Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country

by IanBru Wed Jan 20, 2016 7:15 pm

First topic message reminder :

A Brief History of Time-Wasting
Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 5 EsZNtP0

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 5 EsZNtP0

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 5 MitlgiA

1872 Champions

Glasgow
Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 5 Cg1RGJa

1872 Runners-up

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's THE RUN IN!

by thegreenhat Wed Feb 03, 2016 2:17 pm

thanks!

aye - probably better described as "long time lurker, second time poster" as i totally forgot that, once upon a time, i had another opinion which i felt the need to share...!

see you all again in 2020!

by Tattie Scones RRN Wed Feb 03, 2016 2:23 pm

Welcome greenhat and we'd all be delighted of you posted regularly....safety in numbers and all that.

I see your point about local community but I can't think of any other professional sports outfit that does more than the Warriors. That's if their tweets are anything to go by.

Unfortunately, cash wins when it comes to Councils and if the Warriors are bring more money in, then everything else loses out.

There is scope for a good partnership though between both parties and I'm sure with some sensible discussions, something could be worked out.

by Hazel Sapling Wed Feb 03, 2016 2:30 pm

thegreenhat wrote:hi - long time reader, first time poster. big fan of the Warriors and Scotland, and occasionally attend the games of both (including this weekend! ) but as a former athlete including sprints and javelin, i can totally sympathise with the athletics club here.

a 3g pitch sadly would not work for the field events - in particular, hammer and javelin. so these events would presumably need to be relegated to some back field away from the main stand - hardly inclusive for what is a very inclusive sport.

i understand that the main beef is that the track has more or less been made unavailable to the athletics club and the general public as it has a whacking great "temporary" stand on the back straight for the majority of the year.

moreover, there hasn't been any international athletics meet held at Scotstoun for a number of years, not least presumably as Warriors has had first dibs.

the SRU (as tenant) and the council (as owner) need to come up with a viable solution which works for all stakeholders, including the local community and other less well off sports that rely upon this public resource. not saying SRU is rolling in it, but athletics is an amateur sport at the grass roots, particularly at City of Glasgow/Victoria Park AAC (or whatever name(s) they go by these days).

Also, Warriors market themselves pretty heavily as a community/family oriented club - if they're pushing for 3g without considering the valid concerns of the community they're based in it hardly fits with that claim.

I want Warriors and Scottish rugby to succeed, but not at the expense of the less well resourced sports which have as much right to support (financial or otherwise).

as for "the children of Scotstoun" - if you haven't had the experience of running at Crownpoint in the East End whilst dodging pot shots from weans with air rifles, you haven't lived...

The SRU need to do more to include the local community and work on transportation links if they want to stay. It is rough on the athletics, but the money to support the facilities have to come from somewhere. I doubt the athletics could support it and the council is already dealing with cuts (I imagine). The costs for running the stadium may not be as high without additional tenancy, but that is the issue. If it costs £250k, could the athletics support it? Ultimately a football or rugby tenant would be required to sustain the stadium without a significant hike in fees for the athletics (and the children of Scotstoun) or an increase in council tax for the council to bear the cost. As for international meets, I doubt Glasgow will ever be high on the calendar with so many cities vying for them. You could generate quite a bit of excitement in Glasgow for local and national athletic meets, but that takes time and money that presently I don't see in amateur clubs (or austerity councils).

Not sure the SRU have the money to build a new stadium (and Edinburgh need to build theirs on the outer Murrayfield pitches) so something has to be agreed. Need good relations with locals to have them attend and benefit (from increased footfall at local businesses) rather than just the negatives (drunk Glaswegians).

by MacKnocked-on Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:25 pm

Article in today's Scotsman about the 1144.8 hectares of derelict land in Glasgow as of 2015. 60% of residents live less than 500m from a brownfield site apparently. Certainly no shortage of space for an alternative rugby or athletics venue.

by **RDW** Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:30 pm

So, basically, most of Glasgow is a dump? Run

by thegreenhat Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:39 pm

dear brown place

by funnyExiledScot Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:46 pm

MacKnocked-on wrote:Article in today's Scotsman about the 1144.8 hectares of derelict land in Glasgow as of 2015. 60% of residents live less than 500m from a brownfield site apparently. Certainly no shortage of space for an alternative rugby or athletics venue.

