The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[I like neeps]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

[Dogbert]

Nice to see BBB get a win on his 250th Cap

[Tichtheid]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

Decent pack, heidless chickens behind - the attacking strategy is "gie it to Blair" - sometimes it's gie it tae Darcy or Duhan, but if they aren't there the choices are limited.

It's a damning indictment of the coaching when they are so reliant on individual brilliance (such as Blair showed for Shiel's try) in the face of modern defensive systems.

It's a terrible waste of talent, in fact.

[I like neeps]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

Decent pack, heidless chickens behind - the attacking strategy is "gie it to Blair" - sometimes it's gie it tae Darcy or Duhan, but if they aren't there the choices are limited.

It's a damning indictment of the coaching when they are so reliant on individual brilliance (such as Blair showed for Shiel's try) in the face of modern defensive systems.

It's a terrible waste of talent, in fact.

The pack was good on paper but Glasgow outplayed them. Thought Darge in his first game was very good.

Kinghorn has all the talent but the only person wasting it is Blair himself. It's all well and good making a rapier break every few games but at some point he needs to become a technically solid rugby player with his head in the game all the time. Makes too many basic mistakes. His defence is still suspect he didn't fancy tackling Steyn early on. I think he's an athletic freak who won't be a top top rugby player ever because he doesn't really need to work very hard to be good and so never got in the mindset of constant improvement.

He isn't helped by the attack of Edinburgh which is crap.

[Slick]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

Decent pack, heidless chickens behind - the attacking strategy is "gie it to Blair" - sometimes it's gie it tae Darcy or Duhan, but if they aren't there the choices are limited.

It's a damning indictment of the coaching when they are so reliant on individual brilliance (such as Blair showed for Shiel's try) in the face of modern defensive systems.

It's a terrible waste of talent, in fact.

The pack was good on paper but Glasgow outplayed them. Thought Darge in his first game was very good.

Kinghorn has all the talent but the only person wasting it is Blair himself. It's all well and good making a rapier break every few games but at some point he needs to become a technically solid rugby player with his head in the game all the time. Makes too many basic mistakes. His defence is still suspect he didn't fancy tackling Steyn early on. I think he's an athletic freak who won't be a top top rugby player ever because he doesn't really need to work very hard to be good and so never got in the mindset of constant improvement.

He isn't helped by the attack of Edinburgh which is crap.

I think that’s a wee bit harsh on Kinghorn. He’s flown through the ranks and became a Scotland squad regular at a very young age so had the inevitable mindset that comes with that. But he’s had a bit of a kick in the balls the last 18 months and I thought he was great tonight. He’s a still very young but is still almost the talisman of that team. I think he’ll have a big resurgence.

Entertaining game tonight.

Horne is number 1 for me at 9 - with due respect to our Lion. Scotland need to have him and Dobbie playing every week.

Hastings was superb. Must admit I knew nothing about Darge but what a player he can be. I might have to eat my words about Fagerson as he matures, great game tonight.

Also, which of the Lions hookers are better than Turner at the moment?

[Tichtheid]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

Decent pack, heidless chickens behind - the attacking strategy is "gie it to Blair" - sometimes it's gie it tae Darcy or Duhan, but if they aren't there the choices are limited.

It's a damning indictment of the coaching when they are so reliant on individual brilliance (such as Blair showed for Shiel's try) in the face of modern defensive systems.

It's a terrible waste of talent, in fact.

The pack was good on paper but Glasgow outplayed them.

I can't agree with that, Edinburgh's scrum was well on top all night and the gap got wider when the replacements came on. The lineouts looked about even and the breakdown was as well. Turner played really well, but so did Mata and Kunavula. I can't agree that the Glasgow pack outplayed Edinburgh's

Thought Darge in his first game was very good.

