Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread IV

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Historical Banter:

https://www.606v2.com/t48240-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread
https://www.606v2.com/t51313-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-ii
https://www.606v2.com/t53119-glasgow-and-edinburgh-ongoing-banter-thread-iii

A new thread for the 2014/5 season.

A. Edinburgh Rugby


1. Coaching Team

Alan Solomons - head coach
Stevie Scott -  assistant coach
Omar Mouneimne - assistant coach

2. Players In

Neil Cochrane from London Wasps
John Andress from Worcester Warriors
Rory Sutherland from Gala RFC
Tom Heathcote from Bath Rugby
Michael Tait from Newcastle Falcons
Fraser McKenzie from Newcastle Falcons
Phil Burleigh from the Highlanders
Anton Bresler from the Sharks
Brett Thompson from USA 7s

3. Players Out

Steven Lawrie retired
Alun Walker released
Alex Allan to Glasgow Warriors
Geoff Cross to London Irish
Lewis Niven released
Sean Cox to London Irish
Robert McAlpine released
Perry Parker to Rotherham Titans
Izak van der Westhuizen released
Ross Rennie to Bristol Rugby
Dimitri Basilaia released
Alex Black released
Greig Laidlaw to Gloucester Rugby
Chris Leck released
Piers Francis released
Gregor Hunter released
Harry Leonard to Leeds Carnegie
Ben Atiga retired
Ben Cairns retired
Nick De Luca to Biarritz Olympique
Lee Jones released
Aleki Lutui to Gloucester Rugby

4. Pre-season Fixtures

Leicester Tigers v Edinburgh
Saturday 23 August, 14:00
Welford Road

Edinburgh v Newcastle Falcons
Friday 29 August, 19:45
Mansfield Park, Hawick

B. Glasgow Warriors


1. Coaching Team

Gregor Townsend – Head Coach
Shade Munro – Forwards Coach
Matt Taylor – Defence Coach

2. Players In

Alex Allan from Edinburgh
Murray McConnell from Ayr RFC
Euan Murray from Worcester Warriors
James Downey from Munster
Rossouw de Klerk from the Cheetahs

3. Players Out

Moray Low to Exeter Chiefs
Chris Cusiter to Sale Sharks
Ruaridh Jackson to London Wasps
Ed Kalman retired
Byron McGuigan released
Finlay Gillies released
Scott Wight to Melrose RFC
Gabriel Ascárate released
Folau Niua released
Carlin Isles to USA 7s

4. Pre-season Fixtures

Glasgow Warriors v Harlequins
Saturday 23 August, 14:30
Scotstoun Stadium

London Scottish v Glasgow Warriors
Saturday 30 August, 15:00
Richmond Athletic Ground

[GLove39]

The away kits looks a lot like a Gloucester kit.

[RDW]

Hope they didn't pay much design fees for the home one!

'Um.....how about black??'

[funnyExiledScot]

Black is key. Makes Ben Atiga's gut look ok.

[RDW]

That's Tonks revealed that he's moved to 10 on a permanent basis, and us likely to be starting on Saturday.

Delighted with that!

Tonks/Heathcoat fighting it out at 10

Cuthbert/Brown/Bezzy fighting it out at 15

[des]

I think the away one looks very nice indeed. Definitely a hint of Gloucester about it as GLove says but I don't think that's a bad thing.

Also, glad to see Tonks making the permanent switch to 10.  

I hope we're going to be a bit more pragmatic with kicks to touch though.  I remember seeing Tonks kicking a few to the left touchline and it never looks productive or natural.

[R!skysports]

What the heck is that on Fords face?

[RDW]

Tell you what, Tonksy looks like he's put on the beef this summer.



Hopefully our 10 channel will be a bit more defencively sound now compared to the David Blair / Greig Laidlaw days!

[funnyExiledScot]

That's Tonks revealed that he's moved to 10 on a permanent basis, and us likely to be starting on Saturday.

Delighted with that!

Tonks/Heathcoat fighting it out at 10

Cuthbert/Brown/Bezzy fighting it out at 15

Don't forget Phil Burleigh as well, although I do hope he plays more at inside centre whilst Scott is out.

