Time Has Dragged This Week, But Tonight's Action Should Be A Good Warm-Up For Tomorrow

DOESN'T time drag when you are waiting for something big to happen? This week has gone more-slowly than the metaphorical “week in the jile”, (never having been a guest of Her Maj – as they say), but, tomorrow will soon be upon us, and we can use Ireland v Wales as a warm-up, as we await the Master Race's bi-annual appearance at Murrayfield.

Inverdale - My Mute Button Will Get A Lot Of Use Tomorrow

Of course, thanks to the childishness of the SRU, the third-best Scottish Rugby Blog in Scotland and the 26th best in the British Isles will not be represented in the press seats at Murrayfield – but, that's the price I have to pay for writing a few things which the Ayatollahs would rather were not written. So, I shall settle down in my cave and try to mute the box every time that useless twat Inverdale opens his considerable gob.

Guscott is almost as bad, but, he has got the cap and the jerseys. Hopefully the third tube, Davies, is elsewhere.

But, before then, there are the warm-up acts. In all honesty, I am not expecting much good news from the Under-20 or Women's games, I fear damage limitation has to be our watchword here. However, hopefully we can get something to cheer from Glasgow's trip to Munster and Edinburgh's visit to the Dragons, tonight.

 Rob Harley - Sets a new Glasgow appearance record tonight

You only have to look at the Glasgow squad, to realise how stretched they are, through international calls and injuries – their squad in Munster, in 1-23 order, reads:

1. Oli Kebble, 2. James Malcolm, 3. Siu Halanukonuka; 4. Kiran McDonald-Seran, 5. Scott Cummings; 6. Rob Harley (Captain), 7. Matt Smith, 8. Matt Fagerson; 9. George Horne, 10. Adam Hastings; 11. Ratu Tagive, 12. Brandon Thomson, 13. Sam Johnson, 14. Lee Jones; 15. Ruaridh Jackson. Replacements: 16. Grant Stewart, 17. Alex Allan, 18. Zander Fagerson, 19. Lewis Wynne, 20. Chris Fusaro; 21. Henry Pyrgos, 22. Richie Vernon, 23. Niko Matawalu.

Not available due to injury: Brian Alainu'uese (knee), Adam Ashe (head), Fraser Brown (head), Alex Dunbar (thigh), Callum Gibbins (achilles), Pat MacArthur (shoulder), Leo Sarto (shoulder) and George Turner (knee).

Not available due to international commitments: Jamie Bhatti, Jonny Gray, Nick Grigg, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne, Huw Jones, Ali Price, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour, Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson.

With scrum-half Kaleem Berreto, centre Stafford McDowall and winger Sam Yawayawa on Scotland Under-20 duty, and Max McFarland with Scotland Sevens, this means, the only Warriors who are fit and not needed this weekend are: Robert Beattie, Rory Hughes, Paddy Kelly, Lelia Masaga, Robbie Nairn, Hamilton Burr, Ryan Grant, Adam Nicol, Greg Peterson, D'Arcy Rae, George Stokes and Sami Vunisa.

Some of these guys – Hughes and Nairn for instance, are on their way back from long-term injuries, while others are subject to rest protocols after playing a series of games back-to-back, so, resources are really stretched. The starting XV at Munster only contains four full internationalists, with a further six on the bench.

Still, it will be a special night for skipper Rob Harley, as he becomes Glasgow's “most-capped” player (I hate this idea of club “caps” - doesn't sound right to me). Big Rob deserves to take the appearance record off Graeme Morrison, like “Mad Dog”, he has always given 100% to the club – well done.

Great too to see Mr Versatile, Richie Vernon back on the field for Glasgow, when, as he surely will, he comes off the bench.

EDINBURGH are also under-strength for their trip to Wales, but, given the run of form they are on, I am confident they can return with at least four points. Coach Richard Cockerill has named, again in 1-23 order, the following squad:

1. Jordan Lay, 2. Neil Cochrane, 3. Murray McCallum; 4. Fraser McKenzie (Captain), 5. Lewis Carmichael; 6. Magnus Bradbury, 7. John Hardie, 8. Bill Mata; 9. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 10. Jaco van der Walt; 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 12. Chris Dean, 13. James Johnstone, 14. Jason Harries; 15. Dougie Fife. Replacements: 16. Cameron Fenton, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Elliot Millar-Mills, 19. Cornell du Preez, 20. Luke Crosbie; 21. Nathan Fowles, 22. Duncan Weir, 23. Junior Rasolea.

Given international calls have taken Mark Bennett, Blair Kinghorn, Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Wilem Nel, Ben Toolis, Hamish Watson and Darcy Graham out of contention, Calum McLelland is with the Under-20s and Alasdair Dickinson, Allan Dell, Darryl Marfo and Ross Ford are all injured, that is almost an entire XV unavailable to Cockerill for tonight's game.

Dougie Fife - on his way out, now a centurion

Congratulations must go to Dougie Fife, surplus to requirements under Alan Solomons, but now back and playing his 100^th game for Edinburgh tonight. Let's hope it can be a winning night for Dougie and the team.

THE action tonight is in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with the Under-20 international at Myreside, and the Women's match at Scotstoun.

The Under-20 squad, as usual in 1-23 order, is:

1. Shaun Gunn (Edinburgh Academical), 2. Robbie Smith (Captain) (Ayr), 3. Finlay Richardson (Edinburgh Academical); 4. Ewan Johnson (Racing 92), 5. Jamie Hodgson (Watsonians); 6. Martin Hughes (Heriot's), 7. Guy Graham (Hawick), 8. Devante Onojaife (Northampton Saints; 9. Charlie Chapman (Gloucester), 10. Ross Thompson; 11. Kyle Rowe (both Glasgow Hawks), 12. Callum McLelland (Edinburgh), 13. Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors and Ayr), 14. Rory McMichael (Glasgow Hawks); 15. Paddy Dewhurst (Ayr). Replacements: 16. Bradley Clements (Ealing), 17. Nathan McBeth (Lions), 18. Murphy Walker (Dundee HSFP), 19. Marshall Sykes (St Joseph's College / Northampton Saints), 20. Rory Darge (Melrose); 21. Kaleem Barreto (Glasgow Warriors and Marr), 22. Fraser Strachan (Northampton Saints), 23. Logan Trotter (Stirling County).

The Women's squad, again in 1-23 order is:

1. Siobhan McMillan (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 2. Lana Skeldon (Watsonians), 3. Megan Kennedy (Stirling County); 4. Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), 5. Deborah McCormack (Harlequins); 6. Sarah Bonar, 7. Rachel Malcolm (both Loughborough Lightning), 8. Jade Konkel (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois); 9. Sarah Law (Edinburgh University/Murrayfield Wanderers), 10. Lisa Martin (Captain) (DMP Sharks); 11. Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University), 12. Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), 13. Lisa Thomson (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois), 14. Liz Musgrove (Edinburgh University); 15. Chloe Rollie (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois). Replacements: 16. Jodie Rettie (Thurrock), 17. Mags Lowish (Loughborough Lightning), 18. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 19. Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County/Stirling Univeristy), 20. Louise McMillan (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 21. Mhairi Grieve (Firwood Waterloo), 22. Hannah Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 23. Lauren Harris (Edinburgh University).

FINALLY, good luck to the odd team out tonight, the Club XV, who are in Ireland, playing their Dalriada Cup match in Athlone. Rob Chrystie has named a strong squad, which I named earlier this week.