Glasgow and Edinburgh Ongoing Banter Thread 26

by Hazel Sapling Mon 1 Feb 2021 - 12:12

First topic message reminder :

A continuation on previous threads discussing the past, the present and the future of Scottish rugby. A dose a day, keeps optimism away

Halfway through a Covid season and not far from the Rainbow cups, both teams are on the precipice of missing out on the top tier in Europe next year. The Rainbow Cup is a well thought out idea of including sides from South Africa, the home to a new Covid variant that vaccines may not work on, with international travel involving several regions of Europe.

Glasgow Squad

LH: Kebble, Bhatti, Lambert
Hooker: F Brown, Turner, Stewart, Matthews,
TH: Z Fagerson, Berghan, Pieretto, McCallum, McQuillan
Locks: Cummings, R Gray, Harley, McDonald, Bain, Bean
Back Row: Wilson, Gordon, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey, Miller, G Brown

SH: Price, G Horne, Dobie, Kennedy
FH: Weir, Miotti, P Horne, Thompson
Centres: S Johnson, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Grigg, Fergusson
Back Three: McLean, Forbes, McKay, Cancelliere, Tagive, Steyn, O Smith

Edinburgh Squad

LH: Schoeman, Venter, Grahamslaw
Hooker: McInally, Cherry, McBurney, Harrison
TH: Nel, De Bruin, Atalifo, Williams
Locks: Gilchrist, Toolis, Young, Hodgson, Sykes, Phillips
Back Row: Mata, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury, Crosbie, Haining, Boyle, Kunavula, Muncaster

SH: Pyrgos, Vellacott, Shiel
FH: VDW, Chamberlain, Savala
Centres: Lang, Taylor, Bennett, Dean, Johnstone, Venter, Currie, Hutchison
Back Three: Graham, Kinghorn, Hoyland, Blain, Bofelli, Moyano, Immelman, Owsley

Previous Thread
https://www.606v2.com/t69760-the-glasgow-and-edinburgh-general-chat-discussions-are-limited-to-6-people-before-10pm-to-prevent-the-spread-of-jimboish
https://www.606v2.com/t69555-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-24-covid-funtimes?highlight=banter
https://www.606v2.com/t69038-glasgow-and-edinburgh-banter-thread-no-23-new-season-new-thread?highlight=banter

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 13:01

Edinburgh doing well but Racing's power is frightening - Chat is breaking tackles at will. I fear for us later on the game if Racing can keep this tempo and intensity up.

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 13:13

Racing break away and score from our own lost lineout. Proves again you need flawless set piece in these kind of games away in France.

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 13:21

20-3 HT. Seems a pumping but we haven't been that bad - Racing have just take the two breakaway tries when they came. We are up against it physically though.

We had a chance to score on HT but the ball was held up over the line.

And I'm off to my scratcher - only so much excitement from Edinburgh that you can take on a Sunday evening.

by TJ Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 13:21

Anyone know why Kinghorn is at 10? Seems an odd game to try him out at 10.

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 13:23

TJ wrote:Anyone know why Kinghorn is at 10? Seems an odd game to try him out at 10.

No one's expecting us to win this so probably worth the experimentation. VDW is on the bench and maybe has been carrying a niggle so not trained much?

May also be Cockers looking ahead to try and improve our options at 10, especially with Hoyland looking decent at 15.

by jimbopip Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 14:55

56-3
Just as well Racing's first choice 10 wasn't playing otherwise it could have been embarrassing.

by **BigGee** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 16:50

RDW wrote:Decent start from Edinburgh - actually creating chances in the backs! Final execution just letting us down. Had a backs move try ruled out from a knock on in the lineout leading up to it.

That aged well!

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 22:59

Aye I'm glad I went to sleep at HT!

by tigertattie Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 23:17

So now we get to sit on our hands and wait until we maybe or maybe don’t play someone in July???

What do the players do? Get themselves on a pre-pre season training regime?

Do any of the English clubs want a loan of some players given that they played up to the middle of June???

I know the rainbow cup with the SA teams was meant to start up but the bonkers world that we’re in just now threw a spanner in the works and that public safety is first but surely someone somewhere could have come up with some ideas on keeping Pro 12/14/16 players occupied?

