The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Jock42]

I said something pretty similar to that earlier to the folk in my house forced to watch. They all agreed but that was probably them being polite as they ate my food and drank my drink.

[robmatic]

Bit of Sunday night controversy, but Duhan is beginning to do my head in a bit. Just never, ever, passes or even looks for a pass. I accept that all things being equal that’s usually not too much of a problem but his head seems a bit elsewhere at the moment, defence isn’t great and vulnerable under the high ball.

Not calling for him to be dropped or anything ridiculous like that, but I’d like a bit more out of him

Yeah, it doesn't seem to be an option for him. Normally I think it's not an issue because he's beating defenders so frequently and he also has a really big impact when he comes looking for the ball, but yesterday he didn't have a great game with the knock ons and looking suspect defensively.

[robmatic]

I missed it but I recorded it. Is it worth the watch?

I thought it was a great game. Even tho their set piece struggled, it was there for Edinburgh to win, but they blew some great chances.

They'll be kicking themselves tbh.

I have a couple of evenings this week where I'm on my Tod, I'll catch up with it then, ta.

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

[weegie01]

I thought it was a great game. Even tho their set piece struggled, it was there for Edinburgh to win, but they blew some great chances.

They'll be kicking themselves tbh.

I have a couple of evenings this week where I'm on my Tod, I'll catch up with it then, ta.

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

i was only able to watch the first 20mins before family affairs intervened. I have now watched the rest. It is both worth watching and interesting. Some utter schoolboy errors, and I do mean errors that I'd have given grief to schoolboy teams I coached for, along with some very good stuff.

That is what is so frustrating. Edinburgh were outsmarted in the scrum as well as out muscled according to my ex tighthead son, fair enough. That is a work on but it was clever play by Saracens not stupidity by us. Rambo had off day with his throwing, it happens. A bit surprising, but it happens. What I can't get my head round is the schoolboy stuff like letting the kick off bounce, not passing to players in space to score etc. These should be things ingrained in players yet we do things like this over and over.

It does my head in.

[Slick]

I have a couple of evenings this week where I'm on my Tod, I'll catch up with it then, ta.

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

i was only able to watch the first 20mins before family affairs intervened. I have now watched the rest. It is both worth watching and interesting. Some utter schoolboy errors, and I do mean errors that I'd have given grief to schoolboy teams I coached for, along with some very good stuff.

That is what is so frustrating. Edinburgh were outsmarted in the scrum as well as out muscled according to my ex tighthead son, fair enough. That is a work on but it was clever play by Saracens not stupidity by us. Rambo had off day with his throwing, it happens. A bit surprising, but it happens. What I can't get my head round is the schoolboy stuff like letting the kick off bounce, not passing to players in space to score etc. These should be things ingrained in players yet we do things like this over and over.

It does my head in.

Could add McInally getting carded for gobbing off at the ref (having already been marched back 10 in the 1st for gobbing off, leading to a try)

But Mike Blair says he is proud of the boys.

[SaintK]

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

i was only able to watch the first 20mins before family affairs intervened. I have now watched the rest. It is both worth watching and interesting. Some utter schoolboy errors, and I do mean errors that I'd have given grief to schoolboy teams I coached for, along with some very good stuff.

That is what is so frustrating. Edinburgh were outsmarted in the scrum as well as out muscled according to my ex tighthead son, fair enough. That is a work on but it was clever play by Saracens not stupidity by us. Rambo had off day with his throwing, it happens. A bit surprising, but it happens. What I can't get my head round is the schoolboy stuff like letting the kick off bounce, not passing to players in space to score etc. These should be things ingrained in players yet we do things like this over and over.

It does my head in.

Could add McInally getting carded for gobbing off at the ref (having already been marched back 10 in the 1st for gobbing off, leading to a try)

But Mike Blair says he is proud of the boys.

Thought Richie didn't do Edinburgh any favours the way he was talking to the ref either. Gilchrist should have taken over as chief communicator
Crosbie had an an excellent match and was easily Edinburgh's MoM.

[Big D]

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

i was only able to watch the first 20mins before family affairs intervened. I have now watched the rest. It is both worth watching and interesting. Some utter schoolboy errors, and I do mean errors that I'd have given grief to schoolboy teams I coached for, along with some very good stuff.

That is what is so frustrating. Edinburgh were outsmarted in the scrum as well as out muscled according to my ex tighthead son, fair enough. That is a work on but it was clever play by Saracens not stupidity by us. Rambo had off day with his throwing, it happens. A bit surprising, but it happens. What I can't get my head round is the schoolboy stuff like letting the kick off bounce, not passing to players in space to score etc. These should be things ingrained in players yet we do things like this over and over.

It does my head in.

