Scottish Rugby

Grant Young
Fan writer

The meeting of arguably the URC's best two sides - Glasgow and Leinster - did not disappoint.

Warriors came out on top in a hard-nosed dogfight, a proper club game played in the embers of the Six Nations.

Both teams were far from their best but Leinster had the usual star players wheeled into the line-up from the southern hemisphere to put fear into Warriors fans.

Alex Samuel - a deserved player of the match - was far from daunted, making 20-plus tackles as the hosts showed their mettle. Rumour has it RG Snyman is still having nightmares.

The game had everything. Quality tries, stern defences and the bubbling of niggle.

You won't find me arguing against any of the Warriors scores being contenders for try of the season let alone this game.

It clicked. Whether it was Ollie Smith, George Horne, Macenzzie Duncan or Kyle Rowe, each had a sparkle of Glasgow magic.

A tough schedule to end the regular season now awaits. Five top teams to face, including a double-header in South Africa and difficult test at Ulster.

Up first is the visit of Italian top dogs Bennetton, who are much improved year on year and will be full of Italy internationals brimming with confidence. The big question is who will Franco Smith add back into his playing pool?

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Edinburgh have failed to establish an identity as they battle to avoid another disappointing season, according to forwards coach Stevie Lawrie.

The capital side succumbed to a dismal 54-17 defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend, a loss which leaves them in 13th place in the URC table, 12 points off the play-off places with five matches of the regular season remaining.

Edinburgh have won just four of their 13 league matches this campaign.

"You need to produce a performance and game model that excites the players but also goes and applies pressure to the opposition," Lawrie said.

"One of the frustrations is we're not laying down a certain identity around how we're playing

"That's for us to fix. There's no excuses, there's no hiding place. It's a case of, at the minute, it's just not quite there."

Edinburgh take on second-place Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, and Lawrie says even if they pull off a shock win in the fashion of their stunning Champions Cup victory over French giants Toulon earlier this season, it would not signal an end to the team's problems.

"I genuinely don't believe it's just going to be one performance, because I've seen that," Lawrie said.

"We've spoken about Toulon, we've seen it, and it didn't turn our season around, if we're completely honest. So it's about how we put that consistency over the piece.

"It's a case of having the firm conversations both ways. And you know what? There should be some bloody tough conversations going on at the minute, because it's not good.

"If you look at the performance we put in against the Stormers when we came back from the Lions last year, that was a record defeat for the Stormers on the road at that time.

"Seven days is a long time in rugby, so there's certainly no pity parties happening here."

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

Horror movies usually come with an 18 rating and warnings regarding content that may be upsetting.

Unfortunately sporting events aren't scripted and although I had little expectation Edinburgh would win at Lions on Saturday I wasn't expecting to have to revisit the trauma of our last visit to Johannesburg.

Another eight tries conceded and another lesson in running rugby at the hands of what has been up until now the weakest of the four South African sides in the URC.

The positives? Absolutely none.

The negatives? Too many to count.

The whole debacle can be summed up by Lions' try in the 54th minute that started with Magnus Bradbury prevaricating over the ball five metres from the hosts' try line.

They turned it over and then went the length of the pitch almost unchallenged. A foot in touch gave Edinburgh a lineout but we messed that up too and Lions picked up their sixth try a few seconds later.

It wasn't the only time they did that as the 653 metres they made with ball in hand will testify to.

Meanwhile Edinburgh attempted 73 tackles and only completed 43. That is an unacceptable statistic.

If you want to talk about efficiency of attack then Lions had only 39% possession in the entire match and yet scored eight tries. Edinburgh with the bigger portion just looked clueless.

It hurts to write this stuff. After the game I was angry. I was angry during it and my face would have frightened off lions and tigers and bears (oh my) but in the stand Sean Everitt was vapid and expressionless.

Can you imagine Richard Cockerill's reaction to such a display?

This is prima facie evidence there is no progress being made by this team under this management group. A group that starts with our managing director.

Two almost identical defeats at the same location against the same opposition two years apart and the prospect of a worst-ever finish since the URC started is looming on a very dark horizon.

We had a goal to make the top eight. It's hardly the stuff of sporting legend yet we are failing to do even that.

