If you are reading this then you know that your author has been laid low with the dreaded ‘rona. I genuinely thought I was going to get away scot free but thankfully as I write my symptoms have been mild and I’m sure a full recovery will follow.
It has given me a little time though to reflect on the happenings of the last week or so.
First up, Italy v Scotland.
The starting Edinburgh players in the team all had decent to good games. Hamish Watson and Grant Gilchrist topped the tackle stats for the match with 18 and 15 tackles respectively with Pierre Schoeman also putting in a respectable 8. The fact that Watson topped the chart on this metric says a lot about him because my gut reaction was that he had been pretty quiet.
In fairness I may just have forgotten how he goes about his business as he has played for Scotland more times this season (7 appearances) as he has for Edinburgh (4 appearances) Thank goodness that the club have a more than able deputy in the form of Connor Boyle, more of which later.
In the back line Darcy was a nuisance as always and scored a nice try. He was pretty sound defensively too.
Magnus Bradbury celebrated his new Bristol Bears contract with an appearance off the bench at the 63rd minute and interestingly in the remaining time managed to make 55 metres with the ball compared to the departing Matt Fagerson who made 8 metres in his stint.
Ben Vellacott got a faintly ridiculous 5 minutes at the end of the match and as you’d expect didn't really get to show the wider audience what we at Edinburgh have been enjoying this season. Jamie Hodgson was also given the same opportunity.
The likely scenario that now awaits Scotland is a 5th place finish. They didn't score enough points in this match to really put any pressure on Wales who will finish their campaign against Italy so know exactly what they require to do to ensure they stay 4th and if England fail to take any points against France then 3rd is not unreachable for them. Scotland can also finish 3rd but that entails beating Ireland in Dublin (assuming that Wales win) and again hoping that England fail to take any points against France.
We have shown little in this tournament to suggest that this is even remotely possible.
I predicted this finishing order prior to the start of the tournament and even had a small wager on it -
France
England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Italy
And was a little ashamed of my negativity. The likelihood is that I wasn’t negative enough.
I’ve mentioned both Connor Boyle and Magnus Bradbury in the above paragraphs. Both have recently had pen in hand signing new contracts. Boyle to stay, for the now sadly predictable unspecified period of time, and Bradbury who is leaving to take up a contract with Bristol Bears.
I am entirely comfortable with the way this has borne out. Boyle is becoming increasingly important to Edinburgh in the absence of Watson and Luke Crosbie and although he hasn’t yet been awarded the legendary status that his former clubmate Rory Darge has, he is abrasive, confrontational and impressive on both sides of the ball.
Bradbury on the other hand, as much as I like him, is perhaps more disposable. Edinburgh have a decent roster of 8’s to pick from. Mata, Kunavula, Muncaster and throw into that mix Sam Skinner who will arrive in the summer. There was rumour that BBM would be moving on but in the wake of the Bradbury announcement figures within the club were quick to point out that Bill had only signed a new contract, described as long term, in the last year.
He has been excellent this season, much more consistent than in previous years but his game is more limited than say Muncaster’s is. Does anyone think that Bradbury would have made that pass to Kinghorn after the break he made against Connacht recently?
He is an Edinburgh centurion and will be remembered fondly but this is the right move for him and the club in my humble opinion.
Whilst we Edinburgh fans have continued to bask in the defeat of Connacht and been distracted by Scotland's efforts in Rome the URC has continued. Of almost immediate interest to Edinburgh fans is the fact that all the South African sides played at home last week against Northern hemisphere sides.
Bulls narrowly dispatched Munster after a late comeback by the Irish province. Lions dispatched Cardiff, Sharks beat Scarlets and Stormers hit Zebre for a half century.
This is notable on a couple of levels. This is the first time the saffer sides have faced European opposition at home in the league and at the first time of asking they have recorded a 100% success rate.
You could argue that these were European sides without 6N players but this is still impressive.
They all have 7 games to play before the playoffs. 6 of those are at home and 5 are against European opposition. If that form can be carried on the table might look a little different in a few weeks.
Of course Edinburgh are due to fly out to face Sharks and Lions in a couple of weeks and I expect our squad to still be short of the majority of its Scots international contingent.
Before that though there is the small matter of the first leg of the 1872 cup. This week's game is at Scotstoun.
If this wasn’t a derby match I’d be twice as confident as I actually am. Edinburgh seem to have harnessed some cohesion that was missing in the 3 losses we sustained prior to the stunning win against Connacht and the likes of Henry Immelman, Glenn Young and Adam McBurney are really starting to find their best form for the club. Whilst Glasgow, despite being 4th and above Edinburgh in the league table seem to have lost their way a little which some Glasgow supporters of my acquaintance have acknowledged.
If Edinburgh are to play the game that is most likely to secure the win over little brother then a halfback pairing of Vellacott/Kinghorn is required. Without them the game will be much tighter.
With BV/BK - Edinburgh by 14
Without - Edinburgh by 1
I have a ticket and hope to be there lurgy permitting.. If i'm right buy me a lager to celebrate if i'm wrong then make it a bitter.
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