Glasgow Warriors v Ospreys, Scotstoun, Friday 19 April, 19:35 hrs

First topic message reminder :

Oh well after the disaster on Friday in Llanelli we need a huge performance from The Warriors against a tough team. Do Jackson and Pyrgos carry the can for Friday or does Toonie stick to his guns - how is that for a mixed metaphor ?

My team :-
Hogg
Maitland
DTH

Matawalu
Weir
Horne
Dunbar

Grant
MacArthur
Welsh

Swinson
Kellock
Strauss
Barclay
Wilson

Bench: Low, Hall, Harley, Slamont, Pyrgos, Reid, Ryder, Jackson

Yup, blindside is where I viewed most of it from, other than a very brief sojourn into the front row, which i fear was more to do with overeating during one off season rather than any particular skill or desire on my part.

mikey_philVIII wrote:Also, as a rabo fan can I just stress how good it is to see a scottish club do well. I'd like to see the form replicated in the European competition next season and I'm certain you would too .

Completely agree. We all benefit from a strong Rabo, and that means each and every team upping its game, and all the better for some variety. I'm delighted that Glasgow have started to threaten the grip that Leinster, Munster, Ulster and the Ospreys have had on the Rabo since inception, and hopefully other teams can do likewise. It should also drive up standards in Europe. Both Scotland and Wales need regions/ clubs to make a better showing in the HC next season.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Well,that is Adam Jones out of the Lions then.How has he got his reputation?Bring in the Scottish to rescue the Lions!

Having Played tighthead I can shine some light on some of the engagements.

Firstly a comment on hookers, using a great example :

Cast your mind back to the Lions tests in 2009. Mears a short erse picked for the 1st test and Vickery got absolutely mullered at tighthead by Tendai Mtawarira, 2nd test an all Welsh front row fared a lot better. Praise was heaped on Jones and Jenkins however it was the massive unit of Matt Rees, all 6ft 2 and 17st of him that anchored the scrum and allowed Jones and Jenkins to really pile the pressure on the Bokke.

In the third test the equally massive colossus of Kelso Ross Ford provided the platform for Vickery to attack from and his pride was salvaged to such an extent he mockingly shouted "Beast" to the partisan South African crowd. To say the Hooker doesn't assist in the front row is nonsense.

As for the Clash between Grant and Jones, Jones I reckon was carrying some kind of injury and was attempting to make the scrums as short as possible. His body position rarely leant itself to the Scrum staying up and his body language suggested a mind-set that revolved around "the longer these scrums last the more chance I have of giving away a penalty". Been there, done that and paid out penalties like a broken bandit when I have been under the cosh by a mammoth loosie like Grant.

Grant had his binding right and really made Jones suffer when the scrums went past the 3-5 second mark.

A little credit due to Moray Low too who really put Duncan Jones under massive pressure who IMO was more worthy of a Yellow than either Grant or (Adam) Jones.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Glasgow have started to threaten the grip that Leinster, Munster, Ulster and the Ospreys have had on the Rabo since inception, and hopefully other teams can do likewise. It should also drive up standards in Europe. Both Scotland and Wales need regions/ clubs to make a better showing in the HC next season.

Ulster's Celtic/Magners/Rabo placings for the last 10 years. Average 5th place.

1
6
3
8
8
9
5
1
8
2

Scarlets slightly ahead of them but way off the top 3 that you mentioned

4
5
5
9
5
6
4
6
5
1

Cardiff just behind them..... Don't make me put Glasgow's stats up.

I was talking about an improving trend, showing that Glasgow are becoming one of the better Rabo sides, perhaps best characterised by the fact that they have made the playoffs in each of the last two years.

Agree re: Ulster, not a traditional giant of the league as I suggested, but certainly now one of the teams to beat in the league.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Having Played tighthead I can shine some light on some of the engagements.

Firstly a comment on hookers, using a great example :

Cast your mind back to the Lions tests in 2009. Mears a short erse picked for the 1st test and Vickery got absolutely mullered at tighthead by Tendai Mtawarira, 2nd test an all Welsh front row fared a lot better. Praise was heaped on Jones and Jenkins however it was the massive unit of Matt Rees, all 6ft 2 and 17st of him that anchored the scrum and allowed Jones and Jenkins to really pile the pressure on the Bokke.

In the third test the equally massive colossus of Kelso Ross Ford provided the platform for Vickery to attack from and his pride was salvaged to such an extent he mockingly shouted "Beast" to the partisan South African crowd. To say the Hooker doesn't assist in the front row is nonsense.