I do agree with this, though. Miller also played well, before he moves along the M8 to join the Weegies

Kinghorn has all the talent but the only person wasting it is Blair himself. It's all well and good making a rapier break every few games but at some point he needs to become a technically solid rugby player with his head in the game all the time. Makes too many basic mistakes. His defence is still suspect he didn't fancy tackling Steyn early on. I think he's an athletic freak who won't be a top top rugby player ever because he doesn't really need to work very hard to be good and so never got in the mindset of constant improvement.

He isn't helped by the attack of Edinburgh which is crap.

I agree with the last sentence, but it was not that long ago that Kinghorn was described as being crap under a high ball, he hasn't been that for a long time. He was also described as being positionally suspect, I haven't seen that from him since he was 19 or 20.

I'm not disputing that there are areas in which he can improve, but he's 24, he still has a bit of time to do it.

[I like neeps]

Decent pack, heidless chickens behind - the attacking strategy is "gie it to Blair" - sometimes it's gie it tae Darcy or Duhan, but if they aren't there the choices are limited.

It's a damning indictment of the coaching when they are so reliant on individual brilliance (such as Blair showed for Shiel's try) in the face of modern defensive systems.

It's a terrible waste of talent, in fact.

The pack was good on paper but Glasgow outplayed them.

I can't agree with that, Edinburgh's scrum was well on top all night and the gap got wider when the replacements came on. The lineouts looked about even and the breakdown was as well. Turner played really well, but so did Mata and Kunavula. I can't agree that the Glasgow pack outplayed Edinburgh's

Thought Darge in his first game was very good.

I do agree with this, though. Miller also played well, before he moves along the M8 to join the Weegies

Kinghorn has all the talent but the only person wasting it is Blair himself. It's all well and good making a rapier break every few games but at some point he needs to become a technically solid rugby player with his head in the game all the time. Makes too many basic mistakes. His defence is still suspect he didn't fancy tackling Steyn early on. I think he's an athletic freak who won't be a top top rugby player ever because he doesn't really need to work very hard to be good and so never got in the mindset of constant improvement.

He isn't helped by the attack of Edinburgh which is crap.

I agree with the last sentence, but it was not that long ago that Kinghorn was described as being crap under a high ball, he hasn't been that for a long time. He was also described as being positionally suspect, I haven't seen that from him since he was 19 or 20.

I'm not disputing that there are areas in which he can improve, but he's 24, he still has a bit of time to do it.

Glasgow's forwards carried much better too. Turner carrying three Edinburgh forwards over the line is embarrassing for them. But all night Fagerson, Darge, Turner, Lambert were winning gainline.

I haven't seen Kinghorn under the high ball in a long time to judge. To be fair I haven't seen him much this year I guess he's been injured. I don't think he has it. 24 and 100 caps he should be ahead of where he is now.

[Tichtheid]

Glasgow's forwards carried much better too. Turner carrying three Edinburgh forwards over the line is embarrassing for them. But all night Fagerson, Darge, Turner, Lambert were winning gainline.

I haven't seen Kinghorn under the high ball in a long time to judge. To be fair I haven't seen him much this year I guess he's been injured. I don't think he has it. 24 and 100 caps he should be ahead of where he is now.

Schoeman, Miller, Kunavula, Mata, Willemse, Nel - they were all winning collisions and giving front foot ball too.

The Turner try was poor defence, Crosbie got it completely wrong, which is very unusual for him - he managed to stop the other defenders from doing their job as well as him mucking up his own, it was quite a feat.

[Big D]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. The coaches need sacked.

[Tichtheid]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. The coaches need sacked.

Edinburgh's attacking lines for the first try were spot on, quick ball, never letting the defence set, always having them on the back foot and chasing to re-gather.

After that it was pathetic, Glasgow upped the tempo of their defensive line and we had no answers, save the old "Gie it tae Blair/Bill" etc and hope for a bit of magic.

There are better teams than Glasgow that we have to face, and something has to change.

My wife worked with someone whose mantra was "Change the people or change the people".

Cockerill has gotten us about as far as he is likely to, unless he suddenly gains a passion for all-court rugby. This turgid stuff is getting Edinburgh nowhere and it's not good to watch.