Or do we count our blessings and get the Scotland contingent together for 3 months of training? Let the other nations knacker themselves for the lions and the we can pounce next year and win a “devalued as it’s a lions year” 6ns title!

by **RDW** Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 23:20

Have I missed something - is the rainbow cup cancelled?

Last I saw we're playing zebre then Glasgow twice (not much of a rainbow)

by tigertattie Sun 4 Apr 2021 - 23:25

Oh yeah. We’ll get to hand Glasgow their backsides, again, for some comedy value.

Well at least it’s something to look forward to

by nickj Tue 6 Apr 2021 - 17:17

Only preliminary Rainbow rounds have been announced so far:

South African teams arrive in UK

Round 4 – Weekend of May 29th

Round 5 – Weekend of June 5th

Round 6 – Weekend of June 12th

Final – Weekend of June 19th

by jimbopip Tue 6 Apr 2021 - 18:18

In a three team group with the MFL and a team with one of the worst records in the Pro 14 this season
And the form side at the moment is... Benetton.

by Hazel Sapling Thu 8 Apr 2021 - 15:04

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/edinburgh-sign-scottish-qualified-multi-sport-athlete-who-ran-a-10-67-second-100-metres/

Not sure if this is an April Fool's prank a week late. Either way, Edinburgh taking a flyer

by **BigGee** Thu 8 Apr 2021 - 15:26

He sounds lightening fast, should help Edinburgh kick chase next year then!

by **NeilyBroon** Thu 8 Apr 2021 - 16:33

He'll be quicker at hitting the defensive wall that's had plenty of time to form that's for sure.

by **NeilyBroon** Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 7:33

Well the Adam Nicol question whether he'd actually make it has been answered with him moving to Jersey.

A real shame as he's one player I hoped would push on, I remember him really tearing it up at U20s.

by **RDW** Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 7:46

He seems another example of a player who was just too big, and it his body just couldn't cope with the demands of being an elite athlete. There's been a few props over the years in the same boat.

by **BigGee** Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 9:21

Maybe he just needs a bit of time.

The championship is a hard, forward dominated league. If he gets the game time he needs in it, he could come back stronger in the future. Unfortunately from Glasgow perspective, he has never really stepped up for us.

by EST Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 11:32

Not surprised by the Nicol news, don't think Wilson has every picked him when had other choices available -it's a shame he hasn't kicked on, in an ideal world he would be a ready made replacement for Zander for when he moves on

Hopefully he can progress in the Championship.

by Hazel Sapling Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 12:07

Jersey is where Gary Graham developed before heading to Newcastle. Hopefully they can do the same for Nicol.

by EST Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 13:51

It's always a bit of a lottery which players can make the step up to the pro ranks, and goes to show progress isn't always linear.

From watching him during his stint in the U20 team, I'd have put the mortgage on Nicol making it as a regular at Glasgow.

by sensisball Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 15:05

A real shame for Nicol, hopefully he will get game time and be able to prove his worth. Wasn't Jersey the destination of a former promising second row who left Glasgow a couple of seasons ago, after getting little playing time with the first team? Cannot remember his name but he did look promising when he played.
Not having a 2nd XV league, or espoirs as they are called in France, really stunts the development of many of the fringe players.

I was thinking about how helpful it is for the Top 14 clubs to have their best espoirs players primed and ready for first team action when required. On Saturday Clermont had to rely on a fresh faced loose head prop, called Bibi Biziwu. 19 years old and looks like he weighs about 19 stone, but really dynamic and powerful in the loose. At one point Joe Launchbury attempted to tackle him and I thought big Joe was going to require an HIA after the way his head snapped back as he slid off the tackle and then crumpled into a heap on the ground.
Another espoirs player, the 21 year old second row, Tibault Lanen, stole the Wasps final lineout throw as well as securing the final 2 Clermont lineouts which eventually led to the match levelling try. I realise that the reason we farm out our young players to the clubs is financial, but it does make the task of making it as a pro harder because you don't get the consistently high level of play week in week out against teams of other up and coming young pro's.

by jimbopip Fri 9 Apr 2021 - 16:36

RDW wrote:He seems another example of a player who was just too big, and it his body just couldn't cope with the demands of being an elite athlete. There's been a few props over the years in the same boat.

