1872 Cup Thread 2014: Glasgow vs Edinburgh

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :


 
It's that time again. The oldest club fixture in world rugby.
Glasgow looking for an unprecedented fifth successive win.
Bring it.
 

 
It's the the social club versus the golf club, the unwashed versus the exfoliators, the heroin users versus the social drinkers, the chips & cheese versus the salt & sauce, the ramraiders versus the online bank hackers, the knock-off Rolecks versus the original Pateks and the cardiac arrest versus the stress-related work sign-off for a fortnight.
 
A. The Fixtures
 
Round 1
Thursday 26 December 2013, 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby v Glasgow Warriors
Murrayfield Library
 
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 57th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Changleng, Bob Nevins (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: John Cole (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
 
LIVE on BBC ALBA
 
Round 2
Saturday 26 April 2014, 19:05
Glasgow Warriors v Edinburgh Rugby
Scotstoun Stadium
 
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR, 2nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Neil Paterson, Graeme Marshall (both SRU)
Citing Commissioner: Douglas Hunter (SRU)
TMO: Jim Yuille (SRU)
 
LIVE on BBC ALBA
 
B. Form - head to head
 
20 Played 20
11 Wins 8
8 Losses 11
1 Draws 1
37 Tries 34
22 Conversions 22
53 Penalties 55
11 Drop Goals 5
421 Points 394
26 Avg. Age 26
 
C. Form - last year & this
 
Friday 21 December 2012, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 23 - 14 Edinburgh Rugby
Scotstoun
 
Saturday 29 December 2012, 16:05
Edinburgh Rugby 17 - 21 Glasgow Warriors
Murrayfield
 
Thursday 26 December 2013, 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby 16 - 20 Glasgow Warriors
Murrayfield

D. Teams
 
Round 1:
 
(i) Edinburgh

15 Jack Cuthbert
14 Dougie Fife
13 Nick De Luca
12 Ben Atiga
11 Tom Brown
10 Greig Tonks
09 Greig Laidlaw (c)
 
01 Wicus Blaauw
02 Ross Ford
03 Willem Nel
04 Grant Gilchrist
05 Ollie Atkins
06 Cornell Du Preez
07 Roddy Grant
08 David Denton
 
16 Aleki Lutui
17 Alex Allan
18 Geoff Cross
19 Izak van der Westhuizen
20 Mike Coman
21 Grayson Hart
22 Tony Fenner
23 Sam Beard
 
(ii) Glasgow

15. Sean Maitland
14. Tommy Seymour
13. Stuart Hogg
12. Alex Dunbar
11. DTH van der Merwe
10. Duncan Weir
09. Chris Cusiter (c)
 
01. Ryan Grant
02. Pat MacArthur
03. Jon Welsh
04. Tim Swinson
05. Tom Ryder
06. Rob Harley
07. Tyrone Holmes
08. Ryan Wilson
 
16. Dougie Hall
17. Gordon Reid
18. Moray Low
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Josh Strauss
21. Chris Fusaro
22. Henry Pyrgos
23. Ruaridh Jackson
 
Round 2
 
(i) Glasgow
 
15. Peter Murchie
14. Sean Maitland
13. Mark Bennett
12. Finn Russell
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Ruaridh Jackson
09. Chris Cusiter

01. Ryan Grant
02. Dougie Hall
03. Jon Welsh
04. Jonny Gray
05. Al Kellock (Captain)
06. Rob Harley
07. Chris Fusaro
08. Josh Strauss

16. Pat MacArthur
17. Jerry Yanuyanutawa
18. Moray Low
19. Leone Nakarawa
20. Ryan Wilson
21. Niko Matawalu
22. Duncan Weir
23. Richie Vernon
 
(ii) Edinburgh

15 Cuthbert
14 Brown
13 Scott
12 Strauss
11 Visser
10 Bezuidenhout
09 Laidlaw (c)

08 Denton
07 Du Preez
06 Coman
05 van der Westhuizen
04 Gilchrist
03 Nel
02 Ford
01 Dickinson

16 Hilterbrand
17 Blaauw
18 Berghan
19 Toolis
20 Leonardi
21 Hart
22 Francis
23 Beard

[George Carlin]

Reid in the Herald:

Strauss ready to dance to Townsend's tune

Sunday 29 December 2013

Over the past few weeks, Gregor Townsend's tactics have come under closer scrutiny than ever before in his 20-month reign as Glasgow Warriors head coach, but you could never accuse him of inconsistency as far as his substitution strategy is concerned.

