Scottish Rugby

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Assistant coach Scott Forrest says the challenge for Glasgow Warriors is "to go and win trophies" and that they are relishing the prospect of facing the most successful side in Champions Cup history this weekend.

Toulouse, who have won the competition six times, visit Scotstoun on Saturday and although Forrest is undaunted by the size of the task, he acknowledges the French side "pose a threat all over the pitch".

Their weapons include the global game's biggest star - France's captain and superstar scrum-half Antoine Dupont.

"We want to progress as far as possible," Forrest told BBC Sport Scotland.

"Our challenge is to go and win trophies. Every competition that we play in, we want to go and win it. We believe we can with the squad we've got.

"We've won our first game [at Sale] of the pool and winning away from home is obviously a big thing. But for us, and any team that wants to progress in European competition, you've got to win your home games.

"We'll shine a light on that, but any team coming to Scotland know it's on the plastic pitch, there is a full crowd behind us and it is going to be tough for them."

Even if Dupont, just back from a long-term injury, is rested, Toulouse have a myriad other top players including Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn and a fearsome pack full of what Forrest calls "very large human beings".

"It's a big challenge. But we also know that Scotland is a very hard place for other teams to come and play," he added.

"We don't lose many games at home. It's probably one of the toughest challenges we're going to get, and it would obviously be a massive result.

"Off the back of Friday night, winning away from home [Sale], to then back that up at home against a team like Toulouse, it would be pretty big. "

"Toulouse are a quality team. They've got a really strong history in the competition, they're littered with quality international players, but then you could say the same about us.

"It's a one-off game and in a one-off game, we're pretty confident that if we get things right, at home, it could be a pretty special night."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Battle of the nines

Ben White spoke pre-match about how much he was looking forward to coming to Edinburgh and play in the shadow of Murrayfield, where he has so often impressed for Scotland.

For the opening 20 minutes, he was the star of the show. He scored Toulon's first try with a quick snipe from a ruck while his second score was a brilliant piece of ingenuity, taking the quick tap and propelling himself over the line like a short-range missile.

When Ben Vellacott tried a break of his own, he was soon halted and held onto the ball when isolated. White's reaction to his opposite man? A patronising little rub of his hair.

It was Vellacott who would have the last laugh though, leaping over in the corner for Edinburgh's second as the hosts went on to win.

Scotland's number one number two

Ewan Ashman provided the first two tries for Edinburgh and was instrumental in the third and fourth, too.

His brilliant ball-carrying got Edinburgh up the pitch time and again, and his eye-catching running gate makes him look like a wind-up toy on the rampage.

As well as the power up front, he's shown he has the ball skills to match. While the line-out wasn't the best given the horrendous conditions, he has improved his throwing stats this season and has been one of the best in the URC.

Dave Cherry was Scotland's first-choice number two in last year's Six Nations, but it has to be Ashman this year.

Edinburgh's fountain of youth finally flourishing

Eyebrows were raised when Edinburgh announced their team. A full debut for 19-year-old tightead Ollie Blyth-Lafferty up against France's first-choice loosehead Jean-Baptiste Gros.

New Scotland cap Liam McConnell continued his run in the team.

Cammy Scott was given just a third start in the number 10 jersey, while 21-year-old Fin Thomson was picked to start in midfield, although he pulled out just before kick off through injury.

Blyth-Lafferty acquitted himself brilliantly, while McConnell and Scott battled it out for player of the match, the former winning the award.

Both showed maturity beyond their years against a French side that are currently second in the Top 14, with years of experience on both.

McConnell was his usual tenacious, importunate self while Scott was measured, controlled and kicked almost impeccably from hand.

McConnell is now impossible to drop for Edinburgh, and it would be no surprise to see him make a Six Nations matchday squad. Scott still has a way to go, but at 24 he has time on his side. Right now, he holds the jersey for his club. Can he step up?

We asked for your views after bonus-point victories in the Champions Cup for both Glasgow and Edinburgh, against Sale and Toulon, respectively.

Here's what you had to say on the two performances:

Sale 21-26 Glasgow Warriors

Chris: Gregor Hiddleston and Seb Stephen - take a bow. Brilliant performances from both - penalty at the end aside, which the canny Tom Curry bought, they were fantastic. Future looks bright at two. Amazing what a week's difference makes (and a win!). Can't wait to see the boys take on the French Giants!

