Edinburgh and Glasgow season summary and next season lookahead

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Edinburgh

Pro 12

League finish – 9th
Wins – 11
Losses – 11
Points F:A – 405:366
Try BP – 2
LBP – 8

Challenge Cup

3rd in Group

Trophies

1872 cup (again)

Pros

Not very much.  Another 1872 Cup win was a great achievement, particularly given the nature of both wins.  This should have led to a push for a Top 4 place but ended up being followed by a dramatic slump in form, losing numerous games in a row during the 6N period.

Trying to look at things positively, we were only 9 points off 6th place and given that there were 3 or 4 games this season that we really should have won, it shows we’re not that far off.  8 LBPs demonstrate that too. That is looking at things very positively though…

Need for improvement

Where to begin? Solomons negative gameplan and lack of rotation has once again cost us.  Our style of play looked positive when we beat Leinster in the opening game of the season, throwing the ball about and playing at a fast tempo – that disappeared very quickly however and we generally served some dross all season.  The 1872 games showed what happens when Solomons tactics are implemented fully as intended, but that was pretty much the only time we saw that all season. Desperately slow, cripplingly unimaginative – words that can be used to summarise most of our performances this season.

We have shown glimpses of good attacking rugby but it has only been when we were behind on the scoreboard – Connacht at home being a prime example.

Given the players we have and the investment in the squad Top 6 really should be our minimum expectation – it is on Solomons’ head that we have failed once again.


Glasgow

Pro 12

League finish – 3rd
Wins – 14
Losses – 7
Draws – 1
Points F:A – 557:380
Try BP – 8
LBP – 6

Champions Cup

2nd in group, failed to qualify

Trophies

None

Pros

Making the playoffs was a huge achievement given they had the most number of players at the World Cup out of any club in the world.  Combine that with the Scotland squad mainly coming from Glasgow and they had a lot of ground to catch up on after a poor start to the season. Ultimately it was a poor season given Glasgow’s high standards, but I don’t think we can underestimate the effect the World Cup had on the season.

Need for improvement

Once again Glasgow fell short in Europe, finishing 2nd but with not enough points.  It was a tough group but they are all tough groups. Unfortunately I can’t see things getting any easier for Glasgow now that they can no longer hold on to their top players – I suspect we’ll only see them qualify if they get some luck with their group draw (i.e. an Italian team).

Have I mentioned that Glasgow lost the 1872 cup (again?) having been soundly beaten over both legs?

Ultimately though things just haven’t clicked for Glasgow this season like they have in previous seasons – their rampant form of last year failed to materialise very often this season.  There are still questionmarks over the pack, with the lineout falling to pieces during the Pro 12 Semi final.

Things are going to become more difficult for Glasgow since they are now unable to hold on to some of their top players – Nakarawa is unreplaceable.

I think Glasgow will always be there or there abouts in the Pro 12 but it will be an uphill battle to repeat last year’s Pro 12 success from now on.  They are still better than Edinburgh though!

jimbopip wrote:Except for D'Justice and the Pukekohe Kid. They should be running up the dunes at Gullane till they vomit. Every day from now till August.

Should that not be Heads of Ayr, particularly if you want them to be sick. One of the dirtiest beaches in Scotland apparently.

Really wish Russell a swift recovery. Glasgow need another 10, there's no getting around that fact. They were light before his injury and don't want to start the season with one specialist 10.

What about trying to get Harry Leonard back from Leeds Carnegie? He's only 24 and has had a couple of seasons of regular Championship rugby under his belt.

If we are looking at Championship players, what about Lee Millar? Test him at a higher level and see if he can kick on.

I read an interview with Mitch Eadie's Scottish father online, he said he would like his son to opt for England as he thinks there's more scope for him if he remains EQ. Bit worrying really, from what I've seen of him, Mitch looks to be a real prospect with some serious pace for a back row player, faster than anybody currently in the Scotland squad with the possible exception of Watson, but Eadie is much bigger.
On the plus side it was Mitch himself who made himself known to the Exiles setup and traveled up to the trials at Murrayfield as a 17yr old, so he's shown commitment to Scotland.
Eadie has missed the last few Bristol games with an injury so the Japan tour would have been unlikely but I think Cotter needs to move quickly to secure him for Scotland.

I think by that it means he's more employable for clubs if he remains EQ - if he ties himself to Scotland then he'll be classed as non EQ.

