Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread IX

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Time Honoured 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
https://www.606v2.com/t58659-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-viii

A. Edinburgh (2015-2016)
 
Players In
William Helu from Wasps
Nasi Manu from Highlanders
Nathan Fowles from Sale Sharks
Michael Allen from Ulster
Jack Cosgrove from Worcester Warriors

Players Out
Tom Heathcote to Worcester Warriors
Grayson Hart to Glasgow Warriors
Ollie Atkins to Exeter Chiefs
Tim Visser to Harlequins
 
B. Glasgow (2015-2016)

Players In
Simone Favaro from Benetton Treviso
Grayson Hart from Edinburgh
Kieran Low from London Irish
Mike Blair from Newcastle Falcons
Sam Johnson from Queensland Reds
Greg Peterson from Leicester Tigers
Taqele Naiyaravoro from NSW Waratahs
Javan Sebastian from Carmarthen Quins

Players Out
Nikola Matawalu to Bath Rugby
Sean Maitland to London Irish
D.T.H. van der Merwe to Scarlets
Dougie Hall retired
Jon Welsh to Newcastle Falcons
Alastair Kellock retired
Murray McConnell to Nottingham
James Downey to Wasps
Tommy Spinks to Jersey
Euan Murray to Pau
Connor Braid released

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

So, I get a Father's Day card from young Pipetto in which he has written,
"How did you ever play on the wing?"

He's certainly gobby enough to be a scrum half.

That counts to confiscate his Warriors hat James !

Btw only c.60 season tickets left in the East Stand for next season.   North and Main Stand seasons all gone  

Ah but I decided to let him live after he took my breath away with two moments of sublime skill at training. They drew cries of "Fijian" and "Dancer" from me. Pipetto knew what I meant but I'm sure the other parents think I'm totally mental.
Not that I'm biased , but if Pipetto ever puts the words "running" and "fast" together in a rugby context he could be not a bad player.

Think or know ?

[funnyExiledScot]

So, I get a Father's Day card from young Pipetto in which he has written,
"How did you ever play on the wing?"

He's certainly gobby enough to be a scrum half.

That counts to confiscate his Warriors hat James !

Btw only c.60 season tickets left in the East Stand for next season.   North and Main Stand seasons all gone  

Right - more austerity required!!

[tigertattie]

 

Ah but I decided to let him live after he took my breath away with two moments of sublime skill at training. They drew cries of "Fijian" and "Dancer" from me. Pipetto knew what I meant but I'm sure the other parents think I'm totally mental.
Not that I'm biased , but if Pipetto ever puts the words "running" and "fast" together in a rugby context he could be not a bad player.

You don't actually need to be fast to be a winger in rugby!

Just ask Sean Lamont!

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Excuse me tt but is Jack Cuthbert not a former winger ? If so he is slower than a week in the jail !!!!!

[funnyExiledScot]

I think Cuthbert has always seen himself as a 15, but that various coaches have seen fit to plonk him on the wing when injuries to others have taken hold.

Scotland has a proud history of slow wingers.

S Lamont, Danielli, Henderson, McLaren, Logan, Longstaff, Walker, Reid, M Dods.....

[jimbopip]

I think Cuthbert has always seen himself as a 15, but that various coaches have seen fit to plonk him on the wing when injuries to others have taken hold.

Scotland has a proud history of slow wingers.

S Lamont, Danielli, Henderson, McLaren, Logan, Longstaff, Walker, Reid, M Dods.....

There's still hope for us all then.

[funnyExiledScot]

I think Cuthbert has always seen himself as a 15, but that various coaches have seen fit to plonk him on the wing when injuries to others have taken hold.

Scotland has a proud history of slow wingers.

S Lamont, Danielli, Henderson, McLaren, Logan, Longstaff, Walker, Reid, M Dods.....

There's still hope for us all then.

Absolutely. With the likes of Duncan Weir and Sean Lamont floating around like proverbial turds, a variation of "If Lee Dixon can play for England so can I" can certainly be deployed!

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

...and that Tonks guy too !

[George Carlin]

Tonkers Stonkers Bonkers.

Is he really now as highly rated as he once was by the vintage Chang dynasty rug collectors?

