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

[George Carlin]

Nice new Glasgow kit - especially the home shirt, which uses the Ospreys idea of listing all the clubs:


Am assuming that FES would never buy this as it would mean wearing clothing with 'Ayr' written on it.
Presumably this in itself makes the new shirt world class, whilst also overrated.

[funnyExiledScot]

Correct on both counts. I also wouldn't buy it because I support Edinburgh.

The models look a bit camp.

[RDW]

The home strip looks like something the cabin crew in a budget airline would wear.

I like the away top!

[GLove39]

Speaking of camp, on a scale of 1-10 how jealous will Denton be of Thom Evans right now!? https://vine.co/v/M3lpn9FPdmO

[George Carlin]

Correct on both counts. I also wouldn't buy it because I support Edinburgh.

The models look a bit camp.

It's Fozzy and Furra.

So presumably only the Extra Small size of shirt was available at the time of the shoot.

[funnyExiledScot]

I did know who they were....

Macron are probably still hunting out sufficient quantities of material to dress Gordon Reid and Mike Cusack!

[RDW]

Let's not forget Edinburgh have produced the following monstrosities in the past:

[funnyExiledScot]

 

....and I can't even blame Scott Johnson!

[George Carlin]

 

....and I can't even blame Scott Johnson!

. Or Alex Salmond...

[funnyExiledScot]

Come on GC - a Mod really should know better. No politics on here, especially references to the Great Deluded One. I've tried to go easy on him since he got trashed on live TV in the last debate......

[RDW]

 

Careful now, or else I'll have to find an ass-wooping emoticon!

I'm sure GC has one to hand...

[George Carlin]

 

Careful now, or else I'll have to find an ass-wooping emoticon!

I'm sure GC has one to hand...

[tigertattie]

Ha

It pleases me that the Mods for the scottish section of 606 are just a barmy as us minion posters!

Also, when do Edinburgh reveal the new top? I've got a rugbystore voucher to get used up!

[RDW]

Tomorrow at the open evening

[RDW]

Anyone see that Gregor Hunter - former Edinburgh stand off - has signed for Glasgow?

Edinburgh let him go because he was going to be out injured all season with a knee injury.  Glasgow signed him this summer but he's gone and injured the same knee again and is out for another 9 months!

[EWT Spoons]

Are Glasgow trying to become a sort of Edinburgh mark 2?

They signed Cross (on loan) from us, they've taken Lee Jones, Alex Allan and now Gregor Hunter. Either Glasgow have decided they've had enough of this moderately successful lark and are trying to emulate our mid to lower table obscurity, or the Edinburgh management can't spot/get the best out of Scottish players.

[RDW]

I can understand Cross and Allan, and maybe even Lee Jones, but Gregor Hunter is a weird one.

His knee is clearly in a fragile state, and it's not as if Glasgow are short of 10s!

[IanBru]

Glasgow are actually starting a third pro team. In Glasgow.

They'll wear different colours from us and we'll hate them with a passion that confuses outsiders. Every few weeks we'll put on our very best finery and march through the city commemorating historical events we don't really understand.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

[EWT Spoons]

Maybe Glasgow just figured that Edinburgh clearly have no idea when it comes to signing/keeping players (Cross, Allan, Jones, Kellock etc) and they figured that Hunter could actually be epic.
 
Also I would hope Toonie could spot a 10, maybe he’s seen something in Hunter that we could never get out of him.
 
Hope his knee gets sorted and Glasgow turn him into a quality 10.

Failing that maybe Bru's idea is just to get a close rival who's semi competitive, they're tired of waiting for us to get our act together so have taken matters into their own hands.

[funnyExiledScot]

Glasgow are actually starting a third pro team. In Glasgow.

They'll wear different colours from us and we'll hate them with a passion that confuses outsiders. Every few weeks we'll put on our very best finery and march through the city commemorating historical events we don't really understand.

Fun. Fun. Fun.

  

This is so true.

[jimbopip]

Jeez, Bruman. You had me worried for a moment there.   
Note to self: take deep breath before ingesting sensible looking comments on this forum.
EWT, you may think Toonie can spot a 10: Scott Wight.   Don't forget the Meatball/Rhubarb saga. No Toonie's muppet rating may be at an all-time low (today) but he will spring a few surprises on us in the weeks to come.

[George Carlin]

Let's hope Edinburgh's new arm/neck shirt sponsors aren't Tampax or ACME incontinence pants.

The Gregor Hunter thing is a bit odd. I always think of Alex Blair being allowed to go and I always rated Leonard as better than Hunter. I don't think that Toonie is really suggesting Hunter will play for Glasgow's pro side - they are just letting him train back to fitness for the benefit of Glasgow Hawks.

