the fans

[Brendan]

If Laporte is right and each of the 6 Nations unions are getting €75m for the sale to CVC would you like to see a third team set up and run.

The two Scottish teams are very strong (only Ireland is allowed to have two strong teams at the same time) so I think that you have the players for a third team. If the SRU ringfenced €40-50m they would then be able to run it for a set number of years before knowing that they have the money. You would hope with the extra cash the SRU already had that after 8-10 years (5m a year like Dragons/Connacht).

Maybe the boarders has been sufficiently humbled to actually run a team or put it in Aberdeen for the long game.

It won't be to often that the SRU would have the means and players to set up the 3rd team

[Brendan]

If there was a 3rd team Glasgow would no longer be the worse Scottish team so pros and cons for both teams

[jimbopip]

tiger, MrsPip gave me her grown-up-not-at-all-impressed-do-you-really-think-that's-funny? face. Anal Run I'm still laughing.

Brendan, yes if the Buffties get their hands on £75 million squids then a third team would be a possibility. perhaps London Scottish, if they were able to play in the Pro14/16/94? That way they couldn't get relegated so no fear of disappearing revenue streams if they have a bad season. Also the attendances could be very good; lots of Celtic exiles in the greater London area who would turn up to support the away teams.
Finally, if they invest in LS then the execrable perfumed Luvvies would still be the worst team in Scotland.

[bsando]

Waaaaa haa haa haaaaaaaaaaa

Oh my guiddy aunt this made me laugh today!

Annoucement of wee Greeg's signing for a new club. He and one of his team-mates have thier names sounded out phonetically for the fans

Hilarious!

[Hazel Sapling]

The RFU may be open to losing a Championship club to fund. I can't imagine the SRU are going to want to risk a third club at the moment though. Hunker down for a year or two with it in their back pocket until it is clear we are going to be running at a surplus again. Might have two or three years without fans and the grassroots will probably need a few million to prop them up.

As always, going to bang the drum. Get the stadiums sorted at Glasgow and Edinburgh first.

[bsando]

If Laporte is right and each of the 6 Nations unions are getting €75m for the sale to CVC would you like to see a third team set up and run.

The two Scottish teams are very strong (only Ireland is allowed to have two strong teams at the same time) so I think that you have the players for a third team.  If the SRU ringfenced €40-50m they would then be able to run it for a set number of years before knowing that they have the money.  You would hope with the extra cash the SRU already had that after 8-10 years (5m a year like Dragons/Connacht).

Maybe the boarders has been sufficiently humbled to actually run a team or put it in Aberdeen for the long game.

It won't be to often that the SRU would have the means and players to set up the 3rd team

My recent thoughts have actually been the opposite, that the Pro14 should reduce the teams involved and setup a B league like the D2 and Championship leagues except for the Pro14 nations. That could potentially allow new European countries to have an access route to the Pro14 and top level European rugby.

In a nut shell, Ireland would shed one team, as would Wales. SA, if they continue to be involved, would add their four best sides (Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Lions as of now) and we'd have a Pro 14 with 2 x Italian, 2 x Scottish, 3 x Irish, 3 x Welsh and 4 x SA sides. The possibility of the Jaguares or Sunwolves joining could be of interest as well to make it a Pro 16.

The B league would then consist of 1 x Irish, 1 x Welsh, 2 x SA, the best clubs from Georgia, Russia, Romania, Spain, Portugal etc, all the nations we'd like to see grow and have a route to bigger things. Promotion and relegation would ensue and we'd still have the Heineken and Challenge Cups.

A third pro Scottish team in that instance would be attractive to me, but adding a new one to an already crowded league seems a bad idea for the leagues progression.

[tigertattie]

The SRu cannot pi$h this windwall agaisnt the wall by getting in a 3rd pro team.

The money would be better spent on grass roots rugby and bridging the gap between the pro sides and the amatur game.

If a 3rd pro team is to get off the ground, it needs to be financially viable from the start and using this money to get it up and running only for the 3rd team to die like the Reviers did would be an utter waste of time and money.

[BigGee]

https://www.theoffsideline.com/greig-laidlaw-delighted-to-finally-get-shining-arcs-move-out-in-the-open/?v=79cba1185463

The full story about GLs move to Japan from the man himself and a little teaser about what happens next.

