Edinburgh Rugby Supporters Club

[Jon]

This is my match day XV plus bench.....

15 Hugo Southwell
14 Mark Robertson
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick DeLuca
11 Simon Webster
10 Chris Paterson
9 Mike Blair
1 Alan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Jim Hamilton
5 Matt Mutschin
6 Allister Hogg Captain
7 Ross Rennie
8 David Callam

16 Andrew Kelly
17 Gavin Kerr
18 Ben Gissing
19 Alan MacDonald
20 Ben Meyer
21 Phil Godman
22 James Thompson

Not sure where this leaves Roly Reid, Andy Turnball, Calum McRae, John Houston, David Blair, Greig Laidlaw, Scott Newlands, Simon Cross and Craig Hamilton (before we even get on to the young uns!) but I guess they will all be needed with inuries and games during international seasons... not too bad a problem to have!

[kev]

[ratty]

I would agree. I think Godman has earn't the right to start at number 10 and he's in possession of the Scotland jersey at the moment. Hugo played well this season but still doesn't offer much in attack so I'd start with Paterson at 15.

I'd be quite happy rotating Turnbull and Houston into the threequarters as they are too good to warm the bench. Likewise Gissing, Hamilton and Mustchin will all perform to similar standards.

Agree with the rest, looks good....

[Crichton Gunner]

I'd like to see....

15 Chris Paterson
14 Mark Robertson
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick DeLuca
11 Simon Webster
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
1 Alan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Jim Hamilton
5 Matt Mutschin
6 Alan MacDonald
7 Ross Rennie
8 Allister Hogg

16 Andrew Kelly
17 Gavin Kerr
18 Ben Gissing
19 David Callam
20 Ben Meyer
21 Calum MaCrae
22 James Thompson

That still leaves a lot of good players not even getting on the bench, but injuries and internationals will provide other opportunities. Personally, I'd rather see Hogg at 8 and MacDonald at 6, with Callam on the bench. I think that's a more dynamic back row. I'd also rather start with Godman at 10, as he has really developed his game in that position. He's excellent at bringing the other backs into the game, but could sometimes be more direct himself, and his kicking from hand still needs to improve. Thompson and MaCrae can cover full-back as well as centre or wing.

We have a very good looking squad this season, maybe still a bit lightweight in the forwards to compete at the very top, but nonetheless one that should be able to play some fast, attacking rugby. Roll on the start of the season!

[02ict328]

I think that the back row should be:
No 8- Hogg
Openside- Rennie
Blindside- either
Cross
Callum(even though he is a No
Mutschin (could be a revelation, right size)

I think Macdonald is too much of an out an out openside!

[ratty]

Mustchin has played a lot of rugby as a 6, but is more effective at lock despite his lack of height.

[djphilp]

I have two positions that I can't yet make my mind up about and I have three players fighting for those two positions on the park. So here is my current thoughts...

15 Hugo Southwell/Chris Paterson

14 Simon Webster
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick DeLuca
11 Mark Robertson

10 Chris Paterson/Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair

1 Alan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford
3 Geoff Cross
4 Jim Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing
6 Matt Mustchin
7 Ross Rennie
8 Allister Hogg

16 Andrew Kelly
17 Gavin Kerr
18 Alan MacDonald
19 David Callam
20 Greig Laidlaw
21 Phil Godman/Hugo Southwell/Chris Paterson
22 Calum MacRae

This leaves some very talented players without a place in my squad but rugby being a contact sport I am sure tat they will get their chance due to injuries and it is a good thing that we have a real depth to the squad now and can fill almost any jersey with an equally talented replacement - excepting the front row perhaps - when injuries occur.

[ratty]

There's an optimistic article in today's hootsman that suggests the improved financial footing of the SRU may mean a third pro team sooner than might have been thought possible. Looking at the players Edinburgh have that could be called a "second XV" it begins to get interesting.

15. Thompson
14. Reid
13. Easson
12. Macrae
11. Turnbull
10. Blair
9. Laidlaw
1. Grant
2. Kelly
3. Kerr
4. Turnbull
5. Mckenzie
6. Cross
7. Macdonald
8. Callam

I don't know enough about the Glasgow squad to comment on their Scottish squad members but the number of pro players begins to look pretty good. I appreciate it's a false economy but it's starting to look like a third team would be viable.

I suppose it comes down to what we want, two strong pro teams with great strength in depth or a maximum number of players being exposed to a good level of rugby.

The borders have provided some great young players but I would like to see a Caley team playing out of Perth or Stirling, thoughts?

[djphilp]

This may seem a little selfish but I'd rather have two strong teams who can truelly compete with the other ML, T14 and GP teams than have three teams who barely hold their own and during international spells and when injuries mount up get whipped out of sight.

There is a lot to be said for players having a winning mentality and feeling when they come together for Scotland duty.

And whilst the SRU debt may be decreasing it is still £15,000,000 and that is at least two too many 0's for my liking. Lets get the governing body into the black again and then look at increasing the number of pro teams. In the meantime why not set up a meaningful A team league with the other ML members with the apparent new riches that the SRU have as this would be the cheaper way to provide more players with meaningful game time.

[ratty]

Yes, I suppose I agree altough I would really like to see a third team. At the same time we are really going to have problems exposing a large number of players to game time.

There doesn't seem to be much of a loan market in rugby in the UK. Maybe I'm wrong on that but I can't see the reasons behind it. Grant was loaned out last season but didn't play a game.

As far as I can see there will be pretty limited scope for involvement this coming season for the likes of Grant, Crombie, Traynor, Turnbull, Newlands, Easson and Thompson just to name a few. Surely these guys would be better loaned to English clubs than playing club rugby here (although it would assist the club standard).

Is the London Scottish plan dead in the water?

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