The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

The SRU could do a similar thing in Edinburgh that the IRFU have done around Dublin by engaging fully with the private schools (could do the same in Glasgow).

But the clubs would scream and vote people out until they got what they wanted, whatever the fuck that is.

Can't help thinking Franco Smith would be the best man for that. Identify young talent and help develop it

I genuinely don’t think the identification of talent is the problem.

[Big D]

Yeah, the continual negativity about Duhan is incredibly manufactured. If he was at Glasgow we'd hear nothing but praise.

I absolutely would play him for Scotland weekly as first pick.

Just saying it's yet more squad planning to the detriment to Edinburgh that he left, was replaced (not like for like ability wise as that doesn't exist in world rugby) and then resigned in a union panic. Edinburgh have too many union panics in their squad - Glasgow have actually quite few looking at it. Sutherland and Hastings maybe? But they won't be automatic first picks there for years no matter performance levels.

I've said for a while that a Scotland cap shouldn't come with the fall back of a club contract it has to stop. It is different for someone like Ashman who chose to move north rather than Lang, Vellacott etc had to.

Duhan was slightly different, it was a season leading into a RWC, three months before the 6N and he was/is one of our real game winners. The SRU couldn't leave him out there without a deal. He probably would have eventually got a deal in France but who knows how long that might have taken. Has definitely hurt squad budgets but was necessary at the time.

[I like neeps]

Yeah, the continual negativity about Duhan is incredibly manufactured. If he was at Glasgow we'd hear nothing but praise.

I absolutely would play him for Scotland weekly as first pick.

Just saying it's yet more squad planning to the detriment to Edinburgh that he left, was replaced (not like for like ability wise as that doesn't exist in world rugby) and then resigned in a union panic. Edinburgh have too many union panics in their squad - Glasgow have actually quite few looking at it. Sutherland and Hastings maybe? But they won't be automatic first picks there for years no matter performance levels.

I've said for a while that a Scotland cap shouldn't come with the fall back of a club contract it has to stop. It is different for someone like Ashman who chose to move north rather than Lang, Vellacott etc had to.

Duhan was slightly different, it was a season leading into a RWC, three months before the 6N and he was/is one of our real game winners. The SRU couldn't leave him out there without a deal. He probably would have eventually got a deal in France but who knows how long that might have taken. Has definitely hurt squad budgets but was necessary at the time.

I understand why the SRU did have to give Duhan a deal as you say pre RWC 6N can't have a disgruntled key player but he's another example of you're at Edinburgh as a Scotland player first and Edinburgh player second and to be honest he plays like that. In his first spell he was unplayable, for Scotland he's often unplayable, for Edinburgh this year he's been playable.

I also understand why the SRU guarantee club deals should you declare for Scotland as a risk mitigator. But, that comes with a clear detriment to the club culture.

[weegie01]

I genuinely don’t think the identification of talent is the problem.

Some time back Blackmac made a comment how he does not see the dog in a lot of Scottish players, how he would not trust a lot of them to have your back if things were going south and blood and snotters were about to start flying. Smith has brought that to Glasgow.

I would once have said that attitude was nature not nurture. One of my sons set up a security business with friends. I was surprised as, though a big lad and loving the front row, he was quite physically passive. He has hardened up massively to the extent that the owner of another small security firm told me recently that my son is who everyone wants either backing them up or leading the charge. He says himself he would be on a different level as a rugby player if he had the dog he has now back when he played.

Smith loves the kind of uncompromising, never take a step back player who would not start a fight, but would back his mates up if push came to shove. Tom Jordan is exactly that type of player. Smith has brought that attitude to Glasgow successfully, Cockerill tried to do so at Edinburgh where he saw the same issue. One method worked, one did not.

There is more to Glasgow's success than just physical robustness but in rugby it is essential, and imho the mental toughness does not come without it in a game of physical confrontation.

[KingBlairhorn]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

[KingBlairhorn]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

Actually, Chile and Uruguay on the bbc

[GrahamWa]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

The South America leg will be on BBC Scotland channel and the iPlayer. I wonder how much they finally managed to sell the rights for?