Andy: George Horne made a big difference when he came on last week, but his kicking from hand is still inconsistent, but it is worrying that Jamie Dobie's decision making on when and how deep to kick has been poor in the last three or four games for Glasgow and Scotland. He gave away possession three times with poor kicks and let Sale back into contention.

Robert: Much more like Warriors, the forwards set the platform with some standout performers, the low penalty count never gave Sale inroads and Kyle Steyn and Josh McKay were superb in difficult conditions, great to have Zander Fagerson up and running again, such an important player for Glasgow.

Jamie: With the best team out, Glasgow have the mental fortitude and flair to beat the good teams. Never frightened to throw wide at every occasion, they look for holes in the opposition defence and create overlaps. The issue is the depth of the squad which is why they can be soundly beaten by Scarlets then win against Sale. Great result.

Stuart: Great win for the Warriors on the road. Team played really well and didn't give up. 14 points down and hit them for 26 points unanswered. Weather conditions were bad, particularly the wind, and my hat goes off to McKay for his great display with the high balls. The team played as a team and the replacements played their part too. Stephen had some great carries when he came on.

Kenny: A good win on the road at a venue that can be tricky. Rory Darge nailed it in saying that the Warriors did not panic despite going two tries down early in the match. Some might complain that we should have held on to the significant lead but Sale are a classy side and were always going to battle on to the end of the match.

Edinburgh 33-20 Toulon

Stair: What a night at the Hive! Great to see the younger players tearing into Toulon. This was the performance that we waited all last season for. Worth getting soaked for.

Steve: On my most optimistic day, I did not see this coming. We'll gloss over the first seven minutes as they didn't matter in the final tally, but from then on it was a gutsy, controlled and importantly disciplined performance. Being Edinburgh though, there's only a 50/50 chance this team will pitch up next week.

Anon: Liam McConnell was immense tonight, Cammy Scott cool as a cucumber, and Ollie Blyth-Rafferty sensational first start for the young man. If we can make this the minimum standard, Edinburgh will doing OK.

Bruce: Real gutsy performance played out in terrible conditions. I did not see that coming after last weekend's under-par win over Ospreys. The quality of rugby by both sides was remarkable considering the match was played out entirely in bucketing rain. Well done Edinburgh, great show of steel and grit.

Stu: Massive win against the best scrum in the Top14. Blyth-Lafferty, Scott, and McConnell all excellent for guys who haven't played much. If Edinburgh can just play with intensity like that week in, week out then they can be dangerous.

Martin: Why can't Edinburgh play like this in the URC games. They came out of the trap with fire in their bellies. Great all round performance in very trying conditions

A huge result for Edinburgh, who maintain their 100% record over Toulon, the European giants.

And in their first Champions Cup match in two years, they secure a bonus-point win over a side that have won this trophy three times.

One of the greatest nights their fans will have seen.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt: "It is pleasing when you work on something all week. We knew it was going to rain, it was predicted.

"Happy for Cammy Scott and the way he managed game. I thought he was brilliant tonight, you would never be able to tell it was only his third start.

"The pack did their job against a massive team from France so I'm really proud of the boys.

"You get worried at six minutes when you're 10-0 down on the scoreboard but the guys fought back and showed composure.

"The message behind the poles immediately was defensively, we have to stop the momentum off nine, and the guys got back to task.

"We left acres of space out there in the previous game, and we were quite hard on the players and they took accountability for that. Tonight, the guys delivered.

"Liam [McConnell] has been amazing for us. He only made his debut earlier this year, and he came back in pre-season in such good nick. His performances have shown the work he's done. He's grown in every performance, and we saw that for Scotland.

"Young Freddy Douglas was on the park, 19-year-old Ollie Blyth-Lafferty against a power pack and he did very well."

Glasgow Warriors recovered from 14 points down to defeat Sale Sharks 26-21 in Friday's Champions Cup opener.

Have your say on Glasgow's win via this link

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Rory Darge says Glasgow Warriors "never really panicked" as they recovered from 14-0 down to beat hosts Sale Sharks in their Champions Cup opener.

Warriors collected a bonus-point win after Gregor Hiddleston, Darge, Kyle Steyn and Stafford McDowall crossed, with McDowall marking his 100th Glasgow appearance with a try.

