The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Tichtheid]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

[topofthemoon]

111 tries for Glasgow during 2023 - the most for any calendar year in the club's history. Here they all are:

https://ontopofthemoon.com/2024/01/07/g ... ring-2023/

[Biffer]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

Yeah, it’s very good news.

Of course a typical Edinburgh inhabitant attitude to that won’t be ‘I need to get tickets earlier next time’, it’ll be ‘it’s a disgrace, they’re useless, they should have built a bigger stadium, why can’t they move it to the big stadium, why doesn’t the council/Scottish government/Jesus do something about this, ochone ochone’.

(Weegie, not suggesting your mate is like that in any way, you know the type of Edinburger I’m describing!)

[Tichtheid]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

Yeah, it’s very good news.

Of course a typical Edinburgh inhabitant attitude to that won’t be ‘I need to get tickets earlier next time’, it’ll be ‘it’s a disgrace, they’re useless, they should have built a bigger stadium, why can’t they move it to the big stadium, why doesn’t the council/Scottish government/Jesus do something about this, ochone ochone’.

(Weegie, not suggesting your mate is like that in any way, you know the type of Edinburger I’m describing!)

Moaning-pussed gits is what I call them.

good use of the Ghàidhlig, btw.

[Tichtheid]

On the subject of stats, at the half way point in the league Edinburgh now have six wins which is the number they had over the whole of last season. I think ten wins will secure Champions Cup rugby next year.

Edinburgh’s fixtures;
Zebre A
Ospreys H
Stormers A
Sharks A
Scarlets H
Cardiff A
Zebre H
Munster H
Benetton A

[I like neeps]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

Hastings with a game deciding mistake there.

[Tichtheid]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

Hastings with a game deciding mistake there.

Finn was pretty mixed over the course. Hastings did okay apart from the howler there

[Big D]

Bristol Live suggesting Mata will be on 400k at Bristol. Fair play to him for securing that at 32!

[Biffer]

Whilst it’s a pita for you looking for decent tickets, that’s good to hear from an Edinburgh perspective.

I’m looking forward to watching Finn v Adam Hastings this afternoon, the sub plot is of course whether or not Toonie will pick three fly halves for the 6N?

Hastings with a game deciding mistake there.

Finn was pretty mixed over the course. Hastings did okay apart from the howler there

Russell’s pass for De Glanville’s second was a thing of beauty

[robmatic]

Bristol Live suggesting Mata will be on 400k at Bristol. Fair play to him for securing that at 32!

He impressed in the World Cup and there's probably not many around who get through the combined amount of carries and tackles that he does per game. I'm glad we had peak Mata though, when he was ridiculously good.

[Tichtheid]

Hastings with a game deciding mistake there.

Finn was pretty mixed over the course. Hastings did okay apart from the howler there

Russell’s pass for De Glanville’s second was a thing of beauty

It really was - I'll pay the price of him getting charged down if that is what it costs to see him release his team mates like that. His partnership with Redpath is developing nicely.

[Tichtheid]

Bristol Live suggesting Mata will be on 400k at Bristol. Fair play to him for securing that at 32!

He impressed in the World Cup and there's probably not many around who get through the combined amount of carries and tackles that he does per game. I'm glad we had peak Mata though, when he was ridiculously good.

I've always thought that we ask a hell of a lot of Big Bill, he carries a lot, so he'll have a lot of miles on the clock.

I hope Everitt is the one who can finally make Edinburgh add up to the sum of the parts. I'm not talking about winning the Not-Heineken Cup, far from it, but at least regular qualification for it should be the minimum for a team packed full of international players.

[dpedin]

Bristol Live suggesting Mata will be on 400k at Bristol. Fair play to him for securing that at 32!

He impressed in the World Cup and there's probably not many around who get through the combined amount of carries and tackles that he does per game. I'm glad we had peak Mata though, when he was ridiculously good.

I've always thought that we ask a hell of a lot of Big Bill, he carries a lot, so he'll have a lot of miles on the clock.

I hope Everitt is the one who can finally make Edinburgh add up to the sum of the parts. I'm not talking about winning the Not-Heineken Cup, far from it, but at least regular qualification for it should be the minimum for a team packed full of international players.

He played a lot of games for Embra and took some real damage in doing so. He is a great player and by all accounts a lovely guy. Hope he does really well for Bristol, he is worth every penny.

[Tichtheid]

He impressed in the World Cup and there's probably not many around who get through the combined amount of carries and tackles that he does per game. I'm glad we had peak Mata though, when he was ridiculously good.

I've always thought that we ask a hell of a lot of Big Bill, he carries a lot, so he'll have a lot of miles on the clock.

