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Montpellier have some decent sized, pacey players - but they lack the technical level of their opponents. Even basics like post tackle ball presentation. Montpellier just aren’t enabling phases, which a team like TLS just prey upon.

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Alex Masibaka has had a busy evening. The Scotland Number Eight hopeful has had a lot to contend with against that TLS pack, and hasn’t had it all his own way, but he’s been at the heart of lots of what went right for his side.

Ali Price pretty much picking up where he left off last season for Montpellier. Continues to impress in his new career in France. Accurate & sharp. Good to see.

Hugo Gordon @hugogordon.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Reposted by Naxis911

Australia are such a weird team, you just know that after this they're going to lose to Wales in November

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As an aside, it’s well beyond time World Rugby addressed the way SA cheat in areas like substitution laws. Not the first time we’ve seen it. Needs idiots like Jim Hamilton to stop praising it as ‘finding an edge’ too. It’s blatant cheating, and if teams with fewer WC wins did it they would be shot.

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Undoubtedly the result World Rugby would have wanted, at least.

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Hard to asses Aus today. Looking genuinely good in places - (solid scrum, and lovely touches here & there). But this hasn’t even been a somewhat rotated SA side. Other than a few ageing stars, it’s been a completely new 15 populated with only fringe options. Should know more after Bled series vs NZ.

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So when do we rename Thomond Park & Ravenhill fixtures as, ‘Fortress Scotland 1 & 2’?

Ali Price & Adam Hastings both start for Montpellier tomorrow night versus Toulouse. Scotland hopeful Alex Masibaka also starts at Eight, (Hogg bench). Meanwhile, Kinghorn rotates out for Toulouse having played last weekend.

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Been a good few days of rugby. But not sure I want to lower that standard with Scarlets vs Cardiff…

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Soon be renaming it, Fortress Scotland!

Ultimately, a good result on the road first week for Glasgow, against a traditionally spirited opponent. But they’ll need to get their handling & execution back up to speed quickly as some of that was very poor indeed.

At home, and with Glasgow playing so incredibly poorly. That was probably Munster’s best chance of taking Glasgow this season.

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Not sure if it was accidental, or not. But two reckless looking dives off feet by Munster players, directly on to Matt Fagerson’s lower leg, is not a good look. Even worse when the officials completely ignore it.

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I mean that’s pretty cynical stuff. He knows he’s off his feet there.

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Glasgow’s handling has been very poor. For a team that plays the way they do, that’s always going to hurt them. Not helped of course by losing a man for ten, while Munster escaped a clear card. A strong next twenty will be key for the visitors. Can’t leave this to the officials as they’re a bit lost

Munster just stepping around yet getting a penalty?

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Giving up three tries in ten minutes despite being very much on top before, suggests some pretty fundamental problems exist within that Sco Women’s squad. Tackling is again an issue. As is set piece. Some major work still required before any progress can be claimed.

Glasgow’s famously crisp passing across their Centre channels, looking like it’s still in pre-season.

I’m just not sure why you would sign a 13 of the caliber of Huw Jones, yet not bother to ever pass him the ball. He’s spent fifty odd minutes cleaning rucks out wide.

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Who is the Sco set piece / lineout Coach?!?

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Because he plays for Scotland, he’s unlikely to ever get proper recognition. But Ben White is honestly a superb Nine. Not even just in executing the requirements of a Nine to a high standard. But (much like Finn), brave & punchy in the tackle, high rugby IQ, and excellent game management.

Lake with a good score off the back of the maul.

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Twenty minutes into their first game of the season, and we’ve already seen multiple howlers from ‘the best Winger in the World’, Feyi-Waboso…🙄

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Exeter vs Gloucester. Two of the least likable teams in the Prem. Exeter full of hugely overrated players. Gloucester constantly touted as contenders, yet persistently fail miserably. Tempted to ask for both teams to lose - but then I remember Exeter’s racist supporters, and I’m left cheering Glos…

Lots of coverage of Jac Morgan’s move. But I’m perhaps more interested to see how Lake performs. He’s often hyped by Wales supporters, yet I’ve never thought much of him. He’s often looked very unfit, in fact. However, he already looks far leaner after pre-season, which could prove very impactful.

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Huw Jones lines up today at 13 for Toulon, alongside Italian star Brex at 12. Likely to be a much more dynamic Centre pairing for the Top14 club than Fickou’s guileful approach.

Bit of a dodgy late try there. Appreciate the local Director had annoyed the officials. But they probably should have checked that one as player looked to have gone again after being on his knees.

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I know Leinster are allowed to get away with murder at the breakdown. But when your attempt to clean involves being so far around you come in via your opponent’s gate, and attempt to clean by sticking your shoulder on an opponent’s arse while they’re over ball, I think we’ve reached peak bullsh*t…🙄

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They do say a picture paints a thousand words - (sorry Ulster supporters, but it’s a good photograph!)

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Big, Bad Boan has settled well in his new team. Already punching holes.

Porter absolutely fighting for his life already in the scrum.

One scrum, one try. Pretty direct work from the Lions.

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Final home game of the year for the Sco Women’s team. Hoping for a strong performance against an Aus side that, on paper, is close in ranking points. Yet on recent form probably has the edge over Sco right now too. A good final hit out would help spark an appetite for the 2027 Six Nations.

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Obviously, far too early to suggest Embra turned a corner. We’ve seen them take single wins against better sides than Ulster, yet not follow up. But that performance, with ten players under 22, was a good sign - and also, ironically, a potential headache for Sco heading into a World Cup year!

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Self evidently an imperfect performance from Edinburgh. Yet some very interesting, early signs of pre-test level potential & possible national team development showing in several of their players.

Thoughts for Stephen Ferris…(and by thoughts, I mean get it right up ye!!)

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Edinburgh, see what you’ve done? You’ve managed to kill every Ulster fan’s belief after just one game!

Karl Dixon should not be allowed to referee Harlequins. I mean, if we’re being honest, he shouldn’t be allowed to referee full stop. But if they insist upon appointing him, at least review how blatant his bias is when refereeing his literal former club. It’s gratuitous.

Neil Pferd @dasneilpferd.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Reposted by Naxis911

On the plus side, just the sort of win that keeps Sean in a job, eh, Edinburgh pals? #ULSvEDI

Mr Burns stands beside a framed picture on the wall. It says, “Don’t forget, you’re here forever.” It’s crudely updated to say, “Foreveritt,” a play on words of the name of Edinburgg’s rugby coach.

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That second half may well have caused a few dodgy tickers to kick out. But you can’t deny it was a good win, away from home, to get the season up and running - against a much hyped Ulster side too.

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