Townsend has used seven replacements in each of Glasgow's past four games; over the same period, Alan Solomons, his Edinburgh counterpart, has never used more than three.

Yet in his enthusiasm for emptying the bench, it is doubtful whether the former Scotland and Lions fly-half has ever made a more important or effective change than the one that brought Josh Strauss into the fray in the 43rd minute of the first leg of the 1872 Cup at Murrayfield last Thursday.


At first, it seemed that Glasgow had a full-blown crisis on their hands, for when Ruaridh Jackson, then playing at ce ntre, was taken off with a head knock they had no more outside backs on the bench, but moving Ryan Wilson to the midfield so Strauss could take his place at No 8 turned the pattern of the game on its head.

Suddenly, Glasgow started bossing the breakdown, an area where Edinburgh had been comfortably ahead in the first half. Suddenly, too, they had thrust and momentum, and it seemed that Strauss was doing a lot of the damage. Suddenly, a game that had looked a lost cause at half time was there for the winning for Glasgow - an invitation accepted when Edinburgh fly-half Greig Tonks lost the ball in contact and the men from the west streamed forward and gave Stuart Hogg the try that clinched victory.

It is not entirely inconceivable that Strauss will again be on the bench when the return match takes place at Scotstoun on Wednesday. Yet it is also firmly in the realm of possibility that the South African will not only be given a place in the starting line-up, but will also be given the captaincy.

The long-term absence of Al Kellock, out for the next four months with an arm injury, is a grievous loss for the Warriors, but Strauss, who captained the Golden Lions to a Currie Cup victory in 2011, is probably a more natural successor than any other player on Glasgow's books right now.

Does Strauss believe he has done enough to start at Scotstoun on Wednesday?

"It is tough to say," he said, as coy as any 6ft 5in, 18st giant ever could be. "It is a competitive sport and we are all competitive people. Obviously, I want to start every game, but when you have been in rugby as long as I have you learn to bite the bullet and just get behind the other guy. If there is any sense of negativity or any bad vibes it is not good for the team. It just depends what Gregor wants for next week."

Presumably, what Gregor wants is the Glasgow he saw in the second half at Murrayfield last week rather than the Glasgow he watched with growing discomfort in the first. After Strauss had come on - and, in fairness, many others raised their games at the same time - there was a new vigour about the Warriors, that combination of devil and accuracy that made them such an effective force last season.

After three home defeats and their recent exit from the Heineken Cup, beating their inter-city rivals was just the restorative they needed.

But is it enough? Has the corner really been turned? Or are the questions regarding morale at the club still pertinent?

"It is one of our strengths that we are a very tight-knit group of guys and everyone gets along so well," Strauss replied. "We are all really good friends and that is a big thing for Glasgow. As an outsider coming in, you notice it straightaway and it's great. We work to keep it like that and we have to take advantage of it.

"In times like this, when we haven't played that well, we have to come together as a group and try to get out of it.

"I don't think there is any self-doubt. I have been in the situation before with different teams when you get on a losing streak and it works on your confidence. But as a rugby player you are in this profession because you are competitive and you always want to win. As a group, that's what we want to do.

"The last few results hadn't been great, but it came down to our mistakes and it was just something we had to fix. I think we did that well this week. We just have to improve from here."

Playing for 80 minutes rather than 40 would be a good start. There is little question that, against a better team than Edinburgh and on a better surface than the quagmire Murrayfield has become, Glasgow would have taken some heavy damage on the scoreboard as a consequence of their weak first-half display. In truth, they got off to some pretty dodgy starts last season as well, which only adds to the argument for having a player like Strauss on the field from the off.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Effie, I have taught children with emotional and behavioural "difficulties" for almost 25 years now. Every so often you come across one who is so desperate for attention that they simply don't care whether it's negative or positive attention and will do anything to get noticed. Often this leads to quite unpleasant behaviour just so you'll respond in someway and give them some sort of validation, even if it's negative. I obviously didn't do a good enough job with Cambo.  He still seems locked in a cycle of craving attention and perpetuating the behaviours which got him socially isolated in the first place.
Schiz, ignore him, that'll really fecc him off.
Also count the sleeps till Execeterr... I've booked my tickets and MrsPip has given me a 24-hour pass.  

