Shiel grateful for slow start at Edinburgh after frustration

CHARLIE Shiel was a man in a hurry as he came through the ranks as a free- wheeling scrum- half with the slickest of passes and an incredible burst of pace. However, after signing his first professional contract with Edinburgh in March 2018, everything seemed to slow down.

All of a sudden he was getting less minutes than he was used to, and he had Richard Cockerill, head coach at the capital club, on his back about the need to take his foot off the gas when deciding whether to pass, kick or run.

“Like any young guy, when you are involved in a professional set- up and you get that taste for it, you just want more and more, so it can be a bit frustrating when you don’t get game time,” he said. “But looking back at it, for someone in my position, it probably has been a good thing to be almost drip- fed in – and I think that has probably got me to where I am now with how my game has progressed.

“One thing Cockers has spoken to me about is: when you are coming up through the age- grades, or playing club rugby, as a nine you are there to pass the ball and run. And that is where a lot of my game is – passing and running – I find that a lot easier than the kicking side of it and barking at these big Scotland players to command them. It’s that sort of control that I’ve been trying to work on.”

Shiel spent most of the 201920 season behind Henry Pyrgos and Nic Groom in the scrumhalf pecking- order at Edinburgh, and it was injuries to that pair which contributed to being involved after lockdown.

He said: “There have been times during analysis sessions when I’ve watched the two of them more than the game, it’s great to have them to feed off.”