Squad 24/25

[The Chiel]

Undoubtedly wishful thinking, but Rory Hutchinson wasn't even in Northampton's 23 for their play off last night. Not injured AFAIK. He'd be the missing link ( and cover in a number of areas ).

[Wottie]

Our midfield is a problem. Bennett is supposed to be a box office player but hasn't been the for the last 2 seasons. If Matt Scott is prepared to do a couple more seasons and is not too expensive, he could be an excellent signing. We need to replace Kinghorn in the back three as well. At the start of the season we looked stacked there but injuries have been terrible and frankly, there is no point having box office players out wide if you have no structure or game plan to get the ball to them. Our backs / attack coaching has been lamentable and need s resolved pronto. We also have to retain Glen Young in the pack. We have missed his impact when he got injured this season.

[Castlecannon]

Not sure about Scott . He is nearly 34 but would certainly give him a season’s contract if he came on a budget . That said I think the big issue is the depth of our attacking tactics and set up from 10. There are no loop or cuts into holes for 15 or Wing . Think Sione Tuipolotu’s signature pivot pass . Watching replay of Hole carved out of our defence on Saturday by zipped decoy pass from Nacho Brett’s inside to Monincello was right out our playbook from Lang , Dean or Kinghorn in Blair era. Confidence drained out of our bunch on Saturday as they either became too reckless or safety first . We have all seen and applauded dynamic snd highly skilled and dynamic performances from these same players . More work too required on our back row cohesion in attack with backs .

[bignose]

Jake Henry signs a 2-year extension and then nips off to Coventry for the coming season ('mon Cov!)

https://x.com/EdinburghRugby/status/1798294111411200290

[dolf_lundgren]

Interesting move, something I think we should do more of for players who are needing more experience.

Henry looked really good before he got injured, he struggled in the final game, but so did everyone and he was just back from a lay off.

Hopefully he continues to grow, he will be 24 in the summer and should be coming into his peak yearts.

[Tichtheid]

Scotland U20: 15. Fergus Watson (Glasgow Warriors), 14. Finlay Doyle (Loughborough University), 13. Johnny Ventisei (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Findlay Thomson (Watsonians), 11. Geordie Gwynn (Ealing Trailfinders/Brunel University) (co-captain); 10. Andrew McLean (Boroughmuir Bears), 9. Conor McAlpine (Watsonians); 1. Robbie Deans (Edinburgh Rugby), 2. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Euan McVie (Edinburgh Rugby), 5. Ryan Burke (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby) (captain), 7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Tom Currie (Edinburgh Rugby) – (co-captain)

Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (unattached) (on for J Blyth-Lafferty 59mins), 17. Ben White (Biggar RFC) (on for Deans 57mins), 18. Jake Shearer (Ayrshire Bulls) (on for Gwynn 75 mins), 19. Ruaraidh Hart (Glasgow Warriors) (on for Burke 57mins), 20. Dylan Cockburn (Southern Knights/Melrose RFC) (on for Currie 68mins), 21. Hector Patterson (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for McAlpine 67mins), 22. Kerr Yule (Glasgow Warriors) (on for Thomson 57 mins), 23. Jack Hocking (Edinburgh Rugby) (on for Watson 59mins)
(for Turner 52 mins)


The above was the U20s side that took on Japan to get us into the Trophy final.
The B-L brothers are in our academy, as are Robbie Deans, Euan McVie, Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas and Tom Currie in the starting pack, with Dylan Cockburn playing for Melrose, so you'd hope we would get first dibs.

I like the look of Findlay Thompson at 12, he carries the ball hard, again since he's with Watsons you'd hope we would take a look at him.
I liked both wingers, though they are currently down south. Connor McAlpine is another at Watsons, with Hector Patterson already in our academy, along with Jack Hocking, who I thought was a fly half when he came over from Oz, but has been playing full back.

Andrew McLean is with Boroughmuir, who were obviously aligned with Glasgow when the Super 6 was running, but now it's back in Edinburgh's city boundaries, we have Isaac Coates, but I like McLean's break and kicking off the tee too.

Can we afford to offer all of these guys full time contracts? Can we afford not to?

The seven starters in the pack especially look like the real deal. If I had to keep just one it would be Ollie Blyth-Lafterty but you'd have to prise the rest of them from my selection with a crow-bar.

[The Chiel]

Final game - Scotland v USA - is on Alba tomorrow night, 7:45. Fingers crossed the laddies can do it.

As an aside,it would be really good if the SRU could do something about the dreadful design and positioning of the camera gantry, which means the 2 corners on the gantry side rely on some very nifty direction to keep play in shot.

[Frenchy]

Chris Dean being released from his contract to pursue other opportunities, apparently.

As good an excuse as any to re-watch one of my favourite Edinburgh tries: https://youtu.be/3ckdPmf_ZMc?t=6895 (from 1:55:00 if the timestamp doesn't work).

[The Feral Goat]

Chris Dean being released from his contract to pursue other opportunities, apparently.

As good an excuse as any to re-watch one of my favourite Edinburgh tries: https://youtu.be/3ckdPmf_ZMc?t=6895 (from 1:55:00 if the timestamp doesn't work).

Presumably has a lucrative offer from somewhere maybe off with Turner to Japan.

Had a great season under Mike Blair but clearly not one of everitts preferred centre options and with Tuipolotu arriving likely to see little game time.

Deserved a better send off than an off season announcement.

[dolf_lundgren]

I would be surprised if it was somewhere like Japan. Never know though.

He didnt get a fair crack of the whip last year, given our general midfield play was poor at best he was ver sparingly used. On paper he wasn't our best centre but he was the type of player who made others around him play better and had a very good understanding with Kinghorn when he played 10.

Hope he does well wherever he goes, he deserved a bit better from Everitt.

[Castlecannon]

I wish him nothing but success . So many games over the years where his subtle understated play created so much good stuff for others and his defence could be robust and clever . Last season was strange , he was given few opportunities to rebuild the rhythm he was delivering in the midfield under Blair or the power he offered under Cockerill. Matt Currie is a fine player but has a way to go to hit the levels Dean could offer on his best days . Criminal that he was never selected for a tour let alone a cap . A tour or two could have returned an even better player.

[The Feral Goat]

Matt Scott back on a 12month deal. Bit odd having released Dean.

Quality player though, looked really good at Leicester last few seasons.

[Cammo Gunner]

Matt Scott back on a 12month deal. Bit odd having released Dean.

Quality player though, looked really good at Leicester last few seasons.

ER opening a retirement home for FPs?

[Castlecannon]

Quality signing for the short term if he can stay fit . Most significant new boy in the squad imo is Ross Thompson . Fell 10 is where some of our more fundamentals are.

[doedin]

Pleased to see Scott back, he is a quality player and still has a year or two in his legs. He played really well for Leicester when I saw him. His experience and physicality will be invaluable over the season. Good signing.