Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread IV

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Historical Banter:

https://www.606v2.com/t48240-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread
https://www.606v2.com/t51313-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-ii
https://www.606v2.com/t53119-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-iii

A new thread for the 2014/5 season.

A. Edinburgh Rugby


1. Coaching Team

Alan Solomons - head coach
Stevie Scott -  assistant coach
Omar Mouneimne - assistant coach

2. Players In

Neil Cochrane from London Wasps
John Andress from Worcester Warriors
Rory Sutherland from Gala RFC
Tom Heathcote from Bath Rugby
Michael Tait from Newcastle Falcons
Fraser McKenzie from Newcastle Falcons
Phil Burleigh from the Highlanders
Anton Bresler from the Sharks
Brett Thompson from USA 7s

3. Players Out

Steven Lawrie retired
Alun Walker released
Alex Allan to Glasgow Warriors
Geoff Cross to London Irish
Lewis Niven released
Sean Cox to London Irish
Robert McAlpine released
Perry Parker to Rotherham Titans
Izak van der Westhuizen released
Ross Rennie to Bristol Rugby
Dimitri Basilaia released
Alex Black released
Greig Laidlaw to Gloucester Rugby
Chris Leck released
Piers Francis released
Gregor Hunter released
Harry Leonard to Leeds Carnegie
Ben Atiga retired
Ben Cairns retired
Nick De Luca to Biarritz Olympique
Lee Jones released
Aleki Lutui to Gloucester Rugby

4. Pre-season Fixtures

Leicester Tigers v Edinburgh
Saturday 23 August, 14:00
Welford Road

Edinburgh v Newcastle Falcons
Friday 29 August, 19:45
Mansfield Park, Hawick

B. Glasgow Warriors


1. Coaching Team

Gregor Townsend – Head Coach
Shade Munro – Forwards Coach
Matt Taylor – Defence Coach

2. Players In

Alex Allan from Edinburgh
Murray McConnell from Ayr RFC
Euan Murray from Worcester Warriors
James Downey from Munster
Rossouw de Klerk from the Cheetahs

3. Players Out

Moray Low to Exeter Chiefs
Chris Cusiter to Sale Sharks
Ruaridh Jackson to London Wasps
Ed Kalman retired
Byron McGuigan released
Finlay Gillies released
Scott Wight to Melrose RFC
Gabriel Ascárate released
Folau Niua released
Carlin Isles to USA 7s

4. Pre-season Fixtures

Glasgow Warriors v Harlequins
Saturday 23 August, 14:30
Scotstoun Stadium

London Scottish v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 30 August, 15:00
Richmond Athletic Ground

[jimbopip]

Having just returned from taking MrsPip on her jollyhols it's so reassuring to see that our east coast posters are so full of hope for the coming season. But as Ned Stark says, "Winter is coming and the Annual Slaughter of the Effeminates will proceed as ever."
On a warning note; be advised that if you are ever driving past Execterr on the motorway you will see the sign for Buckfast Abbey. MrsPip threw herself at the steering wheel and was quiet inconsolable when I refused to , "Take me to Heaven, please God take me home". This put rather a dampener on the rest of the fortnight as all she said each evening was, "No Buckie..No F.." It took me back to our courting days.
On the way back we stopped at Stonehenge and when explaining to young Pipetto just how slow and tortuous moving those sarsens must have been he said, "Bit like Jack Cuthbert turning round after a kick through then".
And, I was just complementing myself on squirming into herself's good books by dumping Sky sports (we can now eat and heat the house on alternate days) when the fixture list was published. Oh Fecc, fecc, fecc, fecc.

[IanBru]

Beware the YouTube clip syndrome though. Mike Penn looked good on YouTube.....

So did Ben Atiga!

Very true - I've got a highlights reel of me cutting the grass. I look freaking awesome.

Incidentally, is there some sort of common delusion in the rugby agent fraternity that a rugby highlight clip can be made more impressive when accompanied by pounding Euro-house? Check out Tim Visser's videos for examples.

[George Carlin]

Beware the YouTube clip syndrome though. Mike Penn looked good on YouTube.....

So did Ben Atiga!