Perhaps Edinburgh could build a stadium there.....NOT...

by MacKnocked-on Wed Feb 03, 2016 3:56 pm

Somebody might still get Ibrox stadium on the cheap one of these days..

by funnyExiledScot Wed Feb 03, 2016 5:37 pm

I see Glasgow have signed a new tighthead:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35483455

Apparently he's played with Grayson Hart before, so he must be good.....

by **RDW** Wed Feb 03, 2016 5:41 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I see Glasgow have signed a new tighthead:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/35483455

Apparently he's played with Grayson Hart before, so he must be good.....

That was sooo 5 hours ago FES!

by funnyExiledScot Wed Feb 03, 2016 9:57 pm

Oops, how right you are. To summarise: he already looks a bit rubbish....

by IanBru Wed Feb 03, 2016 11:47 pm

In 606 Alumnus news, you'll be shocked to hear that the livelihood of our departed chum ASBO is under threat:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b06zlm5q/newsnight-03022016
(skip to 39:32)

by **George Carlin** Thu Feb 04, 2016 7:32 am

thegreenhat wrote:dear brown place

Welcome Green. Tell us about yourself.

by MacKnocked-on Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:52 pm

If too many people in Edinburgh spill balsamic vinegar during a picnic at the Meadows, does that then make it a brownfield site?

by funnyExiledScot Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:43 pm

RDW - explain yourself.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35492023

by **RDW** Thu Feb 04, 2016 1:54 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:RDW - explain yourself.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35492023

Just a ploy to keep the Fifers out of Edinburgh!

by **George Carlin** Thu Feb 04, 2016 2:27 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:RDW - explain yourself.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35492023

If you need something to put inside the "600 HGVs crossing the bridge each night", then I will happily loan part of my wife's shoe collection.

by funnyExiledScot Thu Feb 04, 2016 4:17 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:RDW - explain yourself.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35492023

Just a ploy to keep the Fifers out of Edinburgh!

Well done!

by funnyExiledScot Thu Feb 04, 2016 4:18 pm

George Carlin wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:RDW - explain yourself.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-35492023
If you need something to put inside the "600 HGVs crossing the bridge each night", then I will happily loan part of my wife's shoe collection.

Or alternatively Ben Atiga's food shopping receipts....

by jimbopip Thu Feb 04, 2016 5:27 pm

George Carlin wrote:
thegreenhat wrote:dear brown place
Welcome Green. Tell us about yourself.

George!!!

Think what you're saying. Do we not have enough drivel about

babies (Fes)

weddings (RDW)

care in the community (Schiz and assorted carers)

Byzantian courtship rituals (Bru and Lady Bru of The Toon nee Hagia Sophia)

lawn maintenance (Nematode)

Plugs for my latest "vine" I made ~~to impress my~~ because I haven't got a girlfriend (Glove)

Sometimes I think I'm the only one on here talking about rugby. Whistle

by cakeordeath Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:16 am

jimbopip wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
thegreenhat wrote:dear brown place
Welcome Green. Tell us about yourself.

care in the community (everyone)

Fixed that for you

by funnyExiledScot Fri Feb 05, 2016 9:42 am

jimbopip wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
thegreenhat wrote:dear brown place
Welcome Green. Tell us about yourself.

George!!!

Think what you're saying. Do we not have enough drivel about

babies (Fes)

weddings (RDW)

care in the community (Schiz and assorted carers)

Byzantian courtship rituals (Bru and Lady Bru of The Toon nee Hagia Sophia)

lawn maintenance (Nematode)

Plugs for my latest "vine" I made ~~to impress my~~ because I haven't got a girlfriend (Glove)

Sometimes I think I'm the only one on here talking about rugby.

Wait. Is this a rugby thread??

by jimbopip Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:10 am

Cake

Fes

Laughing helps the pre-Calcutta nerves.

by funnyExiledScot Fri Feb 05, 2016 10:30 am

jimbopip wrote:Cake
Fes

Laughing helps the pre-Calcutta nerves.