As for the Clash between Grant and Jones, Jones I reckon was carrying some kind of injury and was attempting to make the scrums as short as possible. His body position rarely leant itself to the Scrum staying up and his body language suggested a mind-set that revolved around "the longer these scrums last the more chance I have of giving away a penalty". Been there, done that and paid out penalties like a broken bandit when I have been under the cosh by a mammoth loosie like Grant.

Grant had his binding right and really made Jones suffer when the scrums went past the 3-5 second mark.

A little credit due to Moray Low too who really put Duncan Jones under massive pressure who IMO was more worthy of a Yellow than either Grant or (Adam) Jones.

I dont think anyone is saying that the hooker is not important. The scrum has a number of units and all must function for it to be effective.

My original point was that so much is made of the TH being the most important player in any scrum is not exactly true.

I also point out that a TH is very much on his own with poor support from the flanker and 2nd row

PS Jenkins is not known for powerful tight play.

funnyExiledScot wrote:I was talking about an improving trend, showing that Glasgow are becoming one of the better Rabo sides, perhaps best characterised by the fact that they have made the playoffs in each of the last two years.

Agree re: Ulster, not a traditional giant of the league as I suggested, but certainly now one of the teams to beat in the league.

Made them 3 years ago too. But 11th in between?

OK You forced me Average 7th.

3
4
11
3
7
5
7
11
6
11

Still - two years in a row is an improvement, no?

If you do Edinburgh, you're not coming to my birthday party.....

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Having Played tighthead I can shine some light on some of the engagements.

Firstly a comment on hookers, using a great example :

Cast your mind back to the Lions tests in 2009. Mears a short erse picked for the 1st test and Vickery got absolutely mullered at tighthead by Tendai Mtawarira, 2nd test an all Welsh front row fared a lot better. Praise was heaped on Jones and Jenkins however it was the massive unit of Matt Rees, all 6ft 2 and 17st of him that anchored the scrum and allowed Jones and Jenkins to really pile the pressure on the Bokke.

In the third test the equally massive colossus of Kelso Ross Ford provided the platform for Vickery to attack from and his pride was salvaged to such an extent he mockingly shouted "Beast" to the partisan South African crowd. To say the Hooker doesn't assist in the front row is nonsense.

As for the Clash between Grant and Jones, Jones I reckon was carrying some kind of injury and was attempting to make the scrums as short as possible. His body position rarely leant itself to the Scrum staying up and his body language suggested a mind-set that revolved around "the longer these scrums last the more chance I have of giving away a penalty". Been there, done that and paid out penalties like a broken bandit when I have been under the cosh by a mammoth loosie like Grant.

Grant had his binding right and really made Jones suffer when the scrums went past the 3-5 second mark.

A little credit due to Moray Low too who really put Duncan Jones under massive pressure who IMO was more worthy of a Yellow than either Grant or (Adam) Jones.

Thank you for your insightful support!Glad to see that the world hasn't gone totally bonkers.
I cannot recall any scrum dominance in this game but I noted the implosion of the Ospreys line out which was worse than atrocious.Without Hibbard,Ryan Jones or any first choice 3/4's against a solid Glasgow team playing at home,I was not too surprised by how things panned out.Morrison looked effective which should have given an inkling to some that the O's were mightily under strength.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Still - two years in a row is an improvement, no?

If you do Edinburgh, you're not coming to my birthday party.....

Is that a threat or a promise?

They are only a fraction behind Glasgow in fairness, but their best finish was a 3rd 10 years ago.

The real difference though is that whilst Glasgow have been improving, and building a strong squad, Edinburgh have been wasting money on overpaid NSQ journeymen principally in positions in which we already have perfectly good players, leaving some positions woefully short of cover. You'd get very good odds I suspect betting on a top half finish for Edinburgh next season.

Only Zebre and the Dragons have been more rubbish this season, and having sat at Murrayfield watching all season, that's quite an achievement for those two sides, notwithstanding that this is Zebre's first pro season.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Having Played tighthead I can shine some light on some of the engagements.

Firstly a comment on hookers, using a great example :

Cast your mind back to the Lions tests in 2009. Mears a short erse picked for the 1st test and Vickery got absolutely mullered at tighthead by Tendai Mtawarira, 2nd test an all Welsh front row fared a lot better. Praise was heaped on Jones and Jenkins however it was the massive unit of Matt Rees, all 6ft 2 and 17st of him that anchored the scrum and allowed Jones and Jenkins to really pile the pressure on the Bokke.

