The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Big D]

Not a high degree of danger - eh Turner was ko'ed.

He isn't a good referee.

[Big D]

Edinburgh probably deserving of the win. Duhan far more involved than usual.

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

[Biffer]

Just back from the game

Observations

1. Adamson is just awful.
B. Glasgow seemed to be trying to slow the game? Taking a long time between set pieces etc
iii. Injuries eventually weakened Glasgow. Think they had five players off with injury, and Edinburgh a bench came through stronger in the last quarter.
Green. Don't know how Glasgow didn't get a yellow. Reckon they gave away seven or eight penalties in their 22 in the second half (official count will be lower because several of them were two pens in one sequence of play)
Banana. Stadium was very quiet, normally expect the unwashed to make more noise on their big day out to the wealthy part of the country.
Sheventeen. Edinburgh looked like they thought it was a training game for the first ten minutes, Glasgow came out firing.

That's a bit random but the main things I thought of.

[Tichtheid]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

Currie is a player right enough. There was talk of REdpath being approached to come to Scotland, that would be a very good midfield for Edinburgh - Healy, Redpath and Currie.

McDowall must have played himself into he 6N squad this season. I think Crosbie is ahead of Mish now. Goosen is really coming good now that he's getting a run of games without injury.

[Jock42]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

I assume he's talking about when he kicked it away with about 25 seconds still to play.

[Tichtheid]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

I assume he's talking about when he kicked it away with about 25 seconds still to play.

I've just wound it back. Yeah, passing to Watson and running down the clock for 20 seconds would have been the better option over kicking a contestable ball on to the half way line.

I think "brain dead" is way over the top though.

[Big D]

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

I assume he's talking about when he kicked it away with about 25 seconds still to play.

I've just wound it back. Yeah, passing to Watson and running down the clock for 20 seconds would have been the better option over kicking a contestable ball on to the half way line.

I think "brain dead" is way over the top though.

One more ruck seals the game instead they have to play for another 3-4 minutes risking losing the game and very nearly having a man sent off which would have seen him banned. The tackle was obviously Sykes fault but the game should have been over well before then with some pretty basic game management.

It's a massive error in the context of closing out a game and pretty terrible game management that would have completely taken the shine off of a good performance from Healy.

[Big D]

McDowell will definitely be in the 6N squad.

Price looked sharp today. But unsure how White is playing in France.

Watson might be struggling. With Darge, Crosbie and Ritchie all capable at 7 and Christie covering 6-8 amd playing well then I'm not sure there's a spot.

Will be interesting to see if any of the Sale guys that Townsend has been talking to gets a call up.

[GrahamWa]

Stadium was very quiet, normally expect the unwashed to make more noise on their big day out to the wealthy part of the country.

I know the weeg guys in my crowd stopped going to Murrayfield after the 2015 episode when we gave up home advantage. Been once since then, the games are mostly turgid and not worth the effort of December travel. When you're relying on the Werther rustlers to create an atmosphere at the big hoose you need do something on the pitch to start it.

[topofthemoon]

[KingBlairhorn]

Just switched on. Why haven't the URC used Davidson across these games? She's significantly better than Adamson as a ref.

CoS shE iz a GUrl aND itZ a MaNZ gEMe

Edit: just in case it’s not clear, I wholeheartedly agree Davidson is a significantly better ref, definitely the best Scottish ref and one of the best in the URC. Unfortunately I think she will fail to achieve what she should because the speed of acceptance of female referees is slower than the speed at which their careers pass.

[KingBlairhorn]

McDowell will definitely be in the 6N squad.

Price looked sharp today. But unsure how White is playing in France.

Watson might be struggling. With Darge, Crosbie and Ritchie all capable at 7 and Christie covering 6-8 amd playing well then I'm not sure there's a spot.

Will be interesting to see if any of the Sale guys that Townsend has been talking to gets a call up.

Agree on McDowall, he was very good. Both 12s excellent. Funny that the great centre axis of Huwipulotu is barely getting a look in.

[OomStruisbaai]

Just switched on. Why haven't the URC used Davidson across these games? She's significantly better than Adamson as a ref.