That would be a great outcome though. I'm excited about Tonks at 10. Good pace and side step, huge boot, strong one on one tackler and, on the limited evidence of last season, not a bad passer either. Decision making will come with experience, but the raw ingredients are there. The only issue will be that he doesn't kick at goal, and with Laidlaw gone that probably means either Cuthbert or Bezzy kicking from 15. Not convinced either is a top class goal kicker, but that can at least be worked on.

[RDW]

Surely this means hurly will only be a centre, with 10 cover of needed?

From what I've seen he's a very good centre - let's just leave him there.

[funnyExiledScot]

What the heck is that on Fords face?

He's been told that for each squint throw he has to grow an additional hair on his face.

[funnyExiledScot]

Surely this means hurly will only be a centre, with 10 cover of needed?

From what I've seen he's a very good centre - let's just leave him there.

By Jove! Are you suggesting that we allow a player to just settle in one position in which he's playing well!!? What kind of madness is this?

I suspect that we'll see Burleigh at 10, 12, 13 and 15 at various stages next season.

A Tonks/Burleigh axis at 10 and 12 looks to me to be the best option until Matt Scott returns. Heathcote on the bench.

[jimbopip]

The great detective was standing by the window gazing down on the hustle and bustle of Baker Street. Through the open window snaked the sound of a Scottish busker crooning about "Winding your way down to..".
"So Holmes, what does this picture tell us?"
"The unkempt facial hair leads to two possible conclusions. Either this man has suffered some shattering emotional crisis recently and has been sleeping in shop doorways for the last month. OR He has behaved in such a socially unacceptable manner that he is quite literally afraid to show his face in public and is sheltering behind this hirsute barrier. Strangely though, this reminds me of the curious incident of the hooker in the scrum."
"But the hooker did nothing in the scrum" I ejaculated.
"Exactly. Watson" replied Holmes "that is what is so curious about it."

[tigertattie]

"But the hooker did nothing in the scrum" I ejaculated.

If you edit that sentance slightly, is sounds like a comment that ASBO would make after his weekend antics

[jimbopip]

Tiger     

[IanBru]

"Exactly. Watson" replied Holmes "that is what is so curious about it."

Outstanding Jim!  

I do sometimes feel for the non-Scots that come on this thread. Their brains must melt.

[jimbopip]

They deserve it for being non Scots.
I just said that to save Asbo the trouble.

[RDW]

Probably they don't come on here very often...

[funnyExiledScot]

What could possibly have scared them off??

[RDW]

Edinburgh team announced at 2 - looks like we're going to see Nick McLennan...

[RDW]

Edinburgh team:

1 Sutherland
2 Ford (C)
3 Andress
4 McKenzie
5 Atkins
6 Grant
7 Watson
8 Du Preez

9 Kennedy
10 Tonks
11 Visser
12 Strauss
13 Dean
14 Fife
15 McLennan

Thoughts - not the best pack, especially against Leicester, looking forward to seeing Chris Dean playing!

[funnyExiledScot]

Very much a pre-season side.

Delighted to see a young SQ prop getting a shot at loosehead, and likewise pleased to see Kennedy and Dean getting game time. The back row is not particularly well balanced but it's good to see a genuine openside at 7.

Tonks at 10 is the key for me though. I hope he gets a really good run of games.

[RDW]

Full squad - only one fit prop on the bench!

15 Nick McLennan

14 Dougie Fife

13 Chris Dean

12 Andries Strauss

11 Tim Visser

10 Greig Tonks

9 Sean Kennedy



1 Rory Sutherland

2 Ross Ford CAPTAIN

3 John Andress

4 Fraser McKenzie

5 Ollie Atkins

6 Roddy Grant

7 Hamish Watson

8 Cornell Du Preez



Substitutes

16 James Hilterbrand

17 Simon Berghan

18 Ben Toolis

19 Alex Toolis

20 Jamie Ritchie

21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

22 Tom Heathcote

23 Sam Beard

24 Joaquin Dominguez

25 Brett Thompson

26 Damien Hoyland

27 Carl Bezuidenhout

[RDW]

Horlequins have put out a near first choice team for Glasgow:

Harlequins squad
15. Mike Brown
14. Marland Yarde
13. Matt Hopper
12. Jordan Turner-Hall
11. Ugo Monye
10. Nick Evans
9. Danny Care


1. Joe Marler©
2. Joe Gray
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Charlie Matthews
5. George Robson
6. Luke Wallace
7. Chris Robshaw
8. Nick Easter

Replacements from:
Rob Buchanan, Mark Lambert, Paul Doran Jones, George Merrick, Sam Twomey, Joe Trayfoot, Jack Clifford, Karl Dickson, Ben Botica, Ross Chisholm, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Charlie Walker.

