Glasgow....Glorious Underacheivers

[aligmacd123]

I am slightly frustrated at Glasgow Warriors. They won against a good Toulouse team one week then can win against Newport Gwent (no offence). Glasgow can play beautiful, flowing rugby but something or someone is slowing their progress.

DAN PARKS!!!

I cannot stand the man. He can kick and thats it.

I am hoping Sean Lineen has changed his ways and will let young Ruaridh Jackson have some game time. At his best he is awesome (Bath vs Glasgow HEC) and brings a bit of pace into the backline moves.
Also, this makes more space for the Evans brothers, Graeme Morrison and the veteran, Lome Fa'atau.

I believe that if Glasgow can have some consistency, especially in selection, they can scale heights that haven't been scaled by a Scottish team.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Glasgow have money thrown at them by the SRU, yet don't produce the goods. Edinburgh have leanred that the odd impressive win in the H Cup is not enough,and its the same story for our unwashed neighbours from the west.

I think both sides suffer because of how the SRU treat them, as a means to keep all of their players under their control. Edinburgh don't really need Scott MacLeod, we need some quality backs that are available to us all season round. Just like Glasgow don't need Rob 'Crash ball' Dewey when they've already got a one dimensional twelve in Graeme Morrison! The SRU treat Edinburgh and Glasgow with little or no respect. We all saw a few years back how much the SRU don't like having someone else running the show, but they're not prepared to stump up the cash for success. Edinburgh and Glasgow do have the ability to win silverware, we know that we can beat any team on our day - but we never get to play consistantly purely because international players are always away, so it disrupts selection, training, gameplans...everything!

Edinburgh have been a little bit more fortunate in recent years as a number of quality young players have come through the ranks and don't go missing for half the season (seems to be the case in Scotland, the better a player you are the less rugby you actually play!!) where as I don't see Glasgow doing this. Instead a number of johnny foreigners have come in and done very little, and that could be another problem for Glasgow. THey need to have quality youth, like Jackson as you say, getting game time. Give these lads time and you'll reap the rewards!

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

but we never get to play consistantly purely because international players are always away, so it disrupts selection, training, gameplans...everything![/b]

Is that not as good a reason as any to bolster squad depth (such as bringing in Rob Dewey to compete with Graeme Morrison)? Internationals being away isn't solely a Scottish problem. The Irish provinces and Welsh reasons face the same issue.

In my opinion, there isn't the depth in Scottish rugby for their teams to compete for trophies at present. Having said that, with the Magners League bringing in a top 4 playoff from next season, if either Glasgow or Edinburgh can make it into the playoffs without injuries, they have starting XVs which can trouble any team.

 

[aligmacd123]

I would still prefer Rob Dewey to Graeme Morrison because Morrison rarely breaks tackles while Dewey does. I think Morrison will be ousted from the Scotland set up in favour of de Luca and Dewey.

I don't like de Luca though seems a bit static. I feel slightly sorry for Ben Cairns. He was starting in the Scotland vs Wales game and the Haddock brought in Max Evans and Cairns wasn't even in the 22.

I prefer Cairns to de Luca.

The SRU needs a big shake up. They need to take less big salaries and start investing in Scottish Rugby!!!

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

Aye, the difference between you lot and us is that you guys have got quality players to bring in when internationals are away and we don't, because the SRU won't put their hands in the pockets to pay for the depth we need! Success breeds success, but those idiots at the SRU don't know that.

 

[Thingimubob]

Underachievers is a bit of a harsh word I think. The true 'glorious underachievers' are the teams with the big money to buy the big stars, but rarely come up with the goods in silverware. Teams like the Ospreys and Gloucester spring to mind. I;ve always seen Glasgow as similar to the Dragons; a team that doesn't have the resources of the bigger clubs, but can still compete with them (more so with Glasgow, like they showed in Toulouse.) The main reason for me is the fact that they have some class young players that've come through, like the Evans brothers, who really spark the team, but also have enough experience and hard grafters around. For me, both of the Scottish teams aren't the finished article, but can easily turn into heavyweights both in the Magners and eventually, in Europe. In the next season or two, one or both will reach the quarter finals or further in the HC or win the Magerns (especially with the play-off.)

