Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread VIII

[RuggerRadge2611]

First topic message reminder :

Ye Olde 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
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
https://www.606v2.com/t56913p950-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-vi-banter-boogaloo
https://www.606v2.com/t57946-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-vii



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

Fri 13 Feb: Edinburgh Rugby 24 - 16 Ospreys

Fri 20 Feb: Edinburgh Rugby 17 - 20 Ulster Rugby

Sun 1 Mar: Cardiff Blues 21 - 15 Edinburgh Rugby

Sat 7 Mar: Benetton Treviso 8 - 29 Edinburgh

Sat 28 Mar: Scarlets 15 - 26 Edinburgh Rugby

Fri 24 Apr: Edinburgh Rugby 3 - 34 Munster 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

05/04/2015: London Irish 18-23 Edinburgh

17/04/2015: Edinburgh 45-16 Dragons

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

Sun 15 Feb: Zebre 10 - 54 Glasgow Warriors

Sat 21 Feb: Glasgow Warriors 19 - 16 Ospreys

Sat 28 Feb: Munster Rugby 22 - 10 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 6 Mar: Glasgow Warriors 26 - 5 Zebre

Fri 27 Mar: Leinster Rugby 34 - 34 Glasgow Warriors

Fri 10 Apr: Glasgow Warriors 36 - 17 Cardiff Blues


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

Hopefully this thread will keep GC off my back for a wee while...

[EWT Spoons]

pretty underwhelming signings, at least on paper. They might turn out to be brilliant.

[Nematode]

Not sure on these.

Sam Johnson looks a good prospect, however, Ulster and Munster have got Fekitoa and Piatua(?)

And if Paterson was decent, would Leicetser not have kept him?

[EWT Spoons]

pretty underwhelming signings, at least on paper.  They might turn out to be brilliant.

[Majestic83]

slightly odd signings. Sam Johnson has been brought in mainly for cover for during the world cup period. Greg Peterson is likely to be at the world cup though with the USA so seems a bit more of a strange option. Has he had much game time at Leicester?

[Majestic83]

Not sure on these.

Sam Johnson looks a good prospect, however, Ulster and Munster have got Fekitoa and Piatua(?)

And if Paterson was decent, would Leicetser not have kept him?

When did Fekitoa sign for Munster?

[EWT Spoons]

Wiki reckon he's played 3 times (as at Feb this year), but perhaps more concerning he was signed last year as a project player, so either the project didn't pan out, or he wanted to leave.

[RDW]

He's a big lad! Will be interesting to hear from some Tigers fans what he's like. He's not played much for them by the look of things.

As for the centre, well he's not got much pedigree but at least he's young.

Neither are SQ as fas as I can see.

[Nematode]

Not sure on these.

Sam Johnson looks a good prospect, however, Ulster and Munster have got Fekitoa and Piatua(?)

And if Paterson was decent, would Leicetser not have kept him?

When did Fekitoa sign for Munster?

Think it was Saili, sorry.

[LondonTiger]

Peterson is tall.

He was signed as injury cover by us, he started one LV cup match and was on the bench for an LV cup and an AP game.

He is tall.

[Nematode]

Who knows.

When Leone Nakarawa came from almost out of nowhere nobody expected the skills he had. Same goes for Ben Toolis, unknown to one of Edinburgh's best players. The SRU do have good form in signing unknown players who turn into great assets.

Mighten Sam Johnson be viewed as Lamont's replacement (potentially playing on the wing)?

[RuggerRadge2611]

Peterson is tall.

He was signed as injury cover by us, he started one LV cup match and was on the bench for an LV cup and an AP game.

He is tall.

Well I don't know about anyone else but I'm convinced lol

[George Carlin]

Townsend made a point of saying that they had 'spent their money well'.

We can translate this quite simply into 'we have signed quality players you will never have heard of'.

We can just hope that he has spotted more rough diamonds in the way that he clearly has before with the likes of Strauss, Seymour, the Fijians, Evans brothers, etc.

