The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Big D]

Sean Lineen, the original “kilted Kiwi,” a key player in Scotland’s 1990 Grand Slam and whose love affair with the game has continued as a coach and administrator for more than 30 years, has decided to leave Scottish Rugby.

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/sean ... tish-rugby

Sounds like it was his own decision which is great. A huge part of Scottish rugby and definitely a Scot!

Interesting quote about “supercharging investment into the pro game”

Leaving through his own choice at the end of a review suggests he was given new he perhaps wasn't keen on and decided to go.

[dpedin]

Sean Lineen, the original “kilted Kiwi,” a key player in Scotland’s 1990 Grand Slam and whose love affair with the game has continued as a coach and administrator for more than 30 years, has decided to leave Scottish Rugby.

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/sean ... tish-rugby

Sounds like it was his own decision which is great. A huge part of Scottish rugby and definitely a Scot!

Interesting quote about “supercharging investment into the pro game”

Leaving through his own choice at the end of a review suggests he was given new he perhaps wasn't keen on and decided to go.

Good guy. Last time I saw Lineen he was marching down the 1st fairway at Luffness. Previous time was a few years previous and he and JJ were on a pub crawl in the West End, it looked like it was going to get messy!

[Big D]

Sounds like it was his own decision which is great. A huge part of Scottish rugby and definitely a Scot!

Interesting quote about “supercharging investment into the pro game”

Leaving through his own choice at the end of a review suggests he was given new he perhaps wasn't keen on and decided to go.

Good guy. Last time I saw Lineen he was marching down the 1st fairway at Luffness. Previous time was a few years previous and he and JJ were on a pub crawl in the West End, it looked like it was going to get messy!

Aye he is a good guy, met him a few times.

[Slick]

Sounds like it was his own decision which is great. A huge part of Scottish rugby and definitely a Scot!

Interesting quote about “supercharging investment into the pro game”

Leaving through his own choice at the end of a review suggests he was given new he perhaps wasn't keen on and decided to go.

Good guy. Last time I saw Lineen he was marching down the 1st fairway at Luffness. Previous time was a few years previous and he and JJ were on a pub crawl in the West End, it looked like it was going to get messy!

I’ve got vague memories of bumping into them on that (or another I guess) pub crawl

[KingBlairhorn]

[robmatic]

They have just lost 2 centres...

I actually suspect Glasgow might have some scope in their budget for a high quality signing, even if this rumour is potentially bollocks. Generally they seem to have been bringing in good value additions recently and they will have freed up some cash by waving bye bye to Nakarawa.

[robmatic]

Embra's team for the 1872 first leg. Looking at the 'unavailable' list, they must have a few at home isolating.

15. Emiliano Boffelli (3)

14. Darcy Graham (44)
13. Mark Bennett (59) VICE-CAPTAIN
12. Cammy Hutchison (7)
11. Ramiro Moyano (3)

10. Jaco van der Walt (75)
9. Henry Pyrgos (57) CAPTAIN

1. Pierre Schoeman (72)
2. Stuart McInally (159) VICE-CAPTAIN
3. Lee-Roy Atalifo (15)
4. Marshall Sykes (14)
5. Jamie Hodgson (30)
6. Luke Crosbie (65)
7. Hamish Watson (122)
8. Magnus Bradbury (101)

Replacements:

16. Dave Cherry (44)
17. Harrison Courtney (1)
18. Angus Williams (6)
19. Pierce Phillips (3)
20. Glen Young*
21. Ben Vellacott (8)
22. Charlie Savala (6)
23. Chris Dean (110)

Unavailable: Connor Boyle, Grant Gilchrist, Sam Grahamslaw, Nick Haining, Damien Hoyland, Henry Immelman, James Johnstone, Blair Kinghorn, Mesulame Kunavula, James Lang, Viliame Mata, Ben Muncaster, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, George Taylor, Ben Toolis, Boan Venter

[GrahamWa]

The Weeg

Glasgow Warriors team to face Edinburgh at Scotstoun, Monday 27 December, kick-off 7pm, live on Premier Sport 1. You can also follow all the action as it happens on our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Jamie Bhatti (55)
2. George Turner (68)
3. Zander Fagerson (105)
4. Scott Cummings (82)
5. Richie Gray (70)
6. Matt Fagerson (76)
7. Rory Darge (12)
8. Jack Dempsey (8)

9. Ali Price (C) (101)
10. Ross Thompson (23)
11. Cole Forbes (15)
12. Sam Johnson (80)
13. Kyle Steyn (39)
14. Sebastian Cancelliere (2)
15. Josh McKay (3)

16. Johnny Matthews (19)
17. Oli Kebble (64)
18. Murphy Walker (2)
19. Kiran McDonald (40)
20. Thomas Gordon (41)
21. George Horne (73)
22. Duncan Weir (113)
23. Stafford McDowall (30)

Unavailable for selection: Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Walter Fifita, Pete Horne, Sean Kennedy, Tom Lambert, Nathan McBeth, Rufus McLean, Ewan McQuillin, Sione Tuipulotu, Ryan Wilson.

