New signing

[Weegie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20406281
Personaly, i would have thought its a few decent forwards we would want, not a 10 !

What's the world coming to? I agree with DL.

[Weegie]

I accept that Hunter and Leonard are not where they need to be, but how does signing this guy help? We needed either to recruit a gnarled old warrior to take the youngsters under his wing and teach them the ropes, or let them loose to get a decent run in the side and learn on the job. Even Carter was eased in but we seem to expect them to become fully fledged top class 10s on AlanLewis all game time usually on the back foot.

Total and utter waste of money. Again.

[ratty]

Is there any suggestion this boy could be a project signing?

[djphilp]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20406281
Personaly, i would have thought its a few decent forwards we would want, not a 10 !

What's the world coming to? I agree with DL.

Perhaps DL has an ulterior motive, and fears his beloved Rees is gonna be dropped to make way for Laidlaw's move back to scrum half.

Just don't understand the logic behind this signing at all unless Robinson has told Bradley that he wants Laidlaw at 9 for club and country now. Still think it is a complete waste of money as surely moving one of the three Scots qualified 10's from The Weeg, thus giving them all more game time, would have been cheaper/free and would also have provided more depth for Scotland.

Can't stop thinking about the continued disparity in quality of signings made by Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Oh well, good luck to Piers anyway and I hope Bradley & Co's deadhand doesn't blight his apparently promising career as well.

[Crichton Gunner]

Why do Leonard & Hunter need a run of games in the Edinburgh side to develop into decent 10's? We're a pro team, not a creche. They should be doing this in Prem 1, and when they are starring there on a regular basis then they're ready for Edinburgh. From what I gather (although I stand to be corrected on this), neither has been regular MoM winners in Prem 1 this season, and if a player isn't shining in Prem 1, he's not going to be good enough for a pro-team.

[Martin Bell]

While anyone called 'Piers' is off to a flyer in my book, I nevertheless find this signing bizarre. And that's after letting it sink in for a few hours. What are we thinking of?

While I take the Prem 1 point, albeit I don't think it necessarily holds true, no young 10 is going to develop if he doesn't get a decent run of games as a starter at this level. I may be wrong, but I don't think young Mr Scott was a hall of famer at Prem 1 either, but he's done alright. I would much rather we gave Harry the jersey for the rest of the season and see how he goes. Both he and young Hunter will make mistakes, that's how we learn, after all. But they both have the ability to be quality operators and I would like them to be given the chance. I just don't see what this signing is supposed to achieve.

[concernedposter]

I think it's way too early to say that neither Leonard nor Hunter are going to make it in the pro game. But it's not too early to say they are not at the required level now. Stand off has been a major problem position for us this season, and they have given no indication they are the answer in the short term. Why blame Bradley for this? Scott and Gilchrist have progressed well under his coaching, after all. It's far more likely that they are just not ready yet, and only time will tell if they ever are.

Laidlaw has been indifferent this season too, and has looked what he is, a guy playing out of position. Against Sarries he was in danger of being hooked before he was taken off injured, so abject was his performance. I can completely see why we have signed this guy; whether he turns out to be any good or not only time will tell, but we have been desperately in need of an experienced 10 this season. I'd have taken Jackson or Wight in the summer, but neither seems to have been an option then and certainly aren't now. Good luck to the guy; I hope he turns out to be a star.

So many posters appear to be missing the points - in order for Leonard and Hunter to get to the level we want them to, they need game time.

It's not bloody rocket science.

[concernedposter]

Is there any suggestion this boy could be a project signing?

Would that project be - "I haven't a AlainRolland clue" Signed M Bradley?

[concernedposter]

Why do Leonard & Hunter need a run of games in the Edinburgh side to develop into decent 10's? We're a pro team, not a creche.

WTF are you serious?

They should be doing this in Prem 1, and when they are starring there on a regular basis then they're ready for Edinburgh. From what I gather (although I stand to be corrected on this), neither has been regular MoM winners in Prem 1 this season, and if a player isn't shining in Prem 1, he's not going to be good enough for a pro-team.

Very few players do that well dropping down - especially in the most tactically crucial position on the field.

Using your logic would mean we would never develop our young players - as they should only be given a couple of games to shine in the cut-throat pro game.