[Big D]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. The coaches need sacked.

Edinburgh's attacking lines for the first try were spot on, quick ball, never letting the defence set, always having them on the back foot and chasing to re-gather.

After that it was pathetic, Glasgow upped the tempo of their defensive line and we had no answers, save the old "Gie it tae Blair/Bill" etc and hope for a bit of magic.

There are better teams than Glasgow that we have to face, and something has to change.

My wife worked with someone whose mantra was "Change the people or change the people".

Cockerill has gotten us about as far as he is likely to, unless he suddenly gains a passion for all-court rugby. This turgid stuff is getting Edinburgh nowhere and it's not good to watch.

The parallels are there with the end of his tenure at Leicester. Forwards decent and nothing else.

The game is changing a dominant forward pack isn't enough on its own unless it is a terrifyingly dominant pack which Edinburgh doesn't have.

As I said on the Edinburgh board he is as well being sacked now as we are delaying the inevitable.

[I like neeps]

Cockerill has lost all his bite in the press as well. Makes you wonder if his heart is still in it.

I also think Kinghorn should've left. He's stagnating at Edinburgh, I think it's too easy for a lot of players to stay and just be about good enough. For example - if Grant Gilchrist had gone to Toulon I reckon he'd be a better player.

[Big D]

Cockerill has lost all his bite in the press as well. Makes you wonder if his heart is still in it.

I also think Kinghorn should've left. He's stagnating at Edinburgh, I think it's too easy for a lot of players to stay and just be about good enough. For example - if Grant Gilchrist had gone to Toulon I reckon he'd be a better player.

To be fair to GG I'm pretty sure his broken arm scuppered that move. But I agree with your wider point.

[Jockaline]

As an Edinburgh supporter I'm hoping this year is an aberration and we pick up next season where we left of last season, which was in quite a good place. I'd like to see Hodge moving on though. His replacement needs to have some balls to challenge Cockrill's conservatism. Sometime when we play fast we can look good, but usually not, but I think that's partly because it's such a rare event and it takes us by as much surprise as the opposition.

[Yr Alban]

I've said it once and I'll say it again. The coaches need sacked.

Edinburgh's attacking lines for the first try were spot on, quick ball, never letting the defence set, always having them on the back foot and chasing to re-gather.

After that it was pathetic, Glasgow upped the tempo of their defensive line and we had no answers, save the old "Gie it tae Blair/Bill" etc and hope for a bit of magic.

There are better teams than Glasgow that we have to face, and something has to change.

My wife worked with someone whose mantra was "Change the people or change the people".

Cockerill has gotten us about as far as he is likely to, unless he suddenly gains a passion for all-court rugby. This turgid stuff is getting Edinburgh nowhere and it's not good to watch.

The parallels are there with the end of his tenure at Leicester. Forwards decent and nothing else.

The game is changing a dominant forward pack isn't enough on its own unless it is a terrifyingly dominant pack which Edinburgh doesn't have.

As I said on the Edinburgh board he is as well being sacked now as we are delaying the inevitable.

I was thinking the same about his tenure at Leicester. At both clubs he eventually ran out of steam. It’s time to give someone else a go.

[Tichtheid]

I’m hoping that Mike Blair will take up the reins at some point.

Perhaps sooner rather than later

[Slick]

How did it all go so wrong for Edinburgh. Absolutely crap.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. The coaches need sacked.

Edinburgh's attacking lines for the first try were spot on, quick ball, never letting the defence set, always having them on the back foot and chasing to re-gather.

After that it was pathetic, Glasgow upped the tempo of their defensive line and we had no answers, save the old "Gie it tae Blair/Bill" etc and hope for a bit of magic.

There are better teams than Glasgow that we have to face, and something has to change.

My wife worked with someone whose mantra was "Change the people or change the people".

Cockerill has gotten us about as far as he is likely to, unless he suddenly gains a passion for all-court rugby. This turgid stuff is getting Edinburgh nowhere and it's not good to watch.