[tigertattie]

People that have played for Scotland that Tonks is better than (including but not limited to)

Brendan Laney
Andy Henderson
Lee Jones
Kenny Logan
Peter Horne

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

You having a laugh ? Tonks better than Horne Doubt if he is better than Lee Jones from what I have seen ! He (Tonks) is nowhere near an international player, howeve,r for all I care Cotter can fill the side with Luvvie duds and give us our players back to Scotstoun

[tigertattie]

there needs to be a hook, line and sinker emoticon

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

[tigertattie]

There there Mr Schiz

[George Carlin]

there needs to be a hook, line and sinker emoticon

[RDW]

Awfy quiet on here! Anyone got any stories?

I'm unfortunately now having to commute to Glasgow every day again for work.

Don't worry about me though - I've had my inoculations!

[jimbopip]

RDW, I trained with Pipetto's under 13's again yesterday. Fecc they're still fast... but I am catching up with them.

[RDW]

RDW, I trained with Pipetto's under 13's again yesterday. Fecc they're still fast... but I am catching up with them.

I still remember the first time I skinned my dad on the pitch - ghosted through a gap outside him during touch rugby.

Was a proud day. For me anyway!

[jimbopip]

Pipetto tried to skin me on the outside yesterday: I "touched " him over the sideline and onto his back.

Mind you he did a lovely show and go and put me in  for a try and then ran a lovely loop around me to score in the corner.

It was hot and thirsty work and I really felt for one of the lads, called Bobo. Nature has given him a front row's physique and he is totally de-skilled playing touch. He hated it, but in a few weeks he'll be in his element again.
Still, this isn't marking any exam papers. RDW, have you got over that initial fear and horror that Edinburghers Edinburgers Luvvies experience when visiting the dear green place? You know, that moment when strangers talk to you and attempt to make you feel welcome?

[RDW]

.
Still, this isn't marking any exam papers. RDW, have you got over that initial fear and horror that Edinburghers Edinburgers   Luvvies experience when visiting the dear green place? You know, that moment when strangers talk to you and attempt to make you feel welcome?

Well neither of those things actually happened, so I can’t comment yet!

[George Carlin]

.
Still, this isn't marking any exam papers. RDW, have you got over that initial fear and horror that Edinburghers Edinburgers   Luvvies experience when visiting the dear green place? You know, that moment when strangers talk to you and attempt to make you feel welcome?

Well neither of those things actually happened, so I can’t comment yet!

Stand at a street corner with a map wearing one of FES' tweed Barbour hunting jackets.

Someone will offer assistance within 2 minutes.

Cos that's the sort of golden people we are.

[jimbopip]

.
Still, this isn't marking any exam papers. RDW, have you got over that initial fear and horror that Edinburghers Edinburgers   Luvvies experience when visiting the dear green place? You know, that moment when strangers talk to you and attempt to make you feel welcome?

Well neither of those things actually happened, so I can’t comment yet!

Stand at a street corner with a map wearing one of FES' tweed Barbour hunting jackets. and exclaim loudly, "My but you see a startling range of mis-spelt tatoos when the sun's out"

Someone will offer assistance within 2 minutes.

Cos that's the sort of golden people we are.

[tigertattie]

.
Still, this isn't marking any exam papers. RDW, have you got over that initial fear and horror that Edinburghers Edinburgers   Luvvies experience when visiting the dear green place? You know, that moment when strangers talk to you and attempt to make you feel welcome?

Well neither of those things actually happened, so I can’t comment yet!

Stand at a street corner with a map wearing one of FES' tweed Barbour hunting jackets.

Someone will offer assistance within 2 minutes.

Cos that's the sort of golden people we are.

by assistance, you mean robbed?

and by golden, you mean schemey?

[madmaccas]

Don't know it's been mentioned, but there's an interesting article on the BBC site about Colin Deans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33284325

What really jumped out was him saying Kevin Bryce is frustrated at the Warriors. I suppose it's not a surprise, but it's hardly going to ingratiate him to Townsend going into his last year. You'd expect Deans to be a little more discreet.

[jimbopip]

Don't know it's been mentioned, but there's an interesting article on the BBC site about Colin Deans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/33284325

What really jumped out was him saying Kevin Bryce is frustrated at the Warriors. I suppose it's not a surprise, but it's hardly going to ingratiate him to Townsend going into his last year. You'd expect Deans to be a little more discreet.

There's two words you seldom see in the same sentence. Rather like FES and socialist.

[RDW]

I don't think it is a big deal - I'm sure he's told Toony himself that he's frustrated.

It's hardly rocket science either - he hardly gets played, he's going to be frustrated!

He should get plenty gametime in the world cup though which is good - he looks a decent player.