Very true - I've got a highlights reel of me cutting the grass. I look freaking awesome.

Incidentally, is there some sort of common delusion in the rugby agent fraternity that a rugby highlight clip can be made more impressive when accompanied by pounding Euro-house? Check out Tim Visser's videos for examples.  

  I have often wondered the same thing. Just to try it, I once switched off the sound and watched an All Blacks try montage on YouTube to the sound of Ella Fitzgerald singing 'Embraceable You'. It was strangely moving and really quite relaxing. Like watching horrendous violence to the sounds of blues piano in a John Woo movie.

[tigertattie]

Are Barr going to be the shirt sponsors?

Imagine rocking up to the next world cup with "Made fi girders" slapped across the chest!

Total hard nuts we would be!

[funnyExiledScot]

Beware the YouTube clip syndrome though. Mike Penn looked good on YouTube.....

So did Ben Atiga!

Very true - I've got a highlights reel of me cutting the grass. I look freaking awesome.

Incidentally, is there some sort of common delusion in the rugby agent fraternity that a rugby highlight clip can be made more impressive when accompanied by pounding Euro-house? Check out Tim Visser's videos for examples.  

  I have often wondered the same thing. Just to try it, I once switched off the sound and watched an All Blacks try montage on YouTube to the sound of Ella Fitzgerald singing 'Embraceable You'. It was strangely moving and really quite relaxing. Like watching horrendous violence to the sounds of blues piano in a John Woo movie.

This opens up a very valid question for players: which music to select for your YouTube highlights reel?

Mark Bennett - "For unto us a child is born" from Handel's Messiah.

  

[funnyExiledScot]

Ben Atiga - "Lazy" by David Byrne.

[tigertattie]

Byron McGuigan - "You can go your own way" by Fleetwood mack

Jim Hamilton - "Flash" - by Queen

The Edinburgh backline - "Time for tellytubbies" by whomever wrote the teletubbies song

[funnyExiledScot]

Stuart Hogg - "Gold Digger", Kanye West

[R!skysports]

Stuart Hogg - "SPOILED BRAT " CALIBRETTO 13

[RDW]

Loving this!

Nick de Luca - Ain't good enough for you, Bruce Springsteen

Mark Bennett - Hallelujah, Leonard Cohen

Glasgow - Highway to hell (M8)

Euan Murray - I still believe, Frank Turner

Edinburgh's season prospects - long road to ruin, Foo fighters

Tim visser - Nancy boy, placebo

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne - the face, kings of Leon

Edinburgh rugby - the joke's on us, Biffy Clyro

Glasgow v Edinburgh - the masses against the classes, Manics

Edinburgh at Murrayfield - the sound of silence, Simon and Garfunkle

Cornel du Preez - wrecking ball, Bruce Springsteen

Whover appointed Scott Johnson - Yes I was drunk, Twin Atlantic


Yes - I did just go through my music collection!

[George Carlin]

Tom Heathcote - God Only Knows, by the Beach Boys

Jonny Gray - Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus

Gordon McKie - If I Was A Rich Man from Fiddler (of SRU accounts) On The Roof

[George Carlin]

Forgot a few:

Ross Rennie - Gimme Shelter (Andy Robinson) by the Rolling Stones

Ryan Grant - Streetfighting Man (too soon?) by Mick Jagger

Sam Warbuton - Summer Holiday (in mid-season) by Cliff Richard

Ben Atiga - Mr Blobby by Mr Blobby

[tigertattie]

Scott Johnson - "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I think I'll go and eat worms"

[funnyExiledScot]

What would Scott Johnson's YouTube reel actually look like? Images of him speaking to lots of confused looking players, or him sitting in an arm chair reading "Coaching Rugby for Beginners"??

