New Edinburgh and Glasgow Teams Thread - 2013/2014

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

We exhausted the other thread, so here we go with a new one for all of your pre-season banter needs.
 
1. Edinburgh   
 
Chairman: Jim Calder
CEO: Craig Docherty
Coach: Alan Solomons  
Captain: Greig Laidlaw
 
(a) Squad:
 
Props
Geoff Cross, WP Nel, Lewis Niven, Alasdair Dickinson
 
Hookers
Ross Ford, Steven Lawrie, Aleki Lutui, Alun Walker,
 
Locks
Sean Cox, Grant Gilchrist, Perry Parker, Izak van der Westhuizen, Robert McAlpine,
 
Loose Forwards
Dimitri Basilaia, David Denton, Roddy Grant, Stuart McInally, Ross Rennie, Hamish Watson,
 
Half Backs
Alex Black, Greig Laidlaw, Chris Leck, Harry Leonard, Piers Francis,
 
Centres
Ben Atiga, Ben Cairns, Nick De Luca, John Houston, Matt Scott,
 
Back Three
Tom Brown, Lee Jones, Greig Tonks, Tim Visser, Nikki Walker, Dougie Fife, Jack Cuthbert
 
(b) Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Nikki Walker from Worcester Warriors
Jack Cuthbert from Bath Rugby
Aleki Lutui from Worcester Warriors
Alasdair Dickinson from Sale Sharks
 
Players Out
 
Richie Rees to Newport Gwent Dragons
Netani Talei to Newport Gwent Dragons
Sep Visser released
Mike Penn to Moseley
Andy Titterrell to London Welsh
John Yapp to London Irish
Allan Jacobsen retired
James King retired
Steven Turnbull retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Alex Allan (Edinburgh Accies)
Chris Auld (Gala)*
Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir)*
Phil Cringle (Heriot’s)
Bruce Dick (Melrose)*
Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies)
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Heriot’s)
Neil Irvine Hess (Watsonians)*
Ewan McQuillin (Gala)*
George Turner (Heriot’s)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Accies)
 
* = new EDP player 
 
2. Glasgow  
 
Chairman: Charles Shaw
CEO: Nathan Bomrys
Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Alastair Kellock
 
(a) Squad:
 
Fraser Brown, Hooker
Finlay Gillies, Hooker
Dougie Hall, Hooker
Pat MacArthur, Hooker
Michael Cusack, Prop
Ryan Grant, Prop
Ed Kalman, Prop
Moray Low, Prop
Gordon Reid, Prop
Jon Welsh, Prop
Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Prop
 
Jonny Gray, Lock
Alastair Kellock, Lock
Tom Ryder, Lock
Tim Swinson, Lock
Leone Nakarawa, Lock
 
James Eddie, Flanker
Chris Fusaro, Flanker
Rob Harley, Flanker
Tyrone Holmes, Flanker
 
Ryan Wilson, Number 8
Richie Vernon, Number 8
Josh Strauss, Number 8
 
Chris Cusiter, Scrum-half
Nikola Matawalu, Scrum-half
Henry Pyrgos, Scrum-half
 
Ruaridh Jackson, Fly-half
Duncan Weir, Fly-half
Scott Wight, Fly-half
 
Gabriel Ascarate, Centre
Mark Bennett, Centre
Alex Dunbar, Centre
Peter Horne, Centre
Byron McGuigan, Centre
 
Sean Lamont, Wing
Sean Maitland, Wing
Tommy Seymour, Wing
D.T.H. van der Merwe, Wing
 
Stuart Hogg, Fullback
Peter Murchie, Fullback
 
(b) Player Transfers 2013/2014:
 
Players In
 
Richie Vernon from Sale Sharks
Tyrone Holmes from Petrarca Rugby
Jerry Yanuyanutawa from London Irish
Gabriel Ascarate from US Carcassonne
Leone Nakarawa from Fiji Barbarians
 
Players Out
 
John Barclay to Scarlets
Nick Campbell to Jersey
Ofa Fainga'anuku to Worcester Warriors
Taylor Paris to Agen
Graeme Morrison retired
Rory Lamont retired
 
(c) Elite Development Players 2013/2014:
 
Gavin Lowe (Ayr)
Rory Hughes (Stirling County)
Jack Steele (Dundee)
Finn Russell (Ayr)
Ali Price (Bedford Blues)
Adam Ashe (Stirling County)
Will Bordill (Sale Sharks)
Andrew Redmayne (Dundee)
Fergus Scott (Currie)
George Hunter (Ayr)
Darcy Rae (Ayr)

[nickj]

Can your source reveal any of the other new faces?

