The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[Jock42]

Just once I'd love to see Edinburgh step up and beat Munster, especially in a very important game. The backline looked all over the place against Zebre, absolutely no fluidity or cohesion, big Duane tries to batter through 14 players in any direction, Mark Bennett should be more accurate given all his experience, Lang is not up to this, even Goosen was making mistakes. Matt Currie is about the only bright spark in the outside backs. Yeah we're missing Graham and Boffelli, but it's not academy players who are there in their place.
I can't see us destroying the Munster scrum the way we did Zebre's and we were given an easy ride at the lineout, POM is not going to give us that. Munster will be coming fully loaded because they would go top of the table with a win and they will be looking for five points.

Just once I'd love Edinburgh to click and beat them, we'd be doing Glasgow a huge favour too.

They really need to pick something up because I would put Benetton favourites for the last game of the season.

I agree.

Last season we managed a long BP in half the games we lost, this season we've had 1 BP from 5 losses. Last year we got 8 try BPs, this year we've named 3. In terms of wins we are equal third in the league, only Glasgow and Leinster have won one more game each than us.
Mossy was correct at the weekend in that turning things around was the first part of the project and in getting the wins Everitt has done that part, but the poor discipline and lack of creativity in the backs is killing us.

I'm not as pessimistic about the lack if BPs. They won 6 games last year and got 6 LBP. They've won 11 this year with 2 games to go.

[Jock42]

Ross McCann signs a 2 year deal with Edinburgh. Probably not a bad signing. Don't imagine he'll be on a huge wage and looked decent enough when he got the odd game.

[robmatic]

I agree.

Last season we managed a long BP in half the games we lost, this season we've had 1 BP from 5 losses. Last year we got 8 try BPs, this year we've named 3. In terms of wins we are equal third in the league, only Glasgow and Leinster have won one more game each than us.
Mossy was correct at the weekend in that turning things around was the first part of the project and in getting the wins Everitt has done that part, but the poor discipline and lack of creativity in the backs is killing us.

To be a little bit fair, our main creative influence was taken away unexpectedly earlier in the season. If we had BK all season, it's reasonable to suggest another few tries would have come across the season, and some of those would have earned us that BP. But fundamentally, that lack of creativity is a real problem and I don't see where it's going to come from atm.

I agree and disagree, Blair playing at ten made us very creative, it got Mark Bennett back into the Scotland squad, he's a very good fullback as we are seeing with Toulouse, but I don't think it's down to the players. Our hand skills earlier in the season were better than I think I'e ever seen at Edinburgh, but the lack of penetration in the midfield comes (or doesn't) from the training paddock, Glasgow aren't scoring multiple tries from the midfield but they are ripping the opposition apart from there, that's where they really pressurise the opposition.

Thing is, Glasgow are clearly a much better team than us but all that ripping apart of the opposition has earned them is an extra 4.75 points per game. Everitt was probably set a target of making the team more resilient and installing some game management - a year ago everybody was jumping up and down and complaining that the team were incapable of doing that. He has achieved that, but he has clearly failed in making the team clinical. Think they have stalled at 3 tries in 8 games or something so far this season.

[Biffer]

Ross McCann signs a 2 year deal with Edinburgh. Probably not a bad signing. Don't imagine he'll be on a huge wage and looked decent enough when he got the odd game.

Decent move I think - we're short in the back three as has been evident recently, but we didn't need to add an overseas player as we want the younger players to have the opportunities. Shows a bit of faith in their abilities.

[C T]

Tui Jr confirmed

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/news/ ... etes-move/

It took Sione a wee while to settle in and when he did he kicked on to a remarkable degree.

Mosese is 22, Matt Currie has just turned 23, they could have ten years at Edinburgh. Cammy Scott is 23, Harry Paterson 22, Jake Henry 23, that's just the ones who I think can be very good players for Edinburgh and put pressure on the senior guys in their positions. Whether they are just "good enough for Edinburgh", or good enough to improve Edinburgh's perpetual mediocrity is another matter.

btw, what will it be, Curripulotu? Bennipulotu? Deanopulotu? Langipolotu?

Probably Curripulotu if MT gets a start.

Could be Twoipulotu for Scotland.

Excellent

[westport]

Wes Goosen has signed a new one-year extension with Edinburgh Rugby, adding further shine to a stellar second season in the Scottish capital

Back-three flyer Nathan Sweeney is targeting a ‘bounce back season’ in 2024/25 after today penning a one-year contract extension

[clydecloggie]

To be a little bit fair, our main creative influence was taken away unexpectedly earlier in the season. If we had BK all season, it's reasonable to suggest another few tries would have come across the season, and some of those would have earned us that BP. But fundamentally, that lack of creativity is a real problem and I don't see where it's going to come from atm.