Could add McInally getting carded for gobbing off at the ref (having already been marched back 10 in the 1st for gobbing off, leading to a try)

But Mike Blair says he is proud of the boys.

I thought Rambo was a maul/ruck infringement?

[Slick]

i was only able to watch the first 20mins before family affairs intervened. I have now watched the rest. It is both worth watching and interesting. Some utter schoolboy errors, and I do mean errors that I'd have given grief to schoolboy teams I coached for, along with some very good stuff.

That is what is so frustrating. Edinburgh were outsmarted in the scrum as well as out muscled according to my ex tighthead son, fair enough. That is a work on but it was clever play by Saracens not stupidity by us. Rambo had off day with his throwing, it happens. A bit surprising, but it happens. What I can't get my head round is the schoolboy stuff like letting the kick off bounce, not passing to players in space to score etc. These should be things ingrained in players yet we do things like this over and over.

It does my head in.

Could add McInally getting carded for gobbing off at the ref (having already been marched back 10 in the 1st for gobbing off, leading to a try)

But Mike Blair says he is proud of the boys.

I thought Rambo was a maul/ruck infringement?

Seen 2 separate papers saying it was backchat

[Big D]

Thought Richie didn't do Edinburgh any favours the way he was talking to the ref either. Gilchrist should have taken over as chief communicator
Crosbie had an an excellent match and was easily Edinburgh's MoM.

I thought Ritchie was poor and part of my concern with him as captain is how he handles refs and vice versa as he lives on the edge.

Crosbie really was good. Ahead of Watson when he is fit.

[Big D]

I thought Rambo was a maul/ruck infringement?

Seen 2 separate papers saying it was backchat

Ah fair enough.

[Slick]

I thought Rambo was a maul/ruck infringement?

Seen 2 separate papers saying it was backchat

Ah fair enough.

I didn't pick it up during the game either

[Tichtheid]

I thought it was a great game. Even tho their set piece struggled, it was there for Edinburgh to win, but they blew some great chances.

They'll be kicking themselves tbh.

I have a couple of evenings this week where I'm on my Tod, I'll catch up with it then, ta.

I think you'll especially enjoy Crosbie's performance. Best back row forward on the pitch.

Yeah, I've just watched it, Crosbie was excellent. So far this season he's been Scotland's best flanker, Dempsey's performances for Glasgow at 8 have been terrific too.
I like the back row with Crosbie and Ritchie in it

The line out went to shit, it was like no one knew what the call was, McInally went 7 from 7 then it all fell apart - top two inches from a Scottish side yet again.

[I like neeps]

Bit of Sunday night controversy, but Duhan is beginning to do my head in a bit. Just never, ever, passes or even looks for a pass. I accept that all things being equal that’s usually not too much of a problem but his head seems a bit elsewhere at the moment, defence isn’t great and vulnerable under the high ball.

Not calling for him to be dropped or anything ridiculous like that, but I’d like a bit more out of him

Yeah, it doesn't seem to be an option for him. Normally I think it's not an issue because he's beating defenders so frequently and he also has a really big impact when he comes looking for the ball, but yesterday he didn't have a great game with the knock ons and looking suspect defensively.

You could really coach around it too - a lot of what Kinghorn and Dean do well it's fixing the defence and pulling the ball back to create gaps. With Duhan defences are already scared of him running so if he has the skill to pull it off it would be a handy play.

[Tichtheid]

Seen 2 separate papers saying it was backchat

Ah fair enough.

I didn't pick it up during the game either

I've just played it back, Rambo wasn't binned for backchat. Ben Kay should shut his hole when referees are talking to players, there were two or three instances in the game where the what the ref has to say was far more interesting but Kay talked all over it. However you can hear the ref call something about pulling when Saracens were knocking on our line when he gave them a penalty advantage. After they scored he again says something to McInally about pulling and makes a pulling like gesture - it's not really an official ref signal, but there we go - and whatever it was, it was the reason Rambo was given the yellow card.

[Slick]

Ah fair enough.

I didn't pick it up during the game either

I've just played it back, Rambo wasn't binned for backchat. Ben Kay should shut his hole when referees are talking to players, there were two or three instances in the game where the what the ref has to say was far more interesting but Kay talked all over it. However you can hear the ref call something about pulling when Saracens were knocking on our line when he gave them a penalty advantage. After they scored he again says something to McInally about pulling and makes a pulling like gesture - it's not really an official ref signal, but there we go - and whatever it was, it was the reason Rambo was given the yellow card.

Just had a look at a couple more papers and they agree with you. How odd, and a bit shitty of a journo to say that if he wasn’t sure

[Biffer]

Ah fair enough.