[SecretFly]

Peterson is tall.

He was signed as injury cover by us, he started one LV cup match and was on the bench for an LV cup and an AP game.

He is tall.

Very Diplomatically put, Tiger.

[Weegie Wizard]

Not impressed by the second rower even if he is tall. We have not got any worse with the departures and arrivals but probably no better either.

The aussie boy - not seem him play but happy to give him the chance. Although the Reds have been dreadful this year they are well stocked in midfield which might explain why he hasn't played that much. I'm not sure if we need another centre but what do I know. Good thing is he is only 21 so if he turns out to be amazing we can make him SQd at a decent age.

All in all, a bit meh (again)

[Welly]

He is massive not just tall.

But he wasn't overly impressive for us IMO.

But he makes an interesting project player.

We have far to many better options ATM for him to really progress and at his age he needs the game time.

Would say the ranking of lock if all fit for this season

1) Slater
2) Parling
3) Kitchener
4) Thorn
5) Deacon (if he was fit)
6) De Cheves
7) Whetton
8) Peterson
9) Price

[Nematode]

I suppose we need to look at the bigger picture here. The SRU appears to want to be more sustainable and invest in youth, rather than pump big money into big name players.

If that means that less money is spent on "marquee" signings (like the Irish bringing in Piatu and Saili) and more is spent on keeping young players like Dunbar/Bennett/Hogg/Gray/SHC or promoting EDPs, then I think that's a good thing.

[RDW]

Townsend did say that retaining players comes at a cost too - you can guarantee that the names mentioned above are now on significantly more money than they were in their first contract. That is probably the equivalent of 2 or 3 new signings.

[George Carlin]

Not impressed by the second rower even if he is tall. We have not got any worse with the departures and arrivals but probably no better either.

Afraid I disagree - with Maitland, Niko, Welsh, DTH, HM Ruck Inspectorate and Ryder all leaving, I think that we are still very much in the red in terms of overall squad strength.

I think that we all know the Israel Folau is not likely to join but it has to be the case that we are still lacking quality in some positions that only established international players can bring.

The signings are obviously being unveiled by both Glasgow and Edinburgh in order of importance but I am really quite worried for next season. Glasgow could win the league this year and come 8th next year, at this rate.

[SecretFly]

Nico is the biggest loss, I think, from looking in.  Glasgow's 'Nacewa' - gave them bundles of confidence in the game they wanted to play.  Not that he was needed to play it but that he simply played it with the wild, natural flair that I'm sure even excited his own team-mates.

I don't know how or why Glasgow conspired to lose him... but a big loss.

Plus: Big Gain for Bath.... who already know how to slice teams apart! With him there, they might possibly be unplayable against when their tails are up.

[Weegie Wizard]

GC I meant that in respect of second row options. I agree that overall we are behind where we are now.

I personally am more relaxed about losing Niko than I am about DTH. DTH wins us as many games as Niko but never loses us any.

[George Carlin]

GC I meant that in respect of second row options. I agree that overall we are behind where we are now.

I personally am more relaxed about losing Niko than I am about DTH. DTH wins us as many games as Niko but never loses us any.

Agree totally. Losing (a) a B&I Lion and (b) the club's top try scorer (2 different people in the same position) in one season is massive and I just hope to hell that they realise this and find a replacement of quality. The Tigers' recent signing, Peter Betham from the Waratahs, is exactly the sort of standard that we need. Not so much with the Lee Joneses of the world.

[IanBru]

I'm reminded of the line from the Oakland A's scouting meeting from 'Moneyball':

"Who have we signed to replace Giambi at first base?"
"Scott Hatteberg."
"Who?"
"Exactly. He sounds like an Oakland A already."

God I love that film.

[Nematode]

Look, these "big names" don't come cheap and don't come without competition from other clubs.

