NPR

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:05 pm I'd start Graham and Dobbie

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:08 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:05 pm I'd start Graham and Dobbie

I hope Toonie saw Hutchinson play yesterday

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:13 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:08 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:05 pm I'd start Graham and Dobbie

I hope Toonie saw Hutchinson play yesterday

Can't understand how Taylor is included but he's not.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:08 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:05 pm I'd start Graham and Dobbie

I hope Toonie saw Hutchinson play yesterday

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:25 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:13 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:08 pm


I hope Toonie saw Hutchinson play yesterday

Can't understand how Taylor is included but he's not.

Taylor inspires a lot of respect from the guys he plays with, many of the Sarries guys have described him as the best player they've ever played with. The coaches will see stuff that we don't out here, but his injury record could well have robbed us of an all-time-great. When he has been fit Taylor looked unplayable.

Hutchinson may not be at that level, but he plays first receiver so often he can offer a point of difference at 12, much like Cameron Redpath in fact, he has excelled at 13 for Saints from what I've seen.

Matt Scott has been playing well too, Edinburgh's midfield have looked non-existent without him

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:33 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:25 pm

Jock42 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 7:13 pm

Can't understand how Taylor is included but he's not.

Taylor inspires a lot of respect from the guys he plays with, many of the Sarries guys have described him as the best player they've ever played with. The coaches will see stuff that we don't out here, but his injury record could well have robbed us of an all-time-great. When he has been fit Taylor looked unplayable.

Hutchinson may not be at that level, but he plays first receiver so often he can offer a point of difference at 12, much like Cameron Redpath in fact, he has excelled at 13 for Saints from what I've seen.

Matt Scott has been playing well too, Edinburgh's midfield have looked non-existent without him

Completely agree he was/is an excellent player but when was the last time he played a meaningful game?

Haven't seen any of Scott this season but again agree Embra are a different team.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:00 pm It still genuinely baffles me that with the depth of talent available to us at centre, we are currently fielding Lang and Harris. OK, OK, I know Harris is good defensively, and that Lang is only there because Redpath is injured. But even so, that’s Taylor, Jones, Johnson, Bennett, Hutchinson and Scott unable to get a start. The final three can’t even get a sniff of a spot in the squad. I’m just waiting for us to cap Fraser Dingwall so we can leave him out as well.

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:00 pm It still genuinely baffles me that with the depth of talent available to us at centre, we are currently fielding Lang and Harris. OK, OK, I know Harris is good defensively, and that Lang is only there because Redpath is injured. But even so, that’s Taylor, Jones, Johnson, Bennett, Hutchinson and Scott unable to get a start. The final three can’t even get a sniff of a spot in the squad. I’m just waiting for us to cap Fraser Dingwall so we can leave him out as well.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:37 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:00 pm It still genuinely baffles me that with the depth of talent available to us at centre, we are currently fielding Lang and Harris. OK, OK, I know Harris is good defensively, and that Lang is only there because Redpath is injured. But even so, that’s Taylor, Jones, Johnson, Bennett, Hutchinson and Scott unable to get a start. The final three can’t even get a sniff of a spot in the squad. I’m just waiting for us to cap Fraser Dingwall so we can leave him out as well.

I think our depth in centre is a bit of a myth. Of the names here Taylor is just always injured and bad bad injuries so he lost his edge. Jones just isn't a consistently good 13 - his games for Glasgow show this: amazing Vs Leinster, poor Vs Zebre and then Nick Grigg outplayed him as he has for 3 years. There was a couple of examples of really poor passing and kicking from him too. Johnson is decent enough - probably a shade better than Lang but what does Johnson excel at? Good at everything (except kicking) great at nothing? Bennett hasn't done anything of note for years - at Edinburgh he's a solid defender but in a backline where Scott, Graham and VdM dazzle he does not. Scott I think is great at club level but he's got 39 caps now and meh. I don't understand the exile on form but if Townsend thinks we've seen enough to know what Scott is at the top level it's hard to argue. Hutchinson is very good but he's also inconsistent and quite small. He's my favourite player to watch because he makes things happen. I'd pick him but Harris is playing well so I get what Toonie is doing.