Outstanding dude. Will hopefully be travelling in the warm glow of 5- in- a- row 1872s and 8 (or 9 !) Rabo points. That Devon real ale tastes mighty fine. Poor old Chiefs got a bit of a tousing yesterday too. No doubt ASBO will update us accordingly?

WARRIORS - WHATEVER IT TAKES

[jimbopip]

Well, I think as we are finally finishing off the turkey (it's been curried, supremed and risottoed so far) our thoughts must turn to team selection. Solomons comes across as,  "Here's my 15 I'm sticking with it". While Toonie is more the, "Yes you were man of the match now go and play for Stirling seconds while you think about what I really wanted you to do".
Certainly for Glasgow it'll be about finding seven fit backs. I can't see Seymour or Jackson being allowed to play.  So if they're fit ;
9. Cooseater
10. Weir
11. DTH
12 Dunbar
13. Hogg
14. NoMaits
15. Niko
Does Toonie put Pyrgos on the bench as cover at 9? Or is it Ascarate at 13, Hogg back to 15 and Niko covering 11, 15 and 9? If the angel is fit then I think he's starting at 13. Finn Russell should be on the bench, although we should remember how brilliant Hogg was at 10 for the Lions in all three Tests down under. Yes...mmm. Seriously I can see us finishing with Hogg at 10 and Niko at 15.
There will be changes in the pack after we were pushed around for 45 minutes last week.  Hall to start for greater ballast in the mauls. I would start with Harley-Wilson-Bluto in the back row.
Let us not forget Richie Vee who will bench and cover back row and centres, can he get the ball away from rucks quickly enough to cover 9 too?
As long as they man up in the forwards then we are by far the better rugby side and will win. So, Bluto for the captain's arm band and 5 points to us.
Sanity Clause disclaimer: none of the above will come to pass if Toonie comes over all Zen-like and picks a team based on how the wind blows that morning.

[George Carlin]

As long as they man up in the forwards then we are by far the better rugby side and will win.

Oh no you didn't girlfriend.
Here we go again

[RDW]

That's the 'better rugby side' with the 2nd lowest points scored on the league yeah?   

No point chucking the ball around and niko running up blind alleys if you haven't scored any points!

[jimbopip]

A 3-0 will do for me come the second leg!

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Quite !

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

All over The Warriors forum - Moray Low going to the Chiefs   

[George Carlin]

All over The Warriors forum - Moray Low going to the Chiefs   

Exeter or Waikato? Now or at the end of the season? Asbo - can you confirm if he's off to the West Country?

Doesn't make a lot of sense either way. We need him at Glasgow.

[VinceWLB]

If he is off i hope they have good news concerning Cusack's return...

[BigGee]

All over The Warriors forum - Moray Low going to the Chiefs   

Exeter or Waikato? Now or at the end of the season? Asbo - can you confirm if he's off to the West Country?

Doesn't make a lot of sense either way. We need him at Glasgow.

Maybe he just feels he needs a move to revitalise his game. He has never really held down the starting TH spot either for Glasgow or Scotland despite looking like the upcoming man a few years ago. I think we would all agree that he would at least be behind Cussack in the pecking order if he was fit and you could argue the toss between him and Welsh.

I am all in favour of players moving on, as long as it is a move in the right direction, in that it may well improve them as players and is not just about the money. I don't imagine he would earn much more at Exeter but it is another hard working, tight and well coached team, getting him out of his comfort zone and challenging to start in a new team could maybe move him up a level. From a Scotland perspective that can only be a good thing.

I would not be unhappy if several other Scottish players from both teams took similar decisions. Jackson at Glasgow springs to mind and both Ford and Laidlaw at Edinburgh. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

[RDW]

Ford needs to go - will definitely be for the best, as well as releasing a shed load of cash. I would however really like Laidlaw to stay - something is definitely stirring at Edinburgh and I genuinely think we're building a decent side - Laidlaw is such an important part of it just now.

Saying that we've got decent 9s waiting in the wings, but I'd like him to stay.