I agree and disagree, Blair playing at ten made us very creative, it got Mark Bennett back into the Scotland squad, he's a very good fullback as we are seeing with Toulouse, but I don't think it's down to the players. Our hand skills earlier in the season were better than I think I'e ever seen at Edinburgh, but the lack of penetration in the midfield comes (or doesn't) from the training paddock, Glasgow aren't scoring multiple tries from the midfield but they are ripping the opposition apart from there, that's where they really pressurise the opposition.

Thing is, Glasgow are clearly a much better team than us but all that ripping apart of the opposition has earned them is an extra 4.75 points per game . Everitt was probably set a target of making the team more resilient and installing some game management - a year ago everybody was jumping up and down and complaining that the team were incapable of doing that. He has achieved that, but he has clearly failed in making the team clinical. Think they have stalled at 3 tries in 8 games or something so far this season.

That's an interesting point, although essentially an extra try a game is nothing to sniff at. What Glasgow do really well is put the opposition under enormous pressure and keep them away from their own try line - and that for me is not just in their defensive structure but also due to their incisive attacks that give them good territory even if the attack breaks down before producing points. Their points difference is a whopping 130 points better than Edinburgh's - or more than 8 points per game on average.

[Tichtheid]

I agree and disagree, Blair playing at ten made us very creative, it got Mark Bennett back into the Scotland squad, he's a very good fullback as we are seeing with Toulouse, but I don't think it's down to the players. Our hand skills earlier in the season were better than I think I'e ever seen at Edinburgh, but the lack of penetration in the midfield comes (or doesn't) from the training paddock, Glasgow aren't scoring multiple tries from the midfield but they are ripping the opposition apart from there, that's where they really pressurise the opposition.

Thing is, Glasgow are clearly a much better team than us but all that ripping apart of the opposition has earned them is an extra 4.75 points per game . Everitt was probably set a target of making the team more resilient and installing some game management - a year ago everybody was jumping up and down and complaining that the team were incapable of doing that. He has achieved that, but he has clearly failed in making the team clinical. Think they have stalled at 3 tries in 8 games or something so far this season.

That's an interesting point, although essentially an extra try a game is nothing to sniff at. What Glasgow do really well is put the opposition under enormous pressure and keep them away from their own try line - and that for me is not just in their defensive structure but also due to their incisive attacks that give them good territory even if the attack breaks down before producing points. Their points difference is a whopping 130 points better than Edinburgh's - or more than 8 points per game on average.

I hate to keep using the same words, but the cohesion and pace of the Glasgow attack compared to Edinburgh's this season is chalk and cheese, where Glasgow are, for the most part, all on the same page and playing fluidly, Edinburgh are clunky and inaccurate, and Glasgow have been playing without a flyhalf for most of the season.

However, I'll keep the faith for now, if we start opening up next season whilst keeping the best parts of our winning games this term, then it will be worth the current frustration.

The thing is, I thought Everitt was supposed to be an attack coach!

[dpedin]

Thing is, Glasgow are clearly a much better team than us but all that ripping apart of the opposition has earned them is an extra 4.75 points per game . Everitt was probably set a target of making the team more resilient and installing some game management - a year ago everybody was jumping up and down and complaining that the team were incapable of doing that. He has achieved that, but he has clearly failed in making the team clinical. Think they have stalled at 3 tries in 8 games or something so far this season.

That's an interesting point, although essentially an extra try a game is nothing to sniff at. What Glasgow do really well is put the opposition under enormous pressure and keep them away from their own try line - and that for me is not just in their defensive structure but also due to their incisive attacks that give them good territory even if the attack breaks down before producing points. Their points difference is a whopping 130 points better than Edinburgh's - or more than 8 points per game on average.

I hate to keep using the same words, but the cohesion and pace of the Glasgow attack compared to Edinburgh's this season is chalk and cheese, where Glasgow are, for the most part, all on the same page and playing fluidly, Edinburgh are clunky and inaccurate, and Glasgow have been playing without a flyhalf for most of the season.

However, I'll keep the faith for now, if we start opening up next season whilst keeping the best parts of our winning games this term, then it will be worth the current frustration.

The thing is, I thought Everitt was supposed to be an attack coach!

