NPR

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 6:37 pm Revisiting the discussion a couple of weeks ago about pre-season, I think if Glasgow had had some proper pre-season games against interesting opposition they would not have lost that. An untestable theory of course, but they just looked undercooked to me. Clearly better but weren’t able to use the dominance.

Any word on Fagerson? Franco said post-match it was a bang to the hip but I’ve seen suggestions on twitter he’s shagged his knee…? Terrible luck if he has, end of last season and into the game last night he looked excellent.

Big D wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:37 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 6:37 pm Revisiting the discussion a couple of weeks ago about pre-season, I think if Glasgow had had some proper pre-season games against interesting opposition they would not have lost that. An untestable theory of course, but they just looked undercooked to me. Clearly better but weren’t able to use the dominance.

Any word on Fagerson? Franco said post-match it was a bang to the hip but I’ve seen suggestions on twitter he’s shagged his knee…? Terrible luck if he has, end of last season and into the game last night he looked excellent.

I think there is merit in this theory to be honest. In the NFL it feels like there is a large number of injuries (maybe it is just the number of high profile players) and they don't play anything like the number of minutes during the preseason that they used to and the preseason games are of a far lower intensity.

Slick wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2024 12:14 pm

Big D wrote: Tue Sep 24, 2024 10:37 am

KingBlairhorn wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 6:37 pm Revisiting the discussion a couple of weeks ago about pre-season, I think if Glasgow had had some proper pre-season games against interesting opposition they would not have lost that. An untestable theory of course, but they just looked undercooked to me. Clearly better but weren’t able to use the dominance.

Any word on Fagerson? Franco said post-match it was a bang to the hip but I’ve seen suggestions on twitter he’s shagged his knee…? Terrible luck if he has, end of last season and into the game last night he looked excellent.

I think there is merit in this theory to be honest. In the NFL it feels like there is a large number of injuries (maybe it is just the number of high profile players) and they don't play anything like the number of minutes during the preseason that they used to and the preseason games are of a far lower intensity.

I don't know. Glasgow looked on it for large parts of that game and were completely outpowering Ulster, they just didn't score. It was, as I've said above, a very odd game.

weegie01 wrote: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:56 pm How on earth has Jordan got to 51 caps already?

He's only played two seasons for Glasgow so must have played in pretty nearly every single game.

Jockaline wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 5:59 pm Last minute subscription to Premier Sport to watch the Edinburgh game tonight. Used a discount code of EPCR70 to reduce the upfront annual cost from £120 to £70. Thought I'd share in case there was others interested.

KingBlairhorn wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 8:32 pm lol, well obviously a back row on the wing gets the final try after that comment.

I’d be a bit worried about that performance tbh, that should have been a 60+ point win. Very wasteful.

clydecloggie wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 3:38 pm Edinburgh still appears to be Edinburgh, with the players they have it's just not good enough. They should be fighting it out with the Ospreys, Connacht etc. to get a play off spot and to be fair probably still will. But that shouldn't be their ceiling.

Glasgow looked like a team colouring by numbers but because their ceiling is ridiculously high, there was some champagne rugby there and it was an easy win.

Biffer wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 4:09 pm

clydecloggie wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 3:38 pm Edinburgh still appears to be Edinburgh, with the players they have it's just not good enough. They should be fighting it out with the Ospreys, Connacht etc. to get a play off spot and to be fair probably still will. But that shouldn't be their ceiling.

Glasgow looked like a team colouring by numbers but because their ceiling is ridiculously high, there was some champagne rugby there and it was an easy win.

To be completely fair to Edinburgh, home to Leinster and then two away games in South Africa is a pretty rough start to a season! If they manage to somehow get a win this weekend, they’d have seven or eight points from that opening, which I would bite your hand off for.

Dogbert wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:25 pm Championships are neither won or lost in September….

Did Glasgow leave a shed load of points out a Scostoun on Friday night - probably – does it matter , definitely not.

We can still see a fair bit of rust in some of the players, but others have really hit the ground running.

Matt Fagerson was immense- at 8 , even if he is only holding position for Jack Dempsey.

The Dobie try was such a thing of beauty. Solid scrum going forward controlled at the back by Fagerson – penalty coming , but Matt picks the ball , make 4 metres, and with an outrageous outside flick of the wrist offloads it to Dobie – if Rusell has made that pass, it would have been played to death on a highlights reel – Dobie takes it up the line passed to Captain Fantastic, Kyle busts an inside line, gets tackled, but as he goes down , he offloads with a pop pass to Dobie – Peter Hornesque , Dobie pins back his ears with a takes it for a mazy run before dotting down at the posts - East Stand then explodes- Magical

Dobie is another one who is getting better and better, he was always a good prospect, but he’s becoming a much more complete player – really is showing how much of a gifted scrum half he is.

Was Richie Vernon a poor mans Euan Ferrie ?– only time will tell , but obviously Franco thinks highly of this young man- exciting times ahead.