[tigertattie]

https://www.theoffsideline.com/greig-laidlaw-delighted-to-finally-get-shining-arcs-move-out-in-the-open/?v=79cba1185463

The full story about GLs move to Japan from the man himself and a little teaser about what happens next.

no no nooooooooooo

His name is now

"Grey Ray Draw"

and his colleague, Anal Run will never ever live that down Thats going to be Honey Badger level of infamy

[BigGee]

Glasgow's much touted signning of Hamish Bain finally announced today.

Thag looks likd all our seckbd row spits now filled up.

Gray R
Cummings
Naks
McDonald
Bain
Harley - as the versatile 6/5 option.

Actually not so bad if they can all stay fit.

Hopefully a couple of years in France has toughened Bain up a bit and McDonald can pick up the way he was playing at the begining of last season.

Dalziel knows Bain from his U20s days and clearly rates him. Lets hope his judgement is good!

[EST]

Glasgow's much touted signning of Hamish Bain finally announced today.

Thag looks likd all our seckbd row spits now filled up.

Gray R
Cummings
Naks
McDonald
Bain
Harley  - as the versatile 6/5 option.

Actually not so bad if they can all stay fit.

Hopefully a couple of years in France has toughened Bain up a bit and McDonald can pick up the way he was playing at the begining of last season.

Dalziel knows Bain from his U20s days and clearly rates him. Lets hope his judgement is good!

I'd agree, our front 5 is looking really solid now.

I know pretty much nothing about Bain, looks like he was CHH's less heralded partner in that successful U20 team. Seems a big, athletic unit - hopefully two years battling it out in the lower French leagues have helped his development.

[BigGee]

It is amazing how many good players came out of that U20s team, a golden generation indeed.

Craig and CHH were the first choice locks with Bain generally on the bench.

All three of them playing pro rugby now.

[EST]

It is amazing how many good players came out of that U20s team, a golden generation indeed.

Craig and CHH were the first choice locks with Bain generally on the bench.

All three of them playing pro rugby now.

Ahh yeah, I had forgotten about Craig - he maybe looks the best prospect out of all of them so far.

It really was a pretty special generation in terms of the numbers who have made it to pro rugby, certainly by our standards anyway.

[NeilyBroon]

We're certainly well stacked at SR nationally which is a nice place to be.

Still a bit concerned that Glasgow have decided not to sign Ollie Smith, seems a bit backwards thinking tbh, especially considering Bryce is the only true FB in the squad. Rufus McLean had a good 6Ns but Smith was excellent and a better option than Bryce imo.

I'm sure we'll still see Smith this coming season as one of the academy players who ends up invited to play for the Warriors but it all seems to be a SRU budget shifting game at the moment. If we need to use youth, tie them in early and get them with the squad full time, especially in positions where there's no depth.

They seem to actually be doing this at Edinburgh, despite making a lot of signings already. It just feels a bit like Glasgow have missed the boat and will be doing a lot of patchwork next season to fix their squad, hedging their bets with the academy alignment working in their favour. Presumably there will be limits how much they can play before they have to be given a contract, certainly if I were one of those academy players' agents I'd be pushing for a contract as soon as they're being used regularly on the bench as intl. cover, especially from the perspective of if they ever got injured playing.

[EST]

We're certainly well stacked at SR nationally which is a nice place to be.

Still a bit concerned that Glasgow have decided not to sign Ollie Smith, seems a bit backwards thinking tbh, especially considering Bryce is the only true FB in the squad. Rufus McLean had a good 6Ns but Smith was excellent and a better option than Bryce imo.

I'm sure we'll still see Smith this coming season as one of the academy players who ends up invited to play for the Warriors but it all seems to be a SRU budget shifting game at the moment. If we need to use youth, tie them in early and get them with the squad full time, especially in positions where there's no depth.

They seem to actually be doing this at Edinburgh, despite making a lot of signings already. It just feels a bit like Glasgow have missed the boat and will be doing a lot of patchwork next season to fix their squad, hedging their bets with the academy alignment working in their favour. Presumably there will be limits how much they can play before they have to be given a contract, certainly if I were one of those academy players' agents I'd be pushing for a contract as soon as they're being used regularly on the bench as intl. cover, especially from the perspective of if they ever got injured playing.

Apparently the new academy cohort will be training with the first team squads on a regular basis, so perhaps that's been taken into account. I totally agree though, Smith has been brilliant for Ayr and the U20's, while Mclean has had a long term injury and had only recently come back into the 6N squad. They are both obviously very good players, but I thought Smith would have been an absolute shoe in.

