RugbyRebels

whatisthejava wrote:Ally Millars a lose, not sure i can remember Rory Darge

Millar plays across the back row. Big lad for a loosie, maybe ideally not quite big enough for full time 6/8 ball carrier, but if he has all his 7s conditioning out of his system and some 15s bulk added, he will be a very decent addition for the Weegies.

Darge is a loosie, but played 8 last U20s to accommodate him and Boyle, both were rated a huge prospects.

Both might now a get a shot at game time. The farcical recruitment of about 3 dozen quality back rows Cockerill was allowed to do last year coming home to roost or being called out from Murrayfield.

Good for Scotland. Not so much for Edinburgh.

Those moves make a lot of sense. After Edinburgh re-signed all their first choice back row they had to let some go.

Edinburgh still have plenty to work with. If you have Haining, Bradbury, Crosbie and Boyle not getting in the starting team then you should focus on other areas.

Cameo wrote:Those moves make a lot of sense. After Edinburgh re-signed all their first choice back row they had to let some go.

Edinburgh still have plenty to work with. If you have Haining, Bradbury, Crosbie and Boyle not getting in the starting team then you should focus on other areas.

They make sense for Scotland and Glasgow. But Edinburgh have kept the wrong options I think. Would have been nice to ship Haining and Kubavalu along the M8 instead, or even Bradbury based on production this season. Based on the little I saw at U20 I think I'd also rather have kept Darge than Boyle, though I accept that it's too early to say.

Given that they were under contract with Edinburgh I worry that this is more evidence of Cockerills short term thinking and obsession with experience. Who knows, maybe Boyle or Muncaster will play next year, but I doubt it.

Of course the initial cock up was contracting both Darge and Boyle to Edinburgh in the first place.

I am pleased that Miller got another contract though.

Unsurprising but slightly depressing article with Hodge - https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ch-3153823

This idea that because they don't kick that much, they must be attacking is just nonsense. They are clearly not an attacking team - that's clear for anyone to see. Their kick percentages are probably not high as their sole ploy is to pick and go interminably.

Fair enough, defend your style etc., call it controlled all you want, but be realistic.

Imho Glasgow are becoming the best team in Scotland, especially with their recent signings and the fact King Duhan is off to Worcester.

I await a backlash from Edinburgh fans but maybe the truth hurts

Scottish Caley Fan wrote:Imho Glasgow are becoming the best team in Scotland, especially with their recent signings and the fact King Duhan is off to Worcester.

I await a backlash from Edinburgh fans but maybe the truth hurts

early days. Edinburgh will still get up for Glasgow games, and a few others, but they have a ceiling called Cockerill I'm afraid.

Glasgow have struggled but we are seeing a total rebuild, overdue and should have started a coupe of seasons ago. Lots of signings, but at this stage every one is a fingers crossed punt. All look to have potential but all have still to prove they can fulfil it (even Dempsey, injury ridden and this is not tackling optional super rugby). Not all of them will make it.

Scottish Caley Fan wrote:Imho Glasgow are becoming the best team in Scotland, especially with their recent signings and the fact King Duhan is off to Worcester.

I await a backlash from Edinburgh fans but maybe the truth hurts

I think Edinburgh got shell shocked at the start of the season, then lost all their key players to Scotland

I also think you could be right but claiming to be the best team in Scotland is like being the best looking girl in Bathgate.

Get to the end of the season, get a great pre season adapt to the new laws better than they did last year and i think Ed will be ok

Not sure that I'll be up for watching my third game of rugby tonight but the Edinburgh team is out. Bradbury continues at lock despite Hodgson doing well earlier in the year and luring Sykes away from Glasgow earlier in the season. Miller starts in a massive backrow whilst players that we have contracted for next season are on the bench (the lesser sighted Kunavula) or not in the 23 (Boyle). And McCallum is nowhere to be seen with what appears to be a scottish prem player drafted onto the bench.