If we want to change this from a horror movie to a Mighty Ducks type underdogs sporting drama some big changes are required.

Sandy Smith can be found at the Burgh Watch, external

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Johnnie Beattie believes former Scotland team-mate Mike Blair "could find his way back" to coaching in his homeland after his stint working with New Zealand.

Blair, 44, will be part of former Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie's backroom team with the All Blacks, the pair having worked together at Glasgow.

Former Scotland captain Blair also worked with current national head coach Gregor Townsend, was later Edinburgh head coach and has latterly been Kobe Steelers attack coach for Rennie in Japan.

"He might find his way back," Beattie told BBC Radio Scotland.

"Scotland is quite a small, closed group - there's two professional teams and the national side. If you're not involved there then there's not much opportunity.

"Mike has come through the system, he's been a product of Scottish rugby. He's now coaching the All Blacks but coaching is not something that lasts five or six or seven years.

"There's a strong chance that sometime in the future, Mike could find his way back into the system in Scottish rugby, hopefully in a head coach capacity with Glasgow, Edinburgh or Scotland. So, hopefully, we see him back here soon."

Scrum-half Blair won his 85 Scotland caps between 2002 and 2012, while back-rower Beattie played 38 international matches from 2006-15. Blair captained Scotland teams Beattie played in.

"For a Scot to be associated with a sporting brand, not even a rugby brand like the All Blacks, I think they're the most successful sporting brand of the last 60, 70, 80 years, so it's wonderful to see," Beattie said.

"Dave knows him really well. You've got to think in coaching groups there has to be utmost trust, reliance on the people around you and that's why he's gone for Mike.

"Mike also as a player and a coach has a really good reputation for innovation, creativity and that's what the All Blacks are looking to re-inject into their style of play, which has become maybe over the last two, three seasons a little bit readable.

"The boys loved him at Edinburgh. Mike just wanted to coach. He just wanted to be a hands-on attack coach."

Do you have any burning questions for our rugby experts after a superb win for URC leaders Glasgow against Leinster and a disappointing result in Johannesburg for Edinburgh?

Send in your questions via this link and a selection will be answered by our experts and published on this page later in the week.

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Glasgow centre Johnny Ventisei - who made his senior debut in Saturday's win over Leinster - has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The 20-year-old played a part in two of Glasgow's six tries at the weekend, having previously captained Scotland Under-20s.

He credited head coach Franco Smith for giving him the belief to break into the starting XV and also spoke about what it is like working with Glasgow's senior centres, including Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.

"I'm over the moon," Ventisei told Glasgow's club media.

"To be able to sign my first pro contract with my boyhood club is beyond special - it's a real dream come true.

"It's been a surreal week to be honest. When Franco told me I was going to be starting against Leinster, I couldn't believe it.

"It's been unbelievable to learn from the group of centres here. For me, I think we've got three of the best centres in the world in Stafford [McDowall], Sione [Tuipulotu] and Huw [Jones], so to be able to watch them and see how they operate at the highest level is a priceless opportunity for me and the other young guys here.

"Franco and the coaches have been superb, as well. From the minute we all got here and came into the academy a couple of years ago, he's been so good with us and making it feel like a unified squad - there's no real line between academy and senior squad, it feels like we're all one group.

"The confidence the coaches have shown in me is amazing and I'm determined to repay that faith."

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Glasgow head coach Franco Smith poured praise on young centre Johnny Ventisei after his pro debut in the resounding win over Leinster at Scotstoun.

The 20-year-old, who has captained Scotland at age-grade level, was thrown into the deep end against his opposite number, All Blacks star Reiko Ioane, but came through the test with flying colours.

""I was so keen to tell him [he was starting]," admitted Smith when speaking to Premier Sports. "But I don't like to go back on my word so I made sure he settled in nicely on Monday.

"He stepped up and did a very good job tonight for us, and put his hand up for more responsibility with us.

"With Kerr Yule and Kerr Johnston, the age group of that centre group has now dropped quite a bit. When the young guys play amongst a little more experienced players, they get an opportunity to be themselves.

