The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

Worth noting that in moving the 1872 game to Hampden, Glasgow / the SRU have also changed the day to the Sunday.

I expect this to have a knock on effect to the Murrayfield leg. Many, many Weegies came through as they could get tickets for Murrayfield, but not Scotstoun. I'd assume they will now be soaked up by the Hampden game so whilst the total of specators over both legs should go up, it may not go up that much.

On other hand a few east coasters may go through.

Yeah, I doubt we’ll have 38k again, but there will also be some people who take tickets for both legs. Hopefully over 60k for the two combined.

[Biffer]

Plenty of seethe on the Glasgow Facebook page, get your popcorn out.

[Dogbert]

Plenty of seethe on the Glasgow Facebook page, get your popcorn out.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but...

Looking at the Glasgow warriors Facebook page, and ht Warriors forum , the vast majority are supportive of the change.

The only issue is the lack of detail on what happens to Season ticket holders, and why are we only finding about this now,as it must have been in the works for months - the usual SRU comms fuck up

[_Os_]

It’s difficult not to think that might be part of the problem.
It reminded me of the game v Wales when (spit) Matt Williams was in charge, when Wales were out of sight at HT, and the players looked like they threw away the coach’s game plan at HT in an attempt to salvage some self-respect.

Every coach loses that dressing room.

The reality is a lot of highly paid international players can't be bothered and the squad is filled with extremely mediocre break glass in case of emergency/sorry we took your EQ/IQ credit so here's a place to earn some money. Pathetic!

Having not watched the game.

A reminder that Everitt has form for this pattern of losses then thumpings. Sharks getting pumped at home by awful Blues team 0-35.

I don't think it gets better from here, and am hesitant to blame players.

Everitt came through entirely Sharks/KZN rugby structures, to my knowledge he's done no coaching outside of KZN (not even elsewhere in SA) before Edinburgh. I was quite surprised he got the Edinburgh gig, it's definitely the biggest challenge he has had in his rugby career, everything else has been in his comfort zone. Does he have any connection to Scotland, did he play there or something? I would rate him as average at the Sharks, not the best not the worst, but that's also where he knows the entire structure inside out.

Feel the Lions are being underrated a bit. Ellis Park is a hard place to play Joburg is both a fun and scary place (for the Scots think of it like this: Joburg = New York, Pretoria = Washington, Durban = Miami, Cape Town = San Francisco). When the Lions are half decent it is very tough there, in Super Rugby it was statistically the ground which provided the most home ground advantage (from memory about 10 points). The Lions just aren't regularly that good.

This Lions side is quite good though. The players have been together for quite a while. They're not being picked up by European/Japanese clubs, because they don't have a stack of test caps and aren't really known/on the radar. But they have a lot of serious talent: Jaco Visagie, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn, Ruhan Straeuli, JC Pretorius, Sanele Nohamba, Morne van den Berg, Nico Steyn, Rabz Maxwane, Edwil van der Merwe, Quan Horn. Wouldn't be disappointed if any of those turned up at the Sharks.
Most of their other players are solid provincial level players (journeymen using the unkind term) like their captain Marius Louw, the thing with those players is they give 100% and don't let the team down through lack of effort. They've wisely concentrated them in tight five too (Hookers: Franco Marais, PJ Botha. Props: JP Smith, Juan Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren. Locks: Darrien Landsberg, Etienne Oosthuizen, Sibabalo Qoma, Ruben Schoeman). You know an SA side is recruiting well when they have squad players pulled out of SWD or the Leopards or somewhere that are approaching 30 you've never heard of but are units that do okay, or they're adding guys from Zimbabwe/Namibia of whatever age for the same purpose.

URC sides have done well in Challenge Cup playoffs in the last two seasons since the format change, most quarter finalists two seasons running. Not as well in the actual final, but it's still two out of four finalists and one title from two. The URC looks like it has the best set of teams again in that comp. Hard to say what will happen when sides drop out of the Champions Cup into the Challenge Cup, but if the Lions target it they should do well. URC is tougher, they're definitely not top four but making the playoffs is possible for them.

