The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Biffer]

Good result, win and a bonus point. Stormera players looked pretty pissed off, I think they were looking to get something from this game.

[Yr Alban]

I have to say that I'm getting severe "The relative success and fun of the last few years for the Scotland team are coming to an end", vibe.

I’m annoyed with Edinburgh too, but that’s a hell of a thing to post a matter of months after one of our two pro teams won a title by winning two very difficult games away from home.

[Slick]

I have to say that I'm getting severe "The relative success and fun of the last few years for the Scotland team are coming to an end", vibe.

I’m annoyed with Edinburgh too, but that’s a hell of a thing to post a matter of months after one of our two pro teams won a title by winning two very difficult games away from home.

True, but we only have 2 pro teams. It’s not really anything to do with the pro teams to be honest, I’m just feeling pretty uninspired with what’s coming through and the old guards slow decline

[dkm57]

To me the problem with Edinburgh isn't that they're bad players it's just that there's a pedestrian ponderousness throughout the whole team exemplified by Price, way too much hanging about thinking instead of JFDI. Nice win though and I'd been expecting Stormers to tear them a new one, hopefully they can take it forward from here.

[GrahamWa]

I think Price must have had a rocket up the arse. Best game I've seen him play in an age, still not a patch on his past form and still way down the pecking order. Must be playing for another contract, I expect his form will continue to improve until the dotted line is signed.

[robmatic]

I think Price must have had a rocket up the arse. Best game I've seen him play in an age, still not a patch on his past form and still way down the pecking order. Must be playing for another contract, I expect his form will continue to improve until the dotted line is signed.

I noticed this as well, he was much improved last night.

[I like neeps]

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.

It's been a recurring issue with Harrison since the u20s, don't know if he'll ever be a great lineout thrower. The calls also weren't great as the jumpers were being at the front.

Good bounceback from Edinburgh though. How about playing like that weekly. Muncaster definitely impressed at 7.

[Soapy]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

[Big D]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

The only luck that laddie has is bad luck. Hopefully a full recovery ahead of him.

[Paddington Bear]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

It was absolutely horrific, certainly gone for the season, wouldn’t shock me if that’s his career. Tragic for him on so many levels.

[KingBlairhorn]

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.

Tbf, perhaps you were right! *doffs hat*

[Slick]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

The only luck that laddie has is bad luck. Hopefully a full recovery ahead of him.

What actually happened? I’m thinking horrible knee twist

[Begbie]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

An ankle fracture-dislocation apparently

[SomersetJock]

Morning all. Can anyone shed any light on how I can purchase some tickets for the 1872 match at Hampden. I naively thought I could just log in and hand over some money and get some tickets but I get a message about membership etc instead. Is it the case I need to pay money for membership and then buy the tickets ?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

[Paddington Bear]

Saw Andy Christie got a potentially career ending injury today. All the best to him. Probably the most consistent and effective SQ back rower over the past year (maybe Matt F or Jack D aside) but a shoo in for the autumn IMO.

How Scottish. Best of luck to him.

The only luck that laddie has is bad luck. Hopefully a full recovery ahead of him.

What actually happened? I’m thinking horrible knee twist

His ankle ended up round nearly 180 degrees. He took an angle off a set move with Ben Earl at speed, pretty regulation tackle and the defender just seemed to get caught on top of him with his ankle stuck underneath. Absolutely horrible and just a complete freak accident.

[Tichtheid]

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.

Tbf, perhaps you were right! *doffs hat*

Because I was based on the south coast I never got to see Edinburgh before there was regular tv coverage. They became my default team because I'd lived there as a student and played for Edinburgh Accies. I first heard of their existence when I moved into a flat in Comley Bank Place - opposite the ground, so it was by accident rather than design.
I used to hear that Glasgow and/or Edinburgh had been beaten the night before on the Saturday morning radio news but I remember the rush of excitement when Edinburgh qualified to play Toulouse in the quarters of the Heineken Cup. I immediately booked train tickets and wouldn't you know it "we" beat Toulouse.

