Zebre V Edinburgh - 29th November

   
Zebre v Edinburgh Rugby
Saturday 29th November 2014, KO 15:00 GMT
At Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma

Live on Nuvolari ( )

Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 30th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Stefano Roscini (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Roberto Carra (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Penne (FIR)

A. Teams:

Zebre

15 Hendrik Daniller
14 Leonardo Sarto*
13 Giulio Bisegni
12 Matteo Pratichetti
11 Giulio Toniolatti
10 Kelly Haimona
9 Brendon Leonard

8 Samuela Vunisa
7 Filippo Cristiano
6 Valerio Bernabò
5 Marco Bortolami (cap)
4 George Biagi
3 Dario Chistolini
2 Andrea Manici*
1 Andrea Lovotti*

16 Oliviero Fabiani
17 Andrea De Marchi
18 Lorenzo Romano / Luca Redolfini
19 Quintin Geldenhuys
20 Andries Van Schalkwyk / Jacopo Sarto
21 Guglielmo Palazzani
22 Luciano Orquera
23 Michele Visentin* / Giovanbattista Venditti*

Edinburgh Rugby

15            Nick McLENNAN
14            Dougie FIFE
13            Matt SCOTT
12            Andries STRAUSS
11            Tim VISSER
10            Tom HEATHCOTE
9              Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE
 
1              Rory SUTHERLAND
2              Ross FORD
3              Willem NEL
4              Ollie ATKINS
5              Ben TOOLIS
6              Mike COMAN (Captain)
7              Roddy GRANT
8              David DENTON

16            James HILTERBRAND
17            Grant SHIELLS
18            John ANDRESS
19            Fraser McKENZIE
20            Tomas LEONARDI
21            Grayson HART
22            Greig TONKS
23            Sam BEARD

B. Form - head to head:

4 Played 4
1 Wins 3
3 Losses 1
7 Tries 9
5 Conversions 8
7 Penalties 9
66 Points 88
26 Avg. Age 25


C. Form - last season:

Zebre 26 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby

Edinburgh Rugby 25 - 23 Zebre

Intelligent Waffle

This is a real opportunity for Edinburgh to pick up some momentum in the season after a good win against the Blues last week and two very winnable games against London Welsh coming up. Zebre have been pretty good this season though, a lot more competitive than previous years, and will prove a tough challenge.  I'm still not convinced Edinburgh really have turned a corner, but a win here will certainly help my opinons.

Zebre will certainly be targeting this game, although I'm not sure how many players they are likely to be without due to the International break.  Edinburgh will almost certainly be without Dickinson and Ford, although Visser should be available having only played 1 Scotland game.

It is "interesting" that we actually lost to Zebre on aggregate last season....

If Solomons is to be taken seriously about progress, this is a must win game.

I'd like Visser back on the left wing and Tom Brown moved to 15 (unless Tonks comes back in). Let's not bother too much with Nick McLennan.

Yeah will be a shame on Tom Brown if he's dropped. but as long as we don't see McLennan, Beard, Sam Hildalgo Clyne or GC's midly racist uncle dougie anywhere near the back 3 I don't mind who starts. Whether it is Tonks at fullback and Brown on the bench or vice-versa it is still a strong back 3. I'd definitely go for Tonks though for his boot.

I wonder whether Tonks was carrying an injury - he didn't even come off the bench against the Blues.

ER were interesting vs Cardiff. I thought Strauss looked a lot more comfortable with Matt Scott partnering him, and Heathcote seemed a bit more assured. Also in the pack, Roddy Grant seems to have a really good influence (Edinburgh's Rob Harley). The defence too was actually surprisingly good. I'm not sure if it's just because they had a good period of time to prepare, but they did seem a different side.

If any changes were to be made, I'd get Tonks to FB. I'd be interested to go with Fife (13) at centre with Scott (12) and give him the experiecne to be a good utility back bench option for the RWC.

If ER could get a BP from this, and beat LW, then the Glasgow games could be very interesting. The SRU would have an easier task of getting a scoreline like Edi 28[4tBP,LBP]-31[4tBP] Gla to give both teams max points.

Although Fife is playing well on the wing I'd love to see him at 13 with Scott at 12. Brown could then play right wing, Visser on the left and Tonks at 15. SH-C and Heathcote at half back.

Never going to happen though. Strauss and Solomons are thick as thieves and he'll never be dropped. Sadly it probably means Scott being shunted to 13, but I suppose with Dunbar regularly playing 12 at Glasgow and more recently for Scotland, perhaps that's not the end of the world. That said, for me Dunbar at 12 and Scott at 13 is clearly the wrong way around in terms of skillset.

With Bennett injured Glasgow are likely to play Dunbar at 13, with Horne or Russell at 12. Works well for Scotland, but it really is ridiculous that Scotland's best 12 for a number of years is being pushed out of position at his club by an average South African!

Everyone would love to see a backline of

S-H-C
Heathcoat
Visser
Scott
Fife
Brown
Tonks

All Scottish, all exciting, all young. Won't happen though!

