Edinburgh V Munster Build up thread

[RDW]

First topic message reminder :

Edinburgh team

15 Greig Tonks



14 Lee Jones
13 Nick De Luca

12 Ben Atiga
11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN

9 Richie Rees



1 John Yapp
2 Ross Ford

3 Willem Nel

4 Grant Gilchrist
5 Sean Cox

6 David Denton
7 Ross Rennie

8 Stuart McInally



Substitutes :
16 Andy Titterrell
17 Allan Jacobsen
18 Geoff Cross

19 Perry Parker
20 Dimitri Basilaia
21 Chris Leck
22 Gregor Hunter
23 John Houston

Munster Team Named:

01 Wian du Preez
02 Damien Varley
03 BJ Botha
04 Donncha O'Callaghan
05 Billy Holland
06 Paddy Butler
07 Sean Dougall
08 James Coughlan
09 Duncan Williams
10 Ian Keatley
11 Luke O'Dea
12 James Downey
13 Casey Laulala
14 Doug Howlett (capt.)
15 Denis Hurley

16 Mike Sherry
17 Marcus Horan
18 Stephen Archer
19 Dave Foley
20 Barry O'Mahony
21 Peter Stringer
22 Scott Deasy
23 Ivan Dineen

[red_stag]

Earls will have to earn his place not lose it. Howlett and O'Dea have already set a high standard on each wing, while at centre, Laulala looked very good. Earls is going to have to play really well to get a starting spot.

+1. Same thing for Zebo.

[RDW]

Sounds like Munster have got some competition in the backs, which is always good.

And agree with FES that we had a couple of good individuals but were poor as a team. The SRU Facebook page actually classed it as a "good team performance" - I replied venting my spleen at that! Some women replied to me saying "it's not true Edinburgh fans that are complaining about the team - we played really well". That got me more angry - I paid 25 quid to watch that and so am allowed to voice my disapproval that the team didn't play well. Of course I am going to support them all season and never turn my back on them, but if we are going to be a great team this year we can't accept that performance!

[red_stag]

Its a fine line between giving your team a pat on the back and a smack on the arse.

[RDW]

Dam straight - just riled me that the woman was insinuating that anyone that criticised the team weren't "true Edinburgh fans". Absolute rubbish!

[red_stag]

I had the same thing on here the other day. I accused Irelands golden genration of being chokers - in fact you saw that I think.

I was told that I was clearly only saying this for sake of "balance" to appear objective and not acting like true supporter.

I bloody wanted them to win not go off and lose every year.

[tigertattie]

twas a throwback to last season!

Edinburgh can be a fantastic threat in attacking rugby. But we switch off too often thoughout the game.

Total inconsitancy. If it is not sorted out, then its going to be a painful Rabo for us again!

[RDW]

I get the feeling that we're either going to romp to a bonus point win on Friday or lose by 30 points, with nothing in between- hard to tell with this team just now!

[RuggerRadge2611]

So what happened on Saturday guys? Were we unlucky or were we soundly beaten. I can't figure out what happened since none of the reports seem to be consistant.

Apparently we did good in the breakdown but DOC made life difficult for us, our set piece was pretty decent except we butchered 2 lineouts in the closing stage of the game.

Have we solved our leaky defending issues or were the tries we conceded well worked and earned by munster?

[RDW]

Were we unlucky or were we soundly beaten.

Neither really, Munster probably deserved to win over the whole 80 but it wouldn't have been a massive miscarriage of justice if we did manage to sneak a win.

Apparently we did good in the breakdown but DOC made life difficult for us

Break down started off really well - we were really aggressive and accurate. We let that slip though and they started being more dominant. Need to keep it up for the whole 80.

our set piece was pretty decent

The set piece was actually pretty good - must have been near 100% lineout when Ford was on. Coincidence that it was Titerell throwing at the end? Scrum was solid too although it wasn't a massive scrummaging Munster unit. Chunk was strong in the scrum when he came on.

Have we solved our leaky defending issues or were the tries we conceded well worked and earned by munster?

The first try was a kick and chase by Munster that bounced well for them, but maybe could have done better. 2nd try was awful defending though and they ghosted through our defence.

Our tries were really good though, if maybe against the run of play. The first try came from a 1st phase move from a scrum on half way - a wonderful try that Edinburgh used to do regularly 3 or 4 years ago. De Luca ran the dummy line and Laidlaw timed the pass perfectly to put Tonk on a 2 on 1 with Visser outside.

