ER v Benetton 30Nov 1935

[The Feral Goat]

Some very good performances from the ER contingent yesterday notably Ritchie and Gilchrist...i dont expect to see them on Saturday...but will we see them bring that form back to ER, as senior players they need to be producing that level every game.

Saturday, we should be able to get a strong team out assuming no injuries and full internationals rested.

Important block of games coming up, a win at home is a must to try and start picking up points.

Venter
Harrison/Cherry
Hill
Hodgson/Young
Sykes
Muncaster
Crosbie
Bradbury

Price
Thompson
Tuiploutu
Scott/Currie
Goosen
Sweeny/McCann/Hoyland
Paterson

[Tichtheid]

This would be an ideal time to start looking at Freddy Douglas, Liam McConnell and Mikey Jones, if only from the pine. Then we have to stick with them. The old guard aren't cutting the mustard and if the coaches keep trying the same thing over and over and it's still not working then it's time for them to walk.

If we are going to lose then I'd rather get some experience into these young players. Paterson was injured again in training for Scotland, hopefully he will be fit for the weekend but he isn't having a lot of luck.

I've backed all the coaches from Bradley onwards for a long time after they were obviously not up to the job. At some point we have to be realistic and ask, is buying someone out of their contract and/or sacking them more expensive in the long run than the continued failure of the team?

Gilcho showed far more for Scotland over the last few weeks than he does for Edinburgh, he is a great example of the malaise at The Hive, in fact you could say the same for Schoey, Ashman, Ritchie, Darcy and Duhan - if you look at Kinghorn at Toulouse you see the player we all thought he could be.

Darcy gets a pass, he's pretty much always as good as he was yesterday, in any shirt.

Rae hasn't played that much over the last month, he and Venter have been our best scrummagers this season so I'd start them against Benetton. With Jones and AN Other on the bench - I'd even look at accelerating Ollie B-L's development, even if he is only 18 - I think Zander was that age when he first played for Glasgow.

McVie and Currie Jnr have been playing in the premiership cup, they will come back with some bruises and a lot of experience, they and we need to see that there is a way for them to get games.

It infuriates me in a way when we see Darge playing at the level he is and Boyle with only a handful of appearances under his belt.
This has to change.

[liveinhope]

Good post. I posted on the Glasgow forum on Sunday night that each of the Edinburgh starters had ( easily)their best games of the season that afternoon. Whilst great to see in the context of the Australian match as Tichtheis points out it is worrying that they are not performing that way for Edinburgh.
But as posted in another thread I fully expect them all to be rested and held back for the two European matches and two 1872 Cup fixures over the next four weekends.

[The Feral Goat]

James Lang (calf) – Back fit and available for selection

Sam Skinner (knee) – Back fit and available for selection

Javan Sebastian (shoulder) – Back fit and available for selection

Robin Hislop (calf) – Injury sustained in training. Timeline for recovery still to be confirmed

Mark Bennett (quad) – No change to previous update [see here].

Connor Boyle (knee) – Successfully underwent surgery earlier this month. Timeline for recovery still to be confirmed.

Glen Young (calf) – Expected to return to full training next month.

Harry Paterson (hamstring) – Expected to return to full training in January.

Emiliano Boffelli (back) – No change to previous update. Underwent successful surgery last month. Long term injury with return to play timeline still to be confirmed.

[Tichtheid]

Connor Boyle (knee) – Successfully underwent surgery earlier this month. Timeline for recovery still to be confirmed.

Ten months according to ER's post on Facebook.

[The Feral Goat]

Connor Boyle (knee) – Successfully underwent surgery earlier this month. Timeline for recovery still to be confirmed.

Ten months according to ER's post on Facebook.

Yes ACL unfortunately, really tough especially when he should be pushing for a start he may even see Douglas leapfrog him in his absence.

Paterson and Boffelli both out at the same time as well for sometime. Although belive Sweeny is back and ready may get an opportunity.

[Tichtheid]

Edinburgh Rugby (versus Benetton at Hive Stadium on Saturday @ 5.15pm UK time): W Goosen; D Graham, M Currie, M Tuipulotu, D van der Merwe; R Thompson, A Price; P Schoeman, E Ashman, P Hill, M Sykes, G Gilchrist©, J Ritchie, B Muncaster, M Bradbury. Subs: P Harrison, B Venter, D Rae, S Skinner, F Douglas, B Vellacott, B Healy, R McCann.

Unavailable: Mark Bennett (quad), Emiliano Boffelli (back), Connor Boyle (knee), Luke Crosbie (calf), Robin Hislop (calf), Harry Paterson (hamstring), Glen Young (calf).


