Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

A. Edinburgh
 

 
1. Pre-season
 
Fri 30 Aug 2013, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 15 - 5 Newcastle Falcons
 
Fri 23 Aug 2013, 19:30
Northampton Saints 24 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby
 
2. 2013/2014 Season - Played
 
Sat 7 Sep, 19:15
Munster Rugby 34 - 23 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 13 Sep, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 16 - 13 Newport Gwent Dragons
 
Sat 21 Sep, 18:30
Ospreys 44 - 10 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 27 Sep, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 9 - 22 Scarlets

Sun 6 Oct, 14:05
Cardiff Blues 29 - 12 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 25 Oct, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 13 Benetton Treviso

Fri 1 Nov 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 23 Zebre

Fri 22 Nov 19:05
Ulster Rugby 41 - 17 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 29 Nov 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 43 - 10 Connacht

3. 2013/2014 Season - Next 3 Games
 
Fri 20 Dec 19:35
Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster

Thu 26 Dec 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors

Wed 1 Jan 18:05
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby

B. Glasgow
 

 
1. Pre-season
 
Sat 31 Aug 2013, 15:00
Exeter Chiefs 26 - 29 Glasgow Warriors
 
2. 2013/2014 Season
 
Fri 6 Sep, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 22 - 15 Cardiff Blues
 
Fri 13 Sep, 19:05
Ulster Rugby 12 - 13 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 20 Sep, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 12 - 6 Leinster Rugby
 
Fri 27 Sep, 19:30
Zebre 17 - 24 Glasgow Warriors
 
Sat 5 Oct, 18:30
Scarlets 12 - 17 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 25 Oct, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 6 - 13 Munster Rugby

Sat 2 Nov, 17:00
Connacht Rugby 12 - 19 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 22 Nov, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 8 - 23 Newport Gwent Dragons

Fri 29 Nov, 19:05
Ospreys 16 - 28 Glasgow Warriors

3. 2013/2014 Season - Next 3 Games
 
Fri 20 Dec, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors   v   Benetton Treviso

Thu 26 Dec 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors

Wed 1 Jan 18:05
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby
 
Bearing in mind the above - what I'd like to know for each team is:
 
1. How is the season likely to go?
2. What are the teams' strengths?
3. What are the teams' weaknesses?
4. What can be done to improve matters for each team?
 
Any jingoism, sledging or graceless kicking of anyone whilst they are up or down will see posts deleted.
 
Be gracious and be constructive.

[funnyExiledScot]

Good piece of work securing Dunbar for 3 years. Useful having a centre who can play both 12 and 13 (better at 13 in my view), and given that Bennett seems a bit fragile (I've heard rumour that the toe injury had nothing to do with the 7s but rather he dropped a piece of lego on his foot whilst playing with his new toys at Christmas) I think Dunbar will be called upon a fair bit in the near future.

Horne and Dunbar for Glasgow (with Bennett covering), Scott and Fife for Edinburgh (with NDL coveringsweeping leaves up in the car park) and Scott and Dunbar for Scotland (with Horne on the bench).

That's the future.

Totally.

Well at least we have a car park at Murrayfield. They expect you to use public transport to get to Scotstoun. Says it all really.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

fES - your Range Rover bay awaits - the same as the one you use at Ibrox, just a wee bit across the river as you well know.   Champers and hampers may be a tad more difficult to organise in the Scout Hall.  We could get you a wee bit next to Mr Singh's?   Would depend on the band's decibel level really.  This needs work - to encourage more that a handful of disinterested members of the Barnton Brigade.   Tell you what?      We could promise you a Mexican wave - you lot lap that stuff up eh ?   

[IanBru]

Well at least we have a car park at Murrayfield. They expect you to use public transport to get to Scotstoun. Says it all really.

FES, old man, just for you, through the magic of Twitter:

We've secured an additional 200 car parking spaces on 1 Jan in leisure centre car park as it's closed. It opens at 3pm and costs £5 per car. Additional car parking in leisure centre car park is on a first come, first served basis and no cars will be allowed entry after 5pm

You see, that's a rugby club that cares about its supporters, and holds a grudging regard for the opposition...  

