Glasgow & Edinburgh Discussion Thread 31: The Roadmap for Success Vs The Perpetual Roadworks of Incompetence

[NeilyBroon]

First topic message reminder :

As requested, another thread connected by the M8. Two teams about as comparable as Adam Peaty and Eric the Eel.

Will Glasgow build on their title win next season?

Will Edinburgh even make the top half of the table?

Speculation and more on another volume of the patter papers.

[RDW]

Merry Christmas ya filthy animals

Hopefully Santa has brought Edinburgh fans a functioning attack, robust defence and a physically committed team

Glasgow fans hopefully got that long awaited bar of soap

[BigGee]

Merry Christmas everyone

Hopefully Edinburgh fans get all the things the founder asked for, except they get stuck in the post and don't arrive till after next Saturday

[bsando]

Merry Christmas everyone, have a wonderful day!

[jimbopip]

Merry Chrimbo from jimbo

So, it was off to Princess Daughter's where The Feckless Rogue was making breakfast for everyone. Princess gave me a small package, , and said that we should wait till Bigson arrived. Cue much Gavin and Stacey welsh accented, "But this isn't my BIG present is it?" . Well as you may know once upon a time I captained our local thirds where my fire and brimstone pre match exhortations earned me the (thankfully shortlived) nickname Braveheart. However the team decided they were to be called the Burnham Bravehearts. Amazingly this actually stuck! The club are building a new clubhouse and my offspring have purchased a brick which will be engraved with "Jim Kelly Burnham Braveheart". And I thought I was getting a pair of socks.

[RDW]

Merry Chrimbo from jimbo  

So, it was off to Princess Daughter's where The Feckless Rogue was making breakfast for everyone. Princess gave me a small package, , and said that we should wait till Bigson arrived. Cue much Gavin and Stacey welsh accented, "But this isn't my BIG present is it?" .  Well as you may know once upon a time I captained our local thirds where my fire and brimstone pre match exhortations earned me the (thankfully shortlived) nickname Braveheart. However the team decided they were to be called the Burnham Bravehearts. Amazingly this actually stuck! The club are building a new clubhouse and my offspring have purchased a brick which will be engraved with "Jim Kelly Burnham Braveheart". And I thought I was getting a pair of socks.

That's a lovely gift!

[RDW]

Schoeman signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh. That is definitely a good piece of business!

[BigGee]

Schoeman signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh. That is definitely a good piece of business!

As long as he looks a bit more interested than last Sunday!

[jimbopip]

Schoeman signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh. That is definitely a good piece of business!

As long as he looks a bit more interested than last Sunday!

Would he get a start for Glasgow?
Would any of the Luvvies? Darcy! I'll give you Darcy.

[RDW]

Schoeman signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh. That is definitely a good piece of business!

As long as he looks a bit more interested than last Sunday!

To be fair to Schoeman that was a very rare event - you cant accuse the guy of not giving his all generally

[jimbopip]

Schoeman signs a 3 year deal with Edinburgh. That is definitely a good piece of business!

As long as he looks a bit more interested than last Sunday!

To be fair to Schoeman that was a very rare event - you cant accuse the guy of not giving his all generally

He certainly put his shoulder to the wheel at Hampden.

[RDW]

Approaching a record crowd for Saturday, which goes to show people are more interested in a Christmas jolly than whether the home team is any good or not!

[jimbopip]

Approaching a record crowd for Saturday, which goes to show people are more interested in a Christmas jolly than whether the home team is any good or not!

It's fairweather fans like you who can't be bothered turning up regularly.
OR
Glasgow are in town and the people are turning up to see a real rugby team.

[RDW]

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Glasgow Warriors in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Scottish Gas Murrayfield (Saturday 28 December, kick-off 3pm) – live on Premier Sports

15. Wes Goosen (41)

14. Darcy Graham (72)
13. Matt Currie (48)
12. Mosese Tuipulotu (9)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (100)

10. Ross Thompson (10)
9. Ali Price (25)

1. Boan Venter (76)
2. Dave Cherry (99)
3. D’arcy Rae (14)
4. Sam Skinner (29)
5. Grant Gilchrist (213) CAPTAIN
6. Jamie Ritchie (122)
7. Luke Crosbie (105)
8. Ben Muncaster (37)

Replacements

16. Paddy Harrison (20)
17. Pierre Schoeman (123)
18. Javan Sebastian (19)
19. Marshall Sykes (73)
20. Hamish Watson (164)
21. Charlie Shiel (66)
22. Ben Healy (30)
23. James Lang (60)

Unavailable: Ewan Ashman (shoulder), Magnus Bradbury (concussion), Ben Vellacott (ankle), Paul Hill (calf), Ross McCann (calf), Freddy Douglas (ankle), Mark Bennett (quad), Connor Boyle (knee), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Emiliano Boffelli (back)

[demosthenes]

Glasgow :

Glasgow Warriors team to face Edinburgh at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Saturday 28 December, kick-off 3pm. You can watch the match live on Premier Sports, or follow all the action in our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.

