NPR

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:45 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:29 pm Tom Jordan hasn't had a good day.

Miotti has been even worse mind wow.

Seen him twice now and he has been dreadful both times. Jordan has been great lately, just an off day hopefully

On the upside we again have some serious competition in the centres and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Not Jordan's best game, but given he played his first game for Glasgow in September, and has had to both adjust to pro rugby and moving back to 10 after two years ar 12, he is going to have an off day here and there. Let's hope it is just here and there.

For comparison, Ollie Smith made his debut almost exactly two years ago.

weegie01 wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:18 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:45 pm

Miotti has been even worse mind wow.

Seen him twice now and he has been dreadful both times. Jordan has been great lately, just an off day hopefully

On the upside we again have some serious competition in the centres and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Not Jordan's best game, but given he played his first game for Glasgow in September, and has had to both adjust to pro rugby and moving back to 10 after two years ar 12, he is going to have an off day here and there. Let's hope it is just here and there.

For comparison, Ollie Smith made his debut almost exactly two years ago.

For avoidance of doubt, I completely agree about Jordan, I’ve been seriously impressed with him

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:45 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:29 pm Tom Jordan hasn't had a good day.

Miotti has been even worse mind wow.

[…] and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Agree with both these points slick. Smith doesn’t just look comfortable, he looks classy. Hogg has real competition at this point.

On Tuipolotu, I have to say I thought he was pretty limited when he first came across but my god was I wrong. He’s big and physical which I expected, but his passing is excellent (the loop pass to put Jones (?) free down the wing in the second half a highlight), his kicking game is very good and he has a lovely step too. He really looks to be the real deal.

Big shout for the replacement props Berghan and McBeth too, took the Stromers scrum apart at the end there. Excellent.

What a fantastic game of Rugby

First of all , Well done to the Stomers really took ot to Glasgow for the whole 80 minutes.

That'a the best I've seen Glasgow play for the past 3 years.

I gave my season ticket to my son , but got a ticket to the main stand - one of thebonuses of teh main stand is that you look down on the Glasgow warm up area before the start of the match - I've never seen the players more focused

Pretty Ballsy to have the belief to go for the bonus point try , rather than take the 'easy' 3 points ( - and what a try it was to finish it off )ge

Let just remember who wasn't playing tonight - Fagerson , Kebble , Gray , Cummings , Darge , Gordon, Thompson, McDowall, Forbes, Mclean , McKay..

What the Glasgow coaching team are doing successfully is creating a squad of players , where the line between a nailed on first team player. and his ' replacment' is now blurred , and there is little drop off in perfomance , when 'first' team players become injured / unavailable.

I suspect that Sione now will get a break , he;s played a lot of rugby this seaon , but when you have Shuggy to fill this place .....

Oh , and don't underestimate Pete Hornes hand in what we are seeing at Glasgow , one of the games thinkers / motivators -wouldn't surprise me to see him being involved in the Scotland set up in the not too distant future

Anyway dinner at 111 by Modou tonight , and will crack open a bottle of the 17 year Ardbeg - Days do not get much better than that.

Not too bad for a mid table team

A mid-table team?

That's what I was thinking before today.

But this is a serious Glasgow side again. With the trademark lightspeed attacking style, but also with proper defensive grunt. Journeymen like Bean and Jordan are reaching a level they probably didn't know they had in them - a big feather in the cap for the coaching team.

With the run in they have, a home QF might just be possible. The Ulster game on 17 Feb (as usual, games against Irish rivals are scheudled in the middle of the 6N) might be decisive.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 6:14 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:45 pm

Miotti has been even worse mind wow.

[…] and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Agree with both these points slick. Smith doesn’t just look comfortable, he looks classy. Hogg has real competition at this point.

On Tuipolotu, I have to say I thought he was pretty limited when he first came across but my god was I wrong. He’s big and physical which I expected, but his passing is excellent (the loop pass to put Jones (?) free down the wing in the second half a highlight), his kicking game is very good and he has a lovely step too. He really looks to be the real deal.

Big shout for the replacement props Berghan and McBeth too, took the Stromers scrum apart at the end there. Excellent.

To be fair, he was pretty rubbish for a long time. Was thinking about this earlier, Toony gets a lot of stick but he stuck with Harris when we couldn’t see why and has done the same with Tuipolotu. If I’m being really honest, I’m still not sure I would have him in my Scotland starting XV, but can hardly complain if he is. Which he will be.