[jimbopip]

The interesting thing is that Deans says, "Should I advise him to go to a Championship club? Probably."
Championship?
How would that help him?
That's like saying, "Look Farquhar minor, you're still obsessed with dressing like a Beau Brummel Georgian dandy. You really must catch up with the times. Here's the name of Fes's tailor."

[tigertattie]

The interesting thing is that Deans says, "Should I advise him to go to a Championship club? Probably."
Championship?
How would that help him?
That's like saying, "Look Farquhar minor, you're still obsessed with dressing like a Beau Brummel Georgian dandy. You really must catch up with the times. Her's the name of Fes's tailor."

[Imperialbigdave]

I really am becoming quite concerned by Edinburghs complete lack of any effort to bring through some Scottish centres, especially with the injury crisis the national team is now having which wouldnt be as severe if Solomans would stop with Andries Strauss and find a local lad who couldnt be any worse.

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/15/06/29/bt-sport-scottish-rugby-academy-reaches-significant-milestone

The player allocation of the academies this year. Edinburgh with not a single centre in theirs. Glasgow with the incumbent Scotland under 20s pairing, plus Robbie Ferguson amongst others. I seriously hope we at least tried to get one or more of these guys and that they perhaps just chose Glasgow over Edinburgh, because if we didnt make any attempt to lure one of them here then the edinburgh management team should be facing serious questions. Weve ditched Chris Auld it would appear going by the Edinburgh squad page, and Chris Dean is still totally unproven as a centre, although we have high hopes for him. That means we have Dean and Scott as the only two scottish centres in the club, with Scotts long term future looking very uncertain. This is just not good enough. The current injury crisis should really be waking up whoever is allowing this to happen.

[RDW]

I really am becoming quite concerned by Edinburghs complete lack of any effort to bring through some Scottish centres, especially with the injury crisis the national team is now having which wouldnt be as severe if Solomans would stop with Andries Strauss and find a local lad who couldnt be any worse.

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/15/06/29/bt-sport-scottish-rugby-academy-reaches-significant-milestone

The player allocation of the academies this year. Edinburgh with not a single centre in theirs. Glasgow with the incumbent Scotland under 20s pairing, plus Robbie Ferguson amongst others. I seriously hope we at least tried to get one or more of these guys and that they perhaps just chose Glasgow over Edinburgh, because if we didnt make any attempt to lure one of them here then the edinburgh management team should be facing serious questions. Weve ditched Chris Auld it would appear going by the Edinburgh squad page, and Chris Dean is still totally unproven as a centre, although we have high hopes for him. That means we have Dean and Scott as the only two scottish centres in the club, with Scotts long term future looking very uncertain. This is just not good enough. The current injury crisis should really be waking up whoever is allowing this to happen.

You make a very good, and worrying point!

We can only hope there's a big SQ centre signing on the cards...

[Prothero]

Soloman's is always going to point out the SQ Beard, Burliegh and Mclennan as being Scottish Centres. I for one would prefer they wernt in the squad but until we find away of allowing our young Scottish Players to actually Play Rugby at the level required (ie genuine Pro 12 Game time) We wont see any Scots Developed at Edinburgh as Solomans has Shown no interest in Blooding youth unless he has to through injury.

I hope he realises that his as a legacy no one will remember how many time his side professionally managed away trips to italy. It will be whether he developed talent's like Bradbury, Dean, Watson, Kinghorn and Hoyland into International Players. Or as i suspect what will happen is he will be conservative and continue to fill the side with 27 year old SQ southern Hemisphere also rans. Strangling there opportunity and Confidence before they are jettisoned at 24 to the Championship.

Its worth remembering that Gilchrist, Scott, Denton and Fife were blooded by  previous Coach Bradbury, as a result they are seasoned Pro 12 Players and now (If they stay healthy) will be big parts of Edinburgh / Scotlands next few years.

[RDW]

Beard and Burleigh aren't SQ.

Beard has another season, Burleigh 2 seasons I think.

[Prothero]

Ah your Right *Doths cap* Could have sworn Beard played in the Scotland tour of South Afrika a few years ago but cant find any evidence of it? ach it was Grayson Hart i was thinking off doh!

[RDW]

Bad news for Glasgow - rumours are coming out of Australia that big T is going to be named in the Australia squad, and it will put his move to Glasgow in doubt.

Not sure how he'll get out of a signed contract, but I don't think this story is over yet...