15. Damien Hoyland CO-CAPTAIN (79)
14. Jack Blain (9)
13. James Johnstone (59)
12. George Taylor (29)
11. Eroni Sau (19)
10. Nathan Chamberlain (6)
9. Charlie Shiel (28)

1. Pierre Schoeman CO-CAPTAIN (58)
2. Mike Willemse (33)
3. Lee-Roy Atalifo (5)
4. Magnus Bradbury (91)
5. Andrew Davidson (11)
6. Luke Crosbie (50)
7. Ally Miller (21)
8. Viliame Mata (83)

Substitutes:
16. Sam Kitchen (0)
17. Boan Venter (1)
18. Angus Williams (0)
19. Jamie Hodgson (16)
20. Mesu Kunavula (4)
21. Henry Pyrgos (45)
22. Charlie Savala (0)
23. Mark Bennett (49)

Unavailable on Scotland duty (11): Simon Berghan, David Cherry, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham, Nick Haining, Willem Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Sutherland, Duhan van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Hamish Watson.

Unavailable through injury (9): Lewis Carmichael, Dan Gamble, Nic Groom, Charlie Jupp, Blair Kinghorn, Stuart McInally, Fraser McKenzie, Dan Nutton, Ben Toolis

9 points down, with the wind at our backs in the second half, this feels like it could be on. Chamberlain showing some nice running skills so far but needs to manage the game now. Miller showing up again.

Who thought that box kicking into the hallway wind was a good idea?

Correct red card decision. Will make no difference as Edinburgh don't challenge defences in a way that would hurt 14 men.

Miller owes Chamberlain a pint. Awful flank play to let the 8 get a clear run at the 10 like that.

Nice heads up play by Chamberlain to take the gap and steal the win.

Well that was a get out if jail moment at the end. So negative in the second half.

Does anyone else think that Davidson is actually our best lock? And we're losing him?

https://www.midi-olympique.fr/2021/03/1 ... 427689.php

Oui s'il te plaît

Big D wrote:https://www.midi-olympique.fr/2021/03/1 ... 427689.php

Oui s'il te plaît

Saying that, do you feel that it's time for Cockerill to move on?

Apparently, there's a four-man shortlist, the others being Jeremy Davidson (currently head coach with Brive), Jono Gibbes (DoR La Rochelle) and former French hooker, Yannick Bru (coach at Bayonne). All four have impressive cvs, but who'll be appointed is anyone's guess.

francoisfou wrote:

Big D wrote:https://www.midi-olympique.fr/2021/03/1 ... 427689.php

Oui s'il te plaît

Saying that, do you feel that it's time for Cockerill to move on?

Apparently, there's a four-man shortlist, the others being Jeremy Davidson (currently head coach with Brive), Jono Gibbes (DoR La Rochelle) and former French hooker, Yannick Bru (coach at Bayonne). All four have impressive cvs, but who'll be appointed is anyone's guess.

Yes. Very much so.

Edit: Sorry I should have expanded. Where Cockerill excels, and I don't think many would argue, is coming in and instilling a culture around a basic game plan and work ethic. This is effective following a shit show like the previous Edinburgh regime. He did that part well. Where he is found wanting is the "what comes next" to expand upon the solid base he sets. This was shown against Munster in the HEC QFs in 18-19 and the Ulster Pro 14 semi. The game plan and skills to implement anything other than a basic game plan just simply haven't been developed. This echos what happened at the end of his tenure at Leicester.

He also doesn't really develop young players which must be a prerequisite for a Scottish club coach IMO.

So, whilst he has done a good job up to the end of last season, it could have been better and this Edinburgh could do with bringing someone in to freshen up the game plans and try to take the team on.

And lets be honest for RC, Clermont is a far better gig than Edinburgh.

Random team for tonight's game. Chamberlain is injured so Savala gets a chance to show what he can do, which is good as otherwise he'd have waited 18 months for 6 minutes off the bench. Shiel also starts and Groom isn't amongst the injured - also good.

However Hoyland has gone from seemingly on his way out to captain and is at fullback with Kinghorn on the wing. Wilemse is on his way out but is also a captain. Bradbury is in the second row again. McCallum is seemingly back covering loose head, which will do noone any favours, least of all him.

I kind of just want the domestic season to be over.

