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Oldsalt wrote:The pack has been ER's weakness for years and that is what Solomons tried to fix. Scott has been there throughout and this is not the first time things have not been working. Instead of focusing on Hodge look at the full coaching staff and then make up your mind.
Friday Knight Lights wrote:Our front row is incredible at international level but it's never recreated that at Edinburgh level. Our line-out and maul hasn't been the weapon it should be either. The technique we have for ruck clear-outs is pretty poor too, it's really been exposed as we move away from 10 man rugby, it's easy to clear out when you're in pods so the other team doesn't contest but that's been shown up now. That all comes down to the forwards coach.
dolf_lundgren wrote:Both pro teams and the national team have been very poor at ruck clearance for years. Glasgow have got slightly better.
It comes down to pkaying at pace, if you do it very wuickly and move the ball then refs will turn a blind eye to going off your feet in the clear out, if you do it slowly then they have little option but to whistle.
If we up the pace and intensity which we play at this should solve itself. The other issue is personel, do we have enough palyers who do that dirty work, its not glamourous and it is hard. It is why Harley gets picked for Scotland. Bradbury, Mata, Manu and CDP prefer to play in the wide channels, Hardie can be and Ritchie will be. So it puts more pressure on the front 5 to do that.
Friday Knight Lights wrote:I don't agree that the squad isn't good enough.
We have - arguably - the best tighthead prop in the NH, we have terrific depth at LH prop and two good hookers with Cochrane a capable third choice. Second row is a bit iffy but Bresler was a good signing, Toolis is a good player, McKenzie is solid - GG all over the shop but coming back from two years out. Backrow we have Mata who looks a force of nature, a Super Rugby winning captain, du Preez, Hardie, Watson all great players, Bradbury & Ritchie are extremely talented and going places. So what Fihaki might be a dud? We have a great backrow.
SHC is a good player, a bit all over the place currently but a good player. Kennedy and Fowles are a bit meh tbf. Weir is a good fly half and Tovey is very capable. Centre - yeah not great but Burleigh is a good player and Dean looks promising. Hoyland/Brown/Allen are good players, Scholes was a useful player for Ulster and still young. Bryce was a good fullback when called on for Glasgow too and with Kinghorn there we have a serious prospect.
There's plenty of talent and ability there. Fraser, Miller, Galbraith and McCallum looked the part coming through and could be the backbone of our team soon. Realistically, without Champions Cup and the financial limitations of the SRU recruitment is what it is. Glasgow's punts don't always work either and at the end of the day have picked up very good young Scottish players who have been coached well.
Oldsalt wrote:The pack has been ER's weakness for years and that is what Solomons tried to fix. Scott has been there throughout and this is not the first time things have not been working. Instead of focusing on Hodge look at the full coaching staff and then make up your mind.
Friday Knight Lights wrote:I'm not saying we have the best squad in the league doedin.
I think that Glasgow, Leinster, Munster and Ulster are the top dogs no doubt and the Italian teams are bottom dwellers. But I think the middle is much of a muchness and whilst we don't have great depth look at squad players from other teams, it's negligible difference in my opinion.
Connacht won the league because they have an amazing coach and great culture, there's some international recognition for their players but they're hardly spine of the Irish team. The Sportsground is a horrible place to go but nobody is scared of Murrayfield and that makes a big difference. Same with Rodney Parade. I really hope we can make Myreside as unpleasant as possible when the time comes.
I think Manu's comments are illuminating about the mindset. There's no obvious culture at Edinburgh, there's no atmosphere really at Murrayfield, there's not the same link between the fans and the team. If we have a coach who can get players and fans to buy into what he's trying to achieve and is capable tactically I think our squad can finish top 6.
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