I wonder if the Warriors will be looking at a year contract for John Barclay?

[BigGee]

I can't see JB coming back.

In all honesty he looked pretty done last season and would have been happy enough to see the season out and retire at a time of his own choosing.

Him and a lot of other good pros have had that opportunity taken away from them now unfortunately.

If Glasgow bring in another back row, then they will likely be a lot younger and cheaper than JB.

[EST]

I can't see JB coming back.

In all honesty he looked pretty done last season and would have been happy enough to see the season out and retire at a time of his own choosing.

Him and a lot of other good pros have had that opportunity taken away from them now unfortunately.

If Glasgow bring in another back row, then they will likely be a lot younger and cheaper than JB.

Would he be that expensive? I doubt he has many offers on the table and he may be tempted by one more season to give a bit of finality to his career? On the other hand, he could very well not be fussed to play again if it meant a big pay cut.

He certainly wasn't the player we saw captaining Scotland and putting in those excellent performances for the Scarlets, but I don't think he was terrible for Edinburgh last season. Warriors need some BR re-reinforcements, and in this current climate he could be a decent option for a year.

[NeilyBroon]

I can't remember if Barclay said he'd be interested in coaching? That could be a better option for him, maybe as a breakdown specialist like Richie Gray (of Scotland and SA fame).

[BigGee]

I am pretty sure he was on top dollar at Edinbugh, so would almost certainly be taking a big chop in salary.

I imagine that would be quite damaging to the psyche at his stage of career to tske z physicsl and financial hammering.

If we were able to be sentimental about this sort of thing pre covid we certainly don't have that luxury now.

For better or worse, Scottish rugby needs to look forward and not backwards. Hopefully some bright young thing gets his chance in JBs place. Darge and Boyle, who almost certainly are earning less cumulatively than JB was on his own, certainly have st Edinburgh.

We just need to find anothet for Glasgow!

[RDW]

I can't remember if Barclay said he'd be interested in coaching? That could be a better option for him, maybe as a breakdown specialist like Richie Gray (of Scotland and SA fame).

He's talked about wanting to be a defence coach, and did quite a lot of work with Matt Taylor with Scotland when he was injured.

[TJ]

I think a player / coach position could suit Barclay well. Keep him on the player list so he keeps fit and ca fill in if needed but concentrate on developing as a coach

[EST]

I am pretty sure he was on top dollar at Edinbugh, so would almost certainly be taking a big chop in salary.

I imagine that would be quite damaging to the psyche  at his stage of career  to tske z physicsl and financial hammering.

If we were able to be sentimental about this sort of thing pre covid  we certainly don't have that luxury now.

For better or worse, Scottish rugby needs to look forward and not backwards. Hopefully some bright young thing gets his chance in JBs place. Darge and Boyle, who almost certainly are earning less cumulatively than JB was on his own, certainly have st Edinburgh.

We just need to find anothet for Glasgow!

Suppose that's sort of my point - I don't think there is a backrow coming through at Glasgow (although I see there is still an academy place spare)? One of Darge or Boyle would have been ideal, or in a normal season I would have hoped we could bring in an established 7 - with the market as it is though, I don't think JB would be too bad as a stopgap until things settle down a bit.

[Hazel Sapling]

Are there not two SQ back-rows released from English academies this year? Could be worth a shout...otherwise Wynne at LS, Crosbie at Edinburgh and Guy and/or Gary Graham at Newcastle offer several options that could be poached

With Barclay, if he is willing to take a big pay cut and do a partnership player/coach deal with Ayr or Stirling that could work. In all honesty, if he wants to be considered a player on a decent wage, he probably should not be made an offer to stay in Scotland unfortunately

[EST]

Crosbie would be perfect..not sure if Cockers would think the same though.

[BigGee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53328809

GLs thoughts on the future.

I wonder if we will see him as a future Scotland coach?

[bsando]

Ah I was just about to post that too Gee. I very much hope we do see Laidlaw coaching Scotland one day. He would be a fantastic coach. As we all know, he has a very good head on his shoulders which was why he was never out of the equation to play at scrum half for Scotland. Even when fit young guys like Prygos, SHC, Price and Horne were all around and playing well.  

Exciting times ahead for Laidlaw then. He seems the sort of guy who likes to have a road map but is also happy to take a good opportunity when it presents itself so we'll have to see where he ends up after Japan. Just by mentioning his coaching ambitions, that will attract some interest from clubs who may be looking ahead to the future. You see some of the recent player's who have gone into coaching and had success, Laidlaw has a much better better understanding of the game than some of them do. He is also a natural leader as well.

