Glasgow and Edinburgh - Unceasing Banter Thread 27

by **George Carlin** Mon 23 Aug 2021, 10:59 am

First topic message reminder :

For those Scottish and Scottish-rugby interested posters who just cannot seem to shut the feic up about it.

26,000 posts of abject nonsense and incorrect usage of the quote function (and counting).

We should be proud. king

by **BigGee** Sun 10 Oct 2021, 8:23 am

Glasgow certainly had to grind that one out and were definitely lucky with their try, which did not look like it hit the line.

I thought we were cruising after that and certainly played well, but the killer passes just did not stick this week.

The Lions like all the SA sides looked better defensively this week and definitely had the upper hand in the scrums. They will no doubt continue to improve but still looked a bit toothless in attsck and never really looked like scoring a try.

Ended up a tight old game though, but good that we could tough it out.

by **RDW** Sun 10 Oct 2021, 8:55 am

Well when I saw the Edinburgh score this morning I just assumed it was a late penalty to draw the game type thing. Scrolling back through the updates of the 2nd half from FT backwards I thought I missed it as surely there were points scored in the 2nd half.

Apparently not!

That's 2 games that we really could/should have won but didn't. We're going to have much tougher fixtures to come, and really could have done with those wins.

Good win for Glasgow, helped by a dreadful referring decision for that try!

Back down to earth for Sutherland and VDM on their first game for Worcester. Of course they won't be the last team to get pumped away to Exeter, but on the evidence of the season so for they're not going to be having much success generally. I don't think it'll harm Sutherland too much as he'll be testing himself against top packs week in week out, but VDM"s choice to move there continues to make no sense. A bottom feeder team fighting for survival (noting there's no relegation just now) don't need a thoroughbred show pony, and a thoroughbred show pony wing won't get much out of fighting for survival each week.

I'd put money on him moving somewhere else next season!

by jimbopip Sun 10 Oct 2021, 10:05 am

BigGee wrote:Glasgow certainly had to grind that one out and were definitely lucky with their try, which did not look like it hit the line. Totally agree here, I initially thought it was on the line but the more I saw it the less I believed. Like a Brexiteer queueing for petrol and whiling away the time reading my gas bill.

I thought we were cruising after that and certainly played well, but the killer passes just did not stick this week. Another way of looking at this, Gee, from the glass half empty perspective is that The Wonder Kid is really good at getting the backline moving but if/when the attack breaks down then a Leinster/Exeter/Racing would hold onto the ball, go through the phases, grind us down and score points. Maybe a little bit more control is needed in terms of where we play the game. Or am I being over critical?

The Lions like all the SA sides looked better defensively this week and definitely had the upper hand in the scrums. They will no doubt continue to improve but still looked a bit toothless in attack and never really looked like scoring a try. I noticed the commentators saying that the Lions' coaches have the mantra that "we want to be the best team in the world at all the things that require no skill." Wasn't that Gatland's mantra when he stared out at Wales? Certainly it makes a team very difficult to beat...but unless it is used to underpin something else the best you can ever be is a very well organised, hard working team who are hard to beat but who find it even harder to win the big matches.

Ended up a tight old game though, but good that we could tough it out. Apart from a lot of physical confrontation the Lions offered very little. Yes they were better in the scrum, but Kebble and Pierretto on the loosehead and Ragnar and Berghan on the tight would have probably made quite a difference. NB, not all four of them on the field at the same time.

With 11 points out of a possible 15 so far we can't complain. It should be 16 after next week's visit to Zebra. Then the Ladyboys come to Scotstoun Glasgow and Edinburgh - Unceasing Banter Thread 27 - Page 4 1347041234

Glasgow and Edinburgh - Unceasing Banter Thread 27 - Page 4 1347041234

That will tell us where we are.

by Old Man Sun 10 Oct 2021, 10:13 am

I must say, it is interesting that the URC website, and European media nowhere refers to the fortunate manner of "the try"

My wife and I have a saying in regards to her family "if you don't talk about it, it never happened"

Reminds me of that.

by jimbopip Sun 10 Oct 2021, 10:42 am

Old Man, everyone of the Scottish posters that have mentioned it on here has said that it could have, and probably should have, gone the other way. What concerns me is the extremely one eyed, partisan, un-rugby attitudes that seem to pervade a lot of, South African fans' thinking about rugby matches. A lot of, but not all.

