Glasgow and Edinburgh 30 - Starting the new season with 2 wins - Long may it continue

First topic message reminder :

Well both Scotland's pro teams got off the mark with a W this weekend, though probably fair to say that Glasgow's was slightly more pleasing on the eye!

Still not to be sniffed at and probably a while since it last happened.

A good omen for the season, let's hope so, though early season games are not always a predictor of longer term performance. Both sides still got plenty of players to bring back into the fold and a lot of improvement to make.

Roll on 2023/24!

bsando wrote:Apparently Turner may be moving to Kobe Steelers to link up with Mike Blair and Dave Rennie. That’s an interesting move. Wasn’t there a Scottish hooker at Leicester?

You thinking Jake Kerr (Josh, the world 1500m champion brother)

He is no longer with Tigers, or Bath where he went after that. Was last seen playing in the Super 6.

Turner movi g on would definitely leave us a hooker short.

Johnny the Scouser would move to first choice presumably and Hiddlestone (doing pretty well) and Fraser (yet to convince) would back up.

That is not enough really and bringing in another promising youngster not really the answer either.

There is always Dylan Richardson, who seems to have become the forgotten man, largely because he can't string any games together without getting injured. He was trying to settle in the front row before his latest absence from the Sharks.

If Turner does move though, this is a problem that will need to be solved.

BigGee wrote:

bsando wrote:Apparently Turner may be moving to Kobe Steelers to link up with Mike Blair and Dave Rennie. That’s an interesting move. Wasn’t there a Scottish hooker at Leicester?

You thinking Jake Kerr (Josh, the world 1500m champion brother)

He is no longer with Tigers, or Bath where he went after that. Was last seen playing in the Super 6.

Bristol not Bath.

I think he's flogging gym equipment now which is a sad decline for a player who should now be in his peak at 28.

Not unexpected and I seem to think this was already announced, but Fraser Brown has retired from rugby, due to injuries.

BigGee wrote:

bsando wrote:Apparently Turner may be moving to Kobe Steelers to link up with Mike Blair and Dave Rennie. That’s an interesting move. Wasn’t there a Scottish hooker at Leicester?

You thinking Jake Kerr (Josh, the world 1500m champion brother)

He is no longer with Tigers, or Bath where he went after that. Was last seen playing in the Super 6.

Turner movi g on would definitely leave us a hooker short.

Johnny the Scouser would move to first choice presumably and Hiddlestone (doing pretty well) and Fraser (yet to convince) would back up.

That is not enough really and bringing in another promising youngster not really the answer either.

There is always Dylan Richardson, who seems to have become the forgotten man, largely because he can't string any games together without getting injured. He was trying to settle in the front row before his latest absence from the Sharks.

If Turner does move though, this is a problem that will need to be solved.

Could possibly consider making a move to bring Robbie Smith back up the road from Saints. No idea if there is interest from either club or player, but at 25 he's coming into prime years and would be good to get him playing regularly, as the cupboard is pretty bare from both Scottish teams for hookers

It seems to be in the press, but no officual announcement from Glasgow yet.

As Spoons says, not unexpected, but it would be good to hear his own take on it.

He seems to be moving into coaching now as well, taking charge of Watsonians in the last Super 6 competition.

Not sure what he is going to do after that, though.

EWT Spoons wrote:Not unexpected and I seem to think this was already announced, but Fraser Brown has retired from rugby, due to injuries.

He was still in the squad??

RDW wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:Not unexpected and I seem to think this was already announced, but Fraser Brown has retired from rugby, due to injuries.

He was still in the squad??

Yes, he is still contracted to Glasgow, though I think maybe only till the end of this season and at pushing 35, he may not have been renewed in any case.

It does seem that he was hoping to have got back to play sometime before the end of the season, but he seems to have called time on that one now.

I forgot about Kerr. Thought he played for Connacht last year. Might not be a bad pick-up as a back-up.

