Scotland, South Africas D team

Just came across the latest line up for Scotland vs Ireland. 

Looks like they have become we have another SA player starting for Scotland. 5 in their match day squad now

15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Duncan Taylor, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 6 Blade Thomson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Subs: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Sean Maitland.

Huw Jones is English, isn’t he ? With a Welsh name !! 

Most of rugby fan's worldwide don't have a problem with that and it's understandable today, especially in developing Tier 2 countries, afterall NZ has always got a powerful spin-off from Tongo, Fiji and Samoa. The same moans we heard about Japan when they were making a contest with Tier 1 countries.

I think the context of rugby growth as a whole is the most important issue and not to covert a monopoly of the game.

I believe there is huge potential in so-called minnows, especially Georgia...last game with Ireland in Dublin had a small margin...and I'm sure if you substituted them for Italy in the 6N you would see bigger growth and that's the way the game is going today. France, England, Wales also have their fair share now and in the past.

We want more and varied competition worldwide and nothing wrong with 3 SA's in 15 Scots team man side and 3 in reserves. Scotland now is a team to reckon with and let it grow. It would be nice to see rugby grow in many countries such as USA, Georgia, Japan, Romania and Russia, even Spain, Portugal and Germany (ENC II ).

Ah so he’s Scottish, has a Welsh name and grew up in England ! My goodness me...

If they were developed in those countries at grassroots level, it'd be more acceptable. Anything else, no. 

No different to you living in England Dave....why would Duhan  van der Merwe stay in  South Africa when wing is a reserved position

That's not context I meant...those foreign players can come from any country, not necessary SA.

But I understand your gripe, you are angry about SA rugby losing good players not only to Scotland but everywhere. Cannot blame the individuals but the rugby politics in South Africa and it's weak currency.

AO , no...take Georgia, it's a poor country with small population as is the Pacific Islands but the heart is there and the physical strength and given the tuition and experience they are equal to the best...they need catalysts that can kick start them to grow. You also don't listen to exactly to what the other person is saying but make assumptions that miss the point entirely.

Incidently, that's also more or less the take of Sean Fitzpatrick...who spent some time in Georgia and Russia promoting the game with youth...he sees huge long term potential there and that was 18 years ago. Fitzy is a great man who was prepared to help others grow despite the groans and squeals of self-centred ignoramuses. 

Former All Black skipper Sean Fitzpatrick will act as an advisor to the Georgia national side ahead of their participation in the World Cup in the autumn.

Fitzpatrick, who captained the All Blacks in the 1990s and won 92 caps for New Zealand, will take on an advisory role to the national team as well as acting as an ambassador in a bid to develop the game in the country which was formerly part of the Soviet Union.

"What I'd like to try and achieve is to make a nation like Georgia more competitive on the world stage," Fitzpatrick told a news conference in Tbilisi.

Georgia qualified for their third successive World Cup after winning the 2009 European Nations Cup. And they aim to use the 2011 campaign to continue to build the game.

"Sean's help and fresh ideas will increase the possibilities for Georgian rugby," said the president of the Georgian Rugby Union, Giorgi Nijaradze.

"It's a sign of how rugby is developing in Georgia that someone of the stature of Sean is willing to come here, and his experience is going to be of immeasurable value," said the national team's Scottish coach, Richie Dixon.

Fitzpatrick was impressed by Georgia's performances in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and is relishing the challenge of developing the game away from one of rugby's traditional superpowers.

"What I saw was a country that has a whole lot of passion and commitment," he said. "It would have been very easy for me to stay in England or New Zealand but I think it's important to grow the game."

Georgia have been drawn in a group with Argentina, England, Scotland and Romania for the World Cup, which begins in September.

I'm not going to argue on this issue, as some of you do as it always generates infantile ongoing rants and bears no fruit. That's just opinions, you are entitled to yours. I'm a fan of Georgian rugby and follow it and yes I'm happy that both Japan and Scotland are improving.

There are now 44 SA players in the English Premiership, it can’t continue like this. 

I agree with you Becs but that's economic and political reasons...this government we have now is ruining everything and rugby like everything else is falling apart...we will soon be a disaster country probably sooner than most think...and no I'm not a p rophet of doom but a realist. Rugby is just one of the casualties.

Oh I know, Seb. I understand why it’s happening but it’s not helping either of us having so many players in the Premiership. 

becs

In the main I agree with you - there should be a balance between importing players and development of local talent to grow rugby in the main NH teams - especially England, France and Scotland, 

As to Huw Jones - he came to study at Cape  University and  really started playing rugby in the Varsity Cup and also falling in love with a local girl who refused to go tp the UK.   After completion of his studies he played professional rugby for Western Province  and stayed on for about two years.   He only went back  to Scotland when an opportunity arose for his inclusion in the Scottish team.

Ja, I for one would prefer if we had more than the top 4 or 5 teams in the world that can compete. I'm glad to see the Ireland and Wales have stepped up over the past 10 years and the Bargies are starting to be competitive. Still think it is great to see the All Black bring down a peg or two. 

What I really miss about Rugby, be it Super 12 or World Cup is that any team on any given day can beat another team. For the games to go down the wire and not knowing until the final whistle has blown. NZ alway made you think you have a chance only. to come back in the last 20 min with 3 quick tries to take the wind out of the sales completely.

But it looks England is definitely the form team, France not to far off and Wales and Ireland are falling away a bit. Not sure about SA, Aus is definitely no where near where they need to be. 

But hopefully 2021 will be a more competitive year for rugby all round. 

The pacific Islands will always struggle given their location and economical viability, but at least they are dominating sevens. 

As for Scotland, well you all know how I feel about Duhan being snubbed by the boks.  We finally had a big physical winger that can compete with the Ndolo of the world. We do have some good wingers now and given our transformation targets it was always going to be impossible to see a white laaitie on the wing for the boks. 

South Africa had a chance to be the dominant team.....but losing the whole year puts them back to square one. The Chicken Run will Cost us.

No Saffex, it’s going to be like 1997 all over again  

Beat the Lions? Next year? Not a chance, Erasmus will  insist on a year of club rugby to condition our chaps before they play Internationals again. After  that he’ll choose a  ‘C’ team to broaden the pool. Then, of course,  he will burnish his political credentials by playing a quota team.

I expect nothing serious from Erasmus until maybe  2023. But the chances are we won’t ever see another team for which Erasmus takes responsibility. 

We missed a chance to stay battle-hardened. A year out of test rugby when the rest of the world has some game time under their belt? Not good. It's times like these where the game can change rather quickly, and opponents can get an edge over you. 

The latter two  have discredited themselves so much that nobody take them serious anymore.    This chicken run story is a sick example of what I mean.    The SA Government prevented any rugby games for at least two months after NZ and Australia started playing with the result that it would take another four months or so before the team would be test ready.

Fpr the rest the two are really sick in their minds,  They hate Erasmus and the fact that SA is rated no 1 in the world,   If the Springboks send a half-baked team to play and they lose it would restore part of their credibility - or so they believe.   Since that did not happen all they can do now is moan about a so-called cricket run and fill the site with their normal BS.