[Sandstorm]

Joburg = Detroit, Pretoria = Bozeman, Durban = Galveston, Cape Town = San Francisco

Fixed that for you Oxbot

[Slick]

Joburg = Detroit, Pretoria = Bozeman, Durban = Galveston, Cape Town = San Francisco

Fixed that for you Oxbot

I saw Jo'burg as more Springfield

[_Os_]

Joburg = Detroit, Pretoria = Bozeman, Durban = Galveston, Cape Town = San Francisco

Fixed that for you Oxbot

Detroit is the city previously known as PE, industrial/manufacturing centre focused on vehicles where things went a bit downhill thanks to economic conditions and crazy local politics. No clue where Bozeman and Galveston are or what they're about.

I stick with my original calls.

[Tichtheid]

Joburg = Detroit, Pretoria = Bozeman, Durban = Galveston, Cape Town = San Francisco

Fixed that for you Oxbot

Detroit is the city previously known as PE, industrial/manufacturing centre focused on vehicles where things went a bit downhill thanks to economic conditions and crazy local politics. No clue where Bozeman and Galveston are or what they're about.

I stick with my original calls.

Bozeman, Montana is the home of Gibson guitars. Galveston is a coastal Texas town made famous in the Jimmy Webb/Glen Campbell song of the same name

[Jock42]

In the immediate aftermath, and for a day or 2 after, I wanted shot of Kenny. I didnt/don't blame him fully for the state of embra, there are plenty of players consistently underperforming but it's the coaches job to change that either with the carrot or the stick etc. I was mellowing slightly until I listened to the BBC rugby pod yesterday where Kenny states they redeemed themselves in the 2nd half.

[Dogbert]

Glasgow Team up for the visit from Zebre

Strong looking starting pack with Gregor moving to 2nd row , but with Max & Alex on the bench.

Hornstings playing in a Glasgow team since the 2019 final - I think - Stafford back . giving Sione a rest, and Rowe starting full back , again giving Josh a rest.
I wonder if Rowe will be starting fullback for Fiji. for Scotland.

Not taking Zebre lightly , especially after the Munster result

Rumour has it Alex Craig is coming to Scotstoun as a like for like replacement for Ritchie Gray - if so , that's a good result for Glasgow

1 Jamie Bhatti (108)
2 Johnny Matthews (76)
3 Zander Fagerson (151)
4 Gregor Brown (23)
5 Scott Cummings (128)
6 Euan Ferrie (23)
7 Rory Darge (50)
8 Jack Dempsey (51)

9 George Horne (120)
10 Adam Hastings (55)
11 Facundo Cordero (5)
12 Stafford McDowall (C) (79)
13 Huw Jones (72)
14 Jamie Dobie (71)
15 Kyle Rowe (19)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (50)
17 Nathan McBeth (44)
18 Patrick Schickerling (1)
19 Alex Samuel (18)
20 Max Williamson (22)
21 Henco Venter (22)
22 Ben Afshar (9)
23 Tom Jordan (53)

Unavailable for selection: Sebastian Cancelliere (foot), Gregor Hiddleston (quad), JP du Preez (knee), Ollie Smith (knee), Kyle Steyn (foot), Sione Vailanu (knee), Murphy Walker (neck).

[KingBlairhorn]

It looks like Glasgow are going to replace Gray with Alex Craig from scarlets. He played well last season and will have ambitions for more Scotland caps so this should work out well.

[KingBlairhorn]

Healy doesn't even make the squad for Edinburgh tomorrow, not listed as injured. He, at least implicitly, was heavily blamed for last week and especially the lack of an attack (Everitt conveniently forgetting the defence letting in 50 first half points).

Never a good sign when the coach starts blaming specific players - I think Everitt is gone by Christmas.

[Jock42]

Healy doesn't even make the squad for Edinburgh tomorrow, not listed as injured. He, at least implicitly, was heavily blamed for last week and especially the lack of an attack (Everitt conveniently forgetting the defence letting in 50 first half points).

Never a good sign when the coach starts blaming specific players - I think Everitt is gone by Christmas.

There's several more players that should miss out imo including Ritchie (giving away 10m again for gobbing off the week before as well as dropping off tackles last week) and Gilchrist. I'd have also dropped Watson, not sure if he's been dropped or rotated though. Now that I'm on my high horse I might as well go all in and have an entirely new starting 15.

[robmatic]

Healy doesn't even make the squad for Edinburgh tomorrow, not listed as injured. He, at least implicitly, was heavily blamed for last week and especially the lack of an attack (Everitt conveniently forgetting the defence letting in 50 first half points).

