Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country

by IanBru Wed 20 Jan 2016, 7:15 pm

First topic message reminder :

A Brief History of Time-Wasting
Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 EsZNtP0

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 EsZNtP0

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 MitlgiA

1872 Champions

Glasgow
Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 Cg1RGJa

1872 Runners-up

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's THE RUN IN!

by **RDW** Tue 23 Feb 2016, 10:20 am

He did indeed - let's see how much influence he has. The role sounded more like helping people out once they have already signed, as opposed to actively recruiting.

I'm all for promising youngsters coming to Edinburgh but we really need 1 or 2 quality seasoned pros in the centre to replace Matt Scott and Beard.

Alex Grove again??

by **George Carlin** Tue 23 Feb 2016, 10:25 am

https://www.606v2.com/t62271-newport-gwent-dragons-v-glasgow-warriors-25-february

by Hazel Sapling Tue 23 Feb 2016, 10:30 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:It places a big onus on the younger generation coming through quickly. For all the jokes about Mike Coman being a little bit average, he plays a lot of games each season and we will need someone like Ritchie to step up fast. In fact he's the only specialist blindside currently slated for the squad next season (we're fine at 7 with Hardie and Watson and at 8 with Du Preez, Manu and Bradbury).

Same with someone like Chris Dean. With Scott and Beard gone, and Strauss surely given his P45, there's a big gap at centre. Burleigh will presumably move to 12 from 10, to allow Diet Dan time to prove he isn't up to it, and Allan will I presume continue as first choice 13, but behind those two there's really nothing. Helu can play 13 at a push, but we're starting to look really light at centre. Get your boots back on Ben Atiga....

Less concerned about blindside flanker. My starting back row for Edinburgh is 6) Du Preez, 7) Hardie, 8) Manu with Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury the next ones up. Edinburgh could do with someone else (Bordill, Eadie, Cowan, Low are some SQ players I can think of). If LI go down, I think it would be Cowan.

Centres is a real problem, Edinburgh need 2 and I will stick with what I said a few weeks ago; 4 Scotland centres at Glasgow and 0 at Edinburgh makes no sense. Glasgow have Johnson and Bryce (OC or FB?) coming through to add to the riches. Fergusson has played well at 13 for LS and could do with game time in a better league. Vernon could do with gametime after a season lost to injury and getting a consistent run that he will never get with Glasgow. Lyle is turning into a 7s specialist, but is he really going to make it to the 2020 Olympics? 15s is where he should be. Outside of Glasgow, Hutchison would be interesting as he could play 10 and 13 filling both needs at once.

If they are going to go NSQ, then it better be a promising project or an established Super 15 starter (not the 3rd choice who is the tackle bag). Edinburgh need to be able to compete for ERCC. Their goal should be to get ahead of the 2nd best Welsh side in my view.

by EWT Spoons Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:06 am

For next season at centre Edinburgh have

Dean
Burleigh (who will move back to 10 during international periods when meatball/diet dan is away)
Allan
McLennan (I think his contract might be up at the end of the season, no great loss considering the limited and relatively poor impact he's made)
Helu

Am I missing anyone? I've left out Strauss as I'm pretty sure his contract is up and he's leaving as well. That might have been an amazing dream, but I'm sure it's actually happening.

We therefore need some depth, as we could be down to 3 centres during international windows and any injuries could really shaft us. Not sure weakening Glasgow is the way forward, but you could argue that Vernon would suit our game considering he's a former forward and Solly likes a very forward orientated game.

by **RDW** Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:08 am

Problem with Vernon is that he's a distinctly average centre.

by EWT Spoons Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:12 am

No doubt, but what works in his advantage is that he is a centre and he's not Strauss.

I appreciate that's a very limited set of requirements.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:15 am

Vernon is better at 13, and to be honest it's 12 we really look short. Allan, Dean and Helu can all play 13, and I've long suggested that Dougie Fife try it as well.

Burleigh can't play the whole season, and although I'm told that Dean can play 12, I haven't seen it yet.

One option is to try Kinghorn at 12, but I don't want to mess him about too much. He needs to settle at 15 or 10, and pick one of those sooner rather than later.

Anyway, Vernon is pretty average.

by EWT Spoons Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:21 am

I think Kinghorn is too light to play 12. I'd leave him at 15. I'd move Dean to 12 to see how he gets on, lets face it, if he doesn't make a complete mess of playing 12 then he's got to be a near enough starter next season the way things are going.

That way him and Burleigh can cover 12, Allan and Helu can cover 13. Tonks has played centre as well, not well mind you, so he could be an emergency option.