[RDW]

Rodney So'oialo was touted by the Blues and Scarlets but they couldn't afford his wages - now that we're a super rich mega power reckon we could pursue him??

[nickj]

Great minds RDW.

Joking apart, Old Rodders would be a cracking replacement for Talei.

Nonu might be available too... but that might put Atiga's nose out of joint a bit.  

[RDW]

My only concern would be how committed he would be - no point spending mega bucks on someone at the end of their careers and have then half-arse the season away. He's been living it large in Japan recently too so can't be top level fit.

Would much prefer that Englebrecht chap from the Southern Kings!

[George Carlin]

Apparently security cameras caught this man exiting Murrayfield clutching a new contract yesterday:

[nickj]

All very Sky Sports News esque

[RDW]

That's a very pixilated picture on my phone - who is it, and I'm assuming you're taking the mick in some way??

[George Carlin]

That's a very pixilated picture on my phone - who is it, and I'm assuming you're taking the mick in some way??

Here is an additional visual clue, which should hopefully show up better:

[RDW]

 

 


Club legend!

[George Carlin]

 

 


Club legend!

Couldn't resist.

[Dorothy_Mantooth]

Can your source reveal any of the other new faces?

Did not mention any other names. I was just asking about Hart and he confirmed he was coming to Scotland, but it would not be Glasgow.

[Majestic83]

Rodney So'oialo was touted by the Blues and Scarlets but they couldn't afford his wages - now that we're a super rich mega power reckon we could pursue him??

I hope Edinburgh stay well clear of So'oialo, he was a great player 6/7 years ago but is no where near up to it now. Even in Japan he has only
put in average performances and wasn't offered a new contract out there. The Hurricanes released him and at the time there were rumours part
of it was due to his attitude so Edinburgh should stay well clear. A couple of the back rowers from the kings would be ideal for Edinburgh, the 8 and blindside have been outstanding this season, big grafters, huge ball carriers and very physical. Still think they should try and bring in Lachy McCaffery from the force. Really good player and offers all the things Edinburgh need and blindside plus he is also scottish qualified. Been unlucky at the Force to be
behind Hodgson, McCallman, Brown and before this season Pocock.

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Is The Chainsaw really back ? - straight into the AIs for him then !  

[boomeranga]

Nothing more than a persistent rumour that I can't back up with any proof whatsoever, but there's speculation amongst Waratahs fans that Ollie Atkins is off to Scotland.  He has been one of our backup Locks this year and played in the Tahs v Lions game.  Will not win anyone a championship, but seemed to go ok.

[Majestic83]

It's possible, he has played in Scotland before with Edinburgh Accies when he was on a gap year. Edinburgh need a 2nd row so could be a goer

[justified sinner]

Looks like we are getting Atkins if this Aussie source is to be believed

http://www.sydneyunirugby.com.au/_blog/Club_News/post/match-report-students-out-run-norths

[George Carlin]

http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad/PlayerPage/tabid/182/playerid/59/Default.aspx
 
6'6", 18 and a half stone at 24 years old means that he's a reasonable unit. No Richie Gray, mind.

Not necessarily a disgrace to be behind Douglas (great season) and Timani in the Tahs pecking order.

[RDW]

Could do with a 6/8 over another 2nd row, but again won't say no to a big powerful player.

[RDW]

Grayson Hart highlights, since it seems like a done deal for Edinburgh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0JZ2EzsyyE

I know it is difficult to tell from these things, but he's got a good pass on him and looks a very direct scrum half - would compliment Laidlaw by coming on with 20 mins to go and adding some direct play and zip. Keeps the fringe defence honest too.

