Scottish Rugby

We asked for your views on Glasgow and Edinburgh's URC wins this weekend.

Here's what some of you said...

GLASGOW:

Chris: Definitely felt at times like Scarlets were close to running away with it. Credit to the young Warriors who never gave up. A brilliant performance to keep up the momentum. Shout out to Mann who I thought had some excellent impacts. Tight five too especially Richardson and Schickerling. Absolutely brilliant result. Hope Hastings is okay.

Ben: A win is a win! With so many quality players missing this was never going to be a straightforward game. Some of the young boys really stepped up, and I’m excited to see more of Oguntibeju! He made some mistakes but showed so much potential, he could be a very fun player! Tom Jordan also stepped up and we are going to miss him next season.

Stuart: Very inaccurate and ill-disciplined display from Warriors. Set-piece plays didn’t work well. This is one of these games that are an ugly win, but a win. Some young blood given a chance of game time against a good but unlucky Scarlets team.

Roddie: In Franco we trust. The teamsheet might have looked unusual. four hookers! But he rested some big players before our European run and still took the win.

EDINBURGH:

Arran: First half was what we’ve been missing all season! Free-flowing attack, good kicking and stout in defence. Second half, exactly what we could’ve seen coming against a Benetton team missing 70% of first team players. We let them back into the game, yes the wind was a factor but this should not be happening. Well done for not losing it though.

Martin: There is something seriously wrong with our defence routine. Why are we trying to throw silly passes when you have to keep the ball. Also whenever a team gets within five metres of our line we very rarely keep them out. It's all so frustrating but never improves.

Either way, we want your thoughts.

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt: "We didn't get the win that we thought we'd get in the first half, so that suited us. We certainly were more accurate in our execution as far as our attack was concerned.

"I'm proud of the guys in the the way they put 50 points on against a good Treviso team. Disappointed in the fact that we didn't hold them out for longer periods when they were in our 22.

"But to score three tries into a gale-force wind like this, it's credit to the boys and the urgency that they showed on the pitch.

"What we can control is how we played and I was pleased how we played probably for the first 33 minutes. Probably got a little bit loose late in that first half.

"Could have probably got another try at the end there, but I'm not going to be too critical of that. A second-half performance into a wind like this and to walk away with a win and 50 points, I'm extremely happy.

"It was about holding on to the ball, defending well and forcing an error. We did have a dominant scrum. We knew that if we got penalties and were able to keep them in their 22, it would be very difficult for them to play.

"From there, what we were hoping for is to build scoreboard pressure. What that does is it stops them from keeping as much as they would like to, which means that they'd have to keep the ball in hand. But I thought we did well and obviously to get the 50 points is what puts a cherry on the cake."

On Jamie Ritchie: "He's really playing good rugby and he wears his heart on his sleeve. The way he's been playing is credit to his relentlessness in trying to become a regular in the Scottish jersey again. He always does well for his team, he's a proud Edinburgh man and thoroughly deserved his player of the match award.

"Gloucester beat Northampton today, so it's not going to be an easy game down there. We've been struggling away from home and it's time for us to build some consistency in winning away."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stafford McDowall paid tribute to Glasgow's inexperienced players after they ground out a 19-17 victory over Scarlets in the URC.

A Warriors side missing the likes of Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Darge and the Fagerson brothers were pushed all the way by the Welsh side but ultimately found a way to win while not at their best.

Captain McDowall was impressed with how the likes of Fin Richardson and Jare Oguntibeju - making their first appearance for Glasgow - acquitted themselves.

"It sounds weird, but it's probably one of my proudest nights in a Warriors jersey," McDowall told BBC Scotland.

"A young team out there against a fully loaded team with internationals against us and we found a way to win, which is a nice thing.

"If you look back to that Bath [Challenge Cup] game a couple of years ago, we went down with a young team, Bayonne last year we went away - it's those types of games that define this squad.

"We talked about springboarding ourselves into Europe next week with a big win. Maybe it wasn't a big win, but it was a win and that's all that matters.

"Unbelievable effort from some guys, first time pulling on the jersey, some guys haven't played in two years, we battled and we got a win."

Glasgow fans, were you at Scotstoun to see your side's narrow URC win against Scarlets, or were you following along from home?

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Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith tells BBC Scotland: "Everybody that follows us can be really proud. We used most of the boys who haven't played this season, young guys. We had four hookers involved and helped us get it done.

"We did well in taking them back five or six metres at the end through our defensive pressure, which made it a really tough goal [for Ioan Lloyd] into the wind. The compliment sits with the fact we didn't go offside and give a penalty away.