2nd try was a rampaging run by McInally after a turnover in our 22 by Rennie - Visser on hand to fend off the last defender.

The 3rd try was a good team score with the ball going through fowards and backs, and numeorus phases, for Visser to score in the corner after good play from De Luca. Pass could best be described as "flat" though!

So as you've gathered there were some good glimpses in the game, and good individual performances - we just didn't do it as a team for the whole 80, unlike Munster.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree with all that. It wasn't the worst performance I've seen from Edinburgh (there's a long long list of inferior performances), some individuals were very good indeed, but the collective wasn't quite there, and as always with Edinburgh, there was a lack of intensity for large parts of the game where we just defended passively and allowed Munster large periods with the ball making yards.

Whilst I think McInally has an excellent rugby brain, he's just two inches and about 2 stone too light to be a top class 8. His rugby instincts are too class, and that enables him to be more effective than his physique would suggest, but ultimately when hitting rucks, making tackles and carrying into contact, he just doesn't pack a big enough punch against an aggressive and well organised defensive outfit like Munster (both Munster centres are probably bigger than McInally).

We need one of Talei or Basilia to get fully fit to assist Denton with the big ball carrying duties. Ford carried well, as did Cox, but in the main it was down to Denton to make the telling yards, and he needs help.

I'm also a little underwhelmed by Nel so far. Early days obviously, but I'd actually say the contribution from Yapp has been more impressive of the two thus far, and I certainly didn't expect that.

[RDW]

Nel just doesn't look fit!

I'm also concerned about Lee Jones' form - he's shown nothing in the 2 games I've seen him and had a shocker at Newcastle apparently. Looks like he's regressed a bit! Barely touched the ball on Saturday.

He's had a full pre season so should be in the best shape of his life too.

[funnyExiledScot]

Jones was very poor on Saturday as well. Not only did he barely touch the ball, Howlett was getting past him at every opportunity. Not clean breaks, but a support tackler was nearly almost needed to complete the tackle, and soft yards were being conceded each time. I don't think the Malzieu incident in the 6 Nations was a one off. He needs to (a) learn how to tackle effectively, and (b) learn how to influence the game more. He can't just continue to stand still on his wing hoping that the ball doesn't come his way! The one chance he had to break free he knocked-on. Brown or Farndale should be given a shot ahead of him if he doesn't perform in the next match.

[funnyExiledScot]

....or Sep Visser

[RDW]

Might lose his place to Brown on the wing and have Tonks at fullback after an impressive display and the fact he gives a left footed kicker at fb...

[funnyExiledScot]

I think Brown will have a good shot at selection on the wing. It's an easy fix if both Tonks and Brown are playing well, particularly with Jones and Penn so far showing little form this season.

I really liked Tonks at 15 on Saturday. His kicking is decent but more importantly his running into the line was excellent, and he showed both good pace and composure to put Visser away for the first try. I've lost count as to how many times I've seen a Scotland player butcher a two on one.

[gowales]

I just watched the replay. Tonks looks like a good player, reminds a lot of Southwell.

Oh and Jacobsen's a fat Tinkywinky, the way he pushed in to the scrum near the end of the game after it had collapsed was disgusting. He could have seriously hurt someone

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I just watched the replay. Tonks looks like a good player, reminds a lot of Southwell.

Oh and Jacobsen's a fat Tinkywinky, the way he pushed in to the scrum near the end of the game after it had collapsed was disgusting.

Those words should never be used in the same sentence unless it also involves 'not'

[gowales]

Hehehe... his kicking game anyway

[123456789]

Tonks looked quite creative from what I saw, if Hogg isn't fit then he could end up with a shout in November although Southwell plyed well against Quins. And if Rory Lamont isn't fit until October then he might still be fit before the Autumn series.

[RDW]

Numbers - haven't see you in a while!

Southwell should get no where near the squad no matter if he is playing well - he is like 32 or something and should never be an option if Hogg, Brown, Lamont or Tonks are fit!

[justified sinner]

Agreed RDW. Shug past best by date.

Btw why are we still on this thread and not the Blues Embra one?

[RDW]

Didn't realise there was one!

[123456789]

I agree that he should be a last choice but as an experienced and half-decent player he could be all right.

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