honestly united

Although SA pick players from Europe it tends to be first choice home grown, then overseas to fill gaps

I think Scotland, Italy and Ireland are the only tier 1 countries that don't have some sort of requirements in players to play in their own league.

Ignore my link, doesn't seem to working - thought it would as I watched the other Russian match last week

Anyone interested in watching the Embra game seemingly like on youtube here

Another 2 names being banded about are vellacot from Gloucester and Steele from London Irish, both dual qualified with England I believe. Not sure if either have played any age grade rugby or interested in playing for us.

Didn't watch much of the Lions as it was a farce of a tour, just caught up as i heard someone from NZ mention it in terms of Laidlaw's injured / Scotland need a 9 / they will probably see who they can get from NZ.

hadnt realised we had a Scottish scrum half playing for the Chiefs in Super rugby https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finlay_Christie

I agree with your thinking in terms of if we had a lead Laidlaw would be ideal to come on to control the game and look after it, however not so great if we are playing catch up. Agree not sure who is best option for the bench, I would guess pyrgos but he hasn't been great either, not sure about SHC either. If Horne jr had had a bit more game time I would have gone with him.

Dependant on where the SA teams finish a 5th place finish in your conference will see you entering the play off for the last Euro space, Embra should be aiming for that as a minimum. Gutted Barclay is out, (Laidlaw not so much), will be interesting to see what Townsends first squad looks like.

Only saw the extended highlights on BT Sport of the Glasgow game so maybe missed some important points, but in general, the plus points were the forwards, and specifically the scrum seemed to hold up quite well against Exeter. Having seen them destroy some of the packs of the top english teams I was expecting a hammering up front, but we coped well. The negatives were our game management, we kicked too much in the attacking half (granted our 2 tries came from kicks) and a lot of the kicks were poor, when we could have done with holding on to the ball for a but, but conversely we didn't kick enough when we were in our own 22, far too often trying to run it out. I know thats what to expect with a player like Russell but someone should be having a word with him during the game, as there is a time and a place for it.

Sat through an hour of the new Mummy, with Tom Cruise, utter drivel, with extra nonsense of Russell Crowe supposed to be Dr Jekyll. Didnt watch the end as it was that bad, when the effects are worse than the 1990's versions you know something is wrong

Either that or Allan has pissed him of big time

Fear the walking dead starts as the outbreak begins, and they are now maybe a few months after (6 months max, more likely 2 or 3 months), Walking Dead starts with Rick having been in a coma and walking up with the outbreak in full effect, so likely about a month in at most. Given Judith is now a toddler that makes it about 2 years post outbreak at least. My thinking would be that given the current location of around the US border in Tijuana and further east into the dessert for Fear the walking dead, its not that far to Texas and it might play into the start of Eugene's back story

Glad we got the extra day recovery, will be interesting to see the team for Exeter to see who gets rested.

For me the French travel well if they are still in with a chance of qualifying, so if they have picked up points first 2 games will be a threat, and given their front row I think will be the toughest challenge, but if they have lost the first 2 it will be pretty much there reserves. Agreed you need to win all 3 home games, and you probably need at least 1 win on the road, as well as a good amount of BP's to progress. Since the move to 5 pools, the lowest points as best 2nd place to go through was 16 (3 wins, 2 tries and 2 losing bp's), but average is closer to 18 or 19 points being required to get through to quarters. Just having looked at the current tables and based on form the group we would have wanted was Wasp, Racing and Ospreays with the hardest on current form being either Scarlets or Exeter from the first seeds, from the 2nd seeds Toloun or Saracens but not much difference with Leinster and La Rochelle, 3rd seeds of Ulster or Montpellier but again not much above Bath and Leicester so in reality only Wasps, Clermont, Racing and Ospreays having a losing record to date.

Just as preview of the Champions Cup, I thought a run down of the opposition was in order, and how they are performing in their leagues. Glasgow come in as 4th seeds, taking 6th place in the Pro12 last season, however have the best form of anyone in Europe having won all 6 games this year, and come in on the back of a hard fought game against the Cheetahs in South Africa. First up we have Exeter away top seeds as Premiership Champions last season, currently sitting 2nd in the English Premiership, after 6 games they have won 4 and lost 2 winning this weekend 34-24 against Newcastle. We need to pick up points here as a good start is vital in Europe, obviously a win is preferable but if we could get 2 bonus points (4 tries and losing BP) We follow that up with a home tie vs Leinster, who finished 2nd and lost in the semi finals in last years Pro12. Currently 3rd in Pool B of the Pro14 (on BP and points dif) as one of 3 teams with a 5-1 record. A home win here is vital, doubley so as we play them again in the league on the 3rd nov, (Sandwiching the home game vs the Kings) and a win in Europe could give us the psychological boost as we would be looking for 8 out of 8 in the league. The double header against Montpellier follows in December after the autumn internationals, they are currently 2nd in the Top14 with a won 5 lost 2 record, they finished 3rd last season, but lost out in the quarter finals. Depending on how they fair in the first couple of games this could be the toughest game as they have a fantastic squad, including the SA’s Du Plessis (x3), Ruan Pienaar (ex Ulster) and Francois Steyn, All Black Aaron Cruden, plus Jesse Mogg, Nadolo with assorted other Fijians and a couple of Georgians in the pack, plus the French internationals Picamoles, Oudrago. To sum up we couldn't have had a much worse group (when you say Leinster is the easiest match you know its tough), but no reason we cant reach the quarters again.

Does the hard work work well at ruck and maul rather than the showy stuff

Very impressed by the Cheetah's, considering they are going to get their internationals back us add in players from the Currie Cup and they will be there or there abouts at the end of the season. Again Glasgow struggling in the set peice, which is a worry. Scrums are a strange one as we can shift teams about at mails with no problem and are usually dominant in the forwards so its down to technique or coaching. Line outs it throwing, so again technique. Don't know if there is any scope to get a specialist coach in or not. Great win though and 6 from 6 is s great start. Gribbens best player on the park I thought, Harley excellent when he came on, and Matawalue a game changer as always

When you look at the backs and think of the players not starting you could have Horne/Matawalu, Hastings/Thompson, Masinga, Dunbar, Jones, Hughes/Jones, Hogg and it would be just as exciting!

I think thats about as strong a Glasgow team as we can put out given the injuries, which is about a full team of players out at the moment

Shipping from Gearbest on my latest order has been a nightmare - seemingly posted out end of August and been stuck in customs for 4 weeks! Aye right, more like not even shipped yet

As it's at Scotstoun is it not our / SRU responsibility to have cameras their?

I just assumed as when Jones got injured in March it said he would not be back in training for 5 months with a hamstring tear he was still out. Good he is backing playing, would be better if it was in a Glasgow jersey rather than WP.

Hopefully Dunbar is back in time for the November internationals. When are Huw Jones and Bennett back from injury? If all 3 are out Taylor and Grigg would be an interesting combination with Horne back up but after that we would be short on centres As an aside, does anyone know when Thompson joins us from SA? He looked good while on loan last year, coming straight into the side and fitting in well, also bonus of apparently being Scotland qualified

Took a bit of getting used to Terrarium, the ads are only annoying at the end, but a small price to pay as I think it is better than exodus so far and I like having the option to either download or play. I think I have been using it more, as Kodi has annoyed me recently (and probably because i am still on 16, due to only having Android 4.4 on my box) but the last few weeks I have really struggled trying to get live sports, (dont have any paid / mania hd etc), so has got to the point im not even switching Kodi on just going straight to Terrarium for TV and movies