Edinburgh and Glasgow – Continuing patter version 22 (it used to be a squad size)

First topic message reminder :

With the woes and injuries in the international camp just depressing us, lets look back to the club game.

Possible areas of discussion:
Edinburgh continue to hold the 1872 trophy
Edinburgh are getting a new ground
Edinburgh have a home Euro Champs cup game to look forward to
Edinburgh have a league fixture against the perpetual point givers, Glasgow, to look forward to
BigGee’s proposed Scotland XV for England has 8 Edinburgh players, 4 exiles and 3 Glasgow players so even the International team is starting to look representative of where rugby in Scotland truly exists.
It’s not all bad for Glasgow though as they sit above Munster in the Pro 14 and have Stafford McDowell on their books
Edinburgh have Hamish Watson though

It wasn't so long ago when glasgow were the sick man of Scottish rugby (although not terminally like borders) and Edinburgh were the more consistent and had the pick of the national side. Edinburgh have had investment but it's only now the investments seem to be improving. Michael Bradley was a huge mistake of Matt Williams proportion and i could see the rationale post Bradley for solly but he proved mediocre at best.

Cockerill for his flaws has upped the standard and if you get in a good assistant then you'll be on your way. Rome wasn't built in a day, it took glasgow the best part of a decade to get where they are now. A lot of it was savvy signings, but also they created a culture that Edinburgh are beginning to look like doing.

tigertattie wrote:This is the issue with Glasgow, they are too one eyed and dont look at the bigger picture.

Horne needs game time to be a better player for scotland.

Its such a shame that the SR Uare also one eyed and bias towards Glasgow and giving them all the money, coaches and players they need while Edinburgh is ignored to thier detriment.

I am not sure if that is a joke, or you actually believe that?

The SRU themselves admitted they concentrated on Glasgow a few years ago but the last couple of years have invested more in Edinburgh and now both are on equal footing

TJ wrote:The SRU themselves admitted they concentrated on Glasgow a few years ago but the last couple of years have invested more in Edinburgh and now both are on equal footing

fake news.

The SRU still favour Glasgow.

Glasgow have Price and Horne. Edinburgh have Pyrgos
Glasgow have a shniey stadium. Edinburgh have a delayed plannin application
Glasgow have Ryan wilson. Oh wait.............

On the note of favouring Glasgow... Dalziel announced as new Weegie forwards coach. That's a good signing IMO although I don't know if he'll bring a 'hardness' to the forwards.

However, he is a coach who seems to get the best out of players on a frequent basis. I guess this is lining up for when Rennie inevitably leaves for an international job at the end of his extension.

NeilyBroon wrote:On the note of favouring Glasgow... Dalziel announced as new Weegie forwards coach. That's a good signing IMO although I don't know if he'll bring a 'hardness' to the forwards.

However, he is a coach who seems to get the best out of players on a frequent basis. I guess this is lining up for when Rennie inevitably leaves for an international job at the end of his extension.

Minewhile Edinburgh get Hodge as "attack" coach

Anyone who doesnt think the SRU are still favouring glagsow are either as one eyed as Eejit or as senile as Jimbo!

What I with you Luvvies? Just because we thrashed you and ended up top ranked team in the Pro14 you need to find some conspiracy to justify it.

Just take your bumps and learn to live with it.

That's what MrsPip's father said to me just before the wedding. B*stard.

If anyone sees a big chap wearing a duvet cover as a kind of toga, staggering deliriously down Princes Street clutching a faded Farmfoods bag while yelling at pigeons and the odd tourist, its probably Tattie. Direct him towards Murrayfield and I'm sure he'll find his way home.

Eejit wrote:If anyone sees a big chap wearing a duvet cover as a kind of toga, staggering deliriously down Princes Street clutching a faded Farmfoods bag while yelling at pigeons and the odd tourist, its probably Tattie. Direct him towards Murrayfield and I'm sure he'll find his way home.

