New captain: Kelly Brown
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Scotland have named Saracens flank Kelly Brown as their new captain for their opening November international against the world champion All Blacks.
The announcement was made by head coach Andy Robinson as the national squad's three-day St Andrews training camp drew to a close.
"Kelly Brown is an inspirational person. He has an aura, confidence and belief about him and a firm understanding of the game," he told scottishrugby.org.
"He has been a very consistent performer for Scotland. It's because of these qualities that he has been appointed Scotland captain."
Robinson also praised Edinburgh hooker Ross Ford for his leadership of Scotland, including the most recent unbeaten three-Test match tour.
"I would like to congratulate Ross Ford in the way he has handled himself as captain of the side but also in respect of Kelly taking over," he added.
Comments
kitch says...
mitchymauler
who exactly are the "residency mercenarys who are clogging up the system" in nz??.. or are you just "rambling"!
Posted 08:24 06th November 2012
Michtymauler says...
@ruckingkiwi. Of course grandparental bloodline should be enough to represent a certain country! I think all countries should revert to this rule as far as grandparents. The residency rules for tier one nations is becoming farcical and embarrassing!! As for representing Scotland before setting foot in the country well you're rambling! He's not in the squad for the autumn internationals!
Posted 19:20 01st November 2012
atg77 says...
I didn't have a problem with Laney in the team, I just think they should have waited a little before he got his first cap. I was all for the Leslie brothers playing for Scotland...without them we might not have won the 5 nations. Having said that, Robbo might have to call on Maitland sooner rather than later considering the form and fitness of alot of Scotland's key players.
Posted 14:45 01st November 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Michtymauler, grandparental bloodline should not be adequate reason to pull on the jersey of a country you may never have set foot in. And there are no residency mercenaries clogging up the NZ team, there are 2 non-NZ born players representing NZ at the moment, both born in Australia to NZ parents who working there at the time.
Posted 08:27 01st November 2012
Jp07 says...
Good call for captaincy. Having a warhorse like Brown leading from the front is important but even more important is that he is coming from a winning club. Very few of our players are.i was worried when Gray signed for Sale for that reason and I think the sale move may cup per his Lions prospects.
Posted 07:49 01st November 2012
Melkiwi says...
@Isograford considering how fast countries want to put jersey's on nz players I wouldn't be surprised either. Michael Bent from taranaki hasn't even set foot on Irish soil and already he's in the Irish team. Just goes to show how valuable nz players are to other countries.
Posted 04:10 01st November 2012
Jaswai says...
@isograford 2xlol it takes two to tango. If Scotland weren't so desperate to offer a berth, he wouldn't take it up the offer. Good on him though, make some money son. But then again, I'm not a three-quarters Scot that's been grafting away though the age grades since I was 5.
Posted 23:31 31st October 2012
Ferdie says...
atg77 - Brendan Laney was though successful in his time with Scotland, as were Wellington's two Leslie brothers Martin and John around the same time (sons of an All Black captain!) a great try here from John L, note Shane Howarth the non-Welshman playing that day too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAmze8GWyDE
Hope to see Maitland playing an international one day.
Posted 23:06 31st October 2012
porridge_time says...
Brown is a good choice at captain for me Ford has never been consistent enough, both as a player and leader. Hopefully without the burden of captain Ford can try and get back to some semblance of form.
Can't see Scotland causing any upsets against NZ or SA to be honest, but I do think they will beat Tonga comfortably and then have their best Six Nations showing... well fingers crossed anyway.
Maitland is currently suffering from a hand injury and probably will not be available to Glasgow until late November. I do envisage him being in the Six Nations squad.
Posted 20:23 31st October 2012
Michtymauler says...
@Isogaford .. You're confusing me.. I thought Maitland qualified through grandparental bloodline?!!! You should concentrate your efforts on all the residency mercenaries who are clogging up the England, NZ and Aus teams!!
Posted 18:51 31st October 2012
Isograford says...
@Piriaka lol Given how quickly New Zealand players are happy to pull on the jersey of a country they've probably never set foot in, i wouldn't be surprised if Sean Maitland isn't on the plane already wearing Scottish kit.
Posted 18:07 31st October 2012
melkdave says...
A good choice imo ,his playing at a club doing well ,his in form ,is experianced and also been national captain before.The only other alternative imo was M.Blair ,and i dont think anyone knows what his form is like atm playing in the french D2.My only concern atm ,is R.Ford his form has been dreadfull so far this season and he will most probibly start ,when imo he shouldnt even be on the bench .Linout possesion is vital to Scotland ,espically as with so many props injured i dont really have faith in their scrum.So if Ford plays he really has to get his lineout throws spot on which he hasnt so far ..Anyway heres hoping im wrong ,and Scotland do well.
Posted 16:11 31st October 2012
atg77 says...
Maitland wasn't even in the training squad... I think Scotland are trying to avoid a repeat of the Brendan Laney Saga... (the NZer who parachuted into the test team 2 days after arriving in Scotland from NZ)
Posted 15:32 31st October 2012
Piriaka says...
Is Maitland in the side???
Posted 14:31 31st October 2012
Carpelone says...
The fox and the cat....
Posted 14:29 31st October 2012
TVaddict says...
Good choice, one of the few players coming from a successful club.
Posted 14:13 31st October 2012
Kendo says...
Quite rightly so. Ford has been gash so far this season and will be lucky to make the bench.
Posted 14:13 31st October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Robinson and Brown standing beside each other it's hard to believe they are/were both flankers!
Posted 14:03 31st October 2012