Another Opening - Another Show

TONIGHT is the equivalent of a Broadway opening for the new-look Edinburgh, as they entertain the Dragons, at Myreside.

I suppose they have been fortunate in their choice of initial opponent, since, if any PRO14 side has ambitions towards being in the end-of-season mix for the title or for a place in the European Cup the following season, well, Dragons are one of the sides they ought to be beating. Of course, Edinburgh in recent years has been another such side, so, if these under-achieving seasons are to become a thing of the past, well they need to begin with a win.

Also, if they hope to persuade the Edinburgh rugby public, here is a team worth supporting, it will pay to put together a string of early-season wins – that goes without saying. Richard Cockerill has chosen a team which, on-paper, looks capable of doing the job, and it will be interesting to see if the good impression Robbie Freuan created on his too-few outings for Bath last season transfers to Edinburgh.

Centurion Grant Gilchrist

Grant Gilchrist makes his 100^th appearance tonight and here is a player with something to prove this season. His star has been eclipsed somewhat over the past couple of seasons, albeit injuries have played their part, but, the rise of his boiler house co-worker Ben Toolis ought to be the impetus big Grant needs to shine again.

Edinburgh has looked good in the on-the-road try-outs, time for a grand opening tonight.

TOMORROW afternoon, it's Glasgow's turn to wow their core support with their first home game, against the Ospreys. Now this is a big one, as is proved by the presence of the full Sky crew. Star names everywhere, and the intriguing head-to-head between (we presume) the returning Finn Russell and James Hook II, with the Welshman back at his home team and playing in his preferred position.

 James Hook, his 1v1 with Finn Russell should be good tomorrow

I have always thought Hook was a class act, badly-managed by Wales and by his clubs over the years, and, if he hits his straps, and Russell his, we are in for a cracking game. Glasgow's ambition foundered on the impossible conditions of Connacht last weekend, hopefully, on a dry day at Scotstoun, they and the Ospreys can put on the show a packed Scotstoun wants to see.

I LIKE Dominic McKay, and not merely because of his Ayrshire connection. I think he has been one of the good professionals to be hired by the SRU.

Dom this week announced the continuation of the BT sponsorship of Scottish Rugby, but, and there are always buts when it comes to the game up here, one or two club men were not impressed by the news that the BT name will vanish from such competitions as the BT Premiership, as the new deal rolls out. Fair comment, if, as some are suggesting, the new deal means it will be up to the “suits” to decide where the BT cash goes.

 Dominic McKay - show him the money big business

But, my understanding is, McKay and his team are already hard at work searching out new name sponsors for those areas of Scottish Rugby currently with the BT prefix. For instance, it is now Scottish Power on the front of the Glasgow jersey, where last season the logo was BT's. BT remains, however, Edinburgh's shirt sponsor. Running Scottish rugby is an expensive business, so, the more andmore-varied sponsors McKay and his minions can recruit, the better.

Funny business this sponsorship. I remember, about 30-years or more ago, when I was involved in another sport, I had a wee chat with Jackie Stewart about finding sponsors. Now, no Scot has ever been as-successful as the now Sir Jackie, in bringing on-board and retaining sponsors – he still has deals with some companies with whom he was associated when driving, and he retired in 1973 remember. Jackie's advice was: “Don't go for big sponsors, for the single deal. It is a lot easier to persuade ten companies to give you £1000 each – if you can show them they are getting value for money – than to get one company to give you £10,000.” That seems to be what Dominic McKay and the SRU are doing, and good luck to them.

LANGHOLM this week said farewell to one of their own – Jimmy Maxwell. Cornet at the 1955 Common Riding, captain of the all-conquering Langholm team of 1958-59, South regular, Barbarian, Scotland international, local business-man. Jimmy was as close as you will get to royalty in the Muckle Toon.

The 1958-59 Langholm squad - Jimmy Maxwell is sixth from the right of the seated players, with big Ernie Michie behind him

Langholm are struggling just now, and have been for some years, but, back in 1958-59, with a tea of locals, plus one incomer – Scotland and British Lions lock Ernie Michie, who was posted to the toon by the Forestry Commission, they went Unbeaten through a complete season, winning the Border League and the Unofficial Championship. Their line was not crossed from December until the end of the season in April, and, they topped it off by winning their own Sevens. Aye, heady days.

And at the heart of it all was Maxwell, a local plasterer, who was the sort of running, jinking stand-off the Borders would later produce in Gregor Townsend and Chris Paterson. Jimmy was 86 when he died, a good innings by a man who will lang be remembered in Langholm.

SOME DAY I may commit to paper the thoughts and wisdom of “Big Auchlin” - that's former Ayr and Glasgow prop and Ayr Director of Rugby Jock Craig. To use the delightful phrase of his long-time companion in crime, Ayr hon, vice president Alastair McClelland, I've kent Craig since: “He was jist a hull” -rather than the man-mountain he became.

 Auchlin looks on as Ayr attack the Jed-forest line last season

picture courtesy of Alan Graham

Jock is a lot smarter than he makes out, as I keep reminding Brenda, his lovely Canadian wife, who refers to her husband as: “the Dim One” - “Well Brenda, you chose to marry him”. Any way, he is always a font of good sense on matters Scottish rugby.

One of Auchlin's rules as a player was, no matter how often they had punched each other, no matter the swearing that went on during the game, in the bar, he sought out his immediate opponent and bought him a pint. Sadly, that camaraderie is perhaps fading somewhat, certainly at the upper level of the club game. I was shocked to discover during the week, that, after one of Saturday's BT Premiership games, not one of the losing side – either player or official, partook of the hospitality on-offer from the victorious host side.

I know the guilty club, and I am shocked; I had always thought of that outfit as one of the most-sociable. Maybe there was a good reason for not mingling post-match, but, if there was, it was not relayed to the opposition. If there was no good reason – bad show boys; the courtesies must be observed.