Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread III

[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
 
A. Edinburgh
 
1. Pre-season
 
Fri 30 Aug 2013, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 15 - 5 Newcastle Falcons
 
Fri 23 Aug 2013, 19:30
Northampton Saints 24 - 6 Edinburgh Rugby
 
2. 2013/2014 Season - Played
 
Sat 7 Sep, 19:15
Munster Rugby 34 - 23 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 13 Sep, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 16 - 13 Newport Gwent Dragons
 
Sat 21 Sep, 18:30
Ospreys 44 - 10 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 27 Sep, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 9 - 22 Scarlets
 
Sun 6 Oct, 14:05
Cardiff Blues 29 - 12 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 25 Oct, 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 20 - 13 Benetton Treviso
 
Fri 1 Nov 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 23 Zebre
 
Fri 22 Nov 19:05
Ulster Rugby 41 - 17 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 29 Nov 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 43 - 10 Connacht
 
Fri 20 Dec 19:35
Edinburgh Rugby 11 - 6 Leinster
 
Thu 26 Dec 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby 16 - 20 Glasgow Warriors
 
Wed 1 Jan 18:05
Glasgow Warriors P - P Edinburgh Rugby
 
Sat 15 Feb 17:00
Connacht Rugby 11 - 7 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Sat 22 Feb 14:30
Scarlets 25 - 21 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 28 Feb 19:35
Edinburgh Rugby 31 - 25 Ospreys
 
Fri 21 Mar 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 3 - 9 Ulster Rugby
 
Sat 29 Mar 19:00
Benetton Treviso 20 - 16 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Thu 3 Apr 18:30
Newport Gwent Dragons 19 - 23 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Fri 11 Apr 19:45
Edinburgh Rugby 22 - 29 Cardiff Blues
 
Sat 19 Apr 15:30
Zebre 26 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby
 
Sat 26 Apr 19:05
Glasgow Warriors 37 - 34 Edinburgh Rugby
 
3. 2013/2014 Season - Final Games
 
Sat 3 May 17:00
Edinburgh Rugby v Munster Rugby
Meggetland
BBCALBA/TG4
 
Sat 10 May 18:30
Leinster Rugby v Edinburgh Rugby
Royal Dublin Society
 
B. Glasgow
 
1. Pre-season
 
Sat 31 Aug 2013, 15:00
Exeter Chiefs 26 - 29 Glasgow Warriors
 
2. 2013/2014 Season
 
Fri 6 Sep, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 22 - 15 Cardiff Blues
 
Fri 13 Sep, 19:05
Ulster Rugby 12 - 13 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 20 Sep, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 12 - 6 Leinster Rugby
 
Fri 27 Sep, 19:30
Zebre 17 - 24 Glasgow Warriors
 
Sat 5 Oct, 18:30
Scarlets 12 - 17 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 25 Oct, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 6 - 13 Munster Rugby
 
Sat 2 Nov, 17:00
Connacht Rugby 12 - 19 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 22 Nov, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 8 - 23 Newport Gwent Dragons
 
Fri 29 Nov, 19:05
Ospreys 16 - 28 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 20 Dec, 19:35
Glasgow Warriors P - P Benetton Treviso
 
Thu 26 Dec 15:05
Edinburgh Rugby 16 - 20 Glasgow Warriors
 
Wed 1 Jan 18:05
Glasgow Warriors P - P Edinburgh Rugby
 
Sun 9 Feb 14:00
Glasgow Warriors 8 - 6 Connacht Rugby
 
Sat 15 Feb 18:30
Cardiff Blues 20 - 27 Glasgow Warriors
 
Sun 23 Feb 14:30
Newport Gwent Dragons 24 - 23 Glasgow Warriors
 
Sat 1 Mar 20:30
Leinster Rugby 28 - 25 Glasgow Warriors
 
Sat 22 Mar 18:30
Glasgow Warriors 14 - 6 Scarlets
 
Fri 28 Mar 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 11 - 9 Ospreys
 
Fri 4 Apr 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 29 - 10 Benetton Treviso
 
Sat 12 Apr 18:30
Munster Rugby 5 - 22 Glasgow Warriors
 
Fri 18 Apr 19:35
Glasgow Warriors 27 - 9 Ulster Rugby
 
Sat 26 Apr 19:05
Glasgow Warriors 37 - 34 Edinburgh Rugby
 
3. 2013/2014 Season - Final Games
 
Fri 2 May 20:00
Benetton Treviso v Glasgow Warriors
Stadio Monigo
Mediast/ALBA
 
Sat 10 May 18:30
Glasgow Warriors v Zebre
Scotstoun Stadium
 
[16/17/18 May
PO Semi Final
[tbc] v [tbc]
Venue TBA]
 
[Sat 31 May
PO Final
[tbc] v [tbc]
Venue TBA]
 
***
 
Any and all patter about these teams is welcome.
 
