If This Is What We Get From Super-6, Bring It On

A DISCLAIMER – regular readers of this blog might, on reading the body of today's post, think: the old fool has been captured and “turned” by the BT Murrayfield “truth” squad. Fear not, I still think Stupid-6 is an absolute clusterfuck and an accident waiting to happen. But, that is because I am convinced, having got it wrong from the start, BTM will continue to totally fuck-up a potentially-brilliant project. Now read on:

IF WHAT we saw at Millbrae yesterday afternoon turns out to be typical of Super-6 – then bring it on. AYR'S 43-15 win over STIRLING COUNTY was as good a game as we have seen at Millbrae of late. It was a credit to the Tennent's Premiership, eight tries, great rugby interspersed with handling errors; full-on commitment; some moments of inspiration – this was a Super-6 game, a season early.

The victorious Ayr squad with the Bill McLaren Shield and the Cairdeas Quaich - which is up for grabs whenever Ayr and Stirling County meet

I say that because, when you look at the make-up of both sides, it is perhaps what we will see when S6 kicks-off. We had on the park: “fringe” full-time professionals, Academy players, former Academy players, one-time Under-20 players who didn't make the final leap to the big PRO14 show cast, and products of the two clubs' excellent youth rugby systems. That I think is what we will see when it kicks into gear in a year's time.

For instance, Aussie winger Ratu Tagive has played just five games in two seasons with Warriors. In that time he has mainly played with County, but, on Saturday, he looked a class act, with some powerful runs and some great off-loading. On the other wing, County had “The Magician” – the “Weegie fae Fiji” Niko Matawalu, providing the requisite amount of X-factor magical offloads, mesmeric broken field running, with the occasional frustrated FFS flung-in as a bonus.

The Weegie Fae Fiji in action on Saturday

Then we have the guys who might use S6 to confirm they are ready for a step-up. No offence to Ayr stand-in skipper Danny McCluskey, but, after he went off injured in the second half, it allowed Paddy Kelly and a fit-again Stafford McDowall to demonstrate, should a fleet of runaway buses wipe-out Warriors' clutch of international centres tomorrow – these boys could step up and not let the side down.

Among the forwards, while Ayr's Euan McLaren had an uncomfortable afternoon against County's tres grand French import Remy Chies, he's still a teenager and will have the occasional bad day, before the good ones his talent will provide arrive. Under-20 cap Murphy Walker, on the tight-head for for County is definitely one to watch. Ayr's boiler-house partnership of Under-20 Anglo-ScotMarshall Sykes, from the Northampton Saints Academy and Andy Davidson, the former Kelvinside Accademy boy, currently on-loan with Warriors.

Davidson, who told Scott Johnson where to shove a derisory Warriors contract offer and went off to learn from Dean Richards and Scott McLeod at Newcastle, had a highly-effective 80 minutes including – in the build-up to Ayr's final try – a quite exquisite off-load which his former Glasgow Hawks' boiler-house partner Leone Nakarawa would have been proud to have claimed.

Andy Davidson - Nakarawa would have been proud of one off-load on Saturday

Against lesser PRO14 opponents, I am sure a reforming of the Scott Cummings-Andy Davidson second row pairing, which worked so well for Hawks a year or three ago, would do a job for the Scotstoun team.

Both sides were prepared to run the ball from anywhere, indeed, perhaps County's preparedness to do this was their undoing, against an Ayr team ever-ready to counter-attack from deep when things went awry. Indeed, that final Ayr try, finished off by Dutch internationalist Amir Rademaker, sprung from a fine bit of Tommy Spinks ruck piracy in his own 22, carried on by a searing Frazier Climo break and some slick handling and support play from Davidson and Euan McLaren – a lock and a prop combining after 80 minutes - was the icing on a very rich cake indeed.

That was try number eight, try number one was only slightly less-impressive – a flash of Matawalu magic to go round Craig Gossman, a typical back-handed off-load to Shaun Macdonald, who sent co-centre Ewan Magarvie clear to score.

And the S6 connection isn't only about the players. It could work too to the benefit of our much-maligned referees. Yes I know, I've had a go at some of the men in the middle, but, over the past couple of seasons I have come to appreciate we have some talented younger referees on the rise.

Referee Finlay Brown was always up with the action on Saturday

The Edinburgh Referees Society has high hopes for Saturday's man in the middle, young Finlay Brown. It's the first time I have seen him in action and he impressed. He was performing in front of a knowledgeable audience, Jim Fleming was the official assessor, and he surely gave Finlay a comprehensive debrief as he drove him home post-match.

But, also watching was Allan Hosie, looking a wee bit frail, but, after his recent operation it was wonderful to see the great man at the game.

“All that boy needs is encouragement,” said Hosie afterwards. Finlay had got the thumbs-up, if not maybe a 10/10 score from Scotland's two best match officials. Well, I am happy to join in: “Keep it up young Finlay, your future seems bright.”

There was a wee added bonus for the victorious home side – when it was announced at the end, that victory marked their fourth successful defence of the impressive Bill McLaren Shield – making Ayr the first club to have their name engraved on it twice.

The trouble with that feat is – the Shield now goes on the road. You win it, then you defend it over four home games, in order to have your name engraved on it. Thereafter, EVERY game, home or away, is a shield defence.

The Bill McLaren Shield now goes on the road

Where do Ayr go for that first away defence? Why Goldenacre, to face Heriot's, the club immediately above them in the Premiership table. Both have gone three from three at the start of the season, so, something has to give on Saturday.

That's something else we will see from S6, every game will matter – bring it on. So, yes, in terms of the potential quality of the rugby, I am a convert to S6.

My only concern is – that the dysfunctional erseholes in high places at BT Murrayfield will manage to make a balls-up of the whole thing.

Finally, my grateful thanks to George McMillan for permission to use his photographs from Saturday. George is now becoming as-proficient at photographing rugby as he was playing it in his days as a centre for Ayr and Glasgow District and Scottish age group teams.