Glasgow and Edinburgh 29 - Buckfast & Bollinger

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29 threads. There is officially something wrong with us.

https://www.606v2.com/t70624p1000-glasgow-and-edinburgh-28-and-counting-the-banter-goes-on?ns=7ndk62cdm0w%3D#4069230

What's happened to Vellacott? Last season he was on scintillating form, whereas this year he apparently get past Charlie Sheil who has been pretty rotten on a number of games.

tigertattie wrote:This sums up Scottish rugby.

The cream at the top can be very competitive but the layer below that is that horrible watery red bottle pish that you’d not even put in a cup of tea.

Edinburgh go from going toe to toe with sarries to being spanked by Llanelli

I think you might actually be speaking about Edinburgh rugby, not Scottish rugby in general. Just in case you had not noticed, your neighbours down the M8 seem to have weathered the international window quite well. This is largely through good squad play and bringinging players on, so they can step up when called upon.

Glasgow have been demonstarting that skill for some time now, pity Blair did not pick it up qhen he spent some time with us!

Scarlets are on good form but there was more than enough in that Edinburgh team to be competitive. That was an international class backrow, and most of our first choice backline (back 3 aside) - which is a worry!

We need to invest in a new 9 and a physical presence in midfield, which is such a hallmark of any successful team these days. Lang, Dean and Bennet or all similar - lightweight ball players. Cammy Hutchinson looks to have real potential but is always injured.

I can see this season ending in a whimper!

RDW wrote:What's happened to Vellacott? Last season he was on scintillating form, whereas this year he apparently get past Charlie Sheil who has been pretty rotten on a number of games.

Vellacott looks great on the show case real, he is very quick and has a great break.

Unfortunately he never did the basics well enough. Probably at Glocester and Wasps before coming to Edinburgh, he spent most of his time coming off the bench, which is a different skillset to starting and running a game.

Sheil is the same, no consistency at all. He plays well and we get excited about him then he is rank rotten like today. You got to suspect after 5 or so years at Edinburgh, he is not going to improve.

Bit of a whooping!

Did goosen have a bad injury? See he went off quite early.

Edinburgh will surely shake things up a bit for next season. Healy arriving is good news but agree with others about 9. Sheil and Vellacott seem like very similar players to me. Pyrgos is a point of difference but he’s a bit past it now. Edinburgh really need the next Greig Laidlaw to emerge.

Ben White to Edinburgh?

Makes sense for all parties... Edinburgh get an international class 9 and he uses the opportunities to solidify himself as starting Scotland 9 under the watch of the SRU

London Irish may need to get rid of a NEQ player.

When is pyrgos' contract up? Edinburgh should be looking to sign the next talent like Glasgow did with dobie and, like Glasgow, actually persisting with them. If Cooney is really that interested in Scotland maybe they should sign him for 2 seasons just to help a young SH through.

I'm surprised and disappointed that Blair hasn't fostered more talent in his former position.

Or Ben White, forgot about the actual incumbent!

Cooney is OOC at Ulster and seems to have fsllen out of favour since flirting with Scotland.

They could do worse than him if he was interested, but they do need to look at some younger models as well.

Rory Darge has travelled to Saarf Effrika with the Warriors squad.

Team announcement Thursday will be interesting for Glasgow. Can't remember seeing Kebble, Dell or Pieretto this season but we need two of the three for this.

Probably not got a bad side for it. Biggest thing will be rust for the players

McBeth - Matthews - Sordoni (Kebble - Fraser - Pieretto)
JPDP - Cummings (Bean)
Gordon - Mann - Vailanu (Darge, Brown)

Dobie - Jordan (Kennedy - Weir)
Johnson - McDowall
Forbes - McKay - Fifita

Definitely not Manjezi, he has just had a knee op.

We got Samuels and Bean as second row back ups.

I suspect Bean and Cummings will start and JP and Samuels will bench.

Franco always goes 6:2

We look like we might be one winger short of a decent team. There was one game when Dobie got subbed onto the wing, you do wonder if it might happen again here

Another option would be McKay on the wing and the lesser spotted Miotti at XV.

Delighted to hear Darge is back in the mix. The sky is the limit for him and whilst I think Crosbie is useful, Darge is a more natural 7 for me.

Fair point BG, adjusted

We have two wingers listed in our squad (both NSQ) though Steyn is listed at centre (even with Steyn, only five centres listed and three are with Scotland not including McDowall).

Glasgow are short back three players and Blain has struggled for gametime at Edinburgh. I suspect he will be nudged across and McKnight will have to be given an opportunity at some point. Fifita is not good enough to be retained.

If anything, Glasgow also have a spot for a early career centre so not sure if we will look to bring McCullum back from London Scots or if Munn will get a shot.

Mike Blair bales from Edinburgh at the end of the season - new head coach required.

