NPR

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:36 am Went and watched the U18 schools final at Murrayfield last night. Christ, the game is unrecognisable from when I was at school, they all actually seem to know what they are doing....

Sir Ian Wood's grandson was MoM and looks a real talent, also a young 16 year old playing on the wing for Watson oozed class every time he got the ball, set up 2 in the first half and got one in the 2nd.

One of my sons was the first coach for most of the Watson's U16 and U18s Apart from ascribing their success to the foundations he laid, he and others believe this and the youngsters coming up are the best generation they have ever had, even better than the 5 in a row generations he was part of.

Jings!!!!!!

Look at Edinburgh's 10 for the Marcel Michelin.

thats a potential pumping. If Scott was getting thrown in against Clermont he could have at least been given the odd minute off the bench.

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 2:00 pm Jings!!!!!!

Look at Edinburgh's 10 for the Marcel Michelin.

Crikey, that's a baptism of fire.

I'm guessing Swiel will be on kicking duty to take the pressure off.

Paterson getting the nod over Goosen is a big statement, I was thinking Goosen was just starting to hit his stride in an Embra shirt, but good on HP, I hope he does well.

Graham is back in contention for selection next week

Watson still has a point or two to prove, it would be good to see a vintage performance from him


There has been a fair amount of rotation so far this season, that is a good thing, I think.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:38 pm Paterson getting the nod over Goosen is a big statement, I was thinking Goosen was just starting to hit his stride in an Embra shirt, but good on HP, I hope he does well.

Has he not played every game so far? I'd say it's more rotation than anything.

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:44 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:38 pm Paterson getting the nod over Goosen is a big statement, I was thinking Goosen was just starting to hit his stride in an Embra shirt, but good on HP, I hope he does well.

Has he not played every game so far? I'd say it's more rotation than anything.

Don't you start bringing facts into this.

Although it's still a big call to put a guy with his experience on the pine against Clermont and have Paterson start. I'm usually the one talking players up, but I have to say I wasn't as impressed with Paterson as others after the Ulster game. I thought he did okay. I'm rooting for him though, I hope he goes really well tomorrow.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 6:24 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:44 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 5:38 pm Paterson getting the nod over Goosen is a big statement, I was thinking Goosen was just starting to hit his stride in an Embra shirt, but good on HP, I hope he does well.

Has he not played every game so far? I'd say it's more rotation than anything.

Don't you start bringing facts into this.

Although it's still a big call to put a guy with his experience on the pine against Clermont and have Paterson start. I'm usually the one talking players up, but I have to say I wasn't as impressed with Paterson as others after the Ulster game. I thought he did okay. I'm rooting for him though, I hope he goes really well tomorrow.

I was more impressed with that game than his couple last season, thought he did well. Its Scott I feel for, big ask getting your first start (game?) at 10 against Clermont in Europe, even if it is the diddy cup

Big ask, but this isn't going to be the Clermont first team is it? Mix of old pros, second stringers and young guys for the French in this cup usually.

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:10 pm Big ask, but this isn't going to be the Clermont first team is it? Mix of old pros, second stringers and young guys for the French in this cup usually.

Shiel must be covering 9 and 10. I think he played 10 for Currie a couple of times, but if Scott breaks or has a nightmare, things may get very interesting.

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:50 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:10 pm Big ask, but this isn't going to be the Clermont first team is it? Mix of old pros, second stringers and young guys for the French in this cup usually.

Shiel must be covering 9 and 10. I think he played 10 for Currie a couple of times, but if Scott breaks or has a nightmare, things may get very interesting.

Tim Swiel will move from fullback if Scott gets injured, most likely.

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:50 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:10 pm Big ask, but this isn't going to be the Clermont first team is it? Mix of old pros, second stringers and young guys for the French in this cup usually.

Shiel must be covering 9 and 10. I think he played 10 for Currie a couple of times, but if Scott breaks or has a nightmare, things may get very interesting.

Tim Swiel is a fly half, Goosen would either come in at fullback or wing, with Paterson playing the other role

Damn you robmatic

robmatic wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:56 pm

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:50 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 7:10 pm Big ask, but this isn't going to be the Clermont first team is it? Mix of old pros, second stringers and young guys for the French in this cup usually.

Shiel must be covering 9 and 10. I think he played 10 for Currie a couple of times, but if Scott breaks or has a nightmare, things may get very interesting.

Tim Swiel will move from fullback if Scott gets injured, most likely.