Will look for one for this Atkins guy. Is he SQ?

[Majestic83]

Grayson Hart highlights, since it seems like a done deal for Edinburgh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0JZ2EzsyyE

I know it is difficult to tell from these things, but he's got a good pass on him and looks a very direct scrum half - would compliment Laidlaw by coming on with 20 mins to go and adding some direct play and zip.  Keeps the fringe defence honest too.

Will look for one for this Atkins guy.  Is he SQ?

yep Grayson is exactly that type of player, very opposite to Laidlaw. Hart has a sharp pass on him but is very physical and likes to mix it up and carry the ball too, will be a good player to bring on in the later stages of games and confuse opposition who will gear towards a d on laidlaw.

[George Carlin]

Alasdair Reid is angry   :

Welcome to the c0ck-up capital
Sunday 4 August 2013

As it took them the best part of six months to fill the post, you would hope the SRU knew what they were about when they finally appointed Alan Solomons as Edinburgh head coach the other day.

And, for his sake, you also hope the 63-year-old South African was just as thorough in his research on the club he is about to join.

Because, to be frank, Edinburgh are a basket case at the moment. As SRU chief executive Mark Dodson pointed out a couple of months ago, their run to the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup last year obscured deep-seated problems at the club, a crisis of morale, a dangerous lack of depth and over-reliance on a handful of key players. And those chickens all came home to roost last season.

At its start, the players all talked about European success being a platform they could build on. In actual fact, it collapsed beneath them. Key players struggled. The new coaching team were a disaster. Their most noteworthy achievements were to lose their first two Heineken Cup games without scoring a single point - no team had managed that before - and to finish the pool stages with a lower points total than any side in the competition's history.

So welcome to the man sausage-up capital, Mr Solomons. Let's hope you have a plan to make Edinburgh a side who are actually worthy of representing one of the great rugby cities of the northern hemisphere. But if you don't, here's a few suggestions for the to-do list.

1 Get Ross Ford back to his best

It took the Lions management a while to notice it, but Ford was the best hooker in the British Isles four years ago. Since when, he has been stuck in reverse gear, having lost the dynamism of old. The hooker is one part of the spine of a team, and Ford has become a weak link.

His underlying abilities are beyond question. At 29, he is not exactly in his dotage either. The Scotland captaincy was a burden last year, and he has to be encouraged to play something closer to his natural game than the rugby-by-numbers form too many coaches have tried to impose.

2 Recruit and spend wisely

There was a time when Scottish teams struggled because they lacked the funding to compete. Now, they have playing budgets on a par with most English sides. However, while Glasgow have used their money cleverly, Edinburgh have been reckless and profligate, bringing in too many ordinary players.

Dodson has made it clear that Solomons will have money to spend. Edinburgh need quality and they need game-changers of the sort Glasgow found when they brought Josh Strauss and Niko Matawalu on board. On top of which, he should keep a close eye on the club scene, as there are many there who could do a better job than some of Edinburgh's recent signings.

3 Lift morale

Easier said than done, but Solomons has to clear the foul air that has made the Edinburgh dressing room such a toxic environment for the past couple of seasons. A prolonged honesty session is needed to get issues out in the open. He also has to make it clear that grievances that festered while Michael Bradley was in charge are no longer relevant on his watch.

Again, the answer can be found at the other end of the M8, where Glasgow have developed a superb team ethos. On his first day in office, the first thing Solomons should do is put a call in to Gregor Townsend.

4 Push for a new ground

It may not be his direct responsibility, but it will quickly become obvious to Solomons that having more than 60,000 empty seats at Murrayfield does not bestow much of a home advantage. There is a pressing need for Edinburgh to find a home of their own, and Solomons should not be afraid, as some coaches have been, to put his head above the parapet and say so.

5 Sort things out at fly-half

It is just about the oldest truism in rugby that a good team need a good playmaker to pull the strings. Edinburgh have had a few on their books, but they have chopped and changed between Piers Francis, Greig Laidlaw, Gregor Hunter and Harry Leonard over the past two seasons.