In the third test the equally massive colossus of Kelso Ross Ford provided the platform for Vickery to attack from and his pride was salvaged to such an extent he mockingly shouted "Beast" to the partisan South African crowd. To say the Hooker doesn't assist in the front row is nonsense.

As for the Clash between Grant and Jones, Jones I reckon was carrying some kind of injury and was attempting to make the scrums as short as possible. His body position rarely leant itself to the Scrum staying up and his body language suggested a mind-set that revolved around "the longer these scrums last the more chance I have of giving away a penalty". Been there, done that and paid out penalties like a broken bandit when I have been under the cosh by a mammoth loosie like Grant.

Grant had his binding right and really made Jones suffer when the scrums went past the 3-5 second mark.

A little credit due to Moray Low too who really put Duncan Jones under massive pressure who IMO was more worthy of a Yellow than either Grant or (Adam) Jones.

Good post Radge but you are still to convince me that Props do anything other than just push really hard….

RDW_Scotland wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Having Played tighthead I can shine some light on some of the engagements.

Firstly a comment on hookers, using a great example :

Cast your mind back to the Lions tests in 2009. Mears a short erse picked for the 1st test and Vickery got absolutely mullered at tighthead by Tendai Mtawarira, 2nd test an all Welsh front row fared a lot better. Praise was heaped on Jones and Jenkins however it was the massive unit of Matt Rees, all 6ft 2 and 17st of him that anchored the scrum and allowed Jones and Jenkins to really pile the pressure on the Bokke.

In the third test the equally massive colossus of Kelso Ross Ford provided the platform for Vickery to attack from and his pride was salvaged to such an extent he mockingly shouted "Beast" to the partisan South African crowd. To say the Hooker doesn't assist in the front row is nonsense.

As for the Clash between Grant and Jones, Jones I reckon was carrying some kind of injury and was attempting to make the scrums as short as possible. His body position rarely leant itself to the Scrum staying up and his body language suggested a mind-set that revolved around "the longer these scrums last the more chance I have of giving away a penalty". Been there, done that and paid out penalties like a broken bandit when I have been under the cosh by a mammoth loosie like Grant.

Grant had his binding right and really made Jones suffer when the scrums went past the 3-5 second mark.

A little credit due to Moray Low too who really put Duncan Jones under massive pressure who IMO was more worthy of a Yellow than either Grant or (Adam) Jones.

Good post Radge but you are still to convince me that Props do anything other than just push really hard….

It surprises me not that girly backs don't understand what the real men get up to while they are preening themselves in the backline waiting for "the pushing" to stop...

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Still - two years in a row is an improvement, no?

If you do Edinburgh, you're not coming to my birthday party.....

Is that a threat or a promise?

They are only a fraction behind Glasgow in fairness, but their best finish was a 3rd 10 years ago.

it was actually runners up in 2009.

So it was. Sorry I was looking at the dragons in the next column

10
11
8
6
2
4
8
5
7
10

We were busy wining our first HC that season. We got bounced down to 3rd place (our 2nd worst ever) on the last day of the season by Embra after our then customary loss at dave parade.

We only won there once in the first 7 years of the Dragons. A habit we only got out of under Schmidt having won the last 3

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:We were busy wining our first HC that season. We got bounced down to 3rd place (our 2nd worst ever) on the last day of the season by Embra after our then customary loss at dave parade.

We only won there once in the first 7 years of the Dragons. A habit we only got out of under Schmidt having won the last 3

Please leave.

Anyone who thinks the scrum being mullered is only the fault of the props needs to go get themselves a scooby!

For my sins I have played 1,4,5 and 8 in the scrum. I would like to say first of all that 8 was way more fun. You get to run with the ball more

Anyhoo.

A props main function is to prop. This means keep the scrum up. It is the 2nd row who provide the pushing. The flankers are supposed to keep the 2nd row going straight and not angle out. Number 8 can lend a hand to the pushing but they tend to be there to just play the ball at the back

Now. I would consider myself an average player at best. But I was accomplished in the scrums. When you are propping. If the hooker does not keep tight to both props the opposition tend to come through the gap and this is when a scrum can pop up. Or go flying backwards at a rate of knotts.
If your 2nd row is not pushing then you end up going backwards and it is damn hard to keep a scrum up when you are being pushed back. You get folded like an accordian if you dont take the scrum down. If the whole front row is not kept together then your 2nd row dont have an even platform to push against and look, yer off backwards again.