He's not going to get picked by England any time soon!

Do you think his father was thinking that the professional club career in England would benefit from him selecting England and being EQ, or his international career?

I've seen Eadie play a few times, and he will never play for England. Currently in his position there sits Billy Vunipola and Ben Morgan, shortly to be joined by Nathan Hughes. Eddie Jones has also suggested that Jack Clifford could be a longer term prospect at number 8. These are serious players and all the right side of 25 (apart from Ben Morgan who is 27).

If his Dad wants to see his son play international rugby, then he should be directing him towards Vern Cotter. Cotter/Johnson like fast number 8s as well. It's pretty much all Ryan Wilson has going for him.

OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Is Eadie that good? I guess we will find out next year in the Aviva. If he is able to outplay Denton and Strauss (Wilson, Ashe less so), he might be worth bringing north in a couple of years time.

I wonder if Eadie wouldn't make a good 6 if not an 8, think he's got great potential either way, and at 24 he's still very young. I'm sure he's got more to offer than Wilson.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Is Eadie that good? I guess we will find out next year in the Aviva. If he is able to outplay Denton and Strauss (Wilson, Ashe less so), he might be worth bringing north in a couple of years time.

Obviously difficult to tell how good he is given he's been playing in the Championship, although England have called up a fellow Bristol player to play Wales, but he looks a real athlete and has scored a lot of tries for Bristol and try scoring 8s are not something we have in abundance.

funnyExiledScot wrote:OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Long overdue for that to happen from you!

Look up his stats at Bristol. 89 Championship games, 28 tries. Weighs 105kg (same as Wilson) so next year will be a good test to see if he is powerful enough to be an 8 at the highest level.

Being a good try scoring No.8 in the championship is a world away from being the same thing in the AP.

Like a lot of the Bristol players he is going to have to step up just to keep his place in the team, let alone think about international honours.

Robinson is already talking about improving the side. The team that got them out of the division (eventually) will be unrecognisable from the one that plays and tries to keep them in the AP next year.

Truth is we don't know how good Eadie really is playing at that level. We will probably have a much better idea if he is getting some regular game time next season.

MacKnocked-on wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:Is Eadie that good? I guess we will find out next year in the Aviva. If he is able to outplay Denton and Strauss (Wilson, Ashe less so), he might be worth bringing north in a couple of years time.

Obviously difficult to tell how good he is given he's been playing in the Championship, although England have called up a fellow Bristol player to play Wales, but he looks a real athlete and has scored a lot of tries for Bristol and try scoring 8s are not something we have in abundance.

Agreed, and it always helps to have forwards who can be clinical when close to the line. Look at what Waldrom has done for Exeter this season, and Nick Easter over the years as well.

Scotland have WP Nel, our try scoring prop, and Hardie in the back row, who also seems to keep his sh&t together when close to the line, but that's about it. Tom Smith used to be handy close to the line, and Martin Leslie before that, but too few and far between. When Du Preez becomes Scottish we'll have another one.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Long overdue for that to happen from you!

Cheeky scamp. You're just acting up on here because the Regime of the Wife has kicked in at home!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Long overdue for that to happen from you!

Cheeky scamp. You're just acting up on here because the Regime of the Wife has kicked in at home!

We've been together almost 11 years - nothing has changed now I've got a ring on my finger!

funnyExiledScot wrote:

MacKnocked-on wrote:

Hazel Sapling wrote:Is Eadie that good? I guess we will find out next year in the Aviva. If he is able to outplay Denton and Strauss (Wilson, Ashe less so), he might be worth bringing north in a couple of years time.

Obviously difficult to tell how good he is given he's been playing in the Championship, although England have called up a fellow Bristol player to play Wales, but he looks a real athlete and has scored a lot of tries for Bristol and try scoring 8s are not something we have in abundance.

Agreed, and it always helps to have forwards who can be clinical when close to the line. Look at what Waldrom has done for Exeter this season, and Nick Easter over the years as well.

Scotland have WP Nel, our try scoring prop, and Hardie in the back row, who also seems to keep his sh&t together when close to the line, but that's about it. Tom Smith used to be handy close to the line, and Martin Leslie before that, but too few and far between. When Du Preez becomes Scottish we'll have another one.

Denton,. Wilson and Strauss have 60 caps between them and 0 tries!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Long overdue for that to happen from you!

Cheeky scamp. You're just acting up on here because the Regime of the Wife has kicked in at home!

