Toulon Vs Edinburgh Sat 12th Jan 17:30 (GMT)

First topic message reminder :

Top against bottom

Theoretically, Toulon could overtake us if they win their next 2 games with a TBP and we get hee haw, but traditionally, French teams will chuck in the towel early doors if they're pretty much out of the reckoning. Will Toulon do that or will they come out firing and try to qualify?

With Edinburgh humping Toulon 40 to 14 last time round at HQ, will Toulon be looking for revenge or will they put out the B team?

Table

European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 5

1 Edinburgh 4 3 0 1 107 56 51 3 15
2 Montpellier 4 2 0 2 103 89 14 3 11
3 Nookie Broons 4 2 0 2 70 97 -27 0 8
4 Toulonnaise 4 1 0 3 90 128 -38 2 6

Venue: Stade Mayol

Ref: Wayne Barnes (England)  Assis Ref 1: Anthony Woodthorpe (England) Assis Ref 2: Simon McConnell (England)  TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Edinburgh team to face RC Toulon at Stade Felix-Mayol in the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday 12 January (kick-off 5.30pm GMT/ 6.30pm local time) – live on BT Sport


15. Blair Kinghorn (75)


14. Darcy Graham (16)

13. James Johnstone (32)

12. Chris Dean (78)

11. Duhan van der Merwe (32)


10. Jaco van der Walt (29)

9. Henry Pyrgos (14)


1. Pierre Schoeman (12)

2. Stuart McInally (131) CAPTAIN

3. WP Nel (126)

4. Ben Toolis (101)

5. Grant Gilchrist (131)

6. Jamie Ritchie (59)

7. Hamish Watson (92)

8. Viliame Mata (50)


Replacements: 16. David Cherry (10); 17. Allan Dell (55); 18. Simon Berghan (60); 19. Fraser McKenzie (106); 20. Luke Crosbie (20); 21. Nathan Fowles (67); 22. Simon Hickey (14); 23. Juan Pablo Socino (13)


Unavailable due to injury: Pietro Ceccarelli; Rory Sutherland; Lewis Carmichael; John Barclay; Magnus Bradbury; Senitiki Nayalo; Luke Hamilton; Matt Scott; Mark Bennett; Damien Hoyland

RC TOULON

15. Mathieu Smaili,
14. JP Pietersen,
13. Mathieu Bastareaud (c),
12. Francois Trinh-Duc,
11. Julian Savea,
10. Anthony Belleau,
9. Rhys Webb,
1. Jean Baptiste Gros,
2. Guilhem Guirado,
3. Emerick Setiano,
4. Juandré Kruger,
5. Romain Taofifenua,
6. Stephane Onambele Mbarga,
7. Facundo Isa,
8. Raphael Lakafia.

Replacements:

16. Anthony Etrillard,
17. Xavier Chiocci,
18. Marcel Van Der Merwe,
19. Jean Monribot,
20. Louis Carbonel,
21. Antoine Zeghdar,
22. Yoann Cottin,
23. Mamuka Gorgodze,

That should have gone out, missed a good chance

Take the points FFS - this is away rugby

RDW_Scotland wrote:

BigGee wrote:Is it just me or is HP whipping the ball away a lot faster than he usually does?

I don't think he has done a box kick yet either!

I was just thinking that - it's like he's wanting us to have more possession

They probably feel they can run the legs of this French team and they may be right

This is similar to Montpelllier - lots of opportunities but not taking them

So many knockons coming at the end of some promising attacks, frustrating but we’re really threatening them all over the place

12-8 Toulon at HT

Anyones game atm

Could have done with those kicks

Can't be discouraged though, just a bit more accuracy and some of those chances will stick and you would imagine Edinburgh will last the pace better, this is not a normal French style game

This is not a style Edinburgh usually play though, how comfortable are they with it?

Discipline keeping them in front - they're not creating chances on their own but making the most of penalties on halfway

What a great start. Great kick from JJ

Superb little kick, well played JJ

They’re doing a good job of covering Mata, I think it’s a bit ambitious to think we’re going to push them over the line and there is definitely space out wide

Darcy Graham really showing us what kind of player he may become, he has been electric

Gilchrist won't thank them for that pass. I felt it here!

That is a two score lead, keep playing like this!

Come on boys, loving this!

That is the game!

If I closed my eyes I could have been watching Glasgow play!

WHAT A TRY

Bill Mata the million dollar man! He’s so fecking good!

JJ having possibly his best game for Edinburgh too he’s been excellent

What is going on here

Maybe need to chill out a bit with the offloads, looks like they’re having a great time out there though

Great tackle DG

Merde, lets see this game out now

Clock is against Toulon, need to score two converted tries

Mata MoM, hard to argue but JJ or DG would also have been good shouts

How long  until Toulon get the checkbook out for Mata?

RDW_Scotland wrote:How long  until Toulon get the checkbook out for Mata?