[GunnerDownUnder]

If Laidlaw goes to SH then we need a new 10, hopefully we tried to get a decent experienced player but couldnt find one at the right price.
Leonard as 2nd choice SO is not a step down and if he comes off the bench and plays well then its not a problem and he WILL start games. Hunter is still on an elite contract so he has another year before he needs/should be a 2nd choice.
Would have preferred a player like Donald but maybe this guy could end up playing really well after the Atiga signing a young player with something to prove gets my vote over a never-was injured player!

[stef.s]

Now this just seems to be a ridiculous by the UMM.

Ok, so Laidlaw hasn't been having the best season at 10. Hunter & Leonard have had very little game time and have blown both hot & cold but that's understandable given the aforementioned lack of game time, a seemingly lack of development plan and a pack going backwards.

Tonks & Scott and, Atiga apparently, can cover 10, but Tonks is best at FB, Scott best at 12 and Atiga seems to be a perma-crock.

So instead of thinking let's play Leonard/Hunter at 10 for the rest of the season with Greig at 9, and able to move to 10 if necessary, Bradley makes a signing which to all intent and purpose seems to be aimed more at saving his skin than anything else. If we did need to make a FH signing, why did we not try and attract Heathcote who seems to have slipped in to the Scotland squad?

I despair, especially at those in the SRU who signed this off.

[djphilp]

If we did need to make a FH signing, why did we not try and attract Heathcote who seems to have slipped in to the Scotland squad?

And why didn't we do it in the summer instead of signing Rees.

I despair, especially at those in the SRU who signed this off.

Yes I am seriously beginning to wonder about Dodson and co who seem to be throwing good money after bad.

[Debaser]

Why do Leonard & Hunter need a run of games in the Edinburgh side to develop into decent 10's? We're a pro team, not a creche. They should be doing this in Prem 1, and when they are starring there on a regular basis then they're ready for Edinburgh. From what I gather (although I stand to be corrected on this), neither has been regular MoM winners in Prem 1 this season, and if a player isn't shining in Prem 1, he's not going to be good enough for a pro-team.

Leinster did a good job with Sexton developing him from a gawky looking youngster (similar in build to Leonard) to where he is today. It's a balance between winning the games and also trying to let talent come through and develop mentality and physicality. This is something that Bradley did well initially but perhaps he feels under too much pressure to continue with. I take your point about not wanting Edinburgh to be a creche, but nor do I want us to go the same route as Scottish football:drafting in yet another experienced foreign pro to plug a gap until the team lacks any identity. I'm probably going to get shot down for saying this, but if we wanted to keep an experienced stand off why didn't we keep Phil Godman as a squad player.

[tan]

I accept that Hunter and Leonard are not where they need to be, but how does signing this guy help? We needed either to recruit a gnarled old warrior to take the youngsters under his wing and teach them the ropes, or let them loose to get a decent run in the side and learn on the job. Even Carter was eased in but we seem to expect them to become fully fledged top class 10s on AlanLewis all game time usually on the back foot.

Total and utter waste of money. Again.

theres no consistancy on this ..on one hand people are saying players like Leonard and Hunter need game time to get chances to develope ..on the other just look what happened 2 years past regarding Rory Hutton who had the potential to go far up ladder..what chances did he get ...zilch...1friendly ..1 magners league game [a victory].praised by all ..then let go without a chance to kick on ...2 years on and still nothings changed for the better at fly half at Edinburgh..in fact a scrum half has had to fill in at that position as nobody else is up to it.... this situation wouldn't be being discussed on here if the right decisions had been made back then....ps the guys that made them dont seem to be there now ..fancy that?

[Ron]

As an ex SO myself I know how difficult it is to play well when your forwards are retreating faster than an Italian army. Leonard and Hunter have never had an opportunity to play behind a pack going forward and delivering decent ball to play with but have had the most horrific jamesmatthew flung at them resulting in both young players receiving injuries and reducing their game time even further.

Sure they're not good enough yet - but they're paid buttons and every pro team needs to have its own crèche.

I don't know if either of these guys will ever make the grade but to my eye both have shown sufficent skill at various times to know that with the right coaching and mentoring they could be useful.

I've shouted blue murder at them both when they've taken wrong options and openly criticised some of their execution but I see no reason to discard either of them at this time.