[George Carlin]

Well at least we have a car park at Murrayfield. They expect you to use public transport to get to Scotstoun. Says it all really.

FES, old man, just for you, through the magic of Twitter:

We've secured an additional 200 car parking spaces on 1 Jan in leisure centre car park as it's closed. It opens at 3pm and costs £5 per car. Additional car parking in leisure centre car park is on a first come, first served basis and no cars will be allowed entry after 5pm

You see, that's a rugby club that cares about its supporters, and holds a grudging regard for the opposition...  

Although to be honest, FES' Bentley hub caps would last about ten minutes before going off 'on a wee wander' by themselves.

[funnyExiledScot]

This is excellent news. I'll let my chauffeur know to head to the leisure centre car park....

[A Simply Mesmeric Try]

Carl Bezuidenhout has signed for Embra from South African side Pumas on an extended loan deal and finished top scorer in the Currie Cup recently. Let's have a peek at him
Looks good, if he impresses I imagine him staying with Piers Francis moving on.

Toby Fenner not ideal then?

Scotsman article

[RDW]

Carl Bezuidenhout has signed from South African side Pumas on an extended loan deal and finished top scorer in the Currie Cup recently. Let's have a peek at him

Scotsman article

Toby Fenner not ideal then?

That was sooooo discussed 11am this morning!  

[A Simply Mesmeric Try]

  

I'm so out of touch, this thread is enormous.

[IanBru]

Well at least we have a car park at Murrayfield. They expect you to use public transport to get to Scotstoun. Says it all really.

FES, old man, just for you, through the magic of Twitter:

We've secured an additional 200 car parking spaces on 1 Jan in leisure centre car park as it's closed. It opens at 3pm and costs £5 per car. Additional car parking in leisure centre car park is on a first come, first served basis and no cars will be allowed entry after 5pm

You see, that's a rugby club that cares about its supporters, and holds a grudging regard for the opposition...  

Although to be honest, FES' Bentley hub caps would last about ten minutes before going off 'on a wee wander' by themselves.

[sheepishly places crow-bar back in custom-fitted monogrammed leather case]

"Don't worry Rhona, your time will come..."

[funnyExiledScot]

At 6ft3 and pushing 15 stones this Carl Bezuidenhout bloke is pretty large for a 10 - I wonder if he could be shifted to 12 ultimately (also a problem position for us).

I'd like to see more of Sam Beard. When I've seen him come on he looks composed and quick, and whilst it's great that Atiga has generally stepped-up more this season, he isn't the long-term solution for us.

[RDW]

Beard looks to be in the Ben cairns mould - quick and skillful but not massively physical.

Carl (we need to find him an easier name) also turns out at fullback.

[George Carlin]

Beard looks to be in the Ben cairns mould - quick and skillful but not massively physical.

Carl (we need to find him an easier name) also turns out at fullback.

How about Big Bezy?

[IanBru]

Bezui-Mates?

[funnyExiledScot]

Beard looks to be in the Ben cairns mould - quick and skillful but not massively physical.

Carl (we need to find him an easier name) also turns out at fullback.

Well that is encouraging, although if Tonks is being shifted back to 15 and given Cuthbert's emergence as a moderately competent 15, and the return to fitness of Tom Brown, it's really 10 and 12 where we're struggling.

I'm not convinced that Beard is lightweight. He's pushing close to 15 stones and he's pretty wirey. He's about the same dimensions as Conrad Smith, and heavier than Gordon D'Arcy. When I've seen him play he's done well in contact. Given that we now have a pack capable of winning the ball every now and then, I just think we need to start exploring our back play.

The 1872 Boxing Day game was a classic example of our pack delivering quality possession which our backs couldn't convert. We should have scored more tries.

[RDW]

Dickinson signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh, having just originally signed a 1 year deal.

Very good for the club - at 30 he's well and truly in his propping prime.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agreed - he's been excellent for the last couple of seasons now. He had sound scrummaging technique, and the new scrum laws really suit him as he can usually hold his own until the ball gets out. He isn't destructive, but what he lacks in size and power he makes up for in technique. He is also excellent in the loose, the proverbial extra flanker. As you say, at 30 the next two years should be his best leading up to the World Cup which will surely be his main focus.