Smith does not seem to be getting much time at Northampton but saw he came off the bench the other day against Leicester I think and scored a try. He got a new contract in December 2023 so can't see him moving.

Richardson got injured early in the season and may be a more appropriate answer if we are after a first or second choice option. Think his contract is coming up.

Beyond that, Grant Stewart and Cammy Fenton are still playing in the Super Six as well. Both have professional experience and could not get time due to the logjam at Glasgow and Edinburgh. If we see Hiddleston or Fraser progressing to a first choice role, then one of them could also be a depth choice.

I do think Glasgow need a proven performer though.

We have got two decent youngsters already but we need someone who can start and perform regularly. Hooker is to important and specialised a position just to have someone fill in.

If we can't find a suitable SQ replacement then we will definitely need to look further afield.

I wonder if Edinburgh could do Glasgow a turn and send over one of our hookers.

At Edinburgh we have

Ashman – 1st choice now I would suggest.
Chezza – 29/30 so in theory prime
McBurney – 27 also prime age
Harrison – Up and coming player and needs some gametime.

Realistically Edinburgh don’t need 4 hookers.  Ashman and Chez seemingly are first/second choice (swap about as you see fit) and Harrison should be the 3rd choice up and coming player.

McBurney signed a 1 year extension last season, so probably needs to prove he deserves a place and whilst he’s not been first choice at Edinburgh he could probably fill a gap at Glasgow and cover for Mathews.  He’s not had a load of opportunities at Edinburgh to impress so it’s possible there’s a player there who just needs gametime.  Or he could be absolute toss (just for balance) but at the very least he’s reasonably experienced and would offer depth. Plus he's already on the SRU books, so easy enough to move over and he's SQ.

3 hookers is pretty light, especially as Ashman will likely be in the Scotland squad. All it takes is one injury during an international window and we're left with 2 hookers and academy randoms.

And a lack of hookers in Edinburgh is definitely a bad thing!

Fair, but McBurney isn’t really getting a look in at Edinburgh, and at 27 he needs to be playing, especially if Toonie/The SRU want SQ players getting gametime. He could move to Glasgow and challenge/be first choice.

Edinburgh could sign a cheap journeyman to fill the gap (looking at you South Africa), to fill the 3rd/4th choice hooker role.

RDW wrote:3 hookers is pretty light, especially as Ashman will likely be in the Scotland squad. All it takes is one injury during an international window and we're left with 2 hookers and academy randoms.

And a lack of hookers in Edinburgh is definitely a bad thing!

Oh and kudos for the s*x worker - Edinburgh joke.

I think Hiddleston and Fraser have shown enough to deserve more opportunities than having someone parachuted ahead of them...unless they are SQ.

McBurney is fine but is a second/third choice at best. I don't think he boosts the level at Glasgow and the issue is probably more about the lack of a top quality first option than someone eating minutes.

Cherry is actually 33 (34 next year) anyway although not as many professional miles on the clock as others so may have 2-3 seasons left in him.

Bradbury signed for Edinburgh.

Good move for both I reckon!

Hazel Sapling wrote:I think Hiddleston and Fraser have shown enough to deserve more opportunities than having someone parachuted ahead of them...unless they are SQ.

I think Hiddlestone in particular, but both of them do deserve more opportunities. That however is a mile away from regularly starting, which would be the case if Mathews was injured or with Scotland.

If you look at the spine of the Glasgow team, the missing link this year is FH, which seems to have been addressed.

I think our situation would be far worse if the problem was hooker, not FH where at least we do have some other options.

Hazel Sapling wrote:I think Hiddleston and Fraser have shown enough to deserve more opportunities than having someone parachuted ahead of them...unless they are SQ.

McBurney is fine but is a second/third choice at best. I don't think he boosts the level at Glasgow and the issue is probably more about the lack of a top quality first option than someone eating minutes.

Cherry is actually 33 (34 next year) anyway although not as many professional miles on the clock as others so may have 2-3 seasons left in him.

