Jmothecat2 Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 The rivalry between the towns down there is quite big isn't it? Supporting a team based in one of those towns must have not say well with a fair few I imagine. Supporting a team with a lot of heritage and local pride is probably more meaningful, even if it's at a worse level than supporting a new regional team I guess. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topcat(The most tip top) Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 They would rather support their local club side and there were squabbles about which venue they'd use etc. is my recollection. It’s not just allegiances to local club sides. Border towns had already been holding grudges against each other for centuries before Rugby existed It was always going to be tough to sell a team in Gala to people from Hawick. That said the number of Borders teams playing top level club rugby at the end of the amateur era also meant that there was more resistance to the effective downgrading of top clubs to a level below the new “Superteams”There was a similar, but lesser, problem in Edinburgh as well. Of the 25 official championships up to 1998 Stirling County’s 1995 win was the one time the title left the jurisdiction of Lothian and Borders Constabulary. The big teams in the capital didn’t like the idea of being eclipsed but at least the new teams location wasn’t going to alienate people. Although personally I thought Easter Road was a shit idea from the start On the other hand Glaswegian Rugby had little to lose in the collapse of the old amateur order . None of the clubs in the West had been serious powers at national level for years so the idea of ripping up the old order getting behind a new professional side and for that matter merging GHK with Glasgow Accies was far less controversial. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 It’s not just allegiances to local club sides. Border towns had already been holding grudges against each other for centuries before Rugby existed It was always going to be tough to sell a team in Gala to people from Hawick. That said the number of Borders teams playing top level club rugby at the end of the amateur era also meant that there was more resistance to the effective downgrading of top clubs to a level below the new “Superteams”There was a similar, but lesser, problem in Edinburgh as well. Of the 25 official championships up to 1998 Stirling County’s 1995 win was the one time the title left the jurisdiction of Lothian and Borders Constabulary. The big teams in the capital didn’t like the idea of being eclipsed but at least the new teams location wasn’t going to alienate people. Although personally I thought Easter Road was a shit idea from the start On the other hand Glaswegian Rugby had little to lose in the collapse of the old amateur order . None of the clubs in the West had been serious powers at national level for years so the idea of ripping up the old order getting behind a new professional side and for that matter merging GHK with Glasgow Accies was far less controversial. Good post.I thought West of Scotland were fairly handy at one point re title wins? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topcat(The most tip top) Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, John Lambies Doos said: Good post. I thought West of Scotland were fairly handy at one point re title wins? Yes but not according to the SU Youre going all the way back to the “Unofficial championship” there. The SRU, progressive as ever, didn’t come around to the idea of a national league structure till 1972 When professionalism arrived the unofficial championship was already more historically distant than the amateur era is now Edited February 19, 2018 by topcat(The most tip top) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 9 hours ago, topcat(The most tip top) said: It’s not just allegiances to local club sides. Border towns had already been holding grudges against each other for centuries before Rugby existed It was always going to be tough to sell a team in Gala to people from Hawick. That said the number of Borders teams playing top level club rugby at the end of the amateur era also meant that there was more resistance to the effective downgrading of top clubs to a level below the new “Superteams” There was a similar, but lesser, problem in Edinburgh as well. Of the 25 official championships up to 1998 Stirling County’s 1995 win was the one time the title left the jurisdiction of Lothian and Borders Constabulary. The big teams in the capital didn’t like the idea of being eclipsed but at least the new teams location wasn’t going to alienate people. Although personally I thought Easter Road was a shit idea from the start On the other hand Glaswegian Rugby had little to lose in the collapse of the old amateur order . None of the clubs in the West had been serious powers at national level for years so the idea of ripping up the old order getting behind a new professional side and for that matter merging GHK with Glasgow Accies was far less controversial. Would a "third Pro team" if created, suffer similar problems still or have lessons been learned in how to sell a "third Pro team"? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topcat(The most tip top) Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 15 minutes ago, Doonhamer doon south said: Would a "third Pro team" if created, suffer similar problems still or have lessons been learned in how to sell a "third Pro team"? We won't know if lessons have been learned until someone tries. After two decades the top clubs have probably accepted that they're no longer the pinnacle of the game in Scotland but I reckon it's going to take far longer for regional pride to displace civic pride in the borders towns. There's probably some proper Borderers on this thread who could paint a more accurate picture. It might make more sense to put a 3rd team in Aberdeen or Dundee 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonhamer doon south Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 4 minutes ago, topcat(The most tip top) said: We won't know if lessons have been learned until someone tries. After two decades the top clubs have probably accepted that they're no longer the pinnacle of the game in Scotland but I reckon it's going to take far longer for regional pride to displace civic pride in the borders towns. There's probably some proper Borderers on this thread who could paint a more accurate picture. It might make more sense to put a 3rd team in Aberdeen or Dundee My non educated guess would be that Aberdeen fc build their new stadium and move into that which frees up Pittodrie as a potential base for Caley Reds/3rdteam. I personally see the borders as the breeding ground of potential top level players that are then cherry picked by Glasgow and Edinburgh. I cant see SRU attempting another pro team in the Borders giving the historical issues been highlighted on here. Just to add seen on bbc sport scotland gossip this morning that the SRU are looking at a 20% share in Newcastle Falcons. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 There was talk a few weeks ago of SRU buying Worcester also 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Edinburgh announce that they will play the remainder of their home games at Murrayfield 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Edinburgh announce that they will play the remainder of their home games at Murrayfield Are they hoping for big crowds? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honestly united Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 This is a strange one, didn't the SRU pay for temporary stands to be in place for the next few years? Has there been some sort of falling out? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 30 minutes ago, John Lambies Doos said: 1 hour ago, ajwffc said: Edinburgh announce that they will play the remainder of their home games at Murrayfield Are they hoping for big crowds? 28 minutes ago, honestly united said: This is a strange one, didn't the SRU pay for temporary stands to be in place for the next few years? Has there been some sort of falling out? From what i can see online the fans don't like Myreside and mention of complainants from the players about the pitch. There was talk of the temporary stands getting moved to one of the back pitches at Murrayfield 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
come on shire Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Well that was a fantastic result for Edinburgh on Friday night. If I'm being honest Ulster are in a bit of a poor place atm but you can only play what's in front of you and Edinburgh took advantage. It doesn't appear to be entertaining rugby but remember that they're managed by Richard Cockerill-saurus. Nothing fancy but far tougher. If you want to beat Edinburgh just now then you'll have to go through a brick wall to do it. Delighted with the Glasgow game on Friday night. After the Dragons draw it was great to bounce back with a BP win. Caught out at the start with the Cheetahs pace but Niko scored a great try and Jacko's try made me think that Hogg and himself had been separated at birth. The fact that Munster had to settle for a losing BP means Glasgow are now 16 points clear with the trip over to Munster on Friday night. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lambies Doos Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Well that was a fantastic result for Edinburgh on Friday night. If I'm being honest Ulster are in a bit of a poor place atm but you can only play what's in front of you and Edinburgh took advantage. It doesn't appear to be entertaining rugby but remember that they're managed by Richard Cockerill-saurus. Nothing fancy but far tougher. If you want to beat Edinburgh just now then you'll have to go through a brick wall to do it. Delighted with the Glasgow game on Friday night. After the Dragons draw it was great to bounce back with a BP win. Caught out at the start with the Cheetahs pace but Niko scored a great try and Jacko's try made me think that Hogg and himself had been separated at birth. The fact that Munster had to settle for a losing BP means Glasgow are now 16 points clear with the trip over to Munster on Friday night. Can't disagree with much of that post however I think Edinburgh are playing very entertaining rugby; their pick and go is fantastic, Clyne is brilliant and quick at 9 and their defence decent. End of Ulster match was packed with entertainment as was leinster match. Agree that they ain't scoring Glasgow'esqe tries but their structure coupled with Glasgow bodes well for Townsend 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Matt Scott will rejoin Edinburgh at the end of the season 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Team for Saturday 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
come on shire Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Strongest team available so pleased overall. All we need is for Finn to remember his brain and we're good to go. It'll be interesting to see who starts at centre alongside Sam Johnson for Glasgow on Friday night since Grigg's with Scotland. Ruaridh Jackson isn't in the Scotland squad I can see so I reckon he'll start at 15 for Glasgow. Lee Jones was concussed during the Cheetahs game on Friday night. I'm not sure if he's injured or recovered but Toony's allowed him to stay with Glasgow... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 11 minutes ago, come on shire said: Strongest team available so pleased overall. All we need is for Finn to remember his brain and we're good to go. It'll be interesting to see who starts at centre alongside Sam Johnson for Glasgow on Friday night since Grigg's with Scotland. Ruaridh Jackson isn't in the Scotland squad I can see so I reckon he'll start at 15 for Glasgow. Lee Jones was concussed during the Cheetahs game on Friday night. I'm not sure if he's injured or recovered but Toony's allowed him to stay with Glasgow... Jones and Edinburgh's Cochrane both were returned to their clubs to complete the return to play protocalls 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajwffc Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Guinness PRO14 – Referee Appointments Round 16 Friday, February 23, 2018 Dragons v Edinburgh – KO 19:35Referee: George Clancy (IRFU, 98th competition game)AR1: Kieran Barry (IRFU). AR2: Simon Rees (WRU)TMO: Non-televised game Leinster Rugby v Southern Kings – KO 19:35 UK/21:35 SAReferee: Dan Jones (WRU, 14th competition game)AR1: Rhys Thomas (WRU). AR2: Ken Imbusch (IRFU)TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)TG4: 19:20SuperSport One: 21:30 Munster Rugby v Glasgow Warriors – KO 19:00Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 76th competition game)AR1: Andrea Piardi (FIR). AR2: Manuel Bottino (FIR)TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)Sky Sports Action: 18:45Sky Sports Action is available on Channel 407 (507 for Virgin customers) Saturday, February 24, 2018 Benetton Rugby v Connacht Rugby – KO 13:00 / 12:00 IRE/UKReferee: Lloyd Linton (SRU, 18th competition game)AR1: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell (IRFU). AR2: Oisin Quinn (IRFU)TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)Eurosport Italia: 12:55TG4: 11:55 Ospreys Rugby v Toyota Cheetahs – KO 17:30Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU, 42nd competition game)AR1: Dewi Phillips (WRU). AR2: Rob Price (WRU)TMO: Non-televised game Scarlets v Ulster Rugby – KO 19:35Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 71st competition game)AR1: Adam Jones (WRU). AR2: Elgin Williams (WRU)TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)S4C: 19:15BBC2 NI: 19:30 Sunday, February 25, 2018 Zebre v Cardiff Blues – KO 14:00 Italy / 13:00 UKReferee: Frank Murphy (IRFU, 12th competition game)AR1: Eddie Hogan-O’Connell (IRFU). AR2: Clara Munarini (FIR)TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)Eurosport Italia: 13:55 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I'd feel a lot more comfortable with Nel in the front row, and a bit more bulk at inside centre, but I reckon that aside it's as strong as Scotland could put out . 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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