Edinburgh v Stade Francais

[biffer]

Guesses on the team?

Kinghorn, Hoyland, Rasolea, Burleigh, Helu, Weir, Kennedy
Dell, Ford, McCallum, Toolis, Gilchrist, Bradbury, Manu, Watson

bench to be forward heavy?

[Frenchy]

Hard to disagree. Ford will be needed in the scrum. Any chance of Dickinson being back?

Dean and Brown over Rasolea and Helu, perhaps. SHC has been playing better in his last couple of games, but the scrum half tombola could be in play again.

[gowrie]

Hard to disagree with the pack, unless injured players are coming back and even then we'd be better off bringing them on to the bench not the starting lineup.
I'd change a few in the backline, SHC was better than Kennedy has been (though I can understand not wanting to drop Kennedy over just 1 performance), Brown/Allen ahead of Helu, and Tofilau ahead of Rasolea (assuming Dean's injured).

[Friday Knight Lights]

Hard to disagree. Ford will be needed in the scrum. Any chance of Dickinson being back?

Dean and Brown over Rasolea and Helu, perhaps. SHC has been playing better in his last couple of games, but the scrum half tombola could be in play again.

Dickinson was training with the Scotland team so he should be available soon, I'm getting a bit concerned about Nel's injury, McCallum has been exceptional but he's a 20 year old tighthead.

I think we'll see a few changes, could see one or two of Scholes/Northam/Tolifau in the backs. I'd hope to see du Preez back in the team as I still think he's one of our better players and deserves a shot. SHC and Weir to continue to build their partnership, I think SHC has more upside than Kennedy in the long run so we should try and get him back on track.

[biffer]

Hard to disagree. Ford will be needed in the scrum. Any chance of Dickinson being back?

Dean and Brown over Rasolea and Helu, perhaps. SHC has been playing better in his last couple of games, but the scrum half tombola could be in play again.

Dickinson was training with the Scotland team so he should be available soon, I'm getting a bit concerned about Nel's injury, McCallum has been exceptional but he's a 20 year old tighthead.

I think we'll see a few changes, could see one or two of Scholes/Northam/Tolifau in the backs. I'd hope to see du Preez back in the team as I still think he's one of our better players and deserves a shot. SHC and Weir to continue to build their partnership, I think SHC has more upside than Kennedy in the long run so we should try and get him back on track.

Nel was undergoing a four-week rehabilitation programme before further assessment. That was announced on 25th October, which was six weeks ago. So if we don't see him in the next couple of weeks I might just assume that an operation is necessary and that'll be him for the season.

Or we could be surprised and see Ford Dickinson and Nel on the team sheet for Saturday.

[doedin]

Dickinson/Dell - Ford - Nel
Toolis - GC
Watson - Manu - CdP

SHC - Weir
Burleigh - Dean
Hoyland - Kinghorn - Brown

Bench: McCallum, McInally, Dell/Dickinson, MacKenzie, Bradbury, Kennedy, Rasolea, Bryce

I suspect Hodge is targetting this game hence the weakened team last week.

[Friday Knight Lights]

Dickinson/Dell - Ford - Nel
Toolis - GC
Watson - Manu - CdP

SHC - Weir
Burleigh - Dean
Hoyland - Kinghorn - Brown

Bench: McCallum, McInally, Dell/Dickinson, MacKenzie, Bradbury, Kennedy, Rasolea, Bryce

I suspect Hodge is targetting this game hence the weakened team last week.

I don't think it was a weakened team last week. The Scotland boys were rested as is the case with the SRU and you have props injured but I'm not sure the other players are necessarily weakening the team, I think 6/8/9/11/12/13/ are all a toss up right now.

I'd like to see Mata or Carmichael in the second row, perhaps McKenzie, I think Gilchrist is hurting more than helping us at the minute.

[doedin]

Dickinson/Dell - Ford - Nel
Toolis - GC
Watson - Manu - CdP

SHC - Weir
Burleigh - Dean
Hoyland - Kinghorn - Brown

Bench: McCallum, McInally, Dell/Dickinson, MacKenzie, Bradbury, Kennedy, Rasolea, Bryce

I suspect Hodge is targetting this game hence the weakened team last week.

I don't think it was a weakened team last week. The Scotland boys were rested as is the case with the SRU and you have props injured but I'm not sure the other players are necessarily weakening the team, I think 6/8/9/11/12/13/ are all a toss up right now.

I'd like to see Mata or Carmichael in the second row, perhaps McKenzie, I think Gilchrist is hurting more than helping us at the minute.

Don’t disagree about your comments re GC but I think Hodge will go for experience and a bit of brute force in pack. I also agree that very few backs are putting their hand up to make a position their own.

[gowrie]

1. Dickinson, 2. McInally, 3. McCallum, 4. Toolis, 5. Gilchrist, 6. Mata, 7. Watson, 8.Bradbury
9. Hidalgo-Clyne, 10. Weir, 11. Helu, 12. Burleigh, 13. Allen, 14. Hoyland, 15. Kinghorn
16. Ford, 17. Dell, 18. Berghan, 19. McKenzie, 20. Du Preez, 21. Kennedy, 22. Tovey, 23. Bryce

Very good to see the props finally coming off the injury list, Dickinson will be a huge boost if he can quickly get back to form.

Otherwise a pretty straightforward team, I am wondering a bit at how little we're rotating, it's very nice to see guys like Kinghorn and Hoyland starting every game, but I do wonder what's going on with Scholes to never even get on the bench.

[dolf_lundgren]

Strongest bench we have named in a long time.

I hope Dickinson is not being rushed back, would have thought a club game or half an hour wold have been better. Hoepfully Dell can keep his form going.

[biffer]

I think I would have preferred a 6/2 split on the bench for this one as it might be a slugfest. However the bench is strong, and it's great to see some names finally off the injury list.

[Friday Knight Lights]

Any news on the injuries? Good to see Berghan back but really concerned about Nel. Also hopefully Dean is back soon, I think he's been our standout centre.

[The Feral Goat]

Nothing to fear here

15 Jérémy Sinzelle
14 Julien Arias
13 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu
12 Paul Williams
11 Josaia Raisuqe
10 Morné Steyn
9 Will Genia
1 Heinke Van der Merwe
2 Laurent Panis
3 Giorgi Melikidze
4 Paul Gabrillagues
5 Pascal Papé (capt)
6 Sekou Macalou
7 Mathieu De Giovanni
8 Willem Alberts

16 Remi Bonfils
17 Zurabi Zhvania
18 Emmanuel Felsina
19 Hugh Pyle
20 Patrick Sio
21 Clement Daguin
22 Jules Plisson
23 Théo Millet

[GaryIPA]

Nothing to fear here

15 Jérémy Sinzelle
14 Julien Arias
13 Waisea Vuidarvuwalu
12 Paul Williams
11 Josaia Raisuqe
10 Morné Steyn
9 Will Genia
1 Heinke Van der Merwe
2 Laurent Panis
3 Giorgi Melikidze
4 Paul Gabrillagues
5 Pascal Papé (capt)
6 Sekou Macalou
7 Mathieu De Giovanni
8 Willem Alberts

16 Remi Bonfils
17 Zurabi Zhvania
18 Emmanuel Felsina
19 Hugh Pyle
20 Patrick Sio
21 Clement Daguin
22 Jules Plisson
23 Théo Millet

good for a scrabble score

[doedin]

Huge Stade pack! Pity Nel wasn’t in the side, I presume the rest period has not resolved the neck problem?

The french/SH has beens/Georgians are obviously taking this seriously?