ON yet another generally downbeat weekend for Scottish Rugby, one result stood out. Well done Ayr, who, by beating Ulster Ravens at Millbrae on Saturday, brought a shaft of light onto an otherwise desolate landscape.
Edinburgh joined Glasgow in demonstrating how to lose a winnable match, and, unless Glasgow can claim a bonus point in beating Cardiff at Scotstoun on Friday night, once again, Scotland is out of Europe before Christmas.
We have expectations of the two pro sides, but, not of the four RBS Premiership sides in the British & Irish Cup. Against the full-timers from the second tier in England, realistically, the Scots have little or no chance. They ought to do better against the Welsh and Irish sides, but, to be fair, up until Ayr - who have by far the best Scottish record in the competition - beat the Ravens on Saturday, this season had been extremely dire for the Scottish sides in the B&I.
Hopes are now high that Ayr can travel to Belfast on Friday night and complete a double over the Ravens, but, around Millbrae there is the realisation that, no game in Belfast on a Friday night is ever easy.
The big plus from Ayr's win was how well the drafted-in Warriors melded with the Ayr regulars. And, this augers well for the success of the changes announced from Murrayfield last week - always assuming the body of the kirk doesn't revolt and turn their backs on the Murrayfield proposals.
IF the new proposals close the considerable gap between the professional and semi-professional ranks, it will be win-win for Scotland. Certainly the manner in which the Glasgow full-timers: Byron McGuigan, James Eddie, Scott Wight and Finlay Gillies bought-into the Ayr game-plan at Millbrae worked well.
It was also good to see the Development Players, who play far more often for Ayr than they do for the Warriors: Finn Russell, George Hunter, Fergus Scott and D'Arcy Rae, perhaps taking extra confidence from having familiar training faces around them to lift their game.
Murrayfield hopes, that by reducint the Premiership to an eight-club "Superleague" it will drive up standards. The unrequired Edinburgh and Warriors' players - we are led to believe, will be more-readily released to the new league clubs than at present.
OK, it's all a bit jam tomorrow, and, we've had this before from Murrayfield; but, the Ayr result gave a glimpse of what might be possible.
HOWEVER - will it work? That's the $64,000 question. For a start, if we go to eight "superclubs" below the two full pro sides, which clubs will get the nod and the extra funding which will apparently accrue from Murrayfield?
On present/recent performances - Ayr, Melrose and Gala and Heriot's would appear to be certainties. But, what happens elsewhere? Currie have been probably the top Edinburgh side over the past four or five years. They are having a bit of an up and down year this season, but, ought to still make the cut.
However, what will happen elsewhere in the Borders. We hear that one weel-kent Soutar is of the opinion that, if an eight-club top league comes in: "We micht as weil build hooses on Philphaugh, we've nae chance o' gettin in".
I accept the old magic of the green shirt isn't as potent these days as it once was and that there is a fight going on in the toon for the sould of Hawick Rugby, but, that said, a "Superleague" without Hawick? doesn't bear5 thinking about.
Then there is the situation north of the Forth. Stirling County are on a bit of a downer, ditto Aberdeen, while Dundee will have to get out of the National Championship and into the Premiership if they are to stand a chance of a Superleague place. Also, can Hawks maintain a Glasgow presence?
There is, therefore, a possibility of top-flight club rugby in Scotland becoming a plaything of teams across the Central Belt.
Also, an item which has not, to my mind, been addressed. These eight Superleague clubs will be expected to showcase the game in Scotland. I reckon, to do this properly, the clubs will, as well as increased playing budgets, need assistance in upgrading their spectator facilities and providing better pitches for the players to perform on.
Has this additional and much-needed expense been factored-into the figures?
Then there is the need for greater grass-roots seed money. How will this be organised? Can we really make the game popular in the state school system?
By my reckoning - there are far more questions than answers in the above.
No comments:
Post a Comment