Maitland signs with Glasgow

[nickdnz]

Glasgow have signed former New Zealand Under-20 back Sean Maitland in a move that could also pay off for the Scotland national team. The 24-year-old Crusaders player, who can play at full-back or on either wing, qualifies to play for Scotland through his paternal grandparents.
Head coach Gregor Townsend told www.glasgowwarriors.org: "We're delighted to be welcoming a player of Sean Maitland's calibre to Glasgow Warriors.
"The back three is an area of the team where we already have a number of excellent options, and Sean will provide a further layer of quality as we enter another busy phase of the season.
"His try-scoring record in Super Rugby speaks for itself, and he's also a player who has a big appetite for self-improvement.
"He will be a fantastic addition to our squad and will, I'm sure, be very popular with our supporters."
Maitland, who scored 24 tries in Super Rugby and crossed four times in a game against the Brumbies last year, will join Warriors in the coming weeks subject to a medical and visa, having signed a contract that ties him to Scotstoun until May 2015.
He won world ***les with the All Blacks at under-19 and under-20 level and represented the New Zealand Maoris in 2010.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/news/article/-/15193186/ex-all-blacks-maitland-signs-for-glasgow/

Huge signing by Glasgow. Speculation he was going to join the Highlanders - guess it was more literal.

Without sounding arrogant - Scotland have just bought themselves arguably the best winger they've ever had, and he can play for their national team. Don't know if I like it - but he's a hell of a player. Probably the quickest winger in New Zealand, big and strong, has a massive punt. I hope'd he make the AB's RWC squad that's how much I rate him. Annoying we've lost him - but I guess Scotland should be very, very happy. Just a highlights clip here for those interested -

 

[Draggs]

So Scotland's two best backs are a Dutchman and Kiwi.

 

[SelimNiai]

Or, just to avoid the arguing, 2 qualified Scots

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Can have good wingers and full backs, but it depends who will get them the ball.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Can have good wingers and full backs, but it depends who will get them the ball.

That could be Morné Steyn.

 

[Draggs]

That could be Morné Steyn.

I wish he had a Scottish grandfather.
Lambie was English and Scottish qualified, but PdV was on the ball with this one.

 

[Peat]

Can have good wingers and full backs, but it depends who will get them the ball.

Scotland have rarely had a poor pack or scrum-half in recent years, and between Laidlaw and Weir I think they'll be well served at fly-half. Their issue has been a complete lack of cutting edge in the backs, particularly with Thom Evans retiring.

Between Maitland tossing his hat into the ring, Visser qualifying, and the emergence of Hogg, that should no longer be accurate. Their centres might be an issue, but it is possible to win games and score tries with a poor pair of centres and a decent back three.

This makes the 6N a lot more interesting...

 

[DuncTheDoodle]

The smarter thing would've been for him to sign for Edinburgh if he's looking to become Scottish, but he's still a massive coup for both the national side and Glasgow. You just think with the Warriors already having most of Scotland's backs at their disposal, the SRU could've stepped in, but whoever was responsible for finding them the money to get him probably deserves a lie down. Great player, and now Scotland have a genuinely dangerous back three if he plays in the Six Nations alongside Hogg and Visser.

I'd imagine Glasgow's backline'll look something like this-
Hogg, van de Mervwe, S Lamont, Morrison, Maitland, Weir, Cusiter; Pyorgas, Jackson, R Lamont

Alternatively, Hogg could play 13 with Rory Lamont/Maitland at fullback. The likes of Dunbar, who keeps impressive me miss out. They could actually be a good team in their own right, rather than just being 'tricky' for oppositions as they are at the minute, especially with the strong backrow they also have.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

just be aware...Hansen will probably have a go at scotland for poaching players.....you know, players he hasn't picked....but should still wait for him

good on him

 

[donmcdazzle]

Crusaders are such muppets. How could they pick Adam Whitelock ahead of Maitland?! Mental.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

The smarter thing would've been for him to sign for Edinburgh if he's looking to become Scottish, but he's still a massive coup for both the national side and Glasgow. You just think with the Warriors already having most of Scotland's backs at their disposal, the SRU could've stepped in, but whoever was responsible for finding them the money to get him probably deserves a lie down. Great player, and now Scotland have a genuinely dangerous back three if he plays in the Six Nations alongside Hogg and Visser.