Bradley apparently wanted to bring an experienced fly-half to the club, but his efforts were blocked by senior SRU management. Solomons has to put his foot down and get the player he wants and needs settled in the most important position on the pitch.

6 Harden up the pack

When the mood took them, the Edinburgh pack could bully opponents last season, but they were rolled over too often. In the second row, Sean Cox, such a powerful figure in his first season, seemed to lose some of his stroppiness and menace, while Grant Gilchrist needs a more abrasive edge.

Edinburgh have plenty of ball-playing forwards, but no real enforcer in their ranks. In rugby, you have to be able to stop the other lot playing as well. Think nasty should be Solomons' mantra when he is drawing up his shopping list.

[RDW]

All fair comments, no holding back! Was that the herald?

[RDW]

Also I see the kings won last night but not by enough so have been relegated - let's see if any of the decent ones are persuaded to follow him to Edinburgh.

[George Carlin]

All fair comments, no holding back! Was that the herald?

Yep, although worthy of any column in the Daily Fail.

[RDW]

On another thread madmaccas brought up the suggestion that John Hardie of the Highlanders has been approached by Sean Lineen - anyone on here got anymore to add to that?

Majestic gave a run down of the player but I've never seen him. Would he be a good acquisition?

Both teams are fairly strong in the 7 department (Rennie fitness depending) but again wouldn't say no to a decent player.

[EWT Spoons]

SRU in for Openside

Think we talked about him here a couple of months ago:

[RDW]

So we did - thought his name sounded familiar!

[Weegie Wizard]

Bad news on the Kings front. SA press are reporting that Engelbrecht and Murray are both moving to the Bulls and the fly-half is trying to move to the Stormers. That probably means Solomons will only bring squad players or youngsters with him.

[RDW]

I hope we don’t just sign Kings players for the sake of it. I’d rather wait 6 months or a year for a very good player than just sign up average foreign squad player (like we did last year!).

We are short in several positions but we aren’t desperate and could make do – no point in doing any panic signings.

[nickj]

Rodney So'oialo was touted by the Blues and Scarlets but they couldn't afford his wages - now that we're a super rich mega power reckon we could pursue him??

I hope Edinburgh stay well clear of So'oialo, he was a great player 6/7 years ago but is no where near up to it now. Even in Japan he has only
put in average performances and wasn't offered a new contract out there. The Hurricanes released him and at the time there were rumours part
of it was due to his attitude so Edinburgh should stay well clear. A couple of the back rowers from the kings would be ideal for Edinburgh, the 8 and blindside have been outstanding this season, big grafters, huge ball carriers and very physical. Still think they should try and bring in Lachy McCaffery from the force. Really good player and offers all the things Edinburgh need and blindside plus he is also scottish qualified. Been unlucky at the Force to be
behind Hodgson, McCallman, Brown and before this season Pocock.

McCaffrey sounds like a good player Majestic, even if he's had a few injury problems. Do you know if he's a real option?

http://westernforcematchcentre.com/meet-the-force/lachlan-mccaffrey/

An Edinburgh squad bolstered by Hart, Atkins, Hardie, McCaffrey and maybe Robbie Robinson wouldn't half look a bit classier and more importantly deeper.

It looks like we need a new loose head too http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/23554711

[funnyExiledScot]

It's a good articles by Alastair Reid, very much picking up on what most of us on here have been saying for some time.

I'm particularly pleased that he's picked up Gilchrist. Huge potential that lad, he just needs to be more effective and abrasive. It's sometimes not enough to just hit a ruck or make a tackles, sometimes you have to smash your opponent into next week, particularly a big athlete like Gilchrist, and last season he was just too soft. If this Atkins chap joins us, VDW has a strong start to the season and Cox returns to his form of two seasons ago, Gilchrist could quickly find himself out of the matchday squad.

Sounds like some decent names are being spoken of, although I'm not convinced the key position of blindside is being addressed. It may well be that Solomons likes VDW as a flanker - he's apparently covered that position before.