That was the really odd thing, the first 10 minutes they were throwing it around and looked dangerous then suddenly you knew the ball wasn’t going past 9 unless it was forced on them. Who made the call? Why was it made?

[Squidster]

Jake Kerr starts for The Bears tomorrow so will be interesting to see how he gets on :-).

Haven't seen team news for the other matches yet so only know about Kerr and Harris being dropped due to injury :(.

[westport]

Jake Kerr starts for The Bears tomorrow so will be interesting to see how he gets on :-).

Haven't seen team news for the other matches yet so only know about Kerr and Harris being dropped due to injury :(.

Saw something last week, I think it was, that Harris has a shoulder injury but should be fit for next match

[SomersetJock]

Just watching Bristol v Gloucester. Great to hear a crowd back. Seems louder than any time I’ve been to a match at Ashton Gate

[Yr Alban]

Just saw on Wales Online that Will Greenwood has picked a Lions XV with only one Englishman in it. The Englishman in question is Tom Curry (who Wales Online said was ‘picked ahead of Justin Tipuric’, natch). FFS - Mish better not be 3rd choice!

He did include Hogg, Harris and Russell though.

[Big D]

Just saw on Wales Online that Will Greenwood has picked a Lions XV with only one Englishman in it. The Englishman in question is Tom Curry (who Wales Online said was ‘picked ahead of Justin Tipuric’, natch). FFS - Mish better not be 3rd choice!

He did include Hogg, Harris and Russell though.

I think there will be a case for the 7s to be in any order to be honest, especially when the warm ups start. I really wouldn't get too worried about a regional newspaper talking up their man, it is to be expected.

The warm up matches are going to be a fight for that jersey but it will also depend on the balance of the rest of the back row.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just saw on Wales Online that Will Greenwood has picked a Lions XV with only one Englishman in it. The Englishman in question is Tom Curry (who Wales Online said was ‘picked ahead of Justin Tipuric’, natch). FFS - Mish better not be 3rd choice!

He did include Hogg, Harris and Russell though.

I think there will be a case for the 7s to be in any order to be honest, especially when the warm ups start. I really wouldn't get too worried about a regional newspaper talking up their man, it is to be expected.

The warm up matches are going to be a fight for that jersey but it will also depend on the balance of the rest of the back row.

To be honest (and to be clear I don't wish injury on anyone) I would be pretty surprised if at least one in the test squad is not injured at some point in the tour. Assuming nobody is put out of the tour before getting a chance at the test team, I think they will all play some minutes in the test jersey.

[Slick]

Just saw on Wales Online that Will Greenwood has picked a Lions XV with only one Englishman in it. The Englishman in question is Tom Curry (who Wales Online said was ‘picked ahead of Justin Tipuric’, natch). FFS - Mish better not be 3rd choice!

He did include Hogg, Harris and Russell though.

I think there will be a case for the 7s to be in any order to be honest, especially when the warm ups start. I really wouldn't get too worried about a regional newspaper talking up their man, it is to be expected.

The warm up matches are going to be a fight for that jersey but it will also depend on the balance of the rest of the back row.

I followed something on social media the other day asking for peoples back row for the tests. Was very surprised to see the vast majority of people from across the nations had Mish starting

[Big D]

Just saw on Wales Online that Will Greenwood has picked a Lions XV with only one Englishman in it. The Englishman in question is Tom Curry (who Wales Online said was ‘picked ahead of Justin Tipuric’, natch). FFS - Mish better not be 3rd choice!

He did include Hogg, Harris and Russell though.

I think there will be a case for the 7s to be in any order to be honest, especially when the warm ups start. I really wouldn't get too worried about a regional newspaper talking up their man, it is to be expected.

The warm up matches are going to be a fight for that jersey but it will also depend on the balance of the rest of the back row.