BTW, incase anyone is wondering how our team representatives are, the Edinburgh one is Georgia King (born in Edinburgh) and the other is Monica Vitti (no idea where she was born, but she's Italian at least!)

SHC, Heathcote, Visser, Scott, Fife, Brown, Tonks would be a cracking backline.

RDW_Scotland wrote:With Bennett injured Glasgow are likely to play Dunbar at 13, with Horne or Russell at 12. Works well for Scotland, but it really is ridiculous that Scotland's best 12 for a number of years is being pushed out of position at his club by an average South African!

Everyone would love to see a backline of

S-H-C
Heathcoat
Visser
Scott
Fife
Brown
Tonks

All Scottish, all exciting, all young. Won't happen though!

You forget Sean Lamont or Richie Vernon as options at 13, with Dunbar at 12. Toonie has gone there quite a bit previously.

Russell being moved to 12 is just depressingly predictable. Surprised he isn't shunted to 15 or wing. What does Scottish rugby do when it identifies top talent, move it do a different position. When will we ever learn.

Great thread RDW - who is the Zebre girl and why is your choice of Edinburgh rep so rude that apparently the picture won't even show on my pooter?

George Carlin wrote:Great thread RDW - who is the Zebre girl and why is your choice of Edinburgh rep so rude that apparently the picture won't even show on my pooter?

Look 4 posts up....

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Great thread RDW - who is the Zebre girl and why is your choice of Edinburgh rep so rude that apparently the picture won't even show on my pooter?

Look 4 posts up....

Ah. Is Georgia in the nip or something? Is that why she's not 'showing' (in that sense of the word)?
Shall I bring her back to life?

Can only think it is because the link comes from IMBD, and you are banned from looking up movies??

I know you will fiddle with the thread anyway (yes I did see the picture of Cotter on the AI summary thread ) so fiddle away to your hearts content!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Can only think it is because the link comes from IMBD, and you are banned from looking up movies??

I know you will fiddle with the thread anyway (yes I did see the picture of Cotter on the AI summary thread ) so fiddle away to your hearts content!

Wouldn't dream of it.
Have already been told off for making the threads fancy pants.

Apparently both Ford and visser have travelled to italy.

Surprised at Ford - he could probably do with a rest, but we're not inundated with fit hookers just now.

You'd surely expect Ford to at least be on the bench. Hilterbrand has been playing well for Edinburgh, so I'd expect him to continue and Ford to bench (give him a rest). Given that Alan Solomons seems to often forget he has a bench, we might see Ford on the bench but not even play.

Unsure about Visser. AS, I don't think, will move Strauss or Scott. Dougie Fife is also unlikely to be demoted. Perhaps Tom Brown to FB and Visser onto the wing? Is Tonks now JUST a 10?

Edinburgh are actually looking like a side that's coming together.

Ideally, Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Grant, Watson, Denton, SHC, Heathcote, Visser, Scott, Fife, Brown, Tonks. Bench: Sutherland, Hilterbrand, Andress(?), Atkins, Coman, Grant, Hart, Cuthbert

Zebres home games so far this season

Zebre 26 - 41 Cardiff Blues
Zebre 13 - 6 Ulster Rugby
Zebre 14 - 15 Ospreys
Zebre 3 - 20 Leinster Rugby

Well beaten by Cardiff and Leinster, pushed Ospreys very close and beat Ulster.

Zebre at home seam to be hit or miss.

Munster Rugby 13 - 14 Edinburgh Rugby
Ospreys 62 - 13 Edinburgh Rugby
Ulster Rugby 30 - 0 Edinburgh Rugby
Leinster Rugby 33 - 8 Edinburgh Rugby

Edinburgh away from home, played 4 lost 3 beat Munster

But to be fair the away games have been against the best sides in the league.

I was orginally going say that this has a good chance of a draw, but looking into it, Edinburghs league position may be actually a bit misleading, as they have had a very tough away start to the season, at home the slips have been a draw against the Scarlets (not to bad a result) and losing to Connacht (who are much improved this season).

Looking at things, in a different light, I actually think Edinburghs league position is not an accurate reflection of thier ability, but rather a reflection of the tough start to the season they have had.

After next two games, away to Zebre, home to Treviso and I think we will see where this Edinburgh team really stand.

Edinburgh 7 points behind Scarlets, should win next 2 games, and Scarlets could lose thier next two (away to Connacht missing Welsh internationals, away to Blues) to move into a position to maybe push for a European Place.

On the other hand, looking at things from a top 6 perspective we really need to have beaten the Scarlets and connacht - two of our rivals.

Given we're unlikely to beat the top 5 teams at home, we had to beat them!

Also, if we had beaten them then we'd be targeting these next two pro 12 games to pull away from 6th spot, not try to catch up with teams above us...

Christmas would come early if we even saw Scott (12) at inside centre and Beard playing at 13!

tigertattie wrote:Christmas would come early if we even saw Scott (12) at inside centre and Beard playing at 13!

And Strauss at water boy?

Anyone know when the teams are out?

highland_scot wrote:

tigertattie wrote:Christmas would come early if we even saw Scott (12) at inside centre and Beard playing at 13!

