Parks Reborn
After enduring an 18-month international exile he was recalled to the Scotland squad for the match 2010 Six Nations Championship tie against Wales. Parks went on to win an unprecedented 3 man of-the-match awards in four games (Wales, Italy, Ireland) during the 2010 Six Nations Championship. After being somewhat of a controversial figure for Scotland during his career he was often maligned by both fans and critics alike for his high-risk game play.
This was to change during the 2010 Six Nations Championship under the tutelage of Andy Robinson. Parks regained some of the self-belief and confidence that had often evaded him while playing for Scotland but been so prevalent for Glasgow. Parks said of Andy Robinson "he has been a big contributor to the improvement in the Scotland team."
During the Six Nations Championship Parks enacted a ‘Lazarus’ like revival to produce performances that were worthy of national acclaim. In doing so he proved that much of the criticism aimed at him previously to be unfounded. Even one of most hardened critics, Scotsman journalist Alan Massie, recognised his outstanding performances.
Testament to his first-class performances throughout the 2010 6 Nations he featured in many writers' team of the tournament.
Parks continued his fine form for Scotland playing an integral role in securing a 2–0 series victory in the 2010 tour of Argentina. This was Scotland’s first ever capped series victory in 50 years of touring. In addition, it was the first time in 26 years that Scotland have won 3 away internationals in a row. Parks then went on to score all 21 points in Scotland's 21 – 17 upset win over South Africa with 6 penalties and a drop-goal.
Since then, in Premiership (Celtic League) Rugby, Dan played two seasons for Cardiff Blues, but has now gone to be a star player for Connacht, an underdog Irish team with fighting ambitions.
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Famous quotes containing the words parks and/or reborn:
“Perhaps our own woods and fields,—in the best wooded towns, where we need not quarrel about the huckleberries,—with the primitive swamps scattered here and there in their midst, but not prevailing over them, are the perfection of parks and groves, gardens, arbors, paths, vistas, and landscapes. They are the natural consequence of what art and refinement we as a people have.... Or, I would rather say, such were our groves twenty years ago.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“I was reborn when that jury said, “Guilty!””
—Myrlie Evers (b. 1933)