Edinburgh 2024/25

[BaldiePete]

I’ve been hard on Edinburgh recently, but I’ll say that one definite improvement has been that they’ve already got 5 bonus points, which equals the total from the whole of last season.

[Cameo]

I thought that was great. Obviously not perfect but even in the first half they were moving the ball about well and making breaks. Currie hit some great lines and Tuipuloto showed his brother's mix of power, soft hands, and the odd good kick. The intent we have been looking for for ages was there. Struggled a bit close to the line but I can live with that.

Graham also looking back, which is great, and they also made good use of VDM.

Oh and Harrison was good again (as was Hiddlestone earlier).

[septic 9]

I thought that was great. Obviously not perfect but even in the first half they were moving the ball about well and making breaks. Currie hit some great lines and Tuipuloto showed his brother's mix of power, soft hands, and the odd good kick. The intent we have been looking for for ages was there. Struggled a bit close to the line but I can live with that.

Graham also looking back, which is great, and they also made good use of VDM.

Oh and Harrison was good again (as was Hiddlestone earlier).

eventually a very comfortable win, BP, fair play.
Darcy great ball in hand but defensively not so great. Other backs all looked good as well, half backs both really good. Yet there was a sense that despite loads of good players playing well there was no coherent structure in attack. It was still hope someone does something brilliant

But from a shaky start to a comfortable win is progress indeed

[Cameo]

I thought that was great. Obviously not perfect but even in the first half they were moving the ball about well and making breaks. Currie hit some great lines and Tuipuloto showed his brother's mix of power, soft hands, and the odd good kick. The intent we have been looking for for ages was there. Struggled a bit close to the line but I can live with that.

Graham also looking back, which is great, and they also made good use of VDM.

Oh and Harrison was good again (as was Hiddlestone earlier).

eventually a very comfortable win, BP, fair play.
Darcy great ball in hand but defensively not so great. Other backs all looked good as well, half backs both really good. Yet there was a sense that despite loads of good players playing well there was no coherent structure in attack. It was still hope someone does something brilliant

But from a shaky start to a comfortable win is progress indeed

Know what you mean, but at least there was intent. A few turnovers where they immediately flung the ball wide and everyone was on the same page. I think there is something to be said for a young 10, 12, 13 combo in that regard. I think experienced players can have it ingrained within them that they need to play territory and lose sight of opportunities staring them in the face.

[BaldiePete]

Loads of changes from last weeks win. Four (Graham, Gilchrist, Price, Schoeman) are listed as being missing due to rest protocol. Otherwise, it’s good to see Paterson back, with Goosen being moved to the wing. Tuipolotu drops to the bench with the two Matts playing centre. Healey returns from A team purgatory to a place on the bench.

The Ospreys are bottom of the table but Edinburgh can be pretty dreadful away from home. If they can play like they did last week they should get the win, but that’s a big if.


Edinburgh team (to play Ospreys at Dunraven Brewery Field, Saturday 3pm kickoff): H Paterson, W Goosen, M Currie, M Scott, D van der Merwe, R Thompson, B Vellacott; B Venter, E Ashman, D Rae, M Sykes, J Hodgson, J Ritchie, H Watson, B Muncaster

Replacements: D Cherry, A Williams, P Hill, G Young, L Crosbie, C Shiel, B Healy, M Tuipulotu

Unavailable: Darcy Graham, Grant Gilchrist, Ali Price, Pierre Schoeman (all rest protocol), Mikey Jones (concussion), Javan Sebastian (shoulder), Mark Bennett (quad), Emiliano Boffelli (back), James Lang (calf), Sam Skinner (knee), Robin Hislop (knee)

[BaldiePete]

I was out this afternoon so recorded it. Absolute turgid rubbish, I gave up on it at about 55 minutes, switched off and checked the score online. Lost 22-13. I was right in my previous post, they are dreadful away from home.

[Big D]

I still maintain Edinburgh need a new coach with a remit of wielding the axe if they want to.

[BaldiePete]

I still maintain Edinburgh need a new coach with a remit of wielding the axe if they want to.

Totally agree. A couple of decent performances at home can’t hide the generally poor performances of the team.

[Big D]

Price off to Montpellier to top up his pension.

Edinburgh really have made a mess at 9. The inability to develop a 9 or significantly improve Vellacott has left them in a situation of needing a 1st choice 9 to come in. Rather than being able to rely on Shiel and Vellacott while bleeding in someone like Paterson it needs money spent on the position.

Warr and White aren't available to slim SQ pickings available.

Get rid of the coaches and give the new staff a firm remit to start trusting youth over expensive older players or middling pros who are blockers.

[septic 9]

Price off to Montpellier to top up his pension.

Edinburgh really have made a mess at 9. The inability to develop a 9 or significantly improve Vellacott has left them in a situation of needing a 1st choice 9 to come in. Rather than being able to rely on Shiel and Vellacott while bleeding in someone like Paterson it needs money spent on the position.

Warr and White aren't available to slim SQ pickings available.

Get rid of the coaches and give the new staff a firm remit to start trusting youth over expensive older players or middling pros who are blockers.

they will raid Glasgow. Its the Edinburgh/SRU way. The easy cheap quick fix

[BaldiePete]

Club centurion Damien Hoyland has returned to the club short-term, with the back-three player available for selection in the team's upcoming fixtures.

Hoyland rejoined the squad earlier today as preparations continue for next Saturday's URC clash with Benetton.

I suppose just about everyone else must be either injured or on a compulsory break after international duty. What has he been doing since he left and is he fit? I think I’d rather see an academy player get a chance than bringing back a player who was let go just a few months ago.