It's a Sunblessed bag

Just saying!

Good appointment by Glasgow for bring John Dalzeil in as their forwards coach.

He has done well with Melrose, with Scotland age grade, London Scottish and the sevens teams. He has served his time and is a good young Scottish coach on the way up. I had a feeling that it might be him.

I wonder who will get the sevens?

Is Scott Riddell ready for a coaching career yet?

The 7s coaching gig has certainly been s good production line for pro coaches recently. Scotland's Head S&C coach started in the 7s too.

tigertattie wrote:

Eejit wrote:If anyone sees a big chap wearing a duvet cover as a kind of toga, staggering deliriously down Princes Street clutching a faded Farmfoods bag while yelling at pigeons and the odd tourist, its probably Tattie. Direct him towards Murrayfield and I'm sure he'll find his way home.

It's a Sunblessed bag

Just saying!

"He packs his lunchbox in a Sunblessed bag

the children call him tattie"


Have some Dignity, man.

Not Scottish related at all, but I wanted to take a minute to say Forza Treviso. Not only do they deserve their place and are a way better team than the luvvies (who are mince let’s be honest) but they’ve got the opportunity to duff up the bad guys from Limerick today.

Probably won’t though.

Well Eejit, they came mighty close but couldn't keep hold of the ball. They gave away possession twice in the last five minutes when they were 13-12 up, conceded a penalty to go 15-13 down and then missed two drop goal attempts.

If I were prone to clichés I might say they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I think the Ladyboys-Munster semi will be a bruising encounter and may take its toll on the victors. I'm now about to start cheering for the Craggy Island second XV.

Got to say, if Munster and Glasgow get through to the final it might be an absolute pasting if they play like they did today (and a grand day out for all of us).

I think Ulster will probably edge this but like you I’ve got a lot of time for Connacht so fingers crossed they do the job today.

Aye, the Ulster fans scunnered me when they were all rallying round during the r*** trial. So, I'll be supporting the Craggies. I think we have the beating of either side actually.

I accidentally angered all their fans on these boards, and by extension insulted the whole of Northern Ireland when I suggested Glasgow Ulster at Scotstoun a few weeks ago was an easy game.

Then we cuffed them 30-7.

Interesting to see Petrus du Plessis tweeting about moving today and then his wife, who is a cognitive behaviour therapist tweeting about opening a new clinic in Bearsden!

You would almost imagine that he was going to be joining the Glasgow coaching team any time soon! He is a qualified physio as well as an international TH, so he could fit in a number of roles. He seems to have enjoyed his time in Glasgow and was looking resplendent in a kilt at the club dinner last week!

If he can help bring along the next generation of good young props of which there would seem to be a good few at Glasgow now, that would be no bad thing.

Du Plessis would be a great guy to have around the club as a coach. Corey Flynn was another great signing few years back for Glasgow, I'm sure he really helped Brown and Turner improve their skillset.

Glasgow's three tries against Sarries in the quarter final maybe does not look quite so bad now!

What a defensive team they are!

BigGee wrote:Glasgow's three tries against Sarries in the quarter final maybe does not look quite so bad now!

What a defensive team they are!

Aye they look rather ominous.

I fear a return to power dominated rugby.

tigertattie wrote:

BigGee wrote:Glasgow's three tries against Sarries in the quarter final maybe does not look quite so bad now!

What a defensive team they are!

Aye they look rather ominous.

I fear a return to power dominated rugby.

The dark night of the soul that is power dominated rugby never really went away. Certainly not in England or France. In the Pro14 Scarlets and Glasgow have done their best to brighten things up.

You have to wonder what yesterday's defeat will have taken out of the Ladyboys. Especially their 9, whose box kick on 40 minutes was more self-harmingly bad than every single one of MadMadMata's brainfarts added together. It was the rugby equivalent of triggering article 50 before agreeing the terms of leaving. If the ladyboys' fans formed a chain running from the Toon to the RDS and kicked him from man to man he'd still be getting off lightly.