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 7:09 pm

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 6:14 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

[…] and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Agree with both these points slick. Smith doesn’t just look comfortable, he looks classy. Hogg has real competition at this point.

On Tuipolotu, I have to say I thought he was pretty limited when he first came across but my god was I wrong. He’s big and physical which I expected, but his passing is excellent (the loop pass to put Jones (?) free down the wing in the second half a highlight), his kicking game is very good and he has a lovely step too. He really looks to be the real deal.

Big shout for the replacement props Berghan and McBeth too, took the Stromers scrum apart at the end there. Excellent.

To be fair, he was pretty rubbish for a long time. Was thinking about this earlier, Toony gets a lot of stick but he stuck with Harris when we couldn’t see why and has done the same with Tuipolotu. If I’m being really honest, I’m still not sure I would have him in my Scotland starting XV, but can hardly complain if he is. Which he will be.

I think to be fair to Tuipolotu and other signings it's always the second year they really come into their own. Can't be easy making such a big move.

I want to see him take that step for Scotland but for Glasgow he's as good as any centre in the URC

weegie01 wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 5:18 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:53 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:45 pm

Miotti has been even worse mind wow.

Seen him twice now and he has been dreadful both times. Jordan has been great lately, just an off day hopefully

On the upside we again have some serious competition in the centres and Ollie Smith looks more and more like the real deal every time I see him.

Tuipolotu just keeps getting better, can’t quite believe it really and brilliant to see Huw Jones look very good in the centres

Not Jordan's best game, but given he played his first game for Glasgow in September, and has had to both adjust to pro rugby and moving back to 10 after two years ar 12, he is going to have an off day here and there. Let's hope it is just here and there.

For comparison, Ollie Smith made his debut almost exactly two years ago.

I'm not trying to run him out of town but after two really almost flawless games against Edinburgh looked like he struggled a bit.

I think Glasgow will need a better 10 to really challenge. We'll see if Thompson is that man or Jordan really improves the more he plays.

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:29 pm Tom Jordan hasn't had a good day.

That was a very quick (offside?) Stormers defence. Gave him no time or space, so he ended up playing further & further back. He'll learn from it and another win will help his confidence. imho

That game was much bigger than either of the games v Embra

I wonder what sort of team Castres will put out on Saturday, they are currently one spot above the relegation play off in the Top 14, but they have an 8 point advantage over Perpignan. They have had two losses in the HC and have Exeter away after playing us. The Top 14 is everything to the French sides, but they really don't like losing at home in any match.

I've no doubt we'll go as fully loaded as we can, I hope some of those on the injury list last week were being protected for this game

AB Zondagh has left his role as attack coach with the SRU

Achahoish wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 8:16 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:29 pm Tom Jordan hasn't had a good day.

That was a very quick (offside?) Stormers defence. Gave him no time or space, so he ended up playing further & further back. He'll learn from it and another win will help his confidence. imho

You are right about the offside bit, it was incredible how much leeway they were given.

Blackmac wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 12:33 pm

Achahoish wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 8:16 pm

I like neeps wrote: Sun Jan 08, 2023 4:29 pm Tom Jordan hasn't had a good day.

That was a very quick (offside?) Stormers defence. Gave him no time or space, so he ended up playing further & further back. He'll learn from it and another win will help his confidence. imho

You are right about the offside bit, it was incredible how much leeway they were given.

This seems to be the case in most games now. I've sat and watched specifically for offside in games and generally both teams will be offside at almost every ruck. I didn't watch for it specifically yesterday but saw numerous occasions when Glasgow were also offside too. The one that annoys me more than any other is offside at the tryline where the tryline is the offside line. So easy to ref, there is no interpretation needed as there is literally a line drawn on the ground. Still numerous clearly offside players allowed to be so.

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 11:27 am AB Zondagh has left his role as attack coach with the SRU

Wonder who or if a new coach will come in. Might end up being Blair/Horne for the World Cup?

Re: the mid-table thing - yeah, it was me that said it, I’ll own it!

Great result, but Glasgow are lying 5th of 16. I reckon when I posted, they and Edinburgh were both in the ‘middle’ 5 spots…

Quite a lot of heavy hinting going on via Twitter that Toonie has either agreed or is looking for a job in France post-WC. Hints that it may be for the national team (attack coach) as well as for club teams, presumably as head coach.

