The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Dogbert]

Afshar does need more gametime and Dobbie needs more time at 9. It wouldn’t be the stupidest move to have Horne as the senior pro, Dobbie as the deputy and a new academy 9 as cover at Glasgow..

So when Dobie and Horne are with Scotland Glasgow would play with two academy nines? And does Afshar need more game time? He’s figured in, what, half of the match day squads this season? I think his development is being managed very well at Glasgow. All of that’s before we get to the fact that, at least in recent years, Edinburgh have consistently brought in SHs who have played much more poorly after joining than they did before…

No, I was being simplistic with the depth pool. Glasgow also have Kennedy in the squad who would step in should he be required. If Dobbie is a 9 and only a 9 then I would expect him to have a high chance of being released back to Glasgow in international windows anyway. He is 3rd choice for Scotland (White --> Horne --> Dobie).

Obviously it's not ideal, but it is equally not ideal if Ashfar gets insufficient gametime to properly develop as a Scotland contender in his own right.

Kennedy will be 34 is a few weeks - this maybe his last season at Glasgow.

If the rumors are correct then both Cordero and Cancelliere are away in June, then that will leave Glasgow with only 2 wingers - Steyn & Rowe, both of whom could well be in the Scotland squad, I can see Dobie being played more on the wing, giving Ashfar plenty of gametime.

Shiel is only recently turned 27, Edinburgh really need to give him some gametime to see if he can perform

[Big D]

Shiel is only recently turned 27, Edinburgh really need to give him some gametime to see if he can perform

He's been there for three full time HCs and two interim coaches. 22 starts across all the coaches probably tells its own story about where his is at Edinburgh.

[Tichtheid]

To my mind Shiel’s talent has been wasted. He’s lost out to successive brought in players who, frankly, have not delivered. Nathan Fowles, Henry Pyrgos (actually he gets a pass for the majority of his stay), Sean Kennedy, Ben Vellacott and Ali Price have all been handed a stay at Edinburgh when they couldn’t make it at their clubs. The one thing Shiel lacked in his game was top level game management- the thing you get from time on the park. He has an excellent break, real zip on his pass off both hands and pace to burn. Cockerill especially didn’t want him playing off the cuff.

He never had a decent 10 to help his development, it’s criminal how he has been squandered.

[robmatic]

That's what I never got about the Shiel situation, he always looked to me to have the attributes but not one coach has really fancied him over the years.

He's now at the age where it doesn't make strategic sense to invest in giving him gametime. May as well give those minutes to a scrum half 5+ years younger.

[Big D]

That's what I never got about the Shiel situation, he always looked to me to have the attributes but not one coach has really fancied him over the years.

He's now at the age where it doesn't make strategic sense to invest in giving him gametime. May as well give those minutes to a scrum half 5+ years younger.

That is where I am at. Mike Blair had a good look at him and eight starts over two seasons probably tells a tale. He knows a bit about quality 9s.

[Tichtheid]

That's what I never got about the Shiel situation, he always looked to me to have the attributes but not one coach has really fancied him over the years.

He's now at the age where it doesn't make strategic sense to invest in giving him gametime. May as well give those minutes to a scrum half 5+ years younger.

That is where I am at. Mike Blair had a good look at him and eight starts over two seasons probably tells a tale. He knows a bit about quality 9s.

Mike Blair got absolute pelters for moving Kinghorn to 10. He'll also know a quality fly half when he sees one.

I forgot Nic "Choo Choo" Groom off my list of players brought in ahead of Shiel.

Shiel was as good as Horne at 21 years old, imo, he had shown at least as much as Afshar or Dobie did at U20s level. Edinburgh have not produced a home-grown 9 since Blair and Wee Greeg, they've chosen not to.
Bar Sam H-C of course, and he never seemed to work on his pass for possibly the same reason as the mental side of the game was never addressed at Edinburgh and hookers never learned to throw a lineout.

[westport]

From edinburgh

Versatile Scotland international forward Dylan Richardson will join the club from Hollywoodbets Sharks this summer on a two-year deal, subject to medical

[Dogbert]

From edinburgh

Versatile Scotland international forward Dylan Richardson will join the club from Hollywoodbets Sharks this summer on a two-year deal, subject to medical

So Edinburgh will have Ashman (25) & Richardson (26) - assuming Cherry is off. Can't see much game time for Harrison, who will be 23 in a couple of months

[dkm57]

Not developing Harrison more would be criminal, if Edinburgh won'y/cant do it then let him go somewhere that will.