Glasgow always seem to attack in numbers, when someone makes a line break there is always one or two players on their shoulder looking for off load. Embra tends to attack in ones and twos and dont seem to capitalise on line breaks as well as Glasgow. I still think it is the half back combinations taking time to gel at Embra, with Price coming in late there have been lots of different 9s starting who are all different. Also Healy was late arriving due to RWC so they didnt have a pre season together working on combinations. As a result the ball getting to centre tends to be lateral and slow making it difficult to break the defensive lines. Our centers are good enough but they need faster flatter ball and confidence to run a few more angles.

[Jock42]

Is the Munster game fully sold out? I was considering going, but if the website is to believed, there isn’t a single seat in the house.

Some tickets have been returned.

[westport]

Edinburgh Rugby
·
The very best of luck to Scott Steele who has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication during your time in the capital, Scott.

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby
·
The very best of luck to Scott Steele who has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication during your time in the capital, Scott.

That must be very frustrating for him, All Rugby have him as playing 8 minutes this season.

That said, he achieved a great deal in a career he can be proud of.

Breast of Duck in whatever comes next for him.

[Jock42]

Was always on the cards when Price signed on.

[topofthemoon]

Edinburgh Rugby
·
The very best of luck to Scott Steele who has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication during your time in the capital, Scott.

That must be very frustrating for him, All Rugby have him as playing 8 minutes this season.

That said, he achieved a great deal in a career he can be proud of.

Breast of Duck in whatever comes next for him.

Not even 8 minutes unfortunately - that's an error that seems to have originated with the URC's match centre. It was Cammy Scott who wore the number 22 jersey against Scarlets.

Steele will retire having been at Edinburgh the full season but not even managing to get on the pitch and get his Edinburgh player number.

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby
·
The very best of luck to Scott Steele who has announced that he will retire from professional rugby at the end of the season
Thanks for all your hard work and dedication during your time in the capital, Scott.

That must be very frustrating for him, All Rugby have him as playing 8 minutes this season.

That said, he achieved a great deal in a career he can be proud of.

Breast of Duck in whatever comes next for him.

Not even 8 minutes unfortunately - that's an error that seems to have originated with the URC's match centre. It was Cammy Scott who wore the number 22 jersey against Scarlets.

Steele will retire having been at Edinburgh the full season but not even managing to get on the pitch and get his Edinburgh player number.

You're right enough, I remember that from the game itself, and I see from the list of Edinburgh departures that Steele didn't get his player number.

Incidentally that list is as expected apart from Jamie Campbell, who hasn't set the heather alight I hear.
DeBruin, Campbell, Big Bill, Steele, McBurney, Savala and the Mighty WP Nel.

[Biffer]

Another, final release of returned tickets for Friday has just been made available

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Munster at Hive Stadium in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Friday 17 May (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports
15. Wes Goosen (30)
14. Matt Currie (37)
13. Mark Bennett (106)
12. James Lang (55)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (90)
10. Ben Healy (21)
9. Ben Vellacott (59) CO-CAPTAIN

1. Pierre Schoeman (113)
2. Ewan Ashman (18)
3. WP Nel (205)
4. Sam Skinner (23)
5. Grant Gilchrist (203) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Jamie Ritchie (112)
7. Hamish Watson (157)
8. Viliame Mata (136)

Replacements
16. Dave Cherry (91)
17. Boan Venter (64)
18. Javan Sebastian (15)
19. Marshall Sykes (60)
20. Luke Crosbie (98)
21. Ali Price (15)
22. Cammy Scott (10)
23. Chris Dean (151)

Unavailable: Emiliano Boffelli (back), Connor Boyle (back), Tom Dodd (bicep), Darcy Graham (groin), Jake Henry (hamstring), Robin Hislop (knee), Harry Paterson (quad), D’Arcy Rae (ankle), Scott Steele (hip), Nathan Sweeney (groin), Glen Young (ankle).

[Tichtheid]

Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Mark Donnelly, John Ryan, RG Snyman, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Brian Gleeson.
​

[topofthemoon]

A little earlier than usual (so no teams yet) - match preview for Lions v Glasgow.

https://www.scotlandrugbynews.com/glasg ... s-glasgow/

Why playoff intensity is required;
The Lions flying starts and fast finishes;
Glasgow's search for a win in South Africa.

[Biffer]

No O'Mahonycheatingcunt makes it a different game.

[Dogbert]

No O'Mahonycheatingcunt makes it a different game.

And yet Edinburgh would kill to have O'Mahonycheatingcunt playing for them tonight

[Biffer]

No O'Mahonycheatingcunt makes it a different game.

And yet Edinburgh would kill to have O'Mahonycheatingcunt playing for them tonight

Of course, anyone would.