[EWT Spoons]

Couple of articles on Solomons in the Scotsman:

Edinburgh Rugby: Wisdom of Alan Solomons
by MARTIN HANNAN  Published on the  04 August  2013

WHEN he was unveiled in midweek as the new coach of Edinburgh Rugby, much was made of Alan Solomons’ record of success in Ulster and South Africa, and that he has attained great things in those two countries is unarguable.

Even yesterday evening’s relegation of his Southern Kings side from the top rank of Super Rugby cannot detract from their director of rugby’s achievement in building a professional club from scratch – literally so, as he had to cobble together a side to play their first match against the British and Irish Lions in 2009.

His time in charge of the Southern Kings – amateurs just four years ago – ended heartbreakingly when his brave side just failed to beat The Lions in the two-leg promotion-relegation battle. Trailing 26-19 from the first leg, the Kings threw everything at their hosts and won the match with a late try from Scott van Breda.

The 23-18 scoreline was not enough to overturn the deficit, however, and by an agonising two points the Kings went out of Super Rugby at the end of their initial season.

Nevertheless, Solomons can arrive in Edinburgh at the end of the week citing earlier successes with Currie Cup winners Western Province, Super 12 semi-finalists Stormers, the Springboks – he was assistant to coach Nick Mallett during South Africa’s record 17-match winning streak – and Ulster, who won the Celtic Cup at Murrayfield in 2003 and were unbeaten at Ravenhill in the Heineken Cup during his three years in charge.

He also coached the Barbarians to wins over England, Scotland and Wales in 2003, and several countries around the world credit him for their improvement during his time as a consultant coach with the International Rugby Board. Yet the same Alan Solomons presided over months of abject failure at Northampton Saints in 2004, the club’s chairman Keith Barwell sacking him after they suffered eight successive defeats in the Zurich Premiership.

Ironically, his first match in charge of Edinburgh will be the seasonal warm-up match against those very same Northampton Saints, scheduled for 7.30pm on Friday, 23 August at Franklin’s Gardens.

So what kind of man have SRU chief executive Mark Dodson and the Union’s Director of Rugby Scott Johnson recruited – he was always their target after the departure of Michael Bradley. By all accounts approachable and likeable, as well as a hard taskmaster, a pattern emerges when you study the career of Solomons, who turned from the practice of law to full-time professional rugby coaching in 1997.

At that time, professionalism was new to everyone, so Solomons had to help build the structures that made Western Province and then the Stormers such forces in South African rugby.

He assisted Mallett in the building of a formidable South African side before moving to Ulster, where he is still revered for his wholehearted commitment and painstaking approach to building the province’s fine side that featured the likes of Jeremy Davidson, David Humphreys and Andy Ward. Solomons liked Northern Ireland so much he made his home there. Indeed, his wife Mary stayed on while Solomons saw her only at holidays, and now the couple are looking forward to living in Edinburgh.

So what went wrong at Northampton? Reports at the time mentioned the fact that Solomons tried to blend in foreign internationalists to what had been a fairly entrenched side, even appointing one of the imports, Corne Krige, as the Saints’ captain.

Northampton wanted a quick turnaround to get back to their heyday, and amidst talk of player revolts, Solomons did not have the time to build things his way.

That he has worked wonders with the Southern Kings is beyond doubt. South Africa’s legendary pioneer of mixed race rugby, Cheeky Watson, enticed Solomons to the old Boet Erasmus Stadium in Port Elizabeth – they subsequently moved to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium – and his impact on the franchise has been massive.

Speaking to his local radio station before yesterday’s match, Solomons said: “I was brought here three years ago by Cheeky with the specific brief of preparing us for our entry into Super Rugby and taking us into our first year of Super Rugby.

“Part of that was on the coaching front, improving the quality of the side so that we could be competitive at Super Rugby level and I’d like to think we’ve been reasonably successful on that score.”

Tellingly, he added that the Kings’ youth academy has been a big achievement: “It gives me an immense amount of pride to see that almost 97 per cent of that academy is local and 65 per cent are players of colour.”

Every department of the Kings was enhanced during his time as director.