"If you want to do well in the competition, you've got to go and perform well away from home and go and win so we're absolutely delighted with that," Scotland flanker Darge, 25, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We've been here before as a squad, 14-0 down or two scores down and come back on the right side of it so that belief comes from that - the fact that we've done it before.

"We never really panicked in that situation and just stuck to what we know works.

"We don't want to give every team a 14-0 head start so there will be things in that that we can do better. The work we did in the first half against the wind really paid dividends in the second half.

"As a whole, the pack did a really good job and the backs complimented it and, yeah, we are delighted."

Franco Smith's side take on Toulouse at home next Saturday.

"Sale away into Toulouse at home, it doesn't get much harder than that," added Darge.

"It's huge. We know they're going to send their best and come and look to get a result at Scotstoun. It's a place where we really pride ourselves so we're just looking forward to going against one of the best teams in Europe."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Sometimes, a cup game can offer the perfect tonic to league duties. A pleasant distraction from every day life, a momentum-builder that can kick-start a season.

It's hard to see that being the case for Edinburgh.

While they secured a narrow win over the Ospreys last weekend, they now welcome French giants Toulon to the Hive before a trip across the Channel to face Castres.

Two sterner fixtures you could not wish for ahead of the 1872 Cup double-header, and Edinburgh's credentials are already being sternly examined following a less-than-promising start to the league.

Young gunners offer small green shoots

Sean Everett's side made hard work of defeating an Ospreys side that was seriously depleted.

The capital side offered younger players the chance for a hit out. New Scotland cap Harri Morris made a first start at hooker, but he makes way for Ewan Ashman this time.

Liam McConnell continues at blindside and fellow 21-year-old Fin Thomson starts just his third pro game at centre after his player-of-the-match display last weekend.

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 19, gets his first start at tighthead prop having debuted from the bench against Ospreys.

Darcy Graham is back on the right wing, with eight changes overall.

Dylan Richardson and club captain Magnus Bradbury return to the back-row, with Harry Paterson getting a first start of the season at full-back.

Scotland stars must turn up

It's been a tricky season so far for Everett. His side have lost three games - two by a one-point margin - including a damaging loss away to regular URC bottom-dwellers Zebre.

An optimist would look at those results and say, well they've only lost by a combined total of five point, that's three losing bonus points they've picked up.

But instead there is a fanbase quickly losing patience with the head coach, now in his third season, with those defeats playing into the narrative that this team are soft.

It is a squad littered with talent and, like many Edinburgh coaches before him, Everett is not getting the best out of them.

In no player is that more apparent than Duhan van der Merwe. Scotland's record try-scorer had a stinker against the Ospreys and looks no closer to the player who left England's defence in tatters back in February 2024.

That was the apex of his international career, which is now under threat after five years as a Scotland regular.

He lost his place in the starting XV this autumn with Kyle Steyn preferred for the losses to New Zealand and Argentina. Van der Merwe came off the bench in the latter, as Scotland collapsed from 21-0 up to 24-33 down.

His form at Edinburgh has been much-maligned, in stark contrast to the magic he has so often produced for Gregor Townsend. Now, he is struggling on two fronts.

But this is a big game, the first in a series of four. These are the games that Van der Merwe has typically shown up in. Can he do that again, and can his team-mates?

Edinburgh: Paterson, Graham, Goosen, Thomson, Van der Merwe, Scott, Vellacott; Schoeman, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Sykes, Gilchrist, McConnell, Richardson, Bradbury (capt).

Replacements: Morris, Venter, Hill, Young, Douglas, Shiel, Lang, O'Conor.

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Scotland star Zander Fagerson will make his first Glasgow Warriors appearance of the season as part of 13 changes to the side for their Champions Cup opener against Sale Sharks.

Franco Smith's team sustained one of their most humiliating defeats of recent times last weekend, humbled 23-0 by an understrength Scarlets side in Llanelli.

They now have to try and bounce back in the premier European competition, a tournament that they have similar scars from.

It was back in April that they were crushed 52-0 by pre-tournament favourites Leinster in Dublin, a game in which Smith said Glasgow were "bullied in every part of the game".

While most of those who felt the brunt of a surprisingly strong Scarlets will not play a part on Friday night, there are seven players starting who were involved in the humiliation at the Aviva.

What has changed for Glasgow since that day? Should they be aiming for another Champions Cup run? Or should attention turn to back to the United Rugby Championship after the slip-up in south Wales?

