The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Tichtheid]

Just ended up having a coffee with Blair Kinghorn after my daughter decided to sit next to him in a cafe and start chatting. What a lovely chap

Is he going to be fit for the weekend?

That was a hell of clatter he took to the head last week

[Yr Alban]

I think that's more a function of how ridiculously good Ali Price has become. Being the top 9 on the Lions tour has given him that last bit of conviction that he is the boss on the pitch - he has been excellent for Glasgow and Scotland since the Lions tour with little evidence of the fabled Lions hangover being present.

There is now a sizeable gap between him and the other contenders for the Scotland shirt, but those others are still good enough. Losing Price would be huge, but it would simply mean Scotland falls back to an acceptable standard at 9 rather than a world class one and more responsibility for 10 and 15 to run the game - in which we happen to have two other world-class players.

We’ve discussed in the past how it’s great that we finally had a Lions tour with good representation, as Scottish players in the past have realised on similar tours that they are just as good as their 6N opponents.

Price has certainly come away with that impression. Harris probably has too. Duhan was new to Test rugby and has just carried on as before. Watson, Hogg and Russell don’t seem to have benefitted as much, though. Maybe it’s because Hogg was sacrificed for Test 3, and the others didn’t get a lot of game time?

I think that's a really good point about Price and the other 9's, Clydecloggie.

I'm not sure where this stuff about Hogg having a bad season is coming from though. He had a decent Lions tour and was really good in the AI's, I think he has been fairly consistently excellent

Folk wisdom, innit?

Despite some flashes in the AIs, I don't think we have seen the best of Hogg as a broken field runner, but to be fair he was the best in the world a few years back, so the bar is high. However, I think his defence is a lot better than it was then, his kicking from hand has been first class, and he has been an excellent captain.

A huge fuss has been made because he was benched for Exeter's last couple of games last season, and then dropped for the final Lions test. In the latter case, what gets ignored is that the player who replaced him in the team wasn't noticeably better under the high ball (the weakness everyone focused on), missed a tackle on Kolbe that led directly to the Boks' try, and butchered a 2-1 overlap that could have won the series.

[Biffer]

I think Hogg has been pretty good this year, five tries from eight tests for Scotland, captained the team well. If you look for example at the Wales games, defensively solid, two tries that he substantially made his myself, several breaks and half breaks. SA two tries against the world champions, second one a great piece of finishing.

As Yr Alban says, one of the things about Hogg is he's worked really hard on the perceived weaknesses in his game and improved them massively

[Slick]

Just ended up having a coffee with Blair Kinghorn after my daughter decided to sit next to him in a cafe and start chatting. What a lovely chap

Is he going to be fit for the weekend?

That was a hell of clatter he took to the head last week

Don’t know… he’d been training but i was acting cool and trying not to talk about rugby…

[Tichtheid]

Just ended up having a coffee with Blair Kinghorn after my daughter decided to sit next to him in a cafe and start chatting. What a lovely chap

Is he going to be fit for the weekend?

That was a hell of clatter he took to the head last week

Don’t know… he’d been training but i was acting cool and trying not to talk about rugby…

I don't think I would be able to practice such restraint, I'd want to know everything about the team at the moment, it's very early days but I think we are on the way up, at long long last.

I expect us to get pumped at the weekend, but give it a couple of seasons of Mike Blair and the young guys coming through and it might be different story

[Slick]

Is he going to be fit for the weekend?

That was a hell of clatter he took to the head last week

Don’t know… he’d been training but i was acting cool and trying not to talk about rugby…

I don't think I would be able to practice such restraint, I'd want to know everything about the team at the moment, it's very early days but I think we are on the way up, at long long last.

I expect us to get pumped at the weekend, but give it a couple of seasons of Mike Blair and the young guys coming through and it might be different story

It’s a weird one when your naturally a bit in awe of someone who plays for Scotland but old enough to be his dad!

[Tichtheid]

Don’t know… he’d been training but i was acting cool and trying not to talk about rugby…

I don't think I would be able to practice such restraint, I'd want to know everything about the team at the moment, it's very early days but I think we are on the way up, at long long last.

