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)

[EWT Spoons]

It's on Edinburgh's website

[InjuredYetAgain]

Cheers EWT. I wonder if Solomons had the idea or was just key to rubber stamp it.
On the face of it, it does seem a strange move but I think it is fair to say that McInally hadn't come on as the coaches had hoped. I know for a fact that they were really expecting great things from him.

[RDW]

....and all over Edinburgh's facebook and Twitter.

Tell you what, this is a massive decision by mcinally, and one that has required real baws.

If he stayed where he was he probably would have played most games for Edinburgh this season and, injury permitting, probably would have got a couple of caps at some point.

As it stands he's basically set himself back at least a year, and resigned himself to only playing the odd game for Edinburgh due to their strength in depth at hooker.

Edinburgh really are in deep doo doo now though - Basalaia and Denton are now the only 6/8 in the squad. 2 players. Even if we signed 2 more back rows we'd be short as a squad.

[funnyExiledScot]

I can only assume that they've played a charity darts match and realised that McInally can throw, thus the immediate transition.

It makes little sense for the club or the player in my opinion. He's small for a number 8 but tall for a hooker i'd have thought. We also need a back row, not another hooker.

Need to think about this sober....

[justified sinner]

Heard this tonight while I was watching the football. I find it hard to beievr, but hey if we're going to play a team of second rows, scrumies and hookers that's no worse than Moffats 3 sevens plan.
JS
PS not sober

[RDW]

Christ they're all at it now - Glasgow Twitter feed has just announced that Richie Vernon is going to convert to a centre!





Ok that one was a joke  

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

McInally says that "Ross Ford has helped a huge amount technically"  

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Credit to the fans of the ovalball game last night for two particular chants that I enjoyed:
1. 'Robin van Persie's better than you' at Rooney, &
2. 'Oh I'd rather have a panda than a prince'

[RDW]

Been thinking about the Edinburgh squad and thought I’d look at the current imbalance in the squad.  From the top of my head, here is the main squad list, with players likely to be away on Scotland duty at some point shown in bold, and those with long term injuries shown under lined:

LH (3) – Dickinson, Yapp, Walker
H (7) – Ford, Lawrie, Tongan bloke, McInally, Walker, Brown
TH (4) – Cross, Nel, Niven, Allan
SR (8) – Gilchrist, Cox, PJP, VDV, Atkins, McAlipne, Toolis, Toolis
BS (1) – Basalaia
OS (3) – Rennie, Grant, Watson
N8 (1) – Denton
SH (5) – Laidlaw, Hart, Kennedy, Leck, Black
SO (3) – Francis, Lenoard, Hunter
IC (2) – Scott, Atiga
OC (2) – De Luca, Fife
W (4) – Visser, Walker, Jones, Farndale
FB (3)– Tonks, Brown, Cuthbert

That’s a massively unbalanced squad.  You could have a starting XV made out of 2nd rows and hookers alone, and when you add up the number of 6/8/12/13 you get 6 players!!

Yes you could say Cox, VDV and Grant could cover 6, and De Luca could move to 12, but they are far from ideal options.

When the Scotland players are away we may even be struggling to put a full squad out in some positions.

A lot more recruitment needed.  Unfortunately at this stage of the season I can’t see anything but journeymen foreigners being available.

[RuggerRadge2611]

Been thinking about the Edinburgh squad and thought I’d look at the current imbalance in the squad.  From the top of my head, here is the main squad list, with players likely to be away on Scotland duty at some point shown in bold, and those with long term injuries shown under lined:

LH (3) – Dickinson, Yapp, Walker
H (7) – Ford, Lawrie, Tongan bloke, McInally, Walker, Brown
TH (4) – Cross, Nel, Niven, Allan
SR (8) – Gilchrist, Cox, PJP, VDV, Atkins, McAlipne, Toolis, Toolis
BS (1) – Basalaia
OS (3) – Rennie, Grant, Watson
N8 (1) – Denton
SH (5) – Laidlaw, Hart, Kennedy, Leck, Black
SO (3) – Francis, Lenoard, Hunter
IC (2) – Scott, Atiga
OC (2) – De Luca, Fife
W (4) – Visser, Walker, Jones, Farndale
FB (3)– Tonks, Brown, Cuthbert

That’s a massively unbalanced squad.  You could have a starting XV made out of 2nd rows and hookers alone, and when you add up the number of 6/8/12/13 you get 6 players!!

Yes you could say Cox, VDV and Grant could cover 6, and De Luca could move to 12, but they are far from ideal options.