I always get nervous before Scotland games and am terrible company during games (more so than usual....). I'm better watching Edinburgh but there's something unsettling about watching Scotland in the 6 Nations. I'll enjoy watching Ireland vs Wales considerably more - even if Scotland win tomorrow. Even if Scoland are 30 points up with 10 minutes to go, I'll still be fidgety.

by **George Carlin** Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:12 am

I actually think that this Calcutta Cup match may be one of those where I can only watch it if I already know which side will win. I cannot cope with another last minute implosion orchestrated by the Meatball or Hogg tw@tting someone and then pretending he was provoked. Surely to god we have a chance though?

by MacKnocked-on Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:13 am

On this Calcutta Cup weekend I would say the prize for most Scottish sounding rugby player in action has to go to Ruaridh McConnochie of England 7s, sounds like one that got away.

by IanBru Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:14 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:
jimbopip wrote:Cake
Fes

Laughing helps the pre-Calcutta nerves.

I always get nervous before Scotland games and am terrible company during games (more so than usual....). I'm better watching Edinburgh but there's something unsettling about watching Scotland in the 6 Nations. I'll enjoy watching Ireland vs Wales considerably more - even if Scotland win tomorrow. Even if Scoland are 30 points up with 10 minutes to go, I'll still be fidgety.

That's so true. I have learned to deal with the pain of Scotland being behind in a match. One might even say it is the psychological state with which I approach most things in life...

However, I am not mentally prepared for Scotland being in the lead. It feels distinctly odd. I'll admit this publicly right now - I cried during the Scotland v Australia game, but it wasn't when we lost, or even when Joubert legged it; no, I cried when Mark Bennett scored, as the possibility of winning was all too much for my often-fragile grip on reality.

by MacKnocked-on Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:21 am

If I can just silence that little voice in my head that keeps repeating 'rolling maul, rolling maul, rolling mau..' then I would be feeling a lot happier about tomorrow..

by RuggerRadge2611 Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:21 am

IanBru wrote:
funnyExiledScot wrote:
jimbopip wrote:Cake
Fes

Laughing helps the pre-Calcutta nerves.

I always get nervous before Scotland games and am terrible company during games (more so than usual....). I'm better watching Edinburgh but there's something unsettling about watching Scotland in the 6 Nations. I'll enjoy watching Ireland vs Wales considerably more - even if Scotland win tomorrow. Even if Scoland are 30 points up with 10 minutes to go, I'll still be fidgety.
That's so true. I have learned to deal with the pain of Scotland being behind in a match. One might even say it is the psychological state with which I approach most things in life...

However, I am not mentally prepared for Scotland being in the lead. It feels distinctly odd. I'll admit this publicly right now - I cried during the Scotland v Australia game, but it wasn't when we lost, or even when Joubert legged it; no, I cried when Mark Bennett scored, as the possibility of winning was all too much for my often-fragile grip on reality.

Tell me about it. The optimism is gnawing at my core like a cancer...

I have also managed to secure a ticket for tomorrows game... some rather nice chap from Manchester was selling one on gum tree...

If I have been groomed and murdered by some lunatic and If this should be my last post in this thread please rename this banter thread in my honour...

by IanBru Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:42 am

Will do, Radge.
"Ongoing Banter Thread XII - RuggerRadge2611, In Memoriam.

Dulce et decorum est, pro match ticket mori."

by RuggerRadge2611 Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:44 am

IanBru wrote:Will do, Radge.
"Ongoing Banter Thread XII - RuggerRadge2611, In Memoriam.

Dulce et decorum est, pro match ticket mori."

You'll have to use something other than Latin I'm naught but a humble Fifer.

by IanBru Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:45 am

"It is a good and noble thing to die for a match ticket."

by RuggerRadge2611 Fri Feb 05, 2016 11:50 am

"It is a good and noble thing to die for a match ticket."

ahhhh, for further Fifer digestion :

"some silly fat tawbag got mugged aaff and kill'd by some English punter floggin' aaff a ticket for the egg chasin' "

by funnyExiledScot Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:26 pm

I'm sofa bound for the game tomorrow which is probably a good thing. I can always switch over to Celebrity Wipeout on Dave if things don't go well.

by jimbopip Fri Feb 05, 2016 2:29 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:"It is a good and noble thing to die for a match ticket."

ahhhh, for further Fifer digestion :

"some silly fat tawbag got mugged aaff and kill'd by some English punter floggin' aaff a ticket for the egg chasin' "

I thought you said they didn't speak the Latin in Fife? Or is that low Elvish?

p.s. During the Australia game Mrs Pip called down from upstairs to enquire as to the score. I told her we were winning with two minutes to go.

"You must be really enjoying it then?"

"No, I'm just trying to figure out how we'll manage to lose this one."