[KingBlairhorn]

Almost certainly covid in the Edinburgh camp; Mike Blair is not going to be in the coaching box. Alongside the ‘unavailable’ list it must be quite bad.

[mos_eisely_]

Almost certainly covid in the Edinburgh camp; Mike Blair is not going to be in the coaching box. Alongside the ‘unavailable’ list it must be quite bad.

They've said Mike Blair is isolating as he's deemed a close contact of someone outside ER during the week.

I think most of Edinburgh's unavailable list is very much down to injuries

[KingBlairhorn]

Almost certainly covid in the Edinburgh camp; Mike Blair is not going to be in the coaching box. Alongside the ‘unavailable’ list it must be quite bad.

They've said Mike Blair is isolating as he's deemed a close contact of someone outside ER during the week.

I think most of Edinburgh's unavailable list is very much down to injuries

Fair enough, that’s an update to what I saw.

[GrahamWa]

Game's off COVID in the Glasgow squad

[robmatic]

Game's off COVID in the Glasgow squad

Baws. I was looking forward to this game.

[GrahamWa]

Game's off COVID in the Glasgow squad

Baws. I was looking forward to this game.

I blame the Covid deniers from Devon that were up nprth last week. Need to watch the 70k super spreader event at Twickenham now.

[robmatic]

Probably not looking good for Sunday's game either then, today's positive cases will still be in isolation and I reckon there's likely to be more given training contacts etc.

[Slick]

This thing is getting very tiresome now.

If the 6N is in jeopardy I say let it rip! (Maybe)

[OomStruisbaai]

This thing is getting very tiresome now.

If the 6N is in jeopardy I say let it rip! (Maybe)

Need to play the 6 nations in SA.

[Slick]

This thing is getting very tiresome now.

If the 6N is in jeopardy I say let it rip! (Maybe)

Need to play the 6 nations in SA.

Probably be a better atmosphere in an empty stadium to be honest

[Biffer]

So, a 28-0 win for Edinburgh then?

I’d be quite happy if these games were postponed until April or May, get thirty thousand people in Murrayfield in early summer, great day out.

[I like neeps]

So, a 28-0 win for Edinburgh then?

I’d be quite happy if these games were postponed until April or May, get thirty thousand people in Murrayfield in early summer, great day out.

Presumably that clashes with URC weekends though. It'll be played during the international windows I reckon. Glasgow A + McKay and Dempsey Vs Edinburgh A + Mata and Boffeli.

[Biffer]

So, a 28-0 win for Edinburgh then?

I’d be quite happy if these games were postponed until April or May, get thirty thousand people in Murrayfield in early summer, great day out.

Presumably that clashes with URC weekends though. It'll be played during the international windows I reckon. Glasgow A + McKay and Dempsey Vs Edinburgh A + Mata and Boffeli.

Depends how we go in the euro knock out phases. First two weekends of May might be available, but it’d be incredibly short notice.

[robmatic]

So, a 28-0 win for Edinburgh then?

I’d be quite happy if these games were postponed until April or May, get thirty thousand people in Murrayfield in early summer, great day out.

Presumably that clashes with URC weekends though. It'll be played during the international windows I reckon. Glasgow A + McKay and Dempsey Vs Edinburgh A + Mata and Boffeli.

Depends how we go in the euro knock out phases. First two weekends of May might be available, but it’d be incredibly short notice.

Who knows what will happen in the European competitions though, there could still be travel restrictions that impact rounds 3 and 4 in January.

[westport]

Sunday is off

This Sunday's 1872 Cup second leg fixture against Glasgow Warriors at DAM Health Stadium has been postponed.

The game was due to take place this Sunday (2 January, kick-off 2pm) in the Scottish capital, however, a number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Glasgow Warriors squad have been reported by the Scotstoun club.

The URC Medical Advisory Group has liaised with the medical teams at Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, as well as Public Health Scotland, and deemed that this fixture cannot go ahead as scheduled.

