Duncan Was Taylor Made To Help Saracens Conquer Europe

NEITHER Saracens, the new European Rugby Champions, nor Racing 92, the team they beat in Saturday's final in Lyon, has over the past few years, established a reputation for playing champagne rugby. I accept they can, in the right conditions, play some breathtaking stuff, but professional precision rather than off the cuff handling is more their stock in trade.

Throw in terrible, rainy conditions, and Racing v Saracens is never going to up the pulse, unless you are one of those saddos who enjoys brute force and ignorance at breakdown and scrum. Racing's gamble on the lack of total fitness on the part of Daniel Carter, and the early withdrawal of Maxime Machenaud seriously compromised their ability to brighten things up as well. So, the game never caught fire.

That said, the better outfit won. Say what you like about the North London outfit, they are a very good, very well-drilled team, who do the simple things well.

Duncan Taylor - an important cog in the Saracens' machine 

 

I was pleased for Duncan Taylor, who played an unsung but important role for Saracens. The Scottish internationalist really has blossomed this season, both with his club and in dark blue – such a pity out two leading rugby-reporting newspapers went with Press Association wire copy, rather than sending their own rugby writers to the game. They would surely have sought out Taylor, plus substitute Jim Hamilton and the unused Kelly Brown, to give their reports a tartan tinge. But, these days, the bean counters hold sway and wire copy it is.

THIS coming weekend is all about Glasgow Warriors, as they attempt to do the thus-far impossible, and win an away semi-final in the Pro12, to qualify for the final, at BT Murrayfield, on 28 May. Connacht have been magnificent this season, they have home advantage, but, on paper, Glasgow is the better side. Away from home or not, there is no reason why Glasgow should not reach the final, and, if they do, successfully defend their crown. This is the start of a big two weeks for Gregor Townsend and his players.

Alex Dunbar - injury has prematurely ended his season 

 The bad news is, Glasgow will be without Alex Dunbar, whose injury-ruined season has been further disrupted by the knee injury he picked up in Galway last time out. Still, with Mark Bennett able to come in to partner Peter Horne in the centre, Glasgow will not be weakened.

 And has earned Matt Scott an end-of-season trip to Japan

Dunbar's injury has prematurely ended his season and, with Bennett earmarked for Olympic Games duty in Rio, Matt Scott gets Dunbar's place in the touring party for Japan. Now, does he travel as an Edinburgh player, or as a Gloucester one?

Another player heading south for next season is young Scotland Under-20 lock/number six Andrew Davidson. Andrew, a Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 3 player, has mainly been seen in the colours of Glasgow Hawks, although he has made a handful of appearances, off the bench, for Warriors.

Andrew Davidson - off to Newcastle Falcons

Like the Gray brothers and his Under-20 boiler-house partner Scott Cummings, big Andy is off the Kelvinside Academy lock forward production line. He has now decided to join Newcastle Falcons, where I am sure he will do well. Scott McLeod is still apparently at Newcastle, as line-out coach, so, Andy will be learning from one of the best and with he and Cummings, who will get greater exposure at Warriors next season and their old Under-20 team mate Lewis Carmichael all coming through, we are certainly well-off for locks in Scotland, going forward.

EDINBURGH has announced that Jason Tovey, who has proved so popular and such a reliable source of points with his boot since arriving at the club on-loan in March, will be staying at BT Murrayfield.

Jason Tovey will continue to do this for Edinburgh next season

Tovey will provide excellent cover, support and competition to Duncan Weir, once the Scotland stand-off flits aong the M8 and now, suddenly, Edinburgh has strength where before they had weakness. Let's hope they can be more-consistent than they have been in the season just ended, we need both Scottish teams pushing at the top of the Pro12.