When the Scotland players are away we may even be struggling to put a full squad out in some positions.

A lot more recruitment needed.  Unfortunately at this stage of the season I can’t see anything but journeymen foreigners being available.

It begs the question why we have moved McInally when we are so short of backrowers on the books.

[RDW]

It sounds like it was very much his idea Radge - he thinks it's his best chance to play for Scotland.

Hopefully this decision was made after Edinburgh signed a 35 year old Tongan hooker on a 2 year deal…but being the SRU it wouldn’t surprise me if it wasn’t!

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Been thinking about the Edinburgh squad and thought I’d look at the current imbalance in the squad.  From the top of my head, here is the main squad list, with players likely to be away on Scotland duty at some point shown in bold, and those with long term injuries shown under lined:

LH (3) – Dickinson, Yapp, Walker
H (7) – Ford, Lawrie, Tongan bloke, McInally, Walker, Brown
TH (4) – Cross, Nel, Niven, Allan
SR (8) – Gilchrist, Cox, PJP, VDV, Atkins, McAlipne, Toolis, Toolis
BS (1) – Basalaia
OS (3) – Rennie, Grant, Watson
N8 (1) – Denton
SH (5) – Laidlaw, Hart, Kennedy, Leck, Black
SO (3) – Francis, Lenoard, Hunter
IC (2) – Scott, Atiga
OC (2) – De Luca, Fife
W (4) – Visser, Walker, Jones, Farndale
FB (3)– Tonks, Brown, Cuthbert

That’s a massively unbalanced squad.  You could have a starting XV made out of 2nd rows and hookers alone, and when you add up the number of 6/8/12/13 you get 6 players!!

Yes you could say Cox, VDV and Grant could cover 6, and De Luca could move to 12, but they are far from ideal options.

When the Scotland players are away we may even be struggling to put a full squad out in some positions.

A lot more recruitment needed.  Unfortunately at this stage of the season I can’t see anything but journeymen foreigners being available.

It begs the question why we have moved McInally when we are so short of backrowers on the books.

It sure does, Radge - I can imagine that the primary driver was McInally himself who saw his international ambitions stifled behind Beattie, Wilson and Denton for the 8 slot, and behind Brown, Strokosch and Harley for the 6 slot.  Nevertheless, lack of head coach at Edinburgh will certainly have meant that what the club needed right now was perhaps not best represented?

It is an incredibly unbalanced squad (5 x scrum half, 4 x both centre positions, 1 x blindside, 1 x no8 - it's abysmal come international windows!) - I find it difficult to square with Solie's 'dont expect any recruitment soon' statements

[tigertattie]

Ford moved to Hooker at an earlier age I think.  I'm not sure, but I think he played hooker for his school age region?

McInally moving to hooker now just makes no sense to me!  I can only look at it as if he has been told he will not be playing 8 this year and will be at 6, and he has a hatred at playing 6?
At 6 he would get plenty game time, he is more suited for that position also.  At hooker, he will get next to no game time! Its barmy!!!

Now, Vernon moving to centre for glasgow actually makes sense

[RuggerRadge2611]

Ford moved to Hooker at an earlier age I think.  I'm not sure, but I think he played hooker for his school age region?

McInally moving to hooker now just makes no sense to me!  I can only look at it as if he has been told he will not be playing 8 this year and will be at 6, and he has a hatred at playing 6?
At 6 he would get plenty game time, he is more suited for that position also.  At hooker, he will get next to no game time! Its barmy!!!

Now, Vernon moving to centre for glasgow actually makes sense

I packed down against Ross Ford at U18 level when he played for Kelso. He was a Hooker back than and of considerable size. His switch certainly happened before he turned pro.

[Captain_Sensible]

This doesn't make too much sense from an Edinburgh perspective, but it might work out for McInally. Tom Youngs converted from centre to hooker at the age of 22. Fours years later, he was a Lion. McInally is 23 now.

[funnyExiledScot]

McInally says that "Ross Ford has helped a huge amount technically"  

Excellent news. Hopefully Rennie will be fit this season to mop up the overthrows at the back of the lineout!

[funnyExiledScot]

Just looking at the imbalance issue, they really need to look for some back row cover.

Simon Taylor on a one year deal makes a lot of sense, and I'd like to see Richie McIver join the squad for a season to see how he gets on (in truth he should have played a full role in pre-season).

