The World Cup omission chat Fraser Brown had with Gregor Townsend
Fraser Brown aims to bounce back from his World Cup disappointment with Scotland in the perfect manner by helping Glasgow to their first European trophy. The 33-year-old was left out of Gregor Townsend’s 41-man World Cup training squad last week despite winning his 61st cap during the Guinness Six Nations.
But the hooker has been handed a subsequent boost by signing a Warriors contract extension and can bounce back further when his side play in the EPCR Challenge Cup final against Toulon on Friday.
“I had a brief chat with Gregor on Tuesday morning,” he said. “The depth we have across all positions is so strong that there is going to be tos and fros between who is in and who is out of the squad across the season.
“It’s just one of things, it’s a selection decision. You move on and focus on the next thing. I have been lucky enough to play in two World Cups and it is the pinnacle of your career internationally.
“Look, it’s a disappointment but all I can do is focus on what I am doing here. We have got one last game of the season, which is a huge game for us. All my focus is on that.
“We are lucky here that we have had big games at the end of the season. Obviously, you are disappointed when you get the news but you do move on and there is no better way to move on than play in a European final.”
Warriors have scored 139 points in their three knockout games and beaten both Bath and Perpignan away from home in the group stage, but Brown knows Warriors will need to be at the top of their form at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
“We need to play our best game,” he said. “All season we have been strong up front, we have had a strong maul and a strong scrum which has got even stronger as the season goes on.
“Our attack speaks for itself, we have players from 1-23 who are able to handle the ball and attack well. And our defence has been the foundation of absolutely everything we have done.
“We wouldn’t have the confidence to go out and play the attacking rugby that we do if we didn’t have the defence capabilities that we have.
“But we are going to have to bring it all. Toulon are an excellent side with some proper world-class players and they will have done their job, previewed us, worked out how they can try and stop us.”
On his new deal, Brown added: “I’m delighted to be here for another year. Glasgow has not only been a massive part of my year but also my life and my family’s life, so to continue my 10/11-year journey is something I am very proud of.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 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.
10 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 commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments