Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread VI - Banter Boogaloo

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Prehistorical Patter:

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
https://www.606v2.com/t54519-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-iv
https://www.606v2.com/t55409-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-v-the-fun-continues

A. Edinburgh


1. League Results

Fri 5 Sep: Munster Rugby 13 - 14 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 12 Sep: Edinburgh Rugby 13 - 14 Connacht Rugby

Sun 21 Sep: Ospreys 62 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 26 Sep: Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 20 Scarlets

Fri 3 Oct: Ulster Rugby 30 - 0 Edinburgh Rugby

Sat 11 Oct: Edinburgh Rugby 24 - 10 Newport Gwent Dragons

Fri 31 Oct: Leinster Rugby 33 - 8 Edinburgh Rugby

Sun 23 Nov: Edinburgh Rugby 28 - 13 Cardiff Blues

Sat 29 Nov: Zebre 18 - 10 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 19 Dec: Edinburgh Rugby 48 - 0 Benetton Treviso

Sat 27 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 16 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 2 Jan: Edinburgh Rugby - 20 - 8 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 9 Jan: Connacht Rugby 13 - 16 Edinburgh Rugby

2. European Results

17/10/14: Bordeaux-Begles 13 - 15 Edinburgh Rugby

24/10/14: Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 17 Lyon

7/12/14: Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 13 London Welsh

14/12/14: London Welsh 6 - 24 Edinburgh Rugby

17/01/2015: Lyon 21 - 19 Edinburgh Rugby

23/01/2015: Edinburgh Rugby 38 - 20 Bordeaux-Begles

B. Glasgow


1. League Results

Sat 6 Sep: Glasgow Warriors 22 - 20 Leinster Rugby

Sun 14 Sep: Cardiff Blues 12 - 33 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 20 Sep: Newport Gwent Dragons 13 - 33 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 26 Sep: Glasgow Warriors 39 - 21 Connacht Rugby

Sun 5 Oct: Benetton Treviso 23 - 40 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 11 Oct: Ulster Rugby 29 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 31 Oct: Glasgow Warriors 17 - 9 Benetton Treviso

Fri 21 Nov: Scarlets 19 - 9 Glasgow Warriors

Sun 30 Nov: Glasgow Warriors 19 - 15 Newport Gwent Dragons

Sat 20 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 21 - 18 Munster Rugby

Sat 27 Dec: Glasgow Warriors 16 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 2 Jan: Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 8 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 9 Jan: Glasgow Warriors 22 - 7 Scarlets

2. European Results

18/10/14: Glasgow Warriors 37 - 10 Bath Rugby

25/10/14: Montpellier 13 - 15 Glasgow Warriors

7/12/14: Toulouse 19 - 11 Glasgow Warriors

13/12/14: Glasgow Warriors 9 - 12 Toulouse

18/01/2015: Glasgow Warriors 21 - 10 Montpellier

25/01/2015: Bath Rugby 20 - 15 Glasgow Warriors

[funnyExiledScot]

Northampton would be a decent bet for him. I could see him playing with Burrell/Pisi at 13. Exeter could be another possibility, or Newcastle lower down the league (plenty Scots to convince him to move, plus it's close to Edinburgh).

I can imagine a couple of French clubs sniffing around as well. I don't think his demands would be particularly outrageous and he's a very talented player.

I hope he stays, but with Strauss undroppable in his preferred position, I certainly wouldn't blame him for moving.

[Nematode]

What Edinburgh needs is a new backs coach. And Nick de Luca

I think the pack is beginning to come together into quite a formidable outfit. Injuries are unfortunate - a run with Grant, Watson and Du Preez with (Denton on the bench) could have been one of the back rows of the league. Toolis is looking a tidy player, all he needs now is a haircut and Gilchrist to partner him. And Dickinson, Ford and Nel is a pretty good front row. The backs are the crux of the problem, and Solomons should take some blame. There are options there (Chris Dean/Auld, Hoyland (hatrick vs Gla A) and players who can play attractive running rugby. But really, NdL was the player that really worked the backline, and supplemented Visser and Scott. Yes he had his flaws, but he was better than Strauss...

The fact that Strauss remains at 12 suggests whoever is coaching the backs is about as adept as an elephant is at being a escapologist - they are not fit for the purpose. They also don't know much about young Scottish talent, or else they'd be pushing the case for the likes of Hoyland or Farndale to get a shot, or at least bench. Ultimatley, they are too easily leaned on by Solomons. I suspect he's happy to just play rugby with a pack and use the backs simply for territory. Strauss understands Solomons game plan and gets picked week in week out to do that.

[RDW]

Northampton would be a decent bet for him. I could see him playing with Burrell/Pisi at 13. Exeter could be another possibility, or Newcastle lower down the league (plenty Scots to convince him to move, plus it's close to Edinburgh).

I can imagine a couple of French clubs sniffing around as well. I don't think his demands would be particularly outrageous and he's a very talented player.

I hope he stays, but with Strauss undroppable in his preferred position, I certainly wouldn't blame him for moving.

Would be delighted if he went to the Saints - what a learning ground that would be.

[funnyExiledScot]

I think it's a club where he would fit in as well. Burrell plays 12 there sometimes, but I think they have room for a top quality out and out 12.

[funnyExiledScot]

I appear to be the only poster on 606v2 stuck at work today, so I shall continue to talk to myself.

Matt Scott is a mighty excellent 12 in my opinion....

Damn right fES.

[RDW]

I'll speak to you FES!

Pyrgos has signed a contract extension apparently, although it is still tbc.

[funnyExiledScot]

Good news for Glasgow. I think having McConnell as their only scrum half next season could put a real spanner in the works in terms of making progress. Sort of equivalent to tolerating Strauss at 12 for 100% of every game of the season!

[TheMildlyFranticLlama]

Sort of equivalent to tolerating enjoying Strauss at 12 for 100% of every game of the season!

This sentence is Alan Solomons' equivalent to viagra...

[VinceWLB]

This is the team i would like to see for friday:

Dickinson, comfortably still the best loosehead in Scotland
Ford, ditto
Nel, scrum improved when he came on last week
Bresler
McKenzie, Toolis needs a rest i feel
McInally, did more in 15 min last week than Comon did in the whole game!
Grant
Leonardi, has been the best ball carrier in the team since Du Preez injury but yet got dropped for "captain Comon"

SHC
Heatchcote, best kicker in Scotland has to start
Visser, Brown didn't cover himself in glory last week
Scott (12)
Burleigh
Fife
Tonks, has regained his form of 2 seasons ago in the last few games and i think Cuthbert has been pretty poor and even more pedestrian than usual recently.


Hilterbrand, not sold on on Cochrane..
Sutherland, haven't seen enough of Shiells yet
Andress
Atkins, been harshly dropped recently
Denton, impact off the bench
Hart
Beard
Cuthbert

No doubt Solomons will never drop his mates Strauss and Captain Comon who will lead by example,...not!

[funnyExiledScot]

It really is about time one of the "journalists" involved in Scottish rugby just asked Solomons straight out (a) what he sees in Andries Strauss, and (b) why, despite his poor form, he continues to be the first name on the team sheet.

[IanBru]

FES, old pal, is this you right now?

[funnyExiledScot]

Like your team Vince, although I'd keep Denton at 8 with Leonardi on the bench instead of Bradbury.

I quite like Cochrane though. He's small, but he appears to do the basics really well. Good workrate as well.

Let's be honest, I'd settle for any combination of players that omitted Coman and Strauss. Whilst that's perhaps harsh on Coman who hasn't been bad this season (without being particularly good), Strauss simply has to go in order to unblock the backline.

[funnyExiledScot]

FES, old pal, is this you right now?

Yes!!!!!!!!

[VinceWLB]

Like your team Vince, although I'd keep Denton at 8 with Leonardi on the bench instead of Bradbury.

I quite like Cochrane though. He's small, but he appears to do the basics really well. Good workrate as well.

Let's be honest, I'd settle for any combination of players that omitted Coman and Strauss. Whilst that's perhaps harsh on Coman who hasn't been bad this season (without being particularly good), Strauss simply has to go in order to unblock the backline.

I actually forgot Denton! thats how anonymous he was last week, would have him on the bench instead of Bradburry hoping he can make a big impact!

Think Coman is the same as Strauss really but as he is a forward it's less noticeable, really fail to see what he brings to the team

[funnyExiledScot]

My main hope is that as well as Harley being injured Glasgow also rest Josh Strauss. I think we could make more headway against Wilson, Holmes and Ashe.

Denton was really good in the Treviso game (I know, not hard to shine against that rabble) but like the remainder of the Edinburgh pack it was mainly defensive duties against Glasgow so hard for Denton's ball carrying game to get going. That's what happens when you simply hoof the ball away every time you get it, against a side willing to keep ball in hand. You don't get the ball!

[funnyExiledScot]

17 minutes and counting.....

[funnyExiledScot]

[RDW]

I take it the 2 minutes overtime means you've just rounded up the invoice to 6pm?

[funnyExiledScot]

I work in-house now, so no clients have to pay for my 606/606v2 time these days (sort of)!!

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Some journalists saying that Pygros has signed a new deal at Glasgow. Not been officially announced yet, though.

[funnyExiledScot]

RDW mentioned that yesterday. Clearly a good move for all concerned, otherwise Glasgow were looking rather exposed at scrum half next season.

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

RDW mentioned that yesterday. Clearly a good move for all concerned, otherwise Glasgow were looking rather exposed at scrum half next season.

Can see another (relatively experienced) SH being signed. With probably Price as 3rd choice.

Of course it depends on who else we sign but its some drop, in terms of depth from the end of last season, when he had Cus, Niko and Pygros.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agreed - it's a priority position for Glasgow to focus on in the summer, and other than taking Kennedy back across there aren't really any obvious SQ options (assuming Cusiter and Laidlaw will continue in the Aviva, as both are doing well there).

Might be worth Lineen trying to scope out a project player. With Aaron Smith having nailed the ABs jersey for the foreseeable, there must be a Kiwi out there with international ambitions and a desire to live in Scotland's second city.

[Nematode]

"Following a scan at BMI Ross Hall Hospital it's been confirmed that Rob Harley has tissue damage to both his left knee and left ankle.

However, he does not require surgery and is likely to be sidelined for several weeks.

Several other players are undergoing further assessment and investigation.

The club would like to thank the radiology department at BMI Ross Hall Hospital for all their help this week."

[George Carlin]

Can't quite bring myself to watch the higlights of the second leg of the cup.
Well done Edinburgh, though - now all they need to do is to do that another dozen times this season.

https://www.606v2.com/t57119-glasgow-warriors-v-scarlets-9-january

[justified sinner]

A random thought on locks, Edinburgh seem ridiculously well stocked at the moment, in a rough order;

Gilchrist
Toolis
Bresler
McKenzie
Atkins
Toolis

Given Glasgow seem a bit short (no height related pun intended) should the SRU not be thinking about moving Atkins or Toolis 2 to Glasgow for game time?

[RDW]

Glasgow have

Gray
Nakarawa
Swinson
Ryder
Kellock

They're not exactly struggling just now!

[justified sinner]

Glasgow have

Gray
Nakarawa
Swinson
Ryder
Kellock

They're not exactly struggling just now!

Swinson too small
Ryder meh
Kellock sad to say it but past it

[BigGee]

Another lock should definitely be on Toonie;s shopping list. After watching fridays's game, if I was in any doubt that Big Al was in his last season, I am no longer, Tom Ryder seems to be permanently crocked now as well and it is hard to see him being resigned. The only thing that might preserve any of them is that Glasgow are likely to lose Gray, Swinson (maybe?) and Naka (definitely) to the world cup next autumn, which will leave them very short.

Picking up an Edinburgh reject and turning them into decent players has been something of a Glasgow trait over the past few years, so that option if available should not be discounted. There are also some other decent juniors over in France who it could maybe be worth looking at bringing back, Crammond at Toulon, who has actually got some game time with and Sinclair, who was with Perpignan, is he still there?

Castres have finally decided to start winning some games and are moving away from the bottom of the table, so doubtful if RG will be returning this year, if at all!

Wherever they come from, some more reinforcements are definitely going to be required!

[RDW]

Ah so you're talking about for next season?

I agree that Kellock needs to call it quits but Ryder is a decent squad player (and cheap) and Swinson adds a lot to the Glasgow squad.

They could do with someone to replace Kellock, but I wouldn't say it was top priority for Glasgow! They will be short in the world cup though

[VinceWLB]

Glasgow have

Gray
Nakarawa
Swinson
Ryder
Kellock

They're not exactly struggling just now!

Swinson too small
Ryder meh
Kellock sad to say it but past it

Agree with that, i would take Edinburgh's pool of locks any day over Glasgow's, actually Embra has a surplus of quality and won't be able to keep everyone happy. One of McKenzie, Atkins or Alex Toolis should be heading West and settle down there to get some game time. I can't see Ryder and Big Al playing for Glasgow next season. Muldowney has been tearing up trees with Connacht recently and is a proper lock not some kind of mid sized 3/4 wannabee ala Swinson

[BigGee]

Ah so you're talking about for next season?

I agree that Kellock needs to call it quits but Ryder is a decent squad player (and cheap) and Swinson adds a lot to the Glasgow squad.

They could do with someone to replace Kellock, but I wouldn't say it was top priority for Glasgow! They will be short in the world cup though

Ryder was better than a decent squad player, another one of Lineen's hidden gems, who played well above his status when given the chance. He made the pro 12 dream team if I am not mistaken. Unfortunately we have seen very little of him the past couple of seasons as injury seems to have caught up with him. Hard to see him recovering that kind of form at his age and retirement seems the more likely option.

[VinceWLB]

Ryder was at his best in his 1st 2 seasons at Glasgow then for some reason trimmed down and became an injury magnet for the last 16 months, at his best i would have him ahead of Swinson and not far behind Jonny Gray and Nakarawa.

But sadly, retirement seems the most likely outcome indeed, even if he will only be 29.

[Prothero]

Do you think they might try and tempt Andy Crammond or Adam Sinclair back from France? although the latter doesn't seem to have kicked on at all this year?:/

[MacKnocked-on]

Glasgow have

Gray
Nakarawa
Swinson
Ryder
Kellock

They're not exactly struggling just now!

Swinson too small
Ryder meh
Kellock sad to say it but past it

Agree with that, i would take Edinburgh's pool of locks any day over Glasgow's, actually Embra has a surplus of quality and won't be able to keep everyone happy. One of McKenzie, Atkins or Alex Toolis should be heading West and settle down there to get some game time. I can't see Ryder and Big Al playing for Glasgow next season. Muldowney has been tearing up trees with Connacht recently and is a proper lock not some kind of mid sized 3/4 wannabee ala Swinson  

Am I right in thinking that Muldowney got Scotland A caps when he was at Glasgow? I was impressed by Atkins last year, obviously he's fallen behind Toolis currently in the Edinburgh pecking order but is probably too good a player to not be playing so perhaps a move to Glasgow might be a good idea for all concerned.
Iain Morrison wrote yesterday in SoS that the 6N and World Cup are too soon for Toolis and he should be looking to the 2019 cup, I disagree with that thinking, Toolis should see no reason why he can't make this year's World Cup squad on present form, behind the Grays nobody else is a sure thing.

[Nematode]

Good to hear this sort of talk in the Scotsman from Mike Coman:

“Since I’ve been involved in Edinburgh, I’ve been there countless times when we’ve played well and beaten sides, then dropped off the next week, so I want to enjoy this experience but we’ve got to make sure we keep moving forward and take this into the next game – or it doesn’t mean very much at all,” said Coman.

“We’ll find out in the next few weeks [whether we have turned a corner]. It might not always be apparent to people outside the squad, but we are making good progress here as a club and we are becoming more consistent. Obviously, we have had patches where we have let ourselves down, but that’s going to happen along the road.

“This was a good stepping stone, but we aren’t kidding ourselves. Last week we didn’t play that well and lost, and this game wasn’t perfect for us either – we got an intercept try but probably didn’t build too many phases throughout the game to score points – so, while we can enjoy this win, we know that we are still sitting eighth in the table. It doesn’t change a lot, really.

“There have been a lot of changes to this squad in recent seasons and it does take time to mould, but we’ve got a lot more depth now and we truly believe we are getting better. I have been around rugby for a decent amount of time and I can see the improvements being made.”

[RDW]

Seymour and Pyrgos signed 2 year extensions with Glasgow

http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/15/01/05/seymour-and-pyrgos-sign-until-2017

The Warriors have received a double boost ahead of Friday's home match against the Scarlets, with the news that Scotland internationals Tommy Seymour and Henry Pyrgos have signed new deals with the club.Tommy Seymour

Both players have signed two-year contracts, meaning they'll be staying at Scotstoun until at least May 2017.

Winger Seymour joined the GUINNESS PRO12 side in 2011 and has gone on to make 62 appearances, scoring 20 tries.

The 26-year-old has 13 caps for Scotland and has scored six tries for his country, including a touchdown in each of the three November viagogo Autumn Tests, against Argentina, New Zealand and Tonga.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Tommy Seymour said: "I'm really enjoying my rugby and I'm very happy to be staying at the Warriors.

"The four years I've been at the club have been hugely enjoyable and we've come on really strongly as a team and our identity has grown.

"My coaches and teammates have helped me massively in my development as a player and I'm delighted I get to spend another two years continuing that development, playing in front of a crowd that is second to none.”

Pyrgos, who has been at the Warriors since 2010, has made 90 appearances for the club and has scoHenry Pyrgosred 54 points.

The 25-year-old scrum-half has 13 caps for his country, with two tries to his name.

Speaking to glasgowwarriors.org, Henry Pyrgos said: "It's been great to see the club grow since I've been here and I'm looking forward to playing in front of our really passionate supporters for another two years. Scotstoun has become a real home for us.

"Captaining the team has been a huge honour and I'm delighted to be staying in Glasgow. I believe we've got a squad capable of winning trophies.

"Playing for the Warriors has enabled me to play for my country and I believe being at Glasgow gives me the opportunity to push on for more caps."

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend added: "This is another boost for the club as we continue to shape our squad for next season.

"Tommy and Henry have worked hard to improve their games and have been in great form this season.

"They have been at the club for a few years now and are in a position to be key drivers of our development on and off the field."

[tigertattie]

What do the weegie fans think about Pygos?

As a scotland fan I really don't rate him that highly and would have laidlaw and Cusiter easliy above him! Each time he has played for Scotland I've been underwhelmed by his over-all performance! His training move try aside, he's never really made me sit up and watch!

I'm trying not to look at things through rose tinted glasses, but I think Sam H-C has better international prospects that Pygros

[RDW]

What do the weegie fans think about Pygos?

As a scotland fan I really don't rate him that highly and would have laidlaw and Cusiter easliy above him! Each time he has played for Scotland I've been underwhelmed by his over-all performance! His training move try aside, he's never really made me sit up and watch!

I'm trying not to look at things through rose tinted glasses, but I think Sam H-C has better international prospects that Pygros

I'm no weegie (thank God) but I think Pyrgos is definitely our 3rd best 9 just now, and would do a decent job for Scotland if called upon.

I've been critical of him in the past for being completely average (he would have fitted in well at Edinburgh) but has come on a lot the last season or two.

Sam H-C is certainly promising but is very raw in his development - barring injury, Pyrgos should be our 3rd scrum half.

[VinceWLB]

Pyrgos is a good player but if Glasgow have any ambitions of getting further in the league and in Europe he is no 1st choice material as far as i'm concerned. I mean 31 years old Cusiter was still better than him. Very similar situation to Barclay and Fusaro, Glasgow let go the better player.

Seymour re-signing is great news for Glasgow.

[TJ]

MFL fan here but I like Pyrgos - just a simple competent SH. Cusiotor was one of the best in the NH tho so its a tough comparison

[George Carlin]

Seymour re-signing was critical - he has become a different man since leaving Ulster and he is in the form of his career right now. There's a lot of competition for good wingers and we would have to have paid through the nose for a replacement with his strike rate.

Young Henners Piecrust is fine - a perfectly serviceable scrummie with good basic skills, a pleasing interview style and a low error count. I have never, ever thought of him as international quality. His best feature is his quick(ish) service which gives people like Russell time on the ball to make their decisions. Unless something miraculous happens in his career (and he's half way through it now) he will never be comparable to Cusiter who already has a Top14 winners medal and the honour of never having lost a game with the Lions in New Zealand (albeit with the non-test side which that risible c0ck-chomper SCW condescended to put together).

[RDW]

Johnnie Beattie has come up with the suggestion of playing a 3rd 1872 match at the end of the season to decide the winner.  Personally I think it is a completely stupid idea.

FORMER British and Irish Lion John Beattie has called for a “rubber-match” between Glasgow and Edinburgh to be played at the end of the current campaign.

Edinburgh may have snatched the 1872 Cup away from Glasgow by dint of their 20-8 victory at BT Murrayfield last Friday, which saw them claim the trophy by a two-point aggregate margin but Beattie says that, with Glasgow having posted a 16-6 victory in the first leg, the natural progression should be for a third and decisive match to be pencilled in at the end of the current campaign.