[robmatic]

From edinburgh

Versatile Scotland international forward Dylan Richardson will join the club from Hollywoodbets Sharks this summer on a two-year deal, subject to medical

So Edinburgh will have Ashman (25) & Richardson (26) - assuming Cherry is off. Can't see much game time for Harrison, who will be 23 in a couple of months

I can see plenty of time on the pitch for Harrison if he can throw better than Ashman, and that seems a low bar right now.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Richardson turn out in the back row sometimes as well.

[Big D]

From edinburgh

Versatile Scotland international forward Dylan Richardson will join the club from Hollywoodbets Sharks this summer on a two-year deal, subject to medical

So Edinburgh will have Ashman (25) & Richardson (26) - assuming Cherry is off. Can't see much game time for Harrison, who will be 23 in a couple of months

He has had 7 club starts out of 13 this season. Which is more club starts than Cherry and the same as Ashman.

The way things are going there is no reason for Harrison not to target the 2 shirt as his own. Ashman has his lineout troubles and Harrison has more pro starts than Richardson at 2.

[Biffer]

From edinburgh

Versatile Scotland international forward Dylan Richardson will join the club from Hollywoodbets Sharks this summer on a two-year deal, subject to medical

So Edinburgh will have Ashman (25) & Richardson (26) - assuming Cherry is off. Can't see much game time for Harrison, who will be 23 in a couple of months

He has had 7 club starts out of 13 this season. Which is more club starts than Cherry and the same as Ashman.

The way things are going there is no reason for Harrison not to target the 2 shirt as his own. Ashman has his lineout troubles and Harrison has more pro starts than Richardson at 2.

He can target the number one spot

[Big D]

So Edinburgh will have Ashman (25) & Richardson (26) - assuming Cherry is off. Can't see much game time for Harrison, who will be 23 in a couple of months

He has had 7 club starts out of 13 this season. Which is more club starts than Cherry and the same as Ashman.

The way things are going there is no reason for Harrison not to target the 2 shirt as his own. Ashman has his lineout troubles and Harrison has more pro starts than Richardson at 2.

He can target the number one spot

Think we are saying the same thing :)

[Big D]

In other Scottish sport, Bruce Mouat and his guys are in the final of the World Curling championships on Sunday.

Scotland are World Champions again

Arguably have two of the five best teams in the world.

Good start for both in the latest Grand Slam. Team Mouat were very calm in an straight forward win this lunchtime.

[Big D]

Talking of Scottish World Champions, there is a special place in hell awaiting Graeme Dott if the allegations are true.

[SaintK]

Talking of Scottish World Champions, there is a special place in hell awaiting Graeme Dott if the allegations are true.

He always looked like a wrong 'un for some reason.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby

1h ·
Dave Cherry and Ali Price will depart the club at the end of the season to take up playing opportunities abroad.
“Dave and Ali have both made significant contributions to Edinburgh Rugby and we thank them for their dedication and commitment to the club."

[Jock42]

Cherry is a loss price not so much particularly for what I imagine would be a hefty wage.

[Kawazaki]

With Chapman apparently signing for Exeter, it takes another potential SQ 9 for Edinburgh off the table.

With Price going and Shiel OOC and not really doing much to merit a new one that leaves Vellacott as the only 9 under contract for next year. Most/all the decent SQ 9s are under contract elsewhere. So where do Edinbugh go at 9 from here?
- Resign Shiel? For a 27 year old, he only has 15 starts in the league or big European Cup and 22 starts in total. He's been the "young 9" of the Edinburgh trio forever. Does he merit a spot blocking the academy guys?
- One of the Glasgow guys? That would hurt Glasgow.
- Use the academy?
- A decent NSQ 9 to help bring structure and maybe help Thomson and Scott?
- A journeyman NSQ 9 to fill a jersey?

Didn't realise there was such a thing as an 'NSQ'!

[TartanBear]

With Chapman apparently signing for Exeter, it takes another potential SQ 9 for Edinburgh off the table.