Edinburgh are announcing some contract news this morning - interesting to see who.

[justified sinner]

Looks like Embra have signed a Saffer 10 Carl Bezuidenhout on trial until the end of the season. Anyone know anything about him ?

[jimbopip]

Initial thoughts are that Moray Low will be a big loss, but is that based on the potential he showed when he first arrived on the scene or on his current form? The truth is he hasn't nailed down a place in the starting front row for some time now.
On the other hand if we look at some of the other departures we thought would weaken us what do we notice?
Richie Gray... Ickle Jonnie
John Barclay...Fozzie
Dan Parks... Rhubarb/Wee Dunkie
Toonie seems to have had a replacement in line before the deed is done. This time there hasn't really been a development player being eased into the first team so (a) the mighty Coo is on the way back or (b) a signing is about to be announced.
If it is true that Low is on his way let's wish him all the best, he did a good job at Glasgow and let's hope he improves at Exeter, for Scotland's sake.

[RDW]

Edinburgh have signed Currie cup winning stand off Carl Bezuidenhout on a 4 year trial.

No idea who he is!

[justified sinner]

Edinburgh have signed Currie cup winning stand off Carl Bezuidenhout on a 4 year trial.

No idea who he is!

That's a 4 month trial RDW.

Edit: looks like season long injury cover with our other 10s crocked, and suggests the guy we brought in on a 4 week emergency deal is off at the end of that.

[RDW]

Ha, that's what I meant to write - 4 years will have been a long trial!

Anyone know much about him? Top points scorer in the Currie cup, which is a decent level of competition

[jimbopip]

[quote="RDW_Scotland"]Ha, that's what I meant to write - 4 years will have been a long trial!

4 years with the MFL: that isn't a trial that's a sentence. 

[George Carlin]

That's pretty good - he's basically one of the very best players in SA's second tier. Glasgow also has a Currie Cup winner in their ranks. His name is Joshua Strauss.
 
Winning the CC is a big deal domestically and this (Google, thank you) indicates he's been hot this year:
http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/2013/05/17/carl-has-the-boot-to-make-pumas-history
 
You have to trust Grandpappy to know his prime beef.

Edit: have PMd the mighty Biltong and asked him to comment.

[Majestic83]

played for the Pumas in the South African Currie cup and Vodacom cup. Think mostly it has been the Vodacom cup though they have been in recently which is the division down from currie cup.
Also played for the South African Presidents xv in the Tbisli irb tournament a couple years back and was top points scorer in that.
Quite big for a stand off, 6ft 3 and about 15st plus. Big boot on him and can also play Full Back.
Slightly surprised at another Stand off signing after they just signed the guy a couple weeks ago. Leonard will be back in a few weeks and to be honest i'd prefer they kept Tonks at 10. Think he has looked good there with Cuthbert at 15. I think Tonks could be a better 10 than he is a 15.

[RDW]

The guy signed a few weeks ago was only signed for 4 weeks, and was basically an amature


This guy looks a lot more promising, and him and Leonard will be fighting it out while tonks is playing 10 in the 6N!   

[jimbopip]

Tonks at 10 in the 6nations???
At present he's sixth in line behind; Rhuaridh, Wee Dunkie, Heathcoate, Dan Parks and Richie Vee   

[Biltong]

Afternoon guys, George Carlin asked me to give you some infor on Carl Bezuidenhout.

Firstly here is a YOUTUBE CLIP

He isn't that young anymore and has never really made it in oneof the big unions after he actually started playing for the Sharks.

But he reminds me of the style of play of Gavin Johnson (previous SA player)

He is faster than he looks, has good vision and is quite a talented player.

I reckon he can be of benefit to any team.

[RDW]

Tonks at 10 in the 6nations???
At present he's sixth in line behind; Rhuaridh, Wee Dunkie, Heathcoate, Dan Parks and Richie Vee   

  

I do hope this is an example of glaswegian humour that us Edinburgh folk don't understand!

I'm of course not saying he's a shoe in to start at 10, but he's the in-form Scottish stand off just now and to say he's 6th in line is just plain one eyed ignorant!