[BaldiePete]

Injury update. Skinner being back is good. He might not be the best at international level but he’s a good club player. Harry Patterson having no luck with injuries. Same for Boffelli. I suspect we may not see him again.

Edinburgh Rugby has issued the following squad update ahead of Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship Round 7 match-up with Benetton at Hive Stadium.

Edinburgh Rugby has welcomed those Scotland internationalists involved in Sunday’s Autumn Test victory over Australia back into training from today (Tuesday 26 November).
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.

[BaldiePete]

Connor Boyle out for at least 10 months with ACL injury. That’s a shame for the lad. Hopefully Edinburgh can use this to give Freddy Douglas some game time.

[BaldiePete]

On paper a decent team for the Benetton match tomorrow but that’s usually the case and they still fuck things up. Let’s see how they go. Good to see Douglas on the bench.


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.

[septic 9]

On paper a decent team for the Benetton match tomorrow but that’s usually the case and they still fuck things up. Let’s see how they go. Good to see Douglas on the bench.


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.

last night Glasgow rested most of their pack ,read for the Champions Cup over the next 2 weeks.
Edinburgh have really gone all in for this match, focusing on their League position and will have to rest Scotland players for the diddy cup
Benneton have done much the same as Glasgow (resting Italy players wholesale), so no excuse for not getting a BP win for Edin tonight. None

[BaldiePete]

Five tries and 35-0 up at half time against a poor Benetton side. Not even Edinburgh can fuck it up in the second half?

[BaldiePete]

Of course they can. Two tries conceded in the first seven minutes of the 2nd half.

[BaldiePete]

They definitely can. 40-33 after 70 minutes.

[BaldiePete]

Final score 50-33 to Edinburgh. I know the wind was horrific but fucking hell. We had a strong team out and they were under strength, we should be better than that. Such terrible defending near the line can’t be acceptable.

[Cameo]

Sounds like Ritchie and the wingers were good. Anyone else stand out? How did Douglas get on in his 15 mins?

[BaldiePete]

Darcy did Darcy things without scoring a try himself. Made Price’s try with a typical low to the ground side-stepping run and almost got one himself at the end with a similar run. Duhan did Duhan things, scored a good try running down the line but should have got another after he broke out from our 22, passed to Goosen but failed to catch the return pass which was in front of him. His support line was probably a bit too far from Goosen and it was VERY windy which might have taken the ball away from him. Douglas definitely looked like a real prospect, he got a turnover almost as soon as he came on (then gave away a penalty at a breakdown).

In the first half the whole back row looked great but when we were under the pump in the second half Bradbury went missing I thought. It was right to replace him and give Douglas a shot.

I know it was blowing a hoolie down the pitch (we had a goal line dropout which failed to reach the 22), making it a game of two halves but Edinburgh are so inconsistent and flaky when things start to go wrong. To their credit, they did pull it out in the end but it was touch and go after 70 minutes.

[septic 9]

typical Edinburgh I'm afraid

Ran into a huge lead by HT, mainly thanks to half backs really controlling the flow and a very disjointed Benneton 2nd string.
2nd half was the typical bit and Baldie Pete's in match comments spot on! Edinburgh can easily take their foot off the gas and lose from any sort of commanding lead, and did their best last night to repeat that.

Yes Bradbury apart from scoring was anonymous - scoring against a close in defence that would set the example for Edinburgh 2nd half. I am not getting the media love in for Gilchrist, Richie and Schoeman - like Ashman I felt they all sat back after HT. And of course once Benneton got a head of steam up its always difficult to shift back momentum

Positives - really though Price and Thomson worked well. Tuipolotu is definitely his big brother's wee brother, good and more to come from him. Wings ok in attack, suspect in defence. Currie did some good stuff but always seems vulnerable. The pack is for me still a problem. Backs stopped functioning when the pack stopped delivering. The wind was a factor but nowhere near the main one - the main one was players resting on their laurels. Now was it the usual Edinburgh weakness of complacency, or did the big names just not have the stamina for another game this week and should have been rested? Bit of both and Sykes attempts to defend the try line were really poor

I know it sounds harsh after scoring 50pts, but unless their is similar feedback and action, Edinburgh will be more likely to ship 50 than score it from here on in. This was same old same old

[BaldiePete]

Everitt must have decided to prioritise the league given his selections since the end of the international window. Played them all last week and now they’re rested for the diddy cup game against Gloucester. On the plus side, Skinner is back and Douglas gets a start. I predict a gubbing.


W Goosen; R McCann, M Currie, M Tuipulotu, N Sweeney; R Thompson, B Vellacott ©; B Venter, P Harrison, P Hill, M Sykes, S Skinner, T Dodd, F Douglas, M Bradbury. Subs: D Cherry, M Jones, D Rae, R Carmichael, L McConnell, C Shiel, B Healy, J Lang.

Unavailable: D Graham, D van der Merwe, A Price, P Schoeman, E Ashman, G Gilchrist, J Ritchie (rest protocol), B Muncaster (illness), M Bennett (quad), E Boffelli (back), C Boyle (knee), L Crosbie (calf), R Hislop (calf), H Paterson (hamstring), G Young (calf).

[Cameo]

I don't actually think that looks like too bad a team. Yes, some inexperience but the spine (front five, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15) is pretty well established.

And obviously Douglas starting means we can't lose. Big game too for Sweeney, can he show he's good enough to play him rather than moving others out if position?

[switchskier]

I also don't hate the team and approach. The current first choice are playing in such an uninspiring manner that this doesn't feel like a big downgrade. At the very least it's a chance for a few to out their hand up for more regular game time. Hopefully if they play well then a few stay in contention for more regular time and competition starts to rise.