15. Damien Hoyland CO-CAPTAIN (80)

14. Blair Kinghorn (95)
13. James Johnstone (60)
12. George Taylor (30)
11. Eroni Sau (20)

10. Charlie Savala (0)
9. Charlie Shiel (29)

1. Boan Venter (2)
2. Mike Willemse CO-CAPTAIN (34)
3. Lee-Roy Atalifo (6)
4. Magnus Bradbury (92)
5. Andrew Davidson (12)
6. Mesu Kunavula (5)
7. Luke Crosbie (51)
8. Viliame Mata (84)

Substitutes:
16. Sam Kitchen (0)
17. Murray McCallum (60)
18. Angus Williams (1)
19. Jamie Hodgson (17)
20.Ally Miller (22)
21. Henry Pyrgos (46)
22. Jack Blain
23. Mark Bennett (50)

Unavailable on Scotland duty (11): Simon Berghan, David Cherry, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham, Nick Haining, Willem Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Sutherland, Duhan van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Hamish Watson.

Unavailable through injury (10): Lewis Carmichael, Nathan Chamberlain, Jamie Farndale, Dan Gamble, Sam Grahamslaw, Stuart McInally, Fraser McKenzie, Dan Nutton, Pierre Schoeman, Ben Toolis.

Pretty bloody awful in the end. Actually started fairly well, with Savala standing flat and Shiel getting the ball out. We were in the game. That obviously couldn't stand - Pyrgos on for Shiel and Kinghorn to ten for Savala. We reverted to type and went ahead to conceed another two tries and lose comprehensively again.

Bring on a new coaching team (again) please.

Pyrgos coming on changed the game for the worse.

Kinghorn was robbed by an awful decision too.

THe kinghorn decision demonstrates why the welsh should never be allowed to ref a welsh team.

So convinced that Kinghorn lost control even though he clearly didn't, when Oens asked him to look at the tackle off the ball, he changed subject and focused on the supposed knock on.

If the big screen had been on , Kinghorn could have asked for clarification off Owens at what point he felt he lost control.


I actually thought Ed played well but one knock on in open play and a lack of a scrum cost Edinburgh that game.

I thought Owens did well but in the last Ed attack he decided that the scrum half was trying to milk a penalty when the Cardiff players were constantly rolling south,

interesting interpretation

switchskier wrote:Pretty bloody awful in the end. Actually started fairly well, with Savala standing flat and Shiel getting the ball out. We were in the game. That obviously couldn't stand - Pyrgos on for Shiel and Kinghorn to ten for Savala. We reverted to type and went ahead to conceed another two tries and lose comprehensively again.

Bring on a new coaching team (again) please.

Kinghorn showed why he doesn't play 10. Shovel pass or run himself. Didn't think he was that flat either, much less than Savala anyway who looked like he could run a game

But Edin pack lost that ultimately. No maul defence to speak of, own maul was a shadow of what it once was. Starting pack struggled in the scrum but just about held it, when TH went off it went to shit as the semi pro replacement was an easy target, so big brain Cocker's answer was to bring on his best available TH at LH.

And the fast start Edin made, loads of fast ruck ball was all about the pack, who obviously could not maintain that for more than 40mins. They ain't conditioned to play fast high ball in play time rugby.

That is a pack without Shoeman, McInally, Nel, Gilchrist, Carmichael, Ritchie, Watson. Plus Toolis, Sutherland so little surprise they struggled, especially in the second half.

whatisthejava wrote:THe kinghorn decision demonstrates why the welsh should never be allowed to ref a welsh team.

So convinced that Kinghorn lost control even though he clearly didn't, when Oens asked him to look at the tackle off the ball, he changed subject and focused on the supposed knock on.

If the big screen had been on , Kinghorn could have asked for clarification off Owens at what point he felt he lost control.


I actually thought Ed played well but one knock on in open play and a lack of a scrum cost Edinburgh that game.

I thought Owens did well but in the last Ed attack he decided that the scrum half was trying to milk a penalty when the Cardiff players were constantly rolling south,

interesting interpretation

Agreed re the Kinghorn decision, I didn’t get that at all.

Re the penalty, the scrum half stepped into a player who had moved out of the tackle area. I felt the scrum half was milking that one a bit.

Rory Thornton got a bit overconfident after a decent tackle on Mata. He went flying when he tried it the second time.

Wallpaperman wrote:

whatisthejava wrote: interesting interpretation

Agreed re the Kinghorn decision, I didn’t get that at all.

Wallpaperman wrote: Re the penalty, the scrum half stepped into a player who had moved out of the tackle area. I felt the scrum half was milking that one a bit.

But he really didn't, we saw times and again refs being really hot on moving east/west and not North/South both times the player opted to move South, both times he slowed down the SH and both times he should have been penalized