- Glasgow may be doing well at the moment but they haven't achieved the same success as Leinster/Ulster/Munster in European competitions (yet). Glasgow is a bit of an unknown, maybe equivalent to Ospreys.
- Also, there aren't "big names" already at the club to attract the attention of "big name" players, such as Heaslip, O'Connell or Piennar. If you mention Jonny Gray or Alex Dunbar to a SR player, will they know who they are?
- They would be joining a Scottish side; seeing Scotland get the wooden spoon in the 6N is hardly encouraging.
- Don't forget the French pension pot...

McNicoll may be still in line, and possibly Naiyaravoro(?). But Favaro looks a really good addition in the back row, and Johnson is an encouraging prospect who could potentially do a good job on the wing. He'll always be at Glasgow and not with Australia too.

Let's just wait until they've had a good few games with Glasgow before they are slated...

[RDW]

Also worth noting that SR players will be in demanded like never before given it is a WC year - clubs will be looking to them to fill the gaps while players are away.

Unless they are SQ, I can't see the SRU being able to compete financially for SR players with a decent level of experience - hence why they have to go for young guys with little SR experience.

[RuggerRadge2611]

Look, these "big names" don't come cheap and don't come without competition from other clubs.

- Glasgow may be doing well at the moment but they haven't achieved the same success as Leinster/Ulster/Munster in European competitions (yet). Glasgow is a bit of an unknown, maybe equivalent to Ospreys.
- Also, there aren't "big names" already at the club to attract the attention of "big name" players, such as Heaslip, O'Connell or Piennar. If you mention Jonny Gray or Alex Dunbar to a SR player, will they know who they are?
- They would be joining a Scottish side; seeing Scotland get the wooden spoon in the 6N is hardly encouraging.
- Don't forget the French pension pot...

McNicoll may be still in line, and possibly Naiyaravoro(?). But Favaro looks a really good addition in the back row, and Johnson is an encouraging prospect who could potentially do a good job on the wing. He'll always be at Glasgow and not with Australia too.

Let's just wait until they've had a good few games with Glasgow before they are slated...

I'm not sure I agree entirely with what you are saying Nematode. Nasi Manu is the Highlanders captain and whilst he isn't Richie McCaw, he is a tough and very very good player by pro12 standards and he is coming to Edinburgh next year.

Clearly some players can be attracted to Scotland and the pro12 despite Edinburgh's poor season at the time his signing was announced.

[nickj]

GC I meant that in respect of second row options. I agree that overall we are behind where we are now.

I personally am more relaxed about losing Niko than I am about DTH. DTH wins us as many games as Niko but never loses us any.

Agree totally. Losing (a) a B&I Lion and (b) the club's top try scorer (2 different people in the same position) in one season is massive and I just hope to hell that they realise this and find a replacement of quality. The Tigers' recent signing, Peter Betham from the Waratahs, is exactly the sort of standard that we need. Not so much with the Lee Joneses of the world.

If Maj is right, McNicholl would certainly be the right 'calibre'. But beyond Hogg, Seymour (if he re-signs) and McNicholl (if he signs) there is a real dearth of talent on the wing.

Lamont is surely nearing the end and must be doing his 'bringing on the Lucozade' badges. How highly is Rory Hughes rated? Can Glenn Bryce play wing? Gavin Lowe or Jack Steele? After that, who is there? Did I miss any EDP's? Could we see one of Edinburgh's young wingers - Hoyland or Farndale take the well worn path West to international honours?

[George Carlin]

To whom should we be comparing ourselves when we consider how well Glasgow and Edinburgh have been doing in terms of signing players?

I think that the likes of Gloucester, a big mid/top table club with a proud history and playing in an analogous league, is a good comparison.

Gloucester have signed (amongst other players):

- Tom Marshall, 24 year old utility back with more than 60 Super rugby appearances for the Crusaders and the Chiefs, NZ U20
- Jeremy Thrush, 30 year old lock from the Hurricanes, 11 All Black caps
- Willi Heinz, 28 year old scrummie with 60 appearances from the Crusaders
- Paul Doran-Jones, 28 year old prop, been around the Jeff houses, 6 England caps

In other comparisons, Quins have signed James Horwill (Reds and occasional Wallabies captain), Tigers have signed Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs mainstay), Irish have signed Ben Franks and Brendan McKibbin, Wasps signed Frank Halai and Sarries took the giant Michael Rhodes from the Stormers.