Conversely, Chris Fusaro was always a player whose talent, and heart, was much bigger than his body. Sadly, the rumours are that his latest knee injury has ended his career.A real Warrior who gave everything every time he pulled on the jersey.

by **George Carlin** Sun 11 Apr 2021 - 20:41

Hazel Sapling wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/news/edinburgh-sign-scottish-qualified-multi-sport-athlete-who-ran-a-10-67-second-100-metres/

Not sure if this is an April Fool's prank a week late. Either way, Edinburgh taking a flyer

Edinburgh has a history of recruiting grass-burning blasters - Alan Jacobson, Nick De Luca, Ben Atiga, Brendan Laney to name but a few.

by tigertattie Sun 11 Apr 2021 - 23:56

Sad news about massimo.

He did a power of work on our scrummaging but more than a coach he’s a human being who’ll be sadly missed

by **RDW** Mon 12 Apr 2021 - 0:00

Yeah that is sad - Covid is a pretty grim way to die too.

by **BigGee** Tue 13 Apr 2021 - 8:52

Nice tribute to Massimo from Mark Palmer.

Just about the only place you didn’t see Massimo Cuttitta with a smile was anywhere near a scrum machine. That’s when the switch would flick, the game face would come on and the avuncular Italian would get stuck into what was ultimately his life’s work.

Cuttitta cared deeply about people and, when it came to rugby, making them better. The tide of testimony that has arrived in the wake of his death, aged just 54, on Sunday is proof of his success, not just with the nuts and bolts of front-row play but in connecting with players as individuals, earning their attention, respect and trust through a friendly but always driven style.

Alasdair Dickinson, Allan Jacobsen, Moray Low and Stuart McInally are just four of countless character witnesses to pay warm tribute to both the coach and the man, who had a nine-year association with the Scottish game, first as Edinburgh scrum coach then in a wider brief that took in pretty much every aspect of the set-up from the national team down.

Cuttitta always put in the hard yards, not to mention the miles. At one point, he was coaching Edinburgh on a Monday, Glasgow on a Tuesday, Doncaster Knights on a Wednesday, Amatori Milano (where he and twin brother Marcello had won four Italian titles as players) on a Thursday, back home to Rome for the weekend then on to Fiumicino airport on the Sunday night to start it all again.

He deserved infinitely better than the tawdry, underhand manner in which his SRU involvement was brought to an end in 2015. Cuttitta was back in Italy between the Six Nations and the start of the World Cup training camp when Scott Johnson, then Murrayfield director of rugby, arrived to tell him — out of the blue over dinner — that he wasn’t going to be allowed to see out the last year of his contract. It hurt Cuttitta deeply that he was not even permitted to return to say goodbye to the players, coaches and fellow staff members to whom he had given so much.

Having coached Canada, Romania and Portugal as well as the Scots, it was also a sore point that he never got the call to lead the Italian pack, having played a major role in earning them a place at the top table of Six Nations rugby. In 70 appearances (22 as captain), he helped secure those landmark wins over Ireland and France in the late 1990s, and was the starting loose head when Scotland were beaten in the Azzurri’s first championship outing in February 2000.

Speculation was mounting that Cuttitta may finally have been brought back into the national team fold by the new FIR president Marzio Innocenti, who led the outpouring of grief in his homeland. Cuttitta had been seriously ill in hospital with Covid-19 since the end of March, and died two days after his mother, Nunzia, who also had the virus. Marcello — a former wing who is still Italy’s all-time leading tryscorer — had previously lost his father, Carlo.

The brothers are legends of the Italian game, revered not just for what they contributed on the field but the humility and humanity they showed off it, like in helping arrange a charity match — in which two Glasgow players featured — to aid the victims of the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila, the Abruzzo town where they took their first big steps in the sport after spending a chunk of their childhood in South Africa.

