Edinburgh vs Scarlets

[doedin]

Cannot believe the self delusion in some of these posts! We were pretty awful again last night and no excuses for losing to a Scarlets team that was a mix of 1st and 2nd choice players! The Scarlets won the game by 1/2 time and got the bonus point and were clearly happy to let us play catch up in the 2nd half! They were probably so surprised at how easy it was in the 1st half that they relaxed a bit too much in the 2nd!

Our forwards - bar Titteral and Rennie - were off the pace in the first half posed little threat at the breakdown and a shambles in defence! Lineouts were better due to having a hooker who can throw the ball straight! Scrums were solid. However we were awful at the breakdown and seemed happy to let them have the ball and rarely competed. Scarlets were far better at the breakdown!

Backs - why oh why do we continue to kick aimlessly up the park! We lost the kicking game and lost points as a result. We have lost all confidence in running back ball and look worried about taking the ball into contact! Did Visser get his knees dirty last night? Apart from the try he obviously did not want to take ball into contact nor tackle big George North - his defence is AlainRolland SteveWalsh! He will be cruelly exposed v ABs! Leonard does the easy things well but never looked like either making a break or making a tackle! Why is it we seem to have these 'safe' 10s - Hunter, David Blair, Leonard - all seem of the same 'average' mould! Scott is the class act in the backs and should be tried at 10 which is where he made his name at Currie and age group games! Without Blair and Laidlaw we lose control over game and desperately need a 10 who can control a game and pose a threat! With all due respect to others it is easier to find a 12 or 13 than it is a 10 - we have a fantastic 10 in the team but play him at 12 or 13? Why? Lee Jone and Tonks looked good but frustrated by lack of ball and support! I also agree about James King - get him in the team now!

Management and game plan - defence coach should be sacked now! We are maintaining an average of 30 points a game conceded in last 6 games! Just what does he do during the week? Any number of times during the game the Scarlets had an overlap and managed to WayneBarnes it up! No-one seemed entirely sure of where they should be defending! Bradley should have courage to resign now! His contract is up at the end of the season and he can at least salvage some pride by going on his own terms. He is obviously not up to this and seems to have lost the confidence of the players and most definitely the supporters!

Next week we will be humped by Ulster and will concede our average 30 points! We will be lucky to score any points! That will be 7 defeats in a row! Surely Bradley will save some cash and just get the train home down south rather than coming back to Edinburgh and subjecting us to more of his pish?

[ratty]

I don't think we should be writing off Leonard and Hunter yet. They are 20 and 21 respectively and have both been thrown in at the deep end playing behind a pack that has lost confidence. Priestland and Sexton are 25 and 27, two years ago the former was a second choice full back. Yes, it may be worthwhile trying Scott and 10, but would you really do so and risk his confidence at the moment?

On the note of the overall performance, what would you do to resolve things? I suggested playing virtually entirely a young and fringe team but have to admit this was tongue in cheek. We have no choice but to stick with them until they come good.

[Baz]

I'm not sure what some people are expecting from Leonard and Hunter. They've so far had very limited game time in a team that couldn't give a flying LawrenceBryce. They're not going to come in and give a Carteresque performance and save the day. They need some decent, consistent game time to grow into their roles.

Scott to be played at 12 (not 13, Bradley) or 10.

[GaryIPA]

Looking at the fixtures for the remainder of the year and the way we are playing I can't see us winning any of them

[BruceLee]

cant really disagree with anything on that post Doedin....its gonna be another long season,will be lucky if we get 4th bottom of the league,very lucky.

[Tarka Dall]

I don't think we should be writing off Leonard and Hunter yet. They are 20 and 21 respectively and have both been thrown in at the deep end playing behind a pack that has lost confidence. Priestland and Sexton are 25 and 27, two years ago the former was a second choice full back. Yes, it may be worthwhile trying Scott and 10, but would you really do so and risk his confidence at the moment?

On the note of the overall performance, what would you do to resolve things? I suggested playing virtually entirely a young and fringe team but have to admit this was tongue in cheek. We have no choice but to stick with them until they come good.

