Racing Metro vs Edinburgh - game 5, pool 2, Heino

First topic message reminder :

Here's how the group stands as we head towards game 5:

Pos Team Pl W D L Pts
1 Edinburgh 4 3 0 1 13
2 Cardiff Blues 4 3 0 1 13
3 London Irish 4 1 0 3 8
4 Racing Métro 92 4 1 0 3 7

From today's Scotland on Sunday paper:

Heineken Cup: Comeback king Mike Blair relishing Paris match

By Iain Morrison
Published on Saturday 7 January 2012 21:47

TWO seasons ago Edinburgh Rugby packed their bags and headed for Paris, with a spring in their step and a song in their hearts, to do European battle against Stade Francais on their own turf.

The match was over almost before it began as the classy Parisians ran riot, with a four-try bonus point in the bag before the half-time whistle.

Edinburgh travel to Paris again, this time to face Racing Metro 92 on Friday evening, needing a win in their penultimate pool match to give them a fighting chance of landing a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals for only the second time in history. It won’t be easy. Just to underline the size of the task ahead of them, that loss to Stade in 2009 was their 17th defeat in a run of 18 Heineken matches away from home.

Since then Edinburgh have pipped London Irish at Reading by the stately margin of one point and bested Racing, who spend like Shirley Bassey, by the exact same margin at Murrayfield. If nothing else Michael Bradley’s men have cornered the market in comebacks after recovering from 19-10 down at the Madejski Stadium to win 20-19 and overcoming a whopping 44-20 deficit in the first leg against Racing to triumph 48-47; a once in a lifetime match that will remain with those that witnessed it as long as they have breath in their bodies.

It’s certainly seared into the brain of Edinburgh scrum-half Mike Blair. Was it the weirdest game that he has ever played?

“Comfortably!” he replies with a laugh as though the memories of that extraordinary evening have yet to fully sink in after Edinburgh grabbed four touchdowns in the final quarter to clinch a famous victory.

“Firstly, coming on at half-time and then just how the game went. We were sitting in the dugout at the start when Edinburgh went 17-3 up and we were just laughing. Then for the next 25 minutes I have never seen a team attack like Racing did. They were phenomenal. They didn’t do anything special, no set moves, just hard running and amazing pace.

“It’s a funny one because, as a rugby fan, you wanted to applaud them. It took a lot [for Edinburgh] to get back into that game because if you give Racing lots of ball that’s what they are capable of doing.”

The little No.9’s introduction to that Racing game on 40 minutes, allied to Greig Laidlaw’s move to stand-off, went a long way towards securing the win thanks to the tempo the duo bring to the game. As Blair admitted, they didn’t achieve much in that third quarter except exhaust the opposition so when the knockout blows arrived in the final 20 it took a rabbit punch rather than a haymaker to fell the French giants.

There is no doubt that that Racing game was a crucial stage in the development of this young Edinburgh squad that has struggled in the RaboDirect Pro12 and badly needed some self-confidence to boost their raw talent. “In both games [London Irish and Racing] you would probably have bet 50 quid on the opposition winning at some point during the match,” says Blair. “So to come back from that was massively significant. You get used to it [winning]. You think there’s always a chance. If you get blown away from that situation, you don’t throw the towel in, but there’s less of a chance you’re going to get back into the game.

“We came back in that Racing game from 24 points down! There’s a belief that no matter how far behind we are there is always going to be a chance [to win].”

Undoubtedly Edinburgh were helped by the opposition on the night because it is a by-law of Racing rugby that the Parisians play with style and panache. They are, after all, the club that famously rode bicycles to one match in the amateur era, sported berets when playing Bayonne and long striped shorts, as styled by the sans-culottes, in one 1989 match to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. In the 1990 French Cup final against Agen the players drank champagne at half time and wore pink bow ties throughout. Oh yes, and they won.

This is the origin of the cute little “Eden Park” bow tie emblem adorning the clothes of the company founded by Franck Mesnel and Eric Blanc, two former Racing players. This is a club that oozes style and one that would almost find it demeaning to stick the ball up their jerseys and grind out a win over Edinburgh’s relatively lightweight forward pack.

In truth, Racing tried the tactic just once in that Murrayfield match; a lineout catch and drive early in the game. Edinburgh’s pack blitzed it, driving it back and breaking it up before the maul could do any damage. They knew full well that if they allowed the first rolling maul to succeed they would be defending them for the remainder of the match. Instead, Racing threw the ball about and when that happens Edinburgh always have a puncher’s chance.

