Glasgow & Edinburgh Discussion Thread 31: The Roadmap for Success Vs The Perpetual Roadworks of Incompetence

[NeilyBroon]

First topic message reminder :

As requested, another thread connected by the M8. Two teams about as comparable as Adam Peaty and Eric the Eel.

Will Glasgow build on their title win next season?

Will Edinburgh even make the top half of the table?

Speculation and more on another volume of the patter papers.

[Welshmushroom]

Did I see this right? Bookies have Glasgow at 14-1 to retain the title (same odds they have them last season).

I might have to put a tenner on that one .......

I accept retaining will be a very difficult thing for them to do......but it's worth a punt at those odds.

[RDW]

Team Announcement
New recruit Mosese Tuipulotu will start at outside centre as one of three debutants named for tomorrow night’s BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Leinster at Hive Stadium (Friday 20 September, kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports.

The abrasive midfielder will earn his club debut having made a summer move from NSW Waratahs, with fellow summer recruits Paul Hill (tighthead) and Ross Thompson (fly-half) also set to start against the Irishmen.

Head Coach Sean Everitt’s first selection of the season also sees Ben Muncaster complete his injury return, to start at number eight tomorrow night.

On the selection, Everitt said: “It’s exciting to be back In BKT URC action this week, and matches don’t get much tougher in this league than facing Leinster.

“We know the challenge they will bring and it’s up to us to rise to that. We can’t wait to get the season started in front of a packed-out Hive Stadium for round one.”

Everitt has named the same back-three that started last Friday’s Scottish Building Society pre-season match against Gloucester, with Wes Goosen at full-back flanked by Scotland internationalists Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings.

Tuipulotu is partnered by Matt Currie in the centres, fresh from earning his first Scotland caps during the recent summer test window, while Ali Price is reunitedwith former Glasgow teammate Thompson in the halves.

England internationalist Hill is joined in the front row by Scotland pair Pierre Schoeman (loosehead) and Dave Cherry (hooker), who made his debut against Leinster in 2018.

Grant Gilchrist leads the side from lock having been named as club co-captain for his 14th professional season, with Marshall Sykes again accompanying him in the second-row.

Muncaster’s impressive turn against Gloucester sees him rewarded with a starting berth, playing alongside club centurions Jamie Ritchie (blindside) and Hamish Watson (openside) in the back-row.

Edinburgh Rugby side to face Leinster at Hive Stadium in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Friday 20 September (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports

15. Wes Goosen (31)

14. Darcy Graham (64)
13. Mosese Tuipulotu*
12. Matt Currie (40)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (92)

10. Ross Thompson*
9. Ali Price (17)

1. Pierre Schoeman (115)
2. Dave Cherry (93)
3. Paul Hill*
4. Marshall Sykes (62)
5. Grant Gilchrist (205) CAPTAIN
6. Jamie Ritchie (114)
7. Hamish Watson (159)
8. Ben Muncaster (30)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman (20)
17. Boan Venter (66)
18. D’arcy Rae (5)
19. Jamie Hodgson (61)
20. Magnus Bradbury (113)
21. Ben Vellacott (61)
22. Ben Healy (23)
23. Emiliano Boffelli (40)

*Edinburgh Rugby debut

Unavailable: Luke Crosbie (neck), Nathan Sweeney (knee), James Lang (quad), Harry Paterson (foot/wound), Glen Young (pec), Sam Skinner (knee), Angus Williams (hamstring), Robin Hislop (knee)

[RDW]

Big calls from Everitt - Thomson, Muncaster starting over more established players.

Strong bench!

[Hazel Sapling]

Strong 23 on paper and interesting to see Everitt go straight to Thomson considering he played Healy every minute he could manage last year. Real opportunity for Thomson to lay down a marker against the Empire

Everitt also selected Rae over Sebastian. Maybe Sebastian was given a longer break following the summer tour?

[Welshmushroom]

Looks like a statement of intent from them.  Not sure yet Leinster side they are sending over but this lineup should give them a game.  Anything less than Leinster's first team and I think I would give Edinburgh an edge to win this.

I'll wait till I see the Leinster lineup though......  

With an away leg in SA for R2&R3 they probably know a home win to start will be fairly important if they want to keep confidence high.