As they say, it's the hope that really kills you.

by IanBru Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:14 pm

[reaching for axe] "Mrs Pip! I'm off to murder Paul Hogan"

[from upstairs] "That's nice dear, don't be late for dinner."

by jimbopip Fri Feb 05, 2016 3:26 pm

IanBru wrote:[reaching for axe] "Mrs Pip! I'm off to murder Paul Hogan"

[from upstairs] "That's nice dear, don't be late for making my dinner."

You haven't met Mrs Pip yet young Bru.

by **George Carlin** Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:59 am

Majestic83 wrote:
George Carlin wrote:
Majestic83 wrote:Glasgow have just tweeted that they are going to announce a new signing in the next hour.

Anyone got any ideas who it could be?
If there's a god in heaven, they will have drafted in Scotland's new 6 Nations team rep full time:

George, who is that??

My girlfriend Maj, why do you ask?

Seriously, this started as a joke on an Edinburgh match thread. Someone complained that it's always Georgia King who appears as Exfoliator team rep and I had to explain that the reason for this was that there are no famous, attractive women associated with Edinburgh apart from her and JK Rowling. Someone then asked why we didn't just post whom we wanted and completely invent an Edinburgh association because nobody would really know.

We then during a completely democratic electoral process* decided to adopt the same approach for Scotland during the 6 Nations as there are only so many reasonable shots of Nicola Sturgeon or Elaine C Smith in circulation. Facetiously, I have therefore elected Pia Miller as Scotland team rep during the tournament. Despite the fact she was born in Chile, grew up in Melbourne and has no association to Scotland whatsoever other than the fact she probably has a blue jumper and once watched Braveheart - she is astonishingly beautiful and (apart from those students/stoners/recently unemployed bridge engineers on these boards who might still watch Home and Away) nobody over here has really heard of her.

So if anyone asks you, she's totally Scottish. Cough.

*RDW and I really wanted to.

by **RDW** Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:01 pm

Great news for Edinburgh - Phil Burleigh has signed for another 2 years

Adding to the ten players already announced as committing their futures to the capital club next season, stand-off/centre Phil Burleigh will be continuing in the the black and red until May 2018.

He said: “I’m loving my time here, the club’s heading in the right direction under the guidance of Solly [Alan Solomons] and the other coaches so I see a good future for Edinburgh Rugby and I want to be part of it.”
Burleigh joined Edinburgh at the start of season 2014, at the conclusion of his Super Rugby season with the Dunedin-based Highlanders, and made his debut off the bench in the opening Guinness PRO12 round win over Munster
An early casualty of last season’s European Challenge Cup home match against Lyon, injury curtailed his involvement during the latter months of 2014 however he returned for the 1872 Scottish Cup win. His half-back partnership with Sam Hidalgo-Clyne in the European Cup semi-final win over Dragons was central to the victory and his performance in the match much lauded.
He said: “Winning the 1872 Scottish Cup twice now has been pretty big. My first year here I didn’t realise how big it was and this year I really felt the buzz.
“I think we’re building nicely towards our targets in the league this year and the next couple of seasons I see us challenging for more finals.”

Currently with 36 caps for the club, he scored the first of his six tries, to date, against Scarlets at the start of last season, the fourth after four minutes in the away win over Treviso in September 2015 and the most recent in the away 1872 Scottish Cup win which secured the silverware for Edinburgh.
He added: “The highlight of being at the club, generally, though has been getting to know the boys here – they’re a great group and I really enjoy working with them.”
Head coach Alan Solomons said: “It is fantastic news for the club that Burls [Phil Burleigh] has decided to extend his contract.
“He’s not only a great bloke and good team man but an outstanding and astute footballer.

“He has made a huge contribution to the development of the team since his arrival in Edinburgh.
“I am really looking forward to us continuing to work together as we strive to build on what has been achieved to date."

Phil Burleigh

Stand-off/centre

Born: 22 October 1986 in Christchurch, NZ

H: 1.82m

W: 96kg

Caps: 36 (32 starts, 4 replacement)

Points: 30 (6 tries)

Debut: v Munster (r) September 2014

by EWT Spoons Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:19 pm

Not sure I would go so far to say "great" news. But he's a decent enough player, not really up to it at 10, but next season he should play at 12 more which should see the best from him.

by **RDW** Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:22 pm

I think it is great news - he's a top class 12 and,like it or not, the best 10 we currently have so if he were to leave it would leave a hole needing filled. With Matt Scott gone him and Hidalgo-Clyne are our most important backs.