1 Jamie Bhatti (112)
2 Gregor Hiddleston (18)
3 Zander Fagerson (157)
4 Gregor Brown (27)
5 Scott Cummings (134)
6 Ally Miller (31)
7 Matt Fagerson (120)
8 Jack Mann (5)

9 Jamie Dobie (77)
10 Tom Jordan (59)
11 Kyle Steyn (C) (80)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (63)
13 Huw Jones (76)
14 Sebastian Cancelliere (45)
15 Kyle Rowe (26)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (53)
17 Rory Sutherland (7)
18 Sam Talakai (8)
19 Alex Samuel (24)
20 Rory Darge (55)
21 Angus Fraser (16)
22 George Horne (127)
23 Duncan Weir (156)

Unavailable for selection: Jack Dempsey (shoulder), Euan Ferrie (foot), Adam Hastings (face), Johnny Matthews (knee), Nathan McBeth (calf), Stafford McDowall (suspension), JP du Preez (knee), Jare Oguntibeju (knee), Sione Vailanu (knee), Henco Venter (head), Murphy Walker (neck), Max Williamson (hand).

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 24th league game)
AR 1: Hollie Davidson (SRU) AR 2: Jonny Perriam (SRU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)

[jimbopip]

The Champeeons or Twice And Future Champions

1 Jamie Bhatti (112)
2 Gregor Hiddleston (18)
3 Zander Fagerson (157)
4 Gregor Brown (27)
5 Scott Cummings (134)
6 Ally Miller (31)
7 Matt Fagerson (120)
8 Jack Mann (5)

9 Jamie Dobie (77)
10 Tom Jordan (59)
11 Kyle Steyn (C) (80)
12 Sione Tuipulotu (63)
13 Huw Jones (76)
14 Sebastian Cancelliere (45)
15 Kyle Rowe (26)

Replacements

16 Grant Stewart (53)
17 Rory Sutherland (7)
18 Sam Talakai (8)
19 Alex Samuel (24)
20 Rory Darge (55)
21 Angus Fraser (16)
22 George Horne (127)
23 Duncan Weir (156)

That's probably as strong a squad as we could put out at the moment. Interestingly last week the player to have beaten most defenders, made most yards and score a try was a winger...it was good to have Seaman back on the pitch.
I can't see The Luvvies making up the deficit, so the silverware remains on the west coast for another year.Will the Luvvies front up and save some face? I wouldn't bet on it. Apparently your coach was in the Hootsman attempting a positive spin on Sunday's Slaughter by pointing out that they "won the second half". Aye rught, and the Light Brigade had the fastest horses at Balaclava.

[BigGee]

Scheoman and Sykes on the naughty step for their Respective YC stupidity last week

They are probably a stronger team with Skinner and Muncaster in it though, but it does remain to be seen if Thompson can do anything against the mean Glasgow defence.

Experience would suggest probably not.

[jimbopip]

It's game day
It's all gone quiet on the east coast
0-10 minutes; Gnarly, scrappy, Luvvies front up
10-20 minutes; Luvvies down to 14 due to concedeng multiple penalties, The Rugby Club score three unanswered tries.
20-30 minutes; TV audience can hear Glasgow players talking to each other on the ref's mike, such is the mausoleum like silence in...well the mausoleum of the MFL's dreams.
30-40 minutes; House Elf asks The General if he can come off for a rest, running away from an ageing Aldi Price gets tiring after a while. General Franco signals that Dobbie can have a rest when he completes his hat trick.
41 minutes and The House Elf dots down and heads for a seat.
The second 40 will pass in a haze of beer and Mrs Pip's Christmas cake (no that is not a metaphor).

Oh and in the "When will GG burst into tears? sweepstake I'll have 53 minutes. That's when the realisation that the half time team talk hasn't changed anything finally sinks in.

[tigertattie]

My take

Edinburgh win by 4 points

You heard it here first!

Can’t possibly be as bad as last week!!!

On the other hand, Franco may still be pissed at the unwashed ones taking thier foot off the pedal last week and may push them for a full 80 min performance this week.

Anyway. Soap is good. Vinegar on chips is bad/english

[BigGee]

Muncaster looks like he might be injured before the start. He is hobbling around out there

[jimbopip]

Muncaster looks like he might be injured before the start. He is hobbling around out there

That's just cowardice. The rugby equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot the night before D Day.

