1872 Cup – Round 1 Preview
With the 1872 Cup kicking off on Monday (1735GMT kickoff, coverage via BBC Alba), we take a look at some of the key team matchups for the game.
Category: Magners League
So That’s The Heineken Cup Pretty Much Over
…For Scottish pro-team fans, at any rate. But there is still plenty of rugby to be played in the tournament and some of the teams (Leinster, Scarlets, even Aironi!) so far have shown that there may be something of interest for the neutral to watch. Yes, that’s you now…
Edinburgh A Bit Rubbish, Really
I am not just talking about the cold and snowy weather that has kept my southern colleague Al “working from home” a lot recently. I refer, of course, to the crappy game against Ospreys at the weekend where through a combination of their own inability to hold on to the ball and, um, welsh people, they came away with a result that is fairly unflattering.
So I am not going to dwell on it, save to say that if you want to see the undeniable foul play that put Mossy off the park before half time, check this video out, while it lasts. It seems that a kiwi 7 getting away with murder is not the sole preserve of the All Blacks. Ross Rennie and Tim Visser were the usual bright sparks (Visser got a try again), with no-one else really covering themselves in any sort of glory, however mildly haggis flavoured.
I would also raise the point, that if all the Aviva Premiership games were off (as they mostly were) and Leinster managed to get over from Dublin to play the Scarlets (they had to suffer home ref Nigel Owens instructing the Scarlets props in Welsh), could steps really not have been taken to secure a neutral Irish or English ref (or two), possibly one with the ability to see? By the time James Jones realised he was supposed to be neutral in this fixture, Edinburgh had a player replaced and were 20 points down. Bring back George Clancy, all is forgiven.
Actually, maybe not.
UPDATE: Marty Holah has indeed by cited for his trip: BBC Article.
Teams for the Weekend
That should probably read “team”, seeing as the Glasgow game vs Treviso is off despite a number of internationals offering to return to the fold and bolster the team. Of course the reason is not a lack of players, but the ice and snow which has hampered transport and playing conditions for rugby up and down the country. Some say it is the frozen tears of a million England football fans.
Normal Service Resumes (in the background)
It can’t always be the glamour of playing Samoa in the middle of the North Sea for the stars of Scottish rugby. Several of the moustachioed Scotland A boys will return to earth with a small bump this weekend (just like giant muscle-bound snowflakes) as they line up to face Connacht in the usual half-empty Murrayfield.
Scarlets 18 – 14 Glasgow
Shh. Don’t say it too loud but Glasgow might actually be ok.
With the amount of quality which has left the squad, the double headed dash of inexperience at 10 and the back row switching from strength to uncertainty, the Warriors had a slow start to the season
But things might slowly be coming together, as a win against Ospreys and a very encouraging performance against Scarlets, Glasgow look like they might be putting things together.
Roddy Grant: Edinburgh Captain
In the high pressure world of professional sport guys can ‘lose the heid’. Indeed, with every success story there is an Atlas-like struggle to achieve, while facing the crowd and the money-men. You only have to look at the fall of Tiger Woods and Wayne Rooney to see what pressure and conception can do. So when Edinburgh selected 23-year-old flanker Roddy Grant to be their captain some wondered if he could handle the pressure.
“I find it easier with the pressure on me,” Roddy Grant laughs.
Big Stroker Ticked Off The List
Al “The Big Stroker” Strokosch has had to withdraw from Scotlands Autumn Internationals squad following an injury to his knee at the weekend.
Weekend Supporter Sandwich
Like a startled cow, it’s time to stagger away from the debate over the Scotland 34 (how did they sneak another player into the squad?!) as this weekend sees Edinburgh take on an unbeaten Ulster and the Warriors attempt to overcome the Ospreys.
33 is the Magic Number
As Robbo prepares to stop being in the crowd at every single Heineken Cup game on Sky and actually name his 33-man squad on Wednesday, he must have a few headaches. Even the distraction of B & I Lions manager Andy Irvine claiming Robbo is in the running for Lions head coach will take some heat away from the fact that some key injuries, poor performances and the inescapable need to select Dan “I’m enjoying the Leek and Mutton pies a bit too much” Parks could make selection a stingy issue.
All of the questions will be answered tomorrow
Aironi 9-10 Edinburgh
Rory here, we have a special match report in today from blogger – and yet another Al – Al T, with a report direct from the first encounter with one of the new Italian sides in the Magners League. So without further ado, here’s our third Al with his special report!
Teams and Times for Tonight (and Saturday)
Details of this weekends pro-teams and where to watch them.
Edinburgh find their Form
Edinburgh finally reversed the losing streak that has dogged them since the end of last season, and did so in some style against a Leinster team that boasted most of its all-star Lions (save for Nathan Hines) returning to action just in time for the start of the season, I mean um, the Heineken Cup. Oh, and Tim Visser scored. Again.
Knocking on the Door of Number 10
I’m not one to create hype (oh ok, maybe a little), but this weekend could be the most interesting in a long time for those of us interested in the perpetual debate over Scotland’s problems at number 10. And I’m not talking about David Cameron.
Glasgow 17 – 19 Connacht
Glasgow 17 – 19 Connacht
Sorry for the lack of appearances from the Scottish Rugby Blog’s Glasgow correspondent but in my return to competitive rugby I have done far more nursing my injuries than pounding keys.