Good point

Please tell me a bit more about Scott

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:51 pm Please tell me a bit more about Scott

He came through Watson's behind my son. He was regarded as good player (Super 6 level probably his limit) but not one who would set any fires.

I have mentioned before that what marks him out has been that he has just kept on getting better. Not just better in itself, but better in relative terms to his peers so he has now surpassed players who would have been considered better when younger. Outside an Edinburgh shirt I have never seen him play, but he gets a really good press from his peers who have played with and against him.

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:42 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:51 pm Please tell me a bit more about Scott

He came through Watson's behind my son. He was regarded as good player (Super 6 level probably his limit) but not one who would set any fires.

I have mentioned before that what marks him out has been that he has just kept on getting better. Not just better in itself, but better in relative terms to his peers so he has now surpassed players who would have been considered better when younger. Outside an Edinburgh shirt I have never seen him play, but he gets a really good press from his peers who have played with and against him.

Thank you, very interesting

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:36 am Sir Ian Wood's grandson was MoM and looks a real talent, also a young 16 year old playing on the wing for Watson oozed class every time he got the ball, set up 2 in the first half and got one in the 2nd.

For the love of all that is holy please give us a Scottish rugby benevolent billionaire benefactor or even better a billionaire heir who throws all his cash at his favourite things without thought.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:23 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:36 am Sir Ian Wood's grandson was MoM and looks a real talent, also a young 16 year old playing on the wing for Watson oozed class every time he got the ball, set up 2 in the first half and got one in the 2nd.

For the love of all that is holy please give us a Scottish rugby benevolent billionaire benefactor or even better a billionaire heir who throws all his cash at his favourite things without thought.

Yeah, and do it sensibly - pay off the debt, use benefactor money for infrastructure (add the third tier to the East stand at MF for hospitality, make the Edinburgh stands permanent and w/hospitality, invest in youth training facilities all over the country etc).

weegie01 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:42 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 9:51 pm Please tell me a bit more about Scott

He came through Watson's behind my son. He was regarded as good player (Super 6 level probably his limit) but not one who would set any fires.

I have mentioned before that what marks him out has been that he has just kept on getting better. Not just better in itself, but better in relative terms to his peers so he has now surpassed players who would have been considered better when younger. Outside an Edinburgh shirt I have never seen him play, but he gets a really good press from his peers who have played with and against him.

It’s so hard to predict who will make the grade when players are so young. I recall that Finn Russell wasn’t a starter at U20 level, or not always anyway. He came on as a sub in the first game I went to at Parc Eirias.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 1:46 pm [quote=weegie01 post_id=330539 time=<a href="tel:1701988945">1701988945</a> user_id=125]
[quote=Slick post_id=330536 time=<a href="tel:1701985867">1701985867</a> user_id=264]
Please tell me a bit more about Scott

He came through Watson's behind my son. He was regarded as good player (Super 6 level probably his limit) but not one who would set any fires.

I have mentioned before that what marks him out has been that he has just kept on getting better. Not just better in itself, but better in relative terms to his peers so he has now surpassed players who would have been considered better when younger. Outside an Edinburgh shirt I have never seen him play, but he gets a really good press from his peers who have played with and against him.
[/quote]

It’s so hard to predict who will make the grade when players are so young. I recall that Finn Russell wasn’t a starter at U20 level, or not always anyway. He came on as a sub in the first game I went to at Parc Eirias.
[/quote]

On the subject of Parc Eirias, you up for the under 20’s in Feb ?

I’m in Cardiff the next day but was planning on heading down on the day.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:23 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Dec 07, 2023 10:36 am Sir Ian Wood's grandson was MoM and looks a real talent, also a young 16 year old playing on the wing for Watson oozed class every time he got the ball, set up 2 in the first half and got one in the 2nd.

For the love of all that is holy please give us a Scottish rugby benevolent billionaire benefactor or even better a billionaire heir who throws all his cash at his favourite things without thought.

Ian Wood's son Nic owns Cold Town House on the Grassmarket, which has done some minor sponsorship of Edinburgh. Could be the start of something special...

It was a pretty clear knock on from Clermont in the lead up to their try but Whitehouse isn't interested

No complaints about Clermont's second, it was well worked after Sebastian got done over in the scrum

Some awful defending there. This could get ugly

I know we are missing around ten starters, but Clermont look far better than Edinburgh in this half

Not surprised Edinburgh are getting the run around but surprised to see Glasgow getting a bit of a pumping (at least on the scoreboard, I’m not watching).

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:42 pm I know we are missing around ten starters, but Clermont look far better than Edinburgh in this half

They definitely have some grunt up front.

