1872 Cup Champions

[Mikey Brown]

Anybody got a stream? Sounds like it's going well but can't find one.

[septic 9]

Anybody got a stream? Sounds like it's going well but can't find one.

streamed by EPCR TV. Costs £4.99. Given HT score against Pau 3rds, not worth it

[Adder]

[Mikey Brown]

Anybody got a stream? Sounds like it's going well but can't find one.

streamed by EPCR TV. Costs £4.99. Given HT score against Pau 3rds, not worth it

Yeah, wasn’t quite that keen to watch it. To be honest I wasn’t sure the quality of Pau or if I simply didn’t recognise any of their names.

[Big D]

So Freddie Owsley was sent off in the 7s:


Few things to unpick on this one. Why didn't the TJ call in sooner rather than wasting time. In 7s this is important, lots of time was lost.

Secondly, either why hasn't the ref penalised it at the time or stood up to his TJ? He had the best view in the house.

Thirdly, Owlsey could go lower, but in 7s it is often more important to target the ball. Risk taken by the player.

Fourthly because I am on a roll, the player showed no sign of a head knock, head didn't snap back and he didn't get up showing any effects of the hit. So arguably not at force.

I am all for player protection, but I find that call very harsh.

[Big D]

Shaky first half but put Bath to bed quite easily in the second.

[switchskier]

A wee Easter trip north meant that I actually got to go to the Bath game. Definitely lucky for it to be so close at halftime givek some self-imposed errors but boy can we attack when given the opportunity. I'm becoming a convert to Kinghorn at ten, he had the Bath defence on it's heels all day long and they didn't know what to do with him. Lang played the best game that I've seen from him too and Boffelli looks far too good for us. Why a french side isn't paying him big money I have no idea.

Special shout out for young Muncaster. He looks the real deal. Carries with menace, attacks rucks and tackles hard. Looks to have the athletic profile to prosper at international level too. Bayliss started well but Muncaster offers more now based on that game.

Conditioning of the Edinburgh team is good too. Bath faded badly but we looked strong right until the end.

[Cameo]

A wee Easter trip north meant that I actually got to go to the Bath game. Definitely lucky for it to be so close at halftime givek some self-imposed errors but boy can we attack when given the opportunity. I'm becoming a convert to Kinghorn at ten, he had the Bath defence on it's heels all day long and they didn't know what to do with him. Lang played the best game that I've seen from him too and Boffelli looks far too good for us. Why a french side isn't paying him big money I have no idea.

Special shout out for young Muncaster. He looks the real deal. Carries with menace, attacks rucks and tackles hard. Looks to have the athletic profile to prosper at international level too. Bayliss started well but Muncaster offers more now based on that game.

Conditioning of the Edinburgh team is good too. Bath faded badly but we looked strong right until the end.

Kinghorn does seem to be winning a few over at 10. No doubt there are still significant flaws but he certainly makes the highlights packages more watchable!

[Still septic]

Kinghorn's couple of breaks were quite superb. If nothing else those who doubted he has real pace, top end pace, need to think again.

That said, the rest of his game as a 10 was average , depended a lot on Lang stepping in to 1st receiver allowing Kinghorn to drift out. Which is fine if Lang plays (and he played really well) or someone else can play that role of a second 5/8th.
So still definitely a work in progress compared to Russell who stepped up and took the ball to the line regularly and successfully at the weekend (and made as many line breaks, but not the pace!)

Question in my mind about Kinghorn is simple, and is really one which has always been there. Work rate. He could always have been coming into te line , even at first receiver, from any starting position. But rarely did. Two excellent breaks this week, as good as they get, but what else?

[Still septic]

other point Edinburgh need to address is Gilchrist. He's a grafter but but but. Dropped 3 restarts, and of course gave away his usual brainless pen by rolling on to the wrong side of a ruck and stays there - and not when it was a "one for the team" to stop a potential score.

[Big D]

Very careless/stupid by Sykes. He'll learn from that (he'll have to).

Not the best performance but dug out 5 points. Could pick apart a few performances, especially in the first half but at least a bad day at the office hasn't cost them.

[whatisthejava]

Ulster is a key game. Really hard to call. Both teams really need it to have a hope of a home qf

[Cameo]

VDW at fullback again with a bit of an injury crisis in the back three. Lost track of who else could play there but seems he did okay last week.

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Ulster at DAM Health Stadium in the United Rugby Championship
Saturday 30 April (kick-off 7.35pm) – live on Premier Sports

15. Jaco van der Walt (85)

14. Damien Hoyland (90)
13. Mark Bennett (67)
12. James Lang (16)
11. Emiliano Boffelli (14)

10. Blair Kinghorn (115) VICE-CAPTAIN
9. Ben Vellacott (18)

1. Pierre Schoeman (79)
2. Stuart McInally (164) VICE-CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (167)
4. Jamie Hodgson (37)
5. Grant Gilchrist (171) CAPTAIN
6. Luke Crosbie (65)
7. Hamish Watson (128)
8. Magnus Bradbury (109)

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry (54)
17. Harrison Courtney (7)
18. Lee-Roy Atalifo (23)
19. Pierce Phillips (10)
20. Ben Muncaster (13)
21. Henry Pyrgos (66)
22. Chris Dean (117)
23. Matt Currie (13)

Unavailable: Luan de Bruin, Darcy Graham, Nick Haining, Henry Immelman, Viliame Mata, Ramiro Moyano, Jamie Ritchie, Ben Toolis, Boan Venter, Angus Williams, Glen Young

[whatisthejava]

Ben whitehouse is an awful ref.

