Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

Drink Driving, Don't Risk It!

Scotland play Holland on March 28 - but who will win?

Jackson in as Glasgow rest Parks

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 04 December 2008
GLASGOW are to hand a European debut to Ruaridh Jackson this weekend as they strive to develop the next generation of Scottish stand-off talent.
The position has been a real bone of contention for many years in Scottish rugby with a worrying lack of depth, but Sean Lineen, the Glasgow coach, is confident Jackson is one player with the ability to change that. He has been working with Jackson o
ver the past year and, after turning full-time and performing well in pre-season, the youngster will on Sunday be handed the chance to step up from his utility bench spot to the starting No10 jersey for the Heineken Cup clash with Bath.

The Guinness Premiership outfit sit just a point behind London Irish and Gloucester, and, after winning the European Challenge Cup last season, are gunning for success in the main event this time.

Glasgow, however, have lost their opening rounds to the Dragons and Toulouse and Lineen is taking the opportunity to progress Jackson's development. Parks, who will be rested this weekend, will be 31 by the end of this season while his deputy Colin Gregor will be 28. Jackson, by contrast, is 20.

Glasgow have also registered new signing Jose Maria Nunez Piossek, Argentina's top try-scorer, for the next round of Heineken Cup action, dropping young lock Richie Gray for the next fortnight.

Alongside Piossek's registration is that of four Kiwis – All Blacks Chris Masoe (Castres) and Scott Hamilton (Leicester), and Kiwi David Holwell (Leinster) and Hoani MacDonald (Dragons) – while Frederic Michalal is back with Toulouse after his year in the Super 14 with the Sharks.





Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 December 2008 12:10 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

leemagee,

Perth 04/12/2008 01:53:33
There is a collective finger crossing around Scotland that Jackson is the answer we're looking for to get our improving backline moving like Godman, whilst having the control of Parks. If Jackson has gas...he should be getting in the A squad ahead of Ross who is also 30 years old.
2

OnTheFence,

04/12/2008 02:31:33
he did play for the A team (against georgia)....at full back
3

Sandy Sahara,

Sahara 04/12/2008 05:50:35
Parks 31? Good news. I had thought he was much younger.
4

Millbrae,

04/12/2008 07:26:37
Watched him play full-back at Ayr...highly impressive at that level with ability to turn potentially defending within own 22 into an attacking defending lineout just outside oppsition 22 with huge, seemingly efortless, diagonal kicks from hand.
His defensive work & support in attack were also excellent.
5

JonnyS,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 09:17:10
Another 10 to watch is Alex Blair who at just 17 is doing great things in the Premiership for Accies - regularly scores tries and good with the boot (he has even turned out for Edinburgh back up team) - we may actually have some competition in a few years!
6

jcoutts,

edinburgh 04/12/2008 09:54:26
I watched Alex Blair against Sonians when he came on as a sub for the last 30 mins . He looked a deceptive runner but his kicking lacked authority and judgement . He will have to improve this area greatly if he is to progress to the top but he has age on his side and time to work on this part of his game .
On the subject of age and the misconception that if one is past 25 he is past his best . I remember speaking to John Rutherford who told me he didnt start playing his best rugby till he was 27/28 . I hope that those in power remember this and be aware there are many players who are late developers and should be given a chance .
7

Northern Soul,

Jackson 04/12/2008 09:54:48
Very talented, very inexperienced but definitely needs to play.
We need another 4 guys of a similar age but with different attributes. Jackson is a similar frame to Parks, Godman and Ross. If we could get a couple of players with different body shapes we could perhaps look at differnt style. All positive though!!
8

MM,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 10:11:14
Blair is looking good, but as #6 says, his kicking is not yet up to scratch, even for the Premiership. It still has that air of schoolboy clearance panic about it at times. He also needs to screw the nut a little, stop believing all the hype about himself and improve his overall attitude.

That said, he is a great runner and exciting to watch with ball in hand.

