RugbyRebels

switchskier wrote:
I thought that the rumour was DVM to Worcester to play outside of WFD? Current Edinburgh are bad but still not as turgid as in the nadir of the Solomon days

Solomon's Edin had a pack and a maul. Shit backs. Cockerill has asked for and got backs, and extra forwards, has Graham. DVDM, signed 2 10s - one on decent money and the other on big money and the backs are still shite, but the forwards worse I'm sure the ent a quote wise cracker will have a ready excuse for a decade old game plan and shite coaching

Wonder who coached the backs for both Solomon and Cockerill ...

septic 9 wrote:

switchskier wrote:
I thought that the rumour was DVM to Worcester to play outside of WFD? Current Edinburgh are bad but still not as turgid as in the nadir of the Solomon days

Solomon's Edin had a pack and a maul. Shit backs. Cockerill has asked for and got backs, and extra forwards, has Graham. DVDM, signed 2 10s - one on decent money and the other on big money and the backs are still shite, but the forwards worse I'm sure the ent a quote wise cracker will have a ready excuse for a decade old game plan and shite coaching

Cockerills side have reached heights that Solomon's never got close to, for example that QF against Munster. Solomon's achieved two eighth placed finishes and a ninth. He was constantly moaning about one thing or another. First it was that the players weren't fit enough, and then when he'd flogged them into the ground it was that he had too many injuries. It was always someone else's fault, so much so that the new coaching regime felt like a breath of fresh air.

He also got to pick a number of players in the backs, arguably putting more resources there than we have now. Remember the failures of Rasolea or Cuthbert (to be fair, most people won't they were that anonymous). Burleigh wasn't cheap either, or coaches favourite Andriess Strauss who started more matches than he completed passes.

Edinburgh's recent direction is pretty concerning, but it's still better than where we were four years ago. That's how bad it was.

Mind you, amongst the constants is Duncan Hodge coaching the backs...

switchskier wrote:

septic 9 wrote:

switchskier wrote:
I thought that the rumour was DVM to Worcester to play outside of WFD? Current Edinburgh are bad but still not as turgid as in the nadir of the Solomon days

Solomon's Edin had a pack and a maul. Shit backs. Cockerill has asked for and got backs, and extra forwards, has Graham. DVDM, signed 2 10s - one on decent money and the other on big money and the backs are still shite, but the forwards worse I'm sure the ent a quote wise cracker will have a ready excuse for a decade old game plan and shite coaching

Cockerills side have reached heights that Solomon's never got close to, for example that QF against Munster. Solomon's achieved two eighth placed finishes and a ninth. He was constantly moaning about one thing or another. First it was that the players weren't fit enough, and then when he'd flogged them into the ground it was that he had too many injuries. It was always someone else's fault, so much so that the new coaching regime felt like a breath of fresh air.

He also got to pick a number of players in the backs, arguably putting more resources there than we have now. Remember the failures of Rasolea or Cuthbert (to be fair, most people won't they were that anonymous). Burleigh wasn't cheap either, or coaches favourite Andriess Strauss who started more matches than he completed passes.

Edinburgh's recent direction is pretty concerning, but it's still better than where we were four years ago. That's how bad it was.

Mind you, amongst the constants is Duncan Hodge coaching the backs...

Edinburgh have gone back to just as bad. Cockerhill has a far bigger budget. Inherited Weir and ditched him because he hadn't seen him when injured. Asked for and got a pro12 winning scrumhalf from down the road, not cheap. Paid a shit kiwi 10 £250 pa, more than Russell was getting or Hastings is or will get. Managed to get the cash to keep Mata, the sort of cash that could have kept Nakawara in Glasgow. He has had the best budget any scottish coach has ever had
As for excuses, Cockerill was right in there after this weeks game moaning about lack of budget.
He improved Edinburgh for a bit, on the back of a great pack with incredible depth, 2 excellent options in every position, none of whom were signed by him, the again he did sign the truly awful Willemse

Hodge is a common factor in the backs, has nothing to do with the regression of the pack, and its a startling regression. This is Cockerill's 4th season, if he didn't like what Hodge was doing, he has had ample time and opportunity to replace him. Hodge may or may not be any good - probably not - but its Cockerill's game plan, based on Cockerill's other "star" signing VDW, the guy who stands so deep for a play on half way he is behind the posts.