[tigertattie]

Muncaster looks like he might be injured before the start. He is hobbling around out there

That's just cowardice. The rugby equivalent of shooting yourself in the foot the night before D Day.

Ok uncle Albert

[BigGee]

The elusive Hamish Watson makes an appearance for Jamie Ritchie

[BigGee]

20 mins in and Edinburgh go for goal

Thompson nails it

3-0 Edinburgh

[BigGee]

Thompson has another go from just inside the Glasgow half

This one not even close

[BigGee]

Edinburgh spoon a chance on the line, they had to score that

They are not taking their chances atm

[tigertattie]

Well that rather sums Edinburgh up

[TJ]

Do the weegies al have hangovers? too much buckie? You don't get such hangovers from a nice glass of chardonnay

[BigGee]

Well it is certainly a closer game than last week, but Edinburgh have got to take their chances

Surely Glasgow are going to click at some stage, passes just not sticking atm

[jimbopip]

Thompson is taking that ball very deep. Sione has started shooting up into the channel to cut off any passes. Luvvies controlling possession but not doing much with it. Glasgow need to start holding onto the ball and moving the Luvvies defence around.

[tigertattie]

Bloody hell. You give a penalty for a take out beyond the ruck for that???

[BigGee]

And finally the Glasgow line out works

PT on the third sttempt

7-3 Glasgow and Edinburgh down to 14

[BigGee]

And Edinburgh come straight back when Glasgow lose the ball at a ruck


10-7 Edinburgh

[tigertattie]

Sorry but that’s absolute Love sacks.

Edinburgh had a penalty for Glasgow laying on the floor and I think the ref, having just spoken to Captain Steyn was going to yellow card Glasgow. But for some reason he decides to overturn that penalty to give Glasgow a penalty for the most innocuous clear out penalty. 2 mins later and directly form that bizarre penalty, Glasgow score and Edinburgh get a yellow card.

I’m not saying that Edinburgh are deserving of the win but that bizarre ref call just totally swung the game

Having said that, Shoe gets Edinburgh back into it

[TJ]

win some lose some with refs decisions. We got a couple of soft pens as well

Good win for the luvvies.

[jimbopip]

Well done the Luvvies.
Good line speed, aggressive defence.
Deserved the win.

[BigGee]

And it stays as 10-7 to Edinburgh

Far from a classic but I guess the Edinburgh coach keeps his job for now.

Edinburgh still very clunky in attack but showed some spine in defence

Glasgow just did not really fire unfortunately, the Christmas break did them no favours. Still we take a point and move on.

We win the cup as well, not that anyone is to bothered about that.

We'll done to the Luvvies

[tigertattie]

Edinburgh were much improved but I feel Glasgow lost that rather than Edinburgh winning it.

I think Glasgow took the win for granted and the talk of “time off for the boys to spend with the family” could have been what cost them. Of course people need time with family and time off in general, but I think Glasgow made too much of the festive relaxation. Play that game again in a fortnight and Glasgow probably coast to a win

[RDW]

Yeeeees

Sounds like I didn't miss much of a game though? Donny Osmand put on a hell of a performance though!

[tigertattie]

Yeeeees

Sounds like I didn't miss much of a game though? Donny Osmand put on a hell of a performance though!

Was grim flounder. One for the purists they say

All that was archived was the Edinburgh coaching team prolong their tenures at the club and Glasgow are denied precious league points.

But also chippy sauce wins over vinegar once again

[TJ]

Chardonnay not buckfast!

[TJ]

Was grim flounder. One for the purists they say

I( don't think it was that bad. It wasn't unforced errors all over the park - just that defenses were better than attacks both sides

[tigertattie]

Was grim flounder. One for the purists they say

I( don't think it was that bad.  It wasn't unforced errors all over the park - just that defenses were better than attacks both sides

Hence the purists comment. Was a game for those who like the contact, the breakdown, the scrums and the lineouts.

If you like free flowing attacking game then this wasn’t the game for you. Or if you’re new to rugby!

[Highland Shaun]

Not sure if I should put this here or in the rumour topic but I see on Rugby Rebels site that supposedly Toby Booth being considered as the next Edinburgh coach when Everitt is finally axed (if he is) . I had a feeling he'd maybe be in contention to replace Warren Gatland if WRU act after the 6Ns but maybe Edinburgh will get in ahead of the WRU .

[BigGee]

Was just watching some highlights on TNT after the Exeter game and I saw a Matt Scott try for Leicester.

I had totally forgotten about the fact that he is with Edinburgh now, what has happened to him since he arrived?

Do we think he has been frozen out? You could maybe saw the same about Hamish Watson as well, who I know played yesterday but looked pretty rusty in truth as you would expect from players who have hardly played.