It has been a brutal couple of days for Italian rugby, with another former national captain, Marco Bollesan, also passing away at the age of 79. The former No 8 won 47 caps (34 as skipper) between 1963 and 1975, was Italy coach at the first World Cup in 1987 and team manager at the 2003 and 2007 tournaments.

by **RiscaGame** Tue 13 Apr 2021 - 9:05

Terrible shame. Nice piece that though. The bit about the travelling to coach four different teams, is some commitment, fair play.

by funnyExiledScot Wed 14 Apr 2021 - 16:09

George Carlin wrote:
Hazel Sapling wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/news/edinburgh-sign-scottish-qualified-multi-sport-athlete-who-ran-a-10-67-second-100-metres/

Not sure if this is an April Fool's prank a week late. Either way, Edinburgh taking a flyer
Edinburgh has a history of recruiting grass-burning blasters - Alan Jacobson, Nick De Luca, Ben Atiga, Brendan Laney to name but a few.

Can I just say that it's very harsh lumping in De Luca with that lot!!

Ben Atiga started his 100m last week and he's still going....

by jimbopip Wed 14 Apr 2021 - 17:43

funnyExiledScot wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
Hazel Sapling wrote:https://www.rugbypass.com/news/edinburgh-sign-scottish-qualified-multi-sport-athlete-who-ran-a-10-67-second-100-metres/

Not sure if this is an April Fool's prank a week late. Either way, Edinburgh taking a flyer
Edinburgh has a history of recruiting grass-burning blasters - Alan Jacobson, Nick De Luca, Ben Atiga, Brendan Laney to name but a few.

Can I just say that it's very harsh lumping in De Luca with that lot!!

Ben Atiga started his 100m last week and he's still going....

GC didn't intend to include Hot Hands De Luca but despite being given 15 minutes to get clear he still got caught in the net.

by Anglobraveheart Wed 14 Apr 2021 - 23:55

It doesn't matter what speed you go at, if you can't catch the ball.
NDL proved that almost every week.

by Hazel Sapling Fri 16 Apr 2021 - 11:55

Fraser McKenzie retires with immediate effect after repeated shoulder ailments.

Solid club player, has had a torrid time with injury.

by **BigGee** Fri 16 Apr 2021 - 16:57

https://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/squad-updateh

So it does not look like Glasgow fans will get to see Hastings or Huw Jones play again in their colours, both out injured. Cummings seasons looks like it is done as well.

In slightly better news and also eminently sensible, Rory Darge moves over to Glasgow as of now and will hopefully see some gametime in the Rainbow Cup.

by funnyExiledScot Fri 16 Apr 2021 - 21:57

Real shame about Cummings, Hastings and Jones. Have Glasgow had their 1st XV on the pitch at any point this season?

Darge move makes total sense. Knowing our luck at Edinburgh, he'll turn out to be awesome and another that got away!!

by **RDW** Fri 16 Apr 2021 - 23:09

It does look like players are choosing to go under the knife in what is a pretty low key season run in. Darcy Graham posted of himself in a sling after an op too

by Dollar Bill Sun 18 Apr 2021 - 15:31

Got to think that anyone with a chance of a Lions place would be getting themselves patched up now.

Cummings, Darcy and Jones are all probably outside bets but would assume they are on a long list now we have a Scottish voice in selection. Would think they may all be on stand by in case of injury rather than in the initial squad and may well be invited to Jersey to train. Last tour used 49 players....

Rainbow Cup is pretty meaningless so makes sense to have injuries sorted and if nothing else would have them fit in time for a proper pre-season.

by Hazel Sapling Sun 18 Apr 2021 - 19:21

Would think all are going to be on the outside looking in for the Lions.

In H Jones and Hastings' case, young players like O Smith and R Thompson are better off getting game time. We could have used Cummings to bring some quality to the pack, however it has been a long season for internationals.

by **BigGee** Mon 19 Apr 2021 - 8:32

Mark Palmer interview with Ross Thompson, probably fair to say, Glasgow's find of the season.

The most impressive part of Ross Thompson’s recent rapid rise — and there are a few to choose from — has been how easy he has made the hard stuff appear.

Decision-making, game-management, communication with older, often vastly more experienced colleagues: these are just the sort of areas where you might expect a 21-year-old fly half in his first year of professional rugby to fall short, especially after nine months of no action due to the pandemic.

