Scottish Rugby

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

Edinburgh packed up their troubles in their old kit bags and turned everyone's heads as they defeated Munster in Cork for the first time since 2019.

Edinburgh are consistently inconsistent and continued that trend by following up a pitiful display against Zebre with a first away win in the league since April. In the process they scored the most points and tries they ever have against Munster.

The team's first hat-trick since Darcy Graham against Bulls in September 2022 earned Matt Currie the man of the match award but it was a game where almost everyone turned up with the correct mindset and did a great job.

I have to give a big shoutout to the front row especially, but the whole pack did a number on Munster's scrum, forcing them to concede around 10 penalties in that area.

Incidentally, Boan Venter will become eligible to play for Scotland in February 2026. I'm of the firm opinion he is the best scrummaging loosehead in Scotland so I expect he and Pierre Schoeman will be our first and second choices in that position thereafter.

It was good to see Ben Vellacott get a start and it was clear his dynamism gave some time to Ross Thompson, who although wasn't perfect did have a strong game.

A good try, strong off the tee, a great pass and a crossfield kick that led directly to tries were on Thompson's credit side. He did get charged down and was caught in possession by Munster's Alex Nankivell but it may well have been his best game so far for Edinburgh.

This result will have dialled back the doomsday clock on Sean Everitt's Edinburgh career, but it will take a quantum leap forward if he can't find a way to get his team to replicate this performance on an ongoing basis.

If he can then our run-in is decent and of the six teams we still have to face only Sharks are currently above us in the table. Not one of them have scored more tries or points than we have.

This was a famous win against statistically our most difficult opponent in the league, so it should be celebrated regardless of the eventual margin at the 80-minute mark. Take it, enjoy it and we can worry about Benetton in a couple of weeks.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external

Grant Young
Fan writer

Glasgow were moments away from stealing the full five points on Saturday evening in a game where they largely looked second best.

When Duncan Weir split the post to take Glasgow two points clear, adulation filled the stands. What then unfolded, though, was a serious of calamitous mistakes.

Ospreys, despite their lowly league position, travelled north with a plan. They struck the heart of Glasgow's defence and broke it down three times in the first half.

Glasgow pride themselves on defensive intensity but something was off. Ospreys pinned high balls on the returning Adam Hastings, who at 15 looked uncomfortable and fragile dealing with the aerial threat.

The impressive Max Mann's size and bulk were missed when he went off with a head knock midway through the first half and never returned.

Then we have the final 20 seconds. Warriors have become a well-drilled and disciplined team. However, the sheer panic off the final restart was alarming.

The catch off the kick by JP du Preez was perfect. All he had to do was fall down, present the ball for the nine to kick out as time expired or let the forwards hit one more up then kick the ball out.

Instead, he threw an offload to Facundo Cordero, who panicked and threw it to Sean Kennedy and a penalty was ultimately coughed up to allow the visitors to snatch victory.

I'm baffled why firstly Du Preez just didn't keep the ball but also how unaware the next two players were of how little time was on the clock. Glasgow went from securing the five points to walking off with only two.

The panicked ending, after working so hard, puts Warriors back closer to the pack rather than trying to keep up with Leinster.

It's back to the drawing board as the team now need to wait two weeks to go again with Munster in town. What this defeat tells us is there are zero easy games in the URC.

Matt Currie, Nathan McBeth and Ben Muncaster have been called into the Scotland squad for this weekend's Six Nations game against Wales but back rows Luke Crosbie and Jack Mann have been ruled out by injury.

As Scotland prepare for their next Six Nations test, have you got any burning questions to put to our rugby writers Tom English and Andy Burke? Send them in via this link, external, and they will be answered on this page later in the week.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Glasgow Warriors lost ground on United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster after a dramatic, stoppage-time penalty handed victory to Ospreys at Scotstoun on Saturday.

But what did we and, more importantly, head coach Franco Smith learn from the loss?

