Glas-gonnae go dae that
WELCOME BACK: Usually a weekend that gives us 2 wins from 3 would be cause for celebration in Thistle HQ. However, and as this week’s news letter will cover, it was the nature of the one loss that colours our feelings. Read on for the best and worst of Scottish rugby this week.
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THISTLE > DRAGON: Scotland Women secured their first victory of this year’s Six Nations, defeating Wales 27-20 in the 5th/6th place playoff. It marked Scotland’s first home victory in the tournament since 2017, and their first ever at Scotstoun. Bryan Easson’s side were much improved on last week and ran out deserved winners, running in four tries to their opponents’ two, with first international scores for Megan Kennedy, Evie Gallagher and Christine Belisle.
In truth this was perhaps the most evenly matched of Scotland’s fixtures in the tournament, and the first where the hosts could legitimately be considered the favourites. Having made three changes to the side that lost to Italy last week, Scotland started the match in impressive fashion, Meghan Gaffney crossing in the corner after patient build up from the forwards. Bryan Easson’s charges added a further two scores in the first half, claimed by the two props, Kennedy and Belisle. Evie Gallagher then crossed the whitewash early in the 2nd half following a powerful rolling maul. Wales added a late score to provide some gloss to the final scoreline.
Once again, the experienced heads of Nelson, Thompson and Wassell were the stand out performers, complemented by encouraging performances from the younger members of the squad. In attack especially there was a lot of positives to take away with the ambition shown off first phase sometimes dwarfing that of their male counterparts.
While a 5th place finish is underwhelming on the surface, Scotland performed admirably in what was always likely to be a difficult tournament, with no competitive action as a collective since last November, and a relative lack of full-time professionals versus the likes of England. The senior players stood up well, and Bryan Easson will take encouragement from how the new heads contributed from the off.
Now to build on the Wales victory and make Scotstoun a fortress in the future- the return of crowds, and potentially a greater willingness from the BBC to show the tournament live, should help in this regard.
Head coach Bryan Easson had this to say after the tournament:
ROBMAC: we are delighted to continue our partnership with sponsor RobMac, which so far has witnessed the Scotland national side make history on two separate occasions. RobMac are an independent financial advisor specialising in mortgage management, financial planning and investments. We know the team at RobMac well and they are just as keen on Scottish rugby as we are so it makes a great fit.
You can check them out at robmac.co.uk
SAU’S THAT: despite unsubstantiated rumours of issues in the Edinburgh camp, a young and relatively inexperienced side came out on Friday night and secured a deserved win against a Zebre outfit that demonstrated a good level of spunk.
In the forwards, Jamie Hodgson and Luke Crosbie both delivered combative and aggressive performances, with Connor Boyle coming off the bench to show in 25 minutes exactly why he is in line for more game time next year.
In the backs, Eroni Sau is a complete freak at times (think it took an average of four Zebre defenders to bring him down) and Matt Currie in his first start had some real nice touches.
Whilst it is hard to say the game was 'won’ by this point, I’m sure Crosbie will be getting a minor telling off for going to the posts with five minutes left when the bonus point was there for the taking. Thankfully Edinburgh have the chance to get a bonus point next weekend against the Pro 14’s weakest team…
GENUINELY WTF: let’s give the Glasgow vs Benetton match a little context:
Benetton hadn’t won a match all season
Glasgow had 10 international forwards in their squad including all eight of the starting pack - Kebble, Turner, Fagerson, Gray, Harley, Lokotui, Brown, Wilson
The Benetton starting pack included one member of the Italy pack from their opening match of the 6 Nations and had, by comparison, significantly less experience:
Thomas Gallo - 21 - Argentina - no caps
Corniel Els - 27 - Journeyman South African - no caps
Filippo Alongi - 19 - Italy - no caps
Niccolo Cannone - 22 - Italy - 13 caps (started last two games of the 6 Nations)
Federico Ruzza - 26 - Italy 22 caps (started last game of 6 Nations)
Riccardo Favretto - 19 - Italy - 1 cap (made debut vs Scotland off the bench)
Michele Lamaro - 22 - Italy - 7 caps (started all matches in 6 Nations)
Toa Halafhi - 27 - Journeyman Kiwi - no caps
With that context how did we end up at Benetton 48 vs Glasgow 19 (and if we’re honest that flatters Glasgow)?. The normally tepid BBC Sport noted that “two of those tries came in the final few minutes, with Benetton barely bothering to defend their huge lead.” The phrase “Benetton barely bothering to defend their huge lead” has to be the darkest words ever documented in a Scottish club rugby match report.