He has not looked thst comfortable since the downturn in form recently, so maybe not that surprising. In hindsight, maybe promoted before he was ready.

Is that confirmed BigGee? Don't think that helps Edinburgh as they are turning over to many coaches atm.

Interestingly Glasgow are being tipped as possible winners of the URC by some pundits. Granted everyone still favors Leinster but they are a dark horse for the playoff run in.

Going to be interesting if anyone can catch Leinster cold in the qtrs or semis.

That's a terrifically proactive and brave decision from Blair, recognising that he perhaps isn't Head Coach material but wanting to focus on being a world class attacking coach. For what it's worth I totally agree. Still, not many folks would give up a job like that in that manner. Classy decision.

Glasgow side up for the Lions game

McBeth - Matthews - Sordoni (Dell - Fraser - Berghan)
Bean - Cummings (JP Du Preez)
Miller - Vailanu - Darge (Gordon, Ferrie)

Dobie - Jordan (Kennedy - Weir)
Johnson - McDowall
Caven - McKay - Forbes

Does McDowall really need 14 other team mates to win this game?

Wonderful seeing Darge back.

Welshmushroom wrote:Is that confirmed BigGee?  Don't think that helps Edinburgh as they are turning over to many coaches atm.  

Interestingly Glasgow are being tipped as possible winners of the URC by some pundits.  Granted everyone still favors Leinster but they are a dark horse for the playoff run in.

Going to be interesting if anyone can catch Leinster cold in the qtrs or semis.

Yes confirmed by the club this lunch time.

I expect this discussion has been going on for a while, so maybe they are along the way of identifying a replacement already.

Maybe John Dalziel who is probably the most ready of the exidting Scottish coaches, but he would not be available till after the WC.

Welshmushroom wrote:Is that confirmed BigGee?  Don't think that helps Edinburgh as they are turning over to many coaches atm.  

It is yeah: https://edinburghrugby.org/the-clubhouse/blair-to-step-down-as-edinburgh-head-coach/

I agree it's a brave decision and definitely one to be respected, however it's also a huge setback for the club. Having started the season really strongly and looking like we were in a good place, we're now all over the shop! I just hope the SRU are able to identify some strong candidates and we aren't handed whoever is currently making Dodson's cups of tea at Murrayfield

Putting an early theory out there

Brad Mooar was brought in for the 6n only, to cover attack and back play. Blair wants to move back into attack coaching.

At the end of the season they swap roles. Mooar comes in to be Edinburgh head coach (he's got experience) and Blair takes his old role of attack coach with Scotland.

EWT Spoons wrote:Putting an early theory out there

Brad Mooar was brought in for the 6n only, to cover attack and back play.  Blair wants to move back into attack coaching.

At the end of the season they swap roles.  Mooar comes in to be Edinburgh head coach (he's got experience) and Blair takes his old role of attack coach with Scotland.

Sounds far too...sensible?

Toonie to Edinburgh.

Just saying

tigertattie wrote:Toonie to Edinburgh.

Just saying

Na, he needs to go off to France to continue to develop as a coach. If for no other reason that to make my confident prediction made in the early days of his time in the Scotland role that he'll definitely be a successful HC for Scotland in his second stint in the role more likely to actually be true!

Sam Johnson makes his 100th appearance for the rugby club tomorrow. Eli Caven makes his debut. Another world class player from Ayr!
Stafford captains again.

Woah didn't see the Blair news coming, although with his contract up anyway he was maybe always getting the boot and this was his chance to come away from it positively.

Well that is a relief in many ways. Wasn't really clicking and Blair has been such a great player and coach for Scotland it would have been sad to see him sacked. Hopefully that'll mean a better Edinburgh side next season.

Also could mean our season continues to go in freefall, not least the tough run in that we have.

One of the rugby journals pointed out that Toonie is fluent (enough) in French and this makes him very attractive to the French club - English, French and Bamtalk all being available to him.

Glasgow making some very careless errors to gift Lions a 27-14 lead at half time.

Tom Jordan signs on for more at Glasgow

He has been the find of the season and hopefully has plenty more improvement still to come. This new contract will also take him up to the point of Scottish Qualification. Something that may also come into play down the line.

Just seeing Mike Blair is for standing down with plan to revert to attack coach role, Ulster could do with an attack coach, and Blair and DMcF would have worked together at Glasgow as well as with Scotland?

Kingshu wrote:Just seeing Mike Blair is for standing down with plan to revert to attack coach role, Ulster could do with an attack coach, and Blair and DMcF would have worked together at Glasgow as well as with Scotland?

I'm all for Scottish coaches getting out of the SRU bubble. Look how much Roddy Grant has benefitted at Ulster.

2 more years for Mark Bennett

Looks like he may well end up finishing his career at Edinburgh.

