Scottish Rugby

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Edinburgh have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions Cup despite Friday's chastening 63-10 defeat by Bath.

Sean Everitt's side finish fourth in Pool 2 thanks to bonus-point wins over Toulon and Gloucester, but a points difference of minus 71 after heavy losses against Castres and Bath.

Castres narrowly beat Munster and Toulon saw off Gloucester on Saturday, meaning Munster drop into the Challenge Cup and Gloucester prop up the six-team table.

We asked for your thoughts after Edinburgh were trounced by Bath in the Champions Cup on Friday.

Here's what you had to say:

Scotty: A tough result to swallow particularly after Sean Everitt's new contract this week. Really puzzling decision.

Arran: Well, I can't say that wasn't expected. Sending a second-string team against a full strength Bath squad was never going to end well. Outclassed in every area. Every time we had ball we kicked it away, the backs struggled to get going again. Only positives were Harry Paterson and, once again, Freddy Douglas.

Jim: Bath showed Edinburgh they are way behind in the European rugby order. Bath were always going to win at home but this was men against boys with Finn Russell running the show.

Jamie: Wow - I cannot swear enough after that disappointing game. The scoreline is embarrassing. Looking on the players' faces at the end when they had hands on their hips, these boys need a new inspiration and a new coach.

Rich: Bath are a great team but it didn't look like the Edinburgh players are particularly happy about their coach getting a new contract. I'm baffled that he managed to get a new contract. What were his objectives that he somehow passed?

Gordon: A predictable result. Why Edinburgh decided to throw both away games by fielding weakened teams is beyond me. Not a fan of Everitt but the problems at Edinburgh have been going on for years under numerous coaches. A clear out at all levels is needed. Until then, Edinburgh players shouldn't be anywhere near a Scotland match-day squad.

DJ: Edinburgh's lacklustre performance has just further highlighted the folly of Everitt's contract extension. He and his coaching staff have managed once again to get an Edinburgh squad that is full of talented players, despite the amount of injuries and the insane selection choices, to continually fail to resemble a coherent and organised team.

Andrew: Protocols require players to be rested, so don't blame the coaches. We're still in with a qualification chance in Europe and in the league for top eight.

The end of the season is the time to judge progress this season. Getting to the end of the season requires squad rotation. And, like it or not, Edinburgh and Glasgows' jobs are to produce players for their paymasters, Scotland.

Young players at Edinburgh are coming through and pressuring their Glasgow counterparts to start for Scotland. That's what Everett is being asked to do. That's why he's had his contract renewed.

The economics of Scottish rugby don't allow for a different approach. Edinburgh and Glasgow don't have large enough fan bases for a different approach.

Campbell: What on earth are the Edinburgh coaches doing? Their team selection choices against Castres and Bath were white flags not judicious squad rotation. Do they want to demoralise the squad and kill their own momentum?

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Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt told Premier Sports: "They were hot tonight, and made us pay for every mistake that we made. We fought gallantly in the first half, allowed them too many entries and the power game got ahead of us. WE couldn't keep out their maul.

"The set piece settled as the game went on but we gave them too much front foot ball, and with the backs they have they are very dangerous. Disappointed with the scoreboard, but once again the boys did fight.

"There's always positives to take. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty scrummed really well and has just been complimented by Thomas du Toit as well. He's going to learn heaps from this and Scotland will benefit from that, likewise Freddy Douglas.

"Harry Paterson, coming back from injury, hasn't played much rugby but he was exceptional and the standout player for me tonight. Some pleasing individual performances but as a unit, we just got banged by a more powerful team tonight."

Bath sealed top spot in Pool 2 and a home last-16 tie in the Investec Champions Cup with a nine-try thrashing of Edinburgh.

What did you make of that Edinburgh fans? Let us know your thoughts here.

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Scotland international Rory Darge returns to the back-row amid two Glasgow Warriors changes for the Champions Cup visit of Saracens in their final Pool 1 game.

Euan Ferrie drops to the bench and Matt Fagerson switches back to blindside.

In the backs Jamie Dobie is rested, after starting the previous five games, with Ollie Smith coming in to replace him on the wing.

