Scottish Rugby

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

After a few weeks of feeling like Edinburgh may just have turned a corner, the match against Zebre had a strong smell of 'normal service has been resumed'.

It was so flat and while watching on TV is never going to be as intense as being in the stadium, the first half passed like I was undergoing a dental procedure.

The only thing that pierced the fog was my frustration when Zebre scrum-half Alessandro Fusco scored an almost identical second try.

Asked pre-match about the change of kick-off, Sean Everitt's response wasn't entirely convincing while a smiling Zebre assistant coach Aldo Birchall was hugely positive about getting to play instead of train.

I hope the change didn't affect the way Edinburgh played as that would point to a pretty fragile mindset.

I suspect it was more just that we don't travel well (one away win in the league all season), that thoughts were drifting to this week's Challenge Cup semi-final and the fact Zebre were playing with the freedom that comes from knowing they've had Edinburgh's number already this season.

It doesn't help that we have 17 players on the injury list and are subject to a rest protocol that doesn't seem to have any flexibility to allow for the fact we are in the closing stages of the season and every game is crucial.

We will never know if having Jamie Ritchie and Pierre Schoeman available would have made a difference but it's safe to say it wouldn't have hurt.

In the second half some leadership seemed to be re-established with Grant Gilchrist coming on. And it's entirely possible if it hadn't been for the Ben Muncaster yellow card Edinburgh might just have got over the line because, despite how poor the match had been, our match statistics suggested a dominance that wasn't visible to the naked eye.

To the team's credit they kept their heads and rescued an unlikely draw following Matt Currie's try and a wonderful kick by Cammy Scott, who had only been on the field for 10 minutes.

It means our league campaign still has some life even if we need some outside help. If we are true to form we usually follow an underwhelming performance with a great one. Look out Bath.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external

Grant Young
Fan writer

A title-defending season that promised so much is in danger of falling off the rails.

Injuries, suspensions, workload and a difficult schedule could all be reasons why Glasgow have struggled in recent games.

Defeat to a dominant Bulls side on Friday night was damaging as the South Africans moved to within a point of Franco Smith's second-place team with two games left.

Bulls travelled north with points to prove and they delivered. They took points when they were on offer and their defence stood firm.

It looks like a lot of teams have seen the success Leinster had against Glasgow and are copying that high-press blitz defence. So far, the Warriors have no answer.

The blessing for Glasgow was the two late scores, bringing a bonus point and some much-needed confidence.

For a team used to scoring with ease, it has felt in recent games a struggle for Glasgow to get the ball over the line. Is a change of approach needed? Will we see the Warriors take penalties at the post?

It is something Smith hasn't done a great deal of but as the season approaches knockout rugby, it could be the area that keeps Glasgow in games.

The worry, though, is the amount of players missing. Four players who can play at number eight - injured trio Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey and Jack Mann plus suspended Henco Venter - are out.

We saw in the past number of weeks the importance of Zander Fagerson in the scrum and his absence is massive. The Scotland international would likely be boarding a flight with the Lions this summer but could his injury end that hope?

A free weekend comes at a good time for the Warriors, who finish with away games at Bennetton and Leinster while Bulls have two home games.

Glasgow may need a favour in the fight for a top-two finish and will hope some of their main protagonists can get fit for an enthralling end of the season.

As usual on a Monday, we're giving you the chance to put your burning rugby questions about the game in Scotland to our rugby writers, Tom English and Andy Burke.

Send your questions via this link and they'll be answered on this page later on in the week.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Inconsistent Edinburgh return to toxic trait

Spare a thought for Edinburgh fans - they simply have no idea which outfit they will see week to week.

In recent weeks they have tamed the Lions, tempered the rage of the Bulls and were just nipped by the Sharks. Against Zebre, they looked a shadow of that team.

Yes, they rescued a draw but on that form, they'd have been eying up five points to put themselves in a good position for the play-offs.

Now their hopes dangle by a thread.