I hope Everitt is the one who can finally make Edinburgh add up to the sum of the parts. I'm not talking about winning the Not-Heineken Cup, far from it, but at least regular qualification for it should be the minimum for a team packed full of international players.

He played a lot of games for Embra and took some real damage in doing so. He is a great player and by all accounts a lovely guy. Hope he does really well for Bristol, he is worth every penny.

Aye, I hope he does really well there. My daughter went to Bristol uni and as a result I look out for Bristol's fortunes. I always wanted to go to a match but Covid put paid to that unfortunately.

[Dogbert]

Hastings was poor today - a couple of real howlers.

Of course is just back from (yet another ) injury , and it's harsh to rate a player on a single game

but he doesn't look the same player that left Glasgow, and we can only hope that he can recover his form.

The Healy / Hastings match up in the Parker pen cup will be interesting.

[Slick]

At the Edinburgh Women's game today. Need for professionalism demonstrated. Sooooo many handling errors. Poor tackling. But the faults are thngs that more training and more. Concentration on development will fix, which demonstrates the need for pro players at this level. There's definitely skill there. The inside centre for Edinburgh in particular looks like a belter of a player, but needs physical conditioning to make the most of her skills and instincts.

Was that the chunky one? Emma Orr is a hell of a player though

Yeah, professionalism will improve her significantly. She has great hands, chose terrific running lines, tackled well and has a huge boot on her. Six months of pro conditioning will make her even better. Emma Orr was outside her at 13 - looked rusty, but it’s been a long injury lay-off so only to be expected.

That’s very encouraging

[Slick]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Was looking for tickets last night myself and couldn’t find 3 together. Great news for the club.

I’ll try earlier next time…

[clydecloggie]

On the subject of stats, at the half way point in the league Edinburgh now have six wins which is the number they had over the whole of last season. I think ten wins will secure Champions Cup rugby next year.

Edinburgh’s fixtures;
Zebre A
Ospreys H
Stormers A
Sharks A
Scarlets H
Cardiff A
Zebre H
Munster H
Benetton A

That's 5 games against Welsh/Italian no-hopers, should all be wins. Munster are in a real slump so that should be the 6th win. Leaves the two SA away games and Benetton away as the three tough ones where the expectation would probably be a loss, but with 6 wins even a home QF wouldn't be impossible.

[Biffer]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Was looking for tickets last night myself and couldn’t find 3 together. Great news for the club.

I’ll try earlier next time…

34 tickets left by my count. All single seats.

[Biffer]

Batch of tickets returned for the riverside terracing if anyone's interested. twenty or so by the looks of it.

[Biffer]

I hadn't realised how far away from a sell out the Glasgow leg of the 1872 was. Only 7,172? They used to get extra seating in for that game.

[Tichtheid]

On the subject of stats, at the half way point in the league Edinburgh now have six wins which is the number they had over the whole of last season. I think ten wins will secure Champions Cup rugby next year.

Edinburgh’s fixtures;
Zebre A
Ospreys H
Stormers A
Sharks A
Scarlets H
Cardiff A
Zebre H
Munster H
Benetton A

That's 5 games against Welsh/Italian no-hopers, should all be wins. Munster are in a real slump so that should be the 6th win. Leaves the two SA away games and Benetton away as the three tough ones where the expectation would probably be a loss, but with 6 wins even a home QF wouldn't be impossible.

The first two and the trip to South Africa will see us short-handed due to the Six Nations.

I think we'll see a side along the lines of
Venter, McBurney, Rae, Young, Hodgson, Muncaster, Boyle, Mata
Vellacott, Scott, Lang, Bennett, Paterson, Goosen, Boff
Harrison, Hislop, Williams, Sykes, Dodd, Shiel, Currie, Swiel.

We may get one or two back from Scotland and perhaps the likes of Skinner will be fit, but if he is, does he go straight back with Scotland?

[weegie01]

I hadn't realised how far away from a sell out the Glasgow leg of the 1872 was. Only 7,172? They used to get extra seating in for that game.

It was a sell out of the seats available. They had just not brought in the extra you refer to as in the past.

I know it was poor weather, but the number of empty seats given it was a sell out was quite surprising.

I have not been in Scotstoun in years. I recall it as being a decent wee stadium with decent facilities (at least in the main stand). Things seem to have gone downhill if the Glasgow forum is any measure and fans are voting with their feet.

[KingBlairhorn]

I hadn't realised how far away from a sell out the Glasgow leg of the 1872 was. Only 7,172? They used to get extra seating in for that game.

It was a sell out of the seats available. They had just not brought in the extra you refer to as in the past.