As for Edinburgh – I have no skin in the game – but Championships are neither won or lost in September….

Slick wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 8:44 pm

Dogbert wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 10:25 pm Championships are neither won or lost in September….

Did Glasgow leave a shed load of points out a Scostoun on Friday night - probably – does it matter , definitely not.

We can still see a fair bit of rust in some of the players, but others have really hit the ground running.

Matt Fagerson was immense- at 8 , even if he is only holding position for Jack Dempsey.

The Dobie try was such a thing of beauty. Solid scrum going forward controlled at the back by Fagerson – penalty coming , but Matt picks the ball , make 4 metres, and with an outrageous outside flick of the wrist offloads it to Dobie – if Rusell has made that pass, it would have been played to death on a highlights reel – Dobie takes it up the line passed to Captain Fantastic, Kyle busts an inside line, gets tackled, but as he goes down , he offloads with a pop pass to Dobie – Peter Hornesque , Dobie pins back his ears with a takes it for a mazy run before dotting down at the posts - East Stand then explodes- Magical

Dobie is another one who is getting better and better, he was always a good prospect, but he’s becoming a much more complete player – really is showing how much of a gifted scrum half he is.

Was Richie Vernon a poor mans Euan Ferrie ?– only time will tell , but obviously Franco thinks highly of this young man- exciting times ahead.

As for Edinburgh – I have no skin in the game – but Championships are neither won or lost in September….

So great to see Dobie being trusted with game time and progressing rapidly. I think I’ve been consistent in saying I think he was going to be our best 9 for Scotland and think he now is

Biffer wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:20 pm

Jockaline wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 5:59 pm Last minute subscription to Premier Sport to watch the Edinburgh game tonight. Used a discount code of EPCR70 to reduce the upfront annual cost from £120 to £70. Thought I'd share in case there was others interested.

Cheers. Code is still valid if anyone wants to use it.

Yr Alban wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 10:20 pm

Biffer wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:20 pm

Jockaline wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 5:59 pm Last minute subscription to Premier Sport to watch the Edinburgh game tonight. Used a discount code of EPCR70 to reduce the upfront annual cost from £120 to £70. Thought I'd share in case there was others interested.

Cheers. Code is still valid if anyone wants to use it.

I used it too - many thanks!

How many fans do URC matches draw in SA? Loftus Versfeld looked virtually empty.

Yr Alban wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 10:20 pm

Biffer wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:20 pm

Jockaline wrote: Fri Sep 20, 2024 5:59 pm Last minute subscription to Premier Sport to watch the Edinburgh game tonight. Used a discount code of EPCR70 to reduce the upfront annual cost from £120 to £70. Thought I'd share in case there was others interested.

Cheers. Code is still valid if anyone wants to use it.

I used it too - many thanks!

How many fans do URC matches draw in SA? Loftus Versfeld looked virtually empty.

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:36 pm For me the major difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow in recent years has been in the centres, well one of quite a few differences but the Glasgow midfield has given the whole team so much attacking prowess that if they can hold on up front they are always in with a chance.

When Edinburgh have beaten Glasgow it's been when Chris Dean has been playing out of his skin or Matt Scott was running hard lines - both of whom were discarded of course, I think they would both have been much better players at Glasgow.

I don't know why players like Price come to Edinburgh and see their form fall off a cliff, but right now he shouldn't be within a million miles of the Scotland squad for November, Vellacott is way ahead of him and to be honest I'd rather see Shiel get a run for Edinburgh, or one of the young lads.

Bradbury looked decent on Saturday, if Scotland was playing next weekend I'd start him with Fagerson and Ritchie.

I like neeps wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:26 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:36 pm For me the major difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow in recent years has been in the centres, well one of quite a few differences but the Glasgow midfield has given the whole team so much attacking prowess that if they can hold on up front they are always in with a chance.

When Edinburgh have beaten Glasgow it's been when Chris Dean has been playing out of his skin or Matt Scott was running hard lines - both of whom were discarded of course, I think they would both have been much better players at Glasgow.

I don't know why players like Price come to Edinburgh and see their form fall off a cliff, but right now he shouldn't be within a million miles of the Scotland squad for November, Vellacott is way ahead of him and to be honest I'd rather see Shiel get a run for Edinburgh, or one of the young lads.

Bradbury looked decent on Saturday, if Scotland was playing next weekend I'd start him with Fagerson and Ritchie.

Price is at Edinburgh because the SRU use Edinburgh as a holding pen for internationals who can't get a contract. It's the reason Edinburgh have an imbalanced squad and often go through the motions.

Biffer wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 7:38 am

Yr Alban wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 10:20 pm

Biffer wrote: Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:20 pm

Cheers. Code is still valid if anyone wants to use it.

I used it too - many thanks!