Chezza is older than I thought. Perhaps we shouldn’t send McBurney down the road as he might be needed sooner rather than later. He’s shown up well enough when he’s played for us so he might get more of a chance as the season goes on.

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW wrote:3 hookers is pretty light, especially as Ashman will likely be in the Scotland squad. All it takes is one injury during an international window and we're left with 2 hookers and academy randoms.

And a lack of hookers in Edinburgh is definitely a bad thing!

Oh and kudos for the s*x worker - Edinburgh joke.  

The pubic triangle just hasn't had the same funding since Hoggy retired.

king_carlos wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

RDW wrote:3 hookers is pretty light, especially as Ashman will likely be in the Scotland squad. All it takes is one injury during an international window and we're left with 2 hookers and academy randoms.

And a lack of hookers in Edinburgh is definitely a bad thing!

Oh and kudos for the s*x worker - Edinburgh joke.  

The pubic triangle just hasn't had the same funding since Hoggy retired.

The gentrification of Leith since Hoggy moved to Exeter can’t be a coincidence*


*I don’t think the dates line up at all to make this work

On the subject of Hoggy

Anyone else noticed he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson seem to be filling his slot on TNT, he clearly has been stood down by them despite their being no announcement to thst effect, while the police investigation goes on and if form is any guide, that could be some time.

Hard to have to much sympathy for him as this seems to be largely self inflicted and self destructive. You do wonder if TNT will have him back, with all the baggage he now carries even if the police do clear him.

I’d imagine if the police clear him, he’ll be back on the screens.

I suspect most of TNT’s rugby watching audience are probably largely unaware of the extent of his antics.  It’s obviously well publicized amongst Scottish rugby fans, and more specifically those who are interested in rugby outside the major international tournaments.  For the ones who have no interest, chances are they might not be aware he’s retired.  Which is fine, it’s just the way it is.  English rugby fans will for the most part care not a jot about what is happening with current/past Scottish rugby players.

As such it’s not like TNT will suffer much of a reputation hit by having him associated with them.

Dallagio is still headlining any coverage in the northern hemisphere despite having an unpaid tax bill to rival the royal family, sending unsolicited pictures of his c**k to women he just met on the train, having the hungriest nose outside of Hollywood and appearing to barely knowing the rules of rugby anymore. Unless Hoggy is actually incarcerated there's likely a route back.

Great news on Bradbury coming back up the road to Edinburgh. He needed a refresher at another club and it’s worked out in his favour. He’s chapping at the door for Scotland and has fire in his belly again going by his Bristol form.

BigGee wrote:On the subject of Hoggy

Anyone else noticed he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson seem to be filling his slot on TNT, he clearly has been stood down by them  despite their being no announcement to thst effect, while the police investigation goes on and if form is any guide, that could be some time.

Hard to have to much sympathy for him as this seems to be largely self inflicted and self destructive. You do wonder if TNT will have him back, with all the baggage he now carries  even if the police do clear him.

I was wondering that recently - he's been very quite on social media too, and I've just noticed he's deleted his social media!

RDW wrote:

BigGee wrote:On the subject of Hoggy

Anyone else noticed he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson seem to be filling his slot on TNT, he clearly has been stood down by them  despite their being no announcement to thst effect, while the police investigation goes on and if form is any guide, that could be some time.

Hard to have to much sympathy for him as this seems to be largely self inflicted and self destructive. You do wonder if TNT will have him back, with all the baggage he now carries  even if the police do clear him.

I was wondering that recently - he's been very quite on social media too, and I've just noticed he's deleted his social media!

Give it 6 months and he'll be on a podcast broadcasting to thousands of listeners that he's been "cancelled", as per the Haskell, Goode et al methodology of trying to remain relevant whilst actually sounding like a moany little turd.

Jonny Gray to Edinburgh?  

Tramptastic wrote:

RDW wrote:

BigGee wrote:On the subject of Hoggy

Anyone else noticed he seems to have disappeared from the face of the earth.