[funnyExiledScot]

The bench is a bit of a nonsense really given the number of permitted subs, but from an Edinburgh perspective I'm surprised Bezzy isn't at 15 ahead of McLennan. Otherwise the lack of loosehead cover is the only notable thing.

That's an awesome Quins team Glasgow will be facing. Care vs Matawalu should mean that the game is played at a fair lick!

[Poorfour]

That's pretty much a full strength Quins, allowing that Lowe is still returning from his "dislocated head". The only other likely changes when everyone is fit are at hooker (where COS will probably rotate between Gray, Buchanan and Ward fairly regularly) and wing (where we'll perm two from Monye, Yarde, Tikoirotuma, Williams, Walker, OLH and Chisholm)

[RDW]

That's pretty much a full strength Quins, allowing that Lowe is still returning from his "dislocated head". The only other likely changes when everyone is fit are at hooker (where COS will probably rotate between Gray, Buchanan and Ward fairly regularly) and wing (where we'll perm two from Monye, Yarde, Tikoirotuma, Williams, Walker, OLH and Chisholm)

  

[funnyExiledScot]

Getting a "dislocated head" is relatively common in Glasgow. Sadly very few manage to relocate it.....

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Ross Ford - Captain.    FFS you really are struggling !   

[R!skysports]

Ross Ford - Captain.      FFS you really are struggling !   

It is the beard I tell you - they mixed him up with someone with authority

[funnyExiledScot]

It's a case of mistaken identity most likely.

Surely Andries Strauss should be captain? Indeed his only qualities, intangible of course, are his leadership qualities. It certainly isn't his pace or distribution skills!

In all seriousness, Ford is a senior member of the squad and an international. No issues with him being captain at all. His performances in an Edinburgh jersey have tended to be better than those in a Scotland jersey, and given his beard is probably bigger and heavier than Pat MacArthur, I'm comfortable that the soap dodgers are just jealous.

[tigertattie]

It's a case of mistaken identity most likely.
given his beard is probably bigger and heavier than Pat MacArthur, I'm comfortable that the soap dodgers are just jealous.

comedy gold right there!

[George Carlin]

Very much a pre-season side.

Delighted to see a young SQ prop getting a shot at loosehead, and likewise pleased to see Kennedy and Dean getting game time. The back row is not particularly well balanced but it's good to see a genuine openside at 7.

Tonks at 10 is the key for me though. I hope he gets a really good run of games.

Haven't you got nappies to change, young man?

Agree with all of that. Could be an utter omnishambles from an Edinburgh perspective but that's what pre-season games are all about and I'm very pleased to see young Scots players on show. Hopefully this won't be their only game time this season under the iron fist of the mighty Grandpappy.

[jimbopip]

That's a strong looking Stockbrokers xv. I just hope Toonie puts out an equally competitive side.

[George Carlin]

Tell you what, Tonksy looks like he's put on the beef this summer.



Hopefully our 10 channel will be a bit more defencively sound now compared to the David Blair / Greig Laidlaw days!

So THAT'S Ford's problem.

Someone should tell him that tying his laces will improve his game by a factor of 10.

[RDW]

Injury update from Edinburgh - Gilchrist has had ankle surgery and is likely to miss the first 3 games   

Starting to form a long most of players missing the first 3 games!

He reckons Denton might be out until December too.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Tell you what, Tonksy looks like he's put on the beef this summer.



Hopefully our 10 channel will be a bit more defencively sound now compared to the David Blair / Greig Laidlaw days!

So THAT'S Ford's problem.

Someone should tell him that tying his laces will improve his game by a factor of 10.

Can Ford tie his own laces ?