Vernon is average, but he does have a league winners medal in his back pocket, and played a lot of games for Glasgow last season. We could do worse.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:28 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:Vernon is better at 13, and to be honest it's 12 we really look short. Allan, Dean and Helu can all play 13, and I've long suggested that Dougie Fife try it as well.

Burleigh can't play the whole season, and although I'm told that Dean can play 12, I haven't seen it yet.

One option is to try Kinghorn at 12, but I don't want to mess him about too much. He needs to settle at 15 or 10, and pick one of those sooner rather than later.

Anyway, Vernon is pretty average.

Vernon has played how many professional games at centre though? I thought he had a game or two at 12 where he looked pretty good. Think it might have been Munster away last year during an injury crisis. He needs some time to adapt. He isn't a true great like Sam Burgess....

As for the in bold part, warning

by **RDW** Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:35 am

Kinghorn should be nowhere near the 12 shirt.

I wouldn't mind signing Vernon at all, but only as a squad player - if he ended up being our biggest signing in the centre I'd be very disappointed indeed!

by Majestic83 Tue 23 Feb 2016, 11:43 am

I think Tom Galbraith is going to be signing for Edinburgh. Looks very good when he has played for the u20s and Melrose this season. Probably looks physically ready as well. Plays the majority of his rugby at 12 or 10.

James Johnstone has looked handy as well when he has played for Edinburgh, a stand out on the 7s circuit for Scotland, quick and powerful with a good skillset.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 23 Feb 2016, 1:42 pm

Well perhaps that's the grand plan, Galbraith and Johnstone coming in to cover 12 and 13 respectively. Far better that than another Strauss or Atiga coming on board.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:13 pm

Regarding the back row, one idea could be to tempt Kelly Brown back on a one-year deal with a view to moving into coaching. He's gained lots of experience at Sarries, has 64 Scotland caps and has captained his country. He's 33 now and I suspect Sarries won't need him next year, so he could be a great fit at Edinburgh to mentor young Ritchie and Bradbury for a year, plus gives us cover for Coman and Denton leaving (and Manu being injured all the time).

Just a thought.

by **RDW** Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:17 pm

A good thought FES, and I do think we need another experienced 6/8 at the club with Coman leaving.

I'd obviously rather a top class player in their prime who can challenge Du Preez and Manu, but we have to be realistic...

by funnyExiledScot Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:23 pm

Brown is still featuring for Sarries at a pretty decent level, I think he'll be able to cope with the Italian sides and the 1872 Runners-up at the very least.

by Majestic83 Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:28 pm

Brown to Edinburgh next season would be a good shout, would be an excellent role model for the other back rowers.
He has been doing quite a bit of coaching with the academy team at Saracens so not sure if he is locked into doing that even more next season or if he would be available to come back to Scotland and play.

by Hazel Sapling Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:39 pm

What is Brown's relationship like with the SRU? After being messed around by Johnson and not even getting a sniff of the squad for the RWC (yet Strokosch and Wilson did), will he really want to work with the present regime.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 23 Feb 2016, 3:56 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:What is Brown's relationship like with the SRU? After being messed around by Johnson and not even getting a sniff of the squad for the RWC (yet Strokosch and Wilson did), will he really want to work with the present regime.

Outstanding. I expect he sees Scott Johnson as a father figure.

by SRN Tue 23 Feb 2016, 4:01 pm

Hazel Sapling wrote:What is Brown's relationship like with the SRU? After being messed around by Johnson and not even getting a sniff of the squad for the RWC (yet Strokosch and Wilson did), will he really want to work with the present regime.

He seems like a company man to the core. He seemed very understanding and far more diplomatic than his Killer B's teammates when he found out he was surplus to requirements. I'd imagine he'd love to be back in the fold in some capacity.

All that being said, he may be able to cash out for a final year in France. I think I probably would!

by EWT Spoons Tue 23 Feb 2016, 4:42 pm

Edinburgh vs Scarlets thread

https://www.606v2.com/t62277-edinburgh-rugby-vs-scarlets-pro12-sunday-28th-feb#3286251

by **BigGee** Sat 27 Feb 2016, 11:21 am

So it looks like Glasgow might be getting back to Scotstoun next weekend at long last.

I do worry about the state of the pitch though, hard to believe that it is not going to be a bit soggy still and chucking 30 tonnes of sand on it, as they did at Newport does not seem to help either.