[RDW]

Edinburgh and Glasgow's European fixtures are up:

Edinburgh

Round 1: Friday 17 October – Bordeaux-Bègles v Edinburgh Rugby (kick-off 8pm), Stade André-Moga

Round 2: Friday 24 October – Edinburgh Rugby v Lyon (kick-off 7.45pm), BT Murrayfield Stadium

Round 3: W/O 4 December – Edinburgh Rugby v London Welsh (kick-off tbc), BT Murrayfield Stadium

Round 4: W/O 11 December – London Welsh v Edinburgh Rugby (kick-off tbc), Kassam Stadium, Oxford

Round 5: W/O 15 January – Lyon v Edinburgh Rugby (kick-off tbc), Matmut Stadium

Round 6: W/O 22 January – Edinburgh Rugby v Bordeaux-Bègles (kick-off tbc), BT Murrayfield Stadium


Glasgow

Saturday 18 October - Glasgow Warriors v Bath Rugby (3.15pm) - live on BT Sport

Saturday 25 October - Montpellier v Glasgow Warriors (6.15pm) - live on Sky Sports

5/6/7 December - Toulouse v Glasgow Warriors

12/13/14 December - Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse

16/17/18 January - Glasgow Warriors v Montpellier

23/24/25 January - Bath Rugby v Glasgow Warriors


Bath at home first for the Warriors - absolutely a must win game for them.

[jimbopip]

Theme songs;
FES & RDW - Reason To Believe Rod Stewart
ASBO- - I'm A Believer The Monkees
Ian Bru & Schiz - I'm Happy Now Pharrell  Whatsisname

[IanBru]

The Glasgow social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLWFa1b1Bc
The Edinburgh social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1H9yq0UrE

Music in IanBru's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXAW4wnOA24
Music in JimboPip's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RghL1rViX34
Music in Asbo's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pCv7k_Hzvg
Music in Schiz's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
Music in FES's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFoFkQi_rwc
Music in RDW's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ

[RDW]

The Glasgow social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLWFa1b1Bc
The Edinburgh social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1H9yq0UrE

Music in IanBru's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXAW4wnOA24
Music in JimboPip's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RghL1rViX34
Music in Asbo's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pCv7k_Hzvg
Music in Schiz's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
Music in FES's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFoFkQi_rwc
Music in RDW's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ

  

[RDW]

Unbelievable.

Edinburgh have just tweeted that Ben Atiga has been brought back in to provide midfield cover for the season.

  

  

Maybe the IRN Bru deal brought him back?

[VinceWLB]

So it wasn't a mistake when i saw that he was still listed in the squad http://www.pro12rugby.com/teams/edinburgh/squad.php    

Maybe they brought him back as injury cover in the back row, slow and injury prone: should fit in well   

To be fair to him he seemed to get on very well with other players and was very popular among his peers.

[RDW]

Former Edinburgh Rugby centre Ben Atiga – the ex-All Black and popular member of the squad – has rejoined the club as midfield cover for the coming season.

Edinburgh rugby head coach, Alan Solomons, said: “Ben [Atiga] has played an invaluable role as an experienced player, ambassador and mentor to the younger players at this club and we’re pleased to welcome him back into the fold. Once he found out there would be an unlimited supply of Irn Bru he said he'd play for free, so it was a no brainer really”

I may have made up that last bit.

[VinceWLB]

No pre season too! maybe come the 6N he will be ready to play lol

[RDW]

Jeezo the news is coming thick and fast today - the BBC has announced enhanced coverage of the Pro 12, meaning more games on BBC2, and an English language red button option on all Alba games!

Depending on who is doing the English commontery, I might just stick to the Gaelic version - adds a certain something to the games!

[funnyExiledScot]

Oh dear God. There isn't a single SQ centre better than Ben Atiga. That is extremely depressing.

[BigGee]

This can only be a good thing. I don't mind listening to the Gaelic, but would prefer English commentary if it was available and assuming that it is not by a one eyed welsh commentator!

For the more casual viewers though this is essential. Trying to get people involved in rugby is not going to happen by selling a game in a completely foreign language. It also just gives the wrong message as to where rugby sits in the national scheme of things. You would imagine it is on the same level as Shinty and not worthy of an English voice over.

I know it works well in Wales, but at the end of the day a lot of welsh people actually do speak welsh. In Scotland hardly anyone and even fewer rugby fans speak Gaelic. It is good that some common sense has prevailed at last.

[RDW]

The concern here is that Alba lose interest in it given no one is listening to the Gaelic commentary, and pull out, and we no longer have a channel to show the games.