And Strauss at water boy?

Hey, I'd be happy with him on the bench. It may mean Solomons may start making subs!

Heres' the team:

15 Nick McLENNAN
14 Dougie FIFE
13 Matt SCOTT
12 Andries STRAUSS
11 Tim VISSER
10 Tom HEATHCOTE
9 Sam HIDALGO-CLYNE

1 Rory SUTHERLAND
2 Ross FORD
3 Willem NEL
4 Ollie ATKINS
5 Ben TOOLIS
6 Mike COMAN (Captain)
7 Roddy GRANT
8 David DENTON

Substitutes
16 James HILTERBRAND
17 Grant SHIELLS
18 John ANDRESS
19 Fraser McKENZIE
20 Tomas LEONARDI
21 Grayson HART
22 Greig TONKS
23 Sam BEARD

Fairly predictable lineup from Solomons. Strauss continues, as expected, and the qualities unascertainable to the naked eye from Nick McLennan continue to impress Solomons.

Generally pretty decent side though, and I'm pleased that Rory Sutherland is getting an extended run.

Only 3 NSQs in the XV, and 6 in the 23. That includes Nel who becomes SQ in time for the World Cup, for those interested.

OP amended to show teams.

For those who haven't seen him, Haimona is class and a very unsportsmanlike gesture on Zebre's part in breaking with the club's tradition of having laughably crappy 10s.

God knows why McLennan is in there over Tonks, but I think all rational explanations go out the window when Matt Scott is moved to 13 to accommodate Strauss!

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

For those who haven't seen him, Haimona is class and a very unsportsmanlike gesture on Zebre's part in breaking with the club's tradition of having laughably crappy 10s.

Kelly is a girls name. I refuse to take him seriously.

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

There's also the inconsistent used of capitlisation for the Edinburgh players vs the Zebre players. I'd expect more from a lawyer frankly.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

There's also the inconsistent used of capitlisation for the Edinburgh players vs the Zebre players. I'd expect more from a lawyer frankly.

That's what you get when it's pro bono work.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

There's also the inconsistent used of capitlisation for the Edinburgh players vs the Zebre players. I'd expect more from a lawyer frankly.

That's what you get when it's pro bono work.

Pro whaty what?? Proper lawyers are never off the clock.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I see that some careless johnnie-come lately has dared to have the OP sloppily amended to show the teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

Oh, I see where the confusion has arisen. Original post from me above is also updated.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

There's also the inconsistent used of capitlisation for the Edinburgh players vs the Zebre players. I'd expect more from a lawyer frankly.

That's what you get when it's pro bono work.

Pro whaty what?? Proper lawyers are never off the clock.

I thought lawyers had to do a set number of hours a year to make them feel like they are offsetting all the evil they do for the rest of the year??

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

George Carlin wrote:OP amended to show teams.

Bit of a large gap between the Edinburgh player numbers and player names - unusually sloppy work from you Mr Carlin!

There's also the inconsistent used of capitlisation for the Edinburgh players vs the Zebre players. I'd expect more from a lawyer frankly.

That's what you get when it's pro bono work.

Pro whaty what?? Proper lawyers are never off the clock.

I thought lawyers had to do a set number of hours a year to make them feel like they are offsetting all the evil they do for the rest of the year??

Not in my old firm. Or at least not in reality. There was a section of our website dedicated to it, but I've never seen, met or heard of any of the "lawyers" who claim to attend soup kitchens during their lunch hour. I'm fairly sure we "outsource" pro bono.

The Edinburgh Rugby website says the match is being televised on "nuvolari".

Does anyone know if they show their channels live online, like BBC ALBA?

Yes it's on Alba (aka BBC sheep botherer as per my intro)

RDW_Scotland wrote:Yes it's on Alba (aka BBC sheep botherer as per my intro)

You sure? Just checked the Alba schedule and it doesn't appear to be on:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcalba/programmes/schedules/2014/11/29

Interesting. I'm sure I read somewhere it was on Alba - apparently no!

Is it on penfro's guide?

RDW I've PM'd you about the game...

Thanks - not sure if that link will work yet, normally you can't tell until the game actually starts, but I've got my usual places I'll be checking...

we can let people know tomorrow if we find one!

Afaik it's only on the Italian channel, but my friend told me you can sometimes find that on the Interweb, not sure if that's true or not.

This really is a huge game for Edinburgh's season, win it and we're 50% for the season in the league and can realistically look at challenging Connacht and Scarlets for sixth spot. Lose it and we're stuck in a cripple fight with Cardiff for eighth spot.

Shame it's not on tele.

Anyone finds a link, please speak up!

Try for the ginger midget apparently

7-3 Embra half time, following Twitter it sounds like a forward slugfest with a greasy ball. Bit like the Wales SA game I'm watching just now then.

13-10 to Zebre.

Anyone got a link they'd like to share?

Not been able to find one.

Like like we're gonna lose this

Oh Edinburgh...

Ahhh, just saw the score update.
18-10 down 6 minutes to go