We've been together almost 11 years - nothing has changed now I've got a ring on my finger!

I just did some counting in my head. Did you guys meet at school??

Eadie has 35 tries in 108 games for Bristol, obviously playing the Championship but that is a very impressive statistic, I doubt Denton will score 35 tries in his life.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:OK, I just said the same thing as RDW, only better.

Long overdue for that to happen from you!

Cheeky scamp. You're just acting up on here because the Regime of the Wife has kicked in at home!

We've been together almost 11 years - nothing has changed now I've got a ring on my finger!

I just did some counting in my head. Did you guys meet at school??

Yes, it is all very sickening.  We were put in the same form class when we were 12 years old then 6 years later decided to get together just before we finished school.

Somehow I've managed not to mess it up since!

I think I'm more impressed that you managed to stay unmarried for so long. We'd been together 4 years before my Mum started asking pointed questions!

Those stats on Denton and Wilson are alarming. In fact Wilson's Glasgow stats are not much better. He really has pulled the wool over people's eyes.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think I'm more impressed that you managed to stay unmarried for so long. We'd been together 4 years before my Mum started asking pointed questions!

Those stats on Denton and Wilson are alarming. In fact Wilson's Glasgow stats are not much better. He really has pulled the wool over people's eyes.

Let's hope Eadie can make the step up. His pathway isn't dramatically different to most players of his age. I reckon he'll be a decent premiership 8 and hopefully will be knocking on the door for a 6Ns squad spot. The step up is big but I can imagine him slotting in well. Plus being up against Vunipola on a regular basis will do his game good.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think I'm more impressed that you managed to stay unmarried for so long. We'd been together 4 years before my Mum started asking pointed questions!

Those stats on Denton and Wilson are alarming. In fact Wilson's Glasgow stats are not much better. He really has pulled the wool over people's eyes.

Well we were at Uni for the first 5 years so that helped things!

Only took 9 years to pop the question - don't want to rush into things after all...

It's interesting the difference between Edinburgh (9) and Glasgow (3) in terms of w/l was only 3 losses. I think this shows that Edinburgh need to focus on being more efficient in getting try BPs next season.

I think Edinburgh have a squad capable of a top 4 spot for next season - only if they select the right backs and allow them to attack. The prospect of SHC, Weir, Hoyland, Burleigh, Rasoleva(?), Brown/Farndale, Bryce is promising.

I'm worried about Glasgow though. The backs are OK, although 10 is now an issue - it's the forwards which are (and have been) a concern for the past few seasons. They don't have any front row players that would start for Edinburgh which is concerning. Jonny Gray is a superb second row but he's now the only star player and recently hasn't been as effective as he can be. He needs rested and the backup isn't there. 7 and 8 are OK but Strauss isn't carrying as well as he should and players like Fusaro are too light.

Going forward, if I were the SRU, I'd loan Glasgow Dell and Berghan and give them game time. They are too good not to be playing regularly. I'd also look at signing the Toulon second row that is Scottish for Glasgow. Him and Cummings show promise and should feature more for Glasgow.

Lastly, and I would probably say no, should Glasgow look at signing Hogg for top dollar now? He is currently 6N player of the tournament and there are big name clubs that I'm sure would splash the cash. He's been good for Glasgow, no doubt about it, but the money could be used to get an equivalent Nel and J Gray. That is where Glasgow need to improve?

Edit, sell, not sign.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think I'm more impressed that you managed to stay unmarried for so long. We'd been together 4 years before my Mum started asking pointed questions!

Those stats on Denton and Wilson are alarming. In fact Wilson's Glasgow stats are not much better. He really has pulled the wool over people's eyes.

Well we were at Uni for the first 5 years so that helped things!

Only took 9 years to pop the question - don't want to rush into things after all...

Took me and the wife 20 years to get married. I think technically that means the kids really are actual little b*tards

We took 7.5 before getting engaged - started getting the pointed questions after 4 years of uni!

Nematode wrote:It's interesting the difference between Edinburgh (9) and Glasgow (3) in terms of w/l was only 3 losses. I think this shows that Edinburgh need to focus on being more efficient in getting try BPs next season.

Completely agree. We left a lot of points on the table this season missing out on bonus points - most annoying were the games where we'd get the three tries quite quickly only to drift and lose concentration.

This comes back to style of play. We desperately need the backline to sharpen up and be given more freedom to express themselves.