Since then the games have been broadcast on various platforms and it feels like I've been standing there watching whilst Edinburgh have a fireman's hose of slurry which they have pointed at us supporters for the last dozen years. Occasionally the ferocity of the slurry drops off to a dribble, then it come back full-on WHOOSH!

All the while Glasgow have improved to the point of wining the league, twice now, so it shows it's possible. Other "fairy stories" like Connacht going from their fans marching on Dublin to prevent closure to wining the league also shows what can be done with a fair wind and the right people in the right place at the right time.

There is no right of glory in sport, but it does reward success - as a team you become more attractive to the right people and there is financial reward in terms of sponsorship etc.
I don't believe there is a money problem at Edinburgh - that is far too simple to sort and it ignores Glasgow's success.
Dog knows what the problem is, but there can be very little case for the likes of Watson, great warhorse that he was, to come back in favour of Muncaster.
For me the jury is still out on Thompson, but the does look a lot better than Healy. I've also liked the look of Cammy Scott when he's been given a chance.
There are rumours that Duhan is being courted by French teams, he plays like he doesn't really give a shit beyond running in "gimme" tries, I'd have Paterson in there in a shot.

I also hope we get to see McVie and McConnell in the first team soon, perhaps not at the same time to begin with, but they are very promising players.

[SaintK]

Fissler reporting that Van der Merwe off to France?
He'll double his money I'd have thought.

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt admits the club are “desperate” to keep Duhan van der Merwe after RugbyPass revealed La Rochelle are among several French clubs keen on recruiting the Scotland wing.
Van der Merwe, 29, returned to the Scottish capital two years ago after the demise of former club Worcester Warriors and signed a contract extension in late 2023.
But that deal expires at the end of this season and Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby will need to come up with an enticing package if they are to ward off interest from the Top 14, with Montpellier, Bayonne and Lyon also believed to be interested in the 6ft 4in flier.

[SaintK]

Fissler reporting that Van der Merwe off to France?
He'll double his money I'd have thought.
Edit:
Apologies just seen the end of the post above!!

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt admits the club are “desperate” to keep Duhan van der Merwe after RugbyPass revealed La Rochelle are among several French clubs keen on recruiting the Scotland wing.
Van der Merwe, 29, returned to the Scottish capital two years ago after the demise of former club Worcester Warriors and signed a contract extension in late 2023.
But that deal expires at the end of this season and Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby will need to come up with an enticing package if they are to ward off interest from the Top 14, with Montpellier, Bayonne and Lyon also believed to be interested in the 6ft 4in flier.

[SaintK]

!!!

[weegie01]

Morning all. Can anyone shed any light on how I can purchase some tickets for the 1872 match at Hampden. I naively thought I could just log in and hand over some money and get some tickets but I get a message about membership etc instead. Is it the case I need to pay money for membership and then buy the tickets ?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

There is a period when tickets are only available to season ticket holders, then they go on general sale. I'm surprised they don't say what that date is.

[Big D]

Fissler reporting that Van der Merwe off to France?
He'll double his money I'd have thought.
Edit:
Apologies just seen the end of the post above!!

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt admits the club are “desperate” to keep Duhan van der Merwe after RugbyPass revealed La Rochelle are among several French clubs keen on recruiting the Scotland wing.
Van der Merwe, 29, returned to the Scottish capital two years ago after the demise of former club Worcester Warriors and signed a contract extension in late 2023.
But that deal expires at the end of this season and Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby will need to come up with an enticing package if they are to ward off interest from the Top 14, with Montpellier, Bayonne and Lyon also believed to be interested in the 6ft 4in flier.

To be honest the SRU shouldn't be offering the same wage never mind an increase. Neither Scottish clubs should have a large chunk of their wages sunk into the back 3. Glasgow don't but Edinburgh have 3 very good international standard back 3 players earning a very good wage.

Duhan has earned the right to go (again) for a good wage but the SRU shouldn't feel obligated to try and get close to matching it.

[robmatic]

Fissler reporting that Van der Merwe off to France?
He'll double his money I'd have thought.

Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt admits the club are “desperate” to keep Duhan van der Merwe after RugbyPass revealed La Rochelle are among several French clubs keen on recruiting the Scotland wing.
Van der Merwe, 29, returned to the Scottish capital two years ago after the demise of former club Worcester Warriors and signed a contract extension in late 2023.
But that deal expires at the end of this season and Edinburgh and Scottish Rugby will need to come up with an enticing package if they are to ward off interest from the Top 14, with Montpellier, Bayonne and Lyon also believed to be interested in the 6ft 4in flier.

I hope Everitt is just being polite about being desperate to keep him. He will be one of the better earners in the squad but only came back to Edinburgh because Wuss collapsed - he doesn't even like the city.

He's playing in a team which is incapable of getting the ball out to the wing at the moment and he displays zero commitment himself so it is probably best for all concerned if he can get a good wedge elsewhere.

[I like neeps]

Duhan should be off, signed for Scotland after Wuss hit the wall. Has played well for Scotland as anticipated, hasn't been very good for Edinburgh. Not worthy of being one of the highest earners at the club.

[Jock42]

Aye VDM is another big name that needs a rocket up his arse. I'd like to see him stay but not to the point of him commanding anything near like 300k

[Jock42]

Morning all. Can anyone shed any light on how I can purchase some tickets for the 1872 match at Hampden. I naively thought I could just log in and hand over some money and get some tickets but I get a message about membership etc instead. Is it the case I need to pay money for membership and then buy the tickets ?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

There is a period when tickets are only available to season ticket holders, then they go on general sale. I'm surprised they don't say what that date is.

It was about 3 weeks before the match last time I got tickets iirc. Although that wasn't a derby so the tickets might not have been on pre sale as long.

[SomersetJock]

Morning all. Can anyone shed any light on how I can purchase some tickets for the 1872 match at Hampden. I naively thought I could just log in and hand over some money and get some tickets but I get a message about membership etc instead. Is it the case I need to pay money for membership and then buy the tickets ?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

There is a period when tickets are only available to season ticket holders, then they go on general sale. I'm surprised they don't say what that date is.

Cheers for that, I assumed that would be the case, all I get is a message saying “event is not yet available to you, you don’t have the correct permissions” or some such.

We shall book our trains and hotels etc now

[weegie01]

I had a look on the Bath site where mention is made of the A game. Apparently the Edinburgh scrum was overwhelmed, going backwards regardless of put in. However the Edinburgh backs looked lively and ran in good tries.

As a Bath supporter pointed out, with a Scottish international in the Edinburgh front row the extent of the dominance was a surprise.

[I like neeps]

I had a look on the Bath site where mention is made of the A game. Apparently the Edinburgh scrum was overwhelmed, going backwards regardless of put in. However the Edinburgh backs looked lively and ran in good tries.

As a Bath supporter pointed out, with a Scottish international in the Edinburgh front row the extent of the dominance was a surprise.

It is surprising if you don't know that our tight head stocks are Zander Fagerson and praying to God that he never gets injured. Javan Sebastian would never be a capped international for another tier1 side.

[GrahamWa]

Morning all. Can anyone shed any light on how I can purchase some tickets for the 1872 match at Hampden. I naively thought I could just log in and hand over some money and get some tickets but I get a message about membership etc instead. Is it the case I need to pay money for membership and then buy the tickets ?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

There is a period when tickets are only available to season ticket holders, then they go on general sale. I'm surprised they don't say what that date is.

You'll be fine, it'll not sell out
STH purchase up to 21st Oct
then Warrior Nation window
General sale starts Friday, 25th October.

Deets here: https://glasgowwarriors.org/tickets-and ... inburgh-2/

https://glasgowwarriors.org/tickets-and ... inburgh-2/


Cheers for that, I assumed that would be the case, all I get is a message saying “event is not yet available to you, you don’t have the correct permissions” or some such.

We shall book our trains and hotels etc now

[robmatic]

I had a look on the Bath site where mention is made of the A game. Apparently the Edinburgh scrum was overwhelmed, going backwards regardless of put in. However the Edinburgh backs looked lively and ran in good tries.

As a Bath supporter pointed out, with a Scottish international in the Edinburgh front row the extent of the dominance was a surprise.

That Edinburgh front row was 2 young laddies and Javan Sebastian, who is a URC journeyman basically, so shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.