I think Munster must fancy their chances next week.

Yep I reckon the winner of us vs the nordies will win the whole thing this year.

That’ll be us then.

You need to get passed them first

Glasgow have the best chance in a long time of winning the grand final. It’s at home. Munster are fragile out wide where Glasgow are strong. Leinster I feel are a spent force this season. They peaked too early and have been on the wane since the 6 nations.

There’s quite a chance that I’ll be wearing a Glasgow strip come June. It’ll feckin burn but I’ll take it

All that polyester rubbing every time you scratch your brains. You'll be a walking fire hazard, Tattie.

I do miss the good old cotton days.

Come back Canterbury. All is forgiven

Look like Ulster signed Nick Grigg V2 in Faddes. Both rapid as can be.

There were rumours on Scottish Rugby Pod about Will Jordan from Crusaders, but are we sure that Glasgow invested in a player to take over from Dunbar and Hogg's salary slots?

Cotter moving up to a director of rugby role at Montpellier and rumours of Pollard moving to Montpellier as well! That may mean Glasgow will be getting Cruden after all!

bsando wrote:Cotter moving up to a director of rugby role at Montpellier and rumours of Pollard moving to Montpellier as well! That may mean Glasgow will be getting Cruden after all!

If Cruden comes to Glasgow, I'll wear a Warriors strip................

...............oh wait

No games on freesports this weekend. So much for their promise of one game a week on free to air eh!!!

That old Edinburgh favourite, a bright spot in amongst years of mediocrity for them, Turnstile Timbo Visser, has called time on his professional career and retired.

I don't think he has played for Quins all season and I remember an interview with him when he was referring to a chronic knee problem that would likely stop him playing before his time.

He was certainly a great finisher and what a player he could have been if he had ever learned to tackle!

Great career though and will be remembered fondly for that try against France a few years ago from the Hoggy overhead pass. I will never tire of watching a re-run of that!

Another retirement of a professional Scottish rugby player as Kyle Traynor finally calls it a day.

He was never the best LH around, even in Scotland and was a player who we had a bit of a laugh about at times but you can't say that he has not carved out a really good career for himself, playing for some really big clubs and lasting well into his 30s. A great advertisement for someone being willing to move around and who made the most of his abilities.

He has clearly thought out his post rugby career as well as he is off to work as a management consultant for KPMG. A prop and a bright lad clearly!

Another old stalwart of the Scottish front row, Moray Low, calls it a day as well and retires to concentrate on building homes in Exeter.

Maybe he will give Hoggy mates rates on one when he moves down.

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/two-debutants-in-scotland-7s-squad-for-london

A couple of good young players given a run out with the sevens squad this weekend in London.

Kaleem Baretto and Kyle Rowe were both very prominent juniors but have not had much of a chance at Pro level. They may be auditioning for a full time role in the squad for next season due to the number of decent wings and SHs currently in the squad.

I see Glove has been at it again. Actually quite a funny one this time!

"Unite the clans"

Ewan Johnson, the U20s lock who was in the Racing Academy, has just been given a three year contract with them. That is quite a statement for a young player.

He says he wants to play for Scotland and would be another of several very good young second rows we have got coming through.

BigGee wrote:Ewan Johnson, the U20s lock who was in the Racing Academy, has just been given a three year contract with them. That is quite a statement for a young player.

He says he wants to play for Scotland and would be another of several very good young second rows we have got coming through.

Hopefully they arent looking at him as a project player. It's great for him if they are, and great for Scotland that France feel hes worth it so it would indicate hes potentially a great player. Just worried that the big money of France could see him not playing in the correct shade of blue!

Trouble is there are so many good young second rows around he won't just walk into the Scotland team.

I guess he still needs to break into the Racing match day team first, they keep big squads and being on z pro deal is no guarentee of any game time.