Elsewhere, it's a near full-strength line-up for Franco Smith's side, with scrum-half George Horne making his 150th Warriors appearance.

Glasgow are already through to the knockouts but seeking another bonus-point win to secure top spot and guarantee home ties through to the semi-final should they make it that far.

"Saracens possess a strong pedigree in the Champions Cup, something they will be eager to continue this weekend," said head coach Smith.

"Their squad is packed with international-calibre talent and we know that they will come here with a direct, physical game plan that we will need to be at our best to match."

Glasgow Warriors: Rowe, Steyn (c), Jones, S Tuipulotu, Smith; Lancaster, Horne; Schickerling, Hiddleston, Z Fagerson, Craig, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Williamson, Brown, Ferrie, McDowall, Afshar.

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

Callum asked: Are we seeing the demise of Duhan van der Merwe? Another non-impact game last weekend. Surely he is nowhere near the Scotland team for Rome.

Tom answered: He might bounce back in the Six Nations - if he gets picked to play, which on form, he shouldn't.

I wouldn't have him in the top four wings at the moment, but I know that Test rugby - and playing outside a backline that wants to put him into space - brings out a different Duhan.

By his own account he didn't have a great Six Nations last season, then he got injured and lost confidence. He was genuinely surprised to make the Lions tour - I was with him the day of the announcement and he was almost speechless - but it didn't go fantastically well for him in Australia. He was dropped for the big autumn Tests and hasn't done much for Edinburgh.

So he's in a significant slump, that's for sure. For Rome, if you were picking on merit, you'd probably go with Kyle Steyn on one wing and Jamie Dobie on the other. Leaving out Duhan and Darcy Graham looks bizarre given their incredible numbers with Scotland, but Steyn and Dobie would be the form picks.

I didn't think Edinburgh should have given Duhan another contract - too costly and too little return at club level. But he's there and we're going to see what he's made of now.

Teddy asked: After the weekend, should Freddy Douglas and Liam McConnell be in contention for the 23 in the Six Nations?

Tom answered: Gregor Townsend picked a squad of 37 this time last year. I just wrote down my own squad of 37 and Douglas and McConnell are both in there. Whether they make the 23 is another matter.

The depth in the back-row is terrific. Matt Fagerson-Rory Darge-Jack Dempsey; Jamie Ritchie-Andy Onyeama Christie-Magnus Bradbury; Josh Bayliss, Dylan Richardson, Ben Muncaster; Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas, Alex Masibaka.

I'd start Gregor Brown in the second-row but, obviously, he's another huge option at six. There's also Euan Ferrie and Ally Miller and a few others back-rows.

Fagerson-Darge-Dempsey would be my pick right now with, potentially, Onyeama-Christie and Douglas on a 6-2 bench. Every chance I'll change my mind 50 times between now and Rome, of course. The back-row has never been stronger.

Jack asked: Have any of the younger players done enough to put their hand up for selection in the Six Nations?

Tom answered: For the wider squad - 37 players or thereabouts - then absolutely they have. I'd have Gregor Hiddleston in the original squad and I'd seriously think about Seb Stephen as well.

Ollie Blyth-Lafferty has a chance. I'd have Cam Henderson (not a youngster, but a rookie at Test level) among the locks and Liam McConnell and Freddy Douglas among the back-rows. Maybe Euan Ferrie as well.

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

Ethan asked: With Adam Hastings now officially moving to Montpellier and Duncan Weir walking off into the sunset to get involved in the academy, who should we expect Glasgow to recruit to fill the fly-half hole(s)?

Tom answered: As it stands, Franco Smith will have three options next season - Dan Lancaster, Charlie Savala and Matthew Urwin.

Lancaster is currently second choice behind Hastings, Savala is unproven and has been out with a serious injury all season, and Urwin is still an academy player. You might say the cupboard is bare.

There's no evidence Glasgow are going to be allowed to sign a relatively big hitter to replace Hastings (who replaced Tom Jordan).