[Jock42]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

The South America leg will be on BBC Scotland channel and the iPlayer. I wonder how much they finally managed to sell the rights for?

Assume they got something (better than nothing) otherwise it would be rugby pass

[Slick]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

Actually, Chile and Uruguay on the bbc

That's good, not that bothered about the other games

[Biffer]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

Actually, Chile and Uruguay on the bbc

That's good, not that bothered about the other games

Yeah. Might go to the pub on the 6th and have a wee day watching SA v Ireland at 4, Argentina v France at 8 and Scotland v Canada at 10.

[I like neeps]

I genuinely don’t think the identification of talent is the problem.

Some time back Blackmac made a comment how he does not see the dog in a lot of Scottish players, how he would not trust a lot of them to have your back if things were going south and blood and snotters were about to start flying. Smith has brought that to Glasgow.

I would once have said that attitude was nature not nurture. One of my sons set up a security business with friends. I was surprised as, though a big lad and loving the front row, he was quite physically passive. He has hardened up massively to the extent that the owner of another small security firm told me recently that my son is who everyone wants either backing them up or leading the charge. He says himself he would be on a different level as a rugby player if he had the dog he has now back when he played.

Smith loves the kind of uncompromising, never take a step back player who would not start a fight, but would back his mates up if push came to shove. Tom Jordan is exactly that type of player. Smith has brought that attitude to Glasgow successfully, Cockerill tried to do so at Edinburgh where he saw the same issue. One method worked, one did not.

There is more to Glasgow's success than just physical robustness but in rugby it is essential, and imho the mental toughness does not come without it in a game of physical confrontation.

The Cockerill method did work for a season and a half, to be fair.

[weegie01]

The Cockerill method did work for a season and a half, to be fair.

True.

[Tichtheid]

For what it's worth, for league games only

Cockerill's win percentage per season was 71, 48, 68, 31.
Mike Blair's win percentage was 52, 33
Sean Everitt's is 61.

Before that Solomons was flatlining at around 50% before we fell off a cliff when he left in the September

Franco's first season at Glasgow brought 72% success in the league.

It took just a 76% win ratio to claim the pot at the end of this season - with the caveat that the best in any sport time their wins for when it really counts, so the percentage is less important in this case than who they beat and when.

From an Edinburgh perspective I think Everitt has something to build on, but we need to see an attack which has a better structure

[Jock42]

The summer tests will be on TNT sports, which is annoying because I don’t have that.

The South America leg will be on BBC Scotland channel and the iPlayer. I wonder how much they finally managed to sell the rights for?

Assume they got something (better than nothing) otherwise it would be rugby pass

Just realised that the southern games are on both channels. That's decent. Paid twice for a development tour.

[charltom]

I wonder if Franco is now to spill the secrets of his success to the SRU, GT and SE...?

[clydecloggie]

I wonder if Franco is now to spill the secrets of his success to the SRU, GT and SE...?

He did say he's in regular contact with Toonie and explicitly mentioned the importance of toughening up players for Scottish 6N/RWC success. So you'd think the answer to the above is in the affirmative.

[charltom]

I wonder if Franco is now to spill the secrets of his success to the SRU, GT and SE...?

He did say he's in regular contact with Toonie and explicitly mentioned the importance of toughening up players for Scottish 6N/RWC success. So you'd think the answer to the above is in the affirmative.

... and with Sean I hope!

[clydecloggie]

I wonder if Franco is now to spill the secrets of his success to the SRU, GT and SE...?

He did say he's in regular contact with Toonie and explicitly mentioned the importance of toughening up players for Scottish 6N/RWC success. So you'd think the answer to the above is in the affirmative.

... and with Sean I hope!

From a GW perspective, I could see how direct contact with a rival club's coach to make them better would be frowned upon.

And for me personally, as someone who's increasingly a GW fan first and Scotland fan second - stuff Edinburgh.

[Tichtheid]

He did say he's in regular contact with Toonie and explicitly mentioned the importance of toughening up players for Scottish 6N/RWC success. So you'd think the answer to the above is in the affirmative.