Given that BBC Scotland is more interested in 3rd division Sunday league football than rugby, I'd be surprised if BBC2 greatly increased the number of games broadcast if Alba pulled out.

Only real option would be red button broadcasts I suppose?

[BigGee]

The concern here is that Alba lose interest in it given no one is listening to the Gaelic commentary, and pull out, and we no longer have a channel to show the games.

Given that BBC Scotland is more interested in 3rd division Sunday league football than rugby, I'd be surprised if BBC2 greatly increased the number of games broadcast if Alba pulled out.

Only real option would be red button broadcasts I suppose?

I am not sure many were listening to the Gaelic commentary anyway, or certainly understanding it. I think Alba are quite happy as well to have some filling to pad out their schedules, they exist on a pretty small budget and are not exactly awash with quality programmes. Showing the games on both channels is the answer and using the red button for choice. It can't completely have escaped the notice of BBC Scotland that Glasgow are doing very well at rugby just now and are starting to pull in some decent support. Scottish football on the other hand, seems to be sliding in the other direction.

As long as the rugby clubs are putting out an attractive product and getting some results, then the game and the viewing figures should continue to grow. This is the level of exposure that rugby in Scotland needs.

[RDW]

They might not have been listening to it, but the viewing figures will be showing that people are watching it - and viewing figures are what leads to funding at the end of the day

[funnyExiledScot]

Absolutely - it was a shrewd move to show the rugby on ALBA, a channel watched otherwise by about twelve people. I grew to like the commentary, and in fact it demonstrated how little is added by English commentary from the likes of Morris and Barnes. You barely notice when it isn't there!

The more rugby on TV the better as far as I'm concerned!

[jimbopip]

The Glasgow social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlLWFa1b1Bc
The Edinburgh social scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1H9yq0UrE

Music in IanBru's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXAW4wnOA24
Music in JimboPip's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RghL1rViX34
Music in Asbo's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pCv7k_Hzvg
Music in Schiz's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw
Music in FES's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFoFkQi_rwc
Music in RDW's head: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ

  

   
So let me see if I understand this: Ian Bru is now sponsoring us and will be buying the drinks from now on?

[jimbopip]

Boys, just to change tack for a moment; Toulouse and Montpellier?? Anyone care to comment on their chances of competing at Scotstoun. I firmly believe that we'll beat Barff at Scotstoun and then we'll have them last game by which time they may be out of contention and a first win at the Rec coulod be on the cards. 
p.s. If we discuss the premier tourney first we can look at the Luvvies in the second division later.  

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Ahh yes mes amies!   Just back in blighty after scaling Mount Erebus in the Caucusus with the bold and willing Schizolettes and caught young master Bru's musical musings.  Perhaps these are as appropriate - I hasten to add I do/did love the very beautiful Grace Slick :-

Edinburgh Night life:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn9E5i7l-Eg&list=AL94UKMTqg-9Au0nlztuHuEAwpL57bVvQP

fES:                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moL4MkJ-aLk

RDW:                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7DwUs4oY-g

IanBru:                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxHcx7FO8nI

ASBO:                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehwSEVbBZl4

Jimbopip:                  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2jyzIrzs5Y

GC:                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-0_Tys7h4w

Me most defo (alas!)   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqN89bT3VEE

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Erm, surely I would be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OWqzFlOVkI ?

[jimbopip]

Asbo, remember that Schiz, his carer and my good self have all witnessed the squalid single-end you squat in. Your claims to "dignity" sunk a long time ago. AND on my recent journey through the west country I found myself in a public house (God knows how, but these things happen) and was pleased to see they sold Otter ale. Imagine my surprise to discover that (a) you could buy it in pint glasses and not gallon buckets, and (b) people domiciled in Execeterr are allowed to purchase it on Saturdays. It seems that that little known by- law which prevented you from breaking open your wallet has been repealed.
Also, I see Jonnie Beattie has left Montpellier, apparently he didn't fancy coming up against Bob Harley and Bluto.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Gents - i fecked it up - now amended - well Edinburgh nitelife sure is !

[George Carlin]

Erm, surely I would be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OWqzFlOVkI ?