“We’ve got good coaching structures running throughout,” said Solomons, “all in all, we’ve come a long way from the old Boet Erasmus Stadium days and I’m honoured and privileged to have been part of this amazing journey.”

A builder, then, rather than an “impact” manager. Solomons’ initial contract with Edinburgh is for two years, which will take him past his 65th birthday. He may well need every day of those two years to rebuild the side after its spectacular collapse last season following the heroics of the year before.

His paymasters at the SRU have shown they can be patient with coaches – after all, they put up with Scotland’s Australian coach Matt Williams for long after his sell-by date – and on the evidence of his career to date, everyone involved with Edinburgh Rugby may have to wait for the wisdom of Solomons to bear fruit.

[EWT Spoons]

Allan Massie: Solomons’ appointment delay leaves Edinburgh scrambling to catch up

Published on the 03 August 2013

ONE can admire, indeed applaud, Mark Dodson’s willingness to delay till he has got the right man.

This is certainly better than making a hurried appointment when, for one reason or another, a post becomes vacant.

All the same it’s a pity that we shall have to wait until next summer before the new Scotland coach, Vern Cotter, is free to take up the job, and that Alan Solomons has been named as Edinburgh’s coach only a few weeks before the start of the new season.

No doubt the delay was unavoidable in view of Solomons’ commitments in South Africa. Nevertheless, whereas Cotter’s unavailability may not matter greatly, since Scott Johnson is in place to continue as national coach this season, combining the job with that of Director of Rugby, the delay in appointing Solomons does disadvantage Edinburgh. Had he been able to take up the post within a few weeks of Michael Bradley’s dismissal, he would have been in a position to strengthen the squad over the summer. All new coaches want to bring in a few players of their own choice, but now of course northern hemisphere players are already committed to their clubs.

Edinburgh have signed new players, but none is the kind of recruit described as “a marquee player”. Three are Scottish internationals: Nikki Walker, Jack Cuthbert and Alasdair Dickinson. Dickinson replaces Allan Jacobsen who has retired. Walker, a wing, and Cuthbert, wing and full-back, are more than useful additions, whose merit few would dispute.

Nevertheless they play in positions where Edinburgh are already well equipped, rather than in those needing attention. Looking at Edinburgh last season, you wouldn’t say the back three was the area of the team that most needed reinforcement. The fourth signing is the veteran Tongan hooker, Aleko Lutui. At the age of 35 he is back-up to Ross Ford and Steve Lawrie.

Last season it was common to remark that whereas Glasgow had recruited well in the summer of 2012, Edinburgh hadn’t, some of their signings already past their best. One consequence was that Gregor Townsend was able to rotate his squad without weakening his team, this wasn’t the case with Edinburgh – and Glasgow’s bench was stronger too.

Solomons comes with vast and varied experience, which is good. His task is difficult, but he has one other thing going for him. Last season was so dismal almost anything must be an improvement. Of course there were extenuating circumstances. International players such as Ross Rennie, David Denton, Nick De Luca and Lee Jones, were all injured for part of the season, and a couple of them found it hard to regain form when they returned to the side. But all teams have stars injured from time to time. Edinburgh suffered more on account of their lack of reserve strength.

The new coach will have little time to develop the style he wants his team to play. Yet getting this right is important. It seemed to me that Michael Bradley tried to impose a style unsuited to those at his disposal.

They weren’t equipped to play the driving forward-orientated game he demanded. Too often using the backs seemed a last resort. They were often starved of the ball, which was far too often kicked away, presumably on orders. Yet they have threequarters capable of scoring tries against any opposition. Edinburgh have three young fly-halves: Piers Francis, the Englishman recruited from New Zealand, Harry Leonard, the former captain of the under-20 national side, and Gregor Hunter. All are talented, but none are established yet. One of them at least must surely do so in the first months of the season.

Otherwise Solomons will either have to bring in a new player – perhaps from South Africa – or consider moving Greig Laidlaw back to fly-half, with the more than promising young Sean Kennedy at scrum-half. This would be unfair to Laidlaw, now established as Scotland’s first choice No 9.