[jimbopip]

RDW, you just can't wait till November when you can resume telling kids that Santa's dead- his reindeer ate him.
Big Tacky longs for Scotstoun and has wet dreams about winning the Pro 12. No-one wants to be a Wallaby.

[nickj]

I really am becoming quite concerned by Edinburghs complete lack of any effort to bring through some Scottish centres, especially with the injury crisis the national team is now having which wouldnt be as severe if Solomans would stop with Andries Strauss and find a local lad who couldnt be any worse.

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/15/06/29/bt-sport-scottish-rugby-academy-reaches-significant-milestone

The player allocation of the academies this year. Edinburgh with not a single centre in theirs. Glasgow with the incumbent Scotland under 20s pairing, plus Robbie Ferguson amongst others. I seriously hope we at least tried to get one or more of these guys and that they perhaps just chose Glasgow over Edinburgh, because if we didnt make any attempt to lure one of them here then the edinburgh management team should be facing serious questions. Weve ditched Chris Auld it would appear going by the Edinburgh squad page, and Chris Dean is still totally unproven as a centre, although we have high hopes for him. That means we have Dean and Scott as the only two scottish centres in the club, with Scotts long term future looking very uncertain. This is just not good enough. The current injury crisis should really be waking up whoever is allowing this to happen.

Does that list bear any relation to this year's EDP announcement? I'm thinking particularly the Stage 3'ers. If it does, the stand outs for me are Paddy Kelly, the U20's inside centre and the two Glaswegian second rows. I think they'll definitely see some game time during the RWC. Edinburgh look a bit light, but the likes of Bradbury, Kinghorn etc aren't listed so they must be on full time contracts now? Its also great to see Robbie Fergusson back after his hellish illness.

[RDW]

Bradbury, Kinghorn and Ritchie singed full pro deals – Ritchie was only 17 at the time so don’t quite follow the reasoning for it!

Kinghorn is only 18!

[Hazel Sapling]

I watched the Waratahs game against the Highlanders and was not particularly impressed with Big tacky. Far preferred the Highlander's Fijian wings. Watching through some of the Waratahs games, there are flashes but he is nowhere near the Australian first team in my opinion.

Does anyone know when the SRU annual accounts are out?

[nickj]

Cheers RDW. Good to know. Marked for great things...

[EWT Spoons]

I really am becoming quite concerned by Edinburghs complete lack of any effort to bring through some Scottish centres, especially with the injury crisis the national team is now having which wouldnt be as severe if Solomans would stop with Andries Strauss and find a local lad who couldnt be any worse.

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/15/06/29/bt-sport-scottish-rugby-academy-reaches-significant-milestone

The player allocation of the academies this year. Edinburgh with not a single centre in theirs. Glasgow with the incumbent Scotland under 20s pairing, plus Robbie Ferguson amongst others. I seriously hope we at least tried to get one or more of these guys and that they perhaps just chose Glasgow over Edinburgh, because if we didnt make any attempt to lure one of them here then the edinburgh management team should be facing serious questions. Weve ditched Chris Auld it would appear going by the Edinburgh squad page, and Chris Dean is still totally unproven as a centre, although we have high hopes for him. That means we have Dean and Scott as the only two scottish centres in the club, with Scotts long term future looking very uncertain. This is just not good enough. The current injury crisis should really be waking up whoever is allowing this to happen.

There are a few concerning points related to that link.

1. There is a quote from everyone’s favourite Aussie, and not once does he mention bikinis or playing above the ground, or really anything that sounds like gibberish.  What are we paying him for if not for his random quotes?!
2. There are 6 players from Ayr going to the Glasgow academy, may god have mercy on us all, they are going to be unstoppable with the level of World class talent available to them.
3. The Edinburgh academy seems to be using the pitches at the park at sighthill, this is just a public park and isn’t in the best of areas (the pavilion next to the park had “I’m sorry Shona take me back” spray painted on it for several months) so will be subjected to issues that public parks face, dogs and broken glass.  Not ideal academy features.