How many fans do URC matches draw in SA? Loftus Versfeld looked virtually empty.

Same problem we had at Murrayfield.

I like neeps wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:26 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:36 pm For me the major difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow in recent years has been in the centres, well one of quite a few differences but the Glasgow midfield has given the whole team so much attacking prowess that if they can hold on up front they are always in with a chance.

When Edinburgh have beaten Glasgow it's been when Chris Dean has been playing out of his skin or Matt Scott was running hard lines - both of whom were discarded of course, I think they would both have been much better players at Glasgow.

I don't know why players like Price come to Edinburgh and see their form fall off a cliff, but right now he shouldn't be within a million miles of the Scotland squad for November, Vellacott is way ahead of him and to be honest I'd rather see Shiel get a run for Edinburgh, or one of the young lads.

Bradbury looked decent on Saturday, if Scotland was playing next weekend I'd start him with Fagerson and Ritchie.

Price is at Edinburgh because the SRU use Edinburgh as a holding pen for internationals who can't get a contract. It's the reason Edinburgh have an imbalanced squad and often go through the motions.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Slick wrote: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:34 pm I’ve talked a fair bit about how amazing the women’s team are with kids and other supporters, well…..

My daughter, in P2, was set a project on “someone who you admire and inspires you” and she decided to do it on Rhona Lloyd as she is mad into her rugby and we’ve been to watch them quite a few times.

I know Rhona’s cousin so I asked if she could help us send some questions for her. Anyway, FaceTime rings tonight and it’s Rhona calling from SA to speak with my daughter! She was absolutely stunned and still grinning an hour later.

Then just to top it off she finished with “I’m playing Japan on Saturday so look out for me in the 14 jersey because I’m sending it to you after the game”

I’m quite emotional I must say.

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:27 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:26 am

Tichtheid wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:36 pm For me the major difference between Edinburgh and Glasgow in recent years has been in the centres, well one of quite a few differences but the Glasgow midfield has given the whole team so much attacking prowess that if they can hold on up front they are always in with a chance.

When Edinburgh have beaten Glasgow it's been when Chris Dean has been playing out of his skin or Matt Scott was running hard lines - both of whom were discarded of course, I think they would both have been much better players at Glasgow.

I don't know why players like Price come to Edinburgh and see their form fall off a cliff, but right now he shouldn't be within a million miles of the Scotland squad for November, Vellacott is way ahead of him and to be honest I'd rather see Shiel get a run for Edinburgh, or one of the young lads.

Bradbury looked decent on Saturday, if Scotland was playing next weekend I'd start him with Fagerson and Ritchie.

Price is at Edinburgh because the SRU use Edinburgh as a holding pen for internationals who can't get a contract. It's the reason Edinburgh have an imbalanced squad and often go through the motions.

There certainly seems to be a bit of that going on - but that would have been said about Vellacott, who is to my way of seeing things right up there for selection for the AIs at the moment, early as it is in the season.

I don't know if it's the proximity to the SRU or if it's just plain hiring coaches who aren't up to the job, but in terms of the sum of the parts, Edinburgh play way less than it. There are good players there who have played well for Scotland or who are conspicuous by their absence in the international shirt, but who do not produce the goods at club level - Edinburgh could and should have won their first two games against seriously tough clubs, title contender teams who were fielding far from their first choices and were playing way below par.

Yet we fucked it again, a decent "team" would have been on nine points from those two games, we're on three.

It's beyond frustrating.

I like neeps wrote: Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:13 am

Tichtheid wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:27 pm

I like neeps wrote: Mon Sep 30, 2024 10:26 am

Price is at Edinburgh because the SRU use Edinburgh as a holding pen for internationals who can't get a contract. It's the reason Edinburgh have an imbalanced squad and often go through the motions.

There certainly seems to be a bit of that going on - but that would have been said about Vellacott, who is to my way of seeing things right up there for selection for the AIs at the moment, early as it is in the season.

I don't know if it's the proximity to the SRU or if it's just plain hiring coaches who aren't up to the job, but in terms of the sum of the parts, Edinburgh play way less than it. There are good players there who have played well for Scotland or who are conspicuous by their absence in the international shirt, but who do not produce the goods at club level - Edinburgh could and should have won their first two games against seriously tough clubs, title contender teams who were fielding far from their first choices and were playing way below par.

Yet we fucked it again, a decent "team" would have been on nine points from those two games, we're on three.

It's beyond frustrating.

It is true of Vellacott too yes, I'd be surprised if he got in the Scotland 23 regularly. He'd just been released and so the SRU gave him a contract so he was an option for Scotland. He wasn't signed to improve Edinburgh. See also, recently retired Scott Steele. With Price that's most of the Edinburgh scrum halfs from this and last season.

It's because performance for Edinburgh isn't what gets them picked for Scotland. Their performances for Scotland are. It's hard to build a team when the priorities of the players aren't with that team they're with the international one.