Warriors shoot themselves in the foot

Sean Kennedy will rue his decision, as the clock turned red at Scotstoun, to attempt a pass rather than simply kick the ball out of play straight from the restart after Warriors had just taken what looked like a winning lead.

The scrum-half suddenly enveloped by Ospreys limbs, a needless penalty was conceded, Jack Walsh was handed the chance to seal the Welsh side's first win in Glasgow in nine years and four points were squirrelled away.

Kennedy will have been playing that one back in his mind all weekend and will surely not make the same mistake should such circumstances ever present themselves again.

Youngsters yield positivity

Some fans have questioned Warriors' strength in depth following their defeat by a side who only lie 11th despite their bonus-point win at Scotstoun.

Smith preferred to accentuate the positives. His side had come so close to victory despite being without a slew of international players and others through injury - and showed "character" to come back from the concession of three early tries.

Indeed, Smith suggested it showed they have young players waiting in the wings ready to take the step up when needed.

Down, but far from doomed

On the one hand, while Leinster, with 12 wins out of 12, look a class apart from the rest of the league, Glasgow stay second top and remain well placed to finish in the top four and secure a home play-off quarter-final.

On the face of it, Glasgow will be disappointed to lose to Ospreys on their own patch, but they will be mindful that the improving Welsh side have lost just once in seven games and came close to beating the league leaders a couple of weeks ago only to lose 22-19.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scrum dominance provides platform

Edinburgh's surprise win in Cork was built on a magnificent display from their forward pack.

Led by the excellent Boan Venter, Edinburgh won eight penalties at scrum time, providing both territory and momentum.

The visitors' physical dominance was particularly evident in the first half, and it provided the platform for Sean Everitt's side to run in four first-half tries and take a 22-point lead into the break.

Ben Muncaster and Magnus Bradbury were also impressive with ball in hand for Edinburgh, who needed a response after dismal defeats by Scarlets and Zebre.

Versatile Currie shows his worth

With Emiliano Boffelli and Harry Paterson injured, and Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe away with Scotland, Matt Currie has been shunted onto the wing from his usual centre berth.

He showed finishing instincts that any of Edinburgh's four absentees would have been proud of against Munster, scoring a magnificent hat-trick that proved decisive.

His first and third scores were opportunistic, born out of relentless running and a never-say-die attitude, while his second relied on strength as he held off several defenders to reach the line.

Currie's work-rate and attitude are a fine example as Edinburgh look to put their recent struggles behind them and make the play-offs.

Play-off hopes boosted

Speaking of their league hopes, the five-point victory took Edinburgh back into the URC's top eight and eased some of the pressure on Everitt and his players.

The challenge now for Edinburgh is to back up their first away win in 10 months with both performances and positive results against Benetton and Dragons.

Inconsistency has been Edinburgh's weakness again and again in recent years, and they cannot allow this win to be a one-off with six games of the regular league season remaining.

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Scotland second row Ewan Johnson will play Top 14 rugby next season, having agreed to join Bayonne in the summer.

Johnson, 25, has four caps to his name and currently plies his trade in the French second division with Oyonnax, who did play in the top flight last season.

Currently part of Scotland's Six Nations squad, he came through Racing 92's academy, making one appearance before joining Vannes.

Three of his caps came in the summer tour of the Americas, picking up his fourth appearance against Portugal in the autumn.

Johnson has signed a two-year deal with Bayonne, who currently sit fourth in the the Top 14.

Glasgow fans, we asked you for your opinions on the gut-wrenching 31-32 loss to Ospreys at Scotstoun on Saturday night.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Abigail: Tough way to lose a game. Ospreys deserved winners - frightened Glasgow and forced them to defend as well as some stunning tries. Inexperience and lack of game time showed. Not having Jamie Dobie or George Horne released is frustrating. Hopefully lessons learned and we go on.

Alan: The Warriors threw that game away after all the effort they'd put in to battle back at the end. By the time we'd woken up, Ospreys were three tries to the good. Then, every time we fought back, we lost concentration and allowed them back in. How we didn't manage to see the game out at the end is a mystery to me. The last 30 seconds were daft!