I know it was poor weather, but the number of empty seats given it was a sell out was quite surprising.

I have not been in Scotstoun in years. I recall it as being a decent wee stadium with decent facilities (at least in the main stand). Things seem to have gone downhill if the Glasgow forum is any measure and fans are voting with their feet.

The SRU have in my opinion now shown that the 'temporary' type of venue used at Murrayfield can work. A combination of a similar idea but with a more permanent building for changing, corporate etc. facilities would be worth investigation. It would be great for Glasgow to have their own permanent home, although I am sure it would annoy some if they moved again. A stadium nearer the centre of Glasgow might be popular if it could be achieved.

As always the main issue would be cost - Edinburgh's cost around £6m I think.

[clydecloggie]

On the subject of stats, at the half way point in the league Edinburgh now have six wins which is the number they had over the whole of last season. I think ten wins will secure Champions Cup rugby next year.

Edinburgh’s fixtures;
Zebre A
Ospreys H
Stormers A
Sharks A
Scarlets H
Cardiff A
Zebre H
Munster H
Benetton A

That's 5 games against Welsh/Italian no-hopers, should all be wins. Munster are in a real slump so that should be the 6th win. Leaves the two SA away games and Benetton away as the three tough ones where the expectation would probably be a loss, but with 6 wins even a home QF wouldn't be impossible.

The first two and the trip to South Africa will see us short-handed due to the Six Nations.

I think we'll see a side along the lines of
Venter, McBurney, Rae, Young, Hodgson, Muncaster, Boyle, Mata
Vellacott, Scott, Lang, Bennett, Paterson, Goosen, Boff
Harrison, Hislop, Williams, Sykes, Dodd, Shiel, Currie, Swiel.

We may get one or two back from Scotland and perhaps the likes of Skinner will be fit, but if he is, does he go straight back with Scotland?

Even Edinburgh B shouldn't be losing to Zebre (who will have the exact same problem) or Ospreys (no idea where Welsh internationals play these days, but they're rank whenever the put on club kits anyway - the Warburton attitude).

[Slick]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

Currie is a player right enough. There was talk of REdpath being approached to come to Scotland, that would be a very good midfield for Edinburgh - Healy, Redpath and Currie.

McDowall must have played himself into he 6N squad this season. I think Crosbie is ahead of Mish now. Goosen is really coming good now that he's getting a run of games without injury.

I thought Bennett looked all right. But yes, MacDowall deserves to be in the 6N squad, in fact to play.

I'd remembered reading this topic over Christmas but didn't have a chance to reply. McDowall has been playing very well but I'm struggling to see him having much of an impact at international level and there are 2 or 3 guys I'd be picking ahead of him after the usual suspects. I'd love to be wrong though, as he has worked bloody hard to get to where he is.

Also so Sam Johnson mentioned. His disappearance is just so bloody odd, he still had huge amounts to give Scotland let alone the clubs.

[Biffer]

That's 5 games against Welsh/Italian no-hopers, should all be wins. Munster are in a real slump so that should be the 6th win. Leaves the two SA away games and Benetton away as the three tough ones where the expectation would probably be a loss, but with 6 wins even a home QF wouldn't be impossible.

The first two and the trip to South Africa will see us short-handed due to the Six Nations.

I think we'll see a side along the lines of
Venter, McBurney, Rae, Young, Hodgson, Muncaster, Boyle, Mata
Vellacott, Scott, Lang, Bennett, Paterson, Goosen, Boff
Harrison, Hislop, Williams, Sykes, Dodd, Shiel, Currie, Swiel.

We may get one or two back from Scotland and perhaps the likes of Skinner will be fit, but if he is, does he go straight back with Scotland?

Even Edinburgh B shouldn't be losing to Zebre (who will have the exact same problem) or Ospreys (no idea where Welsh internationals play these days, but they're rank whenever the put on club kits anyway - the Warburton attitude).

Guys who are with the Scotland squad but don't play will go straight into the squad for the South African leg. That's happened in previous years.

[Tichtheid]

I would hope Embra will be strong enough to see off Zebre away and Ospreys at home, Zebre had 7 players in the RWC squad, Ospreys ‘main losses will be Morgan who is injured, North and Dyer.

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

[Biffer]

I would hope Embra will be strong enough to see off Zebre away and Ospreys at home, Zebre had 7 players in the RWC squad, Ospreys ‘main losses will be Morgan who is injured, North and Dyer.

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

Given the Edinburgh games are on Friday night, I doubt we'll see players released, definitely not for Zebre away. But we might see Ashman / Cherry, Skinner, Crosbie / Watson, Healy and Price available for the games in South Africa.