"We did it with Seb Stephen last year. He played Leinster after we lost against them in the quarter-finals [of the Champions Cup]. He stepped up. Maccenzie Duncan's first game was then, too. Sometimes the occasion demands it and when the players step up, it's fantastic."

While Glasgow can never be written off at Scotstoun, the manner of their victory over a stacked Leinster side was still a surprise.

"The boys worked hard," Smith said. "We were going to try and score as many tries as possible, but I didn't think we'd get to that many. Some good attack from our side, managing to hold the ball.

"I'm really glad we made full use of the cards they have. I'm not oblivious of that fact, but still I thought we played really well.

"It's the way we train, the way we try and develop the game. The game is going that way. If you look at the Six Nations now, there's a lot of tries scored. It's what's demanded of the game now.

"That is the one ingredient that brings the enthusiasm to club rugby. I'm really proud of the boys."

Rugby fans, we asked for your opinions on the results for the two pro Scottish clubs in URC action yesterday. Edinburgh lost to the Lions in Johannesburg, while Glasgow beat Leinster at Scotstoun. Here's what you had to say...

EDINBURGH

Chris: Is there any credible plan for fixing the myriad of issues with this Edinburgh team that doesn't start with the words 'sack Sean Everitt'?

Jennifer: When Everitt was given a new contract five months ago, I thought we were in for another two years of mediocrity. It turns out mediocrity is something we need to aspire to.

There has to be a change, it's an absolute insult expecting us to pay to watch this level of performance when Glasgow are along the M8 absolutely smashing it. It's not like we don't have talented players, we just seem incapable of using them effectively.

James: Edinburgh's last two results highlight the madness of Everitt's contract extension. The SRU need to explain what they saw in him that made them believe he's the right man to progress Edinburgh and what the plan is to turn the club round.

At the home match v Ulster a huge proportion of the fans left before the end of the match. They charge a lot for tickets and the fans deserve better. If the fans stop coming to games, the club dies.

GLASGOW

Ben: I was nervous when I saw the teams, but boy did we step up, some of the young guns in particular. Johnny Ventisei was outstanding on debut and Alex Samuel had arguably his best game yet for Glasgow. The most impressive aspect was the third quarter when it was all Leinster, but we looked so comfortable in defence. Should be an exciting end to the season over the next few months!

Bob: Great night for the Warriors. Stuck to their usual game plan and defended very well, made the two yellow cards pay. A great lift for everyone at the club at an important part of the season.

Chris: Full credit to Ventisei, just 20-years-old but making a proper impact. Credit has to go to McDowall, too. He is the glue that keeps it all together. Brilliant from Glasgow, they should fear no one.

Brian: Great win for Glasgow; really clinical when Leinster went down to 13 men. Good resilience in the second half and then turned the screw at the end to stop them getting anything from the game.

Contrasting fortunes for Scotland's two pro sides in Saturday's URC action.

Edinburgh were on the end of another humbling scoreline out in Johannesburg against the Lions, while Glasgow turned over Leinster in a real statement win at Scotstoun.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Johnny Ventisei will make his professional debut for Glasgow Warriors against Leinster in the URC on Saturday.

Ventisei, 20, is a former Scotland Under-20s captain and starts at outside centre.

Macenzzie Duncan is picked at number eight after signing his first professional contract earlier this week, while Alex Craig and Alex Samuel form the second-row partnership after returning from Scotland camp.

"It goes without saying that Leinster has been amongst the standard setters in European rugby for many years, with strength in depth across every position and a squad filled with international talent that can cause problems for any team – we know we must be at our best to meet their level tomorrow evening," Smith said.

"Johnny has worked hard behind the scenes to put himself in the best position possible ahead of his first senior appearance, and we know he will give everything for this team."

Glasgow XV to face Leinster: McKay, Rowe, Ventisei, McDowall, Smith, Lancaster, Horne; Schickerling, Hiddleston, Richardson, Craig, Samuel, Ferrie, Vailanu, Duncan.

Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Oguntibeju, Miller, Fraser, Oliver, Hastings.

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt has named three of Scotland's Six Nations squad in his starting XV to face Lions in the URC on Saturday.