Yet Thompson has stepped up, stood tall and stood out ever since making his Glasgow debut off the bench against Edinburgh on January 2. The Scotstoun supporters have been so impressed by his impact that they voted him McCrea Financial Services Warrior of the Month for March, the former Stewart’s Melville College head boy seeing off the charge of another young gun, one-time Scotland under-20 team-mate Rufus McLean.

“Either the fans like what they’re seeing or it’s just been my family spamming the vote,” laughs Thompson, who cuts as composed and confident a figure off the field as on it. “It’s been a crazy start to the year. It’s only since the start of 2021 that I’ve played any games for Glasgow, but it’s been pretty cool, a pretty good start.

“I love getting chucked in at the deep end and seeing how I do. I’ve played eight or nine games now, and if you’d told me that at the start of the year I’d have bitten your hand off.”

Thompson has previous for taking big jumps in his stride, having gone straight from schoolboy rugby to the Scottish Premiership with Glasgow Hawks in 2017. He had captained his alma mater to the Scottish Schools’ Cup in 2016, but by no means was considered a pre-ordained star. Very quickly, though, he established himself as Hawks’ first-choice No 10 with those lovely hands, cultured left boot, ability to read the game and desire to work on weaknesses, most notably the physicality of his defence.

He also went from stage two (intermediate) to stage three (top end) with the Warriors academy, but had to be patient for his opportunity in the first XV, which arrived due to a combination of Adam Hastings being injured and Brandon Thomson losing the plot from the tee.

“I’m lucky I had been able to train around the squad so I knew what the level was going to be like, even if match intensity ramps it up a lot more,” says the man who turned out for Ayrshire Bulls in Super6 last season. “The jump from school to Hawks was a big deal but the jump from club and under-20 rugby to professional has definitely been a lot bigger.

“[Game-management] is part of my game that has always been more of a strength. It’s helped a lot by having a good kicking game. It also helps a lot to have players who are my eyes and ears — I can just focus on executing the skill rather than having to always worry about making the decisions.”

The emergence of Thompson, and fellow pups McLean, Jamie Dobie and Ollie Smith, has been the silver lining to a sorry season for Danny Wilson’s team, which may finally feature the internationals for an extended stint in the forthcoming Rainbow Cup. Thompson is full of praise for both the licence and the guidance offered by his head coach, and will use these matches to emphasise his case for next season, when Hastings will no longer be around but Duncan Weir and Domingo Miotti will provide competition. “The coaches put it all into our hands and if we make a decision that we feel is the right one, they’ll back us,” he said. “ They don’t put too much pressure on us by making it too scripted or structured. If we see space, we can attack.

“For us as a club the Rainbow Cup is a really good chance to build some momentum going into next season, and individually players want to do that as well.”

Thompson has been voted by supporters as player of the month
Thompson has been voted by supporters as player of the month
CRAIG WATSON
Thompson’s family tree has a different shaped ball on every branch. His late grandfather, Eric Thompson, was a well-regarded seam bowler and was inducted into the Scottish Cricket Hall of Fame two years ago, while his uncle Graeme is now a leading rugby league administrator having played for Scotland in the 13-man game and West in rugby union before working as a performance director in both water polo and curling.

Thompson’s cousin is Kirsty Gilmour, the two-time Commonwealth Games medallist in badminton, who is battling back from a foot injury ahead of the Olympics. In normal times, she also trains at the Scotstoun campus. Thompson himself was a talented footballer, playing for Spartans to under-16 level before deciding to commit to rugby.

“Sport has always been a big part of family life,” he said. “During school holidays we would go with my granny to her Monday morning tennis, her Tuesday morning badminton, then climb a hill with her walking group on Wednesday and so on. We’d have short tennis tournaments in our back garden every summer, so it definitely runs through the family. It gets pretty competitive but brings out the best in us. Me and my dad won the last one.”

Thompson originally moved west to study law at Glasgow University. He has spread the course over five years, and should finish in the next one. Being so close to the end was one of the main reasons he got over a wobble last summer as to whether he was ever going to make the breakthrough at Warriors.

The conversation has moved on somewhat since then, to the stage where it would be no major shock to see him called into the Scotland squad this summer if, as expected, Finn Russell is on British & Irish Lions duty and there is more of a developmental feel to the national team fixtures.