Yesterday Glasgow made 5 clear line breaks to the Lions 0. Yes no line breaks in 80 minutes.
Glasgow made 11 off loads to the Lions 4.
Glasgow had 56% possession and Lions had to make a lot more tackles than Glasgow. (how's that for a precise statistic?)

I don't think Glasgow won just because the ref made a mistake. The thing that really annoys me is lots of Bokkies on social media claiming that there is a conspiracy among the referees to make sure the African teams lose. Lions lost because they hardly played any rugby. Glasgow won because they played better rugby than the Lions. Some days the ref makes a mistake in your favour...some days he gives the match to the opposition. Football fans whine about those bad days ad nauseum: rugby fans, on the whole, shrug their shoulders and look forward to the next match. The way some Bokkies are reacting to losing is an embarrassment.

My wife and I have a saying in regards to her family "if you don't talk about it, it never happened" Perhaps rather than the ref there is something the Bokkies should be talking about?

by Old Man Sun 10 Oct 2021, 11:14 am

Jimbo, seperate the Bok issues from the URC.

I get evryone is on the Bok train of every South African supporter is acting like a victim.

Rassie created a video that has brought every South African fan's claims into disrepute.

The facts as I have stated them is not incorrect. Try wasn't a try and the media is not talking about it, creating a narrative that isn't true.

Unfortunately I don't know where to get the match statistics of runs, passes, meters gained etc.

I totally agree that Glasgow made a lot of play, yet they couldn't convert it into points.

Those are the facts.

I cannot control what other people say.

As a whole on the matches I have seen from the SA teams in the URC is that they have been struggling with the interpretation of the breakdown, being heavily penalised on attacking rucks, losing a lot of momentum because of it.

There have also been incidents of "late tackles" and "late chargedowns" that were absolute nonsense in interpretations that were penalised under the auspices of not in a realistic position to chargedown or some excuses of arriving too late to make a tackle.

I know we have to get used to how things are being done in Europe, but some incidents have been hard to swallow.

The second Bulls try last night was scrutinised to see whether there was a knock in the tackle and also the grounding of the ball as it was chased into the goal area. Now I have no issue with repeated replays of any try, but then it must be consistent through all matches.

I hate complaining about referees, because if you teams have lost it sounds like sour grapes and everything gets generalised "oh but bok fans are so and so"

But realise I am the sole SA supporter on this site, and keeping quiet will not bring balance to the context of what has transpired during a match.

by jimbopip Sun 10 Oct 2021, 11:58 am

Old Man

First things, I've been on a few social media sites and in general the South African view is not in tune with how the average rugby fan in the old Pro14 comments on matches. I think I should apologies for my lazy use of "Bokkies"; I meant it in terms of "Blokes" or "men" not Springbok (international) fans.
There is an acceptable way to complain after a match and there is a way that is simply "not rugby". I like your postings as a rule. What I find unpleasant is the general tone of fans from the 4 SA teams. Don't take it personally, Old Man.

by Old Man Sun 10 Oct 2021, 12:05 pm

Unfortunately the type of fans you find everywhere

by **RDW** Sun 10 Oct 2021, 12:16 pm

Remember that Celtic nations have (justifiably) been complaining about the standard of refereeing in the Pro 12/14/16 for years - the Boks have a lot of catching up to do! Very Happy

by **George Carlin** Sun 10 Oct 2021, 2:46 pm

Correct - you can't out-whinge us, Old Man.

Scotland have been Grand Slam winners at the Six Nations Whinging Championship since 1871.

by tigertattie Mon 11 Oct 2021, 12:29 am

Can we all just agree that the following is true:

Irish refs are honking
Welsh fans feel a moral victory is most important
Italian pasta is at most, a soggy bland gap filler

Then the rest of us can get along?

by jimbopip Mon 11 Oct 2021, 12:02 pm

Apparently Glasgow are in the process of signing the Sale second row Jean Pierre Du Preez.
At 6foot 10 he might be a useful line out option. Shocked

tigertattie Irish refs are nowhere near as honking as they were in Clownshoes' heyday.

I know I just made it up but I'm certain the Ruck inspector's feud with him originated when Big Al asked, "Sir we did that five minutes ago and you gave a penalty, but when they did it you ignored it.Why?"
"Ah sure, that was ages ago. Rugby has moved on since then."

by funnyExiledScot Mon 11 Oct 2021, 11:05 pm

That sounds like a classic Mancunian Sale surname (or an Edinburgh one)...

