Tennents for the winners
Domestic rugby returns and some interesting changes to international eligibility laws
WELCOME: for true Scottish rugby fans, the autumn internationals are perhaps a distraction, merely a warm up for their real bread and butter: Glasgow versus Benetton and Edinburgh versus the Dragons in the URC. And what would a Saturday be without seeing one of our beloved pro teams, packed with internationals, conspire to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against the men from Treviso? Cheers Glasgow… At least Edinburgh did the business at Rodney Parade, helped in no small part by the side’s recent Argentinian arrivals. In the week we also saw news that World Rugby have changed their eligibility laws to allow players to switch test nations, prompting speculation around who Scotland could rope in from the wilderness. So sit back, tuck into a warm Tennents or Terry’s Chocolate Orange hot chocolate, and enjoy.
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FFS, GLASGOW: things were looking up for Glasgow prior to Saturday’s clash with Benetton. A full strength side had the chance to close the gap on the URC leaders, with a win taking Danny Wilson’s men to the top of the Italian shield (at least until Edinburgh kicked off later on). Alas, a last minute penalty from Leonardo Marin sealed victory for the home side. Quite simply the Glasgow performance was a shocker, a lack of intensity translating into ill discipline, inaccuracy in attack and softness in defense. This was a team with 13 internationals in the starting XV, including Scotland stalwarts like Johnson, Matt Fagerson and Turner. The fact they were still in the game with the clock in the red was a minor miracle, and Wilson will be livid at the flurry of late penalties that allowed Benetton their final kick at goal. Back to the drawing board, but if Glasgow cannot beat the Italians with their strongest side, there are some big questions to answer.
We could probably just leave it to Barry Ferguson, Boaby the Barman et al to sum up our feelings post-match…
Highlights below for the masochists out there:
DRAGONS FIRE DOUSED: things are looking a lot more rosy at the other end of the M8, with Edinburgh moving into 3rd place in the URC table after a well deserved bonus point victory away to the Dragons. Mike Blair had made no secret of the fact he intended to rest his returning internationals for this fixture, giving starts to the likes of Matt Currie and Adam McBurnie, and his faith was repaid on the day. While the match was scrappy in parts, Edinburgh’s ambition to play was admirable, and makes a lot of sense when you have the flying Argentinians Boffelli and Moyano at your disposal. Blair would have been particularly pleased with the leadership shown by some of the younger players, particularly captain for the day Ben Vellacott, who was ably supported by Hodgson, Crosbie and Sykes. Boan Venter is a real player too, and while the Kinghorn at 10 experiment continues to divide, he has an ability to make things happen around him.
While Edinburgh’s ambition to attack at all times must cause palpitations amongst the supporting faithful, it does feel like a breath of fresh air compared to the relatively dour fare that characterised Richard Cockerill’s tenure at the club. Friend of the pod Sandy Smith summed up the change in approach with this excellent stat:
TINNY OF JOY: we loved this post-match snap of the Edinburgh lads enjoying a well-earned can of the ‘big juicy’ (with some rogue Dark Fruits also floating around).
Highlights below, with Hoyland’s BP score perhaps the best of the bunch:
SO YOU’RE SAYING THERE’S A CHANCE? Clearly World Rugby’s law changes are designed to level the playing field for Tier 2 nations, particularly the Pacific Islands sides, but if there is an eligibility loophole out there you can bet good money that Scotland will be trying to exploit it. The Japanese scout must be licking his lips right now.
Here is a list of some of those who could potentially be available for Scotland in the coming years. Please get in touch via the usual channels if you can think of anymore!
Jack Dempsey, back row (last cap for Australia in 2019, available in 2022)
Brett Cameron, stand-off (1 cap for NZ in 2018, available now)
Ruaridh McConnochie, back 3 (last cap for England in 2019, available in 2022)
Elliot Dixon, back row (last cap for NZ in 2016, available now)
Jack Singleton, hooker (last cap for England in 2019, available in 2022)
For what it’s worth, we are willing to do whatever we can to make sure these individuals see the light…
SCOTS ABROAD
Bath v Exeter: Josh Bayliss (8), D’arcy Rae (18) and Ruaridh McConnochie (23) v Sam Skinner (4) and Stuart Hogg (15)
Bristol v Northampton: Jake Kerr (2) v Fraser Dingwall (12) and Rory Hutchinson (22)
Wasps v Gloucester: Robin Hislop (1), Gordi Reid (17) and Elliot Millar Mills (18) v Adam Hastings (10), Andrew Davidson (5) and Charlie Chapman (21)
Harlequins v London Irish: Huw Jones (23) v Kyle Rowe (14) and Alan Dell (17)
Newcastle v Worcester: Gary Graham (20) v Finn Smith (10)
Saracens v Sale: Tim Swinson (5) and Sean Maitland (14) v Byron McGuigan (11), Ewan Ashman (16) and Gus Warr (21). Contrasting fortunes for the Scottish wingers, Maitland crossing for a score but McGuigan seeing red after losing his head in uncharacteristic fashion:
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