SRU in for an Openside

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/8778699/Scotland-targeting-Highlanders-flanker-Hardie

Wonder if its East or West coast they have him penciled in for, should he sign? Logic says Glasgow as we only have one Seven, but Edinburgh must be due at least one decent signing.

Dot, I think we can safely assume that if he's any good, it'll be West!

Seriously though, if he's a genuine openside then Glasgow makes the most sense. Edinburgh have Rennie, Grant and Watson. Glasgow really only have Fusaro.

What Edinburgh really need is a blindside. Whilst Glasgow have Strauss, Harley, Eddie and Vernon able to play 6 next season, Edinburgh really only have McInally and Basilia (assuming Denton will now settle in the number 8 role).

Glasgow need and openside, Edinburgh need a blindside. I suspect that's a bit too complicated for the SRU however.....

Interesting stuff, hopefully a slow burner

Hardy was good enough to keep James Haskell on the bench for the Highlanders until he got injured last season.


Hands off ye reivin' ******s

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:Hardy was good enough to keep James Haskell on the bench for the Highlanders until he got injured last season.


Hands off ye reivin' ******s

It's just a smokescreen McCaw's not really having a break he's just signed for Glasgow under the pseudonym Richie Vernon, the real Richie Vernon's been captured and hidden.

I would love it if he came over to the Weege. He is a class operator and would set up our back row perfectly for next season.

Great player and would be a great addition to Scottish rugby, watched him a lot for the Highlanders and always impresses at 7. Just unlucky he has McCaw, Cane and Todd ahead of him for an all black jersey!

123456789 wrote:It's just a smokescreen McCaw's not really having a break he's just signed for Glasgow under the pseudonym Richie Vernon, the real Richie Vernon's been captured and hidden.

I've a strange feeling that Vernon will be playing a big role in the Glasgow panto scene this year. As a horse's rear end.

Read this with interest. Come on Sean Lineen! Get that signature.

Well my source at Edinburgh informs me that the deal with John Hardie is pretty much done and dusted and he will be heading over to Scotland. The SRU in all its wisdom however appear to be moving him to Edinburgh as I understand and not Glasgow which would be the obvious choice.
Edinburgh already with 3 opensides, Glasgow with 1!

Hope this doesn't indicate worries for Rennie's career after the latest in his series of injuries.

(touch wood)

Could mean Rennie is heading to Glasgow of course...

Pat_Mustard wrote:Could mean Rennie is heading to Glasgow of course...

Or that the SRU want the best two options at openside playing every week, so Fusaro at Glasgow and Maitland Pt.2 at Edinburgh.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Pat_Mustard wrote:Could mean Rennie is heading to Glasgow of course...

Or that the SRU want the best two options at openside playing every week, so Fusaro at Glasgow and Maitland Pt.2 at Edinburgh.

And the other at Parc y Scarlets, Spidey.

Fusaro is good, but he's definitely not as good as a fully-fit Ross Rennie. I haven't seen Hardie play but if he's as good as Rennie he will be an amazing signing!

Anyway Glasgow will need another openside and Edinburgh won't need 4. I can't really see Rennie moving but Watson or Grant might.

If Edinburgh get Hardie, then I suspect we'll see Vernon take on the 7 duties along side Fusaro next season. When Vernon last played for Glasgow I thought he performed better at 7 anyway after he lost his 8 jersey to the then new boy Wilson.

As for Rennie, I really hope the suspicions are unfounded and there are no worries about him. Scotland can ill afford to lose players of his calibre.

I don't think Rennie will be going anywhere, but he's injury prone and added to Scotland duties isn't around much of the season, leaving Roddy Grant (hasn't played for Edinburgh for some time) and Hamish Watson (greener than green) picking up the slack.

I still think what Edinburgh need is a proper blindside flanker, not another openside, but it may be that Hardie can play both sides - I don't really know anything about him. If Hardie and Rennie together on the flanks isn't too lightweight, Edinburgh could return to that fast paced game that suits our players.

I'm clutching at straws though. Clearly it makes more sense for a new openside to move to Glasgow.

George Carlin wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Pat_Mustard wrote:Could mean Rennie is heading to Glasgow of course...

Or that the SRU want the best two options at openside playing every week, so Fusaro at Glasgow and Maitland Pt.2 at Edinburgh.

And the other at Parc y Scarlets, Spidey.

N'ah hopefully he will be deemed a traitor to the cause and ignored.

Pat_Mustard wrote:Fusaro is good, but he's definitely not as good as a fully-fit Ross Rennie. I haven't seen Hardie play but if he's as good as Rennie he will be an amazing signing!

Anyway Glasgow will need another openside and Edinburgh won't need 4. I can't really see Rennie moving but Watson or Grant might.

I've always rated Roddy the Ginger Midget. We'd have him at Scotstoun. Welease Woderwick.

Interesting to hear that it could almost be a done deal.  If the blazered buffoons at the SRU give Edinburgh Hardie they will have to, one would think, shunt either Grant or Watson over to Glasgow.  

I would probably take Watson, looks like a very good prospect.  He, Fusaro and Bordill would give us three, young specialist 7's.

I’ve long since given up with trying to figure out the SRU recruitment policy so it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Edinburgh sign a 4th openside and Glasgow get yet another centre.

Very true.  I wonder of the overseas players get a say in which club they go to?

It's a good point - maybe he doesn't want to live in the Weege!

Don't blame him...

I presume Glasgow signed Richie "monster calves" Vernon to be backup for Fusaro, but the thought of him playing all the time if Fusaro is injured is frightening.

RDW_Scotland wrote:It's a good point - maybe he doesn't want to live in the Weege!

Don't blame him...

You never know, him being from Southland - he might get a bit dizzy walking through the new town.

To be entirely fair, our new lad from Sale, Will Bordill is also a specialist openside we won't be relying entirely on Vernon and his oversized calves to cover Fozzy. Harley could also cover it at a pinch.

George Carlin wrote:To be entirely fair, our new lad from Sale, Will Bordill is also a specialist openside we won't be relying entirely on Vernon and his oversized calves to cover Fozzy. Harley could also cover it at a pinch.

I think James Eddie would cover 7 before Harley.

You would need to say wtf would John Hardie want to sign for the MFL losers 

He could play alongside the great Mke 'Who' Penn, Ben 'I played for the ABs once' Atiga, and Piers 'Two first names' Francis - what's not to like!

The Glasgow cover at 7 is currently Fozzy, RV/Wilson/Harley, Bordill... Jedi is a 5/6. RV covers 7/8, Harley 6/7 and Ryan can do a Kellybrows and covers all three... I actually think if Fozzy is out we'll see Bob or Ryan Wilson there before RV!

If this guy is seriously coming to Scotland I can't see anyway he could be going to Edinburgh considering their cover at 7 compared to 6...

Really want to see how Wilson gets on at 7 against the Springboks.

Unless as someone entioned earlier, Ross Rennie's injury is worse than feared?

Really GC? I don't think Wilson versus Coetzee is something to look forward to at all. Meyer has stated that the Boks have been working hard at improving their rucking technique. That worries me. We're going to need another stormer from Strokosch.