Scott can come up clutch

It's been a difficult season for young Cammy Scott. Stuck behind Ross Thompson and Ben Healy in the pecking order, he's yet to start and had limited outings from the bench.

This might have been the year for him to push for a starting XV place, given the underwhelming performances from the two fly-halves ahead of him, but it hasn't worked out that way.

Yet, when Scott was relied upon to try and slot a game-tying conversion from the touchline, he duly delivered.

Perhaps it is time for Sean Everitt to try him in the saddle.

Venter proves his weight in gold

Wrestling the number one jersey off Pierre Schoeman is no mean feat, but Boan Venter is testing his fellow South African at club level.

Come the next Six Nations, Venter will be able to test him internationally too as he finally qualifies on residence.

Glasgow fans know all too well how frightening the loosened prop can be from five yards out, and Edinburgh used him to devastating effect from that distance.

Tap-and-goes from penalties used to be the preserve of schoolboy rugby but they have become the go-to for many top teams. With Venter's frame and power, it's easy to see why.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland dig it out

This was a victory built on grit, determination and a whole load of heart.

On the balance of play Scotland should have lost, but every time it looked like Ireland might pull away, the Scots hung in there and found a way back.

The defensive effort was outstanding. They made an extraordinary 232 tackles compared with Ireland's 85.

The defence of their try line was colossal, holding the Irish up over the line on three occasions and producing crucial turnovers near the line on a couple of occasions just as they looked likely to concede.

It was an utter refusal to be beaten and the fact they kept their composure to engineer the chance to send Francesca McGhie over for the winning try at the last was a fitting reward for such a monumental effort.

McLachlan makes her mark

It was no surprise to see Rachel McLachlan collect the player-of-the-match award. She was immense.

She made an astonishing 29 tackles, the most of any Scotland player, and led the way in metres made (62).

McLachlan was a constant threat with ball in hand, making the hard yards and also popping up in the wide channels to great effect, most notably for her well-taken try.

Her performance typified the doggedness and spirit shown by the Scots to navigate a path through choppy waters to a dramatic victory.

Win perfect pre-World Cup boost

The defeat to Italy in round three threatened to cast a shadow over Scotland's entire Six Nations, so to end the tournament on such a high will come as a huge relief to head coach Bryan Easson.

Had they gone into the World Cup in August off the back of a campaign of one win from five, it would have been difficult to claim the Scots had any momentum to carry into the tournament.

As it is, the win over a very good Ireland side, and the nature of it, should do wonders for the confidence of the team.

Easson and the players won't get carried away. The three defeats, especially the one at the hands of the Italians, highlighted areas Scotland need to improve if they are to compete on the biggest stage of all.

That said, they will go into pre-World Cup camp in much better spirits after their heroics at the Hive on Saturday.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Samuel stands up to rampaging Bulls

On a night when the brutally physical Bulls defence suffocated much of Glasgow's attacking impetus, Alex Samuel led the charge to try and get his side on the front foot.

The big lock carried hard into the guts of the Bulls all night and with his team-mates getting smashed back in the tackle left, right and centre, he was one of the few that put some dents in the wall of South African beef.

At just 22, Samuel has a big future but it's in the here and now that Glasgow need him, with senior figures dropping like flies through injury in recent times.

He is tough and aggressive, qualities Franco Smith values highly.

Injured stars emerging from treatment room

Glasgow have looked jaded in recent weeks and the desperate injury list seems to be taking a toll.

Mercifully, some of those big hitters who have been kicking their heels on the sidelines are on the way back.

Scott Cummings made his return off the bench against the Bulls, and with Max Williamson also back in action and Samuel stepping up to the plate, the second row is starting to look well stocked once again.

Sione Tuipulotu should be back for the final regular season match away to Leinster, and Smith hopes to see Huw Jones and Jack Dempsey return sooner rather than later.

The hope is these returning stars can give Warriors renewed energy for one big final push at the business end of the season.

