v Zebre Sat. 22nd October

[Tichtheid]

So, any guesses as to the team? I wonder how many we'll get back from Scotland for this? I'm going to assume none for this guess.


Venter, McBurney, DeBruin, Sykes, Hodgson, Young (I'm assuming Boyle is injured), Muncaster, Bill
Pyrgos, Savala, Hoyland, Lang, Immelman, Goosen, Boff

Harrison, Auterac, Williams, Phillips, Brown from the academy? Sheil, Currie, van der Walt.

[Pitfitter446]

Definitely will be a different look to last weeks squad, just hoping we can get a similar performance.

[dolf_lundgren]

I think there is a fair chance of Haining coming back to us this weekend, Hoyland likely too I think and a chance of Cherry.

There is an outside chance of Duhan too, he does need games, but his 2 tries may work against us there.

i really hope Goosen is available, a great chance to make his mark.

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby team to face Zebre Parma at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in the BKT United Rugby Championship
Saturday 22 October (kick-off 1pm BST / 2pm local) – live on Premier Sports

15. Henry Immelman (20)

14. Wes Goosen*
13. Matt Currie (14)
12. Chris Dean (125)
11. Emiliano Boffelli (20)

10. Jaco van der Walt (90)
9.Charlie Shiel (46)

1. Boan Venter (30)
2. Adam McBurney (15)
3. Luan de Bruin (12)
4. Jamie Hodgson (42)
5. Sam Skinner (4)
6. Nick Haining (28)
7. Luke Crosbie (73) CAPTAIN
8. Viliame Mata (99)

Replacements

16. Patrick Harrison (4)
17. Nick Auterac*
18. Angus Williams (13)
19. Pierce Phillips (12)
20. Ben Muncaster (19)
21. Henry Pyrgos (75)
22. Charlie Savala (16)
23. Damien Hoyland (97)

Unavailable: Cammy Hutchison, James Lang, Stuart McInally, Marshall Sykes, Ben Vellacott.

International selection: Mark Bennett, Dave Cherry, Grant Gilchrist, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, WP Nel, Jamie Ritchie, Pierre Schoeman, Duhan van der Merwe, Hamish Watson.

*Edinburgh Rugby debut

[The Feral Goat]

100th game for Mata. Thought we would only get one contract cycle out of him when he first appeared and was blowing away everything in his path and his profile went through the roof yet his offloads still amaze. We have been fortunate to have had some awesome 8s at ER over the years and he is up there with the very best....chances of another 100?

[Tichtheid]

100th game for Mata. Thought we would only get one contract cycle out of him when he first appeared and was blowing away everything in his path and his profile went through the roof yet his offloads still amaze. We have been fortunate to have had some awesome 8s at ER over the years and he is up there with the very best....chances of another 100?

He's certainly a contender for the All Time Edinburgh side - off the top of my head the competition would be Ally Hogg, a Calder or two, I think they both played 8 at some point for Edinburgh, Simon Taylor, Nasi Manu could have been great for us but for his health.

Did Blackadder play at 8 for us, I seem to remember him as a blindside?

It's easier to remember more recent players, I must have missed loads

[Pitfitter446]

Looking good for most of the half, a little scrappy at times, Zebre 7 needs an arsekicking, always going to be a red and drops his teammates in the poo.
Chris Dean working hard, everyone doing there bit, Goosen makes his mark.

[dolf_lundgren]

Good first half, intensity inevitably dropped off in the second.

Probably as disappointed to lose a couple of tries as not scoring more ourselves.

Chance for the likes Savala and Currie to do a bit more and show their stuff.

[Pitfitter446]

All the play seems rushed now as if we needed a score to win, slowish build up but steady play leads to a TRY, Currie deserved that.

[Tichtheid]

We didn’t get many phases going in that second period, on the plus side Currie looked good all game, Harrison did well and Shiel went pretty well too

Big Bill, birthday boy, motm and 100th cap, top man

[liveinhope]

Like many on here no doubt I'd have probably taken a win let alone a 5 point BP before kick off but after being 26-0 after 27 minutes and Zebre with a man red carded I thought we could really go for the jugular there.
Still ,impressed by Currie with some very good touches,Venter in the loose and Shiel showed a lot of control. And Goosen took his try well but little chance to get much into the game.
Surprised Skinner kept on for 80 which rather suggests its not planned that he's in next weekend's 23 (surprising?) against Australia.

[Trophyhunter]

At Last Currie playing more to his potential in smart execution of good link play and hitting space. Impressed by Ventner and McBurnie upfront in what was not exactly one of our more dynamic forward performances . Dean’s work rate was huge and much of our better stuff came off him .

Considering we nearly lost at Home to Zebre last season this was in the end an excellent win bonus result with through a workmanlike performance.

[Martin Bell]

Weirdly disappointing second half, but I will definitely take it: http://www.edinburghgunners.org.uk/matchday/reports

[The Chiel]

Weirdly disappointing second half, but I will definitely take it: http://www.edinburghgunners.org.uk/matchday/reports

Always an enjoyable read. Top marks for "In a move so dumb, he could have been a government Minister,".

But just a wee mention for the Italian TJ who spotted the "infringement" and actually flagged it - Evans missed it ( and tbf so did I in real time ). Irish, Saffer and Welsh TJs should note intervening on behalf of the away side is in fact allowed.

Agree with liveinhope - I also was surprised to see Skinner, and how long he stayed on. Bench at best next week, or does he need some miles in the tank ?

[Martin Bell]

Thanks!

It was a good spot. Even knowing it had happened, I didn't notice it myself in the replay.