[George Carlin]

Confirmation of the team for Quins:
15. Peter Murchie
14. Lee Jones
13. Mark Bennett
12. James Downey
11. Rory Hughes
10. Duncan Weir
9. Murray McConnell
 
1. Alex Allan
2. Fraser Brown
3. Euan Murray
4. Jonny Gray
5. Leone Nakarawa
6. James Eddie
7. Tyrone Holmes
8. Josh Strauss (Captain)
 
Replacements:
Connor Braid
DTH van der Merwe
Peter Horne
Niko Matawalu
Adam Ashe
Chris Fusaro
Rob Harley
Rossouw de Klerk
Fergus Scott
Pat MacArthur
Jerry Yanuyanutawa

[Welly]

Leicester Tigers team
15. Morris/Scully
14. Scully/Smith
13. Manu
12. Bai
11. Goneva
10. Burns
9. Youngs
8. Barberi
7. Salvi
6. Croft
5. Parling
4. De Cheves
3. Mulipola
2. Ghilrandi
1. Sio

[Welly]

Watson looks a very good player so far.

 guess he should considering where he was a academy level.

[BigGee]

Decent run out for both sides so far. The Edinburgh pack doing just fine, winning plenty lineout and on top in the scrums. Both props doing just fine, including the one from Worcester that everyone has been giving some stick. He certainly looks like he is not just going to settle for a squad place. Hamish Watson is certainly putting himself about a bit as well. Good to see the new and the young players trying to take their chances.

I am sure there will be plenty of subs in the second half and it will be good to see how they look as well. Its a pre season game at the end of the day, so should not read to much into it, but it certainly looks a more committed Edinburgh team than some we have seen in the past!

[Welly]

You have some talented young Scottish Flankers in Watson and Richie.

[BigGee]

Leicester nicked it in the end, but the result not nearly as important as the performance which was very pleasing. On paper that was a much stronger Leicester side and they were pushed all the way and probably lucky to win in the end.

A well deserved MoM for Hamish Watson, it will be good to see him get a chance and develop this season. A special mention as well to Rory Sutherland, who played the full game, very good effort and did not look out of place. The Edinburgh pack was not noticeably weakened by the second half subs which bodes a bit better for the squad strength they will need this year if they are going to challenge.

All in all a pretty good first run out against strong opposition. A new season, as always, new hope!

[funnyExiledScot]

Delighted to hear that Watson and Sutherland went well. If they're good enough they're old enough. Watson could be first choice 7 this season.

How did Tonks get on?

[BigGee]

Tonks probably had the better game out of himself and Heathcote, who played a half each at 10, though to be fair Tonks had the dry half. He also came back on and played out the second half at 15 when Bezzy got injured. The Leicester line speed in defence was impressive and neither had a lot of time on the ball. S H-C probably had the better game of the 2 SH's as well, though neither did a lot wrong, his tactical kicking was that bit more precise, with a couple of great touch finders into the corner.

James Ritchie got 20 mins at the end and again did not really look that out of place in professional rugby for an 18 year old! He tackled, carried and got involved in the handbags with plenty enthusiasm. He certainly looks like a big raw boned young lad and may well be quite a prospect.

As I said before, the result not really that important, but it was a very decent first run out with a team that on paper looks a long way off first choice. On the evidence of today, that may change over the course of the season. It will be good to see them back it up next week against Newcastle, who on paper anyway should not be anything like as strong.

[BigGee]

Glasgow beat the Quins as well in what sounds like an entertaining game at Scotstoun. A good start to the season for them. Some highlights on line later on, looking forward to that. It looks like the Glasgow v London Scottish game is being streamed as well. I am going to watch it, but it is always good to see it screened as well.

[George Carlin]

Gee - not that I don't appreciate the sentiment, but I think that Glasgow lost by a point, didn't they?

Am delighted by these initial Edinburgh match reports. Hopefully there are highlights somewhere. Surely these young players realize that they are at the right club to potentially shine. Gilchrist as club captain has to making them think "well, if HE can do it"... Really want guys like Watson to kick on.

[BigGee]

GC, they won by a point!

[BigGee]

Beg your pardon, they did lose by a point. Oops!

[George Carlin]

Bearing in mind how Welsh we Glasgow fans are becoming, I imagine it will not take much of a stretch for us to convince ourselves that we won morally.

[funnyExiledScot]

 

Glasgow always win morally. It's quite an unbeaten run you're on!

Still, that was a strong Quins side to only just lost to.

[Sponsored content]