Zebre vs Edinburgh 24th October 2:30pm Somewhere in Italy

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 11:38 am

Zebre vs Edinburgh

Date: 24th October
Kick-off: 2.30pm local time (1.30pm UK & Ireland)

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU,63rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Luca Trentin (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Achille Reali (FIR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Live on RAI Sport

Interesting Fact: The stadium was named after Sergio Lanfranchi (1925-2001), an international rugby union prop from Parma who played for Italy from 1949 to 1961 (was he any good Jimbo?) and spent most of his club career in France.

Head to Head: Edinburgh are better

Record this season: Edinburgh are much better

fES predicted outcome: Edinburgh to win and remain higher than Glasgow in the league

Zebre player(s) to watch: Leonardo Sarto, Matteo Pratichetti and Dion Berryman

Edinburgh player(s) to watch: Anton Bressler, Hamish Watson, Nasi Manu, Phil Burleigh and Will Helu

Edinburgh Rugby team v Zebre

15 Jack Cuthbert
14 Tom Brown
13 Will Helu
12 Andries Strauss
11 Damien Hoyland
10 Phil Burleigh
9 Nathan Fowles

1 Rory Sutherland
2 Neil Cochrane
3 John Andress
4 Anton Bresler
5 Fraser McKenzie
6 Mike Coman (capt)
7 Hamish Watson
8 Nasi Manu

Substitutes
16 George Turner
17 Allan Dell
18 Simon Berghan
19 Alex Toolis
20 Cornell Du Preez
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Dougie Fife
23 Blair Kinghorn

by **George Carlin** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 11:43 am

You're an example to the kids.

by **RDW** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 12:37 pm

With Zebre having all their internationalists back this may be more difficult than first thought, but we should be winning well here.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 1:45 pm

If this is the game where we lose our winning streak, I will instruct BabyfES to throw her toys out of her pram!

by RuggerRadge2611 Tue 20 Oct 2015, 2:38 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Interesting Fact: The stadium was named after Sergio Lanfranchi (1925-2001), an international rugby union prop from Parma who played for Italy from 1949 to 1961 (was he any good Jimbo?) and spent most of his club career in France.

Is it wrong to be holding my breath for the new Edinburgh Stadium tentatively titled as the Alan Jacobson Stand?

by **George Carlin** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 2:58 pm

I am waiting for it to be the JK Rowling north stand and the Sean Connery south stand.

by MacKnocked-on Tue 20 Oct 2015, 3:28 pm

George Carlin wrote:I am waiting for it to be the JK Rowling north stand and the Sean Connery south stand.

Sean Connery doesn't want to be associated with anything south

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 3:59 pm

MacKnocked-on wrote:
George Carlin wrote:I am waiting for it to be the JK Rowling north stand and the Sean Connery south stand.

Sean Connery doesn't want to be associated with anything south

According to the Cybernats JK Rowling isn't allowed to support Scottish rugby because she supported the Better Together Campaign.

One of their more odious contributions to social media over the weekend.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:06 pm

George Carlin wrote:I am waiting for it to be the JK Rowling north stand and the Sean Connery south stand.

What about the stands at Scotstoun?

The Maitland End - because Sean Maitland once scored a try at that end of the field
The Methadone Stand
Al Kellock's End
The 2013/2014 Stand - named after the last year Glasgow were to ever win the 1872 Cup

by MacKnocked-on Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:15 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
MacKnocked-on wrote:
George Carlin wrote:I am waiting for it to be the JK Rowling north stand and the Sean Connery south stand.

Sean Connery doesn't want to be associated with anything south

According to the Cybernats JK Rowling isn't allowed to support Scottish rugby because she supported the Better Together Campaign.

One of their more odious contributions to social media over the weekend.

And according to them all No voters shouldn't be allowed to sing Flower of Scotland either, those dafties couldn't run a bath never mind a country.

by Tattie Scones RRN Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:17 pm

God jaysis can we not start all this cr@p again!!!

Excellent OP fES. I particularly chuckled at the question in bold.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 4:36 pm

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:God jaysis can we not start all this cr@p again!!!

Excellent OP fES. I particularly chuckled at the question in bold.

Why thank you. I took a conscious decision to depart from the smut usually served up by GC - or at least my work firewall did.

by **George Carlin** Tue 20 Oct 2015, 7:04 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:
Tattie Scones RRN wrote:God jaysis can we not start all this cr@p again!!!

Excellent OP fES. I particularly chuckled at the question in bold.

Why thank you. I took a conscious decision to depart from the smut usually served up by GC - or at least my work firewall did.

This from someone who lives in a part of the country whose residents conventionally refer to young women as 'fillies'.

by funnyExiledScot Tue 20 Oct 2015, 8:31 pm

"Fine fillies" actually. This is a polite part of town, what what!

by Nematode Tue 20 Oct 2015, 10:37 pm

Think Edinburgh should really do well here. When you think of the best starting XV if all are fit it looks very decent:

Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Gilchrist, Toolis, Hardie, Watson, Denton, SHC, Burleigh, Hoyland, Scott, Helu, Brown, Tonks

by funnyExiledScot Wed 21 Oct 2015, 10:45 am

I really not convinced that's our best starting XV.