I didn't pick it up during the game either

I've just played it back, Rambo wasn't binned for backchat. Ben Kay should shut his hole when referees are talking to players, there were two or three instances in the game where the what the ref has to say was far more interesting but Kay talked all over it. However you can hear the ref call something about pulling when Saracens were knocking on our line when he gave them a penalty advantage. After they scored he again says something to McInally about pulling and makes a pulling like gesture - it's not really an official ref signal, but there we go - and whatever it was, it was the reason Rambo was given the yellow card.

Onw of the good things about Amazon's coverage of the AIs is the option to listen without commentary, just with the crowd noise and referee.

[Simian]

Thought Richie didn't do Edinburgh any favours the way he was talking to the ref either. Gilchrist should have taken over as chief communicator
Crosbie had an an excellent match and was easily Edinburgh's MoM.

I thought Ritchie was poor and part of my concern with him as captain is how he handles refs and vice versa as he lives on the edge.

Crosbie really was good. Ahead of Watson when he is fit.

Ritchie might be a good leader, but he is very poor at handling referees. He just seems to antagonise them. I really think he's a poor choice as captain.

[Simian]

I didn't pick it up during the game either

I've just played it back, Rambo wasn't binned for backchat. Ben Kay should shut his hole when referees are talking to players, there were two or three instances in the game where the what the ref has to say was far more interesting but Kay talked all over it. However you can hear the ref call something about pulling when Saracens were knocking on our line when he gave them a penalty advantage. After they scored he again says something to McInally about pulling and makes a pulling like gesture - it's not really an official ref signal, but there we go - and whatever it was, it was the reason Rambo was given the yellow card.

Onw of the good things about Amazon's coverage of the AIs is the option to listen without commentary, just with the crowd noise and referee.

Absolutely. It's great.

[westport]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

[weegie01]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

Don't tell Torq.

[SaintK]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

No other European clubs can compete with T14 clubs when it comes to salaries.
Reckon the Bath connection was Russell's agent upping the ante for his 10% worth...or more!

[Tichtheid]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

No other European clubs can compete with T14 clubs when it comes to salaries.
Reckon the Bath connection was Russell's agent upping the ante for his 10% worth...or more!

Yup, Russell has made no secret of the fact he wants to win silverware - what are the chances of that happening at Bath?

He reportedly turned down an eye-watering sum to go and play in Japan. I guess that might still be on the cards in three or four years time

[westport]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

Don't tell Torq.

You bad person

[robmatic]

It was reported by the Mail Online last month that talks were at an ‘advanced stage’ and that it is ‘very likely’ that Russell will join Bath as their marquee player — meaning his salary is not included within the cap.

However, according to The Rugby Paper, the Scotland and Lions star has rejected a proposed move to the West Country next season.

Finn Russell is now set to extend his stay with Racing with a huge new contract worth almost £1m per season reportedly on the table according to reports in France.

There had been speculation that Racing are lining up All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, but that deal now appears to be dead.

Well played by Finn's agent.

[robmatic]

To the scant few people who post on the Edinburgh forum: can you still do it? I keep on getting an error message about my IP address.

[Tichtheid]

To the scant few people who post on the Edinburgh forum: can you still do it? I keep on getting an error message about my IP address.

I got that too, even when I try to post on 4G that message comes up. I think they must have been hacked, the site the message directs you to looks very dodgy to me.

I don't know of a way to contact the admins, unless anyone on here can do so?

A couple of people are still posting.

[Yr Alban]

Thought Richie didn't do Edinburgh any favours the way he was talking to the ref either. Gilchrist should have taken over as chief communicator
Crosbie had an an excellent match and was easily Edinburgh's MoM.

I thought Ritchie was poor and part of my concern with him as captain is how he handles refs and vice versa as he lives on the edge.

Crosbie really was good. Ahead of Watson when he is fit.

Ritchie might be a good leader, but he is very poor at handling referees. He just seems to antagonise them. I really think he's a poor choice as captain.

The issue here is that Scotland in particular have lacked a proper leader on the pitch, and that is what Ritchie is good at. That quality is innate. Ref management is something that can be learned. One hopes.

[Biffer]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63954759

Well, shit. We need to McCallum into a team, and soon.

[I like neeps]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63954759

Well, shit. We need to McCallum into a team, and soon.

The depth at prop is just what happens when you outsource front row development. The SRU has no clue how to develop them as the club coaches refuse to risk young props getting papped in the scrum in a real game and so they never get the gametime they need to become good players. There's no way to square the circle and have competitive pro teams and develop front rowers. This is going to be an ongoing problem. We've been reliant on South Africans and genetic freaks like Fagerson for a while. Sutherland and Bhatti sticking around owing to real force of will is very impressive.

[westport]

Scottish Rugby will carry live coverage of the memorial service next week to celebrate the life of the irrepressible Doddie Weir.

Doddie, the former Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock, died last month, aged 52, after a long fight against MND – motor neurone disease – and having raised millions of pounds through his charitable foundation to support research to find a cure for the appalling condition.