Number eight Magnus Bradbury, tighthead prop D'arcy Rae and flanker Freddy Douglas bolster the pack, while hooker Ewan Ashman is among the replacements.

Centre Matt Currie is also back after a hamstring injury.

Jack Brown replaces the injured Wes Goosen in the back three, while the half-back pairing of Ben Vellacott and Ross Thompson is unchanged from the 19-40 defeat by Ulster.

The Scottish outfit are without hooker Harri Morris, who has received a five-week ban for the tackle which he was sent off for against Ulster.

"We're excited to be out in South Africa, gearing up to play in an iconic stadium in Johannesburg," Everitt said.

"The Lions away is one of the toughest assignments in the league, as we found out last year, but we are well prepared and have picked a side that can get a positive result."

Edinburgh XV to face Lions: Paterson, Satala, Currie, M. Tuipulotu, Brown, Thompson, Vellacott; Venter, Richardson, Rae, Sykes, Young, Muncaster, Douglas, Bradbury.

Replacements: Ashman, Whitcombe, Hill, Hunter-Hill, McConnell, Shiel, Scott, O'Conor.

Jana McCabe
BBC Sport NI journalist

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Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland winger Kyle Steyn have been shortlisted for the 2026 Six Nations Player of the championship award.

Tommaso Menoncello of Italy and France's Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who won last year's award, are also nominated.

After an injury-impacted autumn campaign, McCloskey helped Ireland achieve their fourth Triple Crown in five years and finish second in this year's tournament.

Steyn started all of Scotland's matches, scored three tries and was influential in the side finishing third.

The winner of the award will be determined by a public vote which will close on Thursday, 26 March.

McCloskey registered the joint highest try assist (six) and turnovers won (eight) of the tournament.

He also led Ireland in carries (74), offloads (eight), defenders beaten (20) and post-contact metres (105).

The 33-year-old has also been named in the Six Nations team of the championship alongside Ireland forwards Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Jack Conan.

McCloskey plays his club rugby for Ulster, who sit third in the United Rugby Championship [URC] table.

Two of Steyn's three tries came during Scotland's impressive 50-40 victory over eventual Six Nations winners France at Murrayfield.

Steyn is also in the team of the championship with team-mates Finn Russell and Rory Darge.

The 32-year-old has registered 185 points from 103 appearances for Glasgow Warriors and is their first player to be nominated since 2017.

BBC Sport Scotland's Andy Burke has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.

George asked: How highly can we rate this Six Nations for Scotland given the fact everyone said pre-tournament we needed to beat Ireland and getting that monkey off our back was the most important thing to do?

Andy answered: Rory Lawson said on this week's BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast the Six Nations campaign was "a step rather than a leap forward" for Scotland. I think that's a fair assessment.

Going into the tournament off the back of a disappointing autumn, many people would have expected a fourth-place finish behind France, England and Ireland. Some were fearful of finishing even lower, behind Italy.

Third is a solid return and while the championship was bookended by those disappointments in Rome and Dublin, there was a lot to like in the victories in between against England, Wales and France.

The dispiriting part is Scotland look no closer to finding the answers to beating Ireland, something they will have to do if they are to have success in the Six Nations or next year's World Cup.

Mike asked: How can the SRU justify Sean Everitt's contract extension? If they continue to lose this season do you think he will be there for the 26-27 season? From the stands on Friday surrounded by season-ticket holders no one is going to buy again until Everitt is gone, so do the SRU actually care about Edinburgh fans?

Andy answered: The decision to extend Everitt's contract came as a big surprise and nothing that has happened since would suggest it was justified.

Edinburgh just look like a soft touch at the moment. They played some good stuff in the first half against Ulster, but simply failed to emerge from the changing room for the second half.

Four wins from 12 URC matches is a dismal return and they have a mountain to climb to get into the play-offs. With a Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster looming also, it's hard to see where any sort of success will come from this season.

The Edinburgh fans are not happy and it feels like a sense of drift has been allowed to take hold of the club.

I would be amazed if Scottish Rugby got rid of Everitt at the end of the season so soon after extending his deal, but he surely has to start showing something soon to suggest he can get this team moving forward.

