NPR

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 5:56 pm

LenCohen wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 5:50 pm I can asuure you I'm 100% Scottish. Just couldn't really care less what ugo effing monye or nick mullins thinks about Scottish players

Well you've 100% missed the point I and others and are making, then.

Sorry, you're right. My reading comprehension skills are rusty.

Time for a rant!

The Rugby Europe U20 championships are currently taking place in Prague. It serves as the European qualifier for the World U20 Trophy, the second tier championship from which countries can promote up to the U20 World Champs.

It features seven national teams and one French regional team. You might wonder why. As I understand it, it is because the 8th national team declined the invitation.

That 8th team wasn't Georgia, who are in the U20 World Champs on merit. It isn't Spain, who won the Trophy this year and promoted up to the Championship, so no need to play qualifiers for either of those two teams. That leaves the other European country in this year's Trophy who failed to promote up and therefore need to qualify for next time...Scotland.

I'm hearing Scotland will most likely organise the Trophy next time, despite having no current right to participate in it, to ensure they do not need to qualify first and engage with Rugby Europe in any way. If this is all true, it stinks to high heaven and is exactly the sort of entitled Tier 1 bullshit which is killing rugby in the same way it killed cricket.

Boo Scotland. Bastards. Get your age grade rugby house in order. In the meantime, pay your dues and show you're better than Portugal and the Dutch.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 9:18 am Time for a rant!

The Rugby Europe U20 championships are currently taking place in Prague. It serves as the European qualifier for the World U20 Trophy, the second tier championship from which countries can promote up to the U20 World Champs.

It features seven national teams and one French regional team. You might wonder why. As I understand it, it is because the 8th national team declined the invitation.

That 8th team wasn't Georgia, who are in the U20 World Champs on merit. It isn't Spain, who won the Trophy this year and promoted up to the Championship, so no need to play qualifiers for either of those two teams. That leaves the other European country in this year's Trophy who failed to promote up and therefore need to qualify for next time...Scotland.

I'm hearing Scotland will most likely organise the Trophy next time, despite having no current right to participate in it, to ensure they do not need to qualify first and engage with Rugby Europe in any way. If this is all true, it stinks to high heaven and is exactly the sort of entitled Tier 1 bullshit which is killing rugby in the same way it killed cricket.

Boo Scotland. Bastards. Get your age grade rugby house in order. In the meantime, pay your dues and show you're better than Portugal and the Dutch.

On the other hand, as organisers Scotland get an automatic place. So by not competing in Prague they are allowing another team to compete who would not otherwise do so.

It is clearly a case of altruism with Scotland spreading the game.

Oh Hoggy

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Very disappointed in him. I mean, its his private life and he can do what he wants, but its pretty scummy with his 4th kid just born.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:39 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Very disappointed in him. I mean, its his private life and he can do what he wants, but its pretty scummy with his 4th kid just born.

Yeah, if true I guess. I put a lot of effort into defending the (possible) prick.

Oh dear.

Well, at least we've got no reason to defend him.

JR back

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Not clever timing is it. Seems like they split a while ago (possibly due to him) but his mind should really have been on his wee one.

Not behaviour I'm keen on or something I would do but as "scandals" go sportsman with new woman after wife he has split from has a baby (or cheating on pregnant wife) is pretty tame.

We'll never get (or want) the whole truth, and neither should we as its their private life but on the face of it, it seems very poor and scummy.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:03 pm JR back

I'm going tomorrow after having spent four hours in the Business Lounge in Frankfurt airport.

Who's the ref? If you hear a drunken earful heading his way, it's probably me.

Big D wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:24 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Not clever timing is it. Seems like they split a while ago (possibly due to him) but his mind should really have been on his wee one.

Not behaviour I'm keen on or something I would do but as "scandals" go sportsman with new woman after wife he has split from has a baby (or cheating on pregnant wife) is pretty tame.

We'll never get (or want) the whole truth, and neither should we as its their private life but on the face of it, it seems very poor and scummy.

Yeah, zero issue with him moving on and finding happiness, or whatever, but timing is everything and this is fairly awful

Don't know him at all, got no interest in his private life, but overall he looks and comes across as a bit of a smarmy fud.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Well, we always knew he was a bit of a dick. We maybe shouldn’t be overly astonished by dickish behaviour.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:45 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Well, we always knew he was a bit of a dick. We maybe shouldn’t be overly astonished by dickish behaviour.