... and with Sean I hope!

From a GW perspective, I could see how direct contact with a rival club's coach to make them better would be frowned upon.

And for me personally, as someone who's increasingly a GW fan first and Scotland fan second - stuff Edinburgh.

I imagine they will know each other pretty well and will talk about rugby.

I don't think Smith will be explicitly laying out bullet-pointed sheets of A4 for Edinburgh to follow, and nor should he. If Everitt isn't up to it himself Edinburgh need someone else and pronto. However as a fan I'm willing to give him some more time.

[topofthemoon]

Another stats round-up, this time from Bulls v Glasgow:

- URC finals;
- Glasgow in the knockouts;
- record against the Bulls (and other South African sides);
- a stat for every member of the victorious matchday 23.

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/analy ... l-triumph/

[charltom]

He did say he's in regular contact with Toonie and explicitly mentioned the importance of toughening up players for Scottish 6N/RWC success. So you'd think the answer to the above is in the affirmative.

... and with Sean I hope!

From a GW perspective, I could see how direct contact with a rival club's coach to make them better would be frowned upon.

And for me personally, as someone who's increasingly a GW fan first and Scotland fan second - stuff Edinburgh.

I kind of agree on the first point, but don't they effectively share an employer?

[Achahoish]

For what it's worth, for league games only

Cockerill's win percentage per season was 71, 48, 68, 31.
Mike Blair's win percentage was 52, 33
Sean Everitt's is 61.

Before that Solomons was flatlining at around 50% before we fell off a cliff when he left in the September

Franco's first season at Glasgow brought 72% success in the league.

It took just a 76% win ratio to claim the pot at the end of this season - with the caveat that the best in any sport time their wins for when it really counts, so the percentage is less important in this case than who they beat and when.

From an Edinburgh perspective I think Everitt has something to build on, but we need to see an attack which has a better structure

Bit disingenuous that point. All four top teams won 13 out 18 games. The difference was down to bonus points. Edinburgh got 5 bonus points, 2 more and they'd have been in the playoffs. It's not just the tail end of the season that counts, it's how you win & lose during the season

[topofthemoon]

A week on from an incredible win, a look back at some of the key moments in the URC final against the Bulls:

Part 1:
- The Horne / Steyn axis
- Dempsey's second half takeover
- Glasgow's defensive stands

http://ontopofthemoon.com/2024/06/29/gl ... is-part-1/

Part 2:
- The 6 moments where it seemed like the game would be won - and the one when it actually was.

http://ontopofthemoon.com/2024/06/29/gl ... 2-the-end/

[KingBlairhorn]

So it seems the man the SRU thought they had appointed to CEO was Mark Darbon, who has just taken on the same role with the R&A.

[SaintK]

Scotland matches against Chile and Uruguay now fre to air!

BBC Scotland will have full live television coverage of the South American matches from Scotland’s Skyscanner Americas Tour this July. The games against Chile and Uruguay will be shown live free-to-air on the BBC Scotland channel as part of an agreement between Scottish Rugby and TNT Sports.

[Dogbert]

Big Boys cup opponents out

Pool 1: Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux Bègles, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Ulster Rugby

Pool 2: Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Stade Rochelais, Bristol Bears, Benetton Rugby, Bath Rugby

Pool 3: Northampton Saints, Munster Rugby, Vodacom Bulls, Stade Français Paris, Saracens, Castres Olympique

Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92, Sale Sharks, DHL Stormers, RC Toulon, Harlequins

Decent enough draw for the Warriors, happy not to have to go the Exeter ( again ) - Flights to Racing 92 - £99 from Edinburgh

[Biffer]

And for completeness, Edinburgh have Vannes, Gloucester (again), Black Lion, Scarlets and Bayonne.

Wouldn’t mind a trip to Bayonne.

[clydecloggie]

And for completeness, Edinburgh have Vannes, Gloucester (again), Black Lion, Scarlets and Bayonne.

Wouldn’t mind a trip to Bayonne.

