RWC Player Profile: John Barclay

This is the fifth in a series looking at players to keep an eye on during this years iRB Rugby World Cup from each participating nation. John Barclay of Scotland is the focus of this particular article. The Glasgow breakaway will turn 25 during the rugby's showpiece event and is a mainstay of the Scottish side.

His traditional openside style of play fits in well with the Scottish game plan and his team mates will look to him to lead them in disrupting opposition ball. Yet if this Scotland team wishes to do more than just disrupt other sides and progress the game Andy Robinson is trying to develop with this side, he is vital to the implementation of that. It will be interesting to see how he copes with that against some very strong packs.

One of my favourite players. Huge respect for the guy. He's completely committed and determined and always seems eager to play fast rugby. If he's not on form, Scotland are going to be in trouble, I really think he's that important. And I might just like him for other reasons too

But seriously, he's not even 25 yet?! I thought he was older.

He's a cracking openside and rightly our first choice, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's "vital" or that Scotland "are going to be in trouble" if he's not on form.

Ross Rennie, our reserve openside, is quite comfortably the best player not in the 1st XV and is if anything a better link man than Barclay. He's also a specialist 7 and a terrific player.

I'm pretty sure we'll see Rennie play 80 minutes against either Romania or Georgia. Worth looking out for him.

I'll be sure to keep an eye out for him then. Tis just that nearly every time I've seen Barclay play for Scotland he's been a standout performer, Scotland to me never seem to play as well without him (but I don't confess to watch all of Scotland's games so possibly not best placed to judge - tis just what I've observed)

I do like Barclay (especially over Rennie who, unlike FeS, I don't really rate that highly) but the one downside to him is that he lacks a bit of the physical presence that, say, the Irish backrow have en masse.
Sometimes a backrow forward can only look as good or as bad as the other 2 guys.
I hope my slight pessimism is proved wrong though!!

I have to say I think Rennie is a great player. Held back by serious injury in the past I think he has yet to reach his potential.

Barclay is deservedly the first choice 7, but if he were injured Scotland would be no worse off having Rennie to take the reins.

If Rennie didn't look like he hasn't played for so long, I'd agree but watching him play against a 4th choice Irish openside reminded us how long he's been out of the game.

We're lucky in that Rennie and Barclay are both genuinely international class. Barclay is slender for a contemporary loose forward but he's incredibly smart at when and where to commit at the breakdown and that's the kind of thing that can't always be picked up when watching on television.

funnyExiledScot wrote:He's a cracking openside and rightly our first choice, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he's "vital" or that Scotland "are going to be in trouble" if he's not on form.

Ross Rennie, our reserve openside, is quite comfortably the best player not in the 1st XV and is if anything a better link man than Barclay. He's also a specialist 7 and a terrific player.

I'm pretty sure we'll see Rennie play 80 minutes against either Romania or Georgia. Worth looking out for him.

+1

And rumour has it that Barclay is being pushed to higher levels of performance by the return from injury and resurgence of Rennie - can only be good for Scotland. Thought he peaked in 2010, and looked a little tired in this year's 6Ns, so it will great to see him push on again