How do Edinburgh beat Russell's Bath? Will Glasgow sign a stand-off?
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.David asked: Besides 'everything', what do Edinburgh need to get right to beat Finn Russell, Cam Redpath and their Bath compadres in the Challenge Cup semis?Tom answered: Let's look at this. The Finn Russell-inspired Bath are 10 points clear at the top of the Premiership. They score an average of more than five tries per game and more than 37 points per game. They've played 13 and have lost only one.Overall, domestically and in Europe, they've played 19 games and have lost four - against La Rochelle (by four points), Leinster (by 26), Northampton (one point) and Benetton (one point).I'm discounting the Benetton loss (22-21) because Bath had a drastically weakened team out that day and it doesn't have much relevance.So, their fully-loaded team has only lost to a double European champion, a four-time European champion and the current champions of England (and current European Cup semi-finalists).When we're looking for weaknesses there's not a lot to go on. Certainly, Bath failed to cope with La Rochelle's physicality. The French forwards dominated and Bath's discipline was poor amid the onslaught.They threatened a comeback, but couldn't pull it out. So, all Edinburgh have to do is bring the same monstrous power that La Rochelle have and things will go swimmingly. Hmm.Alternatively, Edinburgh can just do what Leinster did - seven tries to three, 21 clean breaks to four, 41 defenders beaten to 19, eight penalties given away as opposed to Bath's 16. Bath also got a red card. All because of the relentless, suffocating pressure Leinster applied. Ask Glasgow about that.Northampton beat them in a one-point belter. Bath conceded 19 turnovers that day. They missed a lot of tackles and conceded double-figure penalties as well.Those are the games Sean Everitt will be studying. Allow Russell to dictate the game and they can forget about it.Get the Edinburgh forwards (who are playing well right now) into a demonic mood and there's a definite chance. A home game as well. That'll help. It's a big task but not an impossible one if the Edinburgh pack takes the battle to Bath.Chris asked: Will the Lions coaches have noticed Rory Darge's inability to quit? He was in the top three in the tackle stats after this round, and while on a well beaten team, he kept fighting.Tom answered: He's a terrific player, but the Lions coaches already know that. John Dalziel is in that coaching group and he'll know more than most about Darge's work-rate and influence.The problem is back-row is a place of infinite strength for the Lions. At openside alone you have Josh van der Flier, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Jack Willis, Jac Morgan and the coming boy, Henry Pollock. As much as I'd love to see Darge make it, I think he's going to fall short amid savage competition.Keith asked: Given Edinburgh's recent decision not to replace departing scrum-half Ali Price but instead look to develop existing young talent, can we expect a similar approach from Glasgow in relation to the pending departure of stand-off Tom Jordan?Tom answered: I can't see a new fly-half being signed - the money's not there. That's the brutal reality now. The SRU is a major loss-making organisation.Jordan's exit is horrible and was, I believe, avoidable. Anyway… they have Adam Hastings and, for another season, they have Duncan Weir, who's a fantastic clubman.Weir will continue to play lots of games next season plus, you'd imagine, he will be working overtime in trying to develop the next Glasgow 10.There needs to be one in place for when he exits the stage the season after next. That's one of the biggest challenges facing the club, in my view.
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