[whatisthejava]

Ben whitehouse is an awful ref.

[switchskier]

Bit of a season defining game later today it feels. There's been undoubted progress and the squad is much deeper than 12 months ago but a win against a full strength wasps side would be a really positive sign. Especially when you consider the length of the injury list:

Luan de Bruin, Dave Cherry, Darcy Graham, Nick Haining, Henry Immelman, James Lang, Viliame Mata, Stuart McInally, Ben Muncaster, Ramiro Moyano, Marshall Sykes (suspension), Jamie Ritchie, Ben Toolis, Boan Venter, Angus Williams, Glen Young.

[whatisthejava]

Felt we let that slip , and I know bashing refs is a pretty standard thing now but omg that ref was all over the shop.

Pendant if against us and then let them away with some really interesting interpretations.

[switchskier]

I was disappointed to lose it at full time - that game was there to be won. But if you look at the injuries in the pack you've got to be reasonably happy that we're competing. The attack is so much better than last season it's unreal. Now if only we could have both attack and early cockers era forward play we'd be unstoppable.

[switchskier]

Leavers for next season have been confirmed. It's a shame to see Moyano go but it's brilliant news that we're managing to keep Boffelli who's been amazing.

Shane to lose JJ. Good club man and he's done well to carve out a career having looked destined to only be a sevens player for a while. Similarly Taylor never really recovered from that bad injury.

Cant help but think of what might have been with Chamberlain. You'd guess that there's a reason that neither Cockerill or Blair has trusted him and Savala is now ahead in the pecking order. But his performances for the U20's said that there was good raw material to work with there. Will be interesting to see where he ends up.

Leavers
Bradbury, toolis, George Taylor, James Johnstone, Chamberlain, Grahamslaw, moyano

[Big D]

Taylor actually retired a while back. Not sure why they included him in leavers after making a decent sized deal about his retirement at the time.

[switchskier]

Teams are up for the 1872. Think that Glasgow play a style that we currently struggle with but am hoping for a tight win. I'm a bit surprised that Dean starts ahead of Lang and am looking for muncaster to have a big impact from the bench. McLean versus Graham should be great fun.

15. Emiliano Boffelli (16)

14. Darcy Graham (48)
13. Mark Bennett (69)
12. Chris Dean (119)
11. Damien Hoyland (92)

10. Blair Kinghorn (117) VICE-CAPTAIN
9. Ben Vellacott (20)

1. Pierre Schoeman (81)
2. Dave Cherry (55) VICE-CAPTAIN
3. WP Nel (169)
4. Jamie Hodgson (39)
5. Grant Gilchrist (173) CAPTAIN
6. Luke Crosbie (67)
7. Hamish Watson (129)
8. Magnus Bradbury (111)

Replacements

16. Adam McBurney (12)
17. Harrison Courtney (8)
18. Lee-Roy Atalifo (25)
19. Marshall Sykes (21)
20. Ben Muncaster (14)
21. Henry Pyrgos (68)
22. Jaco van der Walt (87)
23. James Lang (17)

Unavailable: Luan de Bruin, Nick Haining, Henry Immelman, Viliame Mata, Stuart McInally, Ramiro Moyano, Jamie Ritchie, Ben Toolis, Boan Venter, Angus Williams, Glen Young

. Jamie Bhatti (65)
2. George Turner (75)
3. Zander Fagerson (113)
4. Rob Harley (265)
5. Richie Gray (81)
6. Ryan Wilson (C) (211)
7. Thomas Gordon (50)
8. Jack Dempsey (20)

9. Ali Price (109)
10. Ross Thompson (35)
11. Rufus McLean (19)
12. Sam Johnson (91)
13. Sione Tuipulotu (18)
14. Josh McKay (13)
15. Ollie Smith (18)

16. Johnny Matthews (29)
17. Nathan McBeth (5)
18. Simon Berghan (11)
19. Kiran McDonald (53)
20. Gregor Brown (3)
21. Jamie Dobie (36)
22. Domingo Miotti (4)
23. Stafford McDowall (37)

Unavailable for selection: Fraser Brown, Sebastian Cancelliere, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson, Oli Kebble, Ally Miller, Kyle Steyn, Duncan Weir.

[Cameo]

Only seen the highlights but looked pretty comprehensive.

Kinghorn seems to have been given free reign with holding the ball in one hand and looking to offload. Unsure how it translates at a higher level but certainly puts defenders in two minds.

Ollie Smith's try was great too. Great leap and take and then great footwork/awareness.

[Big D]

Only seen the highlights but looked pretty comprehensive.

Kinghorn seems to have been given free reign with holding the ball in one hand and looking to offload. Unsure how it translates at a higher level but certainly puts defenders in two minds.

Ollie Smith's try was great too. Great leap and take and then great footwork/awareness.

Was at the game. Edinburgh were in control for a long spell.

Sitting in the east stand front row, I was surprised at the difference in noise when Hodgson made a tackle compared to the other second rows on the pitch. He's more physical than a gave him credit for.

No one will be able to convince me that Tuipolotu is anything more than a pro club level crash ball merchant who will occasionally be a flat track bully. Shouldn't be near the Scotland squad IMO. Sure a crash ball centre may be of use but he lacks the other skills needed.

[Tobylerone]

New wing/o.c. from NZ, for next season.
Wes Goosen, looks like he`s played a bit of rugby.

[Mikey Brown]

I thought he was going to be pushing for an AB spot, so that's quite a surprise.

Goosen, Graham, Boffelli as a back 3 looks pretty handy.