At centre I think we'll see a fair bit of Dougie Fife this season, and fingers crossed that Atiga will be fresh after a proper pre-season. He showed some glimpes of ability towards the end of last season, he just wasn't in any way fit when he arrived. We really need him this season to perform. I still think Edinburgh should have been allocated Robbie Ferguson, and I don't want to see Tonks used at centre as Bradley did in the past. He's far better at 15, and if Tonks is used in the centres it'll mean big Jack Cuthbert is more likely being used at 15, which worries me.

[nickj]

I find this very strange, not least because of the new 'crouch, bind, set' scrummaging laws.

I thought the new laws were meant to be bringing back hooking, rather than hit and shove?

[tigertattie]

the new laws are a farce!

binding first before the hit results in the front rows not only being pushed together, but now also pulled together! We will now get a bigger hit at the engage! Totally silly!!!

If the IRB want to fix the scrums, then take the engage out, form up, set the scrum, have the ball put in straight, then allow the scrums to push once the ball is in!
stupid IRB!!!

Regardless of the laws, McInally moving to hooker seems really really odd! If it is to play for scotland, will he be any nearer 1st choice as hooker than he would be at 6? I'm not too sure about that!

[funnyExiledScot]

Ah, don't worry about the technical aspects. Ross Ford is on the case.....

The more I think about this the stranger it seems.

[tigertattie]

Ah, don't worry about the technical aspects. Ross Ford is on the case.....

The more I think about this the stranger it seems.

Stranger than folk that think Mark Bennett is a superstar centre?

[IanBru]

Well yes, clearly, tiger.

Also stranger than people who think that the sun will rise tomorrow, and those who don't consider cricket to be a legitimste form of exercise.

[nickj]

I know I keep banging on about new signings, but surely this points towards a new back row signing or two for Edinburgh? At least post ITM / Currie Cup?

In the meantime we could really do with a Taylor, McIver or / even Big Jason White (who's also back in town) coming into the squad as cover.

[tigertattie]

Ahhhhhhhh, old Jason eh!

Now there is a ledge!

unfortuantly I think old jason is too far retired for a comeback!

[RDW]

Scientific studies has apparently shown that the new scrum sequence reduces impact forces by 20%....

We had our first pre season game on Saturday and the props didn't mind the change too much at all. The problems have never really been at amateur level though - scrums don't often collapse cause props are generally to knackered to push - it was the pro games that was the problem.

[Majestic83]

Really odd decision to move McInally to Hooker. Not just due to the lack of back row in the squad and the very full hooker roster already but also due to his height. At 6ft 3 he is pretty tall to play hooker, most of the very best have been around 6ft or just below. Will be interesting to see how he goes at scrummaging especially when the other Edinburgh props will be shorter.
At 23 it is quite a bit older than when Ford made the move from Back row to hooker. Ford was about 17 when he made the switch just around the time he got his contract with the Borders. Think it was Tony Gilbert who initiated the move.

It does make the signing of Latui even more bizarre as it can't have been something they have thought of overnight switching him positions. There are good stocks at hooker at Edinburgh and Glasgow especially with some very talented young guys coming through like Alun Walker, Fraser Brown, George Turner etc so I think McInally will find it just as hard to get a hooker berth at Scotland unless he has been promised he will if he makes the switch!

[Majestic83]

Back rowers Edinburgh should bring in are McIvor who can play 8 or 6, Gary Graham from Gala who is a very good 6 and very tough to play against. Following on from all the recent Aussie signings I still think Lachlan McCaffrey is a must. Adept at either 6 or 8, is a big guy who carries very well and likes to play physical. Just been unlucky at the force as over the last 2/3 years he has been behind Pocock, Brown, Hodgson and McCallman. If he was at most of the other aussie sides he'd be in the starting line up.

[RDW]

McIver trained with the squad for 2 weeks and was in 2 match day squads but never got on - maybe they didn't think he cut it at that level? If he was as good as everything thinks he is I can't see why we wouldn't give him a 1 year deal....

You never know - maybe we did but the money wasn't as good as what he earns now as a bar manager.  Wouldn't have thought we'd offer him much.

[nickj]

Majestic, do we know whether Lachlan McCaffrey's even on the SRU's radar?

I had a bit of a scout around and interestingly it seems Lachlan has the same agent as Josh Strauss.

http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/Loose_forward/index

[Majestic83]

Majestic, do we know whether Lachlan McCaffrey's even on the SRU's radar?