And like I said for tighthead - we have to be mindful of the calibre of player we can attract to replace these kind of players should they leave. I doubt we'd be able to sign someone of his quality to replace him.

by **BigGee** Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:36 pm

A very decent player, though preferably at 12 not 10 and with weir arriving, that is where he is likely to be based next season. He has an outside chance of being capped further down the line as well.

The FH situation in both clubs is going to be interesting from here on in. Russell and Weir are clearly going to be in pole positions but there is not a lot behind them and some back up is going to be required.

I wonder if we wil take punt on some of the promising younsters in the U20s. Hastings and Hutchinson both play FH, but the later as been moved out to the centres to accomodate the former. Both look decent prospects an neither seem likely to get much of a shot at Bath or Saints. Maybe we should get them both up, one to each club.

They need to decide where Kinghorne's long term future lies as wel. He has looked pretty decent at FB to be honest and that may be the best position for him longer term. If they see him as a FH, then surely he needs to start getting some gametime in that position.

by EWT Spoons Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:37 pm

The best 10 we have isn't exactly a tough contest at the moment. Plus we have Weir coming next season, who will be our first choice 10 so that hole is already filled (if he were to leave) you are right at 12 though with Scott going it would leave us closer to seeing Strauss each week, and no one wants that. So from the point of view of keeping Strauss away from the team, I would agree it's great news.

I don't know if he's a top class 12, but he's certainly going to be the best 12 at the club next season once Scott goes. Arguably though we're going to have to fill a gap there anyway, Strauss is 31 and has to be on his way out. Burleigh will be 30 this year so will only have a year or two left in him at the top.

Burleigh is a good player and I'm glad he's signed up, I'm just not doing cartwheels about it.

by EWT Spoons Tue Feb 09, 2016 12:42 pm

BigGee wrote:A very decent player, though preferably at 12 not 10 and with weir arriving, that is where he is likely to be based next season. He has an outside chance of being capped further down the line as well..

I think that's probably unlikely, he'll be 31 by the time he qualifies for Scotland (only a couple of months shy of his 32 birthday). It's not impossible he could play in the autumn internationals, but considering the number of players he's already behind I can't see why the Scottish coaching team would play him ahead of say Scott/Dunbar/Horne

by EWT Spoons Tue Feb 09, 2016 1:03 pm

Scarlets vs Edinburgh match thread

https://www.606v2.com/t62100-pro-12-scarlets-vs-edinburgh-rugby-12th-feb

by **RDW** Tue Feb 09, 2016 1:13 pm

EWT Spoons wrote:The best 10 we have isn't exactly a tough contest at the moment. Plus we have Weir coming next season, who will be our first choice 10 so that hole is already filled (if he were to leave) you are right at 12 though with Scott going it would leave us closer to seeing Strauss each week, and no one wants that. So from the point of view of keeping Strauss away from the team, I would agree it's great news.

I don't know if he's a top class 12, but he's certainly going to be the best 12 at the club next season once Scott goes. Arguably though we're going to have to fill a gap there anyway, Strauss is 31 and has to be on his way out. Burleigh will be 30 this year so will only have a year or two left in him at the top.

Burleigh is a good player and I'm glad he's signed up, I'm just not doing cartwheels about it.

Well I think he's a very good 12 and as I said, I don't think we would have been able to sign someone of similar quality at 12 (i.e. if SANZAR then plentiful Super Rugby experience as a minimum) if he did leave.

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:32 pm

BigGee wrote:A very decent player, though preferably at 12 not 10 and with weir arriving, that is where he is likely to be based next season. He has an outside chance of being capped further down the line as well.

The FH situation in both clubs is going to be interesting from here on in. Russell and Weir are clearly going to be in pole positions but there is not a lot behind them and some back up is going to be required.

I wonder if we wil take punt on some of the promising younsters in the U20s. Hastings and Hutchinson both play FH, but the later as been moved out to the centres to accomodate the former. Both look decent prospects an neither seem likely to get much of a shot at Bath or Saints. Maybe we should get them both up, one to each club.

They need to decide where Kinghorne's long term future lies as wel. He has looked pretty decent at FB to be honest and that may be the best position for him longer term. If they see him as a FH, then surely he needs to start getting some gametime in that position.

