1872 Cup Champions

[switchskier]

Moyano out and Goosen in makes sense to me. 26 is a good age to get him too - young enough that he's still hungry but probably at a point where ABs were unlikely.

Never got around to posting but think the thing that I enjoyed most about the Glasgow game was that we seemed to want it more. Thought we looked half a step sharper and quicker all over the park, even in areas where you'd expect Glasgow to have the edge

[switchskier]

Teams are out. Some real star power in that stormers team but nice to see consistency in our selection and liked Blair's comments about the backroom staff getting them out early this week. Shows he's leading the whole club.

Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Rikus Pretorius, Leolin Zas, Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies, Steven Kitshoff, JJ Kotze, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Marvin Orie, Deon Fourie, Hacjivah Dayimani, Evan Roos.

Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Adre Smith, Ernst van Rhyn, Nama Xaba, Godlen Masimla, Sacha Mngomezulu.

Edinburgh: Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham, Mark Bennett, Chris Dean, Damien Hoyland, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos, Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, WP Nel, Jamie Hodgson, Grant Gilchrist, Luke Crosbie, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury.

Replacements: Adam McBurney, Harrison Courtney, Lee-Roy Atalifo, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Charlie Shiel, Jaco van der Walt, James Lang

[Still septic]

great to see Jamie Richie back for the 1st pre season, and back as captain. Hope that position is for the full season, getting him ready for a step up for the AIs

[no sleep]

Dreigiau v Caeredin is on S4C for those of us who only do free-to-air.

[AL.]

Fuck me!

Scuse language.

[no sleep]

Yeah, good game, though the first fifteen minutes were a bit ropey.

Shows the benefit of having warm-up games

[Big D]

I think we're moving to a pre season similar to the NFL, fewer games and less time for the "1s" so the first 20min was always going to be a bit rusty.

Very good last 60min. Kinghorn looked very sharp in his cameo. Darcy, Bennett, Crosbie and Ritchie looked good throughout.

[septic 9]

away to Bulls. At altitude and 30 degrees. Quarter of match gone had conceded about 9 pens, man in bin and 15pts down. Yet the rest of te performance such that very unlucky to lose it at the death

If Mark Bennet doesn't start for Scotland in the AIs I may return my Scotland season pass

[Mikey Brown]

He seems to be kicking goals a lot now? Desperation or merit?

Can’t remember when Lang last kicked but assumed he would if the flyhalf can’t.

[septic 9]

He seems to be kicking goals a lot now? Desperation or merit?

Can’t remember when Lang last kicked but assumed he would if the flyhalf can’t.

Bennett is just circumstances although he has always been a long range option and kicked more when a kid. Yesterday Kinghorn pulled out pre match, VDW came on and was back off PDQ head injury. And of course 1st choice kicker is away with Argentine (Boffelli)

good point re Lang though

But hsi form last season has continued into this and maybe improved. Now just superb and loads of leadership as well

[Cameo]

Only other thoughts:

1. Bulls' first try was simple but very well worked. We've had a couple of years now of hookers tapping and going from 5 metre penalties. I presume defensive teams line their best tacklers up to stop them dead so makes sense to do a little move to slightly take the pace out the defensive line and get someone else having to make a crutch tackle.

2. Darcy Graham looks fo be on fire. Long may it continuem. When he is fully fit, it's amazing how often the opposing fullback doesn't even get a hand on him.

[Cameo]

Saturday 1 October (kick-off 1pm BST/ 2pm local) – live on Premier Sports



15. Henry Immelman (18)



14. Darcy Graham (52)

13. Mark Bennett (73)

12. James Lang (21)

11. Damien Hoyland (96)



10.Blair Kinghorn (120)

9. Ben Vellacott (23)



1. Pierre Schoeman (85)

2. Stuart McInally (167)

3. WP Nel (173)

4. Sam Skinner (2)

5. Grant Gilchrist CO-CAPTAIN (177)

6. Jamie Ritchie CO-CAPTAIN (87)

7. Hamish Watson (132)

8. Nick Haining (26)



Replacements



16. Dave Cherry (59)

17. Boan Venter (27)

18. Luan de Bruin (9)

19. Glen Young (13)

20. Ben Muncaster (16)

21. Henry Pyrgos (72)

22. Charlie Savala (13)

23. Chris Dean (122)



Unavailable: Luke Crosbie, Wes Goosen, Jaco van der Walt

[BaldiePete]

Unfortunate circumstances but happy days for Edinburgh.