Should the Glasgow and Edinburgh sigings not be as good as those? If not, on what basis? What is 'our level'? This is Glasgow's 4th consecutive time in the playoffs?

What do people think? Genuinely interested to know how we should regard ourselves because I'm quite confused by the whole affair.

[RuggerRadge2611]

To whom should we be comparing ourselves when we consider how well Glasgow and Edinburgh have been doing in terms of signing players?

I think that the likes of Gloucester, a big mid/top table club with a proud history and playing in an analogous league, is a good comparison.

Gloucester have signed (amongst other players):

- Tom Marshall, 24 year old utility back with more than 60 Super rugby appearances for the Crusaders and the Chiefs, NZ U20
- Jeremy Thrush, 30 year old lock from the Hurricanes, 11 All Black caps
- Willi Heinz, 28 year old scrummie with 60 appearances from the Crusaders
- Paul Doran-Jones, 28 year old prop, been around the Jeff houses, 6 England caps

In other comparisons, Quins have signed James Horwill (Reds and occasional Wallabies captain), Tigers have signed Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs mainstay), Irish have signed Ben Franks and Brendan McKibbin, Wasps signed Frank Halai and Sarries took the giant Michael Rhodes from the Stormers.

Should the Glasgow and Edinburgh sigings not be as good as those? If not, on what basis? What is 'our level'? This is Glasgow's 4th consecutive time in the playoffs?

What do people think? Genuinely interested to know how we should regard ourselves because I'm quite confused by the whole affair.

I'm confused by your post. Are you meaning our expectations are too high or too low?

I personally thought when you broke the news that Nasi Manu was joining Edinburgh was a cruel joke...

[Nematode]

Glasgow have had "big names" in Sean Maitland and Josh Strauss. Edinburgh too in Anton Bresler.

So yeah, Glasgow are maybe are similar to Gloucester and Edinburgh London Irish.

Depends on financial backing though and strategy from the clubs.

[George Carlin]

To whom should we be comparing ourselves when we consider how well Glasgow and Edinburgh have been doing in terms of signing players?

I think that the likes of Gloucester, a big mid/top table club with a proud history and playing in an analogous league, is a good comparison.

Gloucester have signed (amongst other players):

- Tom Marshall, 24 year old utility back with more than 60 Super rugby appearances for the Crusaders and the Chiefs, NZ U20
- Jeremy Thrush, 30 year old lock from the Hurricanes, 11 All Black caps
- Willi Heinz, 28 year old scrummie with 60 appearances from the Crusaders
- Paul Doran-Jones, 28 year old prop, been around the Jeff houses, 6 England caps

In other comparisons, Quins have signed James Horwill (Reds and occasional Wallabies captain), Tigers have signed Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs mainstay), Irish have signed Ben Franks and Brendan McKibbin, Wasps signed Frank Halai and Sarries took the giant Michael Rhodes from the Stormers.

Should the Glasgow and Edinburgh sigings not be as good as those? If not, on what basis? What is 'our level'? This is Glasgow's 4th consecutive time in the playoffs?

What do people think? Genuinely interested to know how we should regard ourselves because I'm quite confused by the whole affair.

I'm confused by your post. Are you meaning our expectations are too high or too low?

That was really my point. I can't decide on a comparable basis for what our expectations should be.

In terms of Glasgow, I don't think that we should set our sights any lower than the best of the Pro12 teams do and at least as high as mid-table Jeff teams.

Or a meringue?

[VinceWLB]

Glasgow and Edinburgh should be emulating teams like Wasps, Harlequins, Exeter if not Saracens and Saints not the likes of Newcastle or London Irish.