[robmatic]

Speaking of the A game, it is kind of odd that Glasgow aren't bothering to do them.

[KingBlairhorn]

I had a look on the Bath site where mention is made of the A game. Apparently the Edinburgh scrum was overwhelmed, going backwards regardless of put in. However the Edinburgh backs looked lively and ran in good tries.

As a Bath supporter pointed out, with a Scottish international in the Edinburgh front row the extent of the dominance was a surprise.

That Edinburgh front row was 2 young laddies and Javan Sebastian, who is a URC journeyman basically, so shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.

Kind of. Mikey Jones is 22 now - in Scottish rugby prop terms still young but the same age as someone like Finn Baxter who is playing for England and has 50+ career appearances or Fletcher Newell who was winning AB caps at the same age. It is what it is, but let's not pretend he is too young to be going up against Bath A - he just isn't good enough for professional rugby (yet, probably ever), unfortunately. Jerry Blyth Lafferty was the other in the front row - at 20 he should be breaking into the Edinburgh side now but instead its Paddy Harrison who is doing so, he is also 22.

On the plus side Blyth-Lafferty (Ollie) continues to develop and still looks the bees knees. I really hope to see him get a little time for Edinburgh this year.

[dpedin]

I had a look on the Bath site where mention is made of the A game. Apparently the Edinburgh scrum was overwhelmed, going backwards regardless of put in. However the Edinburgh backs looked lively and ran in good tries.

As a Bath supporter pointed out, with a Scottish international in the Edinburgh front row the extent of the dominance was a surprise.

That Edinburgh front row was 2 young laddies and Javan Sebastian, who is a URC journeyman basically, so shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.

Kind of. Mikey Jones is 22 now - in Scottish rugby prop terms still young but the same age as someone like Finn Baxter who is playing for England and has 50+ career appearances or Fletcher Newell who was winning AB caps at the same age. It is what it is, but let's not pretend he is too young to be going up against Bath A - he just isn't good enough for professional rugby (yet, probably ever), unfortunately. Jerry Blyth Lafferty was the other in the front row - at 20 he should be breaking into the Edinburgh side now but instead its Paddy Harrison who is doing so, he is also 22.

On the plus side Blyth-Lafferty (Ollie) continues to develop and still looks the bees knees. I really hope to see him get a little time for Edinburgh this year.

Sometimes it is simply down to lack of preparation, time together and game experience as a front row or scrum unit.

[Tichtheid]

To be honest I was quite impressed with Sebastian's scrummaging, whether for Scarlets, Scotland on tour to Argentina or coming on as a replacement for Nel for Edinburgh, where he often improved the scrum.
That said, WP was no longer in his pomp.

Finn Baxter is an exception, as was Zander and hopefully Ollie B-L will be too.

Having said that, Rae and Venter have improved Edinburgh's scrum when called in so far this season so Sebastian is not a shoe-in to get back in the side.

As for the A game, it has been said already that it was a young selection in the pack, J B-L, McVie, McConnell and Douglas have just finished playing for the U20s (Douglas was 19 in May). 21 year old Carmichael has potential but he's very raw.

I don't really know what the Bath selection was, if it was a proper A team or if it was a youthful team - the fact that Scotland tend to get beaten up at U20s level suggests it wouldn't really matter, a premiership A side is probably going to have a stronger set piece than Edinburgh or Glasgow.

[Yr Alban]

To be honest I was quite impressed with Sebastian's scrummaging, whether for Scarlets, Scotland on tour to Argentina or coming on as a replacement for Nel for Edinburgh, where he often improved the scrum.
That said, WP was no longer in his pomp.

Finn Baxter is an exception, as was Zander and hopefully Ollie B-L will be too.

Having said that, Rae and Venter have improved Edinburgh's scrum when called in so far this season so Sebastian is not a shoe-in to get back in the side.

As for the A game, it has been said already that it was a young selection in the pack, J B-L, McVie, McConnell and Douglas have just finished playing for the U20s (Douglas was 19 in May). 21 year old Carmichael has potential but he's very raw.