I expect us to get pumped at the weekend, but give it a couple of seasons of Mike Blair and the young guys coming through and it might be different story

It’s a weird one when your naturally a bit in awe of someone who plays for Scotland but old enough to be his dad!

Ha, yes, Jamie Ritchie is the same age as my eldest, Blair a year younger, those two breaking into the Edinburgh side made me realise just how old I am.

[Yr Alban]

I don't think I would be able to practice such restraint, I'd want to know everything about the team at the moment, it's very early days but I think we are on the way up, at long long last.

I expect us to get pumped at the weekend, but give it a couple of seasons of Mike Blair and the young guys coming through and it might be different story

It’s a weird one when your naturally a bit in awe of someone who plays for Scotland but old enough to be his dad!

Ha, yes, Jamie Ritchie is the same age as my eldest, Blair a year younger, those two breaking into the Edinburgh side made me realise just how old I am.

Heh. I’m certainly old enough to be their dad, but haven’t had the ‘they’re the same age as my own kids’ horror as yet. My boys are 17 and 14, so it’s in the post. Neither will be troubling the selectors, though both have famous Scotland players as namesakes!

[Biffer]

It’s a weird one when your naturally a bit in awe of someone who plays for Scotland but old enough to be his dad!

Ha, yes, Jamie Ritchie is the same age as my eldest, Blair a year younger, those two breaking into the Edinburgh side made me realise just how old I am.

Heh. I’m certainly old enough to be their dad, but haven’t had the ‘they’re the same age as my own kids’ horror as yet. My boys are 17 and 14, so it’s in the post. Neither will be troubling the selectors, though both have famous Scotland players as namesakes!

Well, Peter O'Mahony was talking this week about training with the new academy lads at Munster, and how some of them were born in 2004.

Although if they're training with him a few of them will probably get cheap shots that put them out of them game for good.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Saracens at StoneX Stadium in the EPCR Challenge Cup
Saturday 11 December (kick-off 3.15pm) - streamed live at epcrugby.tv

15. Emiliano Boffelli (2)

14. Jack Blain (18)
13. Mark Bennett (58)
12. James Lang (6) VICE-CAPTAIN
11. Ramiro Moyano (2)

10. Charlie Savala (5)
9. Ben Vellacott (7)

1. Pierre Schoeman (71)
2. Stuart McInally (158) VICE-CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (161)
4. Marshall Sykes (13)
5. Grant Gilchrist (164) CAPTAIN
6. Luke Crosbie (64)
7. Hamish Watson (121)
8. Nick Haining (21)

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry (43)
17. Boan Venter (14)
18. Lee-Roy Atalifo (14)
19. Jamie Hodgson (29)
20. Magnus Bradbury (100)
21. Henry Pyrgos (56)
22. Jaco van der Walt (74)
23. Cammy Hutchison (6)

Unavailable due to injury: Luan de Bruin, Darcy Graham, Damien Hoyland, Henry Immelman, Blair Kinghorn, Mesulame Kunavula, Viliame Mata, Pierce Phillips, Jamie Ritchie, George Taylor, Ben Toolis, Glen Young

[westport]

Glasgow Warriors team to face La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, Sunday 12 December, kick-off 3.15pm (UK time), live on BT Sport 3. You can also follow all the action as it happens in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Oli Kebble (62)
2. George Turner (66)
3. Zander Fagerson (103)
4. Scott Cummings (80)
5. Richie Gray (68)
6. Matt Fagerson (74)
7. Rory Darge (10)
8. Jack Dempsey (6)

9. Ali Price (C) (99)
10. Ross Thompson (21)
11. Rufus McLean (15)
12. Sam Johnson (78)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (7)
14. Kyle Steyn (37)
15. Josh McKay (1)

16. Johnny Matthews (17)
17. Jamie Bhatti (53)
18. Enrique Pieretto (23)
19. Lewis Bean (11)
20. Rob Harley (257)
21. Ally Miller (2)
22. George Horne (71)
23. Duncan Weir (112)

Unavailable for selection: Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Tom Lambert, Ewan McQuillin, Ryan Wilson.