While with Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons claiming “the significance of this game should not be lost” in the aftermath of his side’s victory, Beattie, who played for both teams, also believes that Edinburgh’s first 1872 Cup triumph since 2009 might be about to signal a change in the domestic balance of power.

He is confident that both Glasgow and Edinburgh will use the experience to kick-on in the Guinness Pro 12, when they return to action in three days’ time against Scarlets and Connacht respectively.

“Maybe you can say that the balance of power is swinging towards Edinburgh. But I think the best thing you can do is to have a third game and make it state of origin,” said the former Scotland No 8.

“You can’t let it rest at one win apiece, so I’m calling now as a guy who has played for both sides, for a rubber-match in the spring. A bye-bye, get ready for the World Cup. I think that would be a fantastic way to end the season. I’m sure you would get a bumper crowd along in the spring and it would be a great platform for the World Cup.”

For me is it completely stupid becuase:

- Edinburgh finally won the cup, and we're keeping it until next year dammit!

- Surely the cup would go to the team that had the 2 home games more often than not. Which stadium would it be played at?

- With a world cup looming, the last thing players need after a long season is to play another game, not least a friendly that really counts for nothing.

- With Glasgow having a chance of making the Pro 12 final again, do you play the 3rd 1872 during the ECC final weekend (the week before the Pro 12 final) or the week after? If it is the week before the players are hardly going to be interested in putting their body on the line for a 'friendly', if it is the week after then they will be spent after a long hard season.

- Would crowds really buy into it? Welsh fans are bored stiff of watching them lose to the Aussies because they play each other so much, if we had 3 1872 games a season it might lose its value.  The unique nature of a boxing day and New Years game could be lost too.


So all in all, it is a stupid idea!

[George Carlin]

Big JB has been on the Xmas liqueur chocolates, it seems.
Even if the aggregate score was a draw (which it wasn't, John) it would be a pile of poopie.

The players wouldn't give a shoite about it and would resent having to do it.

Besides, in the spring - having only recently gloriously won the league cup having duffed Leinster up the provierbial tradesman's entrance 51-3 in the final, why would Glasgow be interested?

[tigertattie]

Make no mistake, Beattie is a Glasgow man and he is taking the loss of the cup very badly!

He so desperatly wants his precious glasgow to win some silverware that he wishes to change the format of things just to give them another chance!

[RDW]

Aggregate scoring is fairly unsatisfactory in rugby given the wide range of scores you can get in a game - just ask Bristol fans after last season - but for something like the 1872 cup it works fairly well.

Really bad idea.

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Absoutley no reason for the Cup to be played over 3 matches. Its good the cup is still played for in terms of tradition, but in terms of meaning anything, its really only celebrated by the players and fans of the team who wins it, if they win the 2nd match.

Had Glasgow got a late score at the weekend and won the cup there would have been little if any celebration. If anything the losing bonus point would have been far more important.

Winning the cup is obviously better than not winning it, but it is nowhere near important enough as the game stands at the moment, to even consider a 3rd game.

[RuggerRadge2611]

I can't even think why he would even state this publicly. It smacks of a desperately sore loser.

A third match at the end of the season robs the cup of it's spicy Xmas and New Year atmosphere and despite aggregate scores being pretty underwhelming in rugby I see no reason to stray from the current format.

As for Edinburgh being stacked with Locks, good. I remember Edinburgh being pretty bare in the backrow with the likes of Denton, Du Preez, Watson et al all injured and the likes of Fusaro, Eaddie, Ashe and Wilson all at home watching the games on Alba.

There has to be a bit of shuffling in Scottish rugby but it just seems like one way traffic with players moving to Glasgow like Cross and Jones and no one coming back to Edinburgh.

Answers on a post card as tho why this happens.....

[tigertattie]

It's odd when I watch Glasgow play us! Everyone wants to see tries a plenty but I want both teams to get 4 tries and for Glasgow to only lose by 6 points!

Normally I'd say I'd prefer for Glasgow to have at least gotten a losing bonus point in terms of Scottish representation at the top of the pro 12 table, but this year, Edinburgh really needed the boost of winning that little trophy!

[funnyExiledScot]

Stupid suggestion, and no call for it. It would also be a dreadful way to send off for the World Cup - rival players either knocking seven bells out of eachother to win a starting slot at the World Cup, or players not really committing for fear of getting injured.

Lay off the sauce Mr Beattie.

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