Chris: Injuries really biting now. Players playing out of position starting to show. I heard Ryan Wilson say Henco Venter is away at end of season. If true and Jack Mann follows, Gregor Brown and Euan Ferrie will be getting more game time which is good. Wonder who the crop behind them will be?

Alastair: I've never seen Warriors miss so many tackles which, on top of penalties conceded, was their downfall. As good as the second choice players are, they are not a cohesive team.

There was an improvement in physicality when the bench forwards came on but Warriors had to work hard for their tries unlike Ospreys who, in the end, deserved the win.

George: Inexperience, lack of game time, failing to watch the clock properly, and maybe a player or two who are over the hill in terms of their careers. Hopefully this loss refocuses Glasgow and we can push on and do something this year.

Paul: Fair play to Ospreys - we have to recognise that despite Glasgow getting into a winning position before conceding a needless penalty, they were the better team. Glasgow have picked up 11 points from three games in the Six Nations period. Hopefully some internationals will be available for the Munster game. We're still well positioned. Onwards.

It leaves Warriors 13 points adrift of leaders Leinster, while Ospreys move up to 11th thanks to a first away win in Glasgow for nine years.

Warriors, what went wrong? What do you make of the manner of the defeat?

Give us your thoughts here., external

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Clovers kept up the pressure on compatriots Wolfhounds at the top of the Celtic Challenge with an 10-try win over Edinburgh.

Emily Lane got the scoring underway early at the Hive Stadium, although Lucia Scott's penalty quickly cut the deficit.

However, the Clovers had their bonus point try within the first twenty minutes with quickfire scores from captain Amee Leigh Costigan, Shirley Bailey, and Lane.

Edinburgh responded through vice-captain Hannah Walker, with the winger going over in the corner.

Clovers reasserted their dominance before half-time, getting their fifth and six tries before the break with winger Anna McGann getting both on either side of the pitch.

Although they lead 36-8 at half-time, the Clovers did not rest on their laurels and continued their try-scoring in the second-half.

Substitute Enya Breen got their seventh, Jemima Adams Verling got the eighth and Saoirse Crowe got the ninth from short-range.

Hannah Ramsay did a consolation try for the hosts, but there was still time for McGann to wrap up her hat-trick with a breakaway intercept try.

Edinburgh didn't go quietly, and Giselle Chicot scored in the final play from a move started by Scotland star Alex Stewart. However, they remain fourth in the table with just two wins from this year's tournament.

Edinburgh: Scott, Bell, Brown, Chicot, Walker; Ramsay, Clarke; Wilson, Ronald, Poolman, Ferrie, Logan, Moody, Stewart (c), Gunderson.

Replacements: Craig, Tawake, Brown, Russell, Sutherland, Benson, Denholm, Love.

Clovers: Finn, Costigan (c), Corey, Flannery, McGann; Fowley, Lane; Burke, Gavin, Barrett, Campbell, O'Flynn, Verling, Oviawe, Bailey.

Replacements: Buttimer, Crowe, Burns, Neill, Quinn, Reilly, Breen, Ugwueru.

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Brython Thunder climbed above Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge standings as they won 33-17 at Scotstoun.

The Welsh visitors raced into a 14-0 lead thanks to a double from Welsh international Gwen Crabb, both being converted by Niamh Terry.

Briar McNamara got one back for the hosts, converting her own try, before Ellie Tromans extended Thunder's lead just before the break. Hannah Marshall added the extras, that time.

Glasgow were the first to strike in the second half through former Scotland winger Abi Evans but the visitors asserted their dominance on the scoreline through Rosie Carr.

Roma Fraser's phenomenal solo try threatened to set up a tense finale as Glasgow got within nine points, but again the Thunder would find a response.

A few penalties marched them up the pitch and with the final set-piece of the game, Crabb crashed over for her hat-trick.

The result gives Thunder just their second win of the tournament - their other win coming against Edinburgh - while Glasgow remain rooted to the bottom of the rankings.