I think we have a lot of promising centres who never lived up to their potential.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:45 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:37 pm

Yr Alban wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:00 pm It still genuinely baffles me that with the depth of talent available to us at centre, we are currently fielding Lang and Harris. OK, OK, I know Harris is good defensively, and that Lang is only there because Redpath is injured. But even so, that’s Taylor, Jones, Johnson, Bennett, Hutchinson and Scott unable to get a start. The final three can’t even get a sniff of a spot in the squad. I’m just waiting for us to cap Fraser Dingwall so we can leave him out as well.

I think our depth in centre is a bit of a myth. Of the names here Taylor is just always injured and bad bad injuries so he lost his edge. Jones just isn't a consistently good 13 - his games for Glasgow show this: amazing Vs Leinster, poor Vs Zebre and then Nick Grigg outplayed him as he has for 3 years. There was a couple of examples of really poor passing and kicking from him too. Johnson is decent enough - probably a shade better than Lang but what does Johnson excel at? Good at everything (except kicking) great at nothing? Bennett hasn't done anything of note for years - at Edinburgh he's a solid defender but in a backline where Scott, Graham and VdM dazzle he does not. Scott I think is great at club level but he's got 39 caps now and meh. I don't understand the exile on form but if Townsend thinks we've seen enough to know what Scott is at the top level it's hard to argue. Hutchinson is very good but he's also inconsistent and quite small. He's my favourite player to watch because he makes things happen. I'd pick him but Harris is playing well so I get what Toonie is doing.

I think we have a lot of promising centres who never lived up to their potential.

Scott and Bennett were both dropped for their defensive frailties, the story was that was why Bennett was let go from Glasgow after a stushie about it.

Scott has improved massively in that regard, and to be fair so has Bennett.

I don't think Taylor has lost his edge at all, when he played in the business end games for Sarries at the end of last season he looked, err, the business, likewise for Scotland.

I don't think we can say someone who is playing Championship rugby is someone we need also

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:04 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:45 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:37 pm

I think our depth in centre is a bit of a myth. Of the names here Taylor is just always injured and bad bad injuries so he lost his edge. Jones just isn't a consistently good 13 - his games for Glasgow show this: amazing Vs Leinster, poor Vs Zebre and then Nick Grigg outplayed him as he has for 3 years. There was a couple of examples of really poor passing and kicking from him too. Johnson is decent enough - probably a shade better than Lang but what does Johnson excel at? Good at everything (except kicking) great at nothing? Bennett hasn't done anything of note for years - at Edinburgh he's a solid defender but in a backline where Scott, Graham and VdM dazzle he does not. Scott I think is great at club level but he's got 39 caps now and meh. I don't understand the exile on form but if Townsend thinks we've seen enough to know what Scott is at the top level it's hard to argue. Hutchinson is very good but he's also inconsistent and quite small. He's my favourite player to watch because he makes things happen. I'd pick him but Harris is playing well so I get what Toonie is doing.

I think we have a lot of promising centres who never lived up to their potential.

Scott and Bennett were both dropped for their defensive frailties, the story was that was why Bennett was let go from Glasgow after a stushie about it.

Scott has improved massively in that regard, and to be fair so has Bennett.

I don't think Taylor has lost his edge at all, when he played in the business end games for Sarries at the end of last season he looked, err, the business, likewise for Scotland.

He was pretty good for Scotland against Ireland but he wasn't 2017 Duncan Taylor. I don't think we can say someone who is playing Championship rugby is someone we need also. Look at England's Sarries lads. In 16/17 Taylor being the NHs best centre was my hill to die on but he isn't that guy anymore and he's also now quite old.