I wonder why Everett is not using the experienced old heads to help drive things along.

If they were not planning to use Scott it does beg the question of why they ever signed him?

[RDW]

Was just watching some highlights on TNT after the Exeter game and I saw a Matt Scott try for Leicester.

I had totally forgotten about the fact that he is with Edinburgh now, what has happened to him since he arrived?

Do we think he has been frozen out? You could maybe saw the same about Hamish Watson as well, who I know played yesterday but looked pretty rusty in truth as you would expect from players who have hardly played.

I wonder why Everett is not using the experienced old heads to help drive things along.

If they were not planning to use Scott it does beg the question of why they ever signed him?

And it's fair to say Tuipoloto jnr hasn't exactly been tearing up trees since his arrival. He'll be benefiting from an extended run of games but it's a shame he's not doing that with a top class 10 and/or 13 either side of him.

[BigGee]

All our boys getting a rest this weekend before the second round of Euro fixtures next week.

It is barely going to be above freezing in Glasgow all week and considerably below it most nights. There has got to be a big question as to whether the Glasgow v Racing game will be able to go ahead at Scotstoun.

This is a particular worry for me as I gave a ticket and am heading up for the game next Friday.

We'll it won't come as a surprise at any rate so if the need to re-schedule or move the game, they should have the time to do that.

I am sure they will want to get the game played, even if it means playing at Murrayfield or maybe even Hampden?

[EWT Spoons]

Was just watching some highlights on TNT after the Exeter game and I saw a Matt Scott try for Leicester.

I had totally forgotten about the fact that he is with Edinburgh now, what has happened to him since he arrived?

Do we think he has been frozen out? You could maybe saw the same about Hamish Watson as well, who I know played yesterday but looked pretty rusty in truth as you would expect from players who have hardly played.

I wonder why Everett is not using the experienced old heads to help drive things along.

If they were not planning to use Scott it does beg the question of why they ever signed him?

Regarding Matt Scott, and this is just rumours, but when he re-joined Edinburgh, he said

"Hopefully, if I see something that’s not the standard of a championship team I’ll be happy to call that out to make everyone better.”

The rumour doing the rounds is that he has challenged Everitt because...well everything, and Everitt didn't appreciate it and dropped him.

Scott has also been fairly critical of his teammates in post match interviews (back when he was playing), not specific names just performances overall, and whilst his comments are absolutely valid and accurate, given that doesn't appear to click with Everitt's style, so he might be getting punished for that too.

Speculation also suggested this is what was happening with Watson as well, he might not have been the most vocal but might have supported Scott's viewpoint.

Obviously, this likely is all b0llocks, but it does make enough sense to sound plausible.

[jimbopip]

Was just watching some highlights on TNT after the Exeter game and I saw a Matt Scott try for Leicester.

I had totally forgotten about the fact that he is with Edinburgh now, what has happened to him since he arrived?

Do we think he has been frozen out? You could maybe saw the same about Hamish Watson as well, who I know played yesterday but looked pretty rusty in truth as you would expect from players who have hardly played.

I wonder why Everett is not using the experienced old heads to help drive things along.

If they were not planning to use Scott it does beg the question of why they ever signed him?

Regarding Matt Scott, and this is just rumours, but when he re-joined Edinburgh, he said

"Hopefully, if I see something that’s not the standard of a championship team I’ll be happy to call that out to make everyone better.”

The rumour doing the rounds is that he has challenged Everitt because...well everything, and Everitt didn't appreciate it and dropped him.

Scott has also been fairly critical of his teammates in post match interviews (back when he was playing), not specific names just performances overall, and whilst his comments are absolutely valid and accurate, given that doesn't appear to click with Everitt's style, so he might be getting punished for that too.

Speculation also suggested this is what was happening with Watson as well, he might not have been the most vocal but might have supported Scott's viewpoint.

Obviously, this likely is all b0llocks, but it does make enough sense to sound plausible.

Thank you Mr Spoons. we now have a motto for these threads.

[BigGee]

It sounds completely plausible to me. Why would you have a player of Scott's quality in the squad and not play him, unless there has been some schism between him and the coaches.

As I approach retirement from work I have found myself largely liberated from convention and am happy to speak out about things I have held back on in bygone years. Presumably Scott and to some extent Watson feel the same way.

It does suggest something is not right at Edinburgh, but we probably knew that anyway!

[formerly known as Sam]

Could be that Scott was at Tigers during the turnaround there and so has some opinions on what needs to change having seen what Borthwick brought about there. He said he was moving back north to support his wife's career so BigGee is probably right that he doesn't feel the need to just sit quietly.

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