[IanBru]

It seems you didn't have to wait more than a day for your 'Toonie surprise' (at least, that's what Mrs Toonie calls it.), Jim!

From the Twittersphere:
BREAKING NEWS: #Warriors sign Canadian international Connor Braid (@connorbraid) on an initial three-month deal
http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/14/08/21/braid-seals-short-term-warriors-deal

[George Carlin]

Fair enough - a utility back who's bessy mates with DTH. Little bit annoying that he's NSQ but what the hey. I suspect that Tommy Seymour is still carrying an injury.

[EWT Spoons]

Jimbopip you have blown my toonie theory out the water. Very valid points.

[funnyExiledScot]

Excellent, another NSQ utility player. We seriously need to get better at pooling resources between the pro sides, or using players from the club teams.

I cannot believe that Connor Braid is better than anything we have in Scotland. If this guy is coming in to cover the wing, then there are plenty SQ wingers at the moment in Scotland screaming for professional rugby.

This signing is a total waste of time and money.

[IanBru]

The 26-man squad has been announced for Saturday:
http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/14/08/21/squad-named-visit-harlequins

A lot of the Scotland stars are rested, with (I think) all of the new signings included.

Assuming that Toonie wants to actually put out a strong team against the mighty Quins (looking back, last year's squad was pretty weak), this should give us a matchday 23 along the lines of:
1 Alex Allan
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Euan Murray
4 Leone Nakarawa
5 Jonny Gray
6 Rob Harley
7 Chris Fusaro
8 Josh Strauss

9 Niko Matawalu
10 Duncan Weir
11 DTH van der Merwe
12 James Downey
13 Mark Bennett
14 Lee Jones
15 Peter Murchie

Substitutes:
16 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
17 Fraser Brown
18 Rossouw de Klerk
19 James Eddie
20 Tyrone Holmes
21 Murray McConnell
22 Peter Horne
23 Connor Braid

In reserve: Fergus Scott, Adam Ashe & Rory Hughes

[RDW]

Still a strong team - hopefully Toony is trying to prevent another poor start to the season.

[jimbopip]

Interesting that Wee Dunky seems to be the only recognised 10 in the squad. So, either he lasts the 80 minutes or Hornee Furra takes on the playmaker role (when did he last do that?) or the new Lumberjack becomes our midfield general. Would he have had time to learn his teammates' names never mind the calls?
Ah no Ted, hang on there. I see what the Toonmeister is doing; McConnell comes on at 9 and the calm, steadying presence of Mad Mental Mata takes over at 10.
Welcome back Toonie, I have missed you.

[funnyExiledScot]

Mata at 9, Naka at 10. You know it makes sense! Apparently Connor Braid plays 10, as well as 12, 13 and 15. He's basically the new Matt Giteau, and it's great that he goes in immediately ahead of Rory Hughes. We can't possibly be seen to develop young Scottish talent, not when Canada needs our help.

It's a strong Glasgow team, and one that could easily start the season. Pleasing to see Fraser Brown involved in the 22, and Murray and Allan at prop will be interesting. Big season for Euan Murray this - I suspect he'll retire from interational rugby at the end of it, so one last hurrah.

[George Carlin]

Excellent, another NSQ utility player. We seriously need to get better at pooling resources between the pro sides, or using players from the club teams.

I cannot believe that Connor Braid is better than anything we have in Scotland. If this guy is coming in to cover the wing, then there are plenty SQ wingers at the moment in Scotland screaming for professional rugby.

This signing is a total waste of time and money.

It's only a 3 month trial, man.   

It probably costs the same amount to get him as you'd spend on a round of Pimms and vintage second growth pinot noir chasers in The Antiquary.
 
If Lamont and Hogg are being rested post Commonwealth Games, Jones has 7s commitments, Seymour is still carrying and I don't think Rory Hughes is 100% in terms of health either, then I don't know what other short term specialist wing options Glasgow has.  
 
Not really Toonie's fault that there is a glut of good, young SQ wingers (Robbins, Fife, Farndale, McFarland and Brown) and Nikki Walker down the M8 getting very good at Call of Duty on the X Box. It is bl00dy annoying, but only if you're a fan of Scottish rugby in general.

[funnyExiledScot]

Excellent, another NSQ utility player. We seriously need to get better at pooling resources between the pro sides, or using players from the club teams.

I cannot believe that Connor Braid is better than anything we have in Scotland. If this guy is coming in to cover the wing, then there are plenty SQ wingers at the moment in Scotland screaming for professional rugby.