To say the loss and manner of defeat by the Scarlets was a shock would be an understatement.

Yes, it was a young and inexperienced Glasgow side, but the Scarlets were also missing several key men, busy playing for Wales in the out-of-window international against the Springboks.

URC veterans Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe and Josh McKay all played last week and none showed the kind of intensity and desire usually associated with a Glasgow performance.

Instead of digging his players out too much, head coach Smith heaped praise on the Scarlets - winless all season up until that game - and bemoaned Scottish Rugby's new Scots-first policy.

"There were guys like Henco Venter and those guys last year helped us to step up in these types of games," Smith told the media. "Not because they only made us win, but they also helped the youngsters that don't play that often."

If he shielded his players post-match, there's no doubt that Smith would have been furious behind closed doors.

No surprise then, that just two players remain from the starting XV that day - Ollie Smith and McDowall - with another two dropping to the bench in Gregor Brown and Dan Lancaster.

Zander Fagerson returns to the Glasgow coal face for the first time since April, while Scott Cummings and Max Williamson return from Scotland duty behind the front row.

Rory Darge makes just a second start of the season for the Warriors at openside, with Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey also named in a first-choice back-row.

George Horne is back at nine with old partner Adam Hastings next to him. Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu is back at inside centre, with Kyle Steyn skippering Glasgow from the wing.

There's a solid argument to be made that most of those players are starters for Scotland, not just Glasgow, and Sale's own team looks a little depleted in the match-up.

Head coach Alex Sanderson confirmed that the Sharks will be without England duo George Ford and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, while Luke Cowan-Dickie is also absent from the matchday squad.

However, Tom Curry anchors the forward pack from number eight with twin brother Ben named on the bench after recuperating from hamstring surgery.

While players and staff will be fully focused on the trip to Sale, Glasgow fans cannot help but lick their lips looking at the next fixture - Toulouse at home.

After that, it's the 1872 Cup double header with Edinburgh. A few festive treats for fans to tuck into, with Sale seemingly the appetiser before the big main course.

Smith will not be underestimating it, though. The loss to Scarlets was a "wake-up call" according to the head coach and his side must be alert to the Sharks danger.

Sale: Reed; O'Flaherty, Ma'asi-White, Louw, Wills; Du Preez, Quirke; McIntyre, Jibulu, John, Burrow, Bamber, Vermeulen, Van Rhyn, T Curry.

Replacements: Caine, Onasanya, Harper, Andrews, B Curry, Warr, Davies, Wehr.

Glasgow: McKay; Steyn, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Smith; Hastings, Horne; McBeth, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Williamson, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Samuel, Brown, Miller, Dobie, Lancaster.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Captain Sione Tuipulotu is still angry about Scotland's missed opportunities in the Autumn Nations Series and says the players owe it to Gregor Townsend to deliver success.

Scotland earned two wins from four in November, against the lesser lights of the USA and Tonga, but came up short in their two meaningful tests against New Zealand and Argentina.

"After doing a bit of reflection, I'm still angry," Tuipulotu said.

"And that's okay - why shouldn't I be angry? I care about winning for Scotland and I know the players do as well.

"I think it's about taking that anger into Glasgow games and coming in as best form as I possibly can into the Six Nations so after that tournament, I'm not as angry.

"The most important thing for the group is to know that my feeling coming out of those two games is the feeling of what we're chasing is closer than what we think.

"It's important we take the lessons we needed to learn after that Argentina game specifically. And I think maybe that needed to happen, for us to address what's possibly been either holding us back, or also just be realistic and accept our flaws of what we've done wrong.

"Stand there as a team, as players, as individuals and say what I did wrong as a captain or what we did wrong as a playing group for us not to get those results.

"And I felt like we did that in the last week and looked at each other honestly. We can't prove that's solved anything until we get to the Six Nations and we understand that completely."

Townsend came under intense pressure after the collapse from 21-0 up in the loss to Argentina, though Scottish Rugby chief Alex Williamson said the head coach retains the full support of the union.

Tuipulotu believes the Scotland players are motivated to deliver success for Townsend and his coaching staff.

"Going through the hard times and the good times with the coach makes it more enjoyable when you do get to the good times," said the Glasgow centre.

"When we've gone through this tough period of the autumn, now I want nothing more than for us and for Gregor is to have a good Six Nations.

"I feel like you owe it to them a little bit as well. There's so much work that goes on behind the scenes and you see the coaches go through so much detail and stuff like that and you realise how much pressure is on the coaches.

