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Tichtheid wrote:From an Embra perspective I'd rather have two tens who are non-Scottish qualified, we've got to be pretty single minded about improving. Our first choice pack plus reserves are already with Scotland - we have an opportunity in February to perhaps beat Munster when they are missing their Ireland guys, that is the sort of game where I'd want us to have good quality nsq players who are used to running the show.
Rico wrote:I'd be sorry to see Tovey go (if, indeed, the new arrivals do mean he is leaving).
He's not always been flawless but he's added a bit of zip and creativity here and there and he looks like he gives far more of a cr@p than Weir does.
doedin wrote:I am somewhat surprised that Cockerill is not also looking at our 9s, none of whom have impressed this year. I still hope that SHC finds his mojo as he is the one 9 we have with real potential, although we have said that for a few years now. Fowles and Kennedy are both limited. Our 9-10 axis has been a major problem for some years, none of our combinations, apart from SHC when on song, have really shown any sustained attacking threat with ball in hand and haven't looked comfortable playing through multiple phases, keeping ball in hand and attacking the line. As a result of the lack of a running threat and a lateral game from 9-10 oppositions defences have just drifted out and stifled our centres/back 3.
Rico wrote:I'd be sorry to see Tovey go (if, indeed, the new arrivals do mean he is leaving).
He's not always been flawless but he's added a bit of zip and creativity here and there and he looks like he gives far more of a cr@p than Weir does.
royc wrote:Very positive news about Hickey signing, he looks like a talented, attacking 10, which will fit the style Edinburgh is trying to play . Like every Pro side, we need 3 standoffs, to allow for injury, rotation and competition, so great to have both van der Walt (if seen as a 10) and Hickey added to the mix.
Like Tichtheid, I am not overly concerned about SQ/non-SQ here. The SRU has - quite rightly - a cap on the number of NSQs per Pro team, and I believe the cap is 12. It means 70% of Pro players must be SQ, which is a good aspirational target. The hard reality is that the domestic game, with a few honourable exceptions, is not producing a raft of contenders in several key positions - big, hard-running wingers, cut-through outside centres, attacking standoffs, dominant tighthead props, specialist openside flankers, so we have to import them, whether SQ or not. Glasgow has the max of 12 NSQs this season, Edinburgh only 7. If Cockerill is to create a winning team that climbs the league, he is just going to have to pick the best available contenders and if up to 12 of them are not SQ, so be it.
It is excellent to have 2 key renewals and 3 promising new signings already in the season, Cockerill is miles ahead of where we were this time last year! All very encouraging stuff and Embra is looking good.
The Feral Goat wrote:Hickey as an NZ U20 in 2014 does that mean he can't now qualify for Scotland through any means, Van de Walt can through residency is that correct? Both 23, how old is Baggott?
We definitely need an extra 10 in the squad, would be surprised if we had 4 next season though so would guess one of tovey or Weir won't be around.
zt1903 wrote:The Feral Goat wrote:Hickey as an NZ U20 in 2014 does that mean he can't now qualify for Scotland through any means, Van de Walt can through residency is that correct? Both 23, how old is Baggott?
We definitely need an extra 10 in the squad, would be surprised if we had 4 next season though so would guess one of tovey or Weir won't be around.
I don’t believe that NZ U20 has ever been their second senior side.
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