Any jingoism, sledging or graceless kicking of anyone whilst they are up or down will see posts deleted.
 
Be gracious and be constructive.

[funnyExiledScot]

Letting go of Cross and NDL wasn't the brightest idea, but I think we'll see more and better from Beard at 13 this season.

As for tighthead, if we can sign a top quality one then fine, but otherwise I'm happy to give McQuillan a shot as backup to Nel and Berghan, and is there not also Phil Cringle coming through the ranks as well.

The principle must be that we only sign another NSQ prop if that player is "significantly" better than any Scottish alternative. There are two young SQ tightheads on the books and two seasoned pros. I don't have a big issue with that.

[funnyExiledScot]

Think they said he can cover both, but he's very much a loosehead from what I've seen.

I prefer props to be specialists - think they have to spend a lot of time perfecting technique on one side of the scrum.

That's what I've heard as well - Dell prefers the loosehead side. Given Dickinson's injury problems and Blaauw being fat, I think we'll see a fair bit of Dell this season in the 1 jersey.

[RDW]

I don't think we can class berghan as a seasoned pro - think he's only 24 and I don't think he's had any Super rugby experience, so is a bit of an unknown quantity just now.

Or were you referring to that journeyman guy from Worcester? He definitely seems like a last resort kind of signing.

[funnyExiledScot]

Ooops - mixed up Berghan with the Worcester journeyman (whose name I've forgotten).

In which case we're not short of numbers at tighthead at all, but I agree that the quality behind Nel is questionnable. Very much doubt we'll sign another though.

[VinceWLB]

Don't forget Andress on the Tighthead side, i think he has attitude problems but i believe Ulster were sorry to see him go and i will reserve any judgement before i see him play. Does it matter anyway? Nel will surely be picked and play 80 minutes of every game   

[funnyExiledScot]

John Andress. Thank you Google.

I just typed "NSQ journeyman prop not as good as Geoff Cross" and his name popped right up.

[funnyExiledScot]

Don't forget Andress on the Tighthead side, i think he has attitude problems but i believe Ulster were sorry to see him go and i will reserve any judgement before i see him play. Does it matter anyway? Nel will surely be picked and play 80 minutes of every game   

I hear he and Hogg are great friends, and spend the weekends together defrauding little old ladies, robbing charity shops and handing out Yes campaign leaflets.

[VinceWLB]

Don't forget Andress on the Tighthead side, i think he has attitude problems but i believe Ulster were sorry to see him go and i will reserve any judgement before i see him play. Does it matter anyway? Nel will surely be picked and play 80 minutes of every game   

I hear he and Hogg are great friends, and spend the weekends together defrauding little old ladies, robbing charity shops and handing out Yes campaign leaflets.

  

From the little i have read about Andress, Hogg is an angel compared to him!

Seriously this was a very strange signing, Nel and Murray as backup when it's not a sunday would have been an exciting prospect..

[madmaccas]

Edinburgh have signed Phil Burleigh from the Highlanders. Centre/Fly Half - just what the doc ordered.

Pretty handy player from what I've seen.

[RDW]

Highlanders stand off / centre Phil Burleigh.

Who?

[nickj]

http://www.thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/85-phil-burleigh

Well, well, well. That is a surprise.

Is he another project?

[RDW]

30 Super rugby caps - a bit more like it!

My girlfriend approves, but that's because he's hot apparently!

[nickj]

If he's described as a midfield back by the Highlanders does that mean he's a 13? Or is he a 12 and another reason why we seem to be grooming Scott into a 13?

[madmaccas]

Apparently he's not Scottish qualified. Drat

[demosthenes]

http://www.thehighlanders.co.nz/our-team/player-profiles/85-phil-burleigh

Well, well, well. That is a surprise.

Is he another project?

At 28 years old I doubt it.

[VinceWLB]

Interesting but it makes the Bresler signing more and more unlikely, unfortunately.

[funnyExiledScot]

Not really sure what to make of this signing. We have quite a bit of cover now at 10, so I presume this guy will be mainly used at centre. If he's good at 13 then this could work, but it's a shame to sign another NSQ player. Perhaps my biggest concern next season is that we'll end up with Matt Scott at 13, which to me would be a big mistake for Scottish rugby.

I wouldn't be too upset at losing out on Bresler. We do have Gilchrist, Atkins and McKenzie, and the two Toolis brothers are a year on in their development. All these guys are SQ.

[VinceWLB]

Story on the Edinburgh website saying that he has been signed mainly as a standoff, does it mean we will see Tonks back to fullback? bit disappointing if true.