Tbilisi away, good times

[robmatic]

And for completeness, Edinburgh have Vannes, Gloucester (again), Black Lion, Scarlets and Bayonne.

Wouldn’t mind a trip to Bayonne.

I wouldn't mind Tbilisi away - enjoyed the last Scotland game there and probably the closest possible Edinburgh game for me these days along with Treviso.

[weegie01]

And for completeness, Edinburgh have Vannes, Gloucester (again), Black Lion, Scarlets and Bayonne.

Wouldn’t mind a trip to Bayonne.

Fly to Biarritx airport which is 30mins from Bayonne.

I'll be really disappointed if this is in Edinburgh.

[Slick]

Scotland 52-3 up after 33 minutes against Samoa in the U20’s!

[Slick]

They need to just stop this, not good. Scotland scoring from every kick off now. 68-3 half time

[Yr Alban]

They just need to not fuck up in the latter stages this time.

[Biffer]

123-15 at the final whistle.

The Japan game looks like the important one then.

Edit - got the times wrong in the original post. Scotland playing Hong Kong on Sunday at 1430. Playing Japan at 1945 on the 12th.

[Tichtheid]

The pack was very good and that put Samoa on the back foot all game, to the point where they shirked tackling towards the end.

No apologies for battering them, that’s the way of things at U20s and dog knows we’ve had some hidings.

Good start, but we need to keep that up.

Maybe, just maybe the hype around OB-L is deserved. I think that’s the third game I’ve seen him in and he is an absolute beast.

[charltom]

It's good to see them put opponents to the sword. Let's hope they keep it up.

[fishfoodie]

Big Boys cup opponents out

Pool 1: Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux Bègles, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Ulster Rugby

Pool 2: Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Stade Rochelais, Bristol Bears, Benetton Rugby, Bath Rugby

Pool 3: Northampton Saints, Munster Rugby, Vodacom Bulls, Stade Français Paris, Saracens, Castres Olympique

Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92, Sale Sharks, DHL Stormers, RC Toulon, Harlequins

Decent enough draw for the Warriors, happy not to have to go the Exeter ( again ) - Flights to Racing 92 - £99 from Edinburgh

How to earn a shitload of brownie points with the missus !

Book a dirty weekend for the away leg, & dump the kids with the Grandparents

[robmatic]

Big Boys cup opponents out

Pool 1: Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux Bègles, Hollywoodbets Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Ulster Rugby

Pool 2: Leinster Rugby, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Stade Rochelais, Bristol Bears, Benetton Rugby, Bath Rugby

Pool 3: Northampton Saints, Munster Rugby, Vodacom Bulls, Stade Français Paris, Saracens, Castres Olympique

Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92, Sale Sharks, DHL Stormers, RC Toulon, Harlequins

Decent enough draw for the Warriors, happy not to have to go the Exeter ( again ) - Flights to Racing 92 - £99 from Edinburgh

How to earn a shitload of brownie points with the missus !

Book a dirty weekend for the away leg, & dump the kids with the Grandparents

Edinburgh had a game away at Racing when I was first going out with the lady who is now my wife.

I didn't take her

But it was a great match

[SaintK]

Stuart Hogg is being linked with Montpellier as a medical joker signing. Midi Olympique has the story and they are often correct.

Will be interesting to see how much of the "broken body" stuff was bullshit....

From his point of view getting away can only be a good thing, I wish him luck

Should have got away sooner.
The thick cunt has been arrested again for breaking his bail conditions

Former Scotland rugby captain Stuart Hogg has been arrested for breaching bail conditions amid his upcoming trial over domestic abuse allegations against his wife.
Police Scotland have confirmed the 32-year-old was arrested at a property in Hawick on Tuesday afternoon, July 2, and he is due to appear at Jedburgh Sheriff Court today (July 3).

Hogg was first arrested in February and faces a total of three charges which he denies relating to his behaviour towards the mother of his four children Gillian who he is separated from. The trial is fixed for July 30.

[Biffer]

So if he's broken his bail conditions does that mean he's in the jail until his trial?