With Price going and Shiel OOC and not really doing much to merit a new one that leaves Vellacott as the only 9 under contract for next year. Most/all the decent SQ 9s are under contract elsewhere. So where do Edinbugh go at 9 from here?
- Resign Shiel? For a 27 year old, he only has 15 starts in the league or big European Cup and 22 starts in total. He's been the "young 9" of the Edinburgh trio forever. Does he merit a spot blocking the academy guys?
- One of the Glasgow guys? That would hurt Glasgow.
- Use the academy?
- A decent NSQ 9 to help bring structure and maybe help Thomson and Scott?
- A journeyman NSQ 9 to fill a jersey?

Didn't realise there was such a thing as an 'NSQ'!

It means non Scottish qualified. I think I’m right in saying that all of Leinster’s team is NSQ. Fin Smith, however, is an example of someone who is SQ (or not NSQ, if you like).

[Dogbert]

Glasgow for Leinster - and the big news is no Zander - on HIA RTP

Half the starting team out injured

1 Nathan McBeth (52)
2 Johnny Matthews (91)
3 Sam Talakai (16)
4 Gregor Brown (33)
5 Alex Samuel (33)
6 Matt Fagerson (125)
7 Rory Darge (60)
8 Sione Vailanu (31)

9 George Horne (133)
10 Adam Hastings (63)
11 Kyle Steyn (C) (85)
12 Tom Jordan (64)
13 Stafford McDowall (87)
14 Jamie Dobie (82)
15 Kyle Rowe (31)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (59)
17 Jamie Bhatti (118)
18 Patrick Schickerling (8)
19 JP du Preez (29)
20 Max Williamson (25)
21 Euan Ferrie (32)
22 Ben Afshar (19)
23 Sebastian Cancelliere (54)

Unavailable for selection: Scott Cummings (arm), Jack Dempsey (hamstring), Zander Fagerson (head), Huw Jones (ankle), Josh McKay (ankle), Rory Sutherland (shoulder), Sione Tuipulotu (pectoral), Duncan Weir (shoulder).

[robmatic]

Glasgow for Leinster - and the big news is no Zander - on HIA RTP

Half the starting team out injured

1 Nathan McBeth (52)
2 Johnny Matthews (91)
3 Sam Talakai (16)
4 Gregor Brown (33)
5 Alex Samuel (33)
6 Matt Fagerson (125)
7 Rory Darge (60)
8 Sione Vailanu (31)

9 George Horne (133)
10 Adam Hastings (63)
11 Kyle Steyn (C) (85)
12 Tom Jordan (64)
13 Stafford McDowall (87)
14 Jamie Dobie (82)
15 Kyle Rowe (31)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (59)
17 Jamie Bhatti (118)
18 Patrick Schickerling (8)
19 JP du Preez (29)
20 Max Williamson (25)
21 Euan Ferrie (32)
22 Ben Afshar (19)
23 Sebastian Cancelliere (54)

Unavailable for selection: Scott Cummings (arm), Jack Dempsey (hamstring), Zander Fagerson (head), Huw Jones (ankle), Josh McKay (ankle), Rory Sutherland (shoulder), Sione Tuipulotu (pectoral), Duncan Weir (shoulder).

I suppose you need to give Leinster a bit of a chance.

[Deepsouth]

One would have given half them a chance....

[Yr Alban]

With Chapman apparently signing for Exeter, it takes another potential SQ 9 for Edinburgh off the table.

With Price going and Shiel OOC and not really doing much to merit a new one that leaves Vellacott as the only 9 under contract for next year. Most/all the decent SQ 9s are under contract elsewhere. So where do Edinbugh go at 9 from here?
- Resign Shiel? For a 27 year old, he only has 15 starts in the league or big European Cup and 22 starts in total. He's been the "young 9" of the Edinburgh trio forever. Does he merit a spot blocking the academy guys?
- One of the Glasgow guys? That would hurt Glasgow.
- Use the academy?
- A decent NSQ 9 to help bring structure and maybe help Thomson and Scott?
- A journeyman NSQ 9 to fill a jersey?

Didn't realise there was such a thing as an 'NSQ'!

It means non Scottish qualified. I think I’m right in saying that all of Leinster’s team is NSQ. Fin Smith, however, is an example of someone who is SQ (or not NSQ, if you like).

He knows what it means. He’s a wanker. Ignore him.