CoS shE iz a GUrl aND itZ a MaNZ gEMe

Edit: just in case it’s not clear, I wholeheartedly agree Davidson is a significantly better ref, definitely the best Scottish ref and one of the best in the URC. Unfortunately I think she will fail to achieve what she should because the speed of acceptance of female referees is slower than the speed at which their careers pass.

It's not difficult to be better then Adamson.

[charltom]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

Currie is a player right enough. There was talk of REdpath being approached to come to Scotland, that would be a very good midfield for Edinburgh - Healy, Redpath and Currie.

McDowall must have played himself into he 6N squad this season. I think Crosbie is ahead of Mish now. Goosen is really coming good now that he's getting a run of games without injury.

I thought Bennett looked all right. But yes, MacDowall deserves to be in the 6N squad, in fact to play.

[KingBlairhorn]

Just switched on. Why haven't the URC used Davidson across these games? She's significantly better than Adamson as a ref.

CoS shE iz a GUrl aND itZ a MaNZ gEMe

Edit: just in case it’s not clear, I wholeheartedly agree Davidson is a significantly better ref, definitely the best Scottish ref and one of the best in the URC. Unfortunately I think she will fail to achieve what she should because the speed of acceptance of female referees is slower than the speed at which their careers pass.

It's not difficult to be better then Adamson.

You won’t find (m)any here that disagree tbf

[Blackmac]

Poor game and terrible atmosphere. It's quite obvious that 60% of the crowd have no interest in the game and it is just a festive social event. A group of 6 middle aged males and females a few rows in front of us stood chatting for about 2 minutes into the second half, totally obvious to the fact the game had started. They ignored a few polite requests to sit down before a full blown "sit the fuck down" did the trick. Even then they seemed quite put out.

[Yr Alban]

Can’t see it anywhere else, but reading on Twitter that Fin Smith has been told by Toony that he will have a guaranteed spot in our 6N 23 if he declares for Scotland.

Apparently we’re trying to get Roebuck, Warr and Reed (who he?) from Sale as well.

[Jock42]

Can’t see it anywhere else, but reading on Twitter that Fin Smith has been told by Toony that he will have a guaranteed spot in our 6N 23 if he declares for Scotland.

Apparently we’re trying to get Roebuck, Warr and Reed (who he?) from Sale as well.

I read that too. I've not seen him this season but supposedly he's in great form. As much as I'd like to tie him in its not as if there's not options now and Healy is in great form (aye he made a couple of errors today - the kick at the end the worst for me - but who doesn't?).

[Big D]

Can’t see it anywhere else, but reading on Twitter that Fin Smith has been told by Toony that he will have a guaranteed spot in our 6N 23 if he declares for Scotland.

Apparently we’re trying to get Roebuck, Warr and Reed (who he?) from Sale as well.

GT really shouldn't be promising Smith anything. Come fight for your place.

Reed is a winger IIRC.

Ex u20 winger Cameron Anderson started today for Quins.

[weegie01]

Just back from the East. Adamson an utter disgrace. What does it take for this moron to give a card (79mins - hah! ). A death most likely. !!!!!! 5 HIAs shocking! Edinburgh all the very worst for the rest of the season you dirty, high tackling bastards.

I abandoned my journey to the match in snow at Dunkeld. Then got home to find I'd somehow managed to remove the game from the series link.

I assume the above is a touch nyperbolic, but I did notice a few other comments regarding Edinburgh tackling on the Glasgow board.

Any truth in it, or just one eyed?

[Biffer]

Just back from the East. Adamson an utter disgrace. What does it take for this moron to give a card (79mins - hah! ). A death most likely. !!!!!! 5 HIAs shocking! Edinburgh all the very worst for the rest of the season you dirty, high tackling bastards.

I abandoned my journey to the match in snow at Dunkeld. Then got home to find I'd somehow managed to remove the game from the series link.

I assume the above is a touch nyperbolic, but I did notice a few other comments regarding Edinburgh tackling on the Glasgow board.

Any truth in it, or just one eyed?

There was a couple of high tackles but they were both initial contact on the shoulder.