Cockerill is playing the same style he had a decade ago at Leicester. The one that failed after he did well with inherited players then faded as he did not replace them well enough and did not adapt as the game changed and his squad changed. The one that got him sacked there. He is a dinosaur I'm afraid. Time to move on from him

Just half read a tweet that popped up on my phone saying DVDM is off to Worcester, am in a meeting so wasn't paying full attention (to either the meeting or the tweet) and now I cant find it to re-read.... Anyone heard anything?

AL. wrote:Just half read a tweet that popped up on my phone saying DVDM is off to Worcester, am in a meeting so wasn't paying full attention (to either the meeting or the tweet) and now I cant find it to re-read.... Anyone heard anything?

Rumour of a 300k pa deal. He might still be under contract with Edinburgh as he signed an extension of undisclosed length in January.

Graham, Kinghorn, Ritchie, Watson, and Mata are all out of contract. Not sure I would stay if I were any of those.

Big D wrote:Graham, Kinghorn, Ritchie, Watson, and Mata are all out of contract. Not sure I would stay if I were any of those.

I think Watson will. For all Scottish fans love him, he isn't what is wanted in Eng or France at 7. So I'd be surprised to see him move on. Also think Richie will this time round. Also not convinced Kinghorn will have convinced suitors, and Graham for all his obvious abilities and further potential may still be seen as too small until he can turn in regular Kolbe style match changing performances.

Mata is an interesting one. He could have named his price anywhere last time. Being honest he looked jaded and over played before his injury and still looks half the player he was

septic 9 wrote:

Big D wrote:Graham, Kinghorn, Ritchie, Watson, and Mata are all out of contract. Not sure I would stay if I were any of those.

I think Watson will. For all Scottish fans love him, he isn't what is wanted in Eng or France at 7. So I'd be surprised to see him move on. Also think Richie will this time round. Also not convinced Kinghorn will have convinced suitors, and Graham for all his obvious abilities and further potential may still be seen as too small until he can turn in regular Kolbe style match changing performances.

Mata is an interesting one. He could have named his price anywhere last time. Being honest he looked jaded and over played before his injury and still looks half the player he was

There is possibly a debate to be had as to whether Edinburgh should want to keep both HW and JR. A bit of young talent in those positions and if someone wants to take one of their hands they might not be too disappointed.

Yeah, I love Watson but would let him leave. I also don't think he'd struggle to find suites - tough 7 who can also carry, he'll do great anywhere as long as he stays fit.

Big D wrote:

There is possibly a debate to be had as to whether Edinburgh should want to keep both HW and JR. A bit of young talent in those positions and if someone wants to take one of their hands they might not be too disappointed.

there is indeed.................

Cameo wrote:Yeah, I love Watson but would let him leave. I also don't think he'd struggle to find suites - tough 7 who can also carry, he'll do great anywhere as long as he stays fit.

................but finding a club is not the same as being sought out as a big money signing. Possible, but I'm not convinced

A bit of rotation this week, and it's nice to see Shiel and Blain get starts. Ritchie rested it seems as he's not on the unavailable list.

15 Blair Kinghorn (92)
14 Jack Blain (6)
13 Mark Bennett (44)
12 Chris Dean (99)
11 Duhan van der Merwe (62)
10 Jaco van der Walt (63)
9 Charlie Shiel (24)

1 Rory Sutherland (87)
2 Stuart McInally CAPTAIN (149)
3 Simon Berghan (85)
4 Ben Toolis (124)
5 Jamie Hodgson (11)
6 Magnus Bradbury (85)
7 Hamish Watson (114)
8 Viliame Mata (77)

Substitutes
16 David Cherry (28)
17 Pierre Schoeman (52)
18 WP Nel (147)
19 Andries Ferreira (5)
20 Luke Crosbie (45)
21 Nic Groom (18)
22 Nathan Chamberlain (6)
23 James Johnstone (57)

Unavailable through injury (11): Lewis Carmichael, Andrew Davidson, Grant Gilchrist, Matt Gordon, Nick Haining, Damien Hoyland, Murray McCallum, Fraser McKenzie, Dan Nutton, Charlie Savala, George Taylor.

