Bit of breaking news: ahead of Frank Hadden’s announcement of his reduced squad to face New Zealand next month, lock Scott MacLeod has thrown his availability into severe doubt with the revelations that he has reportedly failed a second drug test, this time for “higher than permitted levels of testosterone”. MacLeod has insisted he is innocent and awaits the results of testing on his backup B sample. In the mean time he will be suspended from training or playing. Which makes it look even more likely that Hadden could be playing a back rower – or Scott Murray – in the second row come November. With White short of game time and Taylor playing regular first team rugby in that position, it looks like Taylor could be the answer. Unless of course Perpignan were just hiding big Nathan to keep him fresh for the Top 14 and he is fit and healthy…
Rory is the editor of Scottish Rugby Blog, and has offered a fan's view on Scottish Rugby since founding the blog in 2007.
All posts by Rory Baldwin
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Big Nathan is apparently fit, but ‘suspended for 30 days’ according to Sky on the weekend. Not sure why, however!
Ah, actually, if I’d looked harder…..
Trampling, apparently….
“26th September 2008, 10:00 WST
Perpignan’s Scottish international lock Nathan Hines was on Thursday suspended for 30 days for trampling a player during his club’s Top 14 victory over Bourgoin last month.
The Australian-born forward will be eligible to resume from October 24, according to the discipline committee of the Ligue nationale de rugby (LNR).”
Thanks Jenny have just spotted that in the paper too! Ahh well my brilliant theories will have to wait, I reckon he’ll just pick Hines and Hamilton.
Hines and Taylor in 2nd row.
Barclay, Hogg and Strokosh in back row.
Now that’s a back 5 to compete the AB’z