Bennett is pretty good defensively agree. Not Harris level and does very little in attack. I watch most Edinburgh games and he is unrecognisable from the phenom in 2014/15. He is now an average Pro14 level player and that's all really. His time at Edinburgh shows that. And I'm sure Scott is better in defence too, I don't get why he's not in the squad on form. But to play devils advocates he does have 39 caps. How many players suddenly become really good after 39 caps?

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:11 am It's funny that Harris is still not rated by many Scots yet he's being tipped for the Lions by journalists North and South of the border.

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:11 am It's funny that Harris is still not rated by many Scots yet he's being tipped for the Lions by journalists North and South of the border.

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:11 am It's funny that Harris is still not rated by many Scots yet he's being tipped for the Lions by journalists North and South of the border.

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:35 am

Begbie wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 8:11 am It's funny that Harris is still not rated by many Scots yet he's being tipped for the Lions by journalists North and South of the border.

I'm not sure if he is not rated as such, just that he isn't rated as highly as some other players. I think it is easy to be seduced by attacking players and players who look good on Youtube but who are maybe a little more variable in their performance whilst dismissing more solid players who are consistent and dependable. You can see it in other countries too - the clamour in England for Danny Cipriani is a good example for instance, he certainly produced the Hollywood moments, but he can't run a game like George Ford can.

In many ways its a similar discussion to the 'watercarrier' discussion in football - there is a certain type of dependable player who can carry out a gameplan that coaches love but fans love to hate. Darren Fletcher/Michael Carrick for Man United, Claude Makele for Real Madrid and Chelsea (although he was later appreciated), Busquets for Barca etc. They rarely produced moments of pure brilliance but without them the team struggled to tick. For me that is the role Harris currently has for Scotland.

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:01 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:04 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:45 pm


Scott and Bennett were both dropped for their defensive frailties, the story was that was why Bennett was let go from Glasgow after a stushie about it.

Scott has improved massively in that regard, and to be fair so has Bennett.

I don't think Taylor has lost his edge at all, when he played in the business end games for Sarries at the end of last season he looked, err, the business, likewise for Scotland.

He was pretty good for Scotland against Ireland but he wasn't 2017 Duncan Taylor. I don't think we can say someone who is playing Championship rugby is someone we need also. Look at England's Sarries lads. In 16/17 Taylor being the NHs best centre was my hill to die on but he isn't that guy anymore and he's also now quite old.

Bennett is pretty good defensively agree. Not Harris level and does very little in attack. I watch most Edinburgh games and he is unrecognisable from the phenom in 2014/15. He is now an average Pro14 level player and that's all really. His time at Edinburgh shows that. And I'm sure Scott is better in defence too, I don't get why he's not in the squad on form. But to play devils advocates he does have 39 caps. How many players suddenly become really good after 39 caps?

I thought Bennett was excellent in attack last season but but like the rest of the backs not much is going on this season.

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:10 am

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:01 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Mon Mar 08, 2021 10:04 pm

He was pretty good for Scotland against Ireland but he wasn't 2017 Duncan Taylor. I don't think we can say someone who is playing Championship rugby is someone we need also. Look at England's Sarries lads. In 16/17 Taylor being the NHs best centre was my hill to die on but he isn't that guy anymore and he's also now quite old.

Bennett is pretty good defensively agree. Not Harris level and does very little in attack. I watch most Edinburgh games and he is unrecognisable from the phenom in 2014/15. He is now an average Pro14 level player and that's all really. His time at Edinburgh shows that. And I'm sure Scott is better in defence too, I don't get why he's not in the squad on form. But to play devils advocates he does have 39 caps. How many players suddenly become really good after 39 caps?

I thought Bennett was excellent in attack last season but but like the rest of the backs not much is going on this season.

Which games? I remember Scott, Duhan and Graham absolutely carving up. Don't remember Bennett really doing much. He's lost his step and outside break.

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 10:04 am

I like neeps wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 9:10 am

robmatic wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 7:01 am

I thought Bennett was excellent in attack last season but but like the rest of the backs not much is going on this season.

