Bad Days At The Office, Like Saturday's, Are All Part Of The Tartan Army Foot Soldier Experience

MY personal bad memories of dire Scottish performances does not go back as far as the 44-0 thrashing from the Springboks. I was only four when that happened, didn't know there was such a game as rugby, and, in any case, TV hadn't arrived in Scotland, so could not have watched the disaster.

But, I do recall various football disasters from when I did start to pay some attention to sport – the Uruguayan thrashing in the 1954 World Cup, 7-2 at Wembley the following season, 9-3 and all that.

Funnily enough, while Scotland's football team has, over the years proved regularly able to follow the occasional uplifting win – Wembley 1967 for instance – with an immediate stinker next time out; while seldom hitting the absolute heights, our rugby teams have also largely failed to totally plumb the depths of despair – until Twickenham last season and Cardiff on Saturday.

Piece of Cake - Remember your Kipling

Maybe we in Scottish rugby should refrain from channelling our inner Scottish football persona and remember our Kipling, by starting to treat the twin imposters both the same.

A wee thought for the Murrayfield Mafia – if the BT Premiership is not fit for purpose, what does Saturday's result say about Scottish participation in the PRO14? That does not appear to have prepared out players for international rugby.

My take on the whole thing – it was another very bad day at the office. We give the guys another chance against France, and if we fail again – then we go into full Corporal Jones mode and begin to panic.

OVER a splendidly-convivial lunch at Marr on Saturday, I learned a wee bit more about Super Six. Yes, Melrose would like to be in it – just as much as Ayr, the other leading club, but, like the guys at Millbrae, the High Heid Yins at the Greenyards want several potentially major stumbling blocks removed before they sign-up.

I have never had a serious problem with the concept of driving-up standards in the club game. I still feel, six clubs is too-few, however, and, like some of the interested clubs, I can see the SRU will have to move considerably if they are to successfully sell the concept.

To be fair, I understand they have softened their stance on one or two issues which, when first put-up were “red line” ones for the clubs. Hopefully negotiation and compromise will work and we get a top level of the club game which is fit for purpose.

Meanwhile, there was genuine sadness at the fact, losing to Melrose effectively relegated Marr. The arithmetic might say, they can still overhaul Boroughmuir, who are eight league points, 175 scoring points and 2-0 up in head-to-heads. But, in the real world, Marr are down.

And, that's a pity. I've been going head-to-head with Marr since 1958, and First Year at Cumnock Academy. I scored my first try there, I've enjoyed some great games and even better nights with the Marr guys and their achievement in progressing from the District Leagues to the Premiership is the stuff of legend.

Big Cubby - One of the best things about Marr

Plus, Marr gave us the Brown brothers and my old sparring partner Billy Cuthbertson, not to mention some of the finest “eye candy” in Scottish rugby. If Ayr is unsurpassed for Bonnie Lassies – and I married one – then Troon is its equal.

The hospitality at Fullarton is second to none, sure, we will miss them from net season's Premiership, but, I am certain, when Super Six comes in, Marr will be cemented into a firm place in National League 1.

While Marr are relegated, the victorious Melrose guaranteed a home Play-Off semi-final with their big win at Fullarton. It has never been in any doubt that Melrose would have a home semi, but, getting the job done early enough was always important. With the pressure off, Rob Chrystie can now try one or two things in the remaining regular games.

Currie are now firm favourites for the other home semi-final. They have a five-point advantage over Watsonians, and a six-point lead over Champions Ayr, who are, in turn, six points ahead of fifth-placed Heriot's, but, the Nails have a game in hand, albeit, that outstanding fixture will take Heriot's across Edinburgh to Meggetland, to face a 'Muir side finally finding a bit of consistency, and badly needing points.

Heriot's other two games are at Melrose and at home to Currie, so, they really need a hand from elsewhere if they are to reach the play-offs, while, if Ayr can secure a bonus-point win over Hawick at Millbrae on Saturday and Watsonians can maintain their impressive run of form at Boroughmuir on Saturday, that will all but slam the play-off door shut on the Goldenacre men.

But, there is an interesting sub-plot developing at the foot of the table. With Marr going down, the race is on to avoid the promotion/relegation play-off spot, where Boroughmuir currently reside.

Boroughmuir coach Peter Wright - caught-up in a battle to avoid the play-off slot

However, their big win over Stirling County on Saturday has brought County into the mix, while Glasgow Hawks are far from safe. With County and Hawks both on 30 points, Hawick on 29 and 'Muir on 27, just who will finish second-bottom is anyone's guess.

The Lesser-Spotted Johnson, Godfather Dodson and the Murrayfield suits might not fancy the BT Premiership, but, they cannot argue it isn't exciting, that so-much is still undecided at this late stage in the season.

Or, perhaps they could, given their track record in only seeming to see what they want to see, when they want to see it.