And again the sad fact is we've been a bawhair away from winning in at least 3 games this season.

We need to progress from glorious failure to a team that manages to win these close games - a messed up drop goal against Munster was pretty much the difference between Top 6 and not Top 6 this season. I doubt we would have lost against the Blues if a simple win would have got us 6th spot.

Edinburgh have just uploaded a new signing video to Youtube - an Australian winger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqhaEqOtihM&feature=em-uploademail



Full name Alexander Northam
Born March 4, 1993
Current age 23 years 84 days
Major teams Australia Under-20s, La Rochelle, North Harbour Rays
Position Wing
Height 1.80 m
Weight 85 kg

Why do we need an unkown Aussie winger?

Why do we need a winger full stop??

Maybe Scott Johnson needs a new drinking buddy from down under?
Showed some set of wheels in some of those tries but the defending was pants in most instances.

Edinburgh Rugby have enhanced their attack for next season with the signing of winger Alex Northam to the squad.

The 23-year-old Australian-born speedster – his time for 100m is 10.69s – who is already playing in the northern hemisphere, arrives from west coast French club La Rochelle, where he has been on loan in recent months from Sydney outfit North Harbour Rays. Watch him in action here.


Northam said: “I’m looking forward to joining the club and especially keen to work with Alan. We’ve talked about developing my game and he feels he can really help me.

“The boys here have told me the club’s moving in the right direction and they’ve got a good team atmosphere.

“What am I looking to add to the mix? I’m hoping to bring my speed and pace to the game, to execute and finish on some of the backline plays.”

The former Australian under-20 international, widely regarded as a superb finisher with blistering pace, joins the capital club on the back of five outings for the Top 14 club, including three European fixtures.

Prior to starting the season with the Rays, for whom he touched down on three occasions, Northam spent two seasons with Manly, racking up a total of 21 tries.

Nicknamed Road Runner by a Manly team-mate, he enjoyed a spell in the Australian Sevens programme, including an outing at the 2014 Singapore 7s playing for the Penguins invitational side. Prior to that, in 2011, he was a bronze medal winner in the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Isle of Man with Australia 7s.

He said: “I played soccer until I was about 10 and all my friends changed to play rugby so I went with them, discovered I wasn’t too bad at it and I stuck with it.”

As an Australia under-20 international in 2013 he was in the side edged by Ireland under-20 at the Junior World Cup – Northam bagged a converted try while one of Ireland’s scores came from a young Rory Scholes, also signed to Edinburgh Rugby for next season.

Moving to France in September 2015 as injury cover, Northam discovered there were more differences between life in the hemispheres than just the weather.

“The game wasn’t as fast as in Australia but it’s a lot more physical. The boys are definitely a lot bigger and the coaching was quite different. The language barrier was a challenge, so it’s good that in Scotland we speak the same language!” Maybe keep your powder dry on that one, for a bit, Alex…

Head coach Alan Solomons said: “Alex is a welcome addition to the club.

“He is a young wing with exceptional pace, who has played for Australia at under-20 level and has, this past season, gained valuable experience in the Top 14.

“I believe he will add a vital edge to our attack and look forward to having him with us next season."

Alex Northam
Wing
Born: 4 March 1993 in Sydney
H: 1.84m
W: 90kg

Edinburgh Rugby signings for the 2016/17 season
Northam’s impending arrival brings the total to 28 player signings for next season, additional to those already committed to Edinburgh until the end of May 2017 and beyond. The list kicked off in early December 2015 with Scottish age grade back row Jamie Ritchie extending his contract for another three years. The coaching staff, led by Alan Solomons, recently announced their continued commitment into the new season.



Alex Northam Jason Tovey Nick Beavon * Kevin Bryce ** Lewis Carmichael * George Turner * Grant Gilchrist ** Fraser McKenzie • Solomoni Rasolea Sean Kennedy * Nathan Fowles * Glenn Bryce * Rory Scholes Ross Ford ** Allan Dell * Simon Berghan * Tom Brown ** Phil Burleigh Cornell Du Preez Neil Cochrane * Duncan Weir ** Damien Hoyland ** Stuart McInally ** Sam Hidalgo-Clyne ** Chris Dean * Alasdair Dickinson ** Ben Toolis ** Jamie Ritchie *

* Scottish qualified ** Scotland internationalist

I watched Manly play Sydney University in 2013.