Was this "the Hawick incident?"

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:21 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:45 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:29 amOh Hoggy

Well, we always knew he was a bit of a dick. We maybe shouldn’t be overly astonished by dickish behaviour.

Was this "the Hawick incident?"

No, a different one which probably makes it worse. The Hawick incident was allegedly a young local girl, this one is a semi-famous (female) jockey as best I can tell.

Without meaning to being facetious, the boy gets himself about.

4 kids and now a female jockey, where does he get the energy.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:27 pm

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 1:21 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:45 pm

Well, we always knew he was a bit of a dick. We maybe shouldn’t be overly astonished by dickish behaviour.

Was this "the Hawick incident?"

No, a different one which probably makes it worse. The Hawick incident was allegedly a young local girl, this one is a semi-famous (female) jockey as best I can tell.

Aaaah!

Anyone know when tickets for Castres will go on sale?


Good looking side for tomorrow, seems to be a bit more consistency to the starting team now.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:03 pm JR back

You know, I can never look at an Edinburgh team lineup like this without thinking that’s a really really strong side. At some point surely someone has to be able to mould them into an actual top-performing playoff standard unit?

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:47 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:03 pm JR back

You know, I can never look at an Edinburgh team lineup like this without thinking that’s a really really strong side. At some point surely someone has to be able to mould them into an actual top-performing playoff standard unit?

It's frustrating, isn't it? Feels like since that really disastrous Michael Bradley era, there's been a succession of coaches that have had an impact for a season or two and then just bombed out instead of going to the next level.

I'd say it looks a decent side which is capable of playing very entertaining rugby. 3ish standout players (going up to 5 or 6 at full strength) with the rest solid journeymen

It's early days in the Everitt regime, I've been guilty in the past, ie since Bradley, of giving the coach too much leeway, but I'm not going to change. I think we are strong at loosehead. Ashman is full of potential as is Paddy Harrison, Cherry is a good lineout thrower but he's not going to trouble the Lions selectors. Williams has surprised me at tighthead this year in a good way, Sebastian so far in the other way.
Our locks look good right now and for the future, we have a good back row pool - all this given that we are not talking about winning the European Cup, getting into the playoffs in the league is the first goal.

We need to keep hold of Kinghorn, for all the heart in the mouth moments he gives supporters he is a real point of difference and I'd rather sacrifice a bit of fragility for his attacking abilities. Our back three pool is strong by any standards. I think Price might make a big difference, if he is at his best, along with Healy they could be the missing parts of the jigsaw. I like Matt Currie and Bennett is not done yet, not by some distance.

We won't win the league and we have a tough lineup of games in the Wee Cup - personally I'd fuck those games off for development, the first priority is to get a top eight finish and the second is to win in the play offs.

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:40 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:47 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 12:03 pm JR back

You know, I can never look at an Edinburgh team lineup like this without thinking that’s a really really strong side. At some point surely someone has to be able to mould them into an actual top-performing playoff standard unit?

It's frustrating, isn't it? Feels like since that really disastrous Michael Bradley era, there's been a succession of coaches that have had an impact for a season or two and then just bombed out instead of going to the next level.

How much of a factor is coaches coming in, having an impact, & then their best players buggering off down South to earn some cash, because the Union doesn't bind them ?

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:53 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:40 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:47 pm

You know, I can never look at an Edinburgh team lineup like this without thinking that’s a really really strong side. At some point surely someone has to be able to mould them into an actual top-performing playoff standard unit?

It's frustrating, isn't it? Feels like since that really disastrous Michael Bradley era, there's been a succession of coaches that have had an impact for a season or two and then just bombed out instead of going to the next level.

How much of a factor is coaches coming in, having an impact, & then their best players buggering off down South to earn some cash, because the Union doesn't bind them ?