[Welshmushroom]

Leinster team is out.....Lot of kids especially in the front 5. Big ask as Edinburgh have put out a very strong pack. Clarkson will have a really though time against Shoeman. Milne vs Hill should be a good match up. McCarthy vs Cheery you would imagine Edinburgh have a big advantage there in terms of experience. Big ask for young O'Tighearnaigh. Leinster backrow is strong though.

I also think Edinburgh have a much stronger bench than Leinster for this. Healy and Slimani the only real big name forwards.

Edinburgh should be targeting the front 5 through set piece through scrums and lineouts if they are smart. I wouldn't be playing to much rugby unless they can get some good attacking ball in the Leinster 22.

Don't think Edinburgh will get a better chance to beat Leinster and I actually think they will. I think Everitt is under more pressure now to get the result here.

[TJ]

I want to see Thomson get more game time. I think we have seen everything we are going to see from Healy - a decent club 10. I think Thomson has real potential to be a whole heap better but he needs gametime

[bsando]

He’s starting so there you go! Strong side and it’s great to see Darcy back. Leinster are Leinster, no bad sides for any fixture. If they win convincingly it wouldn’t come as a surprise to me.

[TJ]

and I actually think they will.

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo don't say that!

[Kingshu]

Ulster 23

(15-9) Ethan McIlroy, Mike Lowry, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale, Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson (C), Kieran Treadwell, James McNabney, David McCann, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Harry Sheridan, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Werner Kok.
Glasgow Warriors team to face Ulster at Kingspan Stadium, Saturday 21 September, kick-off 7.45pm.

1 Jamie Bhatti (106), 2 Johnny Matthews (73), 3 Sam Talakai (0), 4 Max Williamson (19), 5 Richie Gray (115), 6 Matt Fagerson (111), 7 Rory Darge (48), 8 Henco Venter (22), 9 Jamie Dobie (68), 10 Tom Jordan (50), 11 Kyle Steyn (C) (77), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (55), 13 Stafford McDowall (78), 14 Sebastian Cancelliere (38), 15 Josh McKay (49)

16 Gregor Hiddleston (9), 17 Nathan McBeth (42), 18 Zander Fagerson (149), 19 Alex Samuel (15), 20 Gregor Brown (20), 21 Euan Ferrie (20), 22 Ben Afshar (8), 23 Adam Hastings (53)

Unavailable for selection: Facundo Cordero (ankle), Scott Cummings (foot), Allan Dell (arm), Jack Dempsey (back), Huw Jones (calf), Ally Miller (calf), JP du Preez (knee), Ollie Smith (knee), Rory Sutherland (groin), Sione Vailanu (knee), Murphy Walker (neck)

[BigGee]

Ulster v Glasgow has got the makings of a decent game about it.

2 decent teams on paper and always hard to call the first game of the season. Glasgow certainly seemed to be a little under-cooked in their two warm up games, so let's see where they are at now it matters.

[Hazel Sapling]

Sutherland and Walker already injured is not a great sign considering their histories. Any ideas on how long?

It is a big, physical 23 we have gone with. Ulster sign a "small" TH from Doncaster today and get him starting against Bhatti tomorrow. I would hope we can get on top of Barrett and put Ulster under pressure at scrum time.

Not sure I like us having both Ferrie and Brown on the bench. They are both best at 6 from what I have seen and Mann would have offered a point of difference as an 8.

Either way, weather forecast is dry and hopefully should be conducive to a more free-flowing game as much as Glasgow would be mild favourites in an arm wrestle.

[BigGee]

Decent start from Edinburgh they put in a very good defensive set

[BigGee]

And a well worked try after bravely taking a tap instead of a certain 3 pointer

7-0 Edinburgh

[BigGee]

And Leinster come straight back to score in corner

7-5 Edinburgh

[BigGee]

Another try from Leinster following poor box kick from Price.

After a promising start Edinburgh main tactics seem to be to kick their possession away to Leinster

[BigGee]

DVD scores in the corner from great hands from Ritchie and Thompson.

12 all

[Welshmushroom]

Price i think might be on the Leinster payroll. He's had a poor game so far. A lot of his box kicks are well off.

At least Edinburgh level with a nicely worked try. missed conv.

