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Former England call-up Graham replaces Thomson in Scotland squad

Newcastle Falcons back-row Gary Graham

Uncapped back-row Gary Graham has replaced Blade Thomson in the Scotland squad for their two remaining November internationals.

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Thomson suffered concussion in the Scarlets’ defeat to Edinburgh on November 2.

The flanker will play no part against South Africa on Saturday and also misses the Test against Argentina.

Graham, the son of former Scotland prop and forwards coach George, could win his first cap at Murrayfield this weekend after being called up to the England Six Nations squad earlier this year on residency grounds.

“I’m Scottish through-and-through but England asked me first as I’m eligible through residency. It would have been a silly opportunity to pass up, as I hadn’t been selected for a Scotland squad since the Under-20s,” said the Newcastle Falcons forward.

“I’m absolutely delighted to get this opportunity. I phoned Gregor [Scotland head coach Townsend] to assure him I wanted to play for Scotland, and always wanted to play for my country.

“It’s where I’m from and where I played most of my rugby.”

 

 

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fl 5 minutes ago
‘The problem with this year’s Champions Cup? Too many English clubs’

"Yes I was the one who suggested to use a UEFA style point. And I guessed, that based on the last 5 years we should start with 6 top14, 6 URC and 4 Prem."

Yes I am aware that you suggested it, but you then went on to say that we should initially start with a balance that clearly wasn't derived from that system. I'm not a mind reader, so how was I to work out that you'd arrived at that balance by dint of completely having failed to remember the history of the competition.


"Again, I was the one suggesting that, but you didn't like the outcome of that."

I have no issues with the outcome of that, I had an issue with a completely random allocation of teams that you plucked out of thin air.

Interestingly its you who now seem to be renouncing the UEFA style points system, because you don't like the outcome of reducing URC representation.


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What about 4 each + 4 to the best performing teams in last years competition not to have otherwise qualified? Or what about a UEFA style system where places are allocated to leagues on the basis of their performance in previous years' competitions?

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