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson seem to be filling his slot on TNT, he clearly has been stood down by them  despite their being no announcement to thst effect, while the police investigation goes on and if form is any guide, that could be some time.

Hard to have to much sympathy for him as this seems to be largely self inflicted and self destructive. You do wonder if TNT will have him back, with all the baggage he now carries  even if the police do clear him.

I was wondering that recently - he's been very quite on social media too, and I've just noticed he's deleted his social media!

Give it 6 months and he'll be on a podcast broadcasting to thousands of listeners that he's been "cancelled", as per the Haskell, Goode et al methodology of trying to remain relevant whilst actually sounding like a moany little turd.

I think he was basically doing that on his SM prior to deleting it. Not quite cancelled but not far off it. Certainly the moany little turd bit.

The Fraser Brown announcement is official now he is doing his own media now.

As Bsando says JG is leaving Exeter with immediate effect to persue other opportunities

Whatever that means?

BigGee wrote:The Fraser Brown announcement is official now  he is doing his own media now.

As Bsando says  JG is leaving Exeter with immediate effect to persue other opportunities

Whatever that means?

Bordeaux apparently.

EWT Spoons wrote:

BigGee wrote:The Fraser Brown announcement is official now  he is doing his own media now.

As Bsando says  JG is leaving Exeter with immediate effect to persue other opportunities

Whatever that means?

Bordeaux apparently.

Yeah but why then leave your contract early if you have already got something lined up for next season?

BigGee wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

BigGee wrote:The Fraser Brown announcement is official now  he is doing his own media now.

As Bsando says  JG is leaving Exeter with immediate effect to persue other opportunities

Whatever that means?

Bordeaux apparently.

Yeah but why then leave your contract early if you have already got something lined up for next season?

Bordeaux might have offered to pick up his contract for 2 months to get him early. Prem contracts usually start 1st July. Chiefs are rumoured to be operating well below the salary cap this season so would almost certainly accept.

The Top 14 season is longer too, so Gray might have a chance of getting back for that but not the Prem. The Top 14 'elimination final' (basically quarters for 3rd to 6th in the table), semis and final are all after the Prem finishes.

Chiefs have 3 regular season games left with an outside chance of the playoffs. Bordeaux have 5 regular season games and are in 5th, so likely to have a QF at least.

Moving to a new country with the family, best to get over there early if you can and settle in. House hunting etc. don't want to arrive a couple of weeks before pre season with everything up in the air.

Bordeaux would be a great fit for him. Shame he didn't make 50 caps at Exeter, but he did a lot better than Synman at Munster.

Well Glasgow move quite quickly to address their hooker crisis, bringing Grant Stewart back into the fold on a 2 year contract.

He has been training with the Warriors throughout this season apparently and given Matthew's injury, expect him to be in the squad going to Italy tomorrow.

Alex Hepburn signs for Scarlets. Don't think Edinburgh or Glasgow really needed him?

Or maybe Scarlets offered more money.

Did anyone see Richard Cockerills comments regarding the SRU?

There's undoubtedly some hyperbole but he's quite restrained when criticising Edinburgh

Main focus on player pathways and the people running them - Same people have been in place for a decade, nothing has improved so why retain those staff? In addition, quite a poignant comment that when Cockerill came in 7 years ago Nel and Fagerson were the leading tightheads in Scotland. Up until this six nations that was still the case so why havent the player pathway leaders been challenged on this failing?

Glasgow Warriors team to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Saturday 27 April, kick-off 1pm UK time. You can watch the match live on Premier Sports or follow all the action on our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1 Allan Dell (10)
2 Gregor Hiddleston (7)
3 Lucio Sordoni (30)
4 Sintu Manjezi (22)
5 Max Williamson (13)
6 Ally Miller (28)
7 Thomas Gordon (74)
8 Henco Venter (15)