I agree - far too early to be writing off the young guys. Listening to Leonard on R&B Radio they are learning from Grieg L.
As someone else (apologies!) said, not a natural 10 so what are they really learning from someone that is potentially making it up too!? Bring in an old hand 10 (as a coach?) to pass on their knowledge and let GL play where he (might prefer) should.
Agree that defence has gone backwards (everywhere) this year, so toughen that up and they might be in there more often at the end of a game instead of chasing it so much. Ain't no professional coach but just a thought

[sooner]

"With out Greg we loose control" ?? If he had kicked half his point s in the first place we wouldn't be so far behind! Well done to lenard young gun kicking us to only 1 point away from a win !!! The backs were afraid ! That's it !!! Not enough guts ,no one can teach that it is in you or it is not !!! On one try , 4 backs ,make half hearted attempts to tackle running legs !and let 4 guys go by, Big strong Opposites effortlessly dodged them ,No guts just fear ! Technically brilliant but gutless. ! Ooooh Arrrr " precious moments "!!!!!

[glasgowexile]

I have to agree with doedin. I can't understand how any of this was an improvement in performance (save for getting on the scoreboard).

Edinburgh's defensive efforts are childish, sort it and you'll start winning games. Trouble is, it has been the same problem for years.

[The Nudger]

I don't think we should be writing off Leonard and Hunter yet. They are 20 and 21 respectively and have both been thrown in at the deep end playing behind a pack that has lost confidence. Priestland and Sexton are 25 and 27, two years ago the former was a second choice full back. Yes, it may be worthwhile trying Scott and 10, but would you really do so and risk his confidence at the moment?

On the note of the overall performance, what would you do to resolve things? I suggested playing virtually entirely a young and fringe team but have to admit this was tongue in cheek. We have no choice but to stick with them until they come good.

I don't see why it would have a negative effect on Scott's confidence to finally give him a run in his preferred position!

[ratty]

I meant moving him at a time when the pack is generally getting tanked at the breakdown.

[Oldsalt]

Baz, no-ne is writing anyone off. However are we not allowed to criticise? The one outstanding thing that Harry does not do is "attack" the opposition line. Yes he can do most things well but in the two years we have seen him what difference has he made to his overall game play. Not a lot as far as I can see. Anyone who says he played well in the U20 is forgetting the absolute horlicks of the first match against Australia. Remind me of the scores in the other matches. He also started getting predicted in the other matches in that the older pro's in the opposition knew what he was going to do and he started getting thumped. For all his perceived faults we could do with WCP right now imho.

[JohnnieJ]

I don't think we should be writing off Leonard and Hunter yet. They are 20 and 21 respectively and have both been thrown in at the deep end playing behind a pack that has lost confidence. Priestland and Sexton are 25 and 27, two years ago the former was a second choice full back. Yes, it may be worthwhile trying Scott and 10, but would you really do so and risk his confidence at the moment?

On the note of the overall performance, what would you do to resolve things? I suggested playing virtually entirely a young and fringe team but have to admit this was tongue in cheek. We have no choice but to stick with them until they come good.

I agree - far too early to be writing off the young guys. Listening to Leonard on R&B Radio they are learning from Grieg L.
As someone else (apologies!) said, not a natural 10 so what are they really learning from someone that is potentially making it up too!? Bring in an old hand 10 (as a coach?) to pass on their knowledge and let GL play where he (might prefer) should.
Agree that defence has gone backwards (everywhere) this year, so toughen that up and they might be in there more often at the end of a game instead of chasing it so much. Ain't no professional coach but just a thought

Duncan Hodge already works with all the Out Halves at Edinburgh.

[JohnnieJ]

Thought A.Titterrell was superb throughout, Denton was two levels above any other game he has played this season, H.Leonard was an improvement with the boot but his defensive ability is needs questioning, T.Visser hesitation going into contact cancels out his physical attributes, L.Jones much improved. Poor decision to try and run the ball out of defense with 5 minutes to go by M.Scott, resulting in him passing directly to touch and them winning the game from that decision.

[JohnnieJ]

I meant moving him at a time when the pack is generally getting tanked at the breakdown.

This has been the case all season has it not?

[Brown]

Out of the 3 10's available to edfinburgh, Hunter is by far the best defender. This probably explains why he gets injured all the time