I had a bit of a scout around and interestingly it seems Lachlan has the same agent as Josh Strauss.

http://www.worldartists.co.za/page/clients/Loose_forward/index

I would hope he is on the SRU radar but you never know with that lot at Murrayfield. Think Lachy would be keen for a switch across to Edinburgh to play more regular rugby and also at the chance to push for international honours. Seems like a pretty good guy who gets on well with everyone at the force so would fit in easily into Edinburgh.

[funnyExiledScot]

There are good stocks at hooker at Edinburgh and Glasgow especially with some very talented young guys coming through like Alun Walker, Fraser Brown, George Turner etc so I think McInally will find it just as hard to get a hooker berth at Scotland unless he has been promised he will if he makes the switch!

I totally agree with this. Ross Ford is hardly past it, and Pat MacArthur isn't going anywhere fast, so I fail to see how this will catapult McInally into the Scotland reckoning. I can see his worry regarding making the Scotland 8 jersey with Beattie, Denton and Wilson ahead of him, but I think he should stick at it. Wilson was nowhere at the start of last season, and he's probably now ahead of Denton. Beattie's form seems to come and go, and Denton was pretty lame last season. I'm surprised McInally is giving up on the back row. His performances the season previous at number 8 (the London Irish match in particular) were very good indeed. If he can rekindle that form, he could easily keep Denton out of the number 8 jersey at Edinburgh, and with Wilson out injured for a while, leaves him only up against Beattie (and Vernon I guess). Ali Hogg seems out of the picture.

I'm still hoping this is a joke.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

There are good stocks at hooker at Edinburgh and Glasgow especially with some very talented young guys coming through like Alun Walker, Fraser Brown, George Turner etc so I think McInally will find it just as hard to get a hooker berth at Scotland unless he has been promised he will if he makes the switch!

I totally agree with this. Ross Ford is hardly past it, and Pat MacArthur isn't going anywhere fast, so I fail to see how this will catapult McInally into the Scotland reckoning. I can see his worry regarding making the Scotland 8 jersey with Beattie, Denton and Wilson ahead of him, but I think he should stick at it. Wilson was nowhere at the start of last season, and he's probably now ahead of Denton. Beattie's form seems to come and go, and Denton was pretty lame last season. I'm surprised McInally is giving up on the back row. His performances the season previous at number 8 (the London Irish match in particular) were very good indeed. If he can rekindle that form, he could easily keep Denton out of the number 8 jersey at Edinburgh, and with Wilson out injured for a while, leaves him only up against Beattie (and Vernon I guess). Ali Hogg seems out of the picture.

I'm still hoping this is a joke.

Sadly, it isn't fES, altho the more I think about it, the more I think it should be

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Back rowers Edinburgh should bring in are McIvor who can play 8 or 6, Gary Graham from Gala who is a very good 6 and very tough to play against. Following on from all the recent Aussie signings I still think Lachlan McCaffrey is a must. Adept at either 6 or 8, is a big guy who carries very well and likes to play physical. Just been unlucky at the force as over the last 2/3 years he has been behind Pocock, Brown, Hodgson and McCallman. If he was at most of the other aussie sides he'd be in the starting line up.

Maj, totally agree - if Embra don't get GG's name on a piece of paper now, they are barking

[funnyExiledScot]

I hope he isn't basing this decision on the same thought that occured to all of us Edinburgh fans last season - that we could all be better at throwing the ball then Titterall and Ford!

The other obstacle not to be underestimated is Lawrie, who played some good stuff last season, and fully deserved his Scotland call-up.

The real beneficiary of this news is Dmitri Basilia, who should now have a clear run at the 6 jersey this season, and the chance to make it his own. At 27 years old, 6ft 3 and 17.5st he should be entering his prime as a back row player, and he has the power to really make a difference to our pack. He also has 21 international caps so should know what he's doing. Chronically underused last season when you consider that Brainless Bradley had Cox playing at 6 on more than one occassion.

[RuggerRadge2611]

I can't see how this will help Edinburgh or Scotland. McInally should have tried to impose himself at 8 or 6.
Edinbrugh or Scotland don't need another hooker.

[funnyExiledScot]

If he really wanted to enhance his Scotland chances he could have worked on playing across the whole back row. He has good pace and of all the back row options, possibly Vernon aside, he's strongly equipped to offer that versatility, including playing openside.

The problem with Strokosch and Harley is that they are blindside flankers only at international level, and so by having them on the bench you can cause yourself issues if injuries are to occur. I'm no fan of moving Brown to 7, and Beattie and Denton in my opinion are more specialist at 8 (don't think Denton has the discipline or application to be a top class 6).