(and hello to anyone here)

[Mikey Brown]

Didn’t think that would be a long term one, but great for Edinburgh.

[BaldiePete]

Didn’t think that would be a long term one, but great for Edinburgh.

It can be difficult to unpack this sort of statement but “long term” could mean three years but definitely at least two years.

[BaldiePete]

Lost 22-19 to the Lions, totally fucked it at the end despite another superb try by the Prince of Hawick. Edinburgh have been so frustrating already this season, just can’t quite get it to click. We need a better 2nd choice scrum half than Pyrgos, he is SO slow. Mcinally and Watson both went off with injuries.

[septic 9]

Edinburgh looked like they had turned the clock back a couple of seasons. Lumbering pack, slow ball. And Kinghorn looking like he thinks he can wander around at a leisurely pace looked like going back even more - a guy who thinks he will get picked whatever he does. Old school Edinburgh. Blair needs to learn the other side of coaching - kick some arse and drop non those who over rate themselves

[Cameo]

Edinburgh looked like they had turned the clock back a couple of seasons. Lumbering pack, slow ball. And Kinghorn looking like he thinks he can wander around at a leisurely pace looked like going back even more - a guy who thinks he will get picked whatever he does. Old school Edinburgh. Blair needs to learn the other side of coaching - kick some arse and drop non those who over rate themselves

Yeah, don't get to watch Edinburgh as much as I used to so was looking forward to this. They seemed to be going through the motions a bit (apart from Darcy Graham - he is absolutely electric at the moment).

When there is a bit of space, Kinghorn seems to default to floating a big miss pass out to the winger. I have seen him do some good ones but too often they failed to commit the defenders first. Was particularly noticeable that Boffelli ended up cutting in so often as he received the ball with the whole defence drifting over.

Clearly a decent team in there but a bit to work on. Losing McInaly and Watson didn't help to be fair - my sense was that Watson's was an HIA and McInaly's was possible more serious, which was a shame as he looked pretty sharp with his big break in the first half.

[BaldiePete]

Team out for Zebre on Saturday. About as strong as could be expected given the number that have been retained by Scotland. Four have been released (Crosbie, Haining, Skinner and Hoyland) of whom only Skinner is a surprise. I’d have expected him to be in line to play against Australia. Great to see Charlie Shiel given a start over the painfully slow Pyrgos, but with Van Der Walt outside him it may not be much faster.

[switchskier]

Teams up for Benneton. We really have gotten unlucky: could have had any of the Welsh or South African teams this week but instead get a team with all of their internationals bank


15. Henry Immelman (21)

14. Damien Hoyland (98)
13. Matt Currie (16)
12. James Lang (24)
11. Wes Goosen (2)

10. Charlie Savala (18)
9. Henry Pyrgos (76)

1. Boan Venter (32)
2. Stuart McInally (169)
3. Angus Williams (15)
4. Marshall Sykes (27)
5. Jamie Hodgson (44)
6. Nick Haining (29)
7. Luke Crosbie (75) CAPTAIN
8. Ben Muncaster (21)

Replacements

16. Paddy Harrison (6)
17. Jamie Jack*
18. Lee-Roy Atalifo (27)
19. Glen Young (15)
20. Connor Boyle (24)
21. Ben Vellacott (24)
22. Jaco van der Walt (91)
23. Chris Dean (127)

Unavailable: Nick Auterac, Dave Cherry, Cammy Hutchison, Adam McBurney, Sam Skinner, Hamish Watson.

Internationalists: Mark Bennett, Emiliano Boffelli, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Viliame Mata, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe.

[Big D]

On a normal day I'd say more than Edinburgh were poor but it doesn't matter after news like that.

[switchskier]

Anyone watching? Suspect we've only made them angry by scoring first.

[switchskier]

Lovely to hear a ref telling sarries off for over claiming. Now to see if he's willing to penalise them when it inevitably continues

[General Zod]

Lang gets dick of the day. Still, was a good performance.

[switchskier]

Something familiarly Scottish about that game. Lots of positives but undone by a wonky set piece and restarts. A bit grumpy about the ref, particularly that in at the side call at the end, but will need to watch back in a calmer manner.

Shiel still looks like a better player than Vellacot to me, and a midfield of Lang/Bennett lacks a bit of guile. We miss Graham and that spark he can provide.

Good game by Crosbie. He outshone Christie by a degree in the battle to be Scotland's 6th choice backrow. Muncaster should have been on earlier.