If he were to get into coaching, I'm guessing it would be in the same route as Mike Blair with the aim to eventually be a head coach at a club in Europe. It would be a nice way for him to return home to Scotland after all the years of playing in England, France and now Japan. His brain would certainly be ripe for the plucking in terms of brining outside knowledge into the Scottish club and international setup.

[BigGee]

You can never tell who might make a good coach or not, but if you were a betting man, you would fancy Laidlaw to make a decent crack at it.

[BigGee]

https://www.theoffsideline.com/exclusive-john-barclay/?v=79cba1185463

After yesterdays chat about JB, hear from the man himself!

[EST]

Very much seems to be putting himself in the shop window with that article - as I mentioned yesterday, I think he probably does have a year left to offer the right team, in one capacity or another.

It must have been a really frustrating couple of years when you hear it laid out like that - pretty much everything has gone wrong!

[BigGee]

He does not seem overly pleased with the way things panned out at Edinburgh either and feels he was frozen out a bit.

That is his perspective and another ones might be that the younger guys were playing better than him and keeping him out of the team. It seems clear that Cockers saw it that way and wanted to concentrate on the way forward.

He does seem to be touting for a job, but I still think he will struggle. Glasgow might be his best bet and that might depend on how Danny Wilson sees him. It was a few years ago now, but some might still remember that JB did leave Glasgow under a bit of a cloud and he was not getting picked towards the end of his time there as well.

He was also guilty of some petulant behaviour and a sense of entitlement as well. He certainly grew up down in Wales and largely reinvented himself and became a better player for it, but it might also come down to how long some memories are.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

[EST]

He does not seem overly pleased with the way things panned out at Edinburgh either and feels he was frozen out a bit.

That is his perspective and another ones might be that the younger guys were playing better than him and keeping him out of the team. It seems clear that Cockers saw it that way and wanted to concentrate on the way forward.

He does seem to be touting for a job, but I still think he will struggle. Glasgow might be his best bet and that might depend on how Danny Wilson sees him. It was a few years ago now, but some might still remember that JB did leave Glasgow under a bit of a cloud and he was not getting picked towards the end of his time there as well.

He was also guilty of some petulant behaviour and a sense of entitlement as well. He certainly grew up down in Wales and largely reinvented himself and became a better player for it, but it might also come down to how long some memories are.

It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

Yeah, always two sides to the story and you can see why Cockers has decided to go with younger players - with his embarrassment of riches in the BR it makes sense to offload his wage. That being said, from an outsiders perspective I can see how the whole period would be frustrating - from Scotland captain to being unemployed and hardly playing in 2 years.

On the Glasgow-Scarlets move, I do seem to remember something - although i'm not sure if anything specific came to light? Don't think it could have been too bad, as Gregor obviously gave him the Scotland captaincy subsequent to any disagreement. In terms of how it might affect a future move, i can't imagine there are many left at the club from when he left and you would think he has a lot of credit in the bank through his relationship with the Scotland players.

[BigGee]

No, i am sure you are right about the move away from Glasgow. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then.

It would be a lot more about how DW sees him and he will know him quite well having coached him with Scotland and, presumably from his time in Wales.

We will find out soon enough i guess.

[RDW]

I'd say JB was given more than his fair chance at Edinburgh. He was catapulted straight into the team for the Munster QF for example after only one game the week before, relegating Bradbury and Ritchie to the bench. It probably wasn't the best idea as he clearly wasn't match fit.

Generally, when he's been fit he has played.

I mean I know they tried to cancel his deal when he ruptured his achillies and that's really sh**ty of them, but I don't think he can really complain about his gametime when fit, particularly given the competition in that back row!

[NeilyBroon]

He still seems relatively philosophical about it, and Edinburgh haven't been overly diplomatic over player contracts in recent months (Matt Scott a prime example) so I think Barclay is fair to have grievance with that side of things. As I said I think he should be looking to coach, he may not be that old but I don't think his body can handle much more, plus as others have said we have a wealth of options who are also now pretty experienced. Time to gracefully step aside, I'd imagine he will. Maybe we'll see a Gordie Reid style move to the super 6, or if the money is important a move south. He's been a good servant for Scotland and obviously has a lot of good experience to give to the next generation.

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