If he is looking for French club gigs it at least explains why Finn was so keen to leave France

I'm glad he's moving on tbh. Past time for a change

GS and RWC winners incoming

Jock42 wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:52 pm

I'm glad he's moving on tbh. Past time for a change

Well I guess that all depends on who would replace Townsend

Jason Ryan

Dogbert wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:33 pm

Jock42 wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:52 pm

I'm glad he's moving on tbh. Past time for a change

Well I guess that all depends on who would replace Townsend

Quite. I have a feeling we might miss him when he’s gone

Yr Alban wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 4:20 pm Re: the mid-table thing - yeah, it was me that said it, I’ll own it!

Great result, but Glasgow are lying 5th of 16. I reckon when I posted, they and Edinburgh were both in the ‘middle’ 5 spots…

I think mid-table team is probably still accurate because of the rotten away form early in the season. But they're playing like a SF team at least at the moment. Fat chance of beating Leinster in Dublin or one of the big SA teams in SA - I'd back them to get a result against anyone else.

If they keep this up, they might sneak into the top-4 and secure a home QF. It will need results against Ulster and Munster though. Dragons, Zebre, Scarlets and Connacht should be routine wins. No idea when the cancelled away game in SA will be played, but you'd have to assume 1 LBP at best.

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:33 am

Dogbert wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:33 pm

Jock42 wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 9:52 pm

I'm glad he's moving on tbh. Past time for a change

Well I guess that all depends on who would replace Townsend

Quite. I have a feeling we might miss him when he’s gone

I think we'll miss the era as we don't have young players coming through who are the same caliber as a lot of the players now.

The stories not true though, no chance Townsend is applying for jobs a year in advance.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:35 am

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:33 am

Dogbert wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:33 pm

Well I guess that all depends on who would replace Townsend

Quite. I have a feeling we might miss him when he’s gone

I think we'll miss the era as we don't have young players coming through who are the same caliber as a lot of the players now.

The stories not true though, no chance Townsend is applying for jobs a year in advance.

As an assistant coach as well... utter nonsense

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:50 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:35 am

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:33 am

Quite. I have a feeling we might miss him when he’s gone

I think we'll miss the era as we don't have young players coming through who are the same caliber as a lot of the players now.

The stories not true though, no chance Townsend is applying for jobs a year in advance.

As an assistant coach as well... utter nonsense

I agree it's a step back but attack coach of the best team with the best attacking talents in world rugby, I can see the appeal theoretically for Townsend.

I suspect he'll get paid €€€€ to be Head Coach of a French team when he does leave which I can believe will be post world cup.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:56 am

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:50 am

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:35 am

I think we'll miss the era as we don't have young players coming through who are the same caliber as a lot of the players now.

The stories not true though, no chance Townsend is applying for jobs a year in advance.

As an assistant coach as well... utter nonsense

I agree it's a step back but attack coach of the best team with the best attacking talents in world rugby, I can see the appeal theoretically for Townsend.

Galthié has done a good job with France, it would be quite a team for him to have Edwards leading the defence and Toonie focussing purely on attack.

I'd bloody love to see my second team have those resources available - it's fantasy rugby time.

Glasgow away game v Lions rescheduled to 25th February, the day before Scotland v France.

That's going to be tough. No (or very few) players released from the Scotland squad. Lions will be at full strength.

Summer tests this year

29 July Italy at BTM
5 Aug France at BTM
12 Aug France away
26 Aug Georgia at BTM

westport wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 12:11 pm Summer tests this year

29 July Italy at BTM
5 Aug France at BTM
12 Aug France away
26 Aug Georgia at BTM

That's a good mix of tests.

Biffer wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 11:05 am Glasgow away game v Lions rescheduled to 25th February, the day before Scotland v France.

That's going to be tough. No (or very few) players released from the Scotland squad. Lions will be at full strength.

Guess we’ll see how good the strength in depth is…

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 12:27 pm

westport wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 12:11 pm Summer tests this year

29 July Italy at BTM
5 Aug France at BTM
12 Aug France away
26 Aug Georgia at BTM

That's a good mix of tests.

Same as last time except Italy at home rather than Georgia away.

Doesn't look like I'm going to manage a trip for the RWC itself so a wee jaunt to France in August might be nice. Also a bit of summer rugby in Scotland to enjoy.

I like neeps wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 8:35 am

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 5:33 am

Dogbert wrote: Mon Jan 09, 2023 10:33 pm

Well I guess that all depends on who would replace Townsend

Quite. I have a feeling we might miss him when he’s gone

I think we'll miss the era as we don't have young players coming through who are the same caliber as a lot of the players now.