Wasn't a great standard.

He does have a good show reel but there are two words that I use to remind myself of the validity of good show reels - Mike Penn.

The only real positives here are that he does look to genuinely be rapid and he probably would have come cheap, but I just don't see why we need him! A fast, small elusive winger might not be much use on a November night in Newport, especially with the Edinburgh style of play.

It's not as if any of our wingers are likely to be away during the 6N / AIs either to release squad places for this kind of player.

So Edinburgh sign an NSQ unknown journeymanwith little/no experience of top flight professional rugby who plays in a position where we already have Farndale, Hoyland, Brown, Helu and Scholes. We have also just released SQ player Dougie Fife who covers the same position.

This is deja vu. A completely incoherent transfer strategy at Edinburgh.

funnyExiledScot wrote:So Edinburgh sign an NSQ unknown journeymanwith little/no experience of top flight professional rugby who plays in a position where we already have Farndale, Hoyland, Brown, Helu and Scholes. We have also just released SQ player Dougie Fife who covers the same position.

This is deja vu. A completely incoherent transfer strategy at Edinburgh.

Sums it up pretty well!

Worth noting that we now have 5 wingers - 3 NSQ, 2 SQ.

What position is Scotland lacking depth in again?

Although it is worth pointing out that 7s and 15s are almost different games at this point the Farndale and Fife performances in the 7s have raised questions regarding Soloman's ability to develop and get the best out of the talent available to him.

Dougie Fife is a proven Pro 12 level player and popular squad member who surely is only worth getting rid of if you are sure that whats coming in is better value. Im not sure this guy, although talented and potentially exciting is a sure thing?

also re;farndale as far as i can see he hasnt been givin much of a crack these last few years for Edinburgh because of injury, has he been playing 15s for any particular club? looks like he has only been playing 7s for a couple of years.

I'm trying to guess what the next signing will be, based on positions where we don't need any more players!

A scrum half perhaps, or maybe an NSQ number 8?

How about a fat, unfit, unskillful, slow NSQ centre?

We've got rid of our previous ones!

If he genuinely can do 10.69 for 100m then that is genuinely scary fast pace, Mike Penn could not remotely do that. If the rest of his game is up to anything, then I guess he should not be written off immediately. As has been said previously, he won't cost a lot of money.

At the moment he is a back up squad player, other than that, we have to wait and see. Maybe Farndale will go to Glasgow!

BigGee wrote: Maybe Farndale will go to Glasgow!

Where he will no doubt force his way into the Scotland squad and end up getting picked for the Lions, showing Edinburgh what they've missed out on!

Now that Huw Jones is in the Scotland squad this summer then surely the rumours of him coming over here to play must be true as well. I fancy him signing for Glasgow in the not to distant future!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote: Maybe Farndale will go to Glasgow!

Where he will no doubt force his way into the Scotland squad and end up getting picked for the Lions, showing Edinburgh what they've missed out on!

I like that Scenario!

So Edinburgh need a 13 but sign a squad cover wing they don't need, and Glasgow need a squad cover wing but may end up signing a 13?

That's got this man written all over it

RDW_Scotland wrote:So Edinburgh need a 13 but sign a squad cover wing they don't need, and Glasgow need a squad cover wing but may end up signing a 13?

That's got this man written all over it

Huw Jones plays wing as well apparently, more of a 13/14 rather than a 12/13.

Where he ends up is going to be very interesting, you could put a good case for him going to either set up.

RDW_Scotland wrote:So Edinburgh need a 13 but sign a squad cover wing they don't need, and Glasgow need a squad cover wing but may end up signing a 13?

That's got this man written all over it

Huw Jones does play wing as well apparently. More of a 13/14 than a 12/13.

Where he ends up will be very interesting, you could make a good case for him going to either set up.

It is a no brainer from a rugby point of view for him to choose Glasgow, but they already have 4 Scotland international centres there.

Edinburgh have none.

So again he's definitely going to end up at Glasgow knowing the SRU!

Toonie is the guest pundit for the Pro 12 final for Sky.

He just said that FR got home from Ireland on Wednesday and is doing fine.

All good news.

A new Fijian SH for Glasgow on a one year deal. Hopefully he can pass better than Niko and run something like as fast!

Sounds like a squad player though, a bit of back up to make up for Mike Blair calling it time a year early. Hopefully it won't stop Horne and Price getting the game time they need.