Uphill task to make top two

Defeat to the Bulls has left Glasgow with an uphill task to seal a top-two spot and the potential home semi-final that comes with it.

The losing bonus-point snatched at the death - which kept Glasgow in second place, a point ahead of the Bulls - could yet prove crucial, but looking at the respective run-ins for both teams, you have to think it's the South African side who are in the box seat.

They have a relatively favourable final two matches, at home to Cardiff and Dragons, while Glasgow face tough away trips to take on Benetton and Leinster.

Given Warriors' last visit to Dublin ended in a 52-0 drubbing in the Champions Cup quarter-final, it's hard to see an away win in the final round.

Whether it's in the final two regular season matches or in the play-offs, Glasgow will need to find some of the away day magic that propelled them to the URC title last season.

We asked for your views on as Glasgow Warriors suffered defeat and Edinburgh drew in their weekend of URC action.

Here's what some of you said:

Glasgow Warriors 19-26 Bulls

Ben: After Glasgow's trip to South Africa last year, I felt very deflated and went into the play-offs feeling hopeful more than anything. I probably feel a bit worse this year. The only reason to be hopeful is that our missing players come back strong, but we will likely need to go away to South Africa in a semi-final, then away to Leinster in a final - tough ask!

Alistair: Warriors didn't have a plan B to counter Bulls' impressive defence. Tactical field kicking was poor as it simply returned the advantage to Bulls. I wouldn't criticise Tom Jordan for kicking the penalty dead but I would for the decision not to take the three points. Three on the board would have kept them in the game and have had the ball returned to them. Warriors looked the fitter of the two teams but just need to make better on-field decisions. The return of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu can't come soon enough.

Anthony: It looked like a game too far for the injury-depleted Warriors squad. They struggled to break the gain line against a ferocious Bulls defence. Bulls coaching staff deserve credit for getting their tactics spot on and not allowing Warriors to play their normal, expansive attacking game. Bulls also had Johan Goosen as a very good goal kicker, while Jordan had a night to forget. Full credit to Warriors to show the heart and desire to claim an important bonus point right at the end. Worrying injuries to Kyle Rowe and Gregor Brown, but is was good to see Scott Cummings back on the field. This match was a brilliant learning curve for many of the younger squad members against a very good, physical Bulls team. Warriors have earned their two-week break before the Benetton match, which is a must win.

Bert: The Bulls scrum dominance was a major issue for Warriors. No matter how good your backs are they are going to struggle behind that weakness. While Warriors' penalty dogma of always going to the corner can be seen as positive, it surely has to be flexible for games like this where it was all about the win. The risks were fully evident when Jordan's second-half kick flew dead, scrum penalty again, and try scored from the lineout to effectively cost us nine points.

Zebre 25-25 Edinburgh

Steve: To put some perspective on Edinburgh's fairly abject draw with Zebre, there was one very depleted looking 23 versus a pretty well-stacked Italian outfit. Zebre are a different team this year but the feeling is that's another four or five points gone abegging. I have to question the nature of the squad rotation and perhaps it's a case that Europe is indeed being prioritised. We'll have to be very, very good to beat Bath, so I hope it's worth it. It has to be because the URC is effectively over unless three or four teams all do us a massive favour. Another frustrating season so far, but in our hearts we knew it was going to be.

Domenic: Edinburgh are a basket case. Inconsistent and at times appalling to watch. Quite simply successful teams beat those below them, unsuccessful ones don't. So, when do the SRU say enough is enough and clear out the hierarchy of Edinburgh Rugby from chief executive to coaching team? A £6m budget for this? Too many years of failing to reach potential, in any other walk of life you'd be shown the door.

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"It just shows the fight of this team."

An emotional Bryan Easson was full of praise for his Scotland team after finishing an up and down Six Nations campaign with a thrilling 26-19 win over Ireland in Edinburgh.