I'd imagine Glasgow's backline'll look something like this-
Hogg, van de Mervwe, S Lamont, Morrison, Maitland, Weir, Cusiter; Pyorgas, Jackson, R Lamont

Alternatively, Hogg could play 13 with Rory Lamont/Maitland at fullback. The likes of Dunbar, who keeps impressive me miss out. They could actually be a good team in their own right, rather than just being 'tricky' for oppositions as they are at the minute, especially with the strong backrow they also have.

That be partly down to Scott Johnson who's remit when he was hired as part of the Scotland coaching setup was to look for good standard of players who could / are qualified for Scotland.

 

[admartian]

Good for Maitland - hope the Scots pick him if he's eligible. Deserves to play international rugby.

 

[Darwin]

Scotland have bought themselves one of the best finishers in NZ rugby. As has already been pointed out he is probably the fastest man in NZ rugby, and certainly has plenty of size too (he is listed at 1.89m, 97kgs). We probably should have put him in the 7's team at a young age to prevent Scotland 'poaching him from us'

I certainly don't blame Maitland for leaving, as he has a great chance of playing international rugby now (something he probably wouldn't have got had he stayed in NZ). Despite being a great finisher I don't actually rate him that highly as a rugby player - there was a very good reason why the Crusaders continued to pick Adam Whitelock (a slow, average midfield back) over him in the starting lineup last season. Maitland's work-rate is best described as shocking. If the opposition makes a break or puts a kick through he never shows the slightest bit of urgency to get back - you often just see him walking back in the general direction of the ball. This is particularly frustrating, as you know with his pace he could potentially cover a huge amount of ground, but for some reason he chooses not to. His defensive awareness needs a lot of work too, as he often runs out of the line leaving a gaping whole in the defense (though having Fruean defending inside him can't make defending easy!), and likewise his awareness with ball in hand is poor too - he often forgets he has 14 team-mates when he gets the ball. These are all things that can be fixed, and if he can fix these he will be an exceptional rugby player.

 

[William18]

Visser and Maitland should be a good combination. I don't know much about Scottish rugby but you should consider playing Maitland at fulllback as it seems a bit ridiculous if your two best players are both wingers.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

good signing, great player... Hansen brain explosion imminent!!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Visser and Maitland should be a good combination. I don't know much about Scottish rugby but you should consider playing Maitland at fulllback as it seems a bit ridiculous if your two best players are both wingers.

A lot depends on what they plan to do with Stuart Hogg, a genuinely high quality up and coming fullback. Hogg, Visser and Maitland would be a very good back three but moving Maitland to fullback and Hogg to 13 (where he's also comfortable) may be a better use of resources.

 

[Larksea]

very good pickup for Scotland/Glasgow, I think if he had got a chance for the All Blacks he would have done the trick. He was probably unlucky not to get a shot, at times I think he was considered the best 14 in NZ but lost out while left wingers, Kahui and Cory Jane got chances. maybe the one pure 14 that got a chance was Masaga and I think he only really got one test or something like that.

I actually think Adam Whitelock genuinely overtook Maitland on form this season, injuries didn't help.

 

[donmcdazzle]

very good pickup for Scotland/Glasgow, I think if he had got a chance for the All Blacks he would have done the trick. He was probably unlucky not to get a shot, at times I think he was considered the best 14 in NZ but lost out while left wingers, Kahui and Cory Jane got chances. maybe the one pure 14 that got a chance was Masaga and I think he only really got one test or something like that.

I actually think Adam Whitelock genuinely overtook Maitland on form this season, injuries didn't help.

Except Whitelock wouldn't get near the Scottish national team. He is the worst outside back in any NZ Super Rugby starting team. Even Australia wouldn't want the guy.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I think Australia would take him, to be honest.

 

[admartian]

Except Whitelock wouldn't get near the Scottish national team. He is the worst outside back in any NZ Super Rugby starting team. Even Australia wouldn't want the guy.

:lol:

Oh you mean they didn't even bother trying to spin that since he went to Aus, once, on a trip, for 4 days - that he's not Wallaby-eligible? geez.... Whitelock must be bad.