[tigertattie]

Any of the tie wearing brigade heard any rumours of moves in and out of either pro team?

[funnyExiledScot]

Nope - Edinburgh have signed Bezza (new fly half) and I reckon that will pretty much be that for us. The squad is actually in fairly decent shape, although we'll need to move a few folk on in the summer I suspect (e.g. Francis and Atiga).

Glasgow don't really need any new players. They just need to get a few players back from injury.

[RDW]

Wouldn't be surprising if they extended Atiga's deal. He has proved himself to be useful this season and if we don't have a top class 12 lined up then there's no point shipping him off to bring in a brand new nsq journeyman.

[tigertattie]

He just needs to get himself fit and hungry again (hungry for rugby not hungry for pies and mars bars)

[George Carlin]

Nope - Edinburgh have signed Bezza (new fly half) and I reckon that will pretty much be that for us. The squad is actually in fairly decent shape, although we'll need to move a few folk on in the summer I suspect (e.g. Francis and Atiga).

Glasgow don't really need any new players. They just need to get a few players back from injury.

We would quite like a destructive tighthead if Cusack remains AWOL and Low is off to eat clotted cream teas on Asbo's West Country verandah.

[justified sinner]

Some chat on the Embra forum that they've signed Andries Strauss. Unconfirmed atm, but would make some sense as an Atiga replacement; remarkable similarity in that he has one cap for SA v Atiga's one for the ABs.

[RDW]

What's his experience like?

[RDW]

Been announced on Twitter so it's confirmed.

Looks to be a very good signing - he's got a lot of super rugby experience and looks to be a big physical player.

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/14/01/05/stalwart-super-rugby-centre-signs-2016

[George Carlin]

Yep, that's a quality signing - well done Alan Solomons.

[VinceWLB]

Looks a good signing.

Surely this means Atiga is on his way, he constantly improved since he arrived but lets be honest he must be the only All Black who can't pass the ball.

[Biltong]

Yeah, he is good, he captained the Kings this past Super XV when Puke Watson was unavailable for the most part of the season.

He is a good defender, strong ball carrier, quite a likeable guy as well.

[RDW]

Good stuff.

Someone on the Edinburgh Facebook page really doesn't rate him - says he's a very limited player!

[Biltong]

Every player has certain limits. It all depends what the coaxh wants, and in this case Solomons knows exactly what Strauss will add.

[RDW]

Will he have been sitting on a sun lounger for the past few months or is he likely to be in decent shape?

[Biltong]

The Super Rugby training only begins tomorrow, I would assume that most players will have had off season conditioning programs, so I would think he is not entirely fit at the moment. Unless od course he knew for a few weeks he would be leaving, in that case he would surely have begun training already

[RDW]

He won't be registered for the Heineken cup, then the 6N starts, so the next rabbo game he can play in wont be for another month or so, so he'll have plenty time to work on fitness.

Are there any other southern kings players you know of that might be on their way??

[Tramptastic]

so this means Atiga is on his way out then aye? so to date this season we have brought in Beard, Domingeuz and Cuthbert (in the backs).

I reckon we will dump Domingeuz, Atiga, Leck and Black for definite, Francis most likely and I reckon Cuthbert is being judged game by game.

Which meansnext season for the centres we will have Scott and De Luca (both scots qualified), Beard and Strauss (Beard can be qualified[?]), Auld and Dick (EDP both scots qualified). Not actually too full of journeymen tbh, 5/6 scots qualified!

[Biltong]

He won't be registered for the Heineken cup, then the 6N starts, so the next rabbo game he can play in wont be for another month or so, so he'll have plenty time to work on fitness.

Are there any other southern kings players you know of that might be on their way??

I haven't seen all the lists for the squads for this year's Super XV, I know Jake White (surprisingly) is trying to lure Puke Watson to the Sharks, I suspect i depends on who got contracts elsewhere, four players moved to the Bulls, but that is all I know at this stage.

[flyhalffactory]

I think Strauss will do a similar job for us that Dunbar does for Glasgow, will be good to see the Bezuidenhout/Scott/Strauss axis.