9 Jamie Dobie (61)
10 Ross Thompson (47)
11 Kyle Rowe (14)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (48)
13 Stafford McDowall (75)
14 Kyle Steyn (C) (71)
15 Josh McKay (43)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (48)
17 Nathan McBeth (37)
18 Zander Fagerson (142)
19 Scott Cummings (119)
20 Euan Ferrie (14)
21 Gregor Brown (16)
22 George Horne (112)
23 Tom Jordan (43)

Unavailable for selection: Jamie Bhatti (foot), Fraser Brown (knee), Facundo Cordero (ribs), Rory Darge (ankle), Richie Gray (bicep), Angus Fraser (head), Huw Jones (hand), Oli Kebble (ankle), Johnny Matthews (ankle), JP du Preez (knee), Alex Samuel (head), Ollie Smith (knee), Logan Trotter (thigh), George Turner (foot), Sione Vailanu (knee).

Glasgow understandably resting a few players for this one, while keeping the bench strong if it is needed later in the game.

It still looks like a decent team, particularly that dangerous looking backline and should hopefully have the beating of Zebre with a BP.

I felt for Ross Thompson last Friday; he didn't get much time on the pitch and he didn't really show anything. Tomorrow he gets to start with a very, very good backline outside him: he really has to step up and show that he should be competing for the 10 jersey next season.
Big Man Jessie and Williamson look a very athletic pairing and with Cummings to come on I expect a fairly fast paced gameplan.

Imagine putting in 45-55 minutes of hard graft in the Zebre pack and then MacBeth, Stewart, Ragnar and Cummings come on to "freshen " the front 5. I think I'd immediately feel my hamstring go.
That's a very strong XV. i do wonder who The general intends leaving behind when we go to South Africa Possibly take a very strong squad and hope that by the return match against Zebre we have confirmed a top two spot and we can rest players and bring back injured players. There are a few; Huw Jones and Big Shona especially, who need a game or two before the play offs and a few like Stafford and Ragnar who could do with a little rest.
But first, five points tomorrow is a must.

BigGee wrote:Glasgow understandably resting a few players for this one, while keeping the bench strong if it is needed later in the game.

It still looks like a decent team, particularly that dangerous looking backline and should hopefully have the beating of Zebre with a BP.

Especially in the front row; Kebble and Matthews both looked like they took sore ones last week and Bhatti is still listed as injured. So only Dell and MacBeth at Loosehead and Stewart is now the most experienced hooker.
Mind you, Dell is a very good prop, Stewart looked the biz at the start of his time at Scotstoun and has obviously worked his butt off trying to get back in. MacBeth and Ragnar competing for the starting TH jersey is just wild. Two exceptional talents there.

The good thing for Glasgow about being out of Europe now is that we do get a week off either side of the SA trip. So we can afford to go down there fully loaded and as Jim says, hopefully with a few walking wounded coming back to play. We may still need a win down there, or at least a handful of points one way or another to get us into the top two.

I convocati per la sfida tra Zebre Parma e Glasgow Warriors in programma sabato 27 aprile alle ore 14:00 allo Stadio Lanfranchi di Parma e valevole per il 15° turno di BKT United Rugby Championship 2023/24:
15. Lorenzo Pani (27)
14. Jacopo Trulla (53)
13. Franco Smith Jr (22)
12. Enrico Lucchin (64)
11. Scott Gregory (14)
10. Geronimo Prisciantelli (Cap) (33)
9. Thomas Dominguez (9)
8. Giacomo Ferrari (18)
7. Iacopo Bianchi (56)
6. Guido Volpi (24)
5. Dylan De Leeuw (5)
4. Leonard Krumov (104)
3. Muhamed Hasa (23)
2. Marco Manfredi (49)
1. Danilo Fischetti (54)

A disposizione:

16. Giampietro Ribaldi (32)
17. Samuele Taddei (1)
18. Juan Pitinari (30)
19. Matteo Canali (9)
20. David Sisi (100)
21. Ratko Jelic (10)
22. Fetuli Paea (8)
23. Taina Fox-Matamua (26)

All. Fabio Roselli

Non disponibili per infortunio: Luca Bigi, Paolo Buonfiglio, Pierre Bruno, Ben Cambriani, Alessandro Fusco, Giovanni Montemauri, Luca Morisi, Ion Neculai, Matteo Nocera, Luca Rizzoli

Arbitro: Eoghan Cross (Irish Rugby Football Union)
Assistenti: Filippo Russo (Federazione Italiana Rugby) e Manuel Bottino (Federazione Italiana Rugby)
TMO: Colin Stanley (Irish Rugby Football Union)

I recognise more names in the injury section than I do on the teamsheet for Zebre unfortunately.