I’d say it’s almost guaranteed, just a matter of when

Fantastic effort from the Luuvies

There is a very good rugby team in there somewhere!

That was just incredible

Absolutely delighted with that, we played some really ambitious rugby at points through that, Graham was awesome, Mata found some absolute magic but the whole team just looked like they believed they could go to the Mayol and win without question. Strength to strength, let's top the group!

Congrats on the result boys, things looking really good for the Pro14 at the moment. Should have at least 4 quarter finalists.

Also VDW has had a cracking run of games now, definitely our top 10 at the moment and Hickey might struggle to get that shirt back for the big games

And too think some questioned the signing of Cockers.

Welly wrote: And too think some questioned the signing of Cockers.

I didn't, he was just what Edinburgh needed.

If ever a team needed a kick up the ar** it was them and he was surely the man to apply it and guess what, it worked!!

Well played the Luvvies

Welly wrote: And too think some questioned the signing of Cockers.

True, there were some clowns muttering about 10 man rugby when he was announced. How anyone could look at Cockers track record and not celebrate him signing for a team like us we'll probably forever be left wondering!

jimbopip wrote:Well played the Luvvies

Cheers Jim, all the best tomorrow I'm sure we'll all be cheering you weegie boys on

Massive plaudits to Dean and JJ too - they were superb against superstar opposition.

It's not hyperbole to say they're Scotland's form centres just now!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Massive plaudits to Dean and JJ too - they were superb against superstar opposition.

It's not hyperbole to say they're Scotland's form centres just now!

Toonie is going to have a few interesting calls next week when he announces his squad. You are right when you say that JJ and Dean have put their hands up, but we already have a lot of good centres.

The other player who has probably put himself right back in the frame is HP, who I thought also had a great game. He went to Edinburgh to be first choice and get back into the Scotland frame. I would say he has certainly done that and he showed today that he could mix it up as well as just do a good box kick!

I think the SRU need a lot of credit for letting Cockers do his thing.
How easy would it have been for them to say no Weir and SHC are both wanting 1 year deals for cheap lets sign them up as they are playing well.
Then to let Cockers get Pyrgos.

I think Edinburgh has proven Cockers is a good coach whereas I think if he was still at Tigers nothing would've changed.


(Also I can say I was a Edinburgh fan before the glory supporters!!!)

We'll done Edinburgh, it is still possible for you to get Glasgow in the quarters, as the best Scottish team you would surely win

It's crazy to think if they had won their first match they could be first seed

Welly wrote: And too think some questioned the signing of Cockers.

I think the Toulon fans were questioning why it wasn't them he was signing a three year contract with.

BigGee wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Massive plaudits to Dean and JJ too - they were superb against superstar opposition.

It's not hyperbole to say they're Scotland's form centres just now!

Toonie is going to have a few interesting calls next week when he announces his squad. You are right when you say that JJ and Dean have put their hands up, but we already have a lot of good centres.

The other player who has probably put himself right back in the frame is HP, who I thought also had a great game. He went to Edinburgh to be first choice and get back into the Scotland frame. I would say he has certainly done that and he showed today that he could mix it up as well as just do a good box kick!

Huw Jones has plenty credit in the bank but there's certainly no justification for his selection based on form just now!

That moment you have a Twitter conversation with Nadolo...

https://twitter.com/RossWhiteside1/status/1084181742737600513?s=19

RDW_Scotland wrote:That moment you have a Twitter conversation with Nadolo...

https://twitter.com/RossWhiteside1/status/1084181742737600513?s=19

You may as well close down your twitter account now, you've peaked!

Glasgow who?

Edinburgh really are coming on these days. Even the backs are beginning to play a bit of rugby. We’re still lacking consistency but we can now see what the team is at least capable of

Surely the Scotland line up will be consist of equal Edinburgh and Weegie players at least.

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:That moment you have a Twitter conversation with Nadolo...

https://twitter.com/RossWhiteside1/status/1084181742737600513?s=19

You may as well close down your twitter account now, you've peaked!

I got a like from JK Rowling once - the wife (a Harry potter obsessive) was well jealous!

Great win. I'll never tire of watching that offload for the JJ try. Lots of Edinburgh players had belters today.

In the Dean and JJ for Scotland topic, I don't think I'd be ready to ditch Jones at 13 just yet, but Dean's transformation has been remarkable and he's become so quietly effective. A real nuts and bolts 12 that could link together the flash players like Russell, Jones and Hogg. Basically what Dunbar did when fully fit and on form (which he isn't). Horne might have something to say, but Dean for me is right in the equation.

Graham also deserves a mention for his Lomu-esque try. Getting knocked over by Graham will take some getting over for that young fullback. Graham is a nutter for such a small player. Really laying down a challenge to Maitland and Seymour, and certainly jumping Fife and Jones.

Lovely stuff. Good luck to the 1872 runners up tomorrow.

Oh Dean is right in the mix. SJ or JJ are surely the bench options for centre. Chris Harris just isn’t the answer for me.