[mos_eisely_]

Depending on the view of the URC committee this could end up being 2x 28-0 results to Edinburgh.

[Biffer]

Depending on the view of the URC committee this could end up being 2x 28-0 results to Edinburgh.

How far away would you hear the weegies screaming about that? Munich? Istanbul?

[mos_eisely_]

Depending on the view of the URC committee this could end up being 2x 28-0 results to Edinburgh.

How far away would you hear the weegies screaming about that? Munich? Istanbul?

Dunedin

[Tichtheid]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

[I like neeps]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

[Tichtheid]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

[Slick]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

Does Toony really see him as a 10?

[Big D]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

His agent would be failing terribly if so. Currently first choice club 10 when fit, am established part of Townsends squad (and Townsend has spoken highly of him), has nearly 30 caps and the positional change has been "enforced" by club and country.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is a pay rise. This is his 4th pro contract, and I don't think he'd have catapulted into the mega money (in SRU terms) at 22 with 15 caps under his belt.

[Big D]

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

Does Toony really see him as a 10?

Well he has picked him there for Scotland despite probably being his back up 15. So there must be something in the idea that Townsend has some interest in what he can do there.

[Tichtheid]

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

Does Toony really see him as a 10?

Make of this what you will, this was on Kinghorn's selection at 10 against Tonga,

“I certainly see him as 10 with lots of potential,” Townsend said of Kinghorn. “I’ve seen that in his training sessions, and the Scarlets game. He had some great touches, lovely movement for his try. He put Mark Bennett through a space and then got the ball back himself.


“Game management in attack and knowing when to take on the defence was very good. The kicking side, we know he’s got that ability. But putting that into playing 10 will take some time. Defensively too. We know he’s one of our best defenders on the wing given his pace, the size he is and his reads. But we know it’ll take a little while to get used to defending at first receiver.”

[I like neeps]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

His agent would be failing terribly if so. Currently first choice club 10 when fit, am established part of Townsends squad (and Townsend has spoken highly of him), has nearly 30 caps and the positional change has been "enforced" by club and country.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is a pay rise.

I think the SRU are failing if not..

Townsend speaks well of every single Scotland player so I don't think you can read into that. I think if we're honest Kinghorn is a depth piece for Scotland (sometimes comes in off the bench but not really a starter at 15, wing or 10). So he should not be getting Scotland starter money. If Townsend did think as highly of him as he words may suggest he'd start more games. Remember your actions are so loud I can't hear what you're saying.

First choice 10 for now, not an established 10 by anyone's imagination but yes let's say promising starter. Ross Thompson level so you'd hope around the same contract if his contract is a 10. But it won't be it will be higher than Ross Thompson as Kinghorn could play 15 (Bofelli is a better 15 than Kinghorn though) and maybe wing (he's not such a good winger).

But, his last deal was as established 15 and presumably as he was one of Edinburgh's best players one of their high earners. And he was also the heir to Hogg as one of Scotland's most promising young players too. Which probably isn't the case anymore.

I think if the SRU didn't have a reduction agreed they've been kind of fleeced. Sure he might be a great 10 - it's going well so far - but he's unproven there. And they have a better 15 currently playing for them anyway.

[Slick]

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

Does Toony really see him as a 10?

Make of this what you will, this was on Kinghorn's selection at 10 against Tonga,

“I certainly see him as 10 with lots of potential,” Townsend said of Kinghorn. “I’ve seen that in his training sessions, and the Scarlets game. He had some great touches, lovely movement for his try. He put Mark Bennett through a space and then got the ball back himself.


“Game management in attack and knowing when to take on the defence was very good. The kicking side, we know he’s got that ability. But putting that into playing 10 will take some time. Defensively too. We know he’s one of our best defenders on the wing given his pace, the size he is and his reads. But we know it’ll take a little while to get used to defending at first receiver.”

I’m not sure I would read too much into that to be honest. However, he does seem to be getting better with each game, so fair enough.

Still don’t see it as a long term thing though. At 15 he is behind Hogg, at 10 he is behind Finn, Hastings and arguably Thompson, although I’d probably have him as 3rd choice at this point.

[Big D]

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

His agent would be failing terribly if so. Currently first choice club 10 when fit, am established part of Townsends squad (and Townsend has spoken highly of him), has nearly 30 caps and the positional change has been "enforced" by club and country.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is a pay rise.

I think the SRU are failing if not..