Scrummaging effectivly comes down to the whole unit working together. If you have one weak 2nd row or a prop who cannot stay tight then yer gonna struggle. A Prop can choose to pull down a scrum but it is not jut them that is responsible for scrum dommanence. I'll also add that any prop who intentionally pulls down a scrum is a tool and if they break thier hookers neck then they need to live with the guilt!

Also. If they eejit backs didnt drop the ball so much, we'd not have to scrum as much

I loved playing 8 too. The best position on the field. Too tough to play with the girls, to fast and too pretty to be in the tight 5. AND you get to grab the ball at the back of the scrum and run over scrum halves. Paradise.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:We were busy wining our first HC that season. We got bounced down to 3rd place (our 2nd worst ever) on the last day of the season by Embra after our then customary loss at dave parade.

We only won there once in the first 7 years of the Dragons. A habit we only got out of under Schmidt having won the last 3

Please leave.

Thought you'd like that one.

Ahh. Feck the modesty

2
1
2
1
3
1
3
2
3
8

Although we did lose the 3 finals. This is purely league positions.

All I'm seeing is 8th. Leinster are rubbish.......

funnyExiledScot wrote:All I'm seeing is 8th. Leinster are rubbish.......

Had a rubbish season 10 years ago

Have Tattie and Radge got ghost-writers? rops don't know that many words for a single psoting
And RDW, don't start your guff about forwards again. All backs (and especially any who wear scrum caps) have a degree in homo economics from the Michael Barrymore Memorial College (swimming pool activities a speciality).
We have not knock our nuts off to win you the ball and what do you do straight away? You drop it so we have to go and win it again - and the whole nonsense gets repeated ad nauseum until even the ref is bored with your incompetence.

Injured- I'm not a prop though. I'm a multi positional, ball winning, often out of breath, utility forward

I am deffo not a prop coz I scored a hatrick once (ok, it was against a team we cuffed by 100 + points and it was in the 2nd half where I was moved to inside centre coz we had more forwards than backs and everyone needed a run out) It was still a hatrick though (2 were from open play

Rumours on other forums that Murray McConnell is being released... no official confirmation that I can see

Pat_Mustard wrote:Rumours on other forums that Murray McConnell is being released... no official confirmation that I can see

As long as Edinburgh have Chris Leck (the epitome of the NSQ journeyman) on the books, McConnell should remain part of Scottish rugby.

Don't see why he would be released anyway. Cusiter has injury issues and Pyrgos and Matawalu will both be unavailable during the November tests. I hope it's not true but if it is there must be at least one new scrum half coming in.

Agree, especially seeing as you were kind enough to give us Kennedy back.

What's probably happened here is that Sean Lineen, whilst working for both Edinburgh and Glasgow, has convinced Will Genia to join Glasgow next season, whilst simultaneously brokering the deal for Alex Tutui to join Edinburgh.

I'm not bitter at all....

It does seem like Lineen is keeping all his best finds for Glasgow doesn't it!

Out of interest, I have had a look at other international fixtures. I see Canada are in action in the Pacific Nations Cup the same day as the Rabo final! So if Glasgow reach the final will they be required to release DTH (and Paris although he probably wouldn't be involved anyway) for this?

Fiji's first match is not until the following week so Matawalu will be OK

Oh and it's just been confirmed that Nick Campbell and Taylor Paris are leaving

I'd take Nick Campbell at Edinburgh in a flash. Exactly what we need.

Sorry he's off to play Championship rugby for Jersey!

Can't get into the article to see where Paris is off to, as the new websites they were so proud to announce don't work

Pat_Mustard wrote:Sorry he's off to play Championship rugby for Jersey!

That, combined with the Lutui signing, has got me deeply depressed.....

What are the bets on Edinburgh announcing the signing of a young, 6'7", NSQ lock from the English championship in the next few days.

The SRU have really done themselves proud this time - Edinburgh crying out for a Campbell type player, and they wave him off to the Championship.

EST wrote:What are the bets on Edinburgh announcing the signing of a young, 6'7", NSQ lock from the English championship in the next few days.

Young?? You're being optimistic. Cue arrival of 34 year old, 6'6 and 17 stone lock, NSQ of course. He'll have been in the NZ U12's or something like that, back in his heyday. Well pay him a small fortune.

Sean Tomes for The MFLs?!

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Sean Tomes for The MFLs?!

That makes perfect sense.....

Parker and Tomes, the new Botha and Matfield!