Edinburgh still won’t have a dominating scrum, even though more will be expected from W P Nel in his second season, and from the fast-improving Grant Gilchrist. Last year they were almost always in trouble in the set scrum. Since they are unlikely to win many penalties awarded for being stronger in the set scrum than the other side, they might even be advised to try the daring experiment of a quick heel and a pass to the fly-half, rather than relying on the No 8 to pick up, drive, and set up second-phase possession.

Who knows? Such an unfashionable ploy might even take the opposition by surprise.

A final word: let us hope that Alan Solomons realizes a front-row forward is rarely the best person to have standing as first receiver in the No 10 slot

[funnyExiledScot]

Edinburgh have signed new players, but none is the kind of recruit described as “a marquee player”. Three are Scottish internationals: Nikki Walker, Jack Cuthbert and Alasdair Dickinson. Dickinson replaces Allan Jacobsen who has retired. Walker, a wing, and Cuthbert, wing and full-back, are more than useful additions, whose merit few would dispute.

I don't dispute Dickinson and Walker, both will be useful this season, but Cuthbert isn't good enough. I was perfectly happy with Tonks and Brown.

[RDW]

Cuthbert is the reason the  emoticon exists.

[funnyExiledScot]

A final word: let us hope that Alan Solomons realizes a front-row forward is rarely the best person to have standing as first receiver in the No 10 slot.

Aw come on. That's was the best aspect of the slap stick comedy event that was Edinburgh matches last season. Chunk reaching over his belly to take the ball at first receiver so that we could attempt to break the world record for the most consecutive phases of play in which each phase constituted a loss of territory.

[funnyExiledScot]

International players such as Ross Rennie, David Denton, Nick De Luca and Lee Jones, were all injured for part of the season, and a couple of them found it hard to regain form when they returned to the side.

I think he means Rennie was never fit for more than 20 minutes, and Denton, De Luca and Jones were all utterly dreadful.

Not so much "found it hard to regain form", more "didn't in any way reach, at any point, the standards expected of a professional rugby player, let alone supposed international players".

[George Carlin]

I see Alan S had a crack at the Saffer RU this morning. Just the sounds of a man anguished for his franchise, no doubt but it's nice to see someone new in management call a spade an effing shovel.

[funnyExiledScot]

I see Alan S had a crack at the Saffer RU this morning. Just the sounds of a man anguished for his franchise, no doubt but it's nice to see someone new in management call a spade an effing shovel.

This is excellent news. We need a strong head coach to stick it to the SRU (and the players) as and when required. We all hoped that Neil Back would be the tough task master the squad needed, but having seen Edinburgh many times last season, I don't think he had the technical skillset to get the best from the players.

I'm actually quite excited about the forthcoming season. Probably not a good idea to get my hopes up.....

[RDW]

I see Alan S had a crack at the Saffer RU this morning. Just the sounds of a man anguished for his franchise, no doubt but it's nice to see someone new in management call a spade an effing shovel.

This is excellent news. We need a strong head coach to stick it to the SRU (and the players) as and when required. We all hoped that Neil Back would be the tough task master the squad needed, but having seen Edinburgh many times last season, I don't think he had the technical skillset to get the best from the players.

I'm actually quite excited about the forthcoming season. Probably not a good idea to get my hopes up.....

To be fair FES, the fact that you bought a season ticket shows that you clearly don’t have a clue what a ‘good idea’ actually is!

Did you go to the BBQ?

[funnyExiledScot]

I didn't. Had a mate up from London and had other plans.

Shame, with Chunk retired I may even have got something to eat, although Ben Atiga would have been a formidable hurdle.

I'd have had to eat an awful lot of BBQ to extract value from my season ticket.....

[InjuredYetAgain]

I see Alan S had a crack at the Saffer RU this morning. Just the sounds of a man anguished for his franchise, no doubt but it's nice to see someone new in management call a spade an effing shovel.

I missed that, George. What did he say?