The sooner we get that plastic pitch down the better!

by TJ Sun 28 Feb 2016, 3:58 pm

A better weekend to be an Edinburgh fan. Wins to celebrate - It don't happen to often

by Prothero Sun 28 Feb 2016, 6:26 pm

If we are speculating about Edinburgh the prodigal son Harry Leonards contracts up at leeds this summer and he has scored 311 points in two years and has played a lot of games at a decent level. Would he be a option at 10 or 12? Still has the best hands i have seen in a scottish flyhalf even if he doesnt have the running game of russell.

Or glasgow for that matter?

by **RDW** Sun 28 Feb 2016, 6:48 pm

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Scotland under 20s and Scotland winning - it has been a good weekend!

by demosthenes Sun 28 Feb 2016, 8:15 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Glasgow, Edinburgh, Scotland under 20s and Scotland winning - it has been a good weekend!

And the Club XV; and the Ladies scored a try!

by **RDW** Sun 28 Feb 2016, 8:17 pm

demosthenes wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:Glasgow, Edinburgh, Scotland under 20s and Scotland winning - it has been a good weekend!

And the Club XV; and the Ladies scored a try!

Sad to say, but the last one is probably the most impressive!

by funnyExiledScot Sun 28 Feb 2016, 8:28 pm

Cracking weekend of rugby. More of that please!

by TJ Mon 29 Feb 2016, 8:21 am

Can someone pinch me? Scotland, Edinburgh and the great unwashed all won this weekend? Really? Am I dreaming? Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 Dancing

Glasgow and Edinburgh: Ongoing Banter Thread XI - The Undiscovered Country - Page 9 Dancing

by Tattie Scones RRN Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:16 am

Robertson at the SDM has tweeted this morning that an Internationalist at Edinburgh is leaving. Details to be released later.

Nel?

by **RDW** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:17 am

Baws.

He's usually one of the first journos to get all the gossip - a good person to follow on Twitter.

by **RDW** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:22 am

Greig Tonks to London Irish.

Not a huge blow (not Nel!) and he certainly hasn't had a good season or so (not helped by being messed around at 10) but a good squad player who, again, will need replaced.

Now the biggest worry is LI get relegated and he ends up playing Championship rugby!

by funnyExiledScot Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:28 am

We're losing another useful squad player, but I think his days in the 1st XV are pretty much over with the arrival of Weir at 10 and the emergence of Kinghorn at 15.

London Irish seem to be doing a roaring trade from Scotland with Maitland, Coman and Tonks all signing up, plus Geoff Cross and Blair Cowan of course. I'm hoping they don't get relegated!

I wonder if this signals the departure of Maitland, given he signed looking for rugby at 15 (and I presume Tonks isn't going to replace Geraghty at 10). I'd be happy with that swap should Maitland fancy a trip back North to Scotland's finest city. We turned him down previously because we had World Class players like Mike Penn and Sep Visser. Now they've gone the door should be open.

by **BigGee** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:44 am

funnyExiledScot wrote:We're losing another useful squad player, but I think his days in the 1st XV are pretty much over with the arrival of Weir at 10 and the emergence of Kinghorn at 15.

London Irish seem to be doing a roaring trade from Scotland with Maitland, Coman and Tonks all signing up, plus Geoff Cross and Blair Cowan of course. I'm hoping they don't get relegated!

I wonder if this signals the departure of Maitland, given he signed looking for rugby at 15 (and I presume Tonks isn't going to replace Geraghty at 10). I'd be happy with that swap should Maitland fancy a trip back North to Scotland's finest city. We turned him down previously because we had World Class players like Mike Penn and Sep Visser. Now they've gone the door should be open.

LI is proving to be a graveyard for many Scottish careers, they are looking more and more like the favourites for the drop at the end of this season.

Tonks has really dropped off this year, never really re-captured his initail from from the first year when he got capped. The FH experiment did not do him any favours and he has gone backwards. Maybe a change of scenary is what he needs, He seems to have fallen way down the pecking order at Edinburgh and his form this year justifies that.

by VinceWLB Mon 29 Feb 2016, 11:44 am

Not a big loss, has been a disappointing signing overall, had a good first few games but it all went downhill from there. One of those players with not much rugby brains as well.

by Margin_Walker Mon 29 Feb 2016, 12:13 pm

Tonks would be an odd one for LI, given he's another 10/15 and we've signed two of them already in Marshall and Bell. Guess things are a bit up in the air with potential relegation, and the impact that would have, but it wouldn't be top of the holes to plug in the squad list for next season.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 29 Feb 2016, 12:32 pm

Margin_Walker wrote:Tonks would be an odd one for LI, given he's another 10/15 and we've signed two of them already in Marshall and Bell. Guess things are a bit up in the air with potential relegation, and the impact that would have, but it wouldn't be top of the holes to plug in the squad list for next season.