[Tichtheid]

I would hope Embra will be strong enough to see off Zebre away and Ospreys at home, Zebre had 7 players in the RWC squad, Ospreys ‘main losses will be Morgan who is injured, North and Dyer.

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

Given the Edinburgh games are on Friday night, I doubt we'll see players released, definitely not for Zebre away. But we might see Ashman / Cherry, Skinner, Crosbie / Watson, Healy and Price available for the games in South Africa.

Yeah, I've just looked at the dates, the six nations finishes the week before Edinburgh play in South Africa, hopefully we'll get a good contingent of Scotland players out there

[I like neeps]

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

Currie is a player right enough. There was talk of REdpath being approached to come to Scotland, that would be a very good midfield for Edinburgh - Healy, Redpath and Currie.

McDowall must have played himself into he 6N squad this season. I think Crosbie is ahead of Mish now. Goosen is really coming good now that he's getting a run of games without injury.

I thought Bennett looked all right. But yes, MacDowall deserves to be in the 6N squad, in fact to play.

I'd remembered reading this topic over Christmas but didn't have a chance to reply. McDowall has been playing very well but I'm struggling to see him having much of an impact at international level and there are 2 or 3 guys I'd be picking ahead of him after the usual suspects. I'd love to be wrong though, as he has worked bloody hard to get to where he is.

Also so Sam Johnson mentioned. His disappearance is just so bloody odd, he still had huge amounts to give Scotland let alone the clubs.

I think that to be fair to McDowell this year with flashes of it last year is playing at a level for Glasgow anyway that is at least as good as Sam Johnson. And I think Sione is a level above that too. McDowell on form does deserve a Scotland call up too.

Why he's not at Edinburgh is a good question. It's possible he didn't want to go across. Better player than Lang is anyway.

[Big D]

In the Netflix trailer for the 6N series which presumably is filmed through the 6N Hogg is speaking about his body being broken. Must be hard mentally once one knows the end is imminent.

[Big D]

Knee fairy got Johnson. IIRC he lost pace after the last one and fell off a bit.

[KingBlairhorn]

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

The Darge injury isn’t as bad as thought apparently. Strong chance he’ll be back for the 6N at least in part.

[KingBlairhorn]

In the Netflix trailer for the 6N series which presumably is filmed through the 6N Hogg is speaking about his body being broken. Must be hard mentally once one knows the end is imminent.

Looking forward to this. The win vs England with THAT try, the demolition of Wales, England absolutely thrashed by France, Italy playing some pretty sexy rugby, Ireland being brutally efficient and grinding out the tournament despite the French flair. Should be a really good teaser to whet the appetite pre-tournament.

[Biffer]

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

The Darge injury isn’t as bad as thought apparently. Strong chance he’ll be back for the 6N at least in part.

Mark Palmer reporting this as well in the Times, along with positive news on Dempsey, Matt Fagerson and Steyn.

Squad is announced on Tuesday.

[KingBlairhorn]

Since Darge is injured I can see both Watson and Crosbie being in the Scotland 23. Cherry might be available. Will Healy be made available? Even if he’s not in the match day squad I’d expect him to be one of the 24th men on game days. All the other Edinburgh players in the squad will be in the 23, I imagine

The Darge injury isn’t as bad as thought apparently. Strong chance he’ll be back for the 6N at least in part.

Mark Palmer reporting this as well in the Times, along with positive news on Dempsey, Matt Fagerson and Steyn.

Squad is announced on Tuesday.

Even better news than I had anticipated with Palmer saying he'll only be out a few weeks, so back in time for the start of the tournament.

[Tichtheid]

That's encouraging news about the injury list, for Glasgow as well as for Scotland.

I've read a few positive comments on Bradbury's form, I thought he played pretty well last week, the only time I've seen him in the last couple of months. It will be interesting to see if he makes the squad.

[dpedin]

That's encouraging news about the injury list, for Glasgow as well as for Scotland.

I've read a few positive comments on Bradbury's form, I thought he played pretty well last week, the only time I've seen him in the last couple of months. It will be interesting to see if he makes the squad.

He has been getting excellent ratings for his displays for Bristol and is seen as an 8 who makes yards with ball in hand. I wouldn't be surprised to see him come north back to Embra in place of Mata. I would welcome this move.

[Blackmac]

A non season ticketholder friend suggested he might come down with me to the Edinburgh v Gloucester match. I had a look for tickets and was surprised to discover the stands are effectively sold out with a few single seats available along with some standing.

Was looking for tickets last night myself and couldn’t find 3 together. Great news for the club.

I’ll try earlier next time…

They really should have built a bigger stadium.