Asbo, surely this should be you?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSzYRo9j7YM 

Schiz - I always had you pegged for something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvRsLWlDXw

[George Carlin]

Interesting Warriors re-tweet about the SRU annual general meeting:

"Highlights include record turnover of £43.7million and a surplus of £860,000."

Made me delve a bit further and found this in the Herald:

Record profits, soaring income, new sponsors. Now for the rugby . . .
16 August 2014

SCOTTISH rugby may have its problems on the playing side, but commercially it is setting records and the future looks even rosier with the huge sponsorship deal that gave BT the naming rights to Murrayfield yet to show in the accounts.

That is the message the clubs will hear at the Scottish Rugby Union's annual general meeting today [SAT] as Mark Dodson, the chief executive, hails a financial performance that delivered almost a £1m in profit while still cutting the debt.

"We now have the opportunity to create a new era for Scottish Rugby," he will say. "A future that is properly financed through the transformational BT sponsorship agreement; a future that is professionally managed and governed by a revitalised Union; a future that sees schools, clubs and academies beginning to thrive once more, creating a pipeline of home-bred talent to feed all levels of the sport.

"Our intention to invest in the grassroots game has been well documented but until now we have been unable to match our ambition with money. Following the transformational agreement with BT we now have the means to future-proof the game in Scotland."

The key highlights of his state of the union address to the meeting will be the record turnover of £43.7m, which has seen spending on the international sides and the two professional clubs, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh, rise by almost 50% from where it was five years ago to almost £24m. He will, however, acknowledge that the strong commercial performance has yet to have a serious effect on the playing side with only Glasgow's run to last season's league final representing a solid achievement as both pro clubs flopped in European competition, Edinburgh struggled in the league and the national side won only one match in the RBS Six Nations Championship.

One initiative to try to put all the teams back on a robust footing is that the SRU plans to create four academies and has already signed a deal with Aberdeen University to host the one in the north. The others will be in Galashiels, the Heriot-Watt University campus in Edinburgh and at a site yet to be finalised in north Lanarkshire. The contracts, though, have still to be signed.

Looking at these plans plus a variety of other initiatives, Dodson will tell delegates: "We have set in motion a blueprint for change that will revolutionise rugby across the nation."

The other significant development he will hail will be an increase in the television coverage on the BBC, with the Alba channel broadcasting 12 live matches and one deferred one before the end of the year while BBC2 Scotland will also show live professional club rugby. It will broadcast a minimum of six games in the first half of the season, including at least one Glasgow-Edinburgh derby.

For once there are no major changes being proposed at the meeting, with most of the agenda taken up with technical tinkering with the Union byelaws.

Tea and medals all round then?

[IanBru]

In a word, awesome.

[EWT Spoons]

Aye it's really nice to get some good news around Scottish Rugby.  Dodson may not be everyone's cup of tea, and he's made some odd choices (Scott Johnson*), but financially he's getting us into a good state and seems to be investing in the right areas.
 
*With that said if SJ had anything to do with looking at the future of Scottish Rugby, via things like the Academies then it might not be such a bad choice, although I think anyone could have seen (and I'm sure it was suggested on here) that we needed an academy type structure to bring young players into the game.

[RDW]

Really looking forward to the games this weekend. At the very least it will let us know which Edinburgh players are fit and available! On that note, Anton Bresler is now in town....

Anyone going to the games?

[George Carlin]

I would think that both games would be excellent (and hopefully cheaper) ways of seeing the new line ups. And is it right that the new Edinburgh strip is on sale on 21 August? I know that they're unveiling the new Glasgow one at the Quins game on the 23rd.

Like Bresler's tweets that he's wandering around seeing the city. Good lad. If he was David Denton, he would have tripped getting into a tram or burst a blood vessel opening a can of Irn Bru and be out for 12 weeks.

[IanBru]

I'll be at the Harlequins match, front and centre.

A buddy of mine from school will hopefully be starting for Quins, so very slightly conflicted on this one.

[highland_scot]

Like Bresler's tweets that he's wandering around seeing the city. Good lad. If he was David Denton, he would have tripped getting into a tram entering a beautician's salon or burst a blood vessel opening a can of Irn Bru peach bellini and be out for 12 weeks.