That was a second choke of the season from Edinburgh. I'm delighted that we can now attack and that there is evidence of some backs coaching going on, but we don't half concede some soft points. We are competitive, certainly, but teams will quickly move to shut down Vellacott, so we'll need to work around that.

Didn't see the Glasgow game, but judging by this thread, the ref threw it for the Weedge. Knew they couldn't have won morally.

by jimbopip Tue 12 Oct 2021, 1:38 pm

Glasgow have just announced the signing of Walter Fifita.
A winger.
A Tongan winger.
A 6 foot 5 inch 18 stone Tongan winger.
Walter For Fecc Sake.

by **BigGee** Tue 12 Oct 2021, 1:47 pm

jimbopip wrote:Glasgow have just announced the signing of Walter Fifita.
A winger.
A Tongan winger.
A 6 foot 5 inch 18 stone Tongan winger.
Walter For Fecc Sake.

On face value that's a pretty odd signing, as we are not exactly short of decent back three options.

Maybe they want to convert him into a second row Headscratch

by jimbopip Tue 12 Oct 2021, 2:01 pm

Gee, I think we're light in the centres. Even when Robbie Fergusson returns in January.
12. Johnson-Stafford-Horne-Fergusson
13. Shona-Squiggsy-Seaman

At least two of them will be with Scotland for the 6 Nations. I can see Miotti playing 12 at times.
Cancilliere was announced as a wing/centre. As was Josh Mackay iirc.

Though we seem well stocked in the back three I'm not sure who DW sees as his first choice 15. Forbes has been playing there but I think he's a better winger. Though DW just might be a better judge of horseflesh.

Anyway a fast big lump who likes running, fast, into people. What's not to like.

Walter Fifuksake.

by **BigGee** Tue 12 Oct 2021, 3:06 pm

I am wondering if the MacKay signing has fallen through.

I know we were not expecting him for the beginning of the season, but it has all gone very quiet and this seems to be a more like for like replacement in terms of position, if not in stature.

We will see I guess?

There were also rumours of Tagive leaving as well, so maybe this might be a replacement for him as well.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 12 Oct 2021, 6:14 pm

I am trying to think of the last physically imposing winger we had. Guessing it was Big T who we struggled to make full use of.

I am guessing McLean and Forbes might be eyed up for the AI's and Six Nations. That would have left us with McKay, Tagive, Cancelieri and O Smith/McDowall as the options. If Tagive is off or McKay is not arriving (or they are looking to cover for a long term injury), it makes sense. Alternatively, it could be a low risk punt to see if there is a good player there a la Matawalu, Nakarawa, Isles, LangiLangi, etc.

by EST Wed 13 Oct 2021, 10:17 am

On the surface it does seem a bit of an odd move, but it does give us a completely different option in the backline.

Still, if it was me spending the budget I think I probably would have brought in somebody to bolster the back 5 of the scrum instead.

by **George Carlin** Wed 13 Oct 2021, 11:20 am

I still have fairly good (or not dreadful) memories of Taqele Naiyaravoro so I am also hopefully for Big Wally being another diamond in the rough.

by **BigGee** Thu 14 Oct 2021, 6:53 am

Just saw a tweet wishing Nathan McBeth, LH with the Lions and ex Scotland U20 player good luck with his new venture in Scotland whilst he was standing at the airport!

He was linked with Glasgow previously, though we don't seem to be short of LHs atm.

Does this mean someone is moving on, Keeble?

Or mayme a shorter journey accross the scrum to TH where we are not as well stocked!

by EST Thu 14 Oct 2021, 10:51 am

BigGee wrote:Just saw a tweet wishing Nathan McBeth, LH with the Lions and ex Scotland U20 player good luck with his new venture in Scotland whilst he was standing at the airport!

He was linked with Glasgow previously, though we don't seem to be short of LHs atm.

Does this mean someone is moving on, Keeble?

Or mayme a shorter journey accross the scrum to TH where we are not as well stocked!

Think you might have got your front row stocks muddled BigGee? we have Fagerson, Pieretto, Berghan, McCallum, McQuillan and Walker all on the TH side, only Kebble, Bhatti and Lambert on the other side.

by Hazel Sapling Thu 14 Oct 2021, 11:27 am

Thyer is on short term loan from Cardiff so McBeth may be his replacement in the squad.

