Warriors Conquer Murrayfield
Told you we needed more Pro 14 derbies...
WELCOME BACK: more domestic action this week, as Glasgow and Edinburgh once again faced off in the Rainbow Cup, but out with the 1872 Cup which concluded last week (we are just as confused as you). While we were hardly dying to see yet another Scottish derby, the match was actually a pleasant surprise and made some great Saturday night viewing. Elsewhere there was plenty of Scots abroad action to keep us all entertained. Read on for the great and good of yet another week in the world of Scottish rugby. As ever, please do subscribe and share:
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1872 - SURPRISINGLY GOOD? Glasgow secured back-to-back derby wins with a 31-24 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Saturday night, pushing the Warriors up to joint second in the Rainbow Cup table, and into the frame for qualifying to the now-confirmed cross-hemisphere final scheduled for June. Despite the potential ennui of yet another Pro 14 derby, the match was an entertaining affair throughout.
Driven on by Rob Harley’s 250th appearance for the Warriors, Danny Wilson’s men were deserved winners, and once again it was the fresh faces - Rory Darge and Tom Lambert in particular - that impressed most, while fit again Kyle Steyn is almost like a new signing. Despite starting the match well, Edinburgh quickly looked bereft of ideas, and you get the sense Richard Cockerill’s charges are very much ready for this season to come to a close.
The game started at a good pace, with Edinburgh crossing after just 5 minutes, as some nice build up play involving the likes of run-on debutant Charlie Savala and Bill Mata ended in our very own Sweet Prince™ Chris Dean going in under the sticks. Happy to see that nickname has even infiltrated the upper echelons of Premier Sports…
However, after Ross Thompson got the visitors on the board with a penalty goal, Glasgow brought themselves fully into the contest. Matt Fagerson produced a clever finish after some good close quarters work from his pack, and then George Turner (a deserved MoM) crashed over from a quick tap-and-go penalty. Edinburgh had to deal with the enforced departures of McInally and Crosbie (both HIAs) and the sin-binning of Schoeman, yet responded quickly when Rambo’s replacement Mike Willemse dived over from close range. Yet it was Glasgow with the last word of the half, Hastings - who had looked in great nick at fullback - dotting down after concerted Warriors pressure. 24-17 to the visitors at half time.
Glasgow continued to dominate the possession and territory stats, and were rewarded when George Horne snuck over for the try, securing the bonus point. Yet they struggled to put away the hosts, who briefly staged an unlikely come back when Charlie Shiel dotted down after a classy break from newly-minted Edinburgh centurion Blair Kinghorn. However, the Warriors managed to close out the win, with the final score 31-24.
Full highlights (which when cut down looks like just loads of pick ‘n go) can be found here:
THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: while experienced figures like Turner, Fagerson and Hastings set the standards it was once again the promise of youth that was most encouraging for Glasgow. Rory Darge (21) was a man possessed in the loose, while prop Tom Lambert (just 20) held his own in the scrum against the old dog WP Nel, and put in a power of work across the park. Ross Thompson appears to get better with every start. Add in the currently injured back three of Cole Forbes, Rufus McLean and Ollie Smith, and it would appear the talent production line at Scotstoun is currently working very nicely indeed.
WANTED - EDINBURGH OF TWO YEARS AGO: Conversely, Edinburgh look a little bit lost at the moment. Despite their bright start, it was difficult to see exactly what Cockerill’s men were trying to achieve in attack. If the strategy is to play a territory-based game, the kicking - both in terms of execution and decision-making - needs to be significantly better. In flashes Edinburgh threatened to excite with ball in hand, particularly for their first score, but beyond that the attack was laboured, too far behind the gain line, and often in the wrong parts of the pitch.
In his post-match interview Cockerill gave his usual platitudes, but there is a sense that things are not totally rosy at Mini-Murrayfield right now. Would a new coaching voice provide the spark needed? Perhaps Cockerill’s bark doesn’t have the same effect it once did? Or maybe the disjointed nature of this season has taken its toll? Edinburgh certainly have the squad to push for trophies, particularly in the pack, but there is a missing piece to the jigsaw at present.
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BOB 250: 250 games for Rob Harley is a hell of a shift. West of Scotland paid tribute to their prolific product over on Instagram this week…not a happy day for whomever had the pleasure of turning out against these two in Prem 2 back in the day.
SUTHERLAND EXIT? There is potentially more bad news to come for Edinburgh fans, with further reports that Rory Sutherland is considering a move away from the capital. While Worcester has been mooted as a possible destination, local news sources are claiming that La Rochelle and Ulster are now leading the race for his signature. On balance both would be better moves for Suzz, with Worcester currently ranking as one of the weakest Gallagher Premiership sides on record. On the one hand, Ulster would potentially manage his game time better, but the idea of him linking up with La Rochelle, where Ronan O’Gara looks to be building something special, is perhaps more exciting. It would be classic Petrie though, and the Ulster CEO does have an annoyingly good track record of tempting Edinburgh players and staff across the Irish Sea…something we have been keen to point out to the former SRU man for a few years now:
COVENTRY BOMBER: another interesting bit of transfer news this week was confirmation that former Edinburgh man Robin ‘Bomber’ Hislop is joining Wasps from Doncaster for next season. After being let go by Edinburgh in 2014 with only a handful of appearances to his name, Hislop has earned his stripes in the English Championship at both Rotherham and Doncaster, and has been a frequent fixture in the league’s team of the season in recent years. A loan spell at Saracens last year presumably convinced his new employers he has what it takes to cut it at the highest level. Still just 29, arguably his best years as a prop are ahead of him - perhaps now he can realistically target emulating his father by earning a full Scotland cap.
SCOTS ABROAD
Gallagher Premiership
Bath v Sale: Josh Bayliss (6), Cam Redpath (12) and Jamie Bhatti (17) v Bevan Rodd (1) and Byron McGuigan (14)
McGuigan crossed the whitewash once again for Sale, while Redpath and Bayliss dotted down for the home side, with the latter showing a decent set of wheels in the clip below:
Leicester v Harlequins: Matt Scott (13) v James Lang (12), with incoming Edinburgh prop Luan de Bruin once again riding pine for the Tigers. Scott opened the scoring for the home side, linking up nicely with George Ford.
Wasps v Worcester: Ben Vellacott (21) v Isaac Miller (16)
English Championship
Bedford v Ealing: Devante Onojaife (5) v Kyle White (18)
Jersey v Coventry: Jack Macfarlane (2) and Lewis Wynne (7) v
Meanwhile, life in the MLR continues to look like a real slog for the likes of Glenn Bryce and Adam Ashe.
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