Personally I think its a bit of a worry to see so many SA players arriving with us, what is it now 8-9 players, long term I am concerned for home grown player development.

[justified sinner]

Dominguez signed an extension to the end of the 14/15 season, so doubt he'll be going. Can't see Atiga staying, deal's up at the end of this season, Dick's been injured for a lot of this season, but will hopefully train on next year , not sure about Auld.

On a general point with EDP's and game time we haven't really seen much this year. I think this is part of Solomons 2 year project, which he alluded to when he took over, to firstly establish a core team who can play the 'System' then rotate other players into that. Note that most of his signings have been players he's previously worked with who know the 'System'. So I think the project is on track nicely.

[Tramptastic]

with regards to the system it's bizarre how accurate Solomon has been with his timings, i.e. would take at least 6 matches for people to catch on, another few for visible improvements etc.

I'm confident he knows what he's doing

[RDW]

Solomons managed to mould a game plan to the team within a few games - Bradley couldn't manage that in 2 seasons!

[George Carlin]

He won't be registered for the Heineken cup, then the 6N starts, so the next rabbo game he can play in wont be for another month or so, so he'll have plenty time to work on fitness.

Are there any other southern kings players you know of that might be on their way??

I haven't seen all the lists for the squads for this year's Super XV, I know Jake White (surprisingly) is trying to lure Puke Watson to the Sharks, I suspect i depends on who got contracts elsewhere, four players moved to the Bulls, but that is all I know at this stage.

Is his name honestly "Puke"? I assumed it was a typo the first time. I haven't Googled it because I so want it to be true.

[Notch]

Luke Watson GC. Luke Watson. Biltong will probably correct me if I get this wrong.

His dad is Cheeky Watson, an Anti-Apartheid campaigner and former player who rejected a trial for the Springboks in the 70s and then went to play his rugby in a black township. His son Luke once famously said he wanted to vomit on the jersey when he wore it, in the context of the historic exclusion of black players throughout South African rugby history, and said in 2007 that he didn't feel the squad was representative of South Africa as a whole. He was also a critic of John Smit as Captain and Jake White as coach after not being picked in 2006. Ultimately, his fathers history as an Anti-Apartheid campaigner ended up having the SARU apply political pressure to get him selected against Jake Whites wishes.

All of this did not endear him to many South African rugby fans.

[Biltong]

100% correct Notch.

[RDW]

He'll be happy in an entirely white (and 1 Maori) Edinburgh squad then!

[RDW]

Oh wait we've got a Tongan too...

[Biltong]

Just to add, when Watson was eventually included in the Springbok squad as an additional player the squad members said he was very disruptive, fortunately (not that you would normally wish injury on a player) he was injured in his first test and never played again.

[tigertattie]

Strauss is a bit Morrison-esque. Big powerful laddie. Direct running. Not a flair player. He'll do a job

Solomons is building a strong, almost defensively minded team. Its almost like SA. Batter the opposition up the middle then when youve tenderised them, launch some speedy wingers at them. He is a very competent coach and will do well for Edinburgh. In the long run though it could harm Scotland. We're fast becoming full of SA players. Little room for home grown development.

[funnyExiledScot]

Sounds like a good solid signing, and clearly a replacement for Atiga in my opinion, so I'm not concerned about him being NSQ. Good to hear that he has leadership experience as well.

Things really taking shape under the Solomons regime, which is great to see.

[tigertattie]

Have the great unwashed decided on a date for them to lose the 1872 cup yet? I'm worried it will be during the 6ns which will make it a damp squib. Surely there is no alternative?

[George Carlin]

There must be enough Heineken Cup weekends available for the Smellies to play both Edinburgh and Treviso. Playing it during the 6N would be pish for everyone involved.

We will send the cup to your trophy cabinet accompanied by a quarter lb of Kola Kubes, a stripper and 10 grams of the finest powder that gives Schiz his unnaturally high energy levels.

[tigertattie]

Mmmmmmmmmmm Kola Kubes........

[RDW]

Had a thought on the 1872 rematch - will scotstoun have the extra stands available?

My understanding is that they are only allowed the extra stands a certain number of times, and they have already been allocated to games over the season. What happens to all the tickets sold if the stands aren't available for the rematch?

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