"I just want to take a little bit of accountability through the playing group and we are responsible for these victories and losses.

"I just feel like it's time for us now to pay back the coaching staff for getting us into this position."

We asked for your views after Scotland were drawn with Ireland, Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: Shocker of a draw for Scotland that will most likely see us out the tournament before the crunch games start. While unlucky to be in group where runners-up immediately face a group winner, Scotland need to focus on one game v Ireland that will determine their fate and I have zero confidence in Gregor Townsend to deliver a win when it's most required.

Kenny: The draw this time has been much kinder when compared with the last World Cup draw. Ireland, as always, should prove difficult to beat but we must be confident of getting through to the latter stages this time. The real question lies in what team(s) are we going to meet thereafter.

George: Scotland have to beat Ireland in the Six Nations and show all what they are made of. The other two games should be won but it's Scotland remember. We should make the next round at least.

Sean: Townsend has never beaten Ireland - despite their own drop in form I can't see that changing, particularly given all signs of lack of ability to turn up and perform in big games (notably against Ireland). That would most likely leave France in the round of 16, which all points to another abject early WC exit.

Ross: Ireland have had our number for many years but it may not all be that bad. Versus the likes of England, South Africa, France and Argentina, Ireland are in a slump with ageing players. It's whether we can improve and start putting in 60-70 minute performances.

Scotty: There's effectively just under two years to go before this tournament kicks off and a lot can happen in two years - two Six Nations and a Nations Cup to be exact. While Scotland clearly struggle against Ireland, the other teams that are on our side of the draw we have beaten before and hold no fear.

Callum: This is becoming boring, three World Cups in a row we've been drawn with Ireland! Surely there is a better way of mixing up the draw. With all the changes being made to the game to make it more entertaining, this is something World Rugby should look into.

Nigel: This looks an interesting and not a favourable draw by any means. Portugal are up and coming, Uruguay did well in the 2023 WC, and Ireland just love playing against Scotland don't they?

Hear from head coach Gregor Townsend and captain Sione Tuipulotu after Scotland draw Ireland, Uruguay and Portugal in Pool D at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Plus, Tom English and Andy Burke analyse Scotland's chances and preview Glasgow and Edinburgh in the Champions Cup this weekend.

It's all on the latest episode of the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast - listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds.

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Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu is looking forward to the challenge of the 2027 Rugby World Cup after finding out their opponents for the competition.

The Scots will be in pool D alongside Portugal, Uruguay and Ireland for the tournament in Australia in two years' time.

It's the third World Cup in a row that the two nations have been in the same group and Townsend's men have not had an easy time against the Irish in recent years.

In fact, Ireland have won the last 11 meetings between the sides.

"I think if you would have picked any of the top-six teams and put them in our draw, we're sitting in the exact same situation we're sitting in right now," Tuipulotu.

"It's just exciting times. It's kind of strange, two years out from a World Cup, seeing the draw and the different format as well, and trying to work out how things work. But I think it's extremely exciting, and we've got two other pretty tough teams in our pool as well who performed pretty well at the last World Cup. So we know what's in front of us now.

"Ireland have been a hurdle that we've struggled to get over and personally I think it's something that we're going to have to do over the next two games [against them], and to try and tackle that just before we go to the World Cup.

"Having that Lions experience as well with that, sharing the training field with a lot of those players and getting coached by a lot of their coaching, I think our players have taken a lot from that as well.

"It's interesting now with the journey of both teams and we're going to meet at the World Cup again in two years, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.

"That is our reality now and we've got to try and tackle that because in order for us to go perform as best we can or progress as deep as we can, we have to beat Ireland and that's just a reality we've got to get over that.

"It's a challenge that I'm really looking forward to as well. Because, like you say, I consider some of those boys my friends now and there's no one who you want to beat more than your friends.

"So I look forward to playing those boys in the Six Nations, as I'm sure they'll look forward to playing us."

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend stresses the importance of beating Ireland in the upcoming Six Nations to give his side a confidence boost for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Ireland and Scotland have faced each other 143 times and the Irish have come out on top in 72 of those meetings, in fact they haven't lost in the last 11 meetings between the sides.

Townsend's men will face off with the Irish before 2027 in the Six Nations and the Scotland boss is urging his side to break their 11-game winless run.