Glasgow Warriors: Mellanby, Evans, Flynn, McNamara, Proctor; Ainsworth, McDonald (c); Fletcher, Hyland, Fleming, Zameer, Yeomans, Walker, MacGilvray, Coubrough.

Replacements: Sutcliffe, Tucker, Ward, Sinclair, Price, Darroch, Warren, Fraser.

Brython Thunder: Lane, Tromans, Bluck, Healan, Hing; Terry, Singleton; Orin, Gant, C Davies, R Davies, Crabb, Mugabe, Isaac, Rogers (c).

Replacements: R Carr, Williams, K Carr, Jones, Stowell, Adkins, Marshall, F Davies.

Edinburgh fans, we asked for your opinions on the surprise 34-28 win over Munster in Cork.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Alan: Been here before. I'll believe Edinburgh have turned a corner when they put in three or four decent performances in a row.

Ross: Where has this attack and power been all season? Munster may have had a poor night out but Edinburgh dominated everything. Imagine the amount of tries Duhan and Darcy would score for fun if the scrum performed that well week in, week out.

David: A remarkable turnaround which makes the Zebre game even more annoying. But, typical of Edinburgh to dampen it all by letting Munster take two losing bonus points. That rather took the shine off that win.

Steve: Good and unexpected result, so fair play to the lads. However, there still appears to be a lack of intelligence in respect of game management. Why, when we already had the try bonus point, kick for the corner from a penalty? Munster were 13 points behind and the penalty was kickable. It's basic stuff still not being done well enough.

Arran: That was a lot better from Edinburgh. Yes, they were playing an inexperienced Munster side that gifted them two tries, but you take what you can get in rugby. Magnus Bradbury and Ben Muncaster were excellent, same with Ben Vellacott and Matt Currie. This type of performance has to be the standard from now on if we want to make the play-offs.

Kenny: A more than welcome win for Edinburgh against a poor Munster outfit. Getting a consistently reliable fly half is a priority though, as Ross Thompson is just not cutting it for me.

Edinburgh fans, what did you make of your side's performance in Cork as they bounced back from successive league defeats by Scarlets and Zebre?

Who stood out for you and are you now confident of a play-off spot?

Have your say on the match., external

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt tells Premier Sports: "Very pleased. We had to go back to the drawing board when you lose at home.

"Our set-piece functioned really well which allowed us to put pressure on them from a field position point of view, and I thought we were outstanding defensively tonight.

"We learned hard lessons against Zebre. Top four is probably a little bit ambitious, but certainly top eight.

"We don't often win away from home so this was a really good confidence builder for the team."

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Scotland international Adam Hastings will make his return from injury when Glasgow host Ospreys in the URC on Saturday.

The versatile back fractured his jaw playing against Scarlets in the autumn, and has missed the Six Nations as a result.

Hastings, 28, is named at full-back with Duncan Weir captaining the side from fly-half. Ben Afshar returns to the team at scrum-half, while Ollie Smith partners Duncan Munn in the centres.

Jare Oguntibeju - who signed his first professional contract with the club this week - starts in the second row, and JP du Preez could make his first appearance in 650 days having been selected among the replacements.

Defending champions Glasgow are second in the URC table, 10 points behind league-leaders Leinster.

Glasgow side to face Ospreys: Hastings, Cancelliere, Smith, Munn, Cordero, Weir, Afshar; Schickerling, Stewart, Richardson, Oguntibeju, Samuel, Ferrie, Venter, Mann.

Replacements: Matthews, McBeth, Talakai, Du Preez, Miller, Fraser, Kennedy, Johnston.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

At Twickenham on Saturday, Scotland went a full hour without scoring, from minute 19 to minute 79 when they almost snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Against Ireland in round two it took them 41 minutes to register their first points while also going scoreless for 26 minutes later in the game. In the Six Nations opener against Italy they scored their third try in the 28th minute and didn't score again until the 61st.

