come on shire

Alex Dunbar's injury woes continue. He's out of the summer tests and has been replaced by Mark Bennett.

Anybody have any idea where the Stirling Uni will ply their home games next season?

Danny's the brother of Scotland internationalist and Glasgow Warriors back row stalwart Adam. Making this statement so soon after Sam Hidalgo-Clyne's cousin signs for the Shire lol. I'm going to be unbearable next season lol

I done it at home just now

Shire announce another 2 signings. Paul McCafferty and Danny Ashe both from Stirling Uni.

Edinburgh's a posh city anyway. It's like a library.

Potentially a good signing but when he starts at the Shire he better not talk about rugby all the time since his cousin is the Scotland internationalist and Edinburgh (soon to become Scarlets) player Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. I mean that's my job lolol

On the train home. Even though we were at home we were up against the reigning champs and European Cup semi-finalists. So we were never going to win since we were too disorganised and made too many basic errors. Also, their tries were too easy. Too many missed tackles never mind needing to be more violent defensively. Our boys need a rest and a proper recuperation after the Scotland games. Sad to see John Barclay get injured but he was being rested over summer anyway. It's not all negative I guess. Winning the conference didn't help in the sense that we looked like a team who hadn't played in about a fortnight. Scarlets played last weekend. Despite Europe being poor, this was meant to be a 'transitional' season so reaching a home s/f maybe isn't terrible. Finally, the final's at Celtic Park next year so a home final is a massive carrot.

At least the UK avoided the wooden spoon. Decent song but politics doesn't help. I remember waking up when the Brexit result was announced. The first thing I thought was "we're fecked for Eurovision".

Scott Lawson to retire at the end of the season.

Scotland to play home and away vs France and home and away vs Georgia in late summer next year. Prep for the world cup so they'll just be played as experiment matches as usual I'd think.

In Alberta. Mind your grizzly bear spray.

Yep. Teddy Thomas is the new Serge Blanco but I think he'll struggle to get much ball over there tbh.

Overall I'm happy with the summer squad but a few question marks and talking points. Great to see your J. Gray, Finn, Tommy etc rested after a tough season and, unless it's a 3 test tour vs same opposition, summer games are more experimental. Harris and McGuigan have been fleeting so Toony offers them another chance I suppose so hopefully they take it. Ali's getting a bit of stick for recent displays but knows he's competing with a 9 from a revived Edinburgh team and Glasgow's other 9 who got Young AND POTY. So he needs to perform. Seeing what Adam Hastings can do is massively important too. We need competition for Finn Russell. It's not just that Pete Horne is more of a centre, but to improve performance consistency at 10. On paper, the hardest game SHOULD be Argentina, but DTH is Canada's top try scorer but having Glasgow players in the Scotland team should offer tactics. Elsewhere, SA and Oz are in a bit of a soap opera atm but traditionally strong at home. However, Ireland have just won a grand slam and Eddie Jones will want to get his ego back on track respectively, so 6 tasty test matches there. The French are honking away from home traditionally so why they've booked 3 tests away to NZ is a riddle...

Sound points and too many derbies can get boring but still barely farting space when you throw in Europe on top of the internationals. Then again, fewer international test matches may be an option. E.g. the Wales away game in the autumn to raise funds for MND is a great idea and cause but hopefully it'll be a fringe team with the main players rested for the home games.

In the next few seasons the SA Super Rugby sides are rumoured to be joining the Pro14. Starting with the Natal Sharks I believe. The Jo'burg Lions are also rumoured. This is on top of rumours of North American and European sides. We really need to think about one league but with promotion and relegation now...

Hard lines Edinburgh. Never easy playing away to Munster. I feel bad for saying this but Cockers has come across as a smug git these last few weeks and even said that "if we're close with Munster with 20 mins to go then we'll win". I can't say that I'm too displeased with him falling on his own sword a bit. Overall though, Edinburgh are making real headway at the minute. Not interesting to watch but you'll have to run through a brick wall to beat them. As a Glasgow fan they beat us fair and square twice this sesason and, whilst I'm disappointed, realise that Toony will have a few nice headaches going into the June games.

I can see where you're coming from and the interesting thing is that he'll always be critiqued for his tackling (or lack of) skills lol. However, going forward he was lethal with ball in hand and we could miss that. However, we will need heavy units that can put in tackles on quick opponents when Nakarawa and Nandolo visit with Fiji in the Autumn and Visser wouldn't be the answer there tbh...

Very surprisingly imo, Tim Visser has announced his retirement from international rugby. On his day he's still capable of doing a solid job for Scotland who was a consistent try scorer. So it's a bit of a shock tbh...

Cockerill's being at the press saying that he's looking at Glasgow to replace Hidalgo-Clyne who's off to Scarlets. He's been assessing our 9's in the media. This is on top of his words in the press saying that we were frightened and that Edinburgh will be the big team in Scotland. I'm all for having confidence and improving, Edinburgh beat us fair and square on Sat night, but I can't help but think he's an Eddie Jones mould. So he's starting to irritate me a bit coz of that. Is that just me?

I went to Murrayfield on Saturday night and, as a Scotland fan I would say the hard fought affair bodes well for the national team. However, until the end of the season I'm a Glasgow fan and I was disappointed we let the cup go down the Mordor end of the M8 in the way we did. In the 2nd half we weren't clinical enough and we were bossed too easily by their pack. I know the play-offs are more important but there was a nice bit of silver and derby pride at stake which was disappointing. Edinburgh deserved the win but ahead of the s/f Dave Rennie needs to get heads out of arses urgently! As for the extra £10 p/m for Premier Sports I'm warming to it. This is because it's a 3 year deal where they've said that the Guinness Pro14 will be the flagship sport, with every single game being screened live. 6 fixtures will be on Premier Sports with the remainder (the less sexy fixture on paper I'd think) going to its free sister channel Free Sports. They're also changing from the 1 to 2 Premier Sports channels to accommodate this in HD. I'll also mention to rugby league fans here who watch the Australian league and the English Super League that Premier Sports, I'm sure at least, show the English 2nd tier. Also, whilst BT Sport have all the Europa and Champs League footy, Premier Sports show the qualifiers.

Munster's home grounds are a bit like Scotstoun and similar places tbh, in that it's a rare day when they lose at home. Really can't see Ulster getting a BP win at Munster to be totally honest. Therefore, Edinburgh SHOULD be ok. As for the game itself, I'm going and hoping for a Warriors win to breed confidence for the home play-off and to keep the 1872 Cup away from the dark end of the M8.

The game was a bit pedestrian and always looked like one goal would win it. Still seemed to lack a consistent goal scoring option without Andy Rodgers but we looked more likely to score in the 1st half with EK looking likewise 2nd half. Obviously better to win but for what it's worth it was a beautiful day and Calderglen country park was heaving. A cracking day out tbh. If summer gives us days like this over June/July/August then I won't be complaining Btw, my top will be staying on so don't worry.

Listen mate, I agree with you. However, tribalism and sheer hatred comes first in football. A bit sad but that's the way it is bud...

I recorded the Edinburgh game to go to Shire's game at Spartans. I then found out that Scarlets were fielding a development squad due to the play-offs and Europe so didn't bother watching it. I'd imagine Leinster did likewise though that's indeed a shock.