I reckon Hastings will get a shot at Bath, granted not this season or next but I would not think that Ford and Priestland will be at bath forever. If he doesn't get a crack at the senior squad next season when Ford and Preistland will be on international duty I would like to see Edinburgh or Glasgow snap him up.

He turned quite a few heads in the U20 game so I wouldn't be surprised if other clubs showed an interest. Don't forget it was in a similar fixture that Bennett excelled in and found himself at Clermont.

by MacKnocked-on Tue Feb 09, 2016 2:51 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
BigGee wrote:A very decent player, though preferably at 12 not 10 and with weir arriving, that is where he is likely to be based next season. He has an outside chance of being capped further down the line as well.

The FH situation in both clubs is going to be interesting from here on in. Russell and Weir are clearly going to be in pole positions but there is not a lot behind them and some back up is going to be required.

I wonder if we wil take punt on some of the promising younsters in the U20s. Hastings and Hutchinson both play FH, but the later as been moved out to the centres to accomodate the former. Both look decent prospects an neither seem likely to get much of a shot at Bath or Saints. Maybe we should get them both up, one to each club.

They need to decide where Kinghorne's long term future lies as wel. He has looked pretty decent at FB to be honest and that may be the best position for him longer term. If they see him as a FH, then surely he needs to start getting some gametime in that position.

I reckon Hastings will get a shot at Bath, granted not this season or next but I would not think that Ford and Priestland will be at bath forever. If he doesn't get a crack at the senior squad next season when Ford and Preistland will be on international duty I would like to see Edinburgh or Glasgow snap him up.

He turned quite a few heads in the U20 game so I wouldn't be surprised if other clubs showed an interest. Don't forget it was in a similar fixture that Bennett excelled in and found himself at Clermont.

Hutchison looks good as well, obviously moved from 10 in last year's U20s to accommodate Hastings but he looks very comfortable at 13 with lots of pace. Could well be a good signing for Edinburgh playing outside Burleigh. I know they already have Dean in that role but I think Hutchison looks far quicker and Dean might well be a better 12 eventually.

by EWT Spoons Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:12 pm

Moving Dean to 12 would certainly make sense from an Edinburgh perspective, we have Allan, Helu & Beard who can play 13, but only Strauss & Burleigh next season who can play 12.

by **BigGee** Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:39 pm

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:
BigGee wrote:A very decent player, though preferably at 12 not 10 and with weir arriving, that is where he is likely to be based next season. He has an outside chance of being capped further down the line as well.

The FH situation in both clubs is going to be interesting from here on in. Russell and Weir are clearly going to be in pole positions but there is not a lot behind them and some back up is going to be required.

I wonder if we wil take punt on some of the promising younsters in the U20s. Hastings and Hutchinson both play FH, but the later as been moved out to the centres to accomodate the former. Both look decent prospects an neither seem likely to get much of a shot at Bath or Saints. Maybe we should get them both up, one to each club.

They need to decide where Kinghorne's long term future lies as wel. He has looked pretty decent at FB to be honest and that may be the best position for him longer term. If they see him as a FH, then surely he needs to start getting some gametime in that position.

I reckon Hastings will get a shot at Bath, granted not this season or next but I would not think that Ford and Priestland will be at bath forever. If he doesn't get a crack at the senior squad next season when Ford and Preistland will be on international duty I would like to see Edinburgh or Glasgow snap him up.

He turned quite a few heads in the U20 game so I wouldn't be surprised if other clubs showed an interest. Don't forget it was in a similar fixture that Bennett excelled in and found himself at Clermont.

They are both pushing 20 now and need to start getting some Pro game time if they are going to push on. Bath and Saints will always go for the big name proven players and will pay to get them, the same applies to pretty much every decent French side, Bennett only ever played for the Esposirs over there and it would be the same for either of them.

They should plan their next career moves depending on where they will feel they will get a chance to show their wares. Both Scottish clubs need FHs and will give whoever they have some game time. Look at Glasgow this weekend, they are likely to be playing Hunter or Lyle, neither of whom have ever started for them or even have anything much in terms of Pro experience either. It is not a good position for them to be in when they need to be picking up points at this stage of the season.

Still I live in hope. I watched that U20 game and a good few of them looked like they could play pro rugby in the future.

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