Strong selection

Edit, I think ToL got the time wrong, it should be 7:35 pm

[Tichtheid]

Benetton
15 Rhyno Smith (59)
14 Ignacio Mendy (30)
13 Malakai Fekitoa (19)
12 Marco Zanon (83)
11 Paolo Odogwu (12)
10 Jacob Umaga (45)
9 Andy Uren (30)
8 Riccardo Favretto (42)
7 Toa Halafihi (79)
6 Alessandro Izekor (42)
5 Eli Snyman (C) (50)
4 Scott Scrafton (15)
3 Enzo Avaca (4)
2 Marco Manfredi (4)
1 Nahuel Tetaz (31)

A disposizione: 16 Agustin Creevy *, 17 Destiny Aminu (7), 18 Tiziano Pasquali (135), 19 Jadin Kingi *, 20 Simon Koroiyadi *, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez*, 22 Leonardo Marin (29), 23 Louis Lynagh (3).

[liveinhope]

So our 1st XV v their 2nds!
At least Douglas on the bench ahead of Watson.Hopefully he'll get 20/30 minutes on the pitch.

[dolf_lundgren]

Its a lot to ask of Gilchrist, Ritchie and Schoeman in particular with a 6 day turnaround. I think we could have had them on the bench as cover. Venter, Skinner and Douglas could have got a start and I dont think would let us down.

Next couple of weeks might get messy if we are sending an understrength team, although Bayonne were a 2nds last year, Gloucester tend to take the diddy cup quite seriously.

We say it every week, but good team and we should have enough to win.

Is Matt Scott injured? He has been one of he few bright spots this year. Bench options of McCann and Healy dont give us a huge amount of flexibility.

[The Feral Goat]

Jeez what to make of that. First half very good kept the ball dominated every aspect.

Second could not get ball and when we did for first 20 could not keep hold of it.

Didn't think anyone had a bad game but they got through our defence particularly around the ruck too easily.

The choice of up and under into that wind was a bit dumb just take the scrum surely.

Anyway 50 points a another bonus point hopefully see.some rotation for Europe.

[dolf_lundgren]

Ultimately we would have taken a 17 pt win with a bp before kick off. But we made hard work of that

Really surprised to see Ritchie and Gilchrist play 80 mins, they must be knackered, although both were very good.

Creevy seemed to galvanise and organise benneton. The wind did get up and stay up from middle of the first half but it shouldn’t have been that big a factor.

Ironic that our attack has been woeful and defence ok so far and we seemed to flip that this week. It’s like we can only concentrate on one thing at a time!

[doedin]

Its a lot to ask of Gilchrist, Ritchie and Schoeman in particular with a 6 day turnaround. I think we could have had them on the bench as cover. Venter, Skinner and Douglas could have got a start and I dont think would let us down.

Next couple of weeks might get messy if we are sending an understrength team, although Bayonne were a 2nds last year, Gloucester tend to take the diddy cup quite seriously.

We say it every week, but good team and we should have enough to win.

Is Matt Scott injured? He has been one of he few bright spots this year. Bench options of McCann and Healy dont give us a huge amount of flexibility.

I suspect we will see a very different team next week. Looks like we picked a few Scottish guys for last night on the understanding they wouldn't travel for Gloucester. I expect Schoo, Ashman, GC, VdM, Darcy, won't feature. However the subs from last night plus the likes of Scott, Cherry, Laing, Crosbie, Watson et al might be given a chance.

[Castlecannon]

I think the wind definitely increased strength in second half which helped Benetton who to be fair were resting some of their big stars . That said some of our first half play was superb and just highlighted the potential of the talent in the squad when tuned up .Reminded me of the opening half v Munster a few years back when we produced a sublime first 40 performance that blew away a fully loaded Munster only to capitulate in the second half with no mitigating wind advantage to the opposition in that instance. Fortunately our resolve and a little luck prevailed on Saturday.

The Challenge cup campaign will be interesting and hopefully successful but our primary objective has to be to get into play offs and to qualify for Champions Cup . I would therefore expect Everitt to rest and rotate a few of our star players for the 1872 clash with Glasgow . Expect Duhan, Darcy , Schoeman and Gilchrist not to figure v Gloucester on Friday .

[liveinhope]

Interested to read on the BBC website that Hodgson is going on loan to Bristol for an undisclsed period. Obviously this rules him out of the Euro fixtures.
Whilst we are wll stocked at lock presumably Gilchrist to be rested this week and Young out injured.Skinner just back after a very long spell out injured.
Only leaves Sykes before going to youngsters Carmichael and McVie with one of them needing to bench down in Gloucester. Might be the opportunity they need of course.