The most obvious inclusion is Franco Smith Jr, lining up against his dad's side in the centres.

Tramptastic wrote:Did anyone see Richard Cockerills comments regarding the SRU?

There's undoubtedly some hyperbole but he's quite restrained when criticising Edinburgh

Main focus on player pathways and the people running them - Same people have been in place for a decade, nothing has improved so why retain those staff? In addition, quite a poignant comment that when Cockerill came in 7 years ago Nel and Fagerson were the leading tightheads in Scotland. Up until this six nations that was still the case so why havent the player pathway leaders been challenged on this failing?

He does have an axe to grind but at grassroots/non expensive schools level, things do look very bleak. There’s many a boy I played with through age grade who could have looked at Scotland honours but they were all overlooked as we all went to regular state schools.

Disclaimer - I wasn’t overlooked because I went to state school. I was overlooked because despite being one of the most naturally gifted athletes out there, someone who could play any position in the scrum except hooker (I was too tall), I even had spells at outside centre due to having a spin pass that was longer and more accurate than most 9s I played with,I was overlooked because I was an absolute lazy fecker who made Al Kellock’s ruck inspecting look amateurish.

Ach the Ulster -Beneton game was basically the worst result for Edinburgh. BP win for Ulster and Benetton picked up 2 LBP.

We all thought Edinburgh's terrible defeat at home to Benetton earlier in the season would come back to haunt us, and it's proving the case!

We basically need to win all our remaining games and even then may finish out the top 8. Benetton away is the last game...

Really good wins for both teams this afternoon, though you wonder if Edinburgh may rue that missed BP.

Glasgow currently sitting top of the log with Leinster behind against the Stormers

Watching this one with interest

Well, Glasgow top of the log with three games to go

One win in SA could keep us there!

Big win for Edinburgh. The Edinburgh pack have really fronted up in recent weeks, which you'd hope would be the case given the players we have.

If only we could combine that with a backline that can actually attack...!

Both had good wins at the weekend.
The delta in quality between Edinburgh's best and worst performances this season is huge and brain-bleeding.
They'd be a really good side with some consistency and a potent centre combination.

I've had a quick look at the next three rounds of the URC (listed fixtures...not the actual games...I'm not a speywife), anyhoo;
Benetton have some really tough games away to Sharks and Bulls then home to Luvvies. Could struggle to hold onto 8th place.
Leinster home to Ospreys, away to Ulster and home to Connacht, they could conceivably lose two of them...or get 15 points.
Bulls...home to Glasgow, Benetton, away to Sharks.
Luvvies...Home to Zebre, Munster away to Benetton.

The Knitwear Models 2ndXV need 5 points against Zebre and a win against Munster (who are on a hot streak) and probably something from Benetton.  I think the whole season will come down to the Munster match. "Stand Up and FIGHT boys!" will be the Munster song but what will the Luvvies bring to it?

If the Rugby Club win all three; Bulls and Lions away and Zebre at home, then we top the table. Zebre is a gimme. Lions are bottom half of the table for a reason (although they are at home so it'll be a challenge) and Bulls are third in the table and at home. If we beat the Bulls we should top the table...I'd settle for two points from the Bulls match.

Interesting to note that for the weekend of the QF's there is a Swifty shenanigan concert at Murrayfield....so the SRU just knew in their hearts that the Luvvies would have an away fixture.

Just double checked the table: Munster are third so the Luvvies-Munster match could have a large say in who finishes top.