I was cycling on Zwift a little while ago and I caught up with a certain D Graham, who had a Scottish flag by his name.

I did wonder if it was Darcy doing a bit of rehab on the bike.

If it was, i'd say he has a little way to go as he could not keep up with me for very long!

Hopefully back for the world cup!

Glasgow side out

Dell - Matthews - Berghan (Bhatti - Brown - Kebble)
Bean - JP Du Preez (Samuel)
Cummings - Vailanu - Darge (Brown, Gordon)

Horne - Jordan (Dobie - Weir)
Johnson - McDowall
Forbes - Smith - McKay

Unavailable for selection: Sebastian Cancelliere (knee), Angus Fraser (head), Sintu Manjezi (knee), Jack Mann (head), Ally Miller (back), Enrique Pieretto (chest), Murphy Walker (neck), Ryan Wilson (knee).

International duty: Jack Dempsey, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, Huw Jones, Ali Price, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, George Turner.

Strong side though relying on a returning Kebble at TH is less than ideal. Coming home to Zebre after the difficult Lions game is ideal

Not sure I like using a lock at BS, I feel that Cummings is too slow for that role though it should not matter against Zebre. Would rather get Brown or Ferrie at BS and have Cummings at his preferred position.

Is there any news on Mann? If memory serves, he has been out 2-3 months with that concussion from the Bath game which is quite concerning.

Edinburgh rugby vs Leinster

Venter - McInally - Atalifo (Jack - Cherry - Millar-Mills)
Sykes - Skinner (Hodgson)
Crosbie - Mata - Watson (Haining)

Vellacott - Savala (Shiel - VDW)
Lang - Bennett (Dean)
Goosen - Boffelli - Hoyland

Leinster 23
*=academy

B:Frawley - Larmour - Turner - Osborne - Kearney - HByrne - McGrath
F:Milne -McKee* -Ala’alatoa -Molony -Jenkins -Ruddock -Penny -Deegan
R:Barron*-Boyle*-Clarkson-Deeny-Connors-McCarthy-Tector*-Russell*

Hazel Sapling wrote:Edinburgh rugby vs Leinster

Venter - McInally - Atalifo (Jack - Cherry - Millar-Mills)
Sykes - Skinner (Hodgson)
Crosbie - Mata - Watson (Haining)

Vellacott - Savala (Shiel - VDW)
Lang - Bennett (Dean)
Goosen - Boffelli - Hoyland

Long evening ahead I fear, particularly with Savala offering zero from 10.

Well its not exactly been free flowing, but Glasgow get the BP by half time, largely on the prowess of their driving maul.

Johnny, the Scouser, Mathews, scores three of them!

24-8 Glasgow at HT

50-8 Glasgow at FT

Not a game that will stay long in the memory, but it did the job.

What you could take away from the game:

1. Darge and Cummings will surely be back in the Scotland squad next week, both looked class

2, George Horne, unfortunately is not a controlling SH, you can see why Toonie has gone back to Price. Dobie showed a lot in his 12 mins on the field.

3. Fraser Brown, for all his physicality, still chucks a few dodgy throws.

Highlight of the game?
Zebre spill a ball at a ruck; Darge on it like a Tory MP after a non executive directorship, sprints into space and off loads to Hornito who shows the usual blistering pace to get in behind the defence before offloading beautifully to Lord Stafford who scores. Start all three of them against the Oirish I say. Or perhaps not.
Second best moment?
Jonny Matthews breaks clear from the tail of a lineout ten yards from the line and passes to Groot in full flight. The Zebre winger who was one on one with Groot saw his life flash before his eyes as the big fella ran over him to score.

jimbopip wrote:
Jonny Matthews breaks clear from the tail of a lineout ten yards from the line and passes to Groot in full flight. The Zebre winger who was one on  one with Groot saw his life flash before his eyes as the big fella ran over him to score.

Yes, he really did not fancy that tackle, can't imagine why?

5 points for Glasgow and a good fill up for our points difference but otherwise a pretty forgettable game.

I am not recognising this Edinburgh side tonight!

Unfortunately, it went down hill from there!

Mike Blair looked a bit of a broken man in the post match. Saying the same thing as most of his post match chats: played really well in parts ( first quarter) but couldn't maintain the same level ( second half).
He has definitely made the right choice to step away from being a head coach.
Hopefully he gets his mojo back as an attack coach somewhere else.

sensisball wrote:Mike Blair looked a bit of a broken man in the post match. Saying the same thing as most of his post match chats: played really well in parts ( first quarter) but couldn't maintain the same level ( second half).
He has definitely made the right choice to step away from being a head coach.
Hopefully he gets his mojo back as an attack coach somewhere else.

My worry is how bad it's gonna get by the end of the season. Coach on the way out, poor run of losses, low morale, though fixtures...