'Obviously it is a concern' - Skinner hopes clubs will allow Scotland access to top players
Sam Skinner has called on English and French clubs to come up with a fair solution to allow Scotland to have access to their top stars for their postponed Guinness Six Nations clash with France. Last week’s Stade de France showdown was axed after a Covid-19 outbreak in Fabien Galthie’s Les Bleus squad.
Tournament organisers have now pencilled in March 26 as the new date for the game, which the French will hope will see them wrap up the Grand Slam after kicking off the competition with back-to-back wins.
But Gregor Townsend will require the blessing of Gallagher Premiership and Top 14 chiefs to include his list of 10 exiles – including Racing 92 ace Finn Russell and Exeter’s Stuart Hogg – in the Scotland squad as it falls outside the international window.
The Dark Blues coach is still waiting for the green light but Hogg’s Chiefs team-mate Skinner is confident a deal can be struck.
The big back row said: “There’s so much going on in the world at the minute that I’ll play wherever I’m supposed to play. It’s out of my control.
“I haven’t spoken to the guys about it. Obviously it is a concern. You’d like to think the solution can be resolved and there’s a way around it.
“I don’t know the politics behind it. I imagine money is involved.
“You’d like to think there’s a solution there and you want the top players available to play for Scotland because that could be a hell of a game against France.
“You don’t want what happened in the autumn when France played their second or third team. That was a shame. For the sport you want everyone to be available.”
Scotland and France were both awarded a 28-0 win when clashes against Fiji were called off during the Autumn Nations Cup as the virus swept through the Pacific Islanders’ bubble.
But Six Nations chiefs are insistent the games in their competition take place and Skinner agrees.
“I think the game should go ahead,” he said.
“At Exeter, we lost to Toulouse in the Champions Cup technically because of the same situation. Everyone’s in the same boat and if there’s a way of making the game go ahead, let’s make it happen.
“It’s a great fixture and we don’t want freebie points at all.”
Skinner has not played for Scotland since they collapsed 31-16 after a promising start in Dublin back in November.
But he is hoping to get another crack at Andy Farrell’s team after being recalled by Townsend for Sunday’s Six Nations encounter with the Irish at Murrayfield.
“It’s huge, I’m extremely grateful,” he said. “You never take these call-ups for granted.
“I was gutted and disappointed not to be involved from the start of the tournament. I tried to control what I could control and play as well as I could.
“I played in the last game against Ireland and they’re a quality side. The way they’re talking and playing, they seem to be in a strong and confident place so there’s a hell of a battle coming up this weekend and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
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It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to comments