I bet they haven’t mentioned Glasgow being penalised inside their own 22 seven or eight times in the second half and Adamson not even warning them that a yellow might be possible.

[Big D]

Just back from the East. Adamson an utter disgrace. What does it take for this moron to give a card (79mins - hah! ). A death most likely. !!!!!! 5 HIAs shocking! Edinburgh all the very worst for the rest of the season you dirty, high tackling bastards.

I abandoned my journey to the match in snow at Dunkeld. Then got home to find I'd somehow managed to remove the game from the series link.

I assume the above is a touch nyperbolic, but I did notice a few other comments regarding Edinburgh tackling on the Glasgow board.

Any truth in it, or just one eyed?

A bit one eyed, he was equally shite. The need for HIAs ≠ foul play every time.

Although Edinburgh could not have complained had Sykes walked there would could equally be a question of Adamson allowing numerous penalties without so much as a warning to Glasgow or rightly point to Graham being tackled 3 yards from a tap penalty within the 5 as cynical play deserving of a yellow.

Adamson is just a poor referee and given he is ex Glasgow and there is a better ref sitting in her house it makes no sense for him to ref these games.

He did try to be consistent with how he approached high shots, applying mitigation for an Edinburgh player ducking into one and then reducing Mata to a pen only.

[dpedin]

Brain dead by Healy kicking it away at the end.

Would like to see Edinburgh start to invest more of their budget in 12 in the future. A good 12 plus Currie could be a good partnership.

I've just finished watching it, it looked to me like Healy wanted to play, both Vellacott and Gilchrist settled for the win, we couldn't have got the full 5 league points with another score anyway.

I think it was the right decision.

Currie is a player right enough. There was talk of REdpath being approached to come to Scotland, that would be a very good midfield for Edinburgh - Healy, Redpath and Currie.

McDowall must have played himself into he 6N squad this season. I think Crosbie is ahead of Mish now. Goosen is really coming good now that he's getting a run of games without injury.

I thought Bennett looked all right. But yes, MacDowall deserves to be in the 6N squad, in fact to play.

Agreed about Bennet - he is underrated but always has a good game. He is able to carry ball at pace to opposing defenses and draw defenders before passing. He made the try for Currie by accelerating into space and drawing the defender to create space for Currie to dot down, if he had just shipped the ball on then Currie would likely have been tackled earlier. He has a real rugby brain and an instinct for attacking space in defenses and he played very well yesterday. I wouldn't be dismissing his chances of a 6Ns chance too quickly.

[Yr Alban]

Can’t see it anywhere else, but reading on Twitter that Fin Smith has been told by Toony that he will have a guaranteed spot in our 6N 23 if he declares for Scotland.

Apparently we’re trying to get Roebuck, Warr and Reed (who he?) from Sale as well.

GT really shouldn't be promising Smith anything. Come fight for your place.

Reed is a winger IIRC.

Ex u20 winger Cameron Anderson started today for Quins.

Much as I agree with you - nobody’s place should be promised - it’s a no-brainer that he would be in the squad, as if he weren’t then he wouldn’t be tied down for the future!

I could definitely see this happening if it weren’t for Farrell missing the 6Ns. This leaves a spot open and sadly I reckon Smith will be filling it.

Edit: saw some comments on Twitter about this. Best one had to be ‘Scotland have no shame.’ Eh, hang on. Smiths grandfather played for Scotland and the Lions, and Roebuck was actually born in Inverness. Every RWC we get told that it’s only where a player was born that matters, but then when we want to select a player born in Scotland, suddenly birthplace isn’t the sole determinant any more? You can’t have it both ways!

[Tichtheid]

Reading back it does look like I wrote off Mark Bennett. That was badly worded, mea culpa. I was more looking to the future with Redpath, Currie and Healy all being aged 22-24. Dean seems to have fallen out of favour, he has been very good the last four or five seasons, Lang has been unfortunate with injuries and it's been that way since he arrived.