[Majestic83]

Not really sure what to make of this signing. We have quite a bit of cover now at 10, so I presume this guy will be mainly used at centre. If he's good at 13 then this could work, but it's a shame to sign another NSQ player. Perhaps my biggest concern next season is that we'll end up with Matt Scott at 13, which to me would be a big mistake for Scottish rugby.

I wouldn't be too upset at losing out on Bresler. We do have Gilchrist, Atkins and McKenzie, and the two Toolis brothers are a year on in their development. All these guys are SQ.

You would be wrong, he has been signed mainly as a fly half who can cover centre according to Solomons. Seems a bit strange when Edinburgh have heathcote, Tonks and Carl already.

[Majestic83]

Looking at the highlanders site he has mostly been used as a 12 or on the bench this season. Very good player but a bit surprised we have signed him when we are fine for 10 and 12s.

[funnyExiledScot]

We seem to keep doing this. Signing multiple players in the same position and leaving ourselves exposed in other positions.

However good this guy is, having him/Bezzy at 10 and Strauss at 12 next season is a problem for Scottish rugby. These are key positions in which we need depth, and you only get depth by having SQ players featuring in professional rugby matches on a regular basis in those positions.

My take on this signing is that Bezzy must be being considered primarily at fullback, or the Tonks experiment is over before it's started. We don't need four fly halves.

[BigGee]

Well remember that Edinburgh are not going to see all that much of Matt Scott this side of xmas with his shoulder injury and then after he will be on international duty so a decent option at 12 is not to be sniffed at. There will undoubtedly be other injuries as well and it does look like he can play right across the midfield line, which all sounds good.

He is going to have to play back to back seasons as well though and from what we have seen of that before, he may fade a bit towards the end of next season. Hope though by then there will be some others stepping up to the plate.

[RDW]

The highlanders class him as a midfield back, but concerning to hear Edinburgh see him playing at 10

[nickj]

That's what I was on about, when I asked if a midfield back was a 13.

[Majestic83]

Don't get how Solomons sees him as a fly half. From what I can see he hasn't play at 10 at super rugby level or tim level. Been mostly 12 and a few games at 13.

[nickj]

He seems a bit too similar to Nick McLennan IMO

[funnyExiledScot]

He seems a bit too similar to Nick McLennan IMO

God, forgot about him as well.

We really are a depositary for average SH players!!

[BigGee]

It would be good to see Edinburgh carry on with their policy of loaning out some of the promising youngsters to the English championship sides this year. Hard to see Dean, Hoyland or Farndale getting to much game time in an Edinburgh shirt next year barring a disastrous run of injuries and they do very much need to be playing at a decent level to develop.

Ritchie, at 17 years old, I would imagine needs to be spending plenty of time in the gym to get his conditioning up to speed, especially in his position. I would imagine we won't see to much of him this year and he certainly does not need to be rushed.

Hard to see Dominguez and Tait being much other than squad players who are going to fill in during the practice games. They are going to struggle to get any game time at all.

[RDW]

To be fair, this guy has a lot of Super rugby experience - McLennan has none!

[VinceWLB]

So another player signed to play out of position? hmmm doesn't exactly fill me with excitement.

[BigGee]

He seems a bit too similar to Nick McLennan IMO

God, forgot about him as well.

We really are a depositary for average SH players!!

I would imagine that this one is slightly better than average, 30 Super Rugby appearances is not to be sniffed at. I had forgotten about McLennan as well though. Another unknown quantity but SQ, so definitely worth a look at. Plenty options in the back line next year for Edinburgh, keeping them all busy and happy is going to be a challenge. Solomans needs to have a chat with Toonie on how to achieve that. He certainly will be rotating a lot more than last year and that will be no bad thing.

[funnyExiledScot]

Having looks at his track record, at least there's a chance he'll be better than Andries Strauss and Ben Atiga......

I don't think we can criticise Edinburgh in terms of quantity of signings though. The entire squad is virtually unrecognisable from the squad a couple of years back when I bought my first season ticket!

[RDW]

Well the good news is he's coming at the end of the Super rugby season, which will probably mean the end of July.

He should be in pretty good shape, so just give him a few weeks off and he'll have enough time to get up to speed before the start of the season.

He's 27 too so is in his prime.

Whether we need him or not, it does look like he's got more to his game than Strauss!

[BigGee]

Having looks at his track record, at least there's a chance he'll be better than Andries Strauss and Ben Atiga......

I don't think we can criticise Edinburgh in terms of quantity of signings though. The entire squad is virtually unrecognisable from the squad a couple of years back when I bought my first season ticket!