The stories not true though, no chance Townsend is applying for jobs a year in advance.

That is the great conundrum of Townsends reign. He is likely to have had the best set of players that we will see for some time.

He may be getting spoken to about them though. Clubs need to plan.

I'm not too despondent about the players we have in the short and medium term. The Fagersons are both mid 20s, as are Darcy, Ritchie, Cummings, Crosbie, Baylis, Hodgson, Ben White, Tuipulotu, Hutchinson.

Sykes, Christie, Darge, Boyle, Harrison, Ashman, Ollie Smith, Dobie, Redpath, McLean, Rowe, Currie are all just a bit younger than the first group and are at various stages in their development.

This second "wave" includes Murphy Walker, we are very short at prop in this cohort.

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:44 pm I'm not too despondent about the players we have in the short and medium term. The Fagersons are both mid 20s, as are Darcy, Ritchie, Cummings, Crosbie, Baylis, Hodgson, Ben White, Tuipulotu, Hutchinson.

Sykes, Christie, Darge, Boyle, Harrison, Ashman, Ollie Smith, Dobie, Redpath, McLean, Rowe are all just a bit younger than the first group
This second "wave" includes Murphy Walker, we are very short at prop in this cohort.

Yep - we may be approaching the end of the careers of some of our generational talents in Hogg and Russell, but I don’t see a massive drop-off in what is coming through at the moment otherwise. How good a player is doesn’t always become obvious as soon as they become a pro, in any case. The first time I saw Russell play, it was for our U20s, and he started on the bench.

Yr Alban wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:53 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:44 pm I'm not too despondent about the players we have in the short and medium term. The Fagersons are both mid 20s, as are Darcy, Ritchie, Cummings, Crosbie, Baylis, Hodgson, Ben White, Tuipulotu, Hutchinson.

Sykes, Christie, Darge, Boyle, Harrison, Ashman, Ollie Smith, Dobie, Redpath, McLean, Rowe are all just a bit younger than the first group
This second "wave" includes Murphy Walker, we are very short at prop in this cohort.

Yep - we may be approaching the end of the careers of some of our generational talents in Hogg and Russell, but I don’t see a massive drop-off in what is coming through at the moment otherwise. How good a player is doesn’t always become obvious as soon as they become a pro, in any case. The first time I saw Russell play, it was for our U20s, and he started on the bench.

IIRC, Hoggy debuted for Scotland in the same 6N as Lee Jones and at the time I thought Jones was very good and Hoggy promising.

I think there are a few in the academies that could be good, too

Worth recalling Ireland were worried what would happen after O'Driscoll, O'Connell, O'Gara, Best, Quinlan, Cullen, Heaslip, D'Arcy, Horgan, Murphy retired. There was a general view that there were good players coming through but not generational talents in the same way those guys were. Seemed to work out well.

Stevie Scott moving to Watsonians. Did Blair pick his team ir were they in place/SRU apps?

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:56 pm

Yr Alban wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:53 pm

Tichtheid wrote: Tue Jan 10, 2023 1:44 pm I'm not too despondent about the players we have in the short and medium term. The Fagersons are both mid 20s, as are Darcy, Ritchie, Cummings, Crosbie, Baylis, Hodgson, Ben White, Tuipulotu, Hutchinson.

Sykes, Christie, Darge, Boyle, Harrison, Ashman, Ollie Smith, Dobie, Redpath, McLean, Rowe are all just a bit younger than the first group
This second "wave" includes Murphy Walker, we are very short at prop in this cohort.

Yep - we may be approaching the end of the careers of some of our generational talents in Hogg and Russell, but I don’t see a massive drop-off in what is coming through at the moment otherwise. How good a player is doesn’t always become obvious as soon as they become a pro, in any case. The first time I saw Russell play, it was for our U20s, and he started on the bench.

IIRC, Hoggy debuted for Scotland in the same 6N as Lee Jones and at the time I thought Jones was very good and Hoggy promising.

I think there are a few in the academies that could be good, too

Jones debuted the first match Vs England (I think Dave Denton did and got motm or close to he was phenomenal) and we lost to a charge down Charlie Hodgson charge down try. The night before Hogg played for Scotland A, tore the Saxons to shreds including a beautiful individual try and then the week after we went to Cardiff Hogg came off the bench scored an obvious try that was ruled out but played well in any case and the week after scored early Vs France. The rest in history but after the Wales match everyone knew how good a player Hogg was and would be.