Only against Cardiff at Murrayfield did Edinburgh’s forwards grab the game and dominate the opposition eight. Blair likens that experience to the home victory over Toulouse in the 2003-4 season which paved the way for qualification to the last eight, but it’s asking a lot of Edinburgh’s big men to do the same in Paris.

The scrum-half is now one of the club’s longest serving players and he cuts a more relaxed figure than in the past. He admits to concerns about how involved he’d be this season, with Greig Laidlaw being the club captain, but also talks about helping the younger players at the club when he has not always seen the bigger picture.

He is one of just three squad members who competed in the club’s only quarter-final appearance along with Chris Paterson and Allan Jacobsen. That squad boasted a host of well-known, tried and tested international players like Todd Blackadder, Scott Murray, Nathan Hines, Ally Hogg, Simon Taylor and Brendan Laney, whereas today’s Edinburgh squad is largely unheralded and none the worse for that. A host of eager young players are desperate to make their name and perhaps they approach the Heineken Cup with fewer hang-ups than the older generation who have tasted so much failure. Despite the lack of superstars, Blair likes the current blend of the Edinburgh squad. He talks at length about how the veterans are having to prove themselves to the younger generation and vice versa and if you find it difficult to comprehend just how young some Edinburgh’s are then you are in good company.

“Harry Leonard’s really made his mark this season but I’d never heard of him before”, says Blair, “and I had no idea he was 19 until I’d played two games with him.”

Edinburgh have a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves and while it is surely asking too much for a repeat of that classic Murrayfield encounter, at least Racing will come to play rugby. Whether the aristocrats of French rugby are also prepared to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty is the key.

“It depends how they are going to take the game, doesn’t it?” Blair asks rhetorically. “They can put a full-strength team out that aren’t bothered about it. You can have a second-string team that are trying to prove themselves to the coaches. You never really know how it’s going to play.”

Big test for this Edinburgh team, altho I suspect a lot will depend on which team Rm92 decide to put out - can't wait, v excited

Gray's loss will be a toughie, simply cos of his calibre, but there are a few exciting prospects coming thru:
Robert McAlpine, Nick Campbell, and of course his 'wee' bro, Jonny Gray. Hopefully we can find another Gilchrist from among that lot

True. Rob McAlpine is more of a 5 than a 4, but I'm already excited about Nick Campbell. A massive bloke, and if he can get his fitness up to scratch, he'll be a great asset. Similarly Jonny Gray - not as tall as his brother but he's already got the weight to suggest he'll be no shirker in the set piece.

If Kellock can be pursuaded to stay and captain the side from 5, then I'd love to see Campbell and Gray act as understudies to Ryder.

Sourpuss alert:

Racing Metro coach Pierre Berbizier has said that Friday’s 27-24 defeat could be attributed to the shortcomings of his side rather than the performance of Edinburgh.

The former France and Italy boss stated: “We gave them the match rather than them winning it. I felt we had most of the game. We weren’t beaten by a great Edinburgh side. Frankly, they didn’t stretch us and I believe that we made it more difficult for them than the other way round.”

Who cares. Beat them home and away.

Jog on Berbizier, your team of mercenaries play like they've never met eachother. Nice coaching.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Who cares. Beat them home and away.

Jog on Berbizier, your team of mercenaries play like they've never met eachother. Nice coaching.

True.

Ospreys played the same for many years. Toulon play like that aswell.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:I think it's pretty clear that Barclay and Beattie need to move on from Glasgow at the end of this season to rediscover their love for the game. Time for Rennie to step up for the thistle, Brown at 6, 'dozer at 8, a very nicely balanced backrow, looking to ring Barclay on to finish things off

Personally I'd pick one of Rennie or Barclay and have the other play for Scotland A. I wouldn't have a specialist openside covering the back row from the bench. I'd rather have either Vernon or Strokosch.

On the Rennie vs Barclay debate I'm pretty easy. I think talk of Barclay's decline are slightly exaggerated, he's not playing that badly, and meanwhile I don't think Rennie walks on water. He's been dropped on several occasions for Roddy Grant, a fine player, but it is indicative that Rennie is not playing out of his skin. Were I picking the side now I'd probably go for Rennie, but if Barclay tears up the Rec on Saturday I could be persuaded to change my mind.