"The mentality of the players to not give up and wear their hearts on their sleeve. We said tonight would not determine our season, but the boys grabbed the opportunity. To get close to a full Scarlets team like that, that's playing well, they are very well coached, is a compliment to them.

"The first signs [when Adam Hastings] came off the pitch looked positive; we'll keep an eye on him."

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has named several Scotland internationals who featured during the recent Autumn Nations Series in his side to face Benetton in the URC on Saturday.

The likes of Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman and Jamie Ritchie all start in the forward pack, while Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe line up as the capital side's wingers.

Freddy Douglas - who became Scotland's youngest male player since 1963 against Portugal - could make his first Edinburgh appearance off the bench, and Sam Skinner is also among the replacements after injury.

Edinburgh lost their most recent league outing - against Ospreys last month - and sit 10th in the URC table.

"It's great to be back to URC action, playing in front of our fans at Hive Stadium," Everitt said. "It has felt like a while, and it's brilliant to be back with all of our Scotland internationals available for selection.

"Our recent matches against Benetton have been tight affairs, and I'm expecting another big test against them on Saturday night."

Edinburgh XV against Benetton: Goosen, Graham, Currie, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Thompson, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Hill, Sykes, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Muncaster, Bradbury.

Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Rae, Skinner, Douglas, Vellacott, Healy, McCann.

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

George asked: What else are Scotland missing to win the Six Nations? We have heard about mentality, the bench etc. Do we need to go now as Ireland don't look as strong and the fixtures suit us?

Tom answered: Have a listen to our latest podcast, George. We talk a little bit about this. I'd preach all sorts of caution about this notion Ireland aren't as strong as they usually are.

They're making a few tweaks at 10 and maybe 15 but they’re still a very formidable outfit. The best defence and the team with the most power normally wins the championship. Also, the team whose error count is lowest. No stupid mistakes that cost you tries.

Scotland's power game is good. Their attack is exceptional. The defence is decent. The bench is improving. The lineout is an issue that can be fixed.

Consistency is what they lack. Scotland's squad is really good, but they need to be really good for five games in a row. Or if they can’t do that, they need to be as dogged as hell and grind out a really ugly win along the way. Winning ugly when their attack is not firing is something they need to improve on.

Ken asked: Scotland have the team and the quality in depth to win the Grand Slam. To me, rugby is all about belief in yourself and the team. Can they win the Grand Slam in 2025?

Tom answered: They've never finished second in the Six Nations, Ken, not to mind first and not to mind first with a Grand Slam.

France, to me, are the best team in the northern hemisphere and Scotland have to go to Paris. Ireland are second and Scotland are third. Splitting France and Ireland would be a success.

This team definitely believes in itself and are at home in their first two games, so they have a chance to build momentum.

I can't see Scotland winning the championship but I'll be really disappointed if they're not in contention to win it after three or four games.

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

Calum asked: How difficult would it be to train a loosehead prop to cover tighthead? Someone maybe like Jamie Bahtti to give extra cover for Zander Fagerson? I've seen South Africa use props that could play both loose and tighthead.

Tom answered: I've asked Test props about this over the years and they say it's a lot easier to move from tighthead to loosehead than the other way around. In other words, it would be harder for Jamie Bhatti to play tighthead than it would be for Zander Fagerson or Will Hurd to play loosehead.

They say that about 60% of the power of an opposition scrum is directed at the tighthead, which makes Big Zander all the more remarkable. He’s absolutely world class at soaking all that up and still galloping about the pitch for 70 and, on occasion, 80 minutes.

Andrew Porter, the Irish prop, moved from tight to loose and he said the big difference was that when he came up off a scrum as a loosehead he was able to breathe immediately, whereas at tighthead it took him a few seconds, such was the massive weight coming through on him.

Bhatti is a really good player and it's a shame to see him kicking his heels outside of the 23. If they thought him capable of playing tighthead at Test level I'd say they'd have given him a chance by now.

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Fin Richardson and Jare Oguntibeju will make their debuts for a Glasgow Warriors side bolstered by the return of seven Scotland internationals in Friday night's URC game with Scarlets at Scotsoun.

Macenzzie Duncan is among the replacements and could also make his first top-team appearance as Glasgow return to action after the international break.

Former Scotland Under-20 prop Richardson, a summer arrival from Exeter Chiefs, is selected at tight-head and joins Patrick Schickerling and Johnny Matthews in the front-row.

Oguntibeju partners new Scotland cap Alex Samuel in the engine room.

Number eight Jack Mann makes his first home appearance two injury-disrupted years on from his debut and Ally Miller also plays his first game of the season, with Henco Venter completing the pack.