It's got to be a huge concern for Smith. He's done brilliantly in managing the departure of Jordan, Henco Venter and Seb Cancelliere, but you can't keep doing it season after season. At some point, things unravel. If Smith feels he's just managing decline then the real problems start.

You ask who should Glasgow expect? A move might be made for Fergus Burke, but he's still contracted to Saracens. I can't imagine Glasgow will be allowed to sign a non-Scottish 10, so the options are limited if that's the case.

The one indisputable fact in all this is Glasgow need proper reinforcement at 10 and with Hastings and Huw Jones leaving they ought to have a decent salary to play with. Trying to buy Burke out of his deal looks a logical play.

Colin asked: Is Hastings' departure to Montpellier a sign of Scottish Rugby having to tighten the belt further, and what chance is there that both Jones and Jack Dempsey will be at Glasgow next season?

Tom answered: Things have moved on since you asked the question. Losing Jones, on top of Hastings, is a sore one, but it was kind of inevitable. The better Glasgow do, the more likely the raiding missions from France. I don't think we've seen the last of them.

There are about a dozen Glasgow players that would have big appeal to the French clubs. Not saying all, or any, will go, but I'd be staggered if offers weren't made for some of them over the coming years, which will mean the SRU have to pay more to keep these guys (if they can keep them) which will in turn put pressure on somewhere else in the budget.

Some guys will slip through the cracks, as Jordan did when the SRU were focused so strongly on keeping Sione Tuipulotu. This is part of the price you pay for success - bigger clubs will descend on your players. The circle of rugby life.

Visit this page on Friday for more answers to your questions.

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Winger Malelili Satala will make his debut in an Edinburgh side showing six changes for Friday's Champions Cup visit to Bath.

Going into the final round of pool fixtures, Bath lead the way in Group 2 on 11 points, with Edinburgh second on 10 points.

Summer signing Satala, 21, takes over from Duhan van der Merwe, who has a calf problem.

Captain Magnus Bradbury is rested for the trip to The Rec, along with Pierre Schoeman, Liam McConnell and Wes Goosen.

Ben Muncaster and Tom Dodd start in the back-row, while Harry Paterson returns from injury to start at full-back.

Ewan Ashman takes over from Harri Morris at hooker and Piers O'Conor slots into the midfield for the injured Matt Currie (hamstring).

"We are really excited to give Malelili his chance," said head coach Sean Everitt, who agreed a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.

"He is a player with genuine X-factor and we're looking forward to seeing what he can bring to the jersey on such a massive stage. He's worked hard for this opportunity and deserves his shot.

"While we've had to manage the load after a massive physical shift from the group, this selection is a testament to the great depth we've built here.

"We're bringing in players who have been knocking on the door and training at a high level, and they now have the platform to make a real statement.

"The boys are incredibly hungry for this challenge and are looking forward to a real European showdown at such an iconic ground."

Edinburgh: Paterson, Graham, O'Conor, Lang, Satala, Thompson, Vellacott (capt); Whitcombe, Ashman, Blyth-Lafferty, Hunter-Hill, Young, Dodd, Douglas, Muncaster.

Replacements: Morris, Jones, Hill, McVie, Boyle, Shiel, Healy, Brown.

We asked for your views head coach on Sean Everitt signing a two-year contract extension with Edinburgh.

Here's what some of you said:

Matthew: Controversial I think. Very mixed views on it as I don't see us making progress under him. But if he stays, he needs a new coaching set-up and players need to be sold because we just aren't good enough. I'm willing to see how it goes but unless things drastically improve, I don't see many changes and can see a drastic fall in season-ticket sales for next season.

Robert: As a long-suffering Edinburgh season ticket holder, I just see another two years of underperforming. The contrast with Glasgow is stark.

Ali: What an uninspiring appointment. Edinburgh have been woefully inconsistent in recent seasons and show nothing under the current coach to suggest changing that trend. It was the perfect chance to install a new coach. A club legend like Roddy Grant would have won back a lot of supporters, I've yet to hear a positive opinion on the announcement.