Berghan moving to Glasgow looks stranger now that McCallum seems to have rediscovered his mojo away from Edinburgh.

by **BigGee** Thu 14 Oct 2021, 11:29 am

EST wrote:
BigGee wrote:Just saw a tweet wishing Nathan McBeth, LH with the Lions and ex Scotland U20 player good luck with his new venture in Scotland whilst he was standing at the airport!

He was linked with Glasgow previously, though we don't seem to be short of LHs atm.

Does this mean someone is moving on, Keeble?

Or mayme a shorter journey accross the scrum to TH where we are not as well stocked!

Think you might have got your front row stocks muddled BigGee? we have Fagerson, Pieretto, Berghan, McCallum, McQuillan and Walker all on the TH side, only Kebble, Bhatti and Lambert on the other side.

Sorry you are right, we have that other guy on loan and i guess I was counting him as well.

We will be very happy to welcome young Nathan to the Warrior nation in that case.

by EST Fri 15 Oct 2021, 11:40 am

Hazel Sapling wrote:Thyer is on short term loan from Cardiff so McBeth may be his replacement in the squad.

Berghan moving to Glasgow looks stranger now that McCallum seems to have rediscovered his mojo away from Edinburgh.

The TH side does look a bit lopsided, with Walker coming through and McCallum showing up relatively well. Still, some of the guys will be on relatively very little money and it's always good to see good FR depth in Scotland.

by demosthenes Fri 15 Oct 2021, 11:49 am

Glasgow team v. Zebre :

Glasgow Warriors team to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Saturday 16 October, kick-off 1pm, live on Premier Sports 1. You can also follow the match in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Jamie Bhatti (50)
2. Johnny Matthews (14)
3. Oli Kebble (58)
4. Lewis Bean (8)
5. Richie Gray (64)
6. Ally Miller (1)
7. Rory Darge (6)
8. Ryan Wilson (C) (195)

9. George Horne (69)
10. Duncan Weir (109)
11. Rufus McLean (12)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (3)
13. Nick Grigg (92)
14. Sebastian Cancelliere (0)
15. Cole Forbes (9)

16. Fraser Brown (112)
17. Brad Thyer (3)
18. Enrique Pieretto (20)
19. Rob Harley (253)
20. Thomas Gordon (38)
21. Sean Kennedy (17)
22. Ross Thompson (17)
23. Stafford McDowall (29)

by **BigGee** Fri 15 Oct 2021, 11:56 am

Oli Keeble at TH

I have been saying this for a while, but I do think that is where he will be playing now.

This is being driven by the needs of the Scotland team, where TH is probably our only great area of weakness now, the drop off from Zander is enormous if we accept the reality that Nelly is probably past his best now and really won't be going to the next WC.

Otherwise looks a decent team.

by **RDW** Fri 15 Oct 2021, 12:03 pm

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Vodacom Bulls at DAM Health Stadium in the United Rugby Championship
Saturday 16 October, kick-off 5.15pm – live on Premier Sports

15. Henry Immelman (3)

14. Darcy Graham (42)
13. Mark Bennett (56)
12. James Lang (3)
11. Damien Hoyland (86)

10. Jaco van der Walt (74)
9. Charlie Shiel (37)

1. Pierre Schoeman (68)
2. Stuart McInally (155)
3. Luan de Bruin (1)
4. Marshall Sykes (10)
5. Grant Gilchrist (162) CAPTAIN
6. Magnus Bradbury (96)
7. Luke Crosbie (61)
8. Viliame Mata (92)

Replacements: 16. Dave Cherry (39) 17. Boan Venter (10) 18. WP Nel (159) 19. Pierce Phillips (1) 20. Mesu Kunavula (13) 21. Connor Boyle (9) 22. Ben Vellacott (3) 23. James Johnstone (67)

Unavailable due to injury: Nick Haining, Blair Kinghorn, Ramiro Moyano, George Taylor, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson, Glen Young

Probably the biggest pack we could put out just now and 6 forwards on the bench. I think we'll need it!

by EST Fri 15 Oct 2021, 1:37 pm

demosthenes wrote:Glasgow team v. Zebre :