FWIW I would like to see Blain and KInghorn the other way round. Blain is a season older of course but he has looked far more likely to cause problems from 15 than he has on the wing, and been sound defensively, while Kinghorn doesn't look like causing problems from anywhere except for his ow team. I fear he will overplay fail to pass yet again. Turning into another in a long tradition of Edinburgh players who need to understand the hard way that their place is not certain and they are not irreplaceable. SHC was the last one to be taught that lesson, has Cockerill got the balls to teach another one? I have my doubts. Under pressure he always sticks with his favourites.

Good to see Cherry on the bench rather than the wage stealing Willemse. Shame Davidson is injured, been going really well, only consistent Edin forwards in the absence of internationals.

And Shiel starting Groom benching is good to see rather than the other way round. Not before time. Pyrgos rested - he was poor last timeout, very poor. Tough trying to carry that team and manage a shit gameplan

Some proper shit so far. Not switched on. All does not seem well at Mini-Murrayfield.

Um, I’ll just keep typing shite as it seems to work...

Well this is a pretty dreadful game. Shiel off after 48 minutes and us then getting back in the game should see him out of the squad for a while

Decent win in the end. Cherry showing some good stuff after he came on. Bennett scored a good try but a bit of a weak link in defence in that game. Kinghorn did some good stuff too.

Same lack of an attack as usual though. Edinburgh and Sale are a very similar level at the moment.

Thought it was a game between two teams that looked less than the sum if their parts, neither of which will really challenge. Sutherland looked good again, and Bradbury got around the park. Mata seems miles away from his top form though.

I was watching Bradbury a lot as I'm really hoping for more from him, and was left wanting. A couple of reasonable moments but he just doesn't throw his weight around enough. Crosbie made 1 or 2 really powerful tackles when he came on.

Largely the usual dire stuff though outside of that, Sale let Edinburgh off the hook several times. Shame to see Shiel not make more of his chances to start.

Watson signs a "long term" deal.

Quite surprised by this.

Big D wrote:Watson signs a "long term" deal.

Quite surprised by this.

Me too, and have somewhat mixed feelings. On the one hand I love him as a player and am relieved that he'll be in Edinburgh where his body can be managed given his general style of play. On the other we have a lot of options in the back row and I hope that this doesn't mean that Ritchie will be off.

If it was a choice between DVM and Watson then I'm ok with the latter. Generally feel that wingers are the difference between good and great teams, but rarely between bad and average, and we're currently terrible.

Hey. R they streaming the game last week?

Never mind checked twitter and game off

So Glen Young and James Lang to Edinburgh. Relatively pleased about the latter as I think that we really need a centre with some ball handling skills to get the rock out wide.

I don't understand the Young signing as I don't think that he makes us better, just adds another average lock that will get minimal amounts of game time. You'd guess that Mckenzie is done, Ferreira isn't getting renewed and we're giving up on Carmichael's injury record.

switchskier wrote:So Glen Young and James Lang to Edinburgh. Relatively pleased about the latter as I think that we really need a centre with some ball handling skills to get the rock out wide.

I don't understand the Young signing as I don't think that he makes us better, just adds another average lock that will get minimal amounts of game time. You'd guess that Mckenzie is done, Ferreira isn't getting renewed and we're giving up on Carmichael's injury record.

Young makes the squad better than it was. Pretty much an ever present in the Quins 23, mostly starting and has shown up reasonably well in the loose when I have seen him. Possibly plays a little light weight for his size but he is developing.

Good on him too, left Jed when he was young then knocked about at Newcastle then Doncaster, back to Newcastle and then Quins. He has done the hard yards and reaping the rewards really. Slots straight in as 3rd choice lock with an eye on displacing one of Gilchrist and Toolis as the established pairing.