[Blackmac]

Over the last 20 years I have gone from an avid live rugby watcher to a very occasional one. 20 years ago I caught every Scotland and Edinburgh match I could. As the prices went up and the crowd dynamic changed I found I enjoyed the internationals less and less so switched purely to Edinburgh and the odd club rugby game. Work commitments meant I had to give up my season ticket after 8 years as I just couldn't make use of it and since then I find myself only catching the odd Edinburgh game and generally find myself mostly watching my nephews u18 matches.

Yesterday really confirmed what I had been thinking for a long time, watching live rugby in large arenas is really bloody poor unless you have absolutely the best seats. It's not helped by how dated a venue Murrayfield has become. From the old fashioned tight turnstiles, the poor food and drink offerings with their endless queues, and the ridiculously cramped seating (it's essentially a modern 50000 seat stadium with 67000 seats shoehorned in) and the very poor TV screens which make it impossible for half the crowd to see any reviews properly. Another thing that is striking is how badly they cater for the female fans with the obvious lack of adequate toilet facilities being a disgrace. Add in the previously mentioned poor crowd engagement and I personally feels it is no longer a great value day out.
The main highlight for us yesterday was listening to a loud weegie behind us who thought he was the dogs nuts but essentially appeared to know only three phrases, "kick it", "run it" and "he's in", which he screamed out at the completely wrong moments, especially the "he's in" which was always followed by a loud "useless bastard" when he invariably wasn't in.

[Tichtheid]

The main highlight for us yesterday was listening to a loud weegie behind us who thought he was the dogs nuts but essentially appeared to know only three phrases, "kick it", "run it" and "he's in", which he screamed out at the completely wrong moments, especially the "he's in" which was always followed by a loud "useless bastard" when he invariably wasn't in.

That was probably the guy quoted by weegie01, above

[Blackmac]

The main highlight for us yesterday was listening to a loud weegie behind us who thought he was the dogs nuts but essentially appeared to know only three phrases, "kick it", "run it" and "he's in", which he screamed out at the completely wrong moments, especially the "he's in" which was always followed by a loud "useless bastard" when he invariably wasn't in.

That was probably the guy quoted by weegie01, above

Weegie wouldn't lower himself to sit in the seats we had.

[Jock42]

Another thing that is striking is how badly they cater for the female fans with the obvious lack of adequate toilet facilities being a disgrace.

That was something the new CEO highlighted in his podcast with Tom English.

[Jock42]

I'm a fair weather (at best) live supporter for a few reasons. Tickets are often too expensive to justify going regularly (for Scotland and Edinburgh) especially when you consider travel on top. I take my hat off to dedicated folk like weegie who travel further than me to a match. Working shifts means it's not possible half the time. Completely agree re hangers on particularly at Scotland matches which does diminish the enjoyment for me. Even in the good seats I miss a lot of what I can see on TV. That said, I was through at the hive with 5 mates for Castres (my first time at the new ground) and 4 are itching to go back, the 5th would but is only therefor the day out. Aside all working different shifts, spending £80 on tickets and travel means none if us will be making a regular thing of it.

[Blackmac]

I'm a fair weather (at best) live supporter for a few reasons. Tickets are often too expensive to justify going regularly (for Scotland and Edinburgh) especially when you consider travel on top. I take my hat off to dedicated folk like weegie who travel further than me to a match. Working shifts means it's not possible half the time. Completely agree re hangers on particularly at Scotland matches which does diminish the enjoyment for me. Even in the good seats I miss a lot of what I can see on TV. That said, I was through at the hive with 5 mates for Castres (my first time at the new ground) and 4 are itching to go back, the 5th would but is only therefor the day out. Aside all working different shifts, spending £80 on tickets and travel means none if us will be making a regular thing of it.

I'm the same. Cost of a match day ticket verses the cost of 18 holes at a good course. I've always preferred playing any sport to watching, and as golf is kind of the last one I am still fit for, that's a no brainer.

Rugby has just become an excuse to get a few old mates together for a beer.

[Biffer]

I would have rather played yesterdays game at The Hive, more home advantage and more atmosphere. But the extra 30 thousand tickets is a very significant bit of extra income. I’m happy enough to take money off the social supporters, but it’s a compromise with the atmosphere. Scotland Internationals have been like that forever as far as I’m concerned, a substantial part of the crowd has always gone to catch up with Farquhar to see how young Crawford is getting on at Fettes.