Glasgow Warriors team to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Saturday 16 October, kick-off 1pm, live on Premier Sports 1. You can also follow the match in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Jamie Bhatti (50)
2. Johnny Matthews (14)
3. Oli Kebble (58)
4. Lewis Bean (8)
5. Richie Gray (64)
6. Ally Miller (1)
7. Rory Darge (6)
8. Ryan Wilson (C) (195)

9. George Horne (69)
10. Duncan Weir (109)
11. Rufus McLean (12)
12. Sione Tuipulotu (3)
13. Nick Grigg (92)
14. Sebastian Cancelliere (0)
15. Cole Forbes (9)

16. Fraser Brown (112)
17. Brad Thyer (3)
18. Enrique Pieretto (20)
19. Rob Harley (253)
20. Thomas Gordon (38)
21. Sean Kennedy (17)
22. Ross Thompson (17)
23. Stafford McDowall (29)

Will be interesting to see how Kebble goes, he certainly has the size to play TH and maybe as he get's older that position will suit him more. A shame that both Fagerson and Dempsey are out, that's a lot of dynamism to lose and Wilson and Miller aren't necessarily known for their carrying ability. Still, it's good team and promising to see the strength in depth with a bit of rotation in the team.

by Hazel Sapling Fri 15 Oct 2021, 2:37 pm

Just talking about how TH is lopsided at Glasgow and we play our premier LH at TH.

As Zebre are one of the weaker sides, why couldn't we have had McCallum or Walker bench, start Pieretto and drop Thyer (NSQ loan signing) from the squad?

Otherwise, it is a decent enough side and should have more than enough for Zebre.

by **BigGee** Fri 15 Oct 2021, 3:18 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:Just talking about how TH is lopsided at Glasgow and we play our premier LH at TH.

As Zebre are one of the weaker sides, why couldn't we have had McCallum or Walker bench, start Pieretto and drop Thyer (NSQ loan signing) from the squad?

Otherwise, it is a decent enough side and should have more than enough for Zebre.

I think this is coming from the Scotland team, who are a lot more in need of an international TH than Glasgow are. Keeble needs time in the saddle.

If Mcbeth is coming in as another LH, then we are not in such bad shape there either with Bhatti, Lambert and Mccallam who can fill in.

by EST Fri 15 Oct 2021, 3:55 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:Just talking about how TH is lopsided at Glasgow and we play our premier LH at TH.

As Zebre are one of the weaker sides, why couldn't we have had McCallum or Walker bench, start Pieretto and drop Thyer (NSQ loan signing) from the squad?

Otherwise, it is a decent enough side and should have more than enough for Zebre.

It doesn't seem very coherent does it? I think BigGee is right about it being driven by Scotland, but the upshot is we have a massive logjam in one position and will likely have capped players like Berghan and Pierreto twiddling their thumbs not getting any minutes.

by **BigGee** Fri 15 Oct 2021, 4:20 pm

EST wrote:
Hazel Sapling wrote:Just talking about how TH is lopsided at Glasgow and we play our premier LH at TH.

As Zebre are one of the weaker sides, why couldn't we have had McCallum or Walker bench, start Pieretto and drop Thyer (NSQ loan signing) from the squad?

Otherwise, it is a decent enough side and should have more than enough for Zebre.

It doesn't seem very coherent does it? I think BigGee is right about it being driven by Scotland, but the upshot is we have a massive logjam in one position and will likely have capped players like Berghan and Pierreto twiddling their thumbs not getting any minutes.

Props are a fairly fragile species. Berghan and Keeble seem no strangers to the physio couch and they only usually manage half a game each in any case. I think they will all get plenty of game time. My main worry is that we don't overplay Zander as I think he is a key player for both Scotland and Glasgow. Perhaps the re-assurance that he was not going to get flogged might have helped him recommit himself to the cause, when he definitely seemed to be wavering last year.

Freeing up a loosehead spot will be good for Lambert as well, who is a prospect and also needs to play and is now more likely to under this scenario.

by EWT Spoons Fri 15 Oct 2021, 4:41 pm

EST wrote:
Hazel Sapling wrote:Just talking about how TH is lopsided at Glasgow and we play our premier LH at TH.

As Zebre are one of the weaker sides, why couldn't we have had McCallum or Walker bench, start Pieretto and drop Thyer (NSQ loan signing) from the squad?

