come on shire

That's what I thought till I saw the team that Scarlets are sending up.

I agree with you about doing both. In rugby you can fight on 2 fronts. It's not like football where Europe's played mid-week and because of rest protocols it's easier on the players (though some may disagree as player welfare is a hot topic atm). I hear you completely about having breathing room, but any team worth their salt really has to front up and win their home games. Especially since the other teams in our conference will probably get BP wins over the Southern Kings and Glasgow play Leinster away this season which will obviously be tough. Also, we're in Treviso just after the bells and still need to go to Parma at the start of March. The Italian teams aren't a guaranteed win anymore away from home. That makes our home game vs Scarlets huge.

I've navigated around the Haymarket queue. I've never missed a Scotland home game at Murrayfield since 2012 but I've always had the minimum of fuss. Heading back I take the tram from Murrafield into St. Andrew's Square which serves Edinburgh Waverley. The trams are fairly regular so the queue goes down quicker. Then, I can get on at Waverley station which means I've got a seat when the masses get on at Haymarket. However, the worst experience I've had was on a rare occasion I go to a Scotland football game. This was vs Wales at Hampden just a few years ago. The queue to Mount Florida wound down alllll the way to the bottom of the hill where the entrance to the Hampden complex is! Almost missed my final connecting train! Whilst seeing Scotland win at football is nice I guess, it's just a wee night out for me and not worth missing my last train over. I've been to only 3 other Scotland football games and just took the car. Far easier...

Oaft! Two furious gentlemen! I heard about the Uphall station-gate scandal though. It's like a mistake one of the characters in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends would make.

Europe is very important. We have the upper hand as Lyon have already lost 2. If we can snatch a win in France then expect a 2nd string Lyon side visiting Scotstoun. However, the Pro14 is still the "bread and butter" which makes the Scarlets game massive. The Kings game was an example of what happens when you turn up just expecting 5 points.

It's an important game for us but we're at home which helps. I just hope we can front up. This is where losing the last second penalty at Munster and the horror show at the Southern Kings may catch up with us. Unlucky not to snatch the win. Our full back found a gap with just a few mins left. I thought she had made it.

Scarlets visit Scotstoun this Saturday. Since the Autumn Tests have just finished I'm hoping that the Scarlets rest their warlords. If they do I'm hopeful of a win.

Watching Glasgow on Fri night was like poetry. They had a similar team to us regarding absentees but they just couldn't live with us. We'll need to be better for the Scarlets game but just a week on from the autumn tests they'll be resting a few players I think (I hope). After all, the Welsh backline is basically Scarlets. Scotland weren't great but we got the job done in poor weather vs a team who loves an arm wrestle. Our defence was excellent imo. The Pumas are on a losing streak but still beat SA at home then Oz away at the end of summer. Barring 2, all of the Pumas squad play for the Jaguares Super Rugby team so they'll know each other inside out.

We've got a decent team for tomorrow night but it's going to be tricky. If you have FB check out Cardiff Blues official page. The likes of Aled Summerhill, Tomos Williams, Nick Williams and Halaholo are all starting.

I'd describe the Scotland game on Saturday as a "must win". Happy with the showing vs SA but naturally disappointed with the narrow defeat so recovery and a win before the 6N is vital imo. Finn CAN play centre maybe to cover a sin-bin or subs but that apart he's an out and out 10 imo. A bit too experimental for me... The bread and butter of the Glasgow game first though. Ireland's John Lacey is the ref on Fri night...

Cheers bud

Taken on board. Thanks for the info. Also, an odd question but do any of the pubs that show sports in the area happen to show Premier Sports? Ta muchly

If you look on the Springboks FB page you'll see their team. Whilst I can see that they're starting WC experiments since the Rugby Championship is over, they're clearly treating this game with respect.

As a Shire fan I'm heading to Bonnyrigg for the South Challenge cup game. Never been to your ground before so looking forward to visiting and meeting all the Rose fans. The gf and myself are going to Lasswade next door to check out the butterfly farm before the game.

Sad to see Hogg go but rugby's a short career and he'll want to get a new challenge whilst he's still at his peak. Hopefully with Hoggy no longer on the payroll that allows us to bring in a nice marquee signing... As for the game we were made to work hard in the 1st half but we turned on the style in the 2nd half. Fiji's shocking discipline helped us tbh. The line out lads need beasted this week though. We lost a line out in our own 22 and Fiji got a try straight from it. Unforgivable coach killer that the Springboks will exploit.

I think we will beat SA by 7 tbh. Just fancy us at Murrayfield The guy next to me at Murrayfield says the same thing. I'm not sure why people are thinking that we're in for an easy day at the office vs the Boks. We COULD win but it'll be very tough imo.

I didn't think a player stood out as such but the team as a whole put in an incredible shift. We made life difficult in the 1st half but we worked hard to half-time which was pleasing. 2nd half we turned on the style till Fiji couldn't live with us. However their discipline was all over the place which helped. Stuff to work on though. Bill Mata's try came about when we lost our own line-out in our 22. Our defence will need to be tighter next week if we have any hope of beating SA.

Nakarawa and Bill Mata will be their dangermen in the pack and I'm a bit unsure about our forward pack there tbh. In the backs Ben Volavola needs to be watched. We have backs that can beat the best if they play well but my question is if our forward pack can compete with Fiji at the breakdown. The Scottish Rugby forum on FB is an interesting place as everyone thinks that a lot of our big players are being rested for the Springboks. I think we're taking Fiji too lightly tbh. In June last year we were beaten by Fiji (albeit away from home) and, even though 7's is their forte, they use that platform to show that they're the quickest team in the world. If we allow them gaps to turn on the gas we'll have major problems... Fun fact: Ben Volavola goes out with the Hollywood actress Shailene Woodley. They met when she was in Fiji filming Adrift. She's also been in The Descendants with George Clooney...

That day will be good. The thought of seeing Callum Gibbins in a Scotland shirt one day though is a delightful one.

I decided against jumping in the Union canal last night I'm pleased to say but that was absolutely gutting. On the other hand we took a depleted squad away to Munster's strongest team and got 2 points and starved them of a winning BP. These could be 2 massive points in the context of our season. Also when Munster came to us we won despite not getting a BP and starved them of any points. I'd say we've won the head-to-head battle. Ospreys away won't be easy but they'll be quite depleted aswell so we really need to get back to winning ways on Fri night.

I was out for the Glasgow game straight after the football then went to catch a movie afterwards so didn't check the fans forum till very late last night. Certain topics were growing arms and legs.

The Munster team looks frightening. The IRFU have been generous as they're obviously keen for the Irish sides to win their home league games. I hope we've packed the white flag in the plane's hold luggage.

Ah ok. It'll be an opportunity to get on track domestically though as I'm not hopeful about getting much at Thomond Park this Sat.

I'm sure there's a round of fixtures mid-November. At least Cardiff visit Scotstoun.

Fine Edinburgh win yesterday but Toulon were howling. Their league position in the Top14 shows that. Edinburgh are capable of beating the Falcons home and away but it'll be no gimme going by their win in France and last gasp win vs Montpellier. Glasgow's display was poetry and bounced back well from last weekend. Hopefully Sarries get 1st wrapped up asap and we can focus on a best 2nd place. We're capable of beating Lyon home and away (preferably with all 10 points). They've lost twice so might just rest players.