The Edinburgh squad has been pretty stable, Duhan left briefly but we got Goosen and Boffelli. Rory Sutherland left but we got Venter. Apart from a few who moved to Glasgow we haven't had that movement of players - there was Matt Scott a few years ago, he wanted to stay and I think Edinburgh fucked that up, but otherwise, it's not really a thing with us, the SRU pays pretty well

edit, I'm sure I'll think of others eventually but one I missed was Bradbury who went to Bristol, but by that time he'd dropped out of the reckoning for Scotland and he was second choice at 8, perhaps even third choice behind Mata and Haining.
He was a great disappointment, I really thought he was going to be Scotland's heavy duty ball carrier and all round bruiser at 8, he went awol in games too often - he''ll always have that Calcutta Cup game which ended in thirty odd points each, where he out-paced Daly and May for a try

LenCohen wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 8:04 pm I'd say it looks a decent side which is capable of playing very entertaining rugby. 3ish standout players (going up to 5 or 6 at full strength) with the rest solid journeymen

For me that is a side which has 5 standout players - Schoeman, Ritchie, Mata, VdM and Kinghorn are all going to be in the conversation for most international sides IMO. That should be sufficient to be a really good URC level side, it has been for Connacht for instance. In Price, Graham and Boffelli we have 3 more, although of course only 3 out of the 4 can be selected for the back 3. Then you have guys like Healy, Watson, Gilchrist and Crosbie who are good international players although perhaps not at the very highest level at present. Perhaps, and I've said this before, our/my perception of the quality of our own players is incorrect and they simply aren't as good as we/I think but I feel like it's more likely something in their minds than anything else.

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:53 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:40 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 3:47 pm

You know, I can never look at an Edinburgh team lineup like this without thinking that’s a really really strong side. At some point surely someone has to be able to mould them into an actual top-performing playoff standard unit?

It's frustrating, isn't it? Feels like since that really disastrous Michael Bradley era, there's been a succession of coaches that have had an impact for a season or two and then just bombed out instead of going to the next level.

How much of a factor is coaches coming in, having an impact, & then their best players buggering off down South to earn some cash, because the Union doesn't bind them ?

I think retention has been pretty good at Edinburgh in recent years. Duhan is probably the only star that went for the big salary rather than for personal or playing reasons. Sutherland was pissed off by Cockerill, Bradbury wasn't getting a game etc. That's the frustrating thing, the player budget is probably comparatively decent.

robmatic wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:14 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:53 pm

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 6:40 pm

It's frustrating, isn't it? Feels like since that really disastrous Michael Bradley era, there's been a succession of coaches that have had an impact for a season or two and then just bombed out instead of going to the next level.

How much of a factor is coaches coming in, having an impact, & then their best players buggering off down South to earn some cash, because the Union doesn't bind them ?

I think retention has been pretty good at Edinburgh in recent years. Duhan is probably the only star that went for the big salary rather than for personal or playing reasons. Sutherland was pissed off by Cockerill, Bradbury wasn't getting a game etc. That's the frustrating thing, the player budget is probably comparatively decent.

There's a thread on the weegie board about the SRU annual report and there are 25 players on more than 200k across the two teams, okay it's not football money but those are good salaries

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:20 am

robmatic wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:14 am

fishfoodie wrote: ↑Thu Nov 16, 2023 10:53 pm

How much of a factor is coaches coming in, having an impact, & then their best players buggering off down South to earn some cash, because the Union doesn't bind them ?

I think retention has been pretty good at Edinburgh in recent years. Duhan is probably the only star that went for the big salary rather than for personal or playing reasons. Sutherland was pissed off by Cockerill, Bradbury wasn't getting a game etc. That's the frustrating thing, the player budget is probably comparatively decent.

There's a thread on the weegie board about the SRU annual report and there are 25 players on more than 200k across the two teams, okay it's not football money but those are good salaries

£200k is comfortably in the top 1% of earners (about £175k) in the country. That is definitely a good salary.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:57 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:20 am

robmatic wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:14 am

I think retention has been pretty good at Edinburgh in recent years. Duhan is probably the only star that went for the big salary rather than for personal or playing reasons. Sutherland was pissed off by Cockerill, Bradbury wasn't getting a game etc. That's the frustrating thing, the player budget is probably comparatively decent.

There's a thread on the weegie board about the SRU annual report and there are 25 players on more than 200k across the two teams, okay it's not football money but those are good salaries

£200k is comfortably in the top 1% of earners (about £175k) in the country. That is definitely a good salary.