Bit harsh on Rennie there - every game I've seen he has been absolutely superb. In fact he's never really been "dropped" just part of the squad rotation that Bradely has done all season. Grant played extremely well in Rennie's absence but when he came back in recently he has been superb - that turnover against Racing when he ripped the ball out the guys arms being a prime example.

So Rennie is the clear winner for me - he has been a game changer for Edinburgh when he's played. Barclay has just been a passenger - not doing much wrong, but you need more than that from an International 7.

Robinson likes his favourites though so can see Barclay starting.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:I think it's pretty clear that Barclay and Beattie need to move on from Glasgow at the end of this season to rediscover their love for the game. Time for Rennie to step up for the thistle, Brown at 6, 'dozer at 8, a very nicely balanced backrow, looking to ring Barclay on to finish things off

Personally I'd pick one of Rennie or Barclay and have the other play for Scotland A. I wouldn't have a specialist openside covering the back row from the bench. I'd rather have either Vernon or Strokosch.

On the Rennie vs Barclay debate I'm pretty easy. I think talk of Barclay's decline are slightly exaggerated, he's not playing that badly, and meanwhile I don't think Rennie walks on water. He's been dropped on several occasions for Roddy Grant, a fine player, but it is indicative that Rennie is not playing out of his skin. Were I picking the side now I'd probably go for Rennie, but if Barclay tears up the Rec on Saturday I could be persuaded to change my mind.

Bit harsh on Rennie there - every game I've seen he has been absolutely superb. In fact he's never really been "dropped" just part of the squad rotation that Bradely has done all season. Grant played extremely well in Rennie's absence but when he came back in recently he has been superb - that turnover against Racing when he ripped the ball out the guys arms being a prime example.

So Rennie is the clear winner for me - he has been a game changer for Edinburgh when he's played. Barclay has just been a passenger - not doing much wrong, but you need more than that from an International 7.

Robinson likes his favourites though so can see Barclay starting.

+1

I don't think Barclay is a "favourite" of Robinson. He's hardly in the same league as Dougie Hall, Ali Dickinson, Dan Parks or Graeme Morrison.

Barclay is a fine player and has played well for Scotland in the past. He also compliments Brown well. Robinson was a big fan of Rennie at Edinburgh and has had him in his squads since he took charge and gave him game time at the World Cup.

It's a close call in my opinion, and I wouldn't say there's a "clear winner". I'd start Rennie and see how he gets on against England, but were Barclay to be picked I don't think you could say that it's a game changing selection. Both very good players.

Not denying he's a good player - it's form I'm worried about. Both on their best days there isn't much between them (I'd take Rennie) but on current form there's clear daylight. Rennie is a buzz bomb and game changer - Barclay often looks uninterested!

As I said Barclay isn't doing much wrong he just isn't dominating games like you'd want your first choice international 7 to do. I'm not saying Rennie is "dominating" games every time - but he's doing a lot better just now.

I think a factor in this is the way that Edinburgh play. The fast and loose style suits Rennie down to the ground, and I think Barclay would look a lot better in an Edinburgh jersey as well.

Glasgow play a tight, narrow and suffocating game, with little opportunity for the back row to play a loose offloading game and to look good galloping around with ball in hand. It's no coincidence that Rennie, Talei and Denton are all charging about with ball in hand scoring tries, whilst Harley, Barclay and Fusaro (a completely imbalanced back row) are spending afternoons racking up numerous tackles and rolling around in the mud.

Yet Glasgow are the team suffocating the opposition and restricting the opposition from crossing the advantage line and getting quality possession, whilst Edinburgh practically invite sides to run into space so that the game opens up and they can counter.

I agree, from what I saw Rennie had a very good game indeed against RM and he deserves to be the front runner. But remember that Barclay is not being given a fair shot to impress, playing at number 8. Sling Rennie at 8 and Grant and 7 and see how Rennie gets on then.

I don't think I've ever seen Barclay look uninterested. I've seen him struggle for form at times, but never through want of trying. Personally I think a new environment would suit him. Like Brown, he's done his time at Glasgow and I think a more expansive style of play would suit him well. He's pretty handy with ball in hand.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think a factor in this is the way that Edinburgh play. The fast and loose style suits Rennie down to the ground, and I think Barclay would look a lot better in an Edinburgh jersey as well.

Glasgow play a tight, narrow and suffocating game, with little opportunity for the back row to play a loose offloading game and to look good galloping around with ball in hand. It's no coincidence that Rennie, Talei and Denton are all charging about with ball in hand scoring tries, whilst Harley, Barclay and Fusaro (a completely imbalanced back row) are spending afternoons racking up numerous tackles and rolling around in the mud.