Danny Wilson spoke for the Warrior Nation when he said “I’m a bit shell-shocked…we had picked enough experienced players to go with the younger players, so it’s an embarrassing performance, as simple as that.”
It will be interesting to see what team Wilson puts out for the 1872 decider next week as a few more performances like that could see pressure mounting. Whilst Danny Wilson has deservedly been getting a lot of stick this week its some of the Glasgow old heads that need to show they deserve to retain the shirt vs upstarts like Hamish Bain, Rory Darge, Stafford McDowell, Ollie Smith etc.
JIM TELFER, HOW COULD YOU? Telfer and McGeechan picked their starting XV for the 1st Lions test and it was nice to see Scotlands favourite coaching combo pick Finn and Hoggy in the backline.
When it came to the pack though, Telfer made the comment that triggers 99% of Scotland fans "Hamish Watson is an integral part of the Scottish side and he definitely deserves to go on the tour, but I've chosen Curry because he's just that bit bigger and stronger”
Graham Love as usual had the right meme-based response:
RAINBOW CUP
The Rainbow Cup tournament is now not happening due to the British government not granting the SA teams permission to travel, but there will now be a “duel tournament structure” with a Northern Rainbow Cup which is essentially a shortened Pro 12 and a Southern Rainbow Cup which is essentially Super Rugby SA. Anyway, if Pro 12/14/16 based memes are your thing…
SCOTS ABROAD
Gallagher Premiership
Bristol v Exeter: v Jonny Gray (4), Sam Skinner (6) and Stuart Hogg (15)
London Irish v Harlequins: Blair Cowan (7) v
Gloucester v Newcastle: Chris Harris (13) and Jack Stanley (18) v Gary Graham (7)
Leicester v Northampton: Matt Scott (13) v Rory Hutchinson (13), the latter pinching a smart intercept score.
Worcester v Sale: Anton Bresler (4), Isaac Miller (16) and Tom Dodd (20) v Bevan Rodd (1) and Byron McGuigan (14)
Wasps v Bath: v Cam Redpath (12)
English Championship
Jersey v Nottingham: MacFarlane (2) and Wynne (7) v
Saracens v Ealing: Tim Swinson (5), Sean Maitland (11) and Duncan Taylor (23) v Elliot Millar-Mills (3), Kieran Murphy (6)
Major League Rugby (US)
LA Giltinis v San Diego Legion: Adam Ashe (8), Glenn Bryce (15) - see highlights here with Warriors legend DTH ripping it up.
Old Glory DC v New England Free Jacks: Steven Longwell (3), Mungo Mason (7) vs
France
Oyonnaux v Mont-de-Marsan: Josh Strauss (19)
Elsewhere, a nice video of incoming Glasgow signing Sebastian Cancilliere giving a glimpse of what he’s capable of:
Fellow Puma and future Warriors pivot Domingo Miotti put in another assured performance, helping guide the Western Force to an upset win over the Reds in Super Rugby AU.
Perennial Scotland target Finlay Christie was riding pine for the Blues in Super Rugby Aeteoroa.
Friend of the pod Gary Heatly reports on Scots involvement in the Japanese Top League:
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Make sure to check out this week’s extra special episode with Jonnie Beattie:
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