[jimbopip]

You're right. He's seventh behind Duncan Taylor. Ninth behind the British Lion's stand off Stuart Hogg. Tenth behind Wee Laidlaw.
RDW stop biting at every single piece of bait dangled before you or we'll be calling you Jaws from now on.

[RDW]

You may have a point about Dan Parks though - he's been a revelation at Connacht!

If Hines is coming back, why can't he?

[George Carlin]

Afternoon guys, George Carlin asked me to give you some infor on Carl Bezuidenhout.

Firstly here is a YOUTUBE CLIP

He isn't that young anymore and has never really made it in oneof the big unions after he actually started playing for the Sharks.

But he reminds me of the style of play of Gavin Johnson (previous SA player)

He is faster than he looks, has good vision and is quite a talented player.

I reckon he can be of benefit to any team.

Cheers big feller. Still think we missed out on Demetri Catrakilis by weeks.

[Biltong]

Catrakilis' tactical kicking and goal kicking is more adept, but he isn't a great ball carrier or attacker.

It depends what the coach wants, stephen Larkham or Johnny Wilkinson.

[BigGee]

Afternoon guys, George Carlin asked me to give you some infor on Carl Bezuidenhout.

Firstly here is a YOUTUBE CLIP

He isn't that young anymore and has never really made it in oneof the big unions after he actually started playing for the Sharks.

But he reminds me of the style of play of Gavin Johnson (previous SA player)

He is faster than he looks, has good vision and is quite a talented player.

I reckon he can be of benefit to any team.

Cheers big feller. Still think we missed out on Demetri Catrakilis by weeks.

We may have missed him by a few weeks but do we actually want him? I don't question his ability but can Scottish rugby really afford to lock down one of its stand off positions with a NSQ player on a long term contract. Ok he may end up qualifying in three years time but that is a long time to wait in such a pivotal position where we are already so short at the moment. If we could get our best team out on the pitch, it is probably the one position we would still have real concerns about.

It looks like Weir is going to get his shot this year and I am happy enough with that, but he has still got a lot to prove and has been less than convincing recently. I really think Edinburgh should be trying to nail down Heathcote as soon as possible and give him the starting birth for now. He has done his apprenticeship at Bath and is ready to go. I just hope this lost year has not ruined his confidence for good.

[George Carlin]

Afternoon guys, George Carlin asked me to give you some infor on Carl Bezuidenhout.

Firstly here is a YOUTUBE CLIP

He isn't that young anymore and has never really made it in oneof the big unions after he actually started playing for the Sharks.

But he reminds me of the style of play of Gavin Johnson (previous SA player)

He is faster than he looks, has good vision and is quite a talented player.

I reckon he can be of benefit to any team.

Cheers big feller. Still think we missed out on Demetri Catrakilis by weeks.

We may have missed him by a few weeks but do we actually want him? I don't question his ability but can Scottish rugby really afford to lock down one of its stand off positions with a NSQ player on a long term contract. Ok he may end up qualifying in three years time but that is a long time to wait in such a pivotal position where we are already so short at the moment. If we could get our best team out on the pitch, it is probably the one position we would still have real concerns about.

It looks like Weir is going to get his shot this year and I am happy enough with that, but he has still got a lot to prove and has been less than convincing recently. I really think Edinburgh should be trying to nail down Heathcote as soon as possible and give him the starting birth for now. He has done his apprenticeship at Bath and is ready to go. I just hope this lost year has not ruined his confidence for good.

I cannot see that this is an intentional SQ signature. I think that actually Grandpappy does not see Leonard as the long term solution (or as we said when I was a boy, "he thinks he's not good enough") and/or he wants Tonks back at 15.
 
This chap seems to be a proven goalkicker and a robust unit who can get a backline moving. Who else were we going to get as injury cover (essentially) who is not already tied to a Super rugby franchise? I think that it's an excellent move, to be honest. He should be similar quality to my former Ayr prospect Frazier Climo whom Scarlets signed from an equivalent set up in NZ and who seems to be playing well for them.
 
Glass is half full from an Edinburgh perspective. No change to Pappy's policy of getting decent prospects in on loan and then shipping them off at the end of the season if they don't make the grade. If you read Roddy Grant's interview in the Herald today, he says that Solomons is brutally straightforward in that if you're not playing well enough, you are out of the squad.