[Tichtheid]

Glasgow Warriors team to face La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, Sunday 12 December, kick-off 3.15pm (UK time), live on BT Sport 3. You can also follow all the action as it happens in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Oli Kebble (62)
2. George Turner (66)
3. Zander Fagerson (103)
4. Scott Cummings (80)
5. Richie Gray (68)
6. Matt Fagerson (74)
7. Rory Darge (10)
8. Jack Dempsey (6)

10. Ross Thompson (21)
11. Rufus McLean (15)
12. Sam Johnson (78)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (7)
14. Kyle Steyn (37)
15. Josh McKay (1)

16. Johnny Matthews (17)
17. Jamie Bhatti (53)
18. Enrique Pieretto (23)
19. Lewis Bean (11)
20. Rob Harley (257)
21. Ally Miller (2)
22. George Horne (71)
23. Duncan Weir (112)

Unavailable for selection: Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Tom Lambert, Ewan McQuillin, Ryan Wilson.

Confidence must be high to not start a scrum half

[westport]

Glasgow Warriors team to face La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel Deflandre, Sunday 12 December, kick-off 3.15pm (UK time), live on BT Sport 3. You can also follow all the action as it happens in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1. Oli Kebble (62)
2. George Turner (66)
3. Zander Fagerson (103)
4. Scott Cummings (80)
5. Richie Gray (68)
6. Matt Fagerson (74)
7. Rory Darge (10)
8. Jack Dempsey (6)

10. Ross Thompson (21)
11. Rufus McLean (15)
12. Sam Johnson (78)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (7)
14. Kyle Steyn (37)
15. Josh McKay (1)

16. Johnny Matthews (17)
17. Jamie Bhatti (53)
18. Enrique Pieretto (23)
19. Lewis Bean (11)
20. Rob Harley (257)
21. Ally Miller (2)
22. George Horne (71)
23. Duncan Weir (112)

Unavailable for selection: Simon Berghan, Fraser Brown, Tom Lambert, Ewan McQuillin, Ryan Wilson.

Confidence must be high to not start a scrum half

My bad Amended

Ali Price will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against La Rochelle, on an afternoon that will also see the scrum-half reach a century of appearances in Glasgow colours.

[Tichtheid]

Ali Price will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against La Rochelle, on an afternoon that will also see the scrum-half reach a century of appearances in Glasgow colours.

I've just looked him up and I was surprised to see he's still only 28, he seems to have been around for ages.

I think he should be rested for the 1872 games, we don't want him getting burnt out.

[KingBlairhorn]

Ali Price will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against La Rochelle, on an afternoon that will also see the scrum-half reach a century of appearances in Glasgow colours.

I've just looked him up and I was surprised to see he's still only 28, he seems to have been around for ages.

I think he should be rested for the 1872 games, we don't want him getting burnt out.

Apparently signing a contract extension (2 years). I was sure he was off this summer, very good signing. I wonder if we are starting to see the impact of the new salary cap rules in England.

[I like neeps]

Ali Price will captain Glasgow Warriors for the first time in Sunday’s Heineken Champions Cup opener against La Rochelle, on an afternoon that will also see the scrum-half reach a century of appearances in Glasgow colours.

I've just looked him up and I was surprised to see he's still only 28, he seems to have been around for ages.

I think he should be rested for the 1872 games, we don't want him getting burnt out.

Apparently signing a contract extension (2 years). I was sure he was off this summer, very good signing. I wonder if we are starting to see the impact of the new salary cap rules in England.

I thought he'd be off as well... Maybe it is salary cap but the second best 9 in the NH maybe worth it? Who knows.

Sam Skinner is moving to Edinburgh. I worry that's salary cap related as well. If England make declaring for Scotland financially prohibitive we're in a spot of bother.

[Biffer]

Russell tremendous last night,

[weegie01]

Sam Skinner is moving to Edinburgh. I worry that's salary cap related as well. If England make declaring for Scotland financially prohibitive we're in a spot of bother.

Rob Baxter's take on it.

"You've got a group of players within the Premiership who've been used to salary levels that were there with a £6.4m plus bits and a pieces cap to down to a £5m cap, it's a big change," added Baxter.