“There was a point where I was swaying about it, but I’m thrilled that I made the decision,” says Thompson of those brief doubts. “And it was a case of, ‘If I’m going to do this year, I want to put 100 per cent into it’. I didn’t want to have any regrets at the end of it and feel like I’d wasted a year. It seems to have worked out all right hopefully. I guess I enjoy the pressure of when your back’s against the wall and people are doubting you. I definitely do get nervous before games but I think that’s probably a good thing. I love getting chucked in [at the deep end] in anything really. Like balancing rugby and uni, people question whether or not you can do it, but I enjoy proving people wrong and showing that it’s possible.

“100 per cent I would love to play for Scotland one day, but right now I just need to focus on doing what I’m doing at Glasgow. Hopefully, we can put some good performances together as a team and individuals in this Rainbow Cup, so I don’t think I’ll get too far ahead of myself.”

by **BigGee** Mon 19 Apr 2021 - 14:33

https://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/scrum-coach-dickinson-to-join-glasgow

Alisdair Dickinson joins the Warriors coaching staff as scrum coach.

Seems like a decent bit of business, he has been doing well down at Bristol Bears and is a promising coach for the future as well.

by jimbopip Mon 19 Apr 2021 - 14:53

Dickinson was very small for an international prop but more than made up for that with his excellent technique. He also punched well above his weight. If he can transfer his self- improvement into effective coaching skills then it's a very good bit of business.

by **RDW** Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 11:11

Edinburgh sign a 28 year old English lock from Agen for some reason. Looks to be a squad signing, and likely to replace McKenzie. He's a big lad at 6ft 8!

by jimbopip Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 11:14

RDW wrote:Edinburgh sign a 28 year old English lock from Agen for some reason. Looks to be a squad signing, and likely to replace McKenzie. He's a big lad at 6ft 8!

Cockers thinks he could cover loosehead?

by **BigGee** Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 13:32

Could still be some bad news from Edinburgh about Carmicheal, who has not played all season. Rumour is he will be medically retiring.

They may well need a squad filler, though Gilchrist and Toolis have slipped down the international pecking order a little bit.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 15:25

Would not be surprised on Carmichael, absolutely snakebitten by injuries.

Depending on how Glasgow's depth chart shakes out, one of the two academy locks (Scott and Williamson is it?) might have to go along the M8. My relative positivity about Henderson going back to Leicester to get gametime last season has gone down the drain.

by **BigGee** Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 16:10

Mike Willemse is off to London Irish.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 16:56

jimbopip wrote:Dickinson was very small for an international prop but more than made up for that with his excellent technique. He also punched well above his weight. If he can transfer his self- improvement into effective coaching skills then it's a very good bit of business.

100%. Dickinson transformed himself into a wonderful scrummager, despite having the build of a back rower. He's exactly the sort of profile of player who would make a decent coach, and heavens knows that Glasgow pack could use a bit of scrum coaching...

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 16:58

BigGee wrote:Mike Willemse is off to London Irish.

Solid player, but somewhat lacking between the ears. Fell to third choice after the legend that is Dave Cherry seized his opportunities. I'm sure we can find better options, preferably SQ ones as well.

by formerly known as Sam Tue 20 Apr 2021 - 21:42

funnyExiledScot wrote:
BigGee wrote:Mike Willemse is off to London Irish.

Solid player, but somewhat lacking between the ears. Fell to third choice after the legend that is Dave Cherry seized his opportunities. I'm sure we can find better options, preferably SQ ones as well.

Probably Jake Kerr. I'll be amazed if he's at Tigers next season but he's a good hooker, very mobile. Borthwick likes his hookers to be hookers, scrum and lineout. Anything else is a bonus. Kerr is only an average scrummager. Scotland seem to like hookers that are almost another 7 though so he'd fit in.

by **RDW** Wed 21 Apr 2021 - 5:54

With McKenzie, Davidson, Ferrera leaving and maybe Charmichael retiring it's actually not too much of a surprise that they've signed this guy, in hindsight.

Toolis is quite far down the international pecking order now but Gilchrist is there or there abouts still - certainly only an injury or two away from a Scotland 23. Our remaining locks are then quite young so it makes sense to bring in an experienced pro.

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