Welcome to The Thistle Newsletter
WELCOME: Thanks for subscribing to the first newsletter dedicated to Scottish rugby. Almost four years after launching the first Scottish rugby podcast, we thought we would try branching out into the written word and bring our off-beat take on the game right to your inbox every week. If initial reaction is anything to go by, we again look to be setting a trend. Less than a week after we announced out intention, the SRU decided they would start offering an official version. Imitation remains the sincerest form of flattery.
GETTING A SEMI: It is with great pleasure that our first ever newsletter starts with good news: Edinburgh have secured a home semi final in the Pro14. The Capital side made fairly routine work of a Glasgow team that were bereft of ideas in a second period where they failed to score a single point, after leading 15-13 at the break.
GOOD GAME, GOOD GAME: Right from the kick off (a slightly ropey number from Adam Hastings) the game had all the makings of a cagey 1872 classic. An absolute penalty fest in the first ten minutes - mostly down to strong Edinburgh work at the breakdown - saw the capital side open up a six point lead. But Glasgow showed glimpses of what they can do, marauding forward and opening space for Pete Horne to open up a narrow lead. Edinburgh hit back straight away through Nick Groom, leaving us to contemplate the fact that we may be watching a good game of rugby. Alan certainly thought so:
The second half was all Edinburgh, with Groom adding a second after a barnstorming run from Duhan Van Der Merwe (more of that below) and replacement scrumhalf Charlie Shiel adding an absolute belter to finish Glasgow off and win the much coveted, definitely a real thing, 1872 cup. Questions will be asked about the defence of Hastings and Wilson but lets not take away anything from the young man.
The subsequent write ups make poor reading for the West Coasters:
The Offside Line: capital side pick up from where they left off
BBC Sport: Cockerill's side claim home semi-final
The full highlights are here, with Sheil's try at 2.30.
STAT ATTACK: Twitter stats man Russ Petty points out that Edinburgh have only conceded ten points in the second half across their previous five Pro14 games. Very decent, and a sign that when Cockers speaks at half time - the players listen.
GLASGO-NNY NO DO THAT: So where does that leave Glasgow? Out of the Pro14 that’s for sure. Last year’s beaten finalists will not play any part in this year’s off season. While the starting XV looks solid enough, it potentially lacks the real star quality and depth required to be competitive when the new season comes around. Where Edinburgh could call upon the likes of Schoeman, Berghan and Haining at half time to bolster the pack, Glasgow’s options of D’arcy Rae and Kiran McDonald looked slightly underpowered by comparison. When you consider Edinburgh’s squad was also shorn of Darcy Graham, Jamie Richie, Magnus Bradbury, Ben Toolis and Henry Pyrgos, the depth chart at Scotstoun looks shallow. With new arrivals looking unlikely, a lot will come down to Wilson’s ability to get a tune out of emerging youngsters like Tom Gordon, Bruce Flockhart and Hamish Bain, as well as squeezing the last ounces of quality out of workhorses like Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro and Ryan Wilson.
DEPTH CHARTS: As ever, walking Scottish Rugby statistic encyclopedia Top Of The Moon is worth a look, with Edinburgh and Glasgow depth charts available for all to see.
BACK ROW WOE: New Glasgow coach Danny Wilson himself identified the breakdown as a big issue yesterday. Glasgow were unable to stop Hamish Watson causing his particular brand of havoc on the floor, and fans were left wondering why Matt Fagerson - the club’s best and most combative number 8 - was playing with a 7 on his back. Supported by a Ryan Wilson who seemed more content to wade into any fight going than scrap for the ball on the deck, Glasgow came off worse and Edinburgh were granted the platform they needed to win.
With Tom Gordon presumably (based on his mullet at least) the heir to the 7 jersey vacated by Callum Gibbins, hopefully we will see him partner with Fagerson at 8 next week. Chuck in Nakarawa at 6, and that back row behind Cummings and Gray looks to be a winner.
DUHAN MCVANDER MERWE: The second half score from almost-Scot Duhan Van Der Merwe would have caused much celebration at Chez Townsend yesterday. His second half burst - watch here - where he nonchalantly weaved through the defence, holding the ball like it was a size three, is the stuff dreams are made of. He is now qualified by residency, and just one cap away from (finally) being out of reach of the Springboks. While we may not like the residency rule, the thought of him in a Scotland jersey doing that against Wales in a couple of months is mouth watering.