[RuggerRadge2611]

Denton has the abilities and discipline to do it. However he does lack the application to be a blindsider.

His vanity prevents him from getting really stuck in like Brown or Strokosch.

Denton is more concerned with making powerful carries, which is good. However he seems to think breakdown and chopping work is beneath him.

It's a pity since his tackle and jackel is one of the best I have seen. Denton's best example was his try saving tackle and penalty winning turnover against England at Murrayfield in 2012.

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree, and a big problem last season is that we often played Denton and Talei in tandem, with Nel and Ford in the front row.

That's four glory boys in the same pack who are all looking to run with ball in hand. Too many chiefs, not enough indians.

Proper blindsides, like Strokosch, Brown and Harley, can go a whole game without handling the ball (other than in the rucks....). They just tackle non-stop and smash into rucks. Denton is just a bit too selfish. Not a problem if you're looking for a ball carrying number 8, but a big problem if you need his pretty face to be at the bottom of rucks.

[tigertattie]

Denton better get his finger out! I cant see Solomons going on reputations or previous "form" to pick his team! If Denton does not show in practise the skillset Solomons is after and then uses these skills in game then it could be a long bench warming season for Denton!

Anyone know a good shoulder surgeon? Reading about White or Taylor playing again for Ednburgh is getting me wanting to go back too

[funnyExiledScot]

To be fair I don't think Solomons has the luxury of playing tough guy with Denton. He has to play, there's no-one else!!

Thankfully Scott Johnson does have a few more options to choose from.

We, myself included, are probably being a bit harsh on Denton. It's not like he was awful last season, he was just a good way short of his huge potential. He's still a kid by international standards, and has plenty road ahead of him.

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

To be fair I don't think Solomons has the luxury of playing tough guy with Denton. He has to play, there's no-one else!!

Thankfully Scott Johnson does have a few more options to choose from.

We, myself included, are probably being a bit harsh on Denton. It's not like he was awful last season, he was just a good way short of his huge potential. He's still a kid by international standards, and has plenty road ahead of him.

There's nothing that sticks in the craw more than witnessing someone with the ability, squander it - particularly to those that don't quite themselves have that ability!

[RDW]

I’m anticipating a big season from Denton. If he has any pride last season will have hurt him a lot – he went from 1st choice for Scotland and Lions candidate to dropped by Edinburgh and Scotland. I’m hoping he’ll have learnt a lot from that – it was basically entirely down to his attitude that it happened.

Unfortunately though it looks like he’s not going to have the competition to drive him on – he’s still top dawg at Edinburgh with no one forcing him to up his game.

[funnyExiledScot]

There's nothing that sticks in the craw more than witnessing someone with the ability, squander it - particularly to those that don't quite themselves have that ability!

I used to think that way, but after Ben Atiga and Piers Francis there is something that sticks in the craw more: witnessing someone with no ability demonstrate that fact on a frequent basis and continue to be selected!!

[InjuredYetAgain]

I see from tonight's Evening News that Cuthbert wants to play in the centres now so that creates more options there but reduces them at FB. This will end up like those games you played where the backs and forwards all swapped positions at half time if a game was boring or too one sided.
Is anyone going to the Edinburgh open night tonight?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

I see from tonight's Evening News that Cuthbert wants to play in the centres now so that creates more options there but reduces them at FB. This will end up like those games you played where the backs and forwards all swapped positions at half time if a game was boring or too one sided.
Is anyone going to the Edinburgh open night tonight?

An inside backs trio of Two-firstnames, fat Ben and Cuthbutt mkII  

[RDW]

Christ an Atiga-Cuthbert midfield - is that not a harbinger of the apocalypse?

[AsLongAsBut100ofUs]

Might be, RDW, but pls pls play them for the 1872 Cup games?

[InjuredYetAgain]

Apocalyptic only if the ball ever reaches the centre. With our forwards (in)ability to win ball, Laidlaw's pedestrian service and Piers Morgan at stand off, we can never actually be sure that the centres will ever see the ball!

[RDW]

Where's this article injured? Couldn't find it

[funnyExiledScot]

I see from tonight's Evening News that Cuthbert wants to play in the centres now so that creates more options there but reduces them at FB. This will end up like those games you played where the backs and forwards all swapped positions at half time if a game was boring or too one sided.
Is anyone going to the Edinburgh open night tonight?

Sadly I can't. Still stuck at work.  

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