[robmatic]

It's not helped by how dated a venue Murrayfield has become. From the old fashioned tight turnstiles, the poor food and drink offerings with their endless queues, and the ridiculously cramped seating (it's essentially a modern 50000 seat stadium with 67000 seats shoehorned in) and the very poor TV screens which make it impossible for half the crowd to see any reviews properly. Another thing that is striking is how badly they cater for the female fans with the obvious lack of adequate toilet facilities being a disgrace. Add in the previously mentioned poor crowd engagement and I personally feels it is no longer a great value day out.

I haven't been for 10 years but even then Murrayfield didn't compare well facilities-wise to Premier League stadiums I've been to down south, and I don't imagine that it's caught up any. You get a decent view of the game if you're sitting in the east or west stands, but the concourse setup is poor.

[topofthemoon]

Glasgow moving up from 55% of possible points collected in 2022 (6th best) to 76% in 2023 (2nd best) with Edinburgh up from 45% (9th best) to 49% (10th best).

[Biffer]

Interesting having a look at TOTM’s other analysis, that Glasgow have more full time pros, more Scottish internationals with more caps, more career points at pro level, more non Scottish qualified players, more super rugby players, more English premiership players.

But Edinburgh bias at the SRU, yeah.

[KingBlairhorn]

So pretty much everyone at half way now in the league and I think we should be relatively content with where both Edinburgh and Glasgow are sitting. Overall, it’s great for the league too to have two each from the Irish, Scottish and SA sides plus one each from wales and Italy in the playoff spots.

Of course there’s a long way to go and the six nations period will be when the wheat is separated from the chaff, but it’s still good to see such a healthy position all round at this stage.

[Slick]

So pretty much everyone at half way now in the league and I think we should be relatively content with where both Edinburgh and Glasgow are sitting. Overall, it’s great for the league too to have two each from the Irish, Scottish and SA sides plus one each from wales and Italy in the playoff spots.

Of course there’s a long way to go and the six nations period will be when the wheat is separated from the chaff, but it’s still good to see such a healthy position all round at this stage.

But yeah, it’s a shit league and we must change it to a British and Irish league to grow the game

[Big D]

So pretty much everyone at half way now in the league and I think we should be relatively content with where both Edinburgh and Glasgow are sitting. Overall, it’s great for the league too to have two each from the Irish, Scottish and SA sides plus one each from wales and Italy in the playoff spots.

Of course there’s a long way to go and the six nations period will be when the wheat is separated from the chaff, but it’s still good to see such a healthy position all round at this stage.

The home defeat to Bennetton and/or lack of bonus points might come back to haunt Edinburgh. Same number of wins as Glasgow but a full 5points behind already.

[Biffer]

So pretty much everyone at half way now in the league and I think we should be relatively content with where both Edinburgh and Glasgow are sitting. Overall, it’s great for the league too to have two each from the Irish, Scottish and SA sides plus one each from wales and Italy in the playoff spots.

Of course there’s a long way to go and the six nations period will be when the wheat is separated from the chaff, but it’s still good to see such a healthy position all round at this stage.

But yeah, it’s a shit league and we must change it to a British and Irish league to grow the game

Absolutely, because crowds are lower than they were ten years ago, except for the Irish teams. And the Scots. And the Italians.

[Biffer]

So pretty much everyone at half way now in the league and I think we should be relatively content with where both Edinburgh and Glasgow are sitting. Overall, it’s great for the league too to have two each from the Irish, Scottish and SA sides plus one each from wales and Italy in the playoff spots.

Of course there’s a long way to go and the six nations period will be when the wheat is separated from the chaff, but it’s still good to see such a healthy position all round at this stage.

The home defeat to Bennetton and/or lack of bonus points might come back to haunt Edinburgh. Same number of wins as Glasgow but a full 5points behind already.

Said that to my mates immediately after the game, that result could well be the difference between champions cup and challenge cup.