SEMI FINAL SLEEPERS: Edinburgh will welcome familiar Pro14 foes Ulster to Murrayfield for their semi final on 5th September. Whether a crowd is allowed in remains unknown, but there will certainly be some familiar faces returning to Murrayfield: Ulster’s Chief Executive Jonnie Petrie joined the Belfast outfit from Edinburgh in 2019 and made quick work in convincing Edinburgh legend Roddy Grant to join the coaching set up already led by former Scotland defence coach Dan McFarland. It should be a belter of a game, question is will Mark Dodson activate his Ulster sleeper agents to help Edinburgh reach their first ever Pro14 final?
UNDERDOGS? A mere four days after Edinburgh’s talisman number 7 Hamish Watson took to the BBC to talk about Edinburgh relishing being favourites, his boss was back to calling them underdogs. Or at least I presume it was his boss, the interview on the BBC was briefly attributed to one “Richard Rockerill”.
PREMIER PRAVDA: Is it not a bit strange that two of the three panellists on the Premier Sports coverage of the game are full time SRU employees? Al Kellock and Chris Paterson are - without question - legends of the Scottish game and decent media performers to boot, but can we really expect fully impartial analysis when they have to turn up at the office on Monday?
IDENTITY CRISIS: Can you name all the Pro14 teams, A BBC quiz asked this week. Somewhere, a CVC executive is wondering if their new prize asset is as marketable as they thought.
RENNIE’S REBELS: Much has been made about Dave Rennie’s ability to manage a squad following recent damning comments from Matt Smith and Rory Hughes. Scotland 7s player and Glasgow squad member last year Kaleem Barretto chooses not to join their number in his interview in the Sunday Times (Paywall) this week, where he cites the rise of Tom Gordon as proof that you can get ahead in a Rennie camp. On social media, Smith posted a photo this week of him and Hughes, prompting former Warrior Greg Peterson to dub them “Rennie’s Rebels”.
SCOTS ABROAD: Stuart Hogg continued his quality re-start at Exeter by adding his second try in as many games. The Scotland full back looks in top form, check out the finish here.
He was joined in the starting XV by Jonny Gray, who looks at home in the Premiership outfit, turning in a typically solid defensive performance. Sam Hidalgo Clyne is also being given a chance to push from the bench for a starting berth at scrumhalf. Byron Mcguigan was on the other side for Sale.
Sean Maitland opened the scoring for Saracens as they beat Harlequins 38-24. Edinburgh cast off Callum Hunter-Hill started in the second row and Tim Swinson joined them from the bench. Check out Maitland’s tidy finish here:
Chris Harris was handed the unenviable task of marking Fijian Phenom Semi Radradra for Gloucester vs Bristol. While the Bears ran out winners, Harris bagged a try and made a class break to set up another. Highlights here.
Jake Kerr started at hooker for Leicester, who were on the receiving end of a pumping from Bath, and he was joined by former u20 captain Cammy Henderson after 60 minutes. Not much by way of highlights for them, but good to see young Scots getting quality game time.
THE WEEK AHEAD: Edinburgh will welcome Glasgow again on Friday night for the last game of the regular Pro14 season. With nothing but pride - and the prospect of impressing Scotland selectors - on the line for either side, it will be interesting to see what sort of teams are fielded. Excitingly, and in a UK first, the SRU have permission for up to 1000 people to attend. If you fancy being one of the 700 fans (the rest will be support staff etc.) keep an eye on the Edinburgh website and social channels for news about ticketing on Monday or Tuesday.
Friday also sees the launch of a new Scotland kit. If the teaser is anything to go by, our campaign to return the national team to playing in white shorts has been successful. All eyes will be on the Scotland social channels at 9am as the kit drops. Regardless of what it looks like, we have summarised public opinion below:
LOCKDOWN CATCH UP: If you have missed us over the lockdown period, catch up on some of the great interviews we have done below.
David caught up with Chris Cusiter to reminisce on his professional career, from his professional bow with the Border Rievers to touring with the Lions in 2005. Chris has also embarked on an fascinating journey post-rugby, settling in California and working in the drinks trade.
Former Edinburgh, Harlequins and Scotland winger Tim Visser was also kind enough to speak to us, worth it for his BaaBaas story alone (trust us).
Matt spoke with Hugo Southwell, owner of Scotland’s most cultured left boot, about a career that took him from Edinburgh to playing alongside the Galacticos of Stade Francais.
Gordon Reid pulling no punches with his honest view on Super 6 and some great tales of his career with Glasgow and Scotland.
Alan also took a deep dive into the 3rd pro team debate, check it out here.
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