[Tichtheid]

No O'Mahonycheatingcunt makes it a different game.

And yet Edinburgh would kill to have O'Mahonycheatingcunt playing for them tonight

Of course, anyone would.

Anyone would be mad not to, he's arguably been the most effective player in world rugby for many years and a huge part of Ireland's success.

[Biffer]

And yet Edinburgh would kill to have O'Mahonycheatingcunt playing for them tonight

Of course, anyone would.

Anyone would be mad not to, he's arguably been the most effective player in world rugby for many years and a huge part of Ireland's success.

And I'm allowed to hate him.

[KingBlairhorn]

Of course, anyone would.

Anyone would be mad not to, he's arguably been the most effective player in world rugby for many years and a huge part of Ireland's success.

And I'm allowed to hate him.

Surely he's the archetypal, no, the quintessential player that you absolutely loathe unless he is in your team, in which case he is your favourite player by a distance.

I had hoped Jamie Richie was going to be our version, or maybe Luke Crosbie, but neither is anywhere near the shithousery levels of POM. Sadly.

[Dogbert]

Warriors Team for the Lions

I suspect we may see a similar theme to the Bulls game, with quite a few of the front five 5 being asked to empty the tank for 30 /35 minutes before bringing on the Warriors equivalent of the 'bomb' squad

That is one good looking bench.

Kyle Rowe favoured instead of Seba

Huge match for the warriors a win here puts the fate of a top two spot in our own hands =- would be good if Edinburgh can do us a favour by beating Munster tonight.




1 Oli Kebble (100)
2 Angus Fraser
3 Murphy Walker (12)
4 Gregor Brown (18)
5 Scott Cummings (121)
6 Euan Ferrie (16)
7 Rory Darge (43)
8 Henco Venter (17)

9 George Horne (114)
10 Tom Jordan (45)
11 Kyle Rowe
12 Sione Tuipulotu (50)
13 Stafford McDowall (77)
14 Kyle Steyn (C) (73)
15 Josh McKay (45)

Replacements

16 Johnny Matthews (68)
17 Jamie Bhatti (101)
18 Zander Fagerson (144)
19 Max Williamson (15)
20 Matt Fagerson (106)
21 Jack Dempsey (45)
22 Jamie Dobie (63)
23 Duncan Weir (148)

[topofthemoon]

Munster haven't lost a URC fixture outside Ireland since September 2022.

They've won 17 of their 22 trips to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh are looking for a 3rd win of the season against one of the league's top 4 - and a huge boost to their playoff chances.

[Tichtheid]

Well I think this is going to be shite for us tonight and I'm a happy clappy optimist.

If we keep it under 50 we'll be doing better than I expect.

[Jock42]

Well I think this is going to be shite for us tonight and I'm a happy clappy optimist.

If we keep it under 50 we'll be doing better than I expect.

And now?

[robmatic]

Well I think this is going to be shite for us tonight and I'm a happy clappy optimist.

If we keep it under 50 we'll be doing better than I expect.

And now?

Edinburgh are playing smart knockout rugby so far. I won't complain about the ruck speed being awful if we maintain the margin.

[Tichtheid]

Well I think this is going to be shite for us tonight and I'm a happy clappy optimist.

If we keep it under 50 we'll be doing better than I expect.

And now?

If Munster keep it under 50 they will be doing well.

Nah, that was a good half from both sides and we are doing a lot better than I'd expected. We need a full 80 minutes performance for the first time this season.

[Tichtheid]

Munster backs look pretty slick, our pack has been good.

[KingBlairhorn]

That was pretty bloody good. Edinburgh still look a bit unimaginative in the backs but they are looking fantastic up front.

[Tichtheid]

[you know it's going to go to shite, it always goes to shite, why do I fool myself this is going to end any other way?]

[KingBlairhorn]

Haha, that’s an outrageous decision.

[robmatic]

Haha, that’s an outrageous decision.

Ridiculous.

[KingBlairhorn]

Haha, that’s an outrageous decision.

Ridiculous.

Munster did pretty well out of that passage of play. Knocked on at the lineout, snyman late hit, snyman starting the rammy lying on Healy and choking him but penalty against Edinburgh for Mata falling over.

[Tichtheid]

Haha, that’s an outrageous decision.

Ridiculous.

Some pricks will tell you "that's the way these things are always refereed now" when it goes against Scottish sides.

It's a farce

[KingBlairhorn]

How the fuck was that not a collapse of the maul? There must have been 4 red shirts hit the deck first there?

[KingBlairhorn]

Oh my fucking god