Townsend speaks well of every single Scotland player so I don't think you can read into that. I think if we're honest Kinghorn is a depth piece for Scotland (sometimes comes in off the bench but not really a starter at 15, wing or 10). So he should not be getting Scotland starter money. If Townsend did think as highly of him as he words may suggest he'd start more games. Remember your actions are so loud I can't hear what you're saying.

First choice 10 for now, not an established 10 by anyone's imagination but yes let's say promising starter. Ross Thompson level so you'd hope around the same contract if his contract is a 10. But it won't be it will be higher than Ross Thompson as Kinghorn could play 15 (Bofelli is a better 15 than Kinghorn though) and maybe wing (he's not such a good winger).

But, his last deal was as established 15 and presumably as he was one of Edinburgh's best players one of their high earners. And he was also the heir to Hogg as one of Scotland's most promising young players too. Which probably isn't the case anymore.

I think if the SRU didn't have a reduction agreed they've been kind of fleeced. Sure he might be a great 10 - it's going well so far - but he's unproven there. And they have a better 15 currently playing for them anyway.

Ross Thomson will still be on his basic "just out the academy" contract. Which will not be close to representative of his potential.

Townsend speaking highly of a player may not mean much to you or I but it will mean something to the players agent come negotiating time and it will be brought up in discussion and used as leverage. His agent will also argue they've harmed his shirt term earning potential by deciding to move him to 10 and bringing in Boffelli because those two moves are clearly linked.

He is well liked by Blair and Townsend and rarely let them down. He's doing everything asked of him. I can't remember his being particular poor on the wing for Scotland.

This is his 4th deal (I think), and I don't think his last deal would be as much as many would expect it to be. 15 isn't a highly paid position in the league unless you are a superstar like Hogg. Adding in wage inflation plus his importance to Edinburgh covering 4 of the 7 backs positions it should be relatively easy to argue for a pay rise in negotiations.

[robmatic]

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland

Does Toony really see him as a 10?

I reckon the experiment of him at 10 is a top-down thing from Toony. Cockerill wasn't playing him there at the tail end of last season due to his natural spirit of curiosity and risk-taking as a coach.

[I like neeps]

His agent would be failing terribly if so. Currently first choice club 10 when fit, am established part of Townsends squad (and Townsend has spoken highly of him), has nearly 30 caps and the positional change has been "enforced" by club and country.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is a pay rise.

I think the SRU are failing if not..

Townsend speaks well of every single Scotland player so I don't think you can read into that. I think if we're honest Kinghorn is a depth piece for Scotland (sometimes comes in off the bench but not really a starter at 15, wing or 10). So he should not be getting Scotland starter money. If Townsend did think as highly of him as he words may suggest he'd start more games. Remember your actions are so loud I can't hear what you're saying.

First choice 10 for now, not an established 10 by anyone's imagination but yes let's say promising starter. Ross Thompson level so you'd hope around the same contract if his contract is a 10. But it won't be it will be higher than Ross Thompson as Kinghorn could play 15 (Bofelli is a better 15 than Kinghorn though) and maybe wing (he's not such a good winger).

But, his last deal was as established 15 and presumably as he was one of Edinburgh's best players one of their high earners. And he was also the heir to Hogg as one of Scotland's most promising young players too. Which probably isn't the case anymore.

I think if the SRU didn't have a reduction agreed they've been kind of fleeced. Sure he might be a great 10 - it's going well so far - but he's unproven there. And they have a better 15 currently playing for them anyway.

Ross Thomson will still be on his basic "just out the academy" contract. Which will not be close to representative of his potential.

Townsend speaking highly of a player may not mean much to you or I but it will mean something to the players agent come negotiating time and it will be brought up in discussion and used as leverage. His agent will also argue they've harmed his shirt term earning potential by deciding to move him to 10 and bringing in Boffelli because those two moves are clearly linked.

He is well liked by Blair and Townsend and rarely let them down. He's doing everything asked of him. I can't remember his being particular poor on the wing for Scotland.

This is his 4th deal (I think), and I don't think his last deal would be as much as many would expect it to be. 15 isn't a highly paid position in the league unless you are a superstar like Hogg. Adding in wage inflation plus his importance to Edinburgh covering 4 of the 7 backs positions it should be relatively easy to argue for a pay rise in negotiations.

True enough but just out of the academy is the level Kinghorn is at 10 - he's surely only played about 10 pro games there?

The bolded bit is exactly why he shouldn't have got higher pay. "You're harming my earning potential by bringing in a better player" isn't a strong negotiating point. What's Kinghorn's value outwith Edinburgh? Not a starting 10 in England or France. And I don't believe a good enough 15 to demand big money in a dwindling pot.