The memorial service is due to begin at Melrose Parish Church – just next door to the Greenyards ground that was Doddie’s home pitch for so many years – at 1pm on Monday (19 December) and will be screened live around the world on the Scottish Rugby website.

Scottish Rugby chairman John Jeffrey, who is also a trustee of the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Scottish Rugby is honoured to live stream the memorial service. Doddie’s impact was way beyond the rugby community in Scotland and the rest of the British Isles.

“The outpouring of affection for Doddie has been global and I know it will mean a lot to his family and friends that the service is being broadcast on our website.”

[Jockaline]

To the scant few people who post on the Edinburgh forum: can you still do it? I keep on getting an error message about my IP address.

I lurk, and a few people have said they have had problems on the Saracens thread. One can only get on using his phone, another had intermittent problems, but working fine again..

[Biffer]

Anyone ventured on to the old Glasgow forum to watch them lose their shit about their game being moved to Murrayfield tomorrow night?

[Tichtheid]

Anyone ventured on to the old Glasgow forum to watch them lose their shit about their game being moved to Murrayfield tomorrow night?

"Whatever It Takes"


To be fair it's not too bad on the Ouija board, there are a few choice comments on the Warriors FB page, basically blaming the "Edinburgh SRU" for the weather/strikes/ Titanic sinking, but there are references to some of the private social media pages which are seeing a lot of vitriol.

[robmatic]

Anyone ventured on to the old Glasgow forum to watch them lose their shit about their game being moved to Murrayfield tomorrow night?

I'm waiting for the Offside Line commenters to get stuck into Dodson about it.

[robmatic]

To the scant few people who post on the Edinburgh forum: can you still do it? I keep on getting an error message about my IP address.

I lurk, and a few people have said they have had problems on the Saracens thread. One can only get on using his phone, another had intermittent problems, but working fine again..

I'll try again next time there is an active thread.

[weegie01]

Sam Grahamslaw left Edinburgh to go to Jersey Reds, for whom he has been ripping up trees. He is now being looked at by Prem clubs (he is qualified for Scotland, England and France). A young, dynamic, 125kg prop is exactly the kind of player is exactly the kind of player we need to keep here and develop, yet he has gone south and prospered. There are always players who prosper at one club and do not elsewhere. But there seems to be a worrying trend of players leaving Edinburgh and excelling elsewhere.

Edit.
I have just had a look at the Jersey Reds site. They have 6 props listed, three are SQ (SG, Adam Nicol and Steve Longwell). Plus Hamish Bain in the 2nd row and Lewis Wynne in the back row.

[I like neeps]

Sam Grahamslaw left Edinburgh to go to Jersey Reds, for whom he has been ripping up trees. He is now being looked at by Prem clubs (he is qualified for Scotland, England and France). A young, dynamic, 125kg prop is exactly the kind of player is exactly the kind of player we need to keep here and develop, yet he has gone south and prospered. There are always players who prosper at one club and do not elsewhere. But there seems to be a worrying trend of players leaving Edinburgh and excelling elsewhere.

Edit.
I have just had a look at the Jersey Reds site. They have 6 props listed, three are SQ (SG, Adam Nicol and Steve Longwell). Plus Hamish Bain in the 2nd row and Lewis Wynne in the back row.

Grahamslaw was a really good member of the u20s team that finished third (I think) in the six nations pre covid too. It's the development of props in Scotland I'm afraid. Good age grades, don't get an opportunity at pro level (it's better to have 24 year old Courtney destroyed, apparently) and leave for the championship where some do well (some don't I check periodically as I thought Nicol would be a good player but never seems to play for Jersey).

Watsonians and the super6 generally have a case to answer here as they too preferred Courtney to Grahamslaw. At least Courtney is SQ I guess. But why was Grahamslaw on the same team?

Total rethink required.

Side note - it's good that McBeth and Walker are playing for Glasgow tomorrow. It did annoy me the SRU have decided it's a better use of time to develop a young Argentinian TH than a Scottish one.

[dkm57]

Just had a call from the missus, her boss has 2 tickets for the Castre game "was I interested". Well, DUH!!

So I'll have got Dam Health before I get to Scotstoun, I may have to change my allegiance naah. It'll be great to see some live rugby though. Ah the roar of the deep heat the smell of the crowd, can't believe how excited I am.

[Tichtheid]

Unavailable: Mark Bennett, Dave Cherry, Darcy Graham, Nick Haining, Cammy Hutchison, Henry Immelman, Adam McBurney, Sam Skinner, Hamish Watson.

"Outside centre Matt Currie takes the place of Mark Bennett who remains in the graduated return to play protocol."

[Tichtheid]

18 year old hooker Elliot Young has joined Exeter on an academy contract from Heriots Super 6