Francesca McGhie scored the decisive try late on, with Lana Skeldon, Emma Orr and Rachel Malcolm also touching down in a bonus-point success.

Scotland had been targeting three home wins this year and beat the Welsh in the tournament opener.

However, they fell to a disappointing loss to Italy in between defeats on the road against France and England.

Ireland put the hosts under pressure for long spells but the Scots were belligerent and well-organised.

"Defensively, we were absolutely outstanding, some of the turnovers, and we deserved everything we got because of the heart in that team performance," head coach Easson told BBC Sport

"We've had a couple of difficult performances in the tournament and we drew a line under the England game as soon as it finished. It was all about this week and fighting for each other."

Player-of-the-match Rachel McLachlan echoed those sentiments, saying: "There have been some downs in this campaign and we wanted to come out and show heart and pride in the jersey.

"We knew we had it in us and it's massive to finish with a win."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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George Horne says Glasgow Warriors will have to "do it the hard way" all over again if they are to retain their United Rugby Championship title.

Warriors are chasing a second-place finish in the regular season behind Leinster, the reward for which would be a potential home semi-final in addition to a home quarter-final, which they have already secured.

However, a 26-19 defeat at home to the Bulls on Friday night saw the South Africans close to within a point of Glasgow in the URC table.

Warriors face tough away matches at Benetton and Leinster in their final two matches, with the Bulls having a more favourable run-in with home matches against Cardiff and Dragons.

Franco Smith's side produced fantastic away play-off wins over Munster and Bulls en route to winning the title last season, and Horne believes they are capable of more end-of-season heroics.

"It's still in our hands," Horne told BBC Scotland.

"We're still ahead (of Bulls) in the table, but we're going to have to keep getting better coming into the last two games.

"You would back Bulls to win both their games at home, so we're going to have to do it the hard way. We've got a bit of experience doing that now, but that counts for nothing this year.

"We're just going to have to knuckle down and just go out and give it everything. We're going to probably need 10 points from the last two games."

It was a night of late drama in Scottish rugby as Glasgow scored two consolation tries to secure a losing bonus point against the Bulls, while Edinburgh scored an 82nd minute conversion to rescue a draw with Zebre out in Parma.

What did you think, rugby fans? What went wrong for Glasgow for most of that match? Have injuries caught up with them?

Did you foresee Edinburgh rescuing that against Zebre? And how about Cammy Scott's clutch kick?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Glasgow head coach Franco Smith tells BBC Scotland: "We must expect this from URC, not just the Bulls. There is quality sides pushing each other every week.

"We've done well to be second for a long time. If we face the previous finalists of last year, you'd expect a tough game. The game got away from us. When we missed touch with the score at 9-7, we gave away two tries in the space of 15 minutes.

"I'm still proud of the effort, the boys kept on playing until the end. We ended up pushing for a bonus point. Very happy that we didn't give up and kept working hard, which is the character of this team.

"The Bulls came here with a mission. They made 189 tackles tonight, 80 more than we did. Despite that, we got so many line-breaks but they scrambled well to defend. Compliments to them. They forced us into errors.

"We are at the back end of a very tough season, we've played 16 finals. Every team wants to beat last year's winners, it's a different aspect of the game. We're still second with two to go, so I'm really proud of what the boys have achieved this season.

"We have the confidence that we can win away from home, we did it last year. To catch Leinster will be tough, they'll have to lose it. We still have two games, we'll add some new bodies. There's some coming back from injury and I'm excited about that and hopefully we hit our straps just in time."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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Emma Wassell says Scotland have "wrongs to right" in their "vital" final game of the Women's Six Nations against Ireland on Saturday.

Having suffered a damaging loss at home to Italy in round three, Bryan Easson's side have only one win from four having targeted three victories this season.

They now host an improving Ireland who had a seismic win over New Zealand last year. The Irish have won two from four in a tournament that is especially important given the World Cup takes place in England in August.