[InjuredYetAgain]

The Evening News seems to hint that a big name is on his way to Edinburgh. I honestly can't think a current top level player would come to Edinburgh; maybe someone who has just fallen away from the top, though.
That said, no one expected much from Matt Mustchyn when he arrived but he at least provided a bit of backbone and attitude

[funnyExiledScot]

Visser was a pretty unheralded signing at the time, as was Greg Tonks. It's often the below radar signings that are the best.

How many Glasgow fans were partying in the street when DTH signed..... or Al Kellock. 1.5 million inspected rucks later you have a club legend.

[InjuredYetAgain]

Have the UN not granted Kellock official "observer" status yet?

[nickj]

InjuredYetAgain can you share a link to The Evening News piece and the hints?

[RDW]

Just reading that Laidlaw is in the final year of his contract, and all his talk seems to suggest this will be his last year. Obviously there's a long way to go but would be surprised if he left in the summer.

As long as Grayson Hart is semi decent that is probably no bad thing, best for the player, Edinburgh and Scotland.

[funnyExiledScot]

I wonder where Laidlaw would go? Hopefully somewhere where he's made to work on his skillset at 9, rather than mucked about. His goal kicking abilities will attract a number of clubs you'd think.

Assuming we get Grayson Hart, and assuming he's good, and assuming Sean Kennedy and Hidalgo-Clyne both improve this season, I'd could live without Laidlaw. Harry Leonard better get working on that goal kicking.

[George Carlin]

I see Alan S had a crack at the Saffer RU this morning. Just the sounds of a man anguished for his franchise, no doubt but it's nice to see someone new in management call a spade an effing shovel.

I missed that, George. What did he say?

From SuperXV.com:

Outgoing Kings Boss slams SA Rugby's leadership

Article Published: Sunday 4 August 2013

Outgoing Southern Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons went out in a blaze of glory following his franchise's relegation from Super Rugby on Saturday, despite a 23-18 victory over the Lions at Ellis Park.

"I think it is an absolute disgrace that we are not in Super Rugby and if we are interested in truly transforming this game the Eastern Cape has to be there," Solomons said.

"We need some leadership here and leadership has got to decide what they want to do about South African Rugby. Do they want to move it on or do we want to stay where we were prior to 1994?"

The Kings lost the first leg of the promotion-relegation matches in Port Elizabeth and needed to win by eight points on Saturday to maintain the status quo.

Instead, there were scenes of celebrations in Doornfontein as the Lions clawed their way back from the Super Rugby wilderness.

"I look at it from our franchise's point of view and we've had a fantastic debut season," Solomons said.

"We got the rough end of refereeing decisions in the first match and it cost us our Super Rugby status. To say the least it is unsatisfactory."

While Lions coach Johan Ackermann was overjoyed with their new-found Super Rugby status, he conceded that it was a flawed process.

"It should have been better dealt with and there could have been a better solution," Ackermann said.

"Tonight there is no winner: We win, so we are all smiles and they lose, so all the work they've done there, will be on hold now.

"From a South African perspective, if I was Heyneke Meyer and I had six franchises to choose from, I would be smiling."

Solomons said their relegation was not only a setback for rugby in the Eastern Cape but for the sport as a whole.

"The Kings have got to do everything in their power to keep things going, the South African Rugby Union have to ensure that we are in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup at the very least," Solomons said.

Ackermann was sympathetic to the Kings' cause as their relegation had consequences in many facets of their structures.

"There are many changes that happen - you plan to sign coaches for your Super Rugby, your VC and your Under-20s - then suddenly things change and you have to adapt," he said.

"There are many implications...I honestly can't say how you find a solution for it now."

He said the Lions were now in the same situation as the Kings were in a year ago where they had little time to assemble a squad for next year's Super Rugby competition.

"We couldn't commit to a Super squad until we knew the results after these two games," Ackermann said.

"We worked on a plan B where the focus was on youngsters and now we can start looking at Franco van der Merwe, Elton Jantjies and all those high-profile players."

[justified sinner]

New Embra defence coach, is this man

http://www.sportlive.co.za/rugby/superrugby/2013/03/13/omar-holds-the-keys-to-the-kingdom#

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