Never a good sign when the coach starts blaming specific players - I think Everitt is gone by Christmas.

Hamish dropped as well. I dunno, I think players at Edinburgh need to start getting dropped if they don't perform and last week the backrow got toasted and Healy was rank - there was one point where he got the ball off a quick lineout and just kicked it away, which is inexcusable.

You might be right about Everitt and I suspect he might have lost the dressing room already (not unusual at Edinburgh) but he needs to do something.

[I like neeps]

Healy though not good enough for Ireland (and Munster's back up) came to Edinburgh on huge money to be an option for Scotland first as it was Scotland chasing him. Wouldn't stay at Munster as NIQ. Isn't that good but how motivated can he be day in and day out at Edinburgh? Signed for Scotland first Edinburgh second. Bit troubling that's a big salary. It's not how you build a squad signing options for Gregor Townsend and keeping them at Edinburgh until the six nations camp.

Also Muncaster at 7? Connor Boyle needs to leave or his career is in doubt.

[Biffer]

Healy doesn't even make the squad for Edinburgh tomorrow, not listed as injured. He, at least implicitly, was heavily blamed for last week and especially the lack of an attack (Everitt conveniently forgetting the defence letting in 50 first half points).

Never a good sign when the coach starts blaming specific players - I think Everitt is gone by Christmas.

Hamish dropped as well. I dunno, I think players at Edinburgh need to start getting dropped if they don't perform and last week the backrow got toasted and Healy was rank - there was one point where he got the ball off a quick lineout and just kicked it away, which is inexcusable.

You might be right about Everitt and I suspect he might have lost the dressing room already (not unusual at Edinburgh) but he needs to do something.

Has anyone ever found the dressing room at Edinburgh?

[I like neeps]

Blimey Ben Healy is playing for the A team! Can't help but feel there's better use of resources potentially.

[westport]

H Pat back for the A team

[Achahoish]

Healy doesn't even make the squad for Edinburgh tomorrow, not listed as injured. He, at least implicitly, was heavily blamed for last week and especially the lack of an attack (Everitt conveniently forgetting the defence letting in 50 first half points).

Never a good sign when the coach starts blaming specific players - I think Everitt is gone by Christmas.

Hamish dropped as well. I dunno, I think players at Edinburgh need to start getting dropped if they don't perform and last week the backrow got toasted and Healy was rank - there was one point where he got the ball off a quick lineout and just kicked it away, which is inexcusable.

You might be right about Everitt and I suspect he might have lost the dressing room already (not unusual at Edinburgh) but he needs to do something.

Has anyone ever found the dressing room at Edinburgh?

Made I larf

[Tichtheid]

Blimey Ben Healy is playing for the A team! Can't help but feel there's better use of resources potentially.

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

[KingBlairhorn]

Blimey Ben Healy is playing for the A team! Can't help but feel there's better use of resources potentially.

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

[Tichtheid]

Blimey Ben Healy is playing for the A team! Can't help but feel there's better use of resources potentially.

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

The players said this week that they didn't stick to the game plan in the first half but got on it in the second, which they won 21-7

[Dogbert]

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

The players said this week that they didn't stick to the game plan in the first half but got on it in the second, which they won 21-7

Only after the game was well and truly lost and the Lions took their foot off the gas

[Tichtheid]

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

The players said this week that they didn't stick to the game plan in the first half but got on it in the second, which they won 21-7

Only after the game was well and truly lost and the Lions took their foot off the gas

No, Edinburgh were decent in the second half, there was far too much to make up and the Lions deserved the win.

[Dogbert]

A solid B for Glasgow tonight, barely got out of third gear , but another 5 pointer in the bag, from a fairly scrappy game

Franco will be most pleased about only conceding the 3 points , especially with the trip to RSA coming up - Attack wins games , Defence wins championships.

Brown and Ferrie had decent games, Dempsey however is playing like a man possessed.

Hastings a bit of a curates egg , and at this stage is behind TJ as the starting 10 for Glasgow for the bigger games. I thought Rowe wasn't great at Fullback ( Gregor take note ) - didn't matter against Zebre , but for bigger games we need to have Mackay - Mackay under high balls has been fantastic this year. Facundo again quiet tonight.

