NPR

Dogbert wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 10:39 am Speaking of Jack Mann - he has signed a contract for next year for Gloucester

The budget cuts are hitting Glasgow hard, Glasgow now very much a selling club, desperately disappointing for such a promising player

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 12:44 pm

Dogbert wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 10:39 am Speaking of Jack Mann - he has signed a contract for next year for Gloucester

The budget cuts are hitting Glasgow hard, Glasgow now very much a selling club, desperately disappointing for such a promising player

After his injuries luck (a) he'd be mad not to sign a three year contract and (b) it's a massive risk to offer him one.

Good on him.

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 12:19 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 5:08 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 5:07 pm

I disagree on that one. He showed he had it in him but seemed to take the easy way out. He's shown he has real quality at times.

Stay in the comfort of Edinburgh too long. The debacle of being stripped as Edinburgh captain. Go away and perform decently for Bristol then come home and taken the easy path again.

Isn’t taking the easy way out exactly the point

Yes and no. I just think Bradburys ceiling was so much higher than others who didn't have the mentality which is what makes it a "what if". The draw in Twickenham was one of the better number 8 performances. Had everything you'd want from an 8, great pressure relieving pick ups, hard carries, pace to burn for an 8 etc. He had that in him and squandered it.

He really should have been a regular international and with Lions potential IMO.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:18 pm I keep getting articles on my FB feed saying that Ashman is looking forward to his first 6N start. I’m not disputing this, but he seems to have been around for ever, and I’m finding it hard to fit it into my head that he hasn’t started in the 6N before.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 12:16 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:54 am
If Bradbury became a dominant performer week in week out he'd get in the squad.

It doesnae stop many others getting in - Schoeman is the second best loosehead at Edinburgh, albeit Venter isn't eligible yet. Gilchrist can't lead a dog when he's in an Edinburgh shirt (not the dog). Duhan just looks pissed off all the time. Crosbie, Ritchie and Graham have looked lively enough and Rae is worth his spot, but overall the Edinburgh team are pulling the average skill levels down in the Scotland squad.

I was saying elsewhere that the difference in the two sides is HUGE, despite the grinding-out win in the 1872 second leg - Glasgow put out a C team and beat a decent Connacht squad. Edinburgh should gub the current Scarlets side but don't.

Everitt needs to go before any more damage is done to really talented young players coming in, the likes of Currie would thrive at Glasgow, same with McConnell and the other youngsters. Perhaps the entire coaching staff and the older players should go too.

topofthemoon wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:35 am

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 12:16 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 11:54 am
If Bradbury became a dominant performer week in week out he'd get in the squad.

It doesnae stop many others getting in - Schoeman is the second best loosehead at Edinburgh, albeit Venter isn't eligible yet. Gilchrist can't lead a dog when he's in an Edinburgh shirt (not the dog). Duhan just looks pissed off all the time. Crosbie, Ritchie and Graham have looked lively enough and Rae is worth his spot, but overall the Edinburgh team are pulling the average skill levels down in the Scotland squad.

I was saying elsewhere that the difference in the two sides is HUGE, despite the grinding-out win in the 1872 second leg - Glasgow put out a C team and beat a decent Connacht squad. Edinburgh should gub the current Scarlets side but don't.

Everitt needs to go before any more damage is done to really talented young players coming in, the likes of Currie would thrive at Glasgow, same with McConnell and the other youngsters. Perhaps the entire coaching staff and the older players should go too.

Think I've said it elsewhere but Edinburgh can probably get a URC playoff spot and Challenge Cup semi-final without really having to move beyond some solid home form. If they manage both of those I think Everitt will be hard to shift.

Punter15 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 7:34 pm Scotland U20 team to play Italy U20 on Friday at Hive Stadium (kick off 7.15pm) – live on BBC iPlayer

15. Jack Brown – Edinburgh Rugby
14. Guy Rogers – University of Surrey/Harlequins
13. Johnny Ventisei – Captain – Glasgow Warriors
12. Kerr Yule – Glasgow Warriors
11. Fergus Watson – Glasgow Warriors

10. Matthew Urwin – Glasgow Warriors
9. Noah Cowan – Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders

1. Oliver McKenna – Glasgow Warriors
2. Joe Roberts – Glasgow Warriors
3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty – Edinburgh Rugby
4. Charlie Moss – Montpellier
5. Dan Halkon – Glasgow Warriors
6. Christian Lindsay – Loretto School/Edinburgh Rugby
7. Billy Allen – Dungannon RFC
8. Reuben Logan – Northampton Saints

Replacements

16. Seb Stephen – Edinburgh Academical FC
17. Jake Shearer – Glasgow Warriors
18. Ryan Whitefield – Biggar RFC
19. Bart Godsell – Loughborough University
20. Oliver Duncan – Edinburgh Rugby
21. Hector Patterson – Edinburgh Rugby
22. Ross Wolfenden – Edinburgh Rugby
23. Nairn Moncrieff – Edinburgh Rugby

C T wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:29 am What's our thinking for this weekend?

A solid win showing we have made progress (or of course that Italy have taken a step back)? One of those squeaky bum wins we seem to love so much? Or of course a loss? I'm not ruling out any of these.

I am ruling out us getting pumped, perhaps rather foolishly.

