Tonnie on twitter saying he's in NZ learning from some of the coaches from the Chiefs. Going to take more than a jaunt to the SH to help him out.

Nice to see he did that before taking on a significant coaching appointment. Oh, hold on a minute.

Did he coach in Georgia?

did 6 months consultancy with Richie Dixon if im not mistaken

According to this French site Mike Blair turned down Perpignan and could be going to Perth, Western Force.

Wouldn’t have thought he’d make nearly as much money in Oz than in France. Seems strange that he’d do that and risk his international career.

Scotsman (I think) reported it as Perp no longer being able to afford him

Seriously hope he doesn't move down under, looks to be back at his best and would be first choice scrum-half right now for Scotland.

Which is why I doubt he will. Unless he's fallen out with AR.

Mind Robinson has stated that Cusiter is still his first choice scrum half even though Blairs in better form. He has such a boner for slow clearances from the ruck I fully Expect Pyrgos to be captaining Scotland by the 6N.

When did he state that?

Blair is more than capable of slow ball - the difference is the Embra pack produce faster ball than Glasgow or Scotland.

And if the ball isn't cleared quickly the opposition counter ruck them off it. Needs must. I don't recall AR saying that about Cussiter - not since before the 6N.

Pro12 team of the season has been announced. Glasgow lead the way with 3 players, Weir, Welsh and Ryder, while Edinburgh have 2 in Visser and Denton.

Glasgow team for Connacht:

15 Stuart Hogg
14 Federico Aramburu (CAPTAIN)
13 Alex Dunbar
12 Graeme Morrison
11 DTH van der Merwe
10 Duncan Weir
9 Henry Pyrgos

1 Jon Welsh
2 Dougie Hall
3 Moray Low
4 Tom Ryder
5 Richie Gray
6 Rob Harley
7 Chris Fusaro
8 John Barclay

Substitutes: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Mike Cusack, 18 Ryan Grant, 19 Al Kellock, 20 Calum Forrester, 21 Chris Cusiter, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Colin Shaw

Shame he's not given Beattie a final game before leaving, not been convinced by Barclay at 8.
Disappointed that Morrison starts at 12, would have started Dunbar and DTH in centres with Shaw on wing
Has Pyrgos jumped ahead of Cusiter?

--
Edinburgh team for Treviso:

15 Chris Paterson
14 Tom Brown
13 Nick De Luca
12 Matt Scott
11 Tim Visser
10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN
9 Chris Leck

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford,
3 Geoff Cross
4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Sean Cox
6 David Denton
7 Ross Rennie
8 Roddy Grant

Substitutes:16 Andrew Kelly, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jack Gilding, 19 Steven Turnbull, 20 Alan MacDonald, 21 Alex Black, 22 Harry Leonard, 23 Phil Godman

Fair play giving Mossy a final game, shame Blair is injured and misses out on a final appearance
Would have prefered to start Leonard at 10 with Laidlaw at 9, as well as McInally starting instead of Grant at 8

Isn't McInally injured at the moment?

Shame Blair can't play.

Would have thought Scott might have got a rest, as its Uni exam time. Although I wonder if his studies have been put on hold now...

It's his finals - I doubt they will be on hold.

Still a few week away I think. But you're right, he'll have to sit them as normal.

EDIT: Leonard and Godman on the bench? Suspect Bradley didn't get his o'grade rugby, let along make his finals.

I presume Aramburu has the captaincy as ackowledgment for his service? Has Cus got a knock or is he being rested for next week? Shame Beattie doesn't have a chance to make an impact of the bench.

There summed up in that selection is confirmation of what a small minded bitter c*nt Lineen can be when he wants to

Morrison straight back in too

I take it the Weegie game is on BBC Teuchter?

It is aye

What actually happened between Beattie and Lineen?

Morrison is like a cockroach, just can't get rid of the fucker.

Do you think it's a problem for Scotland that Edinburgh see Denton as a blind-side rather than 8? He's got the raw attributes to be a tremendous 8 but needs to be playing week-in week-out to develop the technical parts of the position.

perhaps Leonard will play a bit at 12

Could Leonard play at 15?