Edinburgh definitely have he potential of a pretty decent team there. Good quality individual players who just need to be knitted together into a team that really play for each other. It can all turn around very quickly sometimes, look at the way Glasgow suddenly went on that run a couple of seasons ago and some fairly unheralded players suddenly came to the fore.

Even as a Glasgow fan I very much hope that Edinburgh have a better season this year. Two strong Scottish sides can only be a good thing. I think there is plenty to look forward to. Don't you just love the optimism of a new season!

[RDW]

The more I've looked into him the more I think this is an excellent signing.

I think we've got to ignore the fact that we're already well stocked in the 10/12 department because, lets face it we've very much for quantity not quality.

This guy has got 32 SR caps and I see he's won MOTM awards at that level too - that surely shows a calibre of player much higher than Strauss, Dominguez, McLennan and Tait.

So instead of saying we don't need this guy, we should be happy we've got someone of his calibre and be wondering why we've got players like Tait and Strauss who offer very little.

I've tried to find some highlights but couldn't find much, but I have seen some games where he's wearing the 13 shirt.

We need a kiwi to give us some info!

[nickj]

That's the spirit RDW. I agree. I'm all for signing better players if and when they become available. It would be daft not to. I just hope someone is keeping an eye on those coffers and we're actually working to a structured, well planned player acquisition strategy. In the past that doesn't seem to have been the case.

[IanBru]

RDW, interestingly, he's on the bench (no.23 slot) for the Highlanders against the Chiefs on Friday morning - an opportunity to actually see a new signing in action!

[RDW]

Go to 2 mins 10 to see a great run that almost led to a try



He score against the 'cains in round 6 but not been able to find highlights

[funnyExiledScot]

I agree up to a point. It's probably more accurate to suggest we do need this guy but don't need Strauss and/or McLennan.

What's the first choice backline now then?

9.Hart 10.Heathcote 11.Visser 12.Burleigh 13.Scott 14.Fife 15.Cuthbert

Second choice:

9.Kennedy 10.Tonks 11.Farndale 12.Strauss 13.Beard 14.Hoyland 15.Brown

I suspect for Solomons he'd more likely use Beard and Brown on the wings, McLennan at 13 and Bezzy at 15.

[funnyExiledScot]

Go to 2 mins 10 to see a great run that almost led to a try

He'll fit right in....

  

[RDW]

If this guy is comfortable playing 13, and Solomons plays him there, it ticks all the boxes.

If however it's another reason to play Matt Scott at 13 then that's not ideal. At least Matt night see some decent ball with this guy inside him though instead of Strauss!

[funnyExiledScot]

Agree - if he can play 13 then we're in business. Solomons likes Scott at 13 though, even though it causes Scotland problems.

I am now looking forward to the start of the season more, if for no other reason than to see how Solomons is going to deploy all these new players!

[RDW]

To be fair Matt Scott did pretty good at 13, but I much prefer him at 12 - especially for Scotland

[funnyExiledScot]

That's the issue, Scotland. I'm less fussed about it from an Edinburgh perspective, but without Scott then the only inside centre regularly playing in that position will be Peter Horne.

I guess the question will then be what happens at Glasgow with Alex Dunbar, and whether the competition in the centres is principally one between Horne and Dunbar at 12, or Dunbar and Bennett at 13.

[Nematode]

Great signing. Hopefully he's a good kicker so we can play him at 13 and Tonks at 10. BTW, saw a short clip with him in it and he was playing 13.

[funnyExiledScot]

Not much chat about Tonks on the Beeb, which refers to him competing with Heathcote and Bezzy for the 10 jersey.

But then again I've long suspected that the rugby pages on the Beeb are co-written by Inverdale, Guscott and Doyle, with their knowledge of Scottish rugby limited to knowing a bit about Gavin Hastings in the 90's.

[RDW]

It's looking increasingly like Tonks isn't being considered at 10, which would be a shame.

[BigGee]

It's looking increasingly like Tonks isn't being considered at 10, which would be a shame.

Not so sure about that. We know he is a good full back, the jury is still out on him at FH. He certainly showed he could fill a gap there, but not sure if it is his best position.

[RDW]

I was just mightily impressed with him when he had that run of 8 games, I was looking forward to seeing him have a season at it.

He just looked so asssured and ran the backline well, and lets face it the jury is still out with all our other options at 10 just now for Scotland!

[funnyExiledScot]

The thing I liked most about the idea of Tonks at 10 was the running threat he would offer. With him at 10, Scott at 12 and Dunbar at 13 you would have three players who are solid in defence but with good broken field running skills and decent pace. His ability to kick the ball a country mile also meant that he could compete with Duncan Weir's main strength.

Still, he's a decent 15 as well. More rounded than Cuthbert I'd suggest. My only hope is that we don't mess him about. Let's just pick his position and stick with it.

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