Otherwise, it is a decent enough side and should have more than enough for Zebre.

It doesn't seem very coherent does it? I think BigGee is right about it being driven by Scotland, but the upshot is we have a massive logjam in one position and will likely have capped players like Berghan and Pierreto twiddling their thumbs not getting any minutes.

Berghan has an injury, likely to be out for a few weeks. Which is also why he wasn't involved in the Scotland squad.

by **RDW** Fri 15 Oct 2021, 10:36 pm

Edinburgh have appointed the massively successful Fiji 7s head coach as skills and assistant attack coach.

Great appointment, and hopefully he can bring some Fijians with him!

Quite a step up from Hodge!

by TheMildlyFranticLlama Sat 16 Oct 2021, 2:01 pm

RDW wrote:Edinburgh have appointed the massively successful Fiji 7s head coach as skills and assistant attack coach.

Great appointment, and hopefully he can bring some Fijians with him!

Quite a step up from Hodge!

I imagine he’ll do more good for the Edinburgh backs on his first day than Hodge managed in his entire 4 centuries coaching us! Excellent hire that, good work

by **BigGee** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 2:58 pm

Pretty grim stuff from Glasgow at Parma

About the only positive thing was the result.

We will need to play a whole lot better next week against Leinster but I also suspect we will see a very different team with our Lions back.

by jimbopip Sat 16 Oct 2021, 3:17 pm

By half time I had forgotten who was at 13 for us. It was Squiggsy. He really was on starvation rations. If Johnson is unavailable and Furra Linee semi-retired we really do have problems at 12.
Hornito is worryingly meh at the moment and I can't see him starting on Friday.
Unbelievably, Batman managed to got on the wrong side of the ref.

by **BigGee** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 4:53 pm

jimbopip wrote:By half time I had forgotten who was at 13 for us. It was Squiggsy. He really was on starvation rations. If Johnson is unavailable and Furra Linee semi-retired we really do have problems at 12.
Hornito is worryingly meh at the moment and I can't see him starting on Friday.
Unbelievably, Batman managed to got on the wrong side of the ref.

No, it was not a good game from the Glasgow half backs. I don't think Horne Nor weir played well and they could easily find themselves dropping down the pecking order now that Price and Miotta are going to be available.

I was surprised not to see Thompson/McDowell introduced at 10/12 much earlier in the second half when it was crying out for a change. Wilson clearly decided that was not happening today and just played for the 4 points in the end by tightening the game up.

I think we will see a very different team next weekend and hopefully a much better performance.

by Hazel Sapling Sat 16 Oct 2021, 5:08 pm

Did not watch, but is that the second game in a row that Glasgow have won the second half 3-0?

I did watch most of Wasps vs Exeter. Patrick Harrison got about half an hour in the end after the starting hooker got a yellow and then injured 2 minutes after coming back on. He seemed to struggle a bit with his involvement in the rucks and unfortunately threw not straight in the last minute to give Exeter the win. It looks like he will get plenty of game time in the next couple of weeks due to injuries.

Hislop started for Wasps and made 21 tackles in his shift. He did well enough in the scrum as well. Not likely to threaten Sutherland, Kebble, Schoeman or Bhatti but good competition as 5th choice if injuries strike.

Hogg did not do much in my eyes. Hidalgo Clyne went to Hill on the short side for a try from 5m out that ended up winning Exeter the game. He was okay but clearly not on the same level as the 3 Glasgow SH's or Vellacott.

by **BigGee** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 6:08 pm

Charlie Sheil showing that he wants to be in the SH equation as well, he is playing really well and bringing an element of control, not something he was renowned for, to the Edinburgh backline.

by **BigGee** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 7:31 pm

Good win for Edinburgh and some great performances from some of the forgotten men of Scottish rugby.

Sheil, Bennett and Bradbury were definitely amongst the standouts for Edinburgh and may still bring themselves into consideration for more international honours

by jimbopip Sat 16 Oct 2021, 8:53 pm

Not taking anything away from a deserved win.. but the saffer sides are all so limited when going forward. Cockers should get a job over there. He'd be a groundbreaking iconoclast.

by funnyExiledScot Sat 16 Oct 2021, 9:06 pm

Good win for Edinburgh. Comfortably the better side, and probably as good a display from each of Gilchrist and Bradbury as I can remember. We left a bunch of points out there, scrum was terrific and we were decent at the breakdown, just a pity our lineout misfired badly.