This signing is a total waste of time and money.

It's only a 3 month trial, man.   

It probably costs the same amount to get him as you'd spend on a round of Pimms and vintage second growth pinot noir chasers in The Antiquary.
 
If Lamont and Hogg are being rested post Commonwealth Games, Jones has 7s commitments, Seymour is still carrying and I don't think Rory Hughes is 100% in terms of health either, then I don't know what other short term specialist wing options Glasgow has.  
 
Not really Toonie's fault that there is a glut of good, young SQ wingers (Robbins, Fife, Farndale, McFarland and Brown) and Nikki Walker down the M8 getting very good at Call of Duty on the X Box. It is bl00dy annoying, but only if you're a fan of Scottish rugby in general.

Well apparently this guy can play fly half, centre or full back, but not wing. I also believe that he's being paid for the three months, and whatever he's being paid it's too much. There are plenty players in Scotland who could have covered this position, and why not loan someone like McFarland or Brown if it is indeed the case, as you claim, that Rory Hughes is injured.

We need to stop signing completely average players who don't qualify to play for Scotland. It's killing the game. Sure, Glasgow are less bad at it than Edinburgh, but this is a completely unnecessary signing. A young SQ player could be getting this experience.

[George Carlin]

Excellent, another NSQ utility player. We seriously need to get better at pooling resources between the pro sides, or using players from the club teams.

I cannot believe that Connor Braid is better than anything we have in Scotland. If this guy is coming in to cover the wing, then there are plenty SQ wingers at the moment in Scotland screaming for professional rugby.

This signing is a total waste of time and money.

It's only a 3 month trial, man.   

It probably costs the same amount to get him as you'd spend on a round of Pimms and vintage second growth pinot noir chasers in The Antiquary.
 
If Lamont and Hogg are being rested post Commonwealth Games, Jones has 7s commitments, Seymour is still carrying and I don't think Rory Hughes is 100% in terms of health either, then I don't know what other short term specialist wing options Glasgow has.  
 
Not really Toonie's fault that there is a glut of good, young SQ wingers (Robbins, Fife, Farndale, McFarland and Brown) and Nikki Walker down the M8 getting very good at Call of Duty on the X Box. It is bl00dy annoying, but only if you're a fan of Scottish rugby in general.

Well apparently this guy can play fly half, centre or full back, but not wing. I also believe that he's being paid for the three months, and whatever he's being paid it's too much. There are plenty players in Scotland who could have covered this position, and why not loan someone like McFarland or Brown if it is indeed the case, as you claim, that Rory Hughes is injured.

We need to stop signing completely average players who don't qualify to play for Scotland. It's killing the game. Sure, Glasgow are less bad at it than Edinburgh, but this is a completely unnecessary signing. A young SQ player could be getting this experience.

I am sensing displeasure about this signing. I could be wrong.

[RDW]

Now FES you are just completely contradicting yourself on this - how can you be so unhappy about this guy but completely delighted about Ben Atiga coming back?   

[funnyExiledScot]

Atiga is completely different. His food consumption is a boost to the local economy, whereas this Canadian bloke looks all lean and professional. Totally different.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Still a strong team - hopefully Toony is trying to prevent another poor start to the season.

Ah-hem - like last season! Unbeaten (won actually) in 5 games (3 away) and top of the Rabo- bet you The Luvvies would take that !

[RDW]

Still a strong team - hopefully Toony is trying to prevent another poor start to the season.

Ah-hem - like last season!     Unbeaten (won actually) in 5 games (3 away) and top of the Rabo- bet you The Luvvies would take that !

Sorry to be more specific - poor start (and middle and end) in Europe!

Been discussed here many times but I think Toonie's constant squad rotation at the start of the season was the reason they were caught short in Europe

[IanBru]

The thing is, as with the 2012-13 season, we really saw two different Glasgows playing last year. I'd say the turning point was the narrow loss at Leinster back in March - from that point we weren't just winning, but playing some attractive rugby as well.

Like the year before, Europe simply came too early for us. You're right, RDW old chum, we failed to set the heather on fire in a group we had a pretty solid chance of progressing from. Our two best performances were against Toulon, and our two worst were against the Blues. We lost all of those.

So, I have two aims for this season for Glasgow:
1) Be in contention for a playoff spot by the end of April - whatever happens after that, happens.
2) Maintain a consistent level of performance throughout the year, and be competitive in all of our European matches, not just against Bath.