Afshar continues to impress - plays with a lot of maturity, and Schickerling looks to be the best of the new boys - he has really caught the eye, hopefully will take pressure off Zander

Finally , the Ref ( in his first outing ) got most things right , and tried to let the game flow, would be happy to have him again.

[Biffer]

Blimey Ben Healy is playing for the A team! Can't help but feel there's better use of resources potentially.

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

As has been discussed again and again, there's something deeper wrong at Edinburgh. Changing coach (again) is unlikely to change anything v

[robmatic]

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

The players said this week that they didn't stick to the game plan in the first half but got on it in the second, which they won 21-7

Well, the players are toeing the party line in their interviews. However, I also don't believe for a moment that Everitt went against his conservative instincts and told the players to concede the breakdown and play a loose, open game in the first half against the Lions.

[KingBlairhorn]

The players said this week that they didn't stick to the game plan in the first half but got on it in the second, which they won 21-7

Only after the game was well and truly lost and the Lions took their foot off the gas

No, Edinburgh were decent in the second half, there was far too much to make up and the Lions deserved the win.

I admire your optimism Tichtheid! Let’s see how they get on this afternoon. It’ll be a real treat watching Edinburgh and the Scotland football team getting horsed at the same time.

[Big D]

I think it's the prefect selection - Healy, and the others, can only see that he's been dropped, Scott who was playing at 10 in the A team has been promoted to the senior side. It's exactly what should happen.

Same with Watson and Crosbie.

It's what a lot of people have been calling for.

Only if you accept the result last week was due to the players playing shite and not down to the coach having no discernible game plan and an absolute lack of ability to coach either an attack or a defence.

He has deflected it all onto a few players because he has no plan to fix it.

As has been discussed again and again, there's something deeper wrong at Edinburgh. Changing coach (again) is unlikely to change anything v

Not in itself. Bringing in a new coach and allowing them relative free reign to make decisions on who stays and goes will be a start ahead of 2025/26.

Nothing we've seen from Everitt as a coach suggests he should be one of the three head coaches the SRU employ. I certainly wouldn't be trusting him to be part of the decision making for 25/26.

Attacking and backline play is meant to be his thing. Based on the evidence it clearly isn't.

[westport]

A solid B for Glasgow tonight, barely got out of third gear , but another 5 pointer in the bag, from a fairly scrappy game

Franco will be most pleased about only conceding the 3 points , especially with the trip to RSA coming up - Attack wins games , Defence wins championships.

Brown and Ferrie had decent games, Dempsey however is playing like a man possessed.

Hastings a bit of a curates egg , and at this stage is behind TJ as the starting 10 for Glasgow for the bigger games. I thought Rowe wasn't great at Fullback ( Gregor take note ) - didn't matter against Zebre , but for bigger games we need to have Mackay - Mackay under high balls has been fantastic this year. Facundo again quiet tonight.

Afshar continues to impress - plays with a lot of maturity, and Schickerling looks to be the best of the new boys - he has really caught the eye, hopefully will take pressure off Zander

Finally , the Ref ( in his first outing ) got most things right , and tried to let the game flow, would be happy to have him again.

Agree with all of that. Have to say I enjoyed the referee and he had a sense of humour

[I like neeps]

Dearie me Grant Gilchrist.

[charltom]

Amazing comeback from the lassies so far... from 0-21 to 22-21.

[Jock42]

Can someone tell Kenny and the rest of the jokers at Embra that I've got a 12 hour night shift after this shite. My wellbeing suffers enough without the 2 combined.

[I like neeps]

Harrison missing three consecutive lineouts in the 22, that can't happen.

[I like neeps]

Great try and finish from Darcy. Nice backs play.

[charltom]

...and yet... how bad must Stormers be? Sorry, I've got so used to Edin playing sh1te that this is struggling to compute!

[Jock42]

Great try and finish from Darcy. Nice backs play.

It's almost as if shifting the point of attack and offering a couple of options produces results.

[robmatic]

Harrison missing three consecutive lineouts in the 22, that can't happen.

That's the risk of playing young front rowers though. The set piece tends to be less reliable.

[westport]

GG makes up for the missed one earlier

[Jock42]

Not a great Stormers team but you can only play who's in front of you. It's a start at least but I'll need much more convincing that the coaches are the right team and senior players are stepping up.