[jimbopip]

I really am becoming quite concerned by Edinburghs complete lack of any effort to bring through some Scottish centres, especially with the injury crisis the national team is now having which wouldnt be as severe if Solomans would stop with Andries Strauss and find a local lad who couldnt be any worse.

http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/15/06/29/bt-sport-scottish-rugby-academy-reaches-significant-milestone

The player allocation of the academies this year. Edinburgh with not a single centre in theirs. Glasgow with the incumbent Scotland under 20s pairing, plus Robbie Ferguson amongst others. I seriously hope we at least tried to get one or more of these guys and that they perhaps just chose Glasgow over Edinburgh, because if we didnt make any attempt to lure one of them here then the edinburgh management team should be facing serious questions. Weve ditched Chris Auld it would appear going by the Edinburgh squad page, and Chris Dean is still totally unproven as a centre, although we have high hopes for him. That means we have Dean and Scott as the only two scottish centres in the club, with Scotts long term future looking very uncertain. This is just not good enough. The current injury crisis should really be waking up whoever is allowing this to happen.

There are a few concerning points related to that link.

1. There is a quote from everyone’s favourite Aussie, and not once does he mention bikinis or playing above the ground, or really anything that sounds like gibberish.  What are we paying him for if not for his random quotes?!
2. There are 6 players from Ayr going to the Glasgow academy, may god have mercy on us all, they are going to be unstoppable with the level of World class talent available to them.
3. The Edinburgh academy seems to be using the pitches at the park at sighthill, this is just a public park and isn’t in the best of areas (the pavilion next to the park had “I’m sorry Shona take me back” spray painted on it for several months) so will be subjected to issues that public parks face, dogs and broken glass.  Not ideal academy features.

This begs three questions;
For what?
Did she/
and did Fes spray this heartfelt message himself or did he instruct Mellors, the Handyman, to do it for him. (If it's in Gothic Bold my money's on the dandified one).

[RDW]

Well Nasi Manu will be coming to Murrayfield with a Super Rugby winners medal round his neck - bet he's looking forward to it....!

[Imperialbigdave]

Well Nasi Manu will be coming to Murrayfield with a Super Rugby winners medal round his neck - bet he's looking forward to it....!

The battle for the backrow spots will be interesting this year.

Ritchie, Bradbury, Grant, Watson, Denton, Coman, Manu, Du Preez and Miller, with Rambo providing injury cover.

Looking pretty tasty.

[RDW]

Well Nasi Manu will be coming to Murrayfield with a Super Rugby winners medal round his neck - bet he's looking forward to it....!

The battle for the backrow spots will be interesting this year.

Ritchie, Bradbury, Grant, Watson, Denton, Coman, Manu, Du Preez and Miller, with Rambo providing injury cover.

Looking pretty tasty.

Absolutely. Solomons keeps saying he wants young players to be able to learn from experienced pros, and you can't get any better than a Super Rugby winning captain!

Whether or not they get any game time is another question!

[George Carlin]

Well Nasi Manu will be coming to Murrayfield with a Super Rugby winners medal round his neck - bet he's looking forward to it....!

The battle for the backrow spots will be interesting this year.

Ritchie, Bradbury, Grant, Watson, Denton, Coman, Manu, Du Preez and Miller, with Rambo providing injury cover.

Looking pretty tasty.

If Coman People regularly holds down a starting jersey amongst that competition, then that truly is ridiculous.

Imagine Manu, Du Preez and Denton as a loose forward trio. Absolutely brutal.

[RDW]

That's the worry - if he's made captain then one of those 3 will miss out every squad. Coman was much, much better last season but not in the class of those 3.

Plus, a SR captain hasn't been brought over here at great expense to not be selected, and Du Preez is such a beast, so that would mean Denton missing out - the onlybSQ one!

In my mind it goes

.6 - Du Preez, Coman
7 - Watson, Grant
8 - Manu, Denton

The fact that 2 of those players will miss out on a match day squad is incredible.

[George Carlin]

Let's hope Manu has the same impact at Edinburgh that Strauss had at Glasgow.

There's every chance.

[funnyExiledScot]

Let's hope Manu has the same impact at Edinburgh that Strauss had at Glasgow.

There's every chance.

I hope he has more impact personally.....

[George Carlin]

Let's hope Manu has the same impact at Edinburgh that Strauss had at Glasgow.

There's every chance.

I hope he has more impact personally.....

More impact than being the club captain, a key player in a championship winning side and a Pro 12 dream teamer?

I think the only way that this is possible would be if he personally built Edinburgh a new 10,000 seater stadium on the back pitches during his lunch breaks.

[George Carlin]

Just to confirm that these are now available and that I have ordered one for FES, RDW and Maj which Jimbo will hand deliver to you, duly wrapped in a sock and thrown through your windows at 4am on Sunday:

No, no. Don't thank me.

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