The Glasgow Carpet Burns and Cary Grant Appreciation Thread - Slimmer than ever before!

[septic 9]

If I was to be negative, I would question whether it would have been too much of a stretch to give Watson (or Yule instead of Smith at 13) some gametime in a match like that.

Smith has been great at developing forwards but his devotion to 6-2 splits and willingness to shuffle the top established players around the backline does make it hard for young backs to establish themselves.

Yule is a 12 really. Suppose could have played him there and either moved Sione out one or rested him, but TBH Sione looks like he needs game time. It is hard for young backs in a 62, but I have been very confident Watson will get his chance, he is so good and we are thin in terms of back 3 options if we get the odd injury or Scotland calls (which we should). That confidence has been slightly dented only because of the continued emergence of Glasgow's best scrum half as the form winger in Scotland

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, is the Dobie problem a Dobie thing or a Franco Smith thing? Or in turn a George-Horne-being-the-primary-goal-kicker thing?

[septic 9]

Yeah, is the Dobie problem a Dobie thing or a Franco Smith thing? Or in turn a George-Horne-being-the-primary-goal-kicker thing?

Hastings then Lancaster kicked the goals last night. Horne is a Paterson/Laidlaw kicker - good but limited range, but he was a blessing when we had a 10 who was in all reality a poor kicker of a ball from hand and tee (great player otherwise). Jordan I think was a mid 60s % kicker. Not a problem we have now

If Horne was needed a s goal kicker it would not mean Dobie starting on the wing. Fact is Ashfar was on the bench last night, Dobie picked on the wing because he is simply excellent I think

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough. I suppose I just don’t see Dobie’s potential being as high on the wing as at 9, but I’ve never actually seen him be bad out wide.

[Cameo]

It's an issue with having Scotland number 2 and 3 scrum halfs plus the most promising youngster at one club. I don't know the solution, but for all his ability on the wing, I hope Dobie is first choice nine by the end of the season. His running game has the potential to add to Scotland without the issues that unfortunately come with Horne.

I understand the difficulties in getting Watson and Yule (and others, inclusing Munn who will be ahead of Yule when he is back). I also understand Smith's primary focus has to be winning games. I just wonder if it would have hurt to at least go 5-3 in this game amd give one of them 30 mins off the bench.

[septic 9]

IMHO Dobie is the best 9 at Glasgow, far better all round game than Horne (we know his strengths but he also has serious weaknesses). I also like Afshar a lot
Dobie's problem is that he is just very very good on the wing, I am not saying the form Scottish wing with tongue in cheek, he currently is, both sides of the ball. Easily

[septic 9]

It's an issue with having Scotland number 2 and 3 scrum halfs plus the most promising youngster at one club. I don't know the solution, but for all his ability on the wing, I hope Dobie is first choice nine by the end of the season. His running game has the potential to add to Scotland without the issues that unfortunately come with Horne.

I understand the difficulties in getting Watson and Yule (and others, inclusing Munn who will be ahead of Yule when he is back). I also understand Smith's primary focus has to be winning games. I just wonder if it would have hurt to at least go 5-3 in this game amd give one of them 30 mins off the bench.

Franco does 6/2, that's it
I was surprised and disappointed this week that Watson was not in the 23. There was no need for 3 9s in the 23, and frankly Horne deserved to be dropped after his display last week against Treviso. The drop off from 1st half total control and 2nd half none was purely down to Dobie coming off and Horne going on

[BaldiePete]

It's an issue with having Scotland number 2 and 3 scrum halfs plus the most promising youngster at one club.

We’d take any of them at Edinburgh Let’s be honest though, we’d just fuck them up, make them much worse players and ruin their careers.

[septic 9]

It's an issue with having Scotland number 2 and 3 scrum halfs plus the most promising youngster at one club.

We’d take any of them at Edinburgh Let’s be honest though, we’d just fuck them up, make them much worse players and ruin their careers.

certainly had no clue how to use the last 2 excellent scrum halfs you begged the SRU to move along the M8. Amazing how players who move the other way always seem to improve

[Cameo]

Sounds like another great performance by Dobie. I'd say start him against USA and if he does well, maybe even in the bigger games.

Harsh on White given he'll be on a high post Lions but Dobie's running game can really add something for us.

[Donny osmond]

Just back from the game, good win in the end. Seemed to make heavy weather of it, but equally, the Bulls are a good team, they really lined us up in defence and the guys had to dig deep, and ride their luck, to come out on top.

Glad to see JD get MoM, you could see he was massively up for it.

Might be way off base here, its not easy to see from the East stand, but it felt like Glasgows attack is more based just wear-them-down rather than much in the way of creativity. I felt Hastings and Horne should've been subbed earlier, there wasnt mush shape in attack, although lots of good, quick possession.