I don't really know what the Bath selection was, if it was a proper A team or if it was a youthful team - the fact that Scotland tend to get beaten up at U20s level suggests it wouldn't really matter, a premiership A side is probably going to have a stronger set piece than Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Was going to make the same point - you get the odd THP who is international ready in their early 20s, but they are generally regarded as freaks. We were lucky enough to have one of them. Can’t write these guys off for another few years at least.

Would just like to observe that it’s bizarre that a guy called Finlay Baxter is turning out for England. I just Googled him and apparently his parents aren’t even Scottish. Despite the fact that his brother’s name is Calder!

[KingBlairhorn]

To be honest I was quite impressed with Sebastian's scrummaging, whether for Scarlets, Scotland on tour to Argentina or coming on as a replacement for Nel for Edinburgh, where he often improved the scrum.
That said, WP was no longer in his pomp.

Finn Baxter is an exception, as was Zander and hopefully Ollie B-L will be too.

Having said that, Rae and Venter have improved Edinburgh's scrum when called in so far this season so Sebastian is not a shoe-in to get back in the side.

As for the A game, it has been said already that it was a young selection in the pack, J B-L, McVie, McConnell and Douglas have just finished playing for the U20s (Douglas was 19 in May). 21 year old Carmichael has potential but he's very raw.

I don't really know what the Bath selection was, if it was a proper A team or if it was a youthful team - the fact that Scotland tend to get beaten up at U20s level suggests it wouldn't really matter, a premiership A side is probably going to have a stronger set piece than Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Was going to make the same point - you get the odd THP who is international ready in their early 20s, but they are generally regarded as freaks. We were lucky enough to have one of them. Can’t write these guys off for another few years at least.

Would just like to observe that it’s bizarre that a guy called Finlay Baxter is turning out for England. I just Googled him and apparently his parents aren’t even Scottish. Despite the fact that his brother’s name is Calder!

Sure, but we aren't talking international ready. We aren't even talking pro ready. We are talking whether it is acceptable for a 22 year old front rower to be ready for A team level. The examples I gave were probably poor for the point - if you are getting annihilated at A level at 22 you probably aren't likely to be a pro rugby player, even if you are in the front row.

[I like neeps]

A teams are professional, Bath's played their senior academy props it looks like senior academy will be full time. Which is the benefit for now of A team matches over the super6. It's professional experience.

[robmatic]

I think it is worth noting that very few front row forwards from other nations in last year's U20 Six Nations are playing Premiership/URC level rugby so I am not sure where this level of expectation for the Edinburgh youngsters is coming from.

[Jock42]

Andy Burke on the BBC podcast stated earlier that one of the embra coaches, wouldn't name him, went up to the press box gobbing off about them having slated Kenny the week before, expecting plaudits this week. Absolutely bonkers that they don't think they deserve pelters for losing 5 on the bounce and shitting their pants against the Lions and that they think 1 win, with many flaws still, vindicates him (and presumably the rest of them by association).

ETA: The club is fucked if that mindset is endemic in throughout and considering how often the internationals fail to show up I fear it is.

[dpedin]

Andy Burke on the BBC podcast stated earlier that one of the embra coaches, wouldn't name him, went up to the coaches box gobbing off about them having slated Kenny the week before, expecting plaudits this week. Absolutely bonkers that they don't think they deserve pelters for losing 5 on the bounce and shitting their pants against the Lions and that they think 1 win, with many flaws still, vindicates him (and presumably the rest of them by association).

ETA: The club is fucked if that mindset is endemic in throughout and considering how often the internationals fail to show up I fear it is.

If the Stormers were capable of passing, catching, holding on or kicking the ball then Embra would have struggled and been down at half time. The win was as much a measure of how awful the Stormers were as it was of Embra skill levels. I struggle to think of one backs move we executed throughout the game albeit the game plan of forward pods and box kicking was perfect against a Stormers back 3 who couldn't catch a cold let alone a high ball. I suspect we might struggle against a Cardiff team on Saturday who will be targeting us for an away win and will be well aware of how we play the game at the moment.

I am still not convinced that our current coaching set up is taking us forward and indeed fully expect us to finish off in the bottom half of the league again this year.