Which games? I remember Scott, Duhan and Graham absolutely carving up. Don't remember Bennett really doing much. He's lost his step and outside break.

https://www.edinburghrugby.org/the-club ... rk-bennett

7 tries, 4 try assists, 18 clean breaks, 32 defenders beaten.

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:15 pm Embra have got Racing away in the Big Cup.

No problemo.

Weegies are away to Montpellier in the Wee Cup

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:15 pm Embra have got Racing away in the Big Cup.

No problemo.

Weegies are away to Montpellier in the Wee Cup

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:19 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:15 pm Embra have got Racing away in the Big Cup.

No problemo.

Weegies are away to Montpellier in the Wee Cup

That would have been a great weekend away

Jock42 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 3:34 pm

Slick wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:19 pm

Tichtheid wrote: ↑Tue Mar 09, 2021 1:15 pm Embra have got Racing away in the Big Cup.

No problemo.

Weegies are away to Montpellier in the Wee Cup

That would have been a great weekend away

Determined to go and watch racing ASAP

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:23 pm Glasgow rumoured to be signing Argentine international wing Sebastián Cancelliere. Never seen him but seems to have played at a good level.

robmatic wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 1:47 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: ↑Wed Mar 10, 2021 12:23 pm Glasgow rumoured to be signing Argentine international wing Sebastián Cancelliere. Never seen him but seems to have played at a good level.

Dunno about him but they have confirmed that they have signed Argentinian fly-half Domingo Miotti.

dpedin wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 9:09 am Interesting that both teams are using the covid19 enforced interruption to reshape their squads even more so than normal. The Weegies in particular are making major changes in their backs. It is good to see the younger guys getting a chance and some exciting but risky overseas signings and lots of interesting SQ guys too. It will however take a season or two to see the impact and results. They probably have had their hands forced with the reduction in budgets and inability to make big signings or retain some high cost players and also planned that they were unlikely to get into the Big Euro Cup next season due to the disruptions caused. To me it looks like the decision has been made to use this season and next as opportunity to develop younger players and try and develop teams for the the future. Probably a very pragmatic approach but there will be some more pain on the way.

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:24 am CVC deal announced by the SRU. £365M for a 1/7th stake in the 6N. Reports that the SRU will get £45M (significantly less than RFU, IRFU, WRU and FFR btw).

Compared to what was rumoured earlier (majority or 50% stake for CVC for a similar sum of money) this sounds a bit healthier, but we'll have to see how it pans out in practice.

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:00 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:24 am CVC deal announced by the SRU. £365M for a 1/7th stake in the 6N. Reports that the SRU will get £45M (significantly less than RFU, IRFU, WRU and FFR btw).

Compared to what was rumoured earlier (majority or 50% stake for CVC for a similar sum of money) this sounds a bit healthier, but we'll have to see how it pans out in practice.

Why are we getting less? And less than the fucking IRFU!?

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:00 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:24 am CVC deal announced by the SRU. £365M for a 1/7th stake in the 6N. Reports that the SRU will get £45M (significantly less than RFU, IRFU, WRU and FFR btw).

Compared to what was rumoured earlier (majority or 50% stake for CVC for a similar sum of money) this sounds a bit healthier, but we'll have to see how it pans out in practice.

Why are we getting less? And less than the fucking IRFU!?

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:25 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:00 am

clydecloggie wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:24 am CVC deal announced by the SRU. £365M for a 1/7th stake in the 6N. Reports that the SRU will get £45M (significantly less than RFU, IRFU, WRU and FFR btw).

Compared to what was rumoured earlier (majority or 50% stake for CVC for a similar sum of money) this sounds a bit healthier, but we'll have to see how it pans out in practice.

Why are we getting less? And less than the fucking IRFU!?

Because we're less commercially valuable but a smack in the face for sure

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:02 pm

I like neeps wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:25 am

Slick wrote: ↑Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:00 am

Why are we getting less? And less than the fucking IRFU!?

Because we're less commercially valuable but a smack in the face for sure

I suppose I forgot about the Welsh TV money.

I'm a bit angry about it though