Player in the Pod – John Barclay

We continue our in-depth coverage of the Six Nations speaking to John Barclay to get some insights into the Scotland camp, as they enjoy a week away from international duty before heading back to try and claim their first win of the tournament for 2016.

How is it to be back in the squad after four years out?

It’s good to be honest, obviously it’s great to be back and playing for Scotland again but it’s also nice to catch up with some old friends, some of the guys I’ve known since I was 16 and this is the only chance to spend time with them. Obviously results have been frustrating but I’m enjoying the experience of being back anyway.

As you say results have been frustrating, getting so close but just losing out. How is everyone feeling in the camp?

Disappointed and frustrated. But it’s a good group of guys and Greg is a great captain. He is very good at keeping the boys up and making sure we aren’t getting too frustrated and as you say we aren’t that far away but at some point we need to bounce back and start winning because you can’t keep saying that. We are just making errors at crucial times, so everyone is looking at their game and how they can improve whilst we had a week away back with our clubs and will come back to camp raring to go.

A bit has been spoken about the introduction of bonus points in the Six Nations, would you be in favour of that change?

Well I didn’t play last year but the last weekend of the Six Nations was a great spectacle. Was it a fluke? I don’t think so, teams were just encouraged to throw the ball around a lot more and play rugby. They are still trying to do that I think but there is less incentive.

Tell us amateurs a bit about how a normal week would go in the Scotland camp?

It’s pretty much like a normal club day really. So we start by coming in and debriefing the game from the weekend and then in the afternoon do some weights and a session on the field. Tuesday is more around skills so we will split and work on everything in our individual areas and more game specific. After that intensity we have a day off and from there the training gets a bit lighter before you head to the tail end of the week. The main difference is that you don’t have as much time as you do with your club to make changes. You’ve got months to see patterns emerging or changing game plans with your club but at this level it’s just a week so it’s the planning is a bit more particular and we have to be a bit more astute in that area.

A lot has been spoken about ‘Stern’ Vern in the press but from a player’s perspective how is having him in charge?

I think he’s a good coach and his record is excellent, especially at Clermont. He knows the game and the group of players really well, and the fact that we can play much better too. He is a passionate guy and shares the traits of Scottish people and I think that’s probably why he took the job.

Scotland have really stepped up recruiting overseas players with the likes of John Hardie, Sean Maitland and others. How does the arrival of players from abroad affect the rest of the squad?

It doesn’t really, the rules are there and everyone’s doing it, so the players aren’t really fussed about it. I actually think it’s harder for the players coming in, someone like John Hardie came over, didn’t know a lot of guys and hadn’t played this competition before, so it must’ve been quite tough. It helps that rugby players tend to be the same sort of people, pretty much just good blokes, you get a few idiots but he seems a really good guy and fitted in perfectly.

Do you agree with Jim Hamilton that if a player is coming from overseas they need to be significantly better than their Scottish option?

It’s not for me to get too involved in but yes if you’ve got a 50/50 between a Scottish player and someone else, then it makes sense to go with the homegrown talent due to the time spent on their career to date. We aren’t a big country so some in positions we aren’t graced with an abundance of players so the powers that be need to make a decision on that. I can see it can be tough for a young guy to see someone come in from overseas, but most people just want to see Scotland play well and watch the best players, so I think its pretty quickly forgotten about where a player comes from so long as they are playing well!

Speaking of playing overseas you now ply your trade with the Scarlets. It’s quite unusual to see a move like that in the Pro12, how did it come about?

I guess it was quite rare at the time and there were a few conversations going on but I was out of contract and spoke to Simon Easterby and Sean Lamont who had played there and it just seemed like a great move. I love the club and love the boys. I settled in quickly enough to be captain so it’s been a great move and happy to be involved in the international setup again too.

We have seen a lot of players linked to sevens given the upcoming Olympics and given your skill set plus the fact you were born in Hong Kong, the home of sevens, have you given playing it again any thought?

I actually did play a fair bit when I was younger but was thrown in the deep end a bit and got injured. So fair to say I never really enjoyed it, I found it too tiring, so no I don’t think it’s for me, my future lies in the 15 a side game.

Now is time for the quick fire round. I’ll ask a question and you just give one word answers. Okay, so let’s start with favourite game for Scotland?

Either the win against Argentina or Australia away from home.

Best player you’ve played with?

You’ve put me on the spot here Ollie. Niko Matawalu would be up there.

Best player you’ve played against?

Richie McCaw.

Hardest Trainer?

Peter Horne or Aled Davies at the Scarlets.

Biggest joker?

Jim Hamilton.

Finally, give us one player to keep an eye on for the future.

James Davies.

Written by Ollie Silverton on behalf of www.TheRugbyPod.com