Jamie: I'd rather have Kenny Murray than Everitt. Giving him a two-year extension might be the biggest laugh of all. I'm going to need to drink a lot of Irn-Bru to see the upside on this. I thought bringing in David Nucifora might bring a harder, no nonsense, results-driven mantra but with only two professional teams, Edinburgh have adopted Jason Donovan's new revamped musical, 'Any team will do'. Pathetic.

Stair: Shocked! I was looking forward to the introduction of our new coaching team in a few months. A prime example of promotion beyond ability.

Andy: Not the news I was hoping to read. Another two years of inconsistent rugby with no plan, no excitement and mid to low table places coming up I'm afraid. He has done absolutely nothing to deserve this contract other than nod his head when told by SRU to promote players who are either not prepared for professional rugby or simply not good enough.

David: Oh. I feel the same sense of deflation as when I didn't get the exam result I was hoping for. He's got a lot to prove. I realise he's not the entire cause (looking at you, players) but he's clearly not the man to galvanise the team and, at times, doesn't appear to have a plan let alone a strategy.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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There's been a lot of speculation surrounding Sean Everitt and whether he's staying or going.

Now we know. Two more years. It's a surprise.

You have to wonder what supports the faith shown in him.

Edinburgh are the great underachievers, failing under a succession of different coaches and different types of coaching.

Everitt is an immensely hard worker but what progress he has made has come in inches rather than yards.

The style of rugby is not always easy on the eye, so this will probably come as a bit of a disappointment to many Edinburgh fans who want what Glasgow suppoters have under Franco Smith - glamour, entertainment, victories against the biggest guns, and a trophy.

Edinburgh can deliver some of that, but only on occasion. Consistency is always the problem.

Maybe Everitt carries on because the pool of alternatives is extremely shallow right now. He's got much to prove in the years ahead.

Edinburgh have announced a new deal for head coach Sean Everitt, with the South African signing a two-year extension that keeps him at the club until summer 2028.

What do you make of it, Edinburgh fans? Does it come as a surprise? Are you happy with the news?

Let us know your thoughts here.

We asked for your views on Huw Jones and Adam Hastings' departures from Glasgow at the end of the season.

Here's what some of you said:

Thomas: I'm not hugely surprised to see Jones move on. A big pay day and a new challenge at 32, with punditry clearly on the horizon. He's a world-class player so it's obviously a blow for Glasgow, but it does potentially free up salary and opens the door for Stafford McDowall to feature more. Hastings is perhaps the tougher one to take. I was sceptical he could fill the gap left by Tom Jordan, but he's been excellent. Losing two excellent fly-halves in two years is a sore one.

Bob: Don't begrudge Jones, a decent final pay day, best of luck to him. Going forward where does it leave the Warriors supporters, watching yet another top player leave the club? Also, I'm sure Sione Tuipulotu was told Glasgow were an ambitious club who would compete on all fronts when he re-signed?

Chris: You can't fault either player for making the move. Good on them. Time for the next crop to stand up. This needs to be a season delivering silverware which is in no way guaranteed - would love to see Hastings getting his hands on a cup as a parting gift. I am sure both will be doing everything in their power to deliver.

Scott: Not good news for Glasgow. To lose two star players and not much coming through quality wise will be a big miss. I feel this season is their last chance for a major trophy for a while.

Chloe: Jones and Hastings are huge losses but they both wanted to take on new adventures in France and you can't blame them. It's nice to open up opportunity for younger players but Glasgow's backline after last year and this year's losses is becoming very light. There must be space for at least two new exciting backline players to be brought in (preferably a 10 and a utility player).

Alistair: No point getting upset about it. Rugby careers are short, and given their ages (especially in the case of 32-year-old Jones) you can't blame them looking for a nice pay day in the south of France before they retire. Their departure will free up some budget to pay for all the new emerging talent that Franco Smith is famously expert at bringing through. And in the immediate future, Dan Lancaster and McDowall seem well very well placed to fill the gaps.

Tom English and Andy Burke discuss the news that Huw Jones and Adam Hastings will leave Glasgow at the end of the season.

They also answer audience questions while looking back on brilliant wins for Glasgow and Edinburgh in the Champions Cup and floating the idea of a British and Irish League.