Anyway, a good win against good opposition.

[BaldiePete]

I saw the 2nd half. A good win for Glasgow. I like the way they play with a confidence that they are going to score.

[Cameo]

Just back from the game, good win in the end. Seemed to make heavy weather of it, but equally, the Bulls are a good team, they really lined us up in defence and the guys had to dig deep, and ride their luck, to come out on top.

Glad to see JD get MoM, you could see he was massively up for it.

Might be way off base here, its not easy to see from the East stand, but it felt like Glasgows attack is more based just wear-them-down rather than much in the way of creativity. I felt Hastings and Horne should've been subbed earlier, there wasnt mush shape in attack, although lots of good, quick possession.

Anyway, a good win against good opposition.

It'a funny in that sometimes they can look devastatingly creative, cutting through at will but other times I agree with you. It is my one concern about Smith as a potential.Scotland coach, is his approach effective against the best teams that can match you physically and emotionally.

On another note, lots of complaining on the Glasgow message board about not taking penalties. It's a matter of opinion which is the best call at any time, but I wish people got over this idea that it is a sign of over confidence or putting the bonus point ahead of the win. Apparently the Bulls were fired up by Glasgow's disrespectful choice to go for a try. It is just a tactical choice - go for three and risk losing momentum / taking the pressure off even if you do score, go for seven and have a higher risk of getting nothing.

[Scottish Caley Fan]

I noticed young Murphy Walker came off a minute before HT, is it anything to worry about in terms of Scotland v USA next weekend?

[septic 9]

I noticed young Murphy Walker came off a minute before HT, is it anything to worry about in terms of Scotland v USA next weekend?

we certainly do.
Franco says he had an injured shoulder but was planned to change props at HT anyway, but reality was Walker was getting stuffed in the scrum. He struggled a bit last week as well against much weaker pack than Bulls.
Franco thinks Walker's years of injury were at least partly due to too much being asked of him too soon. he is striving to get to standard for Glasgow yet Townsend has rushed him back into a Scotland squad. Its worrying for Scotland, for Glasgow and not least for Walker

[Donny osmond]

Scrums were weird last night. We seemed to start well, ad in getting the decisions from the ref, but then the ref abruptly changed his mind and gave every scrum decision to the Bulls. Coulldnt see what was going on but it def feels like something for Glasgow to work on.

[Mikey Brown]

How is McBeth getting on? Got the impression he’d stepped it up a bit last season and should be getting more Scotland recognition.

I don’t seem to manage to watch any club rugby at all these days and it’s almost impossible to glean much about tight 5 players from 4 minute highlights.

[septic 9]

Scrums were weird last night. We seemed to start well, ad in getting the decisions from the ref, but then the ref abruptly changed his mind and gave every scrum decision to the Bulls. Coulldnt see what was going on but it def feels like something for Glasgow to work on.

didn't really start scrums well, we were under pressure but Bulls were daft. Targetted Walker (understandable) but stupidly ran it round and were penalised. IIRC something similar 2nd scrum. I think the ref actually told them to scrum straight if they wanted to get advantage of their scrum. They did after that and ........

Talakai and McBeth did fare better

Seemed clear Bulls strategy was clearly to bully the scrum to get pens, position and points. The first bit worked, but was strange (and welcome) was that outside the scrum the Glasgow pack totally dominated and bullied them

[paddy no 11]

I saw the 2nd half. A good win for Glasgow. I like the way they play with a confidence that they are going to score.

2 sides to that coin, turned down 6 easy points first half and could have given them a 2 score buffer, you have to respect the opposition forward defence especially against a team as physical as the bulls.

[Donny osmond]

Scrums were weird last night. We seemed to start well, ad in getting the decisions from the ref, but then the ref abruptly changed his mind and gave every scrum decision to the Bulls. Coulldnt see what was going on but it def feels like something for Glasgow to work on.

didn't really start scrums well, we were under pressure but Bulls were daft. Targetted Walker (understandable) but stupidly ran it round and were penalised. IIRC something similar 2nd scrum. I think the ref actually told them to scrum straight if they wanted to get advantage of their scrum. They did after that and ........

Talakai and McBeth did fare better

Seemed clear Bulls strategy was clearly to bully the scrum to get pens, position and points. The first bit worked, but was strange (and welcome) was that outside the scrum the Glasgow pack totally dominated and bullied them

Yup, i was impressed with the Glasgow forwards really fronted up physically to the Bulls in the loose.

[BaldiePete]

I saw the 2nd half. A good win for Glasgow. I like the way they play with a confidence that they are going to score.

2 sides to that coin, turned down 6 easy points first half and could have given them a 2 score buffer, you have to respect the opposition forward defence especially against a team as physical as the bulls.

I think Glasgow are the team who have taken the least penalty kicks at goal in the league.