The Club Scene
Edinburgh (9th in the Magners League) have put in some decent performances against the better teams in the league (Munster, Cardiff, Leinster), but have lost most of those games anyway. They barely beat Aironi in Italy, but that was forgivable given the Italians' status as unknowns. Talk of the capital side finishing near the bottom of the league seems premature then, especially considering the Burgh are notoriously inconsistent at the best of times. The loss of Phil Godman, while a godsend for Scotland, means that the Blair Brothers Variety Show is now forced to become the headline act. Alex B remains mainly an asset for use in future years, leaving David as the only real option at 10. He hasn't proved strong enough so far, but maybe he'll grow into it. Tim Visser has been ace, and I am counting down the days until he is eligible for the national side. Other than him though, the backs aren't that threatening (the centres are far too same-y). The pack has been not bad though, and will improve. Ross Rennie coming back will be great provided he doesn't succumb to yet more injury.
As for Glasgow (10th in the league), their indifferent start can be ignored due to the number of absentees in their squad. While their form does suggest that perhaps team depth isn't what it could be, at the end of the day any team coming to terms with it's top 10 and blindside leaving while being without their starting international captain, scrumhalf, tighthead and number 8 could be in a better position. When, respectively, Kellock, Cusiter, Low, and Beattie return this team can get back to playing the style it wants to. The new additions (Aramburu, Pyrgos, Ryder, O'Toole etc) seem to be not bad as depth. Playing as starters though, they did manage to lose badly to Newport away and then to Connacht at Firhill. With a bit more experience though, they were able to beat Newport in the Heineken Cup last night (while the rest of Scotland were somewhat preoccupied by events in Prague). Provided the injured lads get back quickly, the Warriors should climb the table in the next few months. As long as Duncan Weir and Rhuiridh Jackson don't both cock up at the same time that is.
The National Side
Not much to report in this edition, as the Autumn Tests are yet to arrive. We can be happy that some of the New Zealanders have pulled out of their squad, and that the current South Africans couldn't beat up on an anti-apartheid protester, let alone a decent international side with home advantage.
I'd assume Coach Robinson has no issues with playing Kelly Brown now that he's down in England (he doesn't with Strokosch anyway), so two of the three Killer B's should be present in the backrow. It'll be interesting whether Roddy Grant gets a shot at playing 8, or if the more likely candidate Richie Vernon is first choice. Euan Murray is back in the squad as is Jason White (as far as I'm aware), so I wonder who will play second row; Hines is a shoo-in, but who of Scott MacLeod, Richie Grey and White do you trust against two of the worlds top teams?
Dan the Man Parks now cannot get injured as there is no longer the admittedly useless body of Godman to fill in. Mike Blair has a shot at becoming starting 9 again (he is still joint captain after all), but Rory Lawson's previous form suggests he'd probably be a better choice. In an occcurance rarer than Haley's Comet, both the Lamont brothers are fit and healthy. I hope they both start, and survive to start again.
Finally, a quick shout out goes to the Scotland 7's side, featuring fellow Glasgow Hawk Mike Adamson, currently preparing for their opening games in Dehli.
Lad Awards for September
Most Laddish Forward: Ross Rennie for coming back from injury once again, in spite of now possessing no working knee ligaments.
Most 'Laddish' (NB: backs cannot be true Lads) Back: Graeme Morrison, for not screwing up a brilliant attacking move at any point so far.
Phil Godman Award for Uselessness: Esteban Lozada, for concussing himself after about 3 minutes for no real reason, delaying the game for 20 minutes and forcing us to watch Craig Hamilton thereafter.
LAD of the Month: The Try-tastic Tim Visser (below. Picture taken immediately after kick to testicles).
GM (with thanks the the great Bill McLaren for providing the title)
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