Henry Pyrgos said on Tuesday that finding out he would captain Scotland on Saturday was the proudest moment of his life.
The scrum-half, 26, has been selected to lead Scotland as they kick off their World Cup preparations with a Test match against Ireland.
But the Glasgow Warrior knows he must prove he is not bottom of the pecking order in the battle for the No 9 jersey.
The match in Dublin is Pyrgos’s big chance to stake a claim for a place in Scotland’s final 31-man squad for the tournament in England next month.
Greig Laidlaw not only held the scrum-half slot during this year’s Six Nations but also captained the side.
Read more:
– Improved TJ Perenara adds to New Zealand’s World Cup depth
– Richie McCaw’s warning to Rugby World Cup rivals: Beware of Samoa
His former Edinburgh understudy Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, meanwhile, has blossomed since Laidlaw moved to Gloucester last summer and was named the Pro12’s Young Player of the Year.
Pyrgos did help his Warriors team to the Pro12 title but said that his half-back rivals are in the driving seat.
“I won the Pro12 but I wasn’t there with Scotland,” Pyrgos said. “However, I was happy with the way I finished the season. It was an amazing experience with Glasgow and that has put all the Glasgow guys in a good position, I think.
“But ultimately we are all starting from scratch again now.
“The competition in training is pretty fierce and I’m just lucky to be involved. Now I’ve got the opportunity to play this weekend, do well and put down the first marker.
“Vern (Cotter) has already spelled out that every jersey, from one to 15, is still up for grabs. He wants to see people improve in training and in games. If you do that, you are putting yourself in a great position to get a shirt at the World Cup.”
Pyrgos has captained his club side on three previous occasions and said he can handle the responsibility of walking the national team out at the Aviva Stadium.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be in this situation, but finding out about this is the proudest day of my life.
“I know my family are thrilled, too, but I want to now justify it by going out and putting on a good performance.
“As a scrum-half, you have quite a big influence in the way the team plays in both defence and attack. That’s why you see a few nines getting that chance to be captain, you are always in a position where you are making decisions and communicating with the squad.”
Scotland, who will also warm up for their Pool B opener, against Japan on September 23 with home-and-away clashes with Italy and a trip to Paris to face France, will return to action this weekend five months after ending a miserable Six Nations campaign with a 41-10 thumping from title winners Ireland.
“We’ve spoken a little bit about that as a squad. It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the Six Nations,” Pyrgos said.
“Ireland, though, are a quality team and we need to go out this weekend, focus on our own roles and try to put it together for a good performance before putting them under pressure.”
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In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
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How being social media savvy can improve your well being
Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.
As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.
Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.
Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.
Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.
However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.
“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.
People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
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Brief scores:
Toss: Sindhis, elected to field first
Kerala Knights 103-7 (10 ov)
Parnell 59 not out; Tambe 5-15
Sindhis 104-1 (7.4 ov)
Watson 50 not out, Devcich 49
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Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
About Seez
Company name/date started: Seez, set up in September 2015 and the app was released in August 2017
Founder/CEO name(s): Tarek Kabrit, co-founder and chief executive, and Andrew Kabrit, co-founder and chief operating officer
Based in: Dubai, with operations also in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon
Sector: Search engine for car buying, selling and leasing
Size: (employees/revenue): 11; undisclosed
Stage of funding: $1.8 million in seed funding; followed by another $1.5m bridge round - in the process of closing Series A
Investors: Wamda Capital, B&Y and Phoenician Funds
'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Price: From Dh529,000
Engine: 5-litre V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 520hp
Torque: 625Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.8L/100km
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East