I would always include Bressler at lock. He brings a lack of self preservation and physicality that is a hallmark of this Solomons pack. I think Bressler/Gilchrist would be our starting locks, with Toolis unlucky to be on the bench.

I also don't agree with Hardie and Watson starting together on the flanks. They are competing for one place, but are otherwise too similar to play together. I would find room for one of Du Preez or Denton at 6, with Nasi Manu at 8.

I think Michael Allen will ultimately take the 13 jersey this season and form a partnership with Scott. I think Helu will end up on the left wing, with one of Fife, Brown or Hoyland in the 14 jersey.

We are a strong team. We just need to get that backline to click.

by **George Carlin** Wed 21 Oct 2015, 11:16 am

The Gibbon. Bonus. picard

by funnyExiledScot Wed 21 Oct 2015, 11:24 am

Oh God. I was joking about The Gibbon and now look what's happened.

I should refresh my prediction. I have no idea who will win this now, it all depends on the ref.

by VinceWLB Wed 21 Oct 2015, 11:38 am

Agreed re Bresler, he is one of the 1st name on the team sheet as far as i'm concerned, the physicality and power of the pack dramatically improved as soon as he started playing for Edinburgh Rugby. Great player and great signing.

by des Wed 21 Oct 2015, 1:50 pm

It's worth remembering that some of Edinburgh's best performances last season came with Grant and Watson playing 6 and 7. Admittedly it was enforced by Du Preez being broken but it definitely worked.

I see Hardie as a combination of Grant and Watson. The turnovers of Grant with a bit of the dynamism of Watson.

I still think Watson should move to 12.

by RuggerRadge2611 Wed 21 Oct 2015, 3:00 pm

des wrote:It's worth remembering that some of Edinburgh's best performances last season came with Grant and Watson playing 6 and 7. Admittedly it was enforced by Du Preez being broken but it definitely worked.

I see Hardie as a combination of Grant and Watson. The turnovers of Grant with a bit of the dynamism of Watson.

I still think Watson should move to 12.

I'd like to see Scott12 get regular game time at 12, not a converted flanker. Albeit a talented converted flanker.

by ScarletSpiderman Wed 21 Oct 2015, 3:09 pm

George Carlin wrote:The Gibbon. Bonus.

He seemed better than he used to be last weekend, maybe his little spell with no matches has given him time to reflect and improve.

by VinceWLB Wed 21 Oct 2015, 3:36 pm

For me Fitzgibbon has been one of my favorite ref in the pro 12 the last couple of season, always rather impartial and never tries too much unlike Nigel Owens.

by RuggerRadge2611 Wed 21 Oct 2015, 3:42 pm

VinceWLB wrote:For me Fitzgibbon has been one of my favorite ref in the pro 12 the last couple of season, always rather impartial and never tries too much unlike Nigel Owens.

He has another ability.

Every time I see his name I instantly in my head sing :

"do the, do the, do the Fitzygibbon"

by funnyExiledScot Wed 21 Oct 2015, 3:44 pm

I think all the domestic refs will be upping their game. With Joubert and Peyper on the international circuit at present, they must all be sniffing an opportunity for promotion.

by RuggerRadge2611 Wed 21 Oct 2015, 7:09 pm

funnyExiledScot wrote:I think all the domestic refs will be upping their game. With Joubert and Peyper on the international circuit at present, they must all be sniffing an opportunity for promotion.

by Guest Wed 21 Oct 2015, 7:41 pm

VinceWLB wrote:For me Fitzgibbon has been one of my favorite ref in the pro 12 the last couple of season, always rather impartial and never tries too much unlike Nigel Owens.

I was never keen on Fitzgibbon, but I think he has definitely improved over the last couple of seasons. He's a good ref.

by **George Carlin** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 6:38 am

Hardie gave a nice interview to the SRU Fluffy Interview Lady and said that all of the Scottish internationlists would be given "a wee break" of 2 weeks.

by **RDW** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 7:54 am

Edinburgh injury update - Gilchrist is due back in November, but McInally and Toolis likely to be out until January.

Suggestions that S-H-C will play this weekend.

15 games in a row coming up - even Solomons will have to rotate and use the whole squad.

by funnyExiledScot Thu 22 Oct 2015, 10:35 am

RDW_Scotland wrote:Edinburgh injury update - Gilchrist is due back in November, but McInally and Toolis likely to be out until January.

Suggestions that S-H-C will play this weekend.

15 games in a row coming up - even Solomons will have to rotate and use the whole squad.

You think?? I'm backing Nel to go straight back into the side and play 80 minutes of every game.

SH-C coming straight back in makes sense. He's been kicking his heels for weeks now and must be desperate to play. We could certainly use his pace from the base and his goal kicking.

by EWT Spoons Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:26 am

I think it would probably be good for all the players involved in the wc to get a rest for a week or two (two for the ones who were most involved) they've not had a break from rugby since last summer and would most likely benefit from getting a bit of time away from it.