I watched Jackson at 10 for Ayr against Accies earlier this season, and wasn't hugely impressed, although I still rate him highly. It may have been the unfamiliarity with the players outside him (and the fact it was a grim day for running rugby), but he was shifted to Full Back in the second half with Climo replacing him at 10, and as soon as that happened, Ayr started dominating.
9

jcoutts,

edinburgh 04/12/2008 10:13:45
Northern Soul , with respect , I cannot see what body shape has to do with the ability to play stand off . If you can read a game , kick a long accurate ball and make the odd break then all the better but I am unable to see where body shape has anything to do with the above . The only thing that a bigger player could maybe achieve is set up the ball better but that is debateable with the development of strength in all types of players .
10

The scoutman,

Perth 04/12/2008 10:16:22
Jackson was plucked from obscurity at school level without truly proving himself... lineen says he was alerted to jackson purely by his 7s play. at the moment he is yet to prove himself and warrant his pro status with some mediocre performances at age grade level.While it is good he has been given the chance and the development, it is typical SRU policy of choosing to develop only one player. Surely there are guys plying their trade week in week out in prem1 and prem2 who with the same development jackson and co get could be even more of a star in the Scottish game? Look to england where any player with a hint of potential is in an academy with professional training...
11

Tobias Smyth,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 10:34:16
Have never been that overly impressed by Jackson.

Supposedly though, he is Sean Lineen’s protégé and can do no wrong.

What ever happened to the 10 from Hawks who got signed up by Glasgow, Mike Adamson I think his name is? He is a really good 7’s player from what I remember and seems to be able to kick pass and run pretty well. Surely also worth a look.
12

Jockbok,

04/12/2008 11:12:45
I saw Blair play alongside two pros(Dey and Laidlaw) for Accies against Muir and score two tries. He played rather well and was not afraid to get his backs going and occasionally go for the gap himself. He may have to work on his defence and his his kicking from hand did at times look dodgy. That being said, the new ELVs have resulted in quite a lot of poor kicking from hand from many players this season.
13

Fast Phil,

04/12/2008 11:56:11
Surely we have to stick with what we have Godman &/or Ross (30 is not so old), to give the youngsters time to develop. Not Parks, not at International level ever.
It is a huge step between Prem club & Pro and then to International standard.
Of course there could still be someone out there with a Scottish granny we could use.
14

jcoutts,

EDINBURGH 04/12/2008 11:58:53
Tobias Smyth , I have watched Mike Adamson play for Hawks against Muir . I think it was last season ,or maybe the season before . He was opposite Ally Warnock that day and completely out played him .. He ran the show , kicking well , getting his backs moving and caused Muir no end of trouble making two tries and scoring one himself . I thought then that he looked one of the best all round footballers in the Scottish game and wondered why he had not been signed by a Pro team then . Maybe they think he is too small but with his talent I cannot see a problem .
15

Tobias Smyth,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 12:00:35
I saw Alex Blair ply for Accies against Stirling County and I have to say I was quite impressed.

He scored a cracking try stepping off both feet and his distribution was good. His kicking was quite poor but that is something that can be worked on with intense practice. An eye for the gap and flair cannot be practiced.

Definitely better than his brother, David and Jackson.
16

Tobias Smyth,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 12:04:13
re no.13

I think Adamson has a contract with Glasgow but never gets game time. His size probably is an issue, but I don't ever recall it being a problem for Michalak, Giteau, Shane Williams et al. Shame.
17

La barrière de Senlis,

France 04/12/2008 12:41:47
A last,
Yes it is time to put young players in the pro game, especially at Fly half.
It is so hard now days to reach the top, so if you use players (25/26), I think it is too late.
18

Sandy Sahara,

Sahara 04/12/2008 12:55:07
# 13&15 : I know Mikey Adamson personally and have watched him play since he was a wee kid. A terrific wee ball player, lightning acceleration and an excellent place kicker. There are definitely area for improvement particularly in his distribution of the ball in the 15 a side game but he would definitely profit from a run at No.10 for Glasgow whose books he is on. Unfortunately I have heard, not from him but his father, that Lineen doesn't fancy him. I believe that is true just not the talk of a disappointed father.

The other player I would like to mention is Cameron Ferguson of Dundee HSFP, from the same school as Adamson, and highly rated by Iam Morrison. Unfortunately (for Scottish Rugby)Ferguson has decided to put his Medical studies before his rugby.
19

J.A.,

04/12/2008 13:38:52
#17

I can see this being one of those moments when a son just wishes his father had kept his mouth shut.
20

Tobias Smyth,

Edinburgh 04/12/2008 14:08:46
re 18

…or Sandy Sahara hadn’t divulged a private conversation.
21

PM157,

04/12/2008 18:31:12
#17 I know him personally as well and Lineen DOES fancy him. Why do you think he has been walking funny for a couple of months?

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.