"It's not like a couple of hundred thousand pounds, it's big chunk of what you'd spend on your squad, so that realignment of what salary expectations will be will be challenging and then that will also make other markets more attractive.

"The Welsh regions, the Scottish regions for your qualified players become more attractive, obviously the ability to recruit players into the Premiership rather than go to clubs outside the Premiership also will become harder.

"Going down to one marquee player as well, there's going to be a significant shift, probably a bigger shift than people really anticipate."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59581030

Edit
Changed the quote from the Telegraph to the BBC as there is a bit in the Telegraph quote I do not understand,

[SaintK]

I've just looked him up and I was surprised to see he's still only 28, he seems to have been around for ages.

I think he should be rested for the 1872 games, we don't want him getting burnt out.

Apparently signing a contract extension (2 years). I was sure he was off this summer, very good signing. I wonder if we are starting to see the impact of the new salary cap rules in England.

I thought he'd be off as well... Maybe it is salary cap but the second best 9 in the NH maybe worth it? Who knows.

Sam Skinner is moving to Edinburgh. I worry that's salary cap related as well. If England make declaring for Scotland financially prohibitive we're in a spot of bother.

It is due to salary cap according to reports. Jonny Hill also rumoured to be on the move from Exeter as well

[KingBlairhorn]

Yeah, the cap is £5m, both Scottish teams likely have higher budgets than that. In fact all the Irish teams, both Scottish teams and I’d guess at least two Welsh teams would have a bigger budget. Interesting times.

[Biffer]

Apparently signing a contract extension (2 years). I was sure he was off this summer, very good signing. I wonder if we are starting to see the impact of the new salary cap rules in England.

I thought he'd be off as well... Maybe it is salary cap but the second best 9 in the NH maybe worth it? Who knows.

Sam Skinner is moving to Edinburgh. I worry that's salary cap related as well. If England make declaring for Scotland financially prohibitive we're in a spot of bother.

It is due to salary cap according to reports. Jonny Hill also rumoured to be on the move from Exeter as well

I take it he’s going anywhere that’ll offer him a banjo and a porch to sit on.

[weegie01]

I have been out all day so could not watch the live stream.

I came in to see that Edinburgh are leading Saracens with a couple of minutes to go, then with 30s left are penalised for time wasting.

Sarries go to the corner and rumble over. It goes to the TMO and it is a penalty to Edinburgh for Sarries offside for the win.

[Biffer]

Yep, great win.

[KingBlairhorn]

Looked a pretty good team Sarries put out too. Excellent result for Edinburgh, and fantastic to see Savala running the show in such a big win.

I didn’t watch, followed on Twitter, but it sounded like WP put on a bit of a masterclass in the scrum.

[mos_eisely_]

I have been out all day so could not watch the live stream.

I came in to see that Edinburgh are leading Saracens with a couple of minutes to go, then with 30s left are penalised for time wasting.

Sarries go to the corner and rumble over. It goes to the TMO and it is a penalty to Edinburgh for Sarries offside for the win.

The penalty against us seemed to be for sealing off rather than time wasting...which was equally a stupid thing to do with 30s to go and the lead

[weegie01]

I have been out all day so could not watch the live stream.

I came in to see that Edinburgh are leading Saracens with a couple of minutes to go, then with 30s left are penalised for time wasting.

Sarries go to the corner and rumble over. It goes to the TMO and it is a penalty to Edinburgh for Sarries offside for the win.

The penalty against us seemed to be for sealing off rather than time wasting...which was equally a stupid thing to do with 30s to go and the lead

Fair enough, I was just going on what the BBC reported.

[Dogbert]

It's the Jonny & Stuart Show against Montpellier

[Dogbert]

And Jonny again for the third

[Dogbert]

And Jonny again for the third

And Jonny for the 4th , and his hat trick

[Yr Alban]

And Jonny again for the third

And Jonny for the 4th , and his hat trick

Not often you see a lock score a hat-trick

[Big D]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

[Biffer]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

[I like neeps]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

They also have Glenn Young to return from injury though. I'd have preferred Sykes and Hodgson become senior week in starting locks. I do worry about Skinner up north as we need regular starters in other leagues to widen the pool.