[KingBlairhorn]

That injury list is brutal. The bench has a fair few just making their way back to fitness too.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby

3h ·
Putting pen to paper
Scotland international Ben Healy is staying in the capital.


Well I am not impressed

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh Rugby

3h ·
Putting pen to paper
Scotland international Ben Healy is staying in the capital.


Well I am not impressed

A one year deal isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. Cammy Scott got a 3 year deal. Thompson got a new deal too, though not sure for how long.

Being realistic, can Edinburgh really go to the market and do better than Healy?

[Jock42]

Edinburgh Rugby

3h ·
Putting pen to paper
Scotland international Ben Healy is staying in the capital.


Well I am not impressed

A one year deal isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. Cammy Scott got a 3 year deal. Thompson got a new deal too, though not sure for how long.

Being realistic, can Edinburgh really go to the market and do better than Healy?

Let's hope Scott gets some meaningful game time then, it's a waste of everyone's time and cash if they won't bother developing him.

[robmatic]

Edinburgh Rugby

3h ·
Putting pen to paper
Scotland international Ben Healy is staying in the capital.


Well I am not impressed

I think a 1-year deal is fine if he can start to show more of the form he was in when he first came. He's been poor recently, but he is capable of a more well-rounded game than Thompson.

[KingBlairhorn]

Edinburgh Rugby

3h ·
Putting pen to paper
Scotland international Ben Healy is staying in the capital.


Well I am not impressed

I think a 1-year deal is fine if he can start to show more of the form he was in when he first came. He's been poor recently, but he is capable of a more well-rounded game than Thompson.

Fundamentally they are actually pretty similar players. There is a real logic to having both on the books. That argument breaks down when it’s Edinburgh because they don’t (the last couple of games accepted) appear to have a coherent game plan, let alone one that takes advantage of the specific skills of their two senior tens.

[Tichtheid]

Lang probably deserves to keep his starting slot over Tuipulotu who comes in on the bench. Cammy Scott is on there too, along with Price. Watson won't let anyone down but I'd prefer to be looking to the future and have Muncaster starting with Freddy Douglas on the bench, but Muncaster is on the pine after all. Young Rob Carmichael is on the bench too, all six foot eleven of him

Looks like Paul Hill hasn't recovered from his back strain - that's a miss for us.

[topofthemoon]

There are more Test caps among the players on Glasgow's current injured list (316) than there are in the entire Warriors' 23 for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster (312).

[Tichtheid]

With the personnel that Glasgow have missing, if they keep it competitive it will be something of a win in itself.

Seven definite starters out (Fagerson, Cummings, Dempsey, Sutherland, Tuipulotu, Jones and McKay) plus you could argue Hiddlestone, Venter and Mann missing is yet another blow.

[robmatic]

Lang probably deserves to keep his starting slot over Tuipulotu who comes in on the bench. Cammy Scott is on there too, along with Price. Watson won't let anyone down but I'd prefer to be looking to the future and have Muncaster starting with Freddy Douglas on the bench, but Muncaster is on the pine after all. Young Rob Carmichael is on the bench too, all six foot eleven of him

Looks like Paul Hill hasn't recovered from his back strain - that's a miss for us.

Muncaster has been out for a couple of weeks injured, has he not? Makes some sense to start him from the bench. However, I reckon Watson is mostly starting because this is knockout rugby and he has the benefit of experience - he is not tearing up trees performance-wise these days.

[Tichtheid]

There are more Test caps among the players on Glasgow's current injured list (316) than there are in the entire Warriors' 23 for the Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster (312).

Ryan Wilson's been reading your posts, Disco

[KingBlairhorn]

Pearce (Pierce?) calling ‘use it’ super early at rucks. I expect Glasgow to get pinged for taking too long at the worst possible time.

[Tichtheid]

Pearce (Pierce?) calling ‘use it’ super early at rucks. I expect Glasgow to get pinged for taking too long at the worst possible time.

Maybe that will crop up.

[Slick]

Think I might be done with this

[Yr Alban]

I just checked the score and it’s pretty much exactly as you would expect. Glasgow basically playing a 2nd XV against Leinster in Dublin.

[KingBlairhorn]

Think I might be done with this

Yeah, think I’m out. It’s a pointless game now, they’d be as well stopping at half time.