Corrected for you

Seems like good news on the financial front at least, although bear in mind the jump in revenues is not as significant as the press releases might claim - there's been a change of year end so we're looking at 13 months vs 12 so revenue is still up on a like for like basis, but not as much.

It would be interesting to see a breakdown within the "Other Income" line, given this is what has driven the increased revenue. Guessing it must be the likes of sponsorship, food & drink sales etc.

[RDW]

Like Bresler's tweets that he's wandering around seeing the city. Good lad. If he was David Denton, he would have tripped getting into a tram entering a beautician's salon or burst a blood vessel opening a can of Irn Bru peach bellini and be out for 12 weeks.

Corrected for you

Seems like good news on the financial front at least, although bear in mind the jump in revenues is not as significant as the press releases might claim - there's been a change of year end so we're looking at 13 months vs 12 so revenue is still up on a like for like basis, but not as much.

It would be interesting to see a breakdown within the "Other Income" line, given this is what has driven the increased revenue. Guessing it must be the likes of sponsorship, food & drink sales etc.

Not having to feed Ben Atiga between April and August?

[funnyExiledScot]

Would love to go to the game this weekend, but Melrose is just too far away and Mrs fES is threatening to have baby fES anytime now.

Watching Strauss, Atiga and Beard in tandem, with Big Jack hitting line line from fullback, probably doesn't qualify as "must see" for missing the birth of my first child, although will likely be a great deal more amusing than some of the nonsense I've seen at the Fringe this year!

I'm going to stick my neck out here, but I think Leicester will win.

[George Carlin]

Would love to go to the game this weekend, but Melrose is just too far away and Mrs fES is threatening to have baby fES anytime now.

Watching Strauss, Atiga and Beard in tandem, with Big Jack hitting line line from fullback, probably doesn't qualify as "must see" for missing the birth of my first child, although will likely be a great deal more amusing than some of the nonsense I've seen at the Fringe this year!

I'm going to stick my neck out here, but I think Leicester will win.

Good luck for the birth  . Just remember - things not to say in the labour room include:

1. "Are we nearly there yet?"
2. "Will you be eating all of that Mars bar?"
3. "Wait, wait, I need to get the tripod out".
4. "Doesn't she look a lot like the milkman?"
5. "Mind with the hand squeezing love. Hurts a bit, that".
6. "My mum says real women don't need an epidural".
7. "Can I try that gas and air?"
8. "So, just to confirm, she's going to be called Doris".
9. "What's all the fuss about? I didn't get to finish my Suduko."
10. "Some of us have been on our feet all day".

[IanBru]

"See? I told you it would be easy."

[funnyExiledScot]

7. "Can I try that gas and air?"

This one is non-negotiable. I am most certainly having a crack at the gas and air, I'm told it's awesome.

I was going to try:

"Come on love, it surely can't be worse than watching Edinburgh play under Michael Bradley".

[IanBru]

Interestingly, on the Gloucester forums (I go there for tips whenever my combine thresher gets clogged), they're practically creaming themselves over the Laidlaw-Hook half-back combo.

It certainly looks like a pairing from yesteryear - the tough, nuggety Scot next to the quiet Welsh magician. Could be a classic.

[jimbopip]

 Fes, all the best for the birthing room. remember, real men do cry.
I don't know about things not to say in the delivery room but top of the list of things you don't want to hear is,
Jamaican midwife looks at the clock, registers it's 2:35am on a Saturday. Looks at MrsPip, frowns, looks at Jimbopip, shakes her head, looks at clock again, looks back at the nervous father, sighs and says
"It too late to call doctor. Father you must help deliver baby." 
My second least favourite medical moment came a few months after during my vasectomy (stable doors-horses I know) when the nurse informed me,
" It looks as if the anaesthetic is wearing off and we're just getting to the tricky bit...could you grit your teeth for a moment?" 
Oh the laughs we've had, my genitalia and I.
On which subject I'm currently in MrsPip's ancestral pile and have been informed that Saturday afternoon is mine to do as I please. So I'll be making my way to Scotstoun  

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