[Tichtheid]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

I agree, if you want to be in the running at the business end of the season you want to have serious options all through the team, like we have in the back row

The full season requires around 35 to 40 quality players when you factor in injury, a drop of form or rest rotation.
Everyone coming in should be looking to makes the shirt their own, giving the coaches headaches over selection

We’re a fair bit away from that at the moment

As an aside, from what I read about yesterday we handed the Sarries scrum their collective arse, which is pleasing

[Big D]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

Edinburgh have:
Gilchrist
Toolis
Hodgson
Sykes
Young
Phillips

If Toolis is done, which at 29/30 is a big call, or GG moving on then it would start to look lighter.

Sykes is 22 very soon and Hodgson 24 by the end of the season. I'd say they've shown more than being prospects now. They've been excellent this year.

The other thing it is worth remembering is 2nd row is one of the best paid positions in rugby. In 2019/20 it was the highest paid position across 2 of the 3 main European leagues. Edinburgh could be holding 5 internationals which will impact budgets when the young lads get a new deal. Obviously they won't all be on mega money but even back ups will be paid very well.

[I like neeps]

Skinner to Edinburgh on the face of it is a good move but that lock amd backrow position is looking full.

Great win for Edinburgh. Rotating and getting a win is excellent.

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

I agree, if you want to be in the running at the business end of the season you want to have serious options all through the team, like we have in the back row

The full season requires around 35 to 40 quality players when you factor in injury, a drop of form or rest rotation.
Everyone coming in should be looking to makes the shirt their own, giving the coaches headaches over selection

We’re a fair bit away from that at the moment

As an aside, from what I read about yesterday we handed the Sarries scrum their collective arse, which is pleasing

I don't think you do these days when URC games aren't played during internationals. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh can run leaner squads now.

[Tichtheid]

I think Edinburgh are a bit light at lock tbh. Toolis seems done, McKenzie has retired, so there’s Gilchrist and the two young lads who look like great prospects. But even with one injury, Edinburgh would be very thin at lock.

I agree, if you want to be in the running at the business end of the season you want to have serious options all through the team, like we have in the back row

The full season requires around 35 to 40 quality players when you factor in injury, a drop of form or rest rotation.
Everyone coming in should be looking to makes the shirt their own, giving the coaches headaches over selection

We’re a fair bit away from that at the moment

As an aside, from what I read about yesterday we handed the Sarries scrum their collective arse, which is pleasing

I don't think you do these days when URC games aren't played during internationals. Both Glasgow and Edinburgh can run leaner squads now.

Just off the top of my head and without looking up each game, I reckon Edinburgh have used nine props, three hookers, six locks, six or seven back rows, three scrum halves, three 10s, five centres, four wingers and two fullbacks and we’re only half a dozen or so games into the season

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh have six senior locks. Your average international will play 10-15 games for Edinburgh in the regular season at most, so you need 4 ‘first choice’ for the league alone, assuming no injuries and no loss of form. Factoring in European games and play-offs (hopefully), it’s probably five required. That doesn’t leave a lot of margin for error. I think one more top option is needed.

[Big D]

If Steyn looked that was a 3 on 2 on that break ro put the winger in.

[Big D]

Edinburgh have six senior locks. Your average international will play 10-15 games for Edinburgh in the regular season at most, so you need 4 ‘first choice’ for the league alone, assuming no injuries and no loss of form. Factoring in European games and play-offs (hopefully), it’s probably five required. That doesn’t leave a lot of margin for error. I think one more top option is needed.

There are only 6 to be fair with two of them being injured most of the season but they've managed fine. Glen Young was brought up the road to be that 4th lock, but whilst he and Toolis have been injured Hodgson and Sykes have took the shirts and made them their own as 2 of the 3 matchday locks. I don't think they've been short in the position so far with those 2 to come back in and a couple back rows who can cover on emergency.

The second row has been a bright spot amongst many bright spots for Edinburgh this season. I'm a bit surprised he isn't heading to Glasgow as Edinburgh are definitely stronger in the position.

Both Gilchrist and Toolis are OOC I think. Perhaps one will be off.