Lock Wassell, whose return to rugby is progressing following operations to remove a tumour in her chest last autumn, has called on her team-mates to find their inner-dog against the Irish.

"You can't really coach bringing out the dog," the 30-year-old told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. "Sometimes you need something that can bring that out and individual players just need to find what it is.

"This game is vital. Ultimately, you could see us bottom of the table [if results go against them] and that's the honest truth of it."

The disappointing and unexpected loss to Italy in Edinburgh was the day Scotland's campaign went off track, Wassell says.

She added: "I don't think it was really us out there. It felt quite flat. Why that is, I don't think we're 100% sure. Verbally, no one was complacent, but mentally, have we almost assumed that we would win that game? It's hard to really pinpoint it.

"Everyone knew it wasn't good enough. I think we have a few wrongs to right. Sometimes before a game it's very easy to go into your shell and I think we need players to express themselves out there.

"I know the capabilities of this squad. So, yes, fans may be frustrated, but it's really hard and the players feel it more than ever."

BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.

Andrew asked: Edinburgh impressed in the main against a Sharks team that took until the second half to properly find their fins. If we finish outside the top eight, for me it's more down to points dropped earlier in the season. Edinburgh can still finish in the top eight but will they?

Tom answered: I agree. They lost an amount of ridiculous points in previous rounds and their predicament now is because of weakness and wastefulness back then.

They have a tough away game in Parma to face Zebre on Friday night and they have multiple injuries to boot. Zebre have won five games this season having won one last season and none the season before. This could be very hairy for Edinburgh, but they have to win.

Then they have to beat Connacht away and they have Ulster at home in the last round. It's so, so tight and incredibly hard to call as a result.

Edinburgh have to win at least two and probably all three to make it. Odds slightly against them, I think. But they're showing improvements in recents weeks, so that would give me some hope if I was an Edinburgh fan.

Paul asked: Glasgow, and now Edinburgh too, have pretty awful injury lists at the business end of the season. With reduced squad sizes planned for next term, have the pro teams peaked? Whilst I get the finances, is it going to help grow the game if the height of ambition for Glasgow and Edinburgh is to finish top eight in the URC?

Tom answered: I don't think the height of Glasgow's ambition is ever going to be top eight. They're champions and currently second in the table. Yes, they're losing a few but they're gaining a few as well.

They'll still have a terrific squad, albeit with giant Tom Jordan and Henco Venter holes in it. Their ambition next year will be to win it.

I certainly think there is a whole load of improvement in Edinburgh. They've been underperforming for a long time. Even without Jamie Ritchie next season they should have enough to contend.

Merely scraping into the top eight shouldn't be good enough for them. Yes, budgets will be a challenge, but there are not many teams in the competition awash with cash. Leinster are the outliers.

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Loosehead prop James Whitcombe will join Edinburgh from Leicester Tigers on a three-year deal this summer, with Cardiff tighthead Rhys Litterick arriving on a two-year contract.

Whitcombe, 24, qualifies for Scotland through a grandparent and has made five starts and 11 substitute appearances for Tigers this season.

Litterick, 26, can also represent Scotland, as well as Wales, and has featured 18 times this term, seven times from the start.

"I'm really looking forward to the move up north," said Whitcombe. "It's a fresh opportunity for me – a chance to challenge myself in a new environment, both on and off the pitch.

"I want to help the club win trophies. That's the goal. I want to contribute to a successful team and be part of something special in the Scottish capital."

Litterick commented: "It's a massive opportunity to grow both on and off the pitch in a new environment. Hopefully, I can contribute as much as I can to push for silverware.

"As a tighthead, I take a lot of pride in my set piece and working hard around the pitch."

And head coach Sean Everitt added: "Securing a player of James' quality on a long-term deal is a significant coup for the club.

"He is a highly-rated young prop with a fantastic pedigree, having come through a strong Leicester Tigers system and gained valuable experience in a very competitive Premiership environment.

"Rhys has shown impressive consistency in a quality Cardiff side this season and we're delighted to welcome him to Edinburgh.