12 all

[Welshmushroom]

Edinburgh have to sub Price. Another poor kick. Edinburgh look like they can hurt Leinster if they can't get in the right areas but the kicking game at the moment is woeful in these conditions.

[BigGee]

Neither Price nor Thompson have been kicking well.

Both likely to get hooked after half time

[Welshmushroom]

Also surprised Clarkson isnt getting pinged at scrum more. He is dropping his bind all the time. Point in case on that last scrum.

[BigGee]

Frenetic end to the half and Edinburgh hold out

Their kicking may be off, but nothing wrong with their defence. That was quite a set!

[Welshmushroom]

They won't win with defence alone. They need to play in the right area.

If he doesn't hook off Price at half time i'd have to be asking what Everitt is thinking. Thompson could have a bit more time but I would have taken Price off even before half time. Then again I wouldnt have started him to begin with.

[Welshmushroom]

Price runs out at half time......madness

[BigGee]

Better kick from Thompson puts Edinburgh into the corner

[Welshmushroom]

If this is in kicking range i would take the 3 now

[Welshmushroom]

Better kick from Thompson puts Edinburgh into the corner

Was a good touch finder

[Welshmushroom]

good try - totally dominated on that one.

[BigGee]

And over the maul goes for a try

19-12 Edinburgh

[BigGee]

And straight back come Leinster

19 all, anyone's game

[Welshmushroom]

Thompson is actually having a good game in defence. I'd probably keep him on.

[Welshmushroom]

Edinburgh not getting into the right areas. They need to get out of their half....

[Welshmushroom]

If your going to clear like that you may as well hold on to it.....better off getting Leinster to tackle because at the moment the ball is just getting run into their 40

[Welshmushroom]

Soft try - they are blowing this....

[BigGee]

Ali Price misses a tackle and JGP goes under the posts

26-19 Leinster

[Welshmushroom]

Price misses a tackle - that's 2 tries he's given them. Terrible decision to keep him on......

[BigGee]

Edinburgh making silly mistakes now a silly foot in touch at a ruck gives Leinster a 5m line out and they don't mess it up.

Or maybe not, TMO check, player in front of the maul

[Welshmushroom]

Leinster score again....game is over I reckon. Edinburgh totally blew this.....

If your a Edinburgh fan this can't bode well for the season. Few more games like this and they can forget top 8. Season for them could be over by round 6.

[BigGee]

Try is good

33-19 Leinster

A long way back for Edinburgh now

[Welshmushroom]

Thought they would be better than this. Everitt not without fault either because he should have hooked Price after 30 minutes.

[BigGee]

Edinburgh not giving up though

Healy kicks to corner and Edinburgh put it through the hands for Duey to score in the corner

33-24 Leinster

At least 1BP for Edinburgh and Price has now been hooked

[Welshmushroom]

Surprised at how bad Edinburgh's lineout has been tonight as well.

Based on this showing Edinburgh didn't learn a thing in this off season. Probably being a bit harsh but they have to be a lot better than this if they have any aspirations to make the top 8.

[Welshmushroom]

Feel for the home fans - because the crowd have been excellent tonight.

[BigGee]

Line out has been poor along with the game management in general but they have also played with a lot more spirit and ambition than we saw last year.

It is the first game and they are playing Leinster

[Welshmushroom]

Going for a drop goal to get another point.....some crazy decisions out there. A try would have seen them still in with a shout to win. I understand the need for getting a second point but at home you should be backing yourself for wins.

End up going backwards 50 metres and now Leinster have a final shot to end this game.

[Welshmushroom]

Line out has been poor along with the game management in general but they have also played with a lot more spirit and ambition than we saw last year.

It is the first game and they are playing Leinster

I dont think Leinster have been that good. They have harried and played territory. Pack hasnt been dominant either. In all honesty any other first team in this league would have fancied playing this Leinster side. Ok maybe not the Welsh sides but any of the SA sides for example would have put this Leinster side away in south africa.

[BigGee]

Darcy G gets taken out late and Bryne gets a YC

Healy kicking for the BP

[BigGee]

Shot missed

[Welshmushroom]

Long way off with that attempt.

they look totally deflated now.

[BigGee]

Muncaster down injured now

He has been Edinburgh stand out player

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