George Horne and Adam Hastings - who are among the seven returning Scotland stars - comprise the half-back pairing and Stafford McDowall captains the side from outside centre.

The back-three is unchanged from Glasgow's win over Stormers last time out as Kyle Rowe and Sebastian Cancelliere line up either side of full-back Josh McKay.

Defending champions Glasgow occupy second place in the table having won four of their opening six matches while Welsh side Scarlets are seven points below in sixth.

Warriors head coach Franco Smith said: "We’re pleased to be back at home as we look to hit the ground running in the second block of our season.

"The Scarlets have been in good form this season, and their mix of dynamic forwards and exciting backs can cause problems from anywhere on the field.

"We're also pleased to include Fin, Jare and Macenzzie in our matchday squad for the first time. All three have worked hard to earn their opportunity."

Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Cancelliere, McDowall (c), Jordan, Rowe, Hastings Horne; Schickerling, Matthews, Richardson, Oguntibeju, Samuel, Miller, Venter, Mann.

Replacements: Stewart, Dell, Talakai, Duncan, Hiddleston, Fraser, Afshar, Weir.

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An 'Emerging' Scotland side - comprised of the best young players in the country - will take on Italy Under-23s next month at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.

The game on 14 December is part of the national academy pilot programme which was launched in September to "add increased value to the development of a selected group of promising players".

The pilot players were selected from Scottish Rugby's regional academies and the senior academies of Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh.

The Scotland squad will be coached by national boss Gregor Townsend and his staff.

Head coach Townsend said: "This fixture enables us to bring our best young players together, have a week of training with national team coaches, and take on a quality international side."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

The ridiculousness of Edinburgh's travails in the United Rugby Championship had a spotlight shone on it at Murrayfield on Sunday as Scotland took the Wallabies to the cleaners in a second half of attacking brilliance.

Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham were at the heart of Scotland's acceleration away from the visitors. Grant Gilchrist was a towering presence in the lineout when his early-season performances for his club suggested a loss of his powers.

Jamie Ritchie put in one of his best displays for Scotland, an influential and angry thing, a game heavy with aggression, bite and breakdown menace.

Ritchie has been in and out of the Scotland team all year. Selected at six, then not in the 23, then on the bench, then picked at seven, then back out of the 23 again. He lost the captaincy this year, of course. What began in serious disappointment has ended with something of a rebirth.

Pierre Schoeman also had a good autumn after questions had been asked of the big man's form for Edinburgh.

Schoeman, Van der Merwe and Graham will all be Lions next summer, unless something goes badly awry. In Ritchie, Gilchrist, Ewan Ashman, Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosbie, Ben Muncaster, Magnus Bradbury, Hamish Watson and others they have a support cast up front that's strong and experienced.

And so we ask (again) about Edinburgh's feeble form in the URC. In the history of the competition has any team ever made so little of so much? Funded to the tune of more than £6m a year, they have financial muscle, a decent support crying out for something to get behind and a squad of players that should be in the URC playoffs at an absolute minimum.

And yet they are 10th, having played one game more than Sharks, who sit just above them. Watching Edinburgh trying to overcome their own shortcomings over the last number of seasons has been painful. It's rugby’s equivalent of fingernails across the school blackboard.

There's lots of time for Edinburgh to find themselves. And find themselves they must. They're at home to Benetton this weekend. How about a routine win? How about a professional hit job that suggests they still have a pulse to go along with the star quality?

They'll break for Europe after that, but Europe isn't their priority. The URC is where they must advance and the next time we'll see them after Benetton will be against Glasgow at Hampden on December 22 and again at Murrayfield six days later.

Two wins from the three and you can maybe start thinking about Edinburgh having the gumption to force their way into relevance at the right end of the table. Three from three and the tinsel will be out.

Edinburgh fans will steel themselves for a whole lot less than that. They remain the great underachievers of URC rugby - an expensive conundrum, a team of internationals who can't get it together. Coaches come and go and the story hardly ever changes.

We keep waiting for the plot twist. The senior pros at Edinburgh need to take inspiration from the Warriors to the west and get mean, get uncompromising, get the kind of attitude that propelled Ritchie forward on Sunday. Living in the shadow of Glasgow can't be much fun. This weekend, with the URC back in full flow, they need to start emerging from it once and for all.

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Scotland centre Stafford McDowall has become the latest player to pledge his future to Glasgow Warriors by extending his contract at Scotstoun until the summer of 2028.

The 26-year-old has made 81 appearances – scoring 16 tries – for the Warriors since his professional debut against the Southern Kings in 2017.

McDowall played a key role in Glasgow's 2023-24 United Rugby Championship title victory and won the Players' Player of the Season award.