[MacKnocked-on]

Looks as if Edinburgh/the SRU aren't really looking at recruiting one of the obvious SQ standoff targets such as Heathcote or Lee Millar for next season.
As an aside, Ian Morrison mentioned London Scottish's new SQ Zimbabwean centre Dante Mama as one to watch this year, perhaps a surprise selection for the A team?
Still feel that the SRU should be pursuing Matty Russell from the League team.

[BigGee]

Afternoon guys, George Carlin asked me to give you some infor on Carl Bezuidenhout.

Firstly here is a YOUTUBE CLIP

He isn't that young anymore and has never really made it in oneof the big unions after he actually started playing for the Sharks.

But he reminds me of the style of play of Gavin Johnson (previous SA player)

He is faster than he looks, has good vision and is quite a talented player.

I reckon he can be of benefit to any team.

Cheers big feller. Still think we missed out on Demetri Catrakilis by weeks.

We may have missed him by a few weeks but do we actually want him? I don't question his ability but can Scottish rugby really afford to lock down one of its stand off positions with a NSQ player on a long term contract. Ok he may end up qualifying in three years time but that is a long time to wait in such a pivotal position where we are already so short at the moment. If we could get our best team out on the pitch, it is probably the one position we would still have real concerns about.

It looks like Weir is going to get his shot this year and I am happy enough with that, but he has still got a lot to prove and has been less than convincing recently. I really think Edinburgh should be trying to nail down Heathcote as soon as possible and give him the starting birth for now. He has done his apprenticeship at Bath and is ready to go. I just hope this lost year has not ruined his confidence for good.

I cannot see that this is an intentional SQ signature. I think that actually Grandpappy does not see Leonard as the long term solution (or as we said when I was a boy, "he thinks he's not good enough") and/or he wants Tonks back at 15.
 
This chap seems to be a proven goalkicker and a robust unit who can get a backline moving. Who else were we going to get as injury cover (essentially) who is not already tied to a Super rugby franchise? I think that it's an excellent move, to be honest. He should be similar quality to my former Ayr prospect Frazier Climo whom Scarlets signed from an equivalent set up in NZ and who seems to be playing well for them.
 
Glass is half full from an Edinburgh perspective. No change to Pappy's policy of getting decent prospects in on loan and then shipping them off at the end of the season if they don't make the grade. If you read Roddy Grant's interview in the Herald today, he says that Solomons is brutally straightforward in that if you're not playing well enough, you are out of the squad.

I was referring to the missed opportunity of signing Catrakalis rather than this new guy. I don't think he would have come on a loan contract, he would have been looking for something more permanent. Despite his attributes and the fact that he would have benefitted the side, it would not have been a good move for Scottish rugby.

I don't have any problem with this short term loan, it makes very good sense and if he proves himself maybe he might make a good back up for the future. I have my concerns about Leonard as well. Last year we said he was not getting the game time but we can't say that this year. He has had a decent run and will get some more game time but this season is his last chance saloon. If he has not cut it by the end of this year I suspect he will be on his way.

[funnyExiledScot]

When you think of some of the complete nonsense we've seen from Jackson and Weir this year, I find it surprising that some Edinburgh fans have already determined that Harry Leonard isn't good enough and, at the age of 21, we should ditch him.

I hope it's more likely that Solomons think that at 21, very few players are ready to play Pro12 and HC rugby at standoff and present themselves as the finished product. It's also possible that he doesn't see Piers Francis as good enough to merit a new contract at the end of the season and, given that he isn't yet SQ and is unlikely to enhance the Scotland squad, he should go (leaving Leonard as the only 10 in the squad).

I don't think the new recruit says anything about Leonard. I think Solomons recognises that he can't complete a season with only one 21 year old stand-off, and that help is required. It's great that he's got him on a loan deal, so we can look before we buy.

[jimbopip]

You're talking sense there FES: careful now.

[George Carlin]

This is awesome. I have managed to confuse everyone in only 2 posts.
 
1. Catrakalis - I am in two minds about this. He is a quality player and but for the intense competition from Steyn, Goosen and Lambie many people thought that he had a shot at a couple of Springbok caps. This ties into my second point but if he had been brought over at the start, it would have given Leonard a better structure for learning, although he may in fact have got less game time. So potentially better for Edinburgh as a club, worse for Leonard's development through the fires of real match minutes.
 