Tom Smith could be moving to Lyon

My worry is that 'we' get those ideas again and before you know it Leonard = Paterson 2.0. I guess Godman is getting a send off so there's a little less worry for Leonard. But WTF, give him the ngiht off.

According to the Scotsman Leonard is playing against English Counties tonight

Quite right too - he's got the u20 RWC coming up.

2 jokes in 2 posts on the embra forum. It must be Friday

Stop lurking and get the boot into the Koolaid drinkers ya big poof.

Apparently I did with my dig at you the other night.

Full team

15 Robbie Fergusson (Ayr)
14 Harris Jones (Boroughmuir)
13 Keith Buchan (Boroughmuir)
12 Jack Steele (Dundee HSFP)
11 Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks)
10 Finn Russell (Falkirk)
9 Murray McConnell (Glasgow Warriors) CAPTAIN

1 Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County)
2 George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby)
3 Gavin Robertson (Dundee HSFP)
4 Adam Sinclair (Stirling County)
5 Stuart Smith (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby)
6 Gary Graham (Gala)
7 Alex Henderson (Boroughmuir)
8 Andrew Nagle (Jed-Forest)

Subs (from): Fergus Scott (Currie), Alex Allan (Sale Sharks), Rory Sutherland (Hawick), Andrew Redmayne (Dundee HSFP), Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies), Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir), Ali Price (Bedford), Jamie Stevenson (London Scottish), Jamie Farndale, Harry Leonard, Robin Hislop (all Edinburgh Rugby), Mike Crawley (Boroughmuir), Matt Torrance (Ospreys).

33-16 final score. Tries from Fergusson, Hunter, Farndale(2) and Steven. Steele with 4 conversions.

OJ, how did Hunter manage to score a try without even being in the squad? Now THAT's talent...

Indeed. They must mean Turner

Scotland under-20 squad for the IRB Junior World Championship:

Backs – Tommy Allan (Western Province), Mark Bennett (Clermont Auvergne), Keith Buchan, Michael Crawley* (both Boroughmuir), Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Rugby/Edinburgh Accies), Robbie Fergusson (Ayr), Sam Hidalgo Clyne (Scotland 7s/Heriot’s), Harry Leonard (Edinburgh Rugby/Boroughmuir) CAPTAIN, Murray McConnell (Glasgow Warriors/Ayr), Finn Russell (Falkirk), Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks) and Matt Torrance (Ospreys)

Forwards – Alex Allan (Loughborough Univ), Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County), Will Bordill (Sale Sharks), Mitch Eadie (Bristol), Gary Graham (Gala), Alex Henderson (Boroughmuir), Robin Hislop (Edinburgh Rugby/Boroughmuir), Andrew Nagle (Jed-Forest), Andrew Redmayne* (Dundee HSFP), Callum Reid (Edinburgh Accies), Gavin Robertson (Dundee HSFP), Fergus Scott* (Currie), Adam Sinclair (Stirling County), Stuart Smith (Aberdeen Grammar Rugby), Jamie Swanson (Boroughmuir) and George Turner (Edinburgh Rugby/Stewart’s-Melville FP)

* = Supported by the sportscotland Institute of Sport as Regional Academy players

Management:
Head coach: Peter Wright
Assistant coaches: Simon Cross and Bryan Easson
Doctor: Dave Pugh
Physiotherapist: Sandi Lyall
Manager: Andy Miller

Itinerary:
Friday 25 May – depart UK
Saturday 26 May – arrive South Africa. Based in Stellenbosch for training week
Monday 4 June – v Australia, kick-off 2.30pm (local) at University of Western Cape, Cape Town
Friday 8 June – v France, kick-off 5pm (local) at University of Western Cape, Cape Town
Tuesday 12 June – v Argentina, kick-off 2.30pm (local) at University of Western Cape, Cape Town
Sunday 17 June – opposition, venue and kick-off depend on pool results
Friday 22 June – opposition, venue and kick-off depend on result in previous match.

No Jonny Gray?

After watching Glasgow on Saturday, I can't help feeling they will be half the team they are with Richie Gray gone. Albeit the opposition was crap, but he was eveywhere, an destroyed their line out.

I was talking to a few of the LOs at the sevens, who happen to be involved in the club game in varying roles, and while some reckon he'll be better than Richie, others saying nowhere near, they all agreed he's a different kind of player.