The drop of quality incoming compared to the quality of players leaving is concerning at Glasgow, my take on it is it is a world cup year and it's the wrong year to make marquee signings, if that makes sense. I thought the 2 Scottish teams were pretty wealthy with the BT Murrayfield deal.

[VinceWLB]

That said, i'm quite happy with the American 2nd row signing, he is a big lad just what the Glasgow's pack has been crying out for.

[InjuredYetAgain]

Glasgow and Edinburgh should be emulating teams like Wasps, Harlequins, Exeter if not Saracens and Saints not the likes of Newcastle or London Irish.

The drop of quality incoming compared to the quality of players leaving is concerning at Glasgow, my take on it is it is a world cup year and it's the wrong year to make marquee signings, if that makes sense. I thought the 2 Scottish teams were pretty wealthy with the BT Murrayfield deal.

Emulating Wasps! I wish. Wasps have just announced plans to issue a corporate bond to raise £60m if I remember the amount correctly.
Wholeheartedly agree that due to the WC, there won't be many marquee signings especially of southern hemisphere players who will have a full season then straight into an intense WC. There will be a few broken players by mid November

[MacKnocked-on]

Hopefully these two players may prove to be good signings but I can't for the life of me see the wisdom in signing non SQ players when we've discussed on these boards the quite large pool of SQ players in leagues elsewhere, age grade teams and Rugby League. We need the two clubs to provide as many SQ players as possible immediately. It may well be that Johnson might end up becoming SQ if he stays long enough but the lock can't so for me seems a bit of a waste.

[BigGee]

You can't compare us to the AP teams for a couple of reasons.

1. Money, they have different budgets to us and while we were close before, the new TV deal they have just signed has just put some clear blue water between us. All these established SH internationals don't come cheap. Most of the ones we have got have not been capped and are consequently cheaper.

2. As our Welsh friend keeps telling us, we only have 2 professional teams and a big part of their brief is to produce players for Scotland. The AP teams first purpose is to produce competitive teams for their league and so they are less concerned about where those players have come from as long as they can play. In France they have taken this to even greater extremes, possibly to the detriment of the national team and are having to role it back a bit now.

I actually imagine that there is quite a lot of soul searching about every NSQ player we bring in and quite rightly so. That does not mean we don't bring them in but they would have to be at the right price or have the potential to become Scottish down the line and there is no doubt that this is a part of the draw for players like Strauss, Nel and Du Preez. It is probably a lot less likely that we would have attracted players of that quality had that not been the case.

Basically we work under a different set of rules to Gloucester and other AP teams and so a comparison is pointless really. Personally though, I think that both sides have been creative in their recruitment recently and on the whole it has gone quite well. I am certainly happy with it.

[InjuredYetAgain]

I think BigGee is 99% correct.
My only reservation is that I think that the 2 pro sides are also charged with being successful in their own right. You could have all SQ players but of they are getting pumped week in, week out their confidence would be too low by the time they put on a Scotland jersey

[EWT Spoons]

Got to love Du Preez

"Assuming Denton is not available, Scott said he was confident Du Preez would be ready. “Oh yes, he’s fit,” said the former Scotland hooker. “He’s been working hard and is probably fitter now than he was at the end of last season. Cornell is a tough bloke. His response to the physio at the time of the injury [last October] was ‘my ankle is a bit sore’ while he was lying there with his foot facing the wrong way. He’s a pretty tough character and playing won’t worry him at all.”"

The man is a machine

[funnyExiledScot]

Got to love Du Preez

"Assuming Denton is not available, Scott said he was confident Du Preez would be ready. “Oh yes, he’s fit,” said the former Scotland hooker. “He’s been working hard and is probably fitter now than he was at the end of last season. Cornell is a tough bloke. His response to the physio at the time of the injury [last October] was ‘my ankle is a bit sore’ while he was lying there with his foot facing the wrong way. He’s a pretty tough character and playing won’t worry him at all.”"