Yeah, according to this that gets you into the Hibees or Jam Tarts kind of money, https://salarysport.com/football/scotti ... hest-paid/

So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:41 am So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

There's definitely more to the Price story than Townsend wanting him playing more.

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:41 am So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

On the positive side, I thought Afshar looked good for the u20s and he has to make that step up at some point soon you would think.

Has Ross Thompson fallen out of favour or is he not over his injury woes?

Glasgow Team for Benneton

Scrappy's back so Price can ride the pine at the bookcase, and RT10 has finally made it to the bench.

Thompson has been fit for some weeks now , and the usual conspiracy theories are being thrown around.

Hopefully he can get some game time and push himself forward from this point on

1 Jamie Bhatti (91)
2 George Turner (91)
3 Lucio Sordoni (19)
4 Sintu Manjezi (12)
5 Richie Gray (104)
6 Matt Fagerson (97)
7 Thomas Gordon (66)
8 Sione Vailanu (23)

9 George Horne (102)
10 Tom Jordan (28)
11 Kyle Rowe (3)
12 Stafford McDowall (C) (61)
13 Sione Tuipulotu (38)
14 Sebastian Cancelliere (28)
15 Josh McKay (29)

Replacements

16 Johnny Matthews (54)
17 Allan Dell (6)
18 Enrique Pieretto (32)
19 Greg Peterson (36)
20 Max Williamson (0)
21 Ally Miller (17)
22 Sean Kennedy (25)
23 Ross Thompson (39)

Unavailable for selection: Fraser Brown (knee), Facundo Cordero (ankle),Jamie Dobie (ankle) Huw Jones (foot) JP du Preez (knee), Kyle Steyn (ankle), Murphy Walker (calf), Duncan Weir (suspended)

robmatic wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:00 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:41 am So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

On the positive side, I thought Afshar looked good for the u20s and he has to make that step up at some point soon you would think.

Has Ross Thompson fallen out of favour or is he not over his injury woes?

He did look good , but the problem Glasgow could have if Afshar plays , is that the half back pairing would be very inexperienced , btter to have a more experienced 10 playing with him, rather than a fairly new 10 who has only had a season as a pro.

Of course if we had Edinburgh's money to splash the cash on another 10........

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:30 pm

Of course if we had Edinburgh's money to splash the cash on another 10........

Then you could afford to keep players at Glasgow instead of sending them east all the time.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:32 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:30 pm

Of course if we had Edinburgh's money to splash the cash on another 10........

Then you could afford to keep players at Glasgow instead of sending them east all the time.

We only have to send them because your Edinburgh players can't perform

Glasgow improve players , Edinburgh ruin them

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:50 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:32 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:30 pm

Of course if we had Edinburgh's money to splash the cash on another 10........

Then you could afford to keep players at Glasgow instead of sending them east all the time.

We only have to send them because your Edinburgh players can't perform

Glasgow improve players , Edinburgh ruin them

Aye, Beghan is pushing for a Scotland starting spot now right enough.

Big D wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 12:28 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:41 am So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

There's definitely more to the Price story than Townsend wanting him playing more.

I'd image it is pretty simple, Price is 50+ cap international and starting Lion who cannot get into his matchday 15, sometimes 23. I would think Price has decided he played a bit-part role for Glasgow for too long and in the prime of his career that doesn't work for him. He wants to regain his starting jersey for Scotland and push to tour with the Lions again, not find himself dropping down to play for Ayrshire Bulls or whatever in the Super6.

robmatic wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 1:00 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Fri Nov 17, 2023 11:41 am So Jamie Dobie is now out after having surgery

If Hornito is is out on Rotation - then that leaves Glasgow with Kennedy and probably Ben Afshar ( who has yet to start )

And Price is warming the pine over on the east coast.

No wonder the team has yet to be announced.

With Duncan Weir also being out after being cited , the half back position is looking shall we say 'thin'

If anyone has boots and fancies a game, I would give Franco a call

On the positive side, I thought Afshar looked good for the u20s and he has to make that step up at some point soon you would think.

Has Ross Thompson fallen out of favour or is he not over his injury woes?

There was media coverage a few months ago that he was fit again but had been 'given things to work on' before he would get back in. Read into that what you will.

That has to be a red.

Took way longer than it needed to.