Anyway, will watch his progress with great interest as am sure will Toonie!

It is not like France has a dearth of second rows either. Johnson will have to prove himself at Top 14 level first.

2020 summer internationals could be time to pull him in if he is good enough (it is great to say that). He can compete for one of the 5-6 spots with Gray x 2, Gilchrist, Toolis, Skinner, Cummings, Davidson, Carmichael (if he can come back), McDonald, Thomson and Harley.

The Nuke and Paddy Kelly have signed contract extensions for Glasgow, 2 more years until 2021. Kelly's an interesting one: was earmarked for big things, but injuries and the emergence of Steyn and McDowall have rather limited his opportunities, though he's looked decent when he has had a chance. Glasgow are certainly well stocked in the centres right now: Horne, Johnson, MacDowall, Steyn, Jones, Grigg, Kelly.

Good signings.

Kelly has not really had much chance to show us his wares yet, but with the WC next season he will hopefully get his chance.

The fact that he got 2 years seems to suggest that they do rate him.

From Alisdair Reid in the Scotland Times today:

When Adam Hastings, the Glasgow fly half, was in Dublin a few weeks ago to collect his Next-Gen Star of the Season award, he had a round-table interview with a group of Irish journalists and, er, me. In the course of it, he was asked about the prospect of playing at Celtic Park and whether there were any Celtic fans in the Warriors squad who might have a particular reason for cherishing the experience.

Hastings thought hard about that one before admitting that he could not think of any Glasgow players who supported Celtic. However, he reeled off the names of a couple — and no more than a couple — who supported Rangers. Smiling, he then said that one of them was doing his best to get injured to avoid the possibility of playing at Celtic Park."

https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/05/23/guinness-pro14-dream-team-revealed-on-premier-sports-eir-sport

I know one shouldn't take these things too seriously, but this is a bit... odd, not least the fact that Glasgow and Leinster landed only one player each. A "dream team" that doesn't look particularly dreamy to me.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:https://www.pro14rugby.org/2019/05/23/guinness-pro14-dream-team-revealed-on-premier-sports-eir-sport

I know one shouldn't take these things too seriously, but this is a bit... odd, not least the fact that Glasgow and Leinster landed only one player each. A "dream team" that doesn't look particularly dreamy to me.

Leinster and Glasgow also have the most internationals and therefore players who play the least amount of games in the comp.

Pot Hale wrote:From Alisdair Reid in the Scotland Times today:

When Adam Hastings, the Glasgow fly half, was in Dublin a few weeks ago to collect his Next-Gen Star of the Season award, he had a round-table interview with a group of Irish journalists and, er, me. In the course of it, he was asked about the prospect of playing at Celtic Park and whether there were any Celtic fans in the Warriors squad who might have a particular reason for cherishing the experience.

Hastings thought hard about that one before admitting that he could not think of any Glasgow players who supported Celtic. However, he reeled off the names of a couple — and no more than a couple — who supported Rangers. Smiling, he then said that one of them was doing his best to get injured to avoid the possibility of playing at Celtic Park."

I'm sure I read somehwere that Siua Halanukonuka was a member of the Tongan Bhoys supporters club back in the day!

Apparentl Niko Matawalu had posters of Ally McCoist on his bedroom wall as a child too.

RDW wrote:Apparentl Niko Matawalu had posters of Ally McCoist on his bedroom wall as a child too.

I heard he had Mark Hateley bedsheets...now there's a thought.

Hodge and McRae have extended their contracts by two years. McRae I can understand - Hodge not so much!

RDW wrote:Hodge and McRae have extended their contracts by two years. McRae I can understand - Hodge not so much!

Mmmmm - very uninspiring to see that Hodge has been given another two years, by any relevant measure he doesn't deserve it.

RDW wrote:Apparentl Niko Matawalu had posters of Ally McCoist on his bedroom wall as a child too.

Where do you get posters of Ally McCoist as a child? And who would want them?