Also his agents can say "Townsend says nice things in the press" - I'm sure the SRU are pointing out he's not a starter and will know what Townsend really thinks about him which is obviously going to be more critical than what he says in the press where he never criticises anyone.

I don't think he ever did let Scotland down on the wing. But equally he's not going to start there in a big test match is he? Understandably he just isn't as good an option as Duhan, Graham or McLean/Steyn. I'd be very interested who is 15 for Scotland if Hogg has to miss a match in the six nations. Very interested indeed.

[robmatic]

I think the SRU are failing if not..

Townsend speaks well of every single Scotland player so I don't think you can read into that. I think if we're honest Kinghorn is a depth piece for Scotland (sometimes comes in off the bench but not really a starter at 15, wing or 10). So he should not be getting Scotland starter money. If Townsend did think as highly of him as he words may suggest he'd start more games. Remember your actions are so loud I can't hear what you're saying.

First choice 10 for now, not an established 10 by anyone's imagination but yes let's say promising starter. Ross Thompson level so you'd hope around the same contract if his contract is a 10. But it won't be it will be higher than Ross Thompson as Kinghorn could play 15 (Bofelli is a better 15 than Kinghorn though) and maybe wing (he's not such a good winger).

But, his last deal was as established 15 and presumably as he was one of Edinburgh's best players one of their high earners. And he was also the heir to Hogg as one of Scotland's most promising young players too. Which probably isn't the case anymore.

I think if the SRU didn't have a reduction agreed they've been kind of fleeced. Sure he might be a great 10 - it's going well so far - but he's unproven there. And they have a better 15 currently playing for them anyway.

Ross Thomson will still be on his basic "just out the academy" contract. Which will not be close to representative of his potential.

Townsend speaking highly of a player may not mean much to you or I but it will mean something to the players agent come negotiating time and it will be brought up in discussion and used as leverage. His agent will also argue they've harmed his shirt term earning potential by deciding to move him to 10 and bringing in Boffelli because those two moves are clearly linked.

He is well liked by Blair and Townsend and rarely let them down. He's doing everything asked of him. I can't remember his being particular poor on the wing for Scotland.

This is his 4th deal (I think), and I don't think his last deal would be as much as many would expect it to be. 15 isn't a highly paid position in the league unless you are a superstar like Hogg. Adding in wage inflation plus his importance to Edinburgh covering 4 of the 7 backs positions it should be relatively easy to argue for a pay rise in negotiations.

True enough but just out of the academy is the level Kinghorn is at 10 - he's surely only played about 10 pro games there?

The bolded bit is exactly why he shouldn't have got higher pay. "You're harming my earning potential by bringing in a better player" isn't a strong negotiating point. What's Kinghorn's value outwith Edinburgh? Not a starting 10 in England or France. And I don't believe a good enough 15 to demand big money in a dwindling pot.

Also his agents can say "Townsend says nice things in the press" - I'm sure the SRU are pointing out he's not a starter and will know what Townsend really thinks about him which is obviously going to be more critical than what he says in the press where he never criticises anyone.

I don't think he ever did let Scotland down on the wing. But equally he's not going to start there in a big test match is he? Understandably he just isn't as good an option as Duhan, Graham or McLean/Steyn. I'd be very interested who is 15 for Scotland if Hogg has to miss a match in the six nations. Very interested indeed.

Kinghorn has started in 20 of his 26 caps for Scotland.

I don't get the reasoning that he isn't still next cab off rank at fullback after Hogg. Just because he's played a few games at 10 doesn't preclude him from playing 15 - it's not like he's going to forget the role.

[weegie01]

Kinghorn re-signs "for the foreseeable future" which is probably at least three years in rugby contract parlance.

I'd be extremely interested in the terms here. Last new deal he got he was a well established 15 and now he's an experiment at 10. Wonder if they dropped the cash he's getting - from a commercial pov you'd hope so.

I very much doubt he's on reduced terms, plus Blair and Toonie both see him as a 10, albeit as a ten with over 100 club caps in the back three and 28 for Scotland.

Commercially, what is the market for him? He never kicked on and developed into the 15 he looked like he'd become. he is not a proven 10. He was on Lions level money for his last deal. Who is going to pay that kind of money as gamble on him recovering his mojo at 15 or prove himself at 10? In these straitened times I'd not be in the slightest surprised if he took a cut.

Edit.
Now I have read more, I thought it was well known that Kinghorn was one of the highest paid players in Scotland.