The man is a machine

This is excellent news. Coman has come on leaps and bounds for us this season, but if he's a 8 with Grant at 6 and Watson at 7, we do lack ball carrying muscle.

[BigGee]

I think we are looking at a back row of Grant/Watson, Coman and Du Preez with whoever does not start at OS on the bench. Du Preez can moved to 8 if required and Roddy can cover BS. Its a pretty good back row. Its tough for Dents, who seems to have had no luck this season but has already had a few head bangs, so not surprising they are giving him time to come back.

McInally I think will cover hooker from the bench, but will be another backrow option if needed. I just hope that Solly gives him a decent run in the second half when Ford starts to tire. Gloucester have a pretty decent front row, so that is going to be a battle and some fresh legs will help.

[Nematode]

I don't know, Du Preez has only come back from injury - to start a final might after only 40 mins game time so far is a big ask.

I think we'll see Mcinally, Grant, Coman with Du Preez and Watson benching

[VinceWLB]

I don't know, Du Preez has only come back from injury - to start a final might after only 40 mins game time so far is a big ask.

I think we'll see Mcinally, Grant, Coman with Du Preez and Watson benching

This is the back rowers i would pick too, with Denton being ruled out. I think McInally would be wasted on the bench and Watson and du Preez are probably a few weeks away from starting in such an important game.

Also as RDW pointed out, i dont see the point in having Heathcote on the bench.

[George Carlin]

Okay - so it's a 6-2 bench split and the Ginger Midget starts with CDP and Watson on the bench.

Simples - RDW - please tweet the final team to EdinburghRugby immediately and someone will surely inscribe it on papyrus paper for Grandpappy and give it to him with a fruit tea and a nice digestive.

[RDW]

So, just to confirm:

1 Traynor
2 Hilterbrand
3 Gilding
4 Alex Toolis
5 Gilchrist (in sure he can run off a broken arm
6 LeonardI
7 Ford ( Fraser Brown played well there and he's a hooker....)
8 Visser (sink or swim - time to man up

9 Kennedy (see Gilchrist)
10 Strauss (why not)
11 Cuthbert
12 Atiga
13 Dominguez
14 Nikki Walker (about time he played a game
15 McLennan

That about right?

[InjuredYetAgain]

Is that not the team that got pumped by 60 by the Ospreys? It is the only rational explanation for a doing like that

[Nematode]

Is Nick Mclennan injured atm?

[RDW]

Is Nick Mclennan injured atm?

If that's the only issue you have with that team I'd give up following rugby if I were you!

[Nematode]

Is Nick Mclennan injured atm?

If that's the only issue you have with that team I'd give up following rugby if I were you!

Just wondering what happened to him when you mentioned him in your 'dream' team.

[InjuredYetAgain]

Does anyone else get the Glasgow / Edinburgh train? The WiFi on it is honking. I've lost count of the number of posts i ose because the service breaks up. Goddam ball-ache.

[funnyExiledScot]

So, just to confirm:

1 Traynor
2 Hilterbrand
3 Gilding
4 Alex Toolis
5 Gilchrist (in sure he can run off a broken arm
6 LeonardI
7 Ford ( Fraser Brown played well there and he's a hooker....)
8 Visser (sink or swim - time to man up

9 Kennedy (see Gilchrist)
10 Strauss (why not)
11 Cuthbert
12 Atiga
13 Dominguez
14 Nikki Walker (about time he played a game
15 McLennan

That about right?

Titterall at hooker please and Chris Lack (at least that's how it should have been spelled) at 9. We never should gave let those boys go. That's the calibre of NSQ we need.....

[funnyExiledScot]

I'm reminded of the line from the Oakland A's scouting meeting from 'Moneyball':

"Who have we signed to replace Giambi at first base?"
"Scott Hatteberg."
"Who?"
"Exactly. He sounds like an Oakland A already."

God I love that film.

"If we play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there."

Best sports film since Jerry Maguire....

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