[IanBru]

Oh, and one more:
3) No more rained-off matches. I think the extra 10% of energy we lacked in the final was spent on those nine straight games from March to May. I swear, if I have to dash back and forth across the Scotsoun pitch and catch every raindrop in my mouth, I bloody will.

[funnyExiledScot]

I have different priorities for Glasgow:

1. Play Fraser Brown at hooker.
2. Look after Euan Murray so he's fit for the World Cup.
3. Ditto Jonny Gray.
4. Play Finn Russell ahead of Duncan Weir and give Russell the goal kicking duties.
5. Play Bennett at 13 and Hogg at 15 in all important games.
6. Lose the 1872 Cup.
7. Wash.

[IanBru]

7. Wash.

Does that mean I have to lay off the smack?

Smack or wash or smack or wash or smack or wash...

I'm sure they'll give me a shower at the hospice eventually.

[R!skysports]

Let's not forget Edinburgh have produced the following monstrosities in the past:

Is the third one refering to the shirt or Ross Ford?

[RDW]

Being fair to Ross Ford (something which is scientifically impossible for Glasgow fans), he does play well for Edinburgh and our lineout was excellent last year - even with him throwing!

It is a bit unfortunate he is modelling one of the tops though.

[jimbopip]

RDW, will you stop persecuting my west coast brothers for stating the bleeding obvious?
Being fair to Can't Throw Wont Hook means actually being honest.
At this point I am now forced to rely on objective, scientifically verifiable statistics which I made up. We all know that in training or unopposed run outs (i.e. most of the Luvvies matches last season) when there is no pressure on him he will hit his jumpers 100% of the time. The problem is that in crunch games, or in the crunch moment in tight games, he slips to 98% and those throws that he misses are ALWAYS on the opponents 5 metre line or on ours.
I did say last season that I felt he was close to mental disintegration and the kindest thing would be to give him a rest and I hope that this year we see a refreshed and confident young man who is comfortable in his own skin, but somehow I think we're more likely to see ASBO campaigning for UKIP.
There were other interesting and relevant points I was about to make but then I looked at your post and suddenly it all became clear....
he is modelling one of the tops
you see Glasgow players wear the jerseys.  

[funnyExiledScot]

Being fair to Ross Ford (something which is scientifically impossible for Glasgow fans), he does play well for Edinburgh and our lineout was excellent last year - even with him throwing!

It is a bit unfortunate he is modelling one of the tops though.

Unlike the Glasgow bufties in their new shirt, I do believe that Ford is playing in that shirt, rather than modelling it. The fact that it's completely clean and the photo was probably taken in the 79th minute of the match is a different issue....

[funnyExiledScot]

RDW, will you stop persecuting my west coast brothers for stating the bleeding obvious?
Being fair to Can't Throw Wont Hook means actually being honest.
At this point I am now forced to rely on objective, scientifically verifiable statistics which I made up. We all know that in training or unopposed run outs (i.e. most of the Luvvies matches last season) when there is no pressure on him he will hit his jumpers 100% of the time. The problem is that in crunch games, or in the crunch moment in tight games, he slips to 98% and those throws that he misses are ALWAYS on the opponents 5 metre line or on ours.
I did say last season that I felt he was close to mental disintegration and the kindest thing would be to give him a rest and I hope that this year we see a refreshed and confident young man who is comfortable in his own skin, but somehow I think we're more likely to see ASBO campaigning for UKIP.
There were other interesting and relevant points I was about to make but then I looked at your post and suddenly it all became clear....
he is modelling one of the tops
you see Glasgow players wear the jerseys.  

ASBO would never vote for a party whose raison d'etre is a dislike of people in another country, with a megalomaniac leader making promises he'll never be able to keep and an incoherent economic policy. That's a ridiculous thing to suggest.

[jimbopip]

Show me the party without a megalomaniac leader making promises he'll never be able to keep and an incoherent economic policy. I'll vote for them every time. I don't care who they are.  (chosen for his Stalinist moustache...we're talking deep satire here)

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Jimbo,

let fES sit in his 'King and Empire' Daily Torygraph shirt in the New Club and fulminate accordingly !!!

[RDW]

Edinburgh's new kit

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/14/08/21/all-black-kit-launched-201415

The home top is pretty basic, the away pretty colourful!

Could be a lot worse.

[justified sinner]

Edinburgh's new kit

http://www.edinburghrugby.org/news/14/08/21/all-black-kit-launched-201415

The home top is pretty basic, the away pretty colourful!

Could be a lot worse.

On first view I'm not convinced by the new first kit, will have a look on Monday when I'm in the shop and probably buy one. Change kit looks nice though.

[Sponsored content]