I followed something on social media the other day asking for peoples back row for the tests. Was very surprised to see the vast majority of people from across the nations had Mish starting

Don't get me wrong on the form of the 6N he has every chance of getting the test jersey but they all have quality and in some parts differing skill sets. For example if they are intending on trying to hit the wider channels Tipuric has the best ball skills and open field running ability of them all and is a very handy line out operator.

I think the back row is fascinating. If Simmonds puts on a show to get the 8 jersey and Faletau ends up at 6 then Watson probably can't start as the 7. Now I think that is unlikely but Lions tours often throw the odd curve ball in team selection. There could be a player in the back row playing incredibly that misses out because the balance isn't right.

[Yr Alban]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

[dkm57]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

Oh the salty tears.

[Slick]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

This deserves a wider audience on the Lions thread

[Tichtheid]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

That's hilarious.

The bottom line is that you don't take blind prejudice to a stats and facts fight with Disco.

[KingBlairhorn]

I also enjoyed that from Kevin very much. I miss him being on the old bored. It was always fun when any two of us were arguing about some point or other and he would come in, much like with that article, and comprehensively demolish one or both of our arguments. Chastening, but fun.

[KingBlairhorn]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

This deserves a wider audience on the Lions thread

Definitely, do it. I hope there is some salty salty seethe in response, but going from the response to Kevin's article on twitter, the Irish think Francis is a plonker too.

[Big D]

Beautiful TOTM takedown of Neil Francis’s article in the Irish Independent. A particular highlight is when he observes that it would be odd if Josh van der Flier always got the better of Mish in club games, given they’ve played a grand total of 15 minutes against each other in club rugby.

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2021/05/18/a ... nds-lions/

This deserves a wider audience on the Lions thread

Definitely, do it. I hope there is some salty salty seethe in response, but going from the response to Kevin's article on twitter, the Irish think Francis is a plonker too.

Done

[westport]

Chris Fusaro will retire from professional rugby at the end of the 2020/21 season.

[TheNatalShark]

Not sure if shared yet, but confirmed 16500 can attend the Lions Vs Japan fixture

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/bt-m ... with-japan

[Slick]

Not sure if shared yet, but confirmed 16500 can attend the Lions Vs Japan fixture

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/bt-m ... with-japan

Now they just have to half the cost of tickets and I might be interested

[mos_eisely_]

Not sure if shared yet, but confirmed 16500 can attend the Lions Vs Japan fixture

https://www.scottishrugby.org/news/bt-m ... with-japan

Now they just have to half the cost of tickets and I might be interested

Seems like they will allocate the 16500 seats based on when you purchased your tickets - will be interesting to know the numbers for each of the 4 tiers, with Tier 1 highest priority. General sale has the lowest priority.

Also seems like the T&C's say the £2.75 order processing fee will be retained for all cancelled tickets. Nice little money maker there for Ticketmaster

[westport]

Beth Dickens will make rugby history this weekend by being the first female Citing Commissioner in a European final when overseeing the European Rugby Challenge Cup decider on Friday night.

Dickens – who won over 50 caps for Scotland between 2002 and 2013 – became the first female Citing Commissioner in a European match in 2018 when looking after Connacht Rugby v Bordeaux-Bègles in the Challenge Cup.

Her efforts have been rewarded with the appointment to this season’s Challenge Cup decider between Leicester Tigers and Montpellier.

[Jock42]

Darcy Graham staying at embra for "several years".

[Tichtheid]

I was looking up something to do with Alan Dell (his try in this match) and I got caught up in the game. There is a wee bit of play here that is an answer to the "Watson is too small" crowd. It takes five Quins forwards to down him. If this was a one-off then I wouldn't mention it, but he does this all the time.

[KingBlairhorn]

I was looking up something to do with Alan Dell (his try in this match) and I got caught up in the game. There is a wee bit of play here that is an answer to the "Watson is too small" crowd. It takes five Quins forwards to down him. If this was a one-off then I wouldn't mention it, but he does this all the time.

His efforts were almost ruined by the 9 taking an age to do anything, but Hoyland did well to work the break - a lovely try.