"Tighthead is a position where there is often a lot of attrition, so bolstering our options with a prop of Rhys's calibre is crucial for us."

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Glasgow Warriors welcome back seven Scotland internationals and Patrick Schickerling for Friday's United Rugby Championship meeting with Bulls at Scotstoun.

Wing Kyle Rowe, fly-half Tom Jordan and scrum-half George Horne are the backs returning, while back-rows Gregor Brown and Rory Darge, loosehead prop Nathan McBeth and lock Max Williamson are back in the pack, along with tighthead Schickerling.

Ollie Smith moves from outside centre to full-back, captain Kyle Steyn moves from the wing to outside centre and McDowall moves from outside to inside centre. Another Scotland cap, lock Scott Cummings, could make his return from injury as a replacement.

Reigning champions Glasgow are already assured a home play-off quarter-final but winning on Friday would help towards a home semi-final should the Warriors reach the last four.

Head coach Franco Smith said: "The Bulls will pose an extremely physical test tomorrow night, one that we know that we will need to match across the field.

"Training this week has been fully focused on ensuring we display the best version of ourselves tomorrow night, and we look forward to running out in front of what promises to be a sold-out Scotstoun."

Glasgow Warriors: Smith, Cancelliere, Steyn (capt), McDowall, Rowe, Jordan, Horne; McBeth, Hiddleston, Schickerling, Williamson, Samuel, Brown, Darge, Mann.

Replacements: Matthews, Bhatti, Talakai, Cummings, Ferrie, Vailanu, Dobie, Hastings.

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Scotland internationals Darcy Graham and Hamish Watson return to bolster Edinburgh in Fright night's URC match against Zebre in Parma.

The pair, who were rested for last weekend's narrow loss to Sharks, are among six changes for the visitors.

Wing Jack Brown, making his first start, occupies the opposite flank to Graham while Boan Venter comes in at loosehead prop and Paddy Harrison starts at hooker.

In the second row, Glen Young is preferred to Grant Gilchrist.

With Jamie Ritchie rested, Ben Muncaster moves to blindside flanker, allowing Watson to reclaim the number seven jersey.

Edinburgh go into their third-last game in 11th place - three points adrift of a play-off spot - while Zebre are second bottom.

Head coach Sean Everitt said: "This is a really important fixture for us as we look to bounce back from the Sharks game. We know Zebre are a talented side and they've shown they can be very strong at home.

"The return of Darcy and Hamish is a real boost and we're excited to see Jack get his first start after his impressive impact last weekend."

Edinburgh team to face Zebre: Paterson, Graham, Currie, Lang, Brown, Thompson, Price, Venter, Harrison, Rae, Young, Skinner, Muncaster, Watson, Bradbury.

Replacements: Morris, Hislop, Williams, Gilchrist, Douglas, Shiel, Scott, Tuipulotu.

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has been speaking to the media before his team's final Women's Six Nations fixture against Ireland on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• On the 59-7 loss to England last weekend: "It's always a difficult task to play against the best team in the world."

• But Easson is encouraged by Scotland's second-half performance: "It is one we can be proud of, that also shows some of the good things we've shown against France and Wales."

• Scotland have "learned a lot about ourselves" and the Ireland game is a real opportunity to "put together these learnings and put it on the pitch for that 80-minute performance."

• Easson says Scotland are "on track" with preparations for this summer's World Cup and it's a "real positive" that they have capped seven new players in the Six Nations.

• He is expecting a tough challenge against Ireland: "It's about putting the performance in and respecting them. They're a very physical side, they've shown that against some of the top sides in the world, and we have to fight fire with fire this weekend."

• On the return of Leah Bartlett, Anne Young and Rachel Malcolm: "The three of them give us real opportunities, it was three fairly good conversations around selection, but three good players to come in."

• Easson says the result won't "be a defining moment" but Scotland "want to make sure that we are learning from all the games."