Yet Glasgow are the team suffocating the opposition and restricting the opposition from crossing the advantage line and getting quality possession, whilst Edinburgh practically invite sides to run into space so that the game opens up and they can counter.

I agree, from what I saw Rennie had a very good game indeed against RM and he deserves to be the front runner. But remember that Barclay is not being given a fair shot to impress, playing at number 8. Sling Rennie at 8 and Grant and 7 and see how Rennie gets on then.

I don't think I've ever seen Barclay look uninterested. I've seen him struggle for form at times, but never through want of trying. Personally I think a new environment would suit him. Like Brown, he's done his time at Glasgow and I think a more expansive style of play would suit him well. He's pretty handy with ball in hand.

Barclays played ONE game at eight, and concerns over his form have been going on since the start of last year. Id also say that Rennie plays so much on the back foot, while Glasgow actually give a good platform for Barclay to play ball in hand if he wanted to, but as pointed out, he doesnt seem as interested as he used to be.

How on earth do Glasgow give their back row a good platform to play with ball in hand?? Explain that one. Never has a game plan and structure been so rigid. The whole Glasgow philosophy is to work hard, restrict and squeeze, and mighty effective it's been as well. It just doesn't lend itself to loose and open rugby, or to back row players getting their hands on the ball in space.

Barclay isn't playing as well as he used to, I'm not disputing that. I just don't buy the over the top hype on Rennie. He's a very good player and deserves another shot at international rugby, but I don't agree that there's clear daylight between him and Barclay.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Barclay isn't playing as well as he used to, I'm not disputing that. I just don't buy the over the top hype on Rennie. He's a very good player and deserves another shot at international rugby, but I don't agree that there's clear daylight between him and Barclay.

I agree with this comment. Comparing Rennie and Barclay is a bit like comparing a rally car and a formula 1 car. Not saying who is who but they both have differant skills that make both of them very effective openside flankers.

Barclay is tough, nuggety and brave, and scraps for the ball on the deck with superb skill. He wins a lot of dead ball turnovers and can draw good penalties from tackled players. However he does sail quite close to the wind himself and is prone to givign away penalties. There is no doubt that Barclay was a better player in 2010, and does seem to have lost his edge a wee bit. He is still a fantastic player.

Rennie on the other hand has phenomenal upper body strength and is very good at stripping possesion from players who are not on the ground or have been held up. This skill I think would make him more useful for playing against Wales or Ireland who have a lot of powerful ball carriers who like to try and smash through the gain line. Rennie I also think is probably a more powerful ball carrier.

We should be greatful that we have 2 fantastic opensides and I think we should play them against the teams that we can maximise their abilities.

England - Barclay
Wales - Rennie
Italy - Rennie
Ireland - Rennie
France - Barclay

With each making cameos from the bench.

Good way of looking at it, Radge

funnyExiledScot wrote:How on earth do Glasgow give their back row a good platform to play with ball in hand?? Explain that one. Never has a game plan and structure been so rigid. The whole Glasgow philosophy is to work hard, restrict and squeeze, and mighty effective it's been as well. It just doesn't lend itself to loose and open rugby, or to back row players getting their hands on the ball in space.

Barclay isn't playing as well as he used to, I'm not disputing that. I just don't buy the over the top hype on Rennie. He's a very good player and deserves another shot at international rugby, but I don't agree that there's clear daylight between him and Barclay.

Sorry I should rephrase that, glasgow have a pack that should allow more ball in hand play, even if they choose not to.

funnyExiledScot wrote:How on earth do Glasgow give their back row a good platform to play with ball in hand?? Explain that one. Never has a game plan and structure been so rigid. The whole Glasgow philosophy is to work hard, restrict and squeeze, and mighty effective it's been as well. It just doesn't lend itself to loose and open rugby, or to back row players getting their hands on the ball in space.

Barclay isn't playing as well as he used to, I'm not disputing that. I just don't buy the over the top hype on Rennie. He's a very good player and deserves another shot at international rugby, but I don't agree that there's clear daylight between him and Barclay.

Sorry I should rephrase that, glasgow have a pack that should allow more ball in hand play, even if they choose not to.

Radge - agree with that analysis pretty much. My only point of disagreement is the bench. I don't like to have a specialist openside on the bench. Would rather see Vernon (who played well off the bench last night) or Strokosch on the bench - gives better cover plus impact in my view.