Going without points for such long periods in Six Nations games is not new for Scotland, but it's part of why they're running to stand still - or maybe even sliding backwards depending on what happens in the final two weekends.

Last season they didn't score after the 42nd minute against Wales (fine, they won, just about), didn't score for nearly 50 minutes against Italy (not fine, they lost) and went an hour without a score against Ireland in Dublin in a four-point match, which they also lost.

In 2023, they went vast chunks of time without scoring in defeats to France and Ireland. In 2022 they didn't score in the last 30 in a narrow loss in Cardiff, didn't score for 50 against France and didn't score for 33 and then 45 minutes against Ireland.

Apologies for the overload in numbers (more coming) but they're there to illustrate this is not new.

The subject of Scotland's attack came up on this week's BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. In this championship, only France score the type of blistering tries that Scotland score, the one-phase wonders, the strikes from deep that have the stamp of genius upon them.

Scotland got three more of them at Twickenham, not that they provided any solace in the aftermath. The debate that should be had now centres around Scotland's one-track mind for the tryline and how they need to change their thinking.

It's in their DNA to turn down opportunities to kick for goal - drop-goals and penalties. They are all-in on attack. It's what makes them thrilling and deeply frustrating.

In 10 entries to England's 22 on Saturday they came away with zero points. Rugby is a game of psychology and pressure as much as anything else. Every repelled Scotland attack gave England belief.

It's past time that Scotland wisened up to their reality and brought an element of pragmatism and scoreboard pressure to their game.

In all those entries, what harm if they accepted once or twice that England's defence was strong, dropped into the pocket and took a drop goal, if they could? Get out of there with something instead of nothing.

Scotland, more than most, should do it because their breakdown has struggled (only France have conceded more turnovers) and their handling errors are the highest in the championship.

A bit of nous is required, some leadership, a voice to say, 'You know what, we're 10-7 ahead (as they were against England), this attack is petering out, we might lose the ball, so let's try a drop goal to make it 13-7 and 16-7 and put the pressure on them'.

It's easy to look aghast at the statistics from Twickenham and wonder how Scotland contrived to lose that game. Three tries to one in the visitors' favour was just the start of it.

More possession and territory than England, nearly seven more attacking minutes, more than double the number of ball carries, more than three times the number of defenders beaten, more than four times the number of linebreaks.

These are stats to make a Scot weep, but they're a familiar story. There was nothing unusual about them at all.

In the loss to Ireland, Scotland had 57% possession, they had 20.3 attacking minutes to Ireland's 15.2, they had more carries, more metres gained, more defenders beaten.

Ireland had to make more tackles, missed more tackles, conceded more penalties and lost four lineouts to Scotland's one. And yet they won easily because they were more powerful, more canny and more ruthless.

In last season's controversial four-point loss to France at Murrayfield, Scotland were ahead on nearly all of the stats - 21.9 attacking minutes versus 17.9 for the away winners.

The defeat to Italy in Rome showed similar trends. Scotland were ahead in loads of metrics. Italy had 17 attacking minutes, Scotland had 25.

We could go back to previous seasons and find Six Nations-wrecking losses that told the same story. Nobody wants Scotland to remove the ambition from their game. With this backline, you couldn't even if you tried. But there's an imbalance in the way they score and it's destructive.

Instead of a default set of going for touch from kickable penalty range, there are times when going for the posts is the sensible play.

With six minutes to go at Twickenham, Scotland had a penalty from very makeable range, even though Russell was off form with the placed ball. They went for touch, lost the lineout and exited with nothing.

Three points then would have made it 16-13. Given the outrageous skill-set in this Scotland backline, they'd have fancied their chances to score a winning try from that position. Wise after the event? Not really. They scored a late try to win at Twickenham two years ago.

And, of course, they scored late again on Saturday, but it wasn't enough this time, not when the conversion (from the incorrect spot, thanks to the referee) flew wide.

They wouldn't have needed it had some pragmatism entered their thinking in that 74th minute and in many of the attacking minutes that went before it.