Embra have been kicking a lot off 9 and not particularly well. Clermont have also worked out that Swiel is not up to much under the high ball.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 8:45 pm Not surprised Edinburgh are getting the run around but surprised to see Glasgow getting a bit of a pumping (at least on the scoreboard, I’m not watching).

Score is quite flattering to Glasgow to be honest, they're getting schooled.

There’s the frustration of modern rugby in a nutshell. To be clear this is not meant to be a ref bashing comment.

All in the space of about 30 seconds Edinburgh were penalised for taking out the jumper when in my opinion the jumper clearly jumped across. This was followed by a line out that was more than a meter squint. This was followed up by a maul call of break away when the player who ‘broke away’ was part of and bound to at least 15 other men. None of the individual decisions particularly impactful but the laws are so subjective and complex now that almost every play is full of moments for refereeing perception rather than rugby to decide what happens.

Two games, two losses with tbps conceded. Not a good night for Scottish rugby.

Not too sure what's going on, maybe just credit to Saints, but Glasgow have looked absolutely knackers from about 30mins.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:34 pm Two games, two losses with tbps conceded. Not a good night for Scottish rugby.

Saints did not get a try bonus, it just felt like they did.

Edinburgh were hanging on all match, but won't be too dispirited by that with so many regulars missing, and quite a bit of naivety by the youngsters. Having said that I thought Scott did OK, small good some bad but did not look overawed or unable to deal with the intensity. Peterson was a wee bit keen at times but stood upwell.

weegie01 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:10 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Dec 08, 2023 9:34 pm Two games, two losses with tbps conceded. Not a good night for Scottish rugby.

Saints did not get a try bonus, it just felt like they did.

Edinburgh were hanging on all match, but won't be too dispirited by that with so many regulars missing, and quite a bit of naivety by the youngsters. Having said that I thought Scott did OK, small good some bad but did not look overawed or unable to deal with the intensity. Peterson was a wee bit keen at times but stood upwell.

I only saw the first half, will watch the second tomorrow, but from what I saw I agree with you weegie01, Scott didn't look overawed and if the pack had gained a footing I think we would have seen more of him. His defence was pretty good for a wee guy stepping up to that level for the first time - he looked pretty brave in tackling huge men

Toulouse are playing some lovely rugby. Kinghorn looks like he's been there longer than five days

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 3:37 pm Toulouse are playing some lovely rugby. Kinghorn looks like he's been there longer than five days

How did he get on?

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 4:29 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 3:37 pm Toulouse are playing some lovely rugby. Kinghorn looks like he's been there longer than five days

How did he get on?

Pretty well, he scored two tries in Toulouse's 52 - 7 thrashing of Cardiff, if anything Toulouse were a bit profligate. Kinghorn's first was a peach, Ramos split Cardiff open, Dupont carried into open terrain and Kinghorn used his ridiculous pace to get into position to take the pass and run it in - the best players see what is about to happen and then have the pace to get there.

He linked well and took half a dozen high balls in torrential rain. He perhaps passed a second too early late on, but that eventually ended up with his second try.

Given he's only been there a few days and his team mates don't know him, I'd say it was a good debut.

Having said that, Cardiff were poor.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 5:05 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 4:29 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Sat Dec 09, 2023 3:37 pm Toulouse are playing some lovely rugby. Kinghorn looks like he's been there longer than five days

How did he get on?

Pretty well, he scored two tries in Toulouse's 52 - 7 thrashing of Cardiff, if anything Toulouse were a bit profligate. Kinghorn's first was a peach, Ramos split Cardiff open, Dupont carried into open terrain and Kinghorn used his ridiculous pace to get into position to take the pass and run it in - the best players see what is about to happen and then have the pace to get there.

He linked well and took half a dozen high balls in torrential rain. He perhaps passed a second too early late on, but that eventually ended up with his second try.

Given he's only been there a few days and his team mates don't know him, I'd say it was a good debut.

Having said that, Cardiff were poor.

I’m so happy for him. Just seen the 1st try, played in by Dupont, dreamy stuff!

ON BK, there is a meme, don't know how to upload it, saying The best rugby player in the world celebrates with Antoine Dupont

Congratulations to the three of them on joining the list who have went previously

Ben White, Joss Arnold and Jack Craig have been awarded the coveted John Macphail Rugby Scholarship and will spend five months immersed in South Africa’s renowned rugby culture at the high-performance training facility at Stellenbosch University from January next year.

https://scottishrugby.org/three-of-the- ... yXxpVYsSu8