We should be able to beat Zebre without SHC so leave him out of the game and he should hopefully be ready for next weekend (against Munster I think).

Oh and good work on the thread FES.

by **RDW** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:29 am

EWT Spoons wrote:I think it would probably be good for all the players involved in the wc to get a rest for a week or two (two for the ones who were most involved) they've not had a break from rugby since last summer and would most likely benefit from getting a bit of time away from it.

We should be able to beat Zebre without SHC so leave him out of the game and he should hopefully be ready for next weekend (against Munster I think).

Oh and good work on the thread FES.

I'd agree with that, although perhaps he will give SHC a break at another point in the season (i.e. stagger the breaks so you don't lose your best team all at the same time)

He'll probably be well up for playing though - will have a lot of built up frustration from holding tackle bags all world cup!

by EWT Spoons Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:40 am

You could well be right about staggering breaks, but on the flip side, we've been on a run of winning games with the squad we have and Zebre are traditionally pony (Zebre - stripey horse - pony....I'll get my coat) so if there was a team to rest our players against it would be them.

But it all depends I guess on Solly and what the SRUs guidelines are. Hopefully the team will be announced soon.

by **RDW** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:45 am

Remember this is the coach who deliberately kept our strongest team against Zebre the week before the challenge cup final, despite them having already played something like 8 games in a row!

by EWT Spoons Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:54 am

Yeah, if it was fully up to Solly there would be no doubt about who would be playing, but hopefully the SRU have laid down the law and told him they need a break. Guessing the team should be announced today.

by **RDW** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 11:56 am

The game is on Saturday so the team will be announced tomorrow most likely.

Players are only meant to play 5 in a row, but that is obviously flexible!

by EWT Spoons Thu 22 Oct 2015, 12:04 pm

Dammit, I am rubbish at predicting when teams will be annouced.

by **George Carlin** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 12:09 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:The game is on Saturday so the team will be announced tomorrow most likely.

Players are only meant to play 5 in a row, but that is obviously ~~flexible!~~ completely ignored by everyone's favourite grandpappy.

by **RDW** Thu 22 Oct 2015, 12:20 pm

EWT Spoons wrote:Dammit, I am rubbish at predicting when teams will be annouced.

1 day before for club games, 2/3 days for international! thumbsup

by EWT Spoons Thu 22 Oct 2015, 12:25 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:
EWT Spoons wrote:Dammit, I am rubbish at predicting when teams will be annouced.

1 day before for club games, 2/3 days for international!

I shall do my best to remember this, but promptly forget by next week and start questioning why the team isn't up yet, 2 days before the game.

by **RDW** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:00 pm

Edinburgh team:

Zebre vs Edinburgh 24th October 2:30pm Somewhere in Italy CR_zYqRWEAAG3xw

Great to see Kinghorne on the bench.

by **RDW** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:02 pm

Just noticed Ben Toolis in there - surely that is a mistake?

by justified sinner Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:08 pm

Has the Edinburgh Twitter guy been on the Prosecco? Surely that should be Bresler instead of B Toolis?

by **RDW** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:09 pm

Either that or he's recovered from elbow surgery in the space of a month!

by **RDW** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:11 pm

It gets worse - they've 'corrected' it but shown Alex Toolis twice now!

Zebre vs Edinburgh 24th October 2:30pm Somewhere in Italy CR_1m0vXIAADb9G

by justified sinner Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:12 pm

Been updated it's now Toolis A playing 5 and also on the bench as 19? Might get the real team eventually.

by **RDW** Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:13 pm

They got there in the end!

15 Jack Cuthbert

14 Tom Brown

13 Will Helu

12 Andries Strauss

11 Damien Hoyland

10 Phil Burleigh

9 Nathan Fowles

1 Rory Sutherland

2 Neil Cochrane

3 John Andress

4 Anton Bresler

5 Fraser McKenzie

6 Mike Coman (capt)

7 Hamish Watson

8 Nasi Manu

Substitutes

16 George Turner

17 Allan Dell

18 Simon Berghan

19 Alex Toolis

20 Cornell Du Preez

21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne

22 Dougie Fife

23 Blair Kinghorn

by justified sinner Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:18 pm

And the article on the website has Bresler 4, McKenzie 5 and Toolis A 19?

by madmaccas Fri 23 Oct 2015, 12:19 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:They got there in the end!

15 Jack Cuthbert

14 Tom Brown

13 Will Helu

12 Andries Strauss

11 Damien Hoyland

10 Phil Burleigh

9 Nathan Fowles

That has to be the worst backline in the Pro12.

by Weegie Wizard Fri 23 Oct 2015, 2:32 pm

I agree it's not great but most will not see the light of day once the team is full strength. If Edinburgh can keep their backs fit, which may not happen with Matt Scott, they will be serious contenders.

I think you'll win this fairly easily but not sure about a bonus which you should be looking for.

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