2. Leonard - I also don't think that this is pejorative for Leonard. He just needs support. My only thought was that if we'd got Catrakalis at the beginning of the season, it would be much less disruptive than bringing in someone new now. But thingies can't choose their wotsits. As my senile aunt used to say. She was mad though.

3. Fall Out - unfortunately for Scotland, I think that this means the Tonkmeister will be moved back to 15 which will draw to an end one of the most successful club positional switches in recent memory. I think that only Atiga as loosehead prop would have worked better. I think that we can assume that DoubleSurname and his bizarre quiff are heading for the door.

[jimbopip]

[

I think that only Atiga as loosehead prop would have worked better.
Is he not slightly too lacking in mobility around the park for a loosehead, George?

[George Carlin]

[

I think that only Atiga as loosehead prop would have worked better.
Is he not slightly too lacking in mobility around the park for a loosehead, George?

True - he does make Alan Jacobson look like Israel Folau.

[funnyExiledScot]

Is he not slightly too lacking in mobility around the park for a loosehead, George?

I think it's more his handling skills that would let him down as a front row option.....

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Anyone hear from ASBO re Moray Low ?

[justified sinner]

He's fat and not very good at scruming apparently, doesn't know how to bind.

[funnyExiledScot]

What's this about Murray Low??

I don't think Low is a bad player at all. Underused by Glasgow at tighthead due to the silly notion of switching Welsh (who is better at loosehead in my view). With Cross out of favour at Edinburgh and the Rev. Murray preaching on Sunday, we'll need Low to start tighthead against Ireland in the 6 Nations. It seems the Scotland coaches rate him as well, as he was used ahead of Welsh in the AIs.

[jimbopip]

He's fat and not very good at scruming apparently, doesn't know how to bind.

Moray Low or are we still extolling the virtues of Atiga?

[funnyExiledScot]

I don't understand the dislike of Murray Low at tighthead, he has held his own against some top international scrums, and contributes pretty well in the loose (certainly more than Murray).

What's the Glasgow fans' take on Welsh vs Low at tighthead? I personally preferred them in their original positions of Low at tighthead and Welsh at loosehead.

[EWT Spoons]

Not a Glasgow fan as such, but I would agree that I think their original positions makes sense. As such I think a move for Low would be good as we might see him being left alone and played at TH.

[George Carlin]

I don't understand the dislike of Murray Low at tighthead, he has held his own against some top international scrums, and contributes pretty well in the loose (certainly more than Murray).

What's the Glasgow fans' take on Welsh vs Low at tighthead? I personally preferred them in their original positions of Low at tighthead and Welsh at loosehead.

I think it worked better that way too. The whole thing seemed to spring from a realisation that Grant was clearly emerging as the pre-eminent loosehead but both Lineen and Toonie seem to think that Jon Welsh is the stronger scrummager and wanted both of them on the field at the same time. Then the mighty Coo came on the scene and it all got more complicated than the final series of Lost.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree - it smacked a bit of McInally realising he had no international future in the back row, taking one look at Ford, Hall, MacArthur and Lawson, and realising that hooker is the weakest position for Scotland in the pack and that he'd have a chance there.

[GLove39]

Glasgow team announced, Townsend makes his classic move of changing his half backs yet again. Pyrgos & Wacko Jacko this week...  

15. Hogg
14. Maitland
13. McGuigin
12. Dunbar
11. Lamont
10. Jackson
9. Pyrgos

8. Strauss
7. Fusaro
6. Harley
5. Ryder
4. Swinson
3. Kalman
2. Hall
1. Grant

[funnyExiledScot]

That is truly bizarre. Whilst I do think against Edinburgh that Jackson is better placed to exploit the holes in our wide defence than Weir, this surely isn't the best way of allowing the Glasgow team to settle as a unit and enable it to challenge for the Rabo title come the end of the season. You need to have a settled 1st XV to win silverware, and Toonie just doesn't seem to have the first clue as to what the best Glasgow XV looks like.

[RDW]

Here's me thinking I was making a joke when I said toony would change his front row, back row and half backs - he's only gone and done it!

[RDW]

By contrast the only Edinburgh change to the team announced is Dickinson coming in for Blaauw!

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