I suspect Maitland is paid quite a lot and I would imagine they'd want him off the books next season in the Championship (if indeed LI get relegated). Tonks will be cheaper.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into this. I would hope that LI haven't given up on the Aviva just yet. It's still very tight at the bottom.

by Margin_Walker Mon 29 Feb 2016, 12:35 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Margin_Walker wrote:Tonks would be an odd one for LI, given he's another 10/15 and we've signed two of them already in Marshall and Bell. Guess things are a bit up in the air with potential relegation, and the impact that would have, but it wouldn't be top of the holes to plug in the squad list for next season.

I suspect Maitland is paid quite a lot and I would imagine they'd want him off the books next season in the Championship (if indeed LI get relegated). Tonks will be cheaper.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into this. I would hope that LI haven't given up on the Aviva just yet. It's still very tight at the bottom.

Oh sure, would expect Maitland to be off if we went down. We'd still have a few options there though and Tonks would be in a bit of a crowded space if we do stay up and Maitland stays.

Would make more sense if it was an immediate signing. He'd be thrown straight in if he was available straight away.

by MacKnocked-on Mon 29 Feb 2016, 1:04 pm

Meanwhile in a parallel rugby universe I notice that James Hilterbrand is now in the USA squad. Well done to him managing to emerge from the fringes of the Edinburgh squad.

by **RDW** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 1:21 pm

MacKnocked-on wrote:Meanwhile in a parallel rugby universe I notice that James Hilterbrand is now in the USA squad. Well done to him managing to emerge from the fringes of the Edinburgh squad.

by **RDW** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 1:43 pm

Ozzy has said on the silly season transfer rumours thread that Tonks is an immediate loan deal to the end of the season - not sure if he's going there next season too.

That might be best for both parties - give him some gametime but we keep him for next season. I still think he is a good squad member for us - 2nd choice fullback currently, and 3rd choice 10.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 29 Feb 2016, 1:43 pm

James Hilterbrand. I had completely forgotten about him.

Mediocre seems an apt word.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 29 Feb 2016, 1:45 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:Ozzy has said on the silly season transfer rumours thread that Tonks is an immediate loan deal to the end of the season - not sure if he's going there next season too.

That might be best for both parties - give him some gametime but we keep him for next season. I still think he is a good squad member for us - 2nd choice fullback currently, and 3rd choice 10.

That makes more sense, plus allows Cuthbert and Kinghorn to rotate the jersey between now and the end of the season.

by Eejit Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:04 pm

New signing announcement on the way shortly for Scotland's most successful team.

by funnyExiledScot Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:07 pm

Eejit wrote:New signing announcement on the way shortly for Scotland's most successful team.

Melrose?

by MacKnocked-on Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:10 pm

Corey Flynn, bit left field, are Glasgow short of hookers?

by Eejit Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:12 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Eejit wrote:New signing announcement on the way shortly for Scotland's most successful team.

Melrose?

Touché.

by **RDW** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:14 pm

MacKnocked-on wrote:Corey Flynn, bit left field, are Glasgow short of hookers?

They have been this year, but mainly due to injuries.

He's got great pedigree but at 35 he's getting on a bit!

by **BigGee** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:20 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
MacKnocked-on wrote:Corey Flynn, bit left field, are Glasgow short of hookers?

They have been this year, but mainly due to injuries.

He's got great pedigree but at 35 he's getting on a bit!

It will be interesting to see how long the deal is for.

There are plently of decent players still playing at that age and at Glasgow he won't be flogged to death every week. We are not short of hookers even if we are a little bit short on quality and it is probably time to rationalise the list. Brown is nailed on and Malcolm seems very promising, there are Scott and Fenton as well coming down the line. That may not be good new for Bryce, McArthur or the Georgian, who to be fair was only ever a filler in because of injury anyway.

What I like is what he might bring to the squad in terms of coaching and attitude and that is likely a big part of what we are paying for. If he can still produce a bit on the pitch as well, then so much the better.

by **BigGee** Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:27 pm

A two year deal, subject to medical (probably no bad idea!)

Wants to help the young hookers at Glasgow come through. Toonie wants him to be part of the leadership group.

Played 35 games for Toulouse last season, 34 starts. Sounds like he is still in pretty good nick!

Sounds like a pretty good deal all round, he probably has not cost a fortune either. The Big T money seems like it is being spent quite shrewdly.

by Eejit Mon 29 Feb 2016, 2:31 pm

A former All Black is a hell of a mentor for James Malcolm and the other young hookers coming through.

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