WITH Scotland playing on Sunday, this weekend, we've got a full RBS Premiership programme to deal with tomorrow; in truth, it's one of the duller weeks, with not a lot to get excited about, at least on paper. This probably means every game will be a cracker with a couple of shock results thrown-in for good measure.
The most-intriguing game looks like being the one at Old Anniesland, where Hawks entertain a Melrose team desperate for a win, following potentially-disastrous back-to-back losses to Ayr and Heriot's. However, with home advantage, Hawks will be ferocious opponents, while the presence of former 'Rose skipper and inspiration Scott Wight in the number 10 shirt for the Glasgow side adds a special picquancy to the match.
Wight is one of, what is for me a somewhat sparse number of freed professionals turning-out for their draft teams. I confess, player rotation and rest protocols is not my field of expertise, but, I expected to see a greater number of otherwise idle professionals being told to put on their club strips and have a run-out at a time when they are not seeing weekly Rabo Pro12 action.
HOW rugby has changed. This morning a bust of Bill McLaren was unveiled in the foyer of Murrayfield, as the SRU gave further recognition to perhaps the most-influential figure in Scottish rugby history.
I cannot, however, help laughing at the memory of how, amongst others, the esteemed McLaren, the late Brian Meek (Royal High School FP third XV), Ian McLauchlan and myself (Cumnock's "Mean Machine" third XV) were all banned for life from the game, for having the temerity to be paid for reporting and commenting on it.
McLaren, Norman Mair and McLauchlan have all made it into the Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame, "Wee Beastie" even got to be President; Meekie died before he could be recognised - so - hey SRU, where's my award?
WONDERFUL thing the BBC iplayer, allowing you, as it does, access to regional programmes not shown nationally. I do like to have a look at the Welsh programme Scrum V Sunday, even though the commentaries on the Pro12 games are heavy going, thanks to the myopia of the Cymraig commentators.
In the run-up to last weekend's gubbing from the Saffers, BBC Wales re-ran an old documentary on the marvellous 1974 Lions in South Africa, in which they took Welsh one-eyedness in rugby to extremes.
The talking heads were all in there: Benny, Gareth, JJ, JPR Peter Hain and John Taylor; assorted Saffers, such as Mornie du Plessis, Brian Habana's dad and PJ de Villiers and Willie John McBride, but, this was the Welsh authorised version, i.e. It was the Taffia wot won it, with little or no help from the other three countries.
How they could seriously attempt to tell the story of that tour and fail to mention big Broon's eight tries - in fact, the only Test try they didn't show was his classic steal at the front of the line-out effort in the Third? Test.
Compared to the Welsh rugby community's view of themselves as keepers of the flame - our Caledonian toast: "Here's tae us, wha's like us", is nothing.
FINALLY, apropos tomorrow's internationals; I have only one thing to say: "Com on you Blacks - gerrintaerum!"
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