Agreed on the Bulls. Canny and experienced, but so limited in ambition. The outside backs look good and dangerous runners, but were so rarely used. Really lacked attacking ambition, and could have caused us more problems had they been more creative.

I know Edinburgh have choked up a few points already this season, and we still concede soft points doing stupid things, but we look a much better side already when putting tempo on the ball. Outside backs such as Bennett and Graham are really thriving this season, and Jaco looks a different player as well.

by funnyExiledScot Sat 16 Oct 2021, 9:07 pm

I should add that I thought the disallowed Bulls try should have been given.

by **BigGee** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 9:26 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I should add that I thought the disallowed Bulls try should have been given.

I disagree, He got himself up on his knee to make the final yards.

If he had not done that, he may well have slide in under his own momentum, but that we will never know.

Nevertheless it was a good and deserved win for the luuvies. Lets see if they can build on that.

by **RDW** Sat 16 Oct 2021, 9:32 pm

Good hard fought wins for both teams - Edinburgh look to have really fronted up.

by **RDW** Sun 17 Oct 2021, 1:44 am

Just watched the Edinburgh game - really gritty performance where we really fronted up and were deserving of the win. All of the pack played well with Schoeman, Gilchrist and the entire backrow putting in huge shifts. What an impact Nel made off the bench!

In the backs Sheil had a really composed game and VDW was going well until his injury. It looked a bad one which is a real shame as he's started the season well. Plus with Lang also injured we're looking very short at 10!

What was disappointing was to see Edinburgh's social media channels inundated with angry South Africans saying everything ranging from Edinburgh only won because of the ref, to Edinburgh bribed the ref etc etc. It's a shame because the SA teams have brought a fresh excitement to the league but things will quickly get bitter if this happens every time one of the team's lose. Of course, opposition moaning about the ref is far from a new thing but it was the sheer volume of it!

I didn't think the ref was too bad really by URV standards - penalty count was 18-14 against Bulls so it was a high penalty game generally. Maybe those fans forgot their team were given 14 penalties too...

The main contentious points seem to be Bismarck's penalty reversal then the disallow try. On the first, the ref had literally said to the captains 2 minutes earlier "no more handbags". He then pushed Schoeman 3 times after the whistle right in front of the ref. Gilchrist and Schoeman's clear outs probably needed a closer look but the ref had given the penalty in the first place. Also, the opposition fans apparently also forgot that Crosbie gave away the same penalty for handbags in the 2nd half and was even marched back 10m...

The try was a real borderline one but you can at least understand the decision. Another ref or TMO might have given it but that's rugby. For me he did propel himself a 2nd time and it wasn't a natural reaching out motion.

So it's a shame that what was a good intensity, well fought game has resulted in another social media crapfight!

by jimbopip Sun 17 Oct 2021, 9:53 am

A good post Flounder

One thing I have noticed with VDW is that he's smiling a lot this season, even when kicks go out on the full. I'm sure that sort of thing was banned under Cockers.
The saffer fans continue to grate; I winced when the try was disallowed because I knew what the reaction of far too many of them would be. My own tuppence worth is that the Bulls winger actually jumps into the tackle initially, which should have been a penalty. he probably got away with that because Graham is tackling him from the side rather than head on which would have been a stone cold penalty. The jump more than the tackle is what causes him to lose his footing, but Graham is still holding him and he gets onto his knees to crawl towards the line. I can see why the Bulls fans are disappointed but i can also see the TMO and ref's logic. What I struggle with is the footballish response of "We were cheated."
Anyhoo, the Luvvies are improving and if it keeps up might sneak into the top eight and avoid the Diddy Cup next season.

by Old Man Sun 17 Oct 2021, 10:45 am

I said to myself the Bulls try wouldn't be awarded because it looked like he crawled, the big question might be was he held in the tackle? I don't think having a hand on the jersey could really be seen as held in the tackle.

Either way, one issue I do have is the scrutiny of some tries and not other. Glasgow won vs the Lions with a try that wasn't scrutinised, the Bulls try was.

I get where some SA fans are getting angry, during the matches I get angry when I see inconsistencies, and a fair few of those have gone against the SA teams.

One thing is pretty clear to me, in general the SA teams are getting the short end of the stick at the breakdowns.

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