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

Two big-name Glasgow Warriors departures have been confirmed in as many days, with Huw Jones and Adam Hastings both France bound at the end of the season.

Warriors fans, we want your views on the exits of the Scotland pair.

What does it mean for Glasgow next season and beyond? And who might replace them?

Share your thoughts here and a selection of your responses will be featured on this page on Wednesday.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Ollie Smith believes home advantage can be key in Glasgow Warriors going deep into this season's Champions Cup, and says Scotstoun is a venue opposition teams "hate".

Warriors face Saracens on Sunday with their place in the round of 16 already secured.

Glasgow's previous home game in the competition was the epic comeback victory over Toulouse last month, and with away bonus-point wins against Sale and Clermont Auvergne also banked, Franco Smith's side are in a fantastic position to go further in the Champions Cup than they ever have before.

A win over Sarries could earn Glasgow - who never never progressed beyond the last eight - a top seeding that would ensure a route of home ties right through to a potential semi-final.

"This is probably one of the hardest places to come, mentally, I would say," full-back Smith said.

"We've spoken to obviously a lot of guys in camp, and they talk about how they hate coming to Scotstoun.

"The rubber pitch, it's usually windy, it's usually wet, but I think when that's your own stadium and you've got your own fans in here and it can get a bit hostile, like in the Toulouse game, I think it gives you a bit more grit, you kind of become a bit more steely.

"You think about this place being your place, and you know how much they hate being here and how much you love being here because it's your place and you're not going to let them get anything easier when they come into your house.

"So it's a bit of pride in that way, and that just kind of comes down to our philosophy that we've instilled in our group."

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Edinburgh have signed Scottish-qualified centre Kienan Higgins on a two-month contract.

Higgins joins from New Zealand National Provincial Championship side Hawke's Bay.

With midfield trio Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu and Charlie McCaig currently nursing injuries, the 25-year-old will provide cover and competition until March, when he is due to move to Major League Rugby in the United States.

Higgins, whose older brother Riley plays for Hurricanes in Super Rugby, said: "I am really excited to be joining Edinburgh.

"Having Scottish heritage, this is a proud moment for me and my family, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to test myself in a new environment.

"The northern hemisphere game offers a different set of challenges, and I've always wanted to try my hand at the style of rugby played in the URC and Europe.

"My goal is to hit the ground running, learn as much as I can from the quality players here, and add real value to the squad during my time in the city. I can't wait to get started."

Sandy Smith
Fan writer

There was a sense of frustration allied to relief in the stands at the end of Edinburgh's win over Gloucester.

I felt it myself, but when reviewing the match, there was so much more to be happy about than was apparent in the immediate aftermath.

The headline is the five points.

Dig into the guts of it and there are more positives. Edinburgh bossed almost every statistic that is recorded. Possession and territory were a given, but everything from metres ran to number of rucks won were dominated by the home side.

The attack is still a fairly blunt weapon and we huffed and puffed almost every time we had the ball.

Three of our four tries, including the penalty try, were down to forward power, but it does feel that there may be some green shoots even if they are a bit stunted by having a gardener who gained his experience in an allotment as opposed to at The Botanic Gardens.

Ben Vellacott's try was a cracker, but although there was some good support involved, it started with his evasive skills and the finish a result of smart thinking.

Defensively, though, we are getting the job done. Helped in no small part by Freddy Douglas and his turnover statistics. Like last week, he was a deserved man of the match, but Liam McConnell couldn't have been too far away from that accolade.

I was concerned in the last five minutes or so by the number of times we kicked the ball away and I could hear many of my fellow supporters shouting that we should be going through the phases, but in hindsight it might just be that the team trusted their defence more than their ability to keep possession for that long.

That defence is going to be tested to the extreme this week by a Bath side that have scored an average of five tries per game over their last five matches. However, despite those numbers, they have lost two of those games and in three of them they have conceded four or more tries.

A bonus point this week could make a huge difference to who we face and in what competition.

I'm resigned to the thought that a home tie is the stuff of fairytales.

Who knows, some more huffing and puffing and we might be able to blow the roof off. Oh, wait!

Sandy Smith can be found at The Burgh Watch, external