He made his Scotland debut prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Italy at Scottish Gas Murrayfield and was co-captain in July's win over Canada and captain against Portugal earlier this month.

"I'm really pleased to renew my contract," he told the club's website.

"It's the club I grew up supporting and a club that I take great pride in representing on and off the field.

"I'm loving my rugby here. The brand of rugby we play is a really exciting one, and its one that I hope the fans enjoy watching as much as we enjoy playing!"

Head coach Franco Smith added: "Stafford has developed into a key leader in our playing group, and is someone who regularly drives our standards and our values on and off the field.

"His skillset enables him to contribute effectively both in attack and defence, whilst also bringing out the best in the players around him.

"He has fully bought into the journey that we are on as a club, and is fully committed to helping this group achieve its potential."

Andy Burke and Tom English ponder whether Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu could lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next year.

There's plenty more Scotland chat too, with a look back at the Autumn Nations Series and a peak ahead at what the Six Nations might bring.

Listen to the latest episode of the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

The accepted wisdom was that three wins from four Autumn Nations Series matches would equal success for Scotland and help us all reinforce our habitual and mostly misplaced hope for the forthcoming Six Nations.

Job done then, but what impact did the 23 Edinburgh players wearing the thistle have?

In terms of pure quantifiable effect it's hard to see past Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. They both played three full games and contributed seven tries between them. Van der Merwe topped the tables for defenders beaten in all the games he played.

Jamie Ritchie was being written off as an international player, but shone against Australia. He was Scotland's top tackler and led the jackling efforts too. It was a player of the match performance for me and he showed he is a long way from being done at the highest level.

Grant Gilchrist also continues to display a phenomenal work rate, especially defensively. He played three games and only got a rest in the last eight minutes against Australia.

Another notable was Tom Dodd scoring for Scotland A against Chile. Firstly because I didn’t even realise he was Scotland-qualified and secondly because his effort to be available for the offload by Ben Afshar after the scrum half's break from within his own half was exceptional.

Freddie Douglas has a big future and did himself no harm with a cameo against Portugal when he impressed without even getting his hands on the ball. He then put in a well deserved man of the match display against Chile.

Success on the international front can be a two-edged sword. Edinburgh have brought back Damien Hoyland on a short-term deal, presumably to cover for the rest periods our star wingers will now get.

In a separate but linked issue, Sean Everitt will also have to weigh up how he integrates Freddie Douglas into the matchday 23 because if he doesn't and we continue to flounder, the criticism of him may reach terminal velocity.

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch., external

Grant Young
Fan writer

International rugby is done for a few months now, and it's back to the club game as Glasgow host Scarlets in the URC this Friday. Warriors finished the first portion of the season with a memorable win in South Africa and will want to build on that at Scotstoun.

Glasgow fans were met with mixed news during the international window. The good news was Sione Tuipulotu signing a new deal with the club, but the flip side was learning that Tom Jordan will be joining Bristol Bears after his breakthrough season with Glasgow.

The Kiwi-born back has burst onto the world stage with some standout performances for Scotland, playing out of position at full-back and will be sorely missed.

What else happened? Alex Samuel also made his full international debut alongside Jordan. Zander Fagerson and Rory Darge delivered big performances and Tuipulotu continues to shine every time he takes the field. Scotland seem to be at their best when Sione is running at a defence and able to create space for Finn Russell to work his magic.

Jack Dempsey sustained a shoulder injury and it also looks likely that Max Williamson and Gregor Brown - who have both had brilliant starts to the URC season - will miss some game time.

Glasgow's squad depth is a key factor behind their recent success but how the pack goes with those three missing will definitely be one to watch. Time will tell what Franco Smith will do.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Blair Kinghorn says it’s time for Scotland to finally back up an encouraging autumn with a proper Six Nations title challenge.

The Scots won three of their four matches – the sole defeat coming against world champions South Africa – and rounded off their Autumn Nations Series with an impressive victory over Australia.

"I think we know we need to be able to back it up," Kinghorn said.

"We've said it many times before, we've been playing well, we've had some good wins here, but we've never really backed it up properly. It's now time to put us on the block and hold us to our word.

"We've had a lot of good conversations in camp about taking ownership, about the team, it's not all down to the coach, it's about you guys on the field. So it's time to put our neck out there and do what we know we can do.

"It's always good coming into Six Nations having won your last Test match. It'll be a good year, hopefully.”

Scotland end the year on a high after defeating the Wallabies 27-13 in their final Autumn Nations Series match.

With recent results in mind and as the year draws to a close, what would you like to ask 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.