C T wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:29 am What's our thinking for this weekend?

A solid win showing we have made progress (or of course that Italy have taken a step back)? One of those squeaky bum wins we seem to love so much? Or of course a loss? I'm not ruling out any of these.

I am ruling out us getting pumped, perhaps rather foolishly.

SaintK wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:36 am Don't want to worry you guys but.
Franco Smith has been strongly linked with Leicester Tigers as a replacement for Cheika who is apparently not extending his 1 year contract!!!!

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 4:22 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 12:19 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2025 5:08 pm

Isn’t taking the easy way out exactly the point

Yes and no. I just think Bradburys ceiling was so much higher than others who didn't have the mentality which is what makes it a "what if". The draw in Twickenham was one of the better number 8 performances. Had everything you'd want from an 8, great pressure relieving pick ups, hard carries, pace to burn for an 8 etc. He had that in him and squandered it.

He really should have been a regular international and with Lions potential IMO.

Agreed. 8 was a massive problem for us for years. Bradbury had all the tools in his locker to fix that problem and somehow couldn’t.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 10:24 am

C T wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 9:29 am What's our thinking for this weekend?

A solid win showing we have made progress (or of course that Italy have taken a step back)? One of those squeaky bum wins we seem to love so much? Or of course a loss? I'm not ruling out any of these.

I am ruling out us getting pumped, perhaps rather foolishly.

I think we might win fairly comfortably. I actually do feel this team is ready to make a big step forward, which is why losing Sione and Cummings was such a hammer blow. Although this set of fixtures is always tough for us.

And , you know, it's Scotland.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:37 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 4:22 pm

Big D wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 12:19 pm

Yes and no. I just think Bradburys ceiling was so much higher than others who didn't have the mentality which is what makes it a "what if". The draw in Twickenham was one of the better number 8 performances. Had everything you'd want from an 8, great pressure relieving pick ups, hard carries, pace to burn for an 8 etc. He had that in him and squandered it.

He really should have been a regular international and with Lions potential IMO.

Agreed. 8 was a massive problem for us for years. Bradbury had all the tools in his locker to fix that problem and somehow couldn’t.

Have any of your read moneyball? There was a collective issue through much of baseball history where guys were drafted on the basis they 'looked' like they should be good baseball players (often literally about the physical stature of the player) rather than because the data supported they actually were good baseball players. I wonder if Magnus falls into the rugby equivalent category - seems to have all the attributes you would want, passes the 'eye test', but the numbers don't actually support the hypothesis that he should be a top class player. Genuinely no idea, but I bet there is an interesting study in there somewhere.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 12:52 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 11:37 am

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 4:22 pm

Agreed. 8 was a massive problem for us for years. Bradbury had all the tools in his locker to fix that problem and somehow couldn’t.

Have any of your read moneyball? There was a collective issue through much of baseball history where guys were drafted on the basis they 'looked' like they should be good baseball players (often literally about the physical stature of the player) rather than because the data supported they actually were good baseball players. I wonder if Magnus falls into the rugby equivalent category - seems to have all the attributes you would want, passes the 'eye test', but the numbers don't actually support the hypothesis that he should be a top class player. Genuinely no idea, but I bet there is an interesting study in there somewhere.

Rugby is full of big and athletic guys who dominated at school and youth level but when they were in a match of equally or bigger big and athletic guys they weren't as good as hoped.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:51 pm


Cherry starts...

Gregor Brown the lock sub.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:51 pm


Cherry starts...

Gregor Brown the lock sub.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:51 pm


Cherry starts...

Gregor Brown the lock sub.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:51 pm


Cherry starts...

Gregor Brown the lock sub.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 3:36 pm

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 1:51 pm


Cherry starts...

Gregor Brown the lock sub.

Without knowing anything about what actually happened, good luck to Cherry, probably is the best pick.

Looking forward to seeing McDowall in a proper game, I'm sure he'll do fine.

My one concern with that team is the back 3 in defence and I mean both tackling, but more importantly, with the new laws about clearing blockers for high balls. None of them are particularly good at that and it will have been noted.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:56 pm Right, that's me setting off for Murrayfield. See you at the game.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:58 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:56 pm Right, that's me setting off for Murrayfield. See you at the game.

You going to the U20s or on the lash for 20 hours?

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 5:00 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:58 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 4:56 pm Right, that's me setting off for Murrayfield. See you at the game.

You going to the U20s or on the lash for 20 hours?

In San Francisco

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:47 pm Are the U20s not on iPlayer?

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:19 pm Strong scrummaging by the boys

TheNatalShark wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:31 pm Weird I don't know, what kind of pitch does the Hive have?

Italian discipline awful, lads did well to just work way up

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:32 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:19 pm Strong scrummaging by the boys

Big Ollie B-L is our great hope for the future. He's still only 18.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:32 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:19 pm Strong scrummaging by the boys

Big Ollie B-L is our great hope for the future. He's still only 18.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:37 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:32 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:19 pm Strong scrummaging by the boys

Big Ollie B-L is our great hope for the future. He's still only 18.

He’s looking comfortable at this level. He was due to play last year but was removed from the squad at the last minute as World Rugby felt it was a player safety issue for him to play. Presumably for opposition loosies.