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Scotland's Six Nations performance was a "step forward" but not a "leap forward", insists former skipper Rory Lawson.

The 43-21 defeat by Ireland in Dublin ended the Scots' hopes of a first title since 1999 as Gregor Townsend's side finished third - their joint highest in the Six Nations era - with three wins and two losses.

Speaking on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast, Lawson said: "Three wins is a step forward - not a leap forward.

"Scotland should have played the conditions better [away to Italy in opening game]. At 12-0 down or whatever they were, in those conditions, chasing a game is so difficult. That was the difference in the end."

The 45-year-old named the 50-40 win over France at Murrayfield as the highlight of Scotland's campaign.

"That was the best Scotland performance I've seen for a long time," he added.

"They couldn't back it up in Dublin. Scotland ran out of steam and couldn't maintain the intensity and the quality and execution away from home.

"There's a lot to be proud of in the squad and a lot of credit banked in finishing in the top half of the table."

Lawson also picked out the players in Townsend's squad who impressed most.

"Kyle Steyn was phenomenal through the whole championship," he said.

"His stats were ridiculous. He doesn't make errors. He's so composed. He does so much good. And it's not even always the try-scoring stuff - it's workrate. He never gives up. He's a real leader there.

"Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey were just tremendous throughout the championship. I really thought they were good.

"Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings were missed in the final game.

"Ben White had an excellent championship, particularly in the two home games. He was really, really good.

"Against Dupont in that French game, I thought he outperformed the best scrum-half, if not the best player, in the world.

"Sione Tuipulotu stepped into that leadership role well and showed a lot of class, both in victory and defeat."

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Back-rower Macenzzie Duncan says he is delighted to sign his professional deal with Glasgow Warriors and continue to learn from "the best".

The 23-year-old former Bristol Bears prospect, who joined Glasgow's academy prior to last season, made his first-team debut a year ago and has racked up 11 appearances.

"I'm delighted to get another two years here," said Duncan.

"It's just continued two years of growth with one of the best coaches in the world, best environment in the world that I've ever been in and I'm just buzzing for the next two years.

"It's one of the best places, so much competition, so many young boys, so many world-class players, you can't really get better and learn off anyone better. Just pick their brains day in, day out."

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Former Scotland skipper Rory Lawson says "standout" Jack Dempsey's Glasgow Warriors exit is a "gut punch" for the national team.

The number eight will depart Scotstoun at the end of the season to join a club in Japan, believed to be Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo.

It puts the international future of Dempsey, who turns 32 next month, in doubt because of clashes with Japan's domestic season schedule.

"It's a bitter, bitter blow for the Warriors, for Scotland," said former scrum-half Lawson on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"Hugely disappointing, but he would have weighed all of this up within his decision-making process.

"The offers that come in from Scottish Rugby, and while it's to play for Glasgow Warriors we know it's all under Scottish Rugby, and it's the budget that's going towards these international players that keeps them in Scotland and gives the player management opportunity to Scotland.

"As soon as they move, you lose that control.

"And in this case, particularly when you're losing him to Japan with a different layout of the season, different player accessibility, that definitely throws it up in the air, his potential involvement or not in next year's Six Nations and the World Cup.

"As a player who has been a standout, it's a huge gut punch for him to have committed elsewhere."

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Scotland number eight Jack Dempsey leaving Glasgow is "the nature of the beast", according to the club's assistant coach Roddy Grant.

Glasgow have announced that Dempsey will "take up a playing contract overseas" this summer. BBC Scotland revealed on Monday that he is moving to Japan.

Since signing for Glasgow in 2021, the former Australia international has established himself as a key performer for both the Warriors and his adopted country, winning the United Rugby Championship with Glasgow in 2024.

Grant also revealed Glasgow held unsuccessful talks to keep Dempsey at Scotstoun.

"We would have obviously liked to have kept him," Grant said. "He's one of the best eights in the world at the moment.

"It's the nature of the beast, the nature of sport. Without sounding too clinical, that is the reality with different markets. We've seen it before with other players going.

"There's still a lot of rugby left this season and he'll be determined to finish well with Glasgow.

"I know there were discussions. Ultimately you do the best you can and some things are out of your control. It is what it is."