"We'll respect all three teams we have to face but obviously Ireland are a team that has beaten us pretty regularly these last few years," he said.

"We'll have to be better to beat them.

"We have two occasions - one in Dublin, one at Murrayfield - before the World Cup. The goal is always to beat Ireland and the other teams in the Six Nations but it's even more important now.

"It will be more difficult in the World Cup if we don't manage to beat Ireland in the next two meetings."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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If there was one team Scotland fans did not want to be drawn with in their World Cup pool, it was Ireland.

Perhaps you would throw the Springboks into that mix, but given how infrequently the Scots play the world champions, South Africa have not inflicted the same psychological damage as the Irish have over the past few years.

Ireland have beaten Scotland in their last 11 meetings, and arguably the two worst Scotland performances in that run were in the World Cup pool matches in 2019 and 2023.

There is a theory that Ireland are starting to slip from their lofty heights, that they are an ageing team and perhaps some of their key players don't have another World Cup in them.

We'll know more in just under two years when the action starts Down Under, but Scotland need to find a way to crack the Irish code before then.

Uruguay and Portugal should not represent any problems, so we can at least be almost certain Scotland will make it out their pool for the first time since the 2015 World Cup.

Scotland have been drawn against Ireland, Uruguay and Portugal in the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

We want to know what you make of that draw. Are you pleased with Scotland's opponents? How do you feel about the chances of progressing?

Have your say on Scotland's draw via this link

Grant Young
Fan writer

Do Glasgow have a problem? Or is this part of the new SRU journey?

A humiliating defeat away to Scarlets for Glasgow restarted this block of fixtures the way no Warriors fan could imagine.

A defeat is bad enough but to not even register a point and be completely outplayed by the URC bottom club is galling.

Glasgow in past seasons have tended to have a couple of blips, but the slip-ups have come early this term with defeats in Italy and now Llanelli.

More could be on the way as the changes SRU performance director David Nucifora has made are clearly being felt by the pro team coaches.

Glasgow last season on the same weekend against the same opponent not only scraped victory but had a back-row of Ally Miller, Henco Venter and Jack Mann. This term it was the impressive Gregor Brown, inexperienced Angus Fraser and breakout backrower Macenzzie Duncan.

It's a much less experienced line-up and it showed. Will fans need to accept short-term struggles before seeing the growth the Nucifora plan apparently promises?

At least Glasgow should be bolstered by the return of international players for the Champions Cup opener at Sale on Friday night.

Got any burning questions on Scottish rugby? As usual on a Monday, we're giving you the chance to put your questions to our reporters, Tom English and Andy Burke.

Send them in via this link and a selection of answers will be published on this page later in the week.

'A wins a win for a' that', Rabbie Burns would have probably written if he was an Edinburgh supporter. I suspect his allegiances might have lain elsewhere but the sentiment remains regardless.

The side we selected to take on what was always going to be a depleted Ospreys team had full debutants, players making first starts and players making first appearances of the season but it also had a core of experience running through it. It should have had enough in it to win at home against Ospreys and on that assessment alone it was job done.

However, it was a horrible watch and at no point in the 80 minutes did it feel like we had the game tied up. The fear that bubbled under throughout reached the surface after Ospreys got back to within a penalty of snatching the points.

There was a lot of hard work done by the forwards. A 100% completion record for both scrums and lineouts. There were also big numbers of carries by the pack. The back line however was largely devoid of any sort of penetration, invention or cohesion.

Duhan van der Merwe did have a big involvement in a couple of tries, unfortunately they were Ospreys tries and apart from Harry Paterson's late score the best moment of the game was hearing the Murrayfield stand choir chanting "Duhan made a tackle, na na na".

Findlay Thomson's player of the match award came with the comment that it was a hard pick. I'd have given it to Liam McConnell for his turnover which effectively secured the win in the closing minutes. Only Harri Morris put in more tackles in Edinburgh colours.

We missed Darcy Graham because without him the only back that looked like he knew how to avoid a tackle was Wes Goosen. We also missed James Lang for his experience and link play.

A full 80 minutes from the excellent Grant Gilchrist as well as nearly a full shift from Paul Hill probably reflect that this turned out to be a much harder game than anyone expected.

It may have been more prosaic than poetic but it was still an important win in the context of a tough period that starts with a visit this weekend from French giants Toulon who are sitting pretty in third in the Top 14.

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