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Many Scotland fans are happy Jonny Gray is going to Exeter Chiefs
A day after Leone Nakarawa’s signing was announced, Glasgow Warriors were dealt the damaging Friday news that Jonny Gray will be moving to Exeter Chiefs next season.
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It was expected that the lock would be leaving Scotstoun, but this makes him the third high-profile Scotland international to leave in three years with Stuart Hogg joining the Chiefs this season and Finn Russell moving to Racing 92 the season before.
This exodus of players concerns many fans and is something they wish the Scottish Rugby Union must address, but there are positives to such a move.
Exeter are one of the forces in English rugby, being Gallagher Premiership runners-up the past two seasons and sitting top of the table currently.
In the Champions Cup, they are in a great position to earn a home quarter-final berth and could make a lasting impact in that competition. Personally for Gray, a move to such a big club will help his development.
https://twitter.com/albigbarney/status/1213104537772404736?s=20
Bad for Glasgow but think good move for him and his career. Has stalled a bit in last 18 months and joining top class club and coaches
— TA (@theaaanimal) January 3, 2020
Having made the final of the Guinness PRO14 last season, Glasgow are not a small club, but Exeter seem to have grander aspirations and their recruitment policy proves that.
The 25-year-old Gray’s status as being one of the dependable defenders in the game is already cemented – after all he only missed 13 tackles the last decade. But the Chiefs can help him develop his game in all areas while still having a style that suits his strengths in the tight.
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https://twitter.com/Sconni3/status/1213103650882629632?s=20
Gutted to lose @jonnygray14 but he deserves the chance to test himself at a higher level. Thanks for everything big man, and all the best for the future
— Peter Elder ??????? (@PeterElder74) January 3, 2020
Change of scenery and league might add another dynamic to his game. Can only be good for Scotland.
Miserable times at Glasgow at the moment. Would help cure the sense of doom if Glasgow told us what the plans are and what's happening.
— Will Dev (@WilliamDevllin) January 3, 2020
Some fans have said that Gray has stagnated somewhat since he burst onto the scene for Scotland in 2013, and while he still starts for his country, this move may help him make a charge for a British and Irish Lions jersey at the end of next season.
Great servant for Glasgow. Good time for him to move on and gain experience in another league. Think this will be good for him and the national team. Clean sheet in terms of recruitment for new GE coach too.
— Michael Cuthbert Photography (@mikecuthbertuk) January 1, 2020
May be of a benifit to national side with them playing in that league w some top class players though ??
— sammy milby (@sup3rs4mmy79) January 3, 2020
Second row seems to be one of the strongest positions in the four Lions countries, meaning the Scot will need to up his game to travel to South Africa. But there is no better place to do that than with one of the strongest teams in Europe so far this season.
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Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to comments