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

The pro-teams (especially Edinburgh) have been finishing higher and higher in the ML for the past couple seasons now, so the progress is definatley there. But I think what alexmac is complaining about is the lack of consistency from the soapdodgers. Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere. The problem is putting those results together consistantly to get a good run together to win some silverware. The problem is the lack of depth and quality non-scottish players. We need some non-scots who are available all season round and who are leaders, on and off the park, to help bring through younger players. Players such as Matt Mustchin and Ben Gissing at Edinburgh are what we need more of if we are to see a Scottish challenge for silverware. As much as I don't like Glasgow (the city or the team) I'd love to see them get a bit of success (provided Edinburgh were one better!! ) as it'd give Scottish rugby a bit of a boost. But Edinburgh and Glasgow won't win anything and will play to small crowds unless the SRU spend some cash and invest. YOu have to spend money to make money and right now I don't see the SRU doing that. First of all, the Stephen Larkham deal fell through as soon as Edinburgh returned to SRU hands, then i read earlier in the year that Rocky Elsom was all set to join Edinburgh but then at the last minute Leinster came in with a vastly better deal. Now these are the types of players that get punters through the door and win championships, but the SRU aren't prepared to invest that kind of money. Edinburgh and Glasgow are too very good teams, of that there can be no doubt and I'm glad to see Edinburgh particulary signing alot of quality youth players to work with Robbo (we seem to have a reputation for developing players these days and that's a great thing). But it's these big name signings and that little bit more depth that seem to make the difference between finishing 2nd/3rd/4th and being champions.

 

[dundeesmiffy]

1) I've always rated Rob Dewey, I hope he finds his was back into the Scotland set-up soon.
2) I don't think we need more than 2 clubs, especially with the lack of money the SRU seem to have, it's a good idea to keep it small for the time being.
3) I was disappointed when the Larkham deal fell through, really disappointed.
4) We definitely need some good overseas players in both team so we...you know, don't get beat as club and country at the same time in the international seasons.
5) I think it's a process, there has been a steady increase in the quality of both Scottish sides, lets hope it continues.

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere.[/b]

You sure about that?

 

[aligmacd123]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 5 2009, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere.[/b]

You sure about that?
[/b][/quote]

Think of Toulouse, Leinster, Bath and many more

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 5 2009, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere.[/b]

You sure about that?
[/b][/quote]


Short term memory...Ospreys haven't beaten Edinburgh for what,2 years now?

And my point is that we can, when play to our full potential and everything goes right for us in the build up - but as anyone will tell you, when in rugby does that happen?

 

[cyRil]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 10 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 5 2009, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere.[/b]

You sure about that?
[/b][/quote]


Short term memory...Ospreys haven't beaten Edinburgh for what,2 years now?

And my point is that we can, when play to our full potential and everything goes right for us in the build up - but as anyone will tell you, when in rugby does that happen?
[/b][/quote]
Alright mate, I wasn't having a go at your team! I'm fully aware that my team haven't performed against Scottish sides for years, my only qualm was could Edinburgh or Glasgow really beat Munster at a packed Thomond, Leinster, Stade, Leicester at Welford... The Crusaders at Dunedin, both teams firing at all cylinders...?
What you say about every aspect of play going right is simply a topic for science fiction writers and should really be discarded in a rational debate, as you yourself understand.

 

[aligmacd123]

Well Glasgow beat Toulouse in a packed Stade Ernest-Wallon in a big Henekein Cup match...I agree that we don't have a chance against Munster at Thomond Park though.

 

[edinburgh_gunner]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 11 2009, 02:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 10 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cyRil of Ospreylia @ May 5 2009, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (edinburgh_gunner @ May 5 2009, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Edinburgh and Glasgow do, when it's a full team, have the ability to beat anyone, anywhere.[/b]

You sure about that?
[/b][/quote]


Short term memory...Ospreys haven't beaten Edinburgh for what,2 years now?

And my point is that we can, when play to our full potential and everything goes right for us in the build up - but as anyone will tell you, when in rugby does that happen?
[/b][/quote]
Alright mate, I wasn't having a go at your team! I'm fully aware that my team haven't performed against Scottish sides for years, my only qualm was could Edinburgh or Glasgow really beat Munster at a packed Thomond, Leinster, Stade, Leicester at Welford... The Crusaders at Dunedin, both teams firing at all cylinders...?
What you say about every aspect of play going right is simply a topic for science fiction writers and should really be discarded in a rational debate, as you yourself understand.
[/b][/quote]


Haha, I knew you weren't...Edinburgh certainly have a good record against Welsh teams anyway...Edinburgh and Glasgow have beaten Munster and Leinster away in recent years, problem is making it a regular occurance.