Female Doctors - It's Catching

CONGRATULATIONS go this week to Madame La Presidente, or, as some of her former colleagues in the Polis call her: “Big Dee.”

We will henceforth refer to Mrs Bradbury as “The Doctor” - well, female doctors are IN this month - and hope she can cure the many ills of the SRU, after this week's wee ceremony in Oban, where she was awarded an honorary Doctorate by the University of the Highland and Islands, in recognition of her: “leadership work in sport at a local and international level.”

Professor Crichton Lang, vice-principal of UHI presents Dee Bradbury with her honorary doctorate at a ceremony at Argyll College, UHI, in Oban.(pic courtesy of SRU)

WE ALL know, with everyone fit and firing on all cylinders, and particularly at home, our two PRO14 sides will give any team a game. But, the ages-old Achilles Heel of Scottish rugby still applies. Under full-strength, they are vulnerable, and that rule applies tonight.

The GLASGOW WARRIORS team to face Zebre at Scotstoun tonight, kick-off 7.35pm reads, as-ever in 1-23 order:

Oli Kebble, George Turner, Adam Nicol, Andrew Davidson, Jonny Gray (CAPTAIN), Adam Ashe, Chris Fusaro, Matt Fagerson; George Horne, Adam Hastings; Rory Hughes, Alex Dunbar, Huw Jones, Lee Jones, Ruaridh Jackson. Replacements: Grant Stewart, Alex Allan, D’Arcy Rae, Greg Peterson, Matt Smith, Tevita Tameilau; Pete Horne, Niko Matawalu.
Not available due to injury: Brian Alainu’uese (back), Scott Cummings (ankle), Zander Fagerson (ankle), Siua Halanukanuka (foot), Stuart Hogg  (ankle), Sam Johnson (head / knee), Lelia Masaga (hip), Kiran McDonald (hand) and Tim Swinson (lower limb).

Once upon a time, we could say: “Aye, it's only the Italians,” and not worry too-much. These days, however, are past, and Glasgow face a tough test. Still it is an opportunity for one or two fringe players to step up.

 The waiting is nearly over for Andy Davidson, seen here preparing to carry for Ayr. He will start for Warriors tonight.

Into this category come lock Andy Davidson and tight-head prop Adam Nicol. I have long been a Davidson fan, since first seeing him and the currently-injured Scott Cummings playing together for Hawks. He has been learning in a hard school at the Newcastle Academy, from Dean Richards, their Director of Rugby and line-out coach Scott McLeod for instance.

Andy is merely on-loan at Warriors, but, more good performances such as his highly-effective cameo against Dragons last time out, and Dave Rennie might be tempted to make that loan deal permanent. However, the fact he is this season listed in Falcons' first-team squad rather than their Academy one, indicates, the Geordies rate him.

I must admit, I have seen Nicol struggle against experienced props in the Premiership in the past. But, this is all part of the learning process. For a tight-head, he is very young. With Warriors' current famine around the number three shirt, we much hope young Adam and Mr Justice Rae on the bench stay fit; Warriors' search for short-term propping cover has yet to bear fruit.

The Warrior Nation will be hopeful too, of seeing American back row recruit Tevita Tameilau getting a run-out off the bench.

I WILL be watching Freeview Channel 95 at the same time, taking-in the Free Sports broadcast of the Edinburgh v Cheetahs match at Murrayfield. Unless, of course, I can find out between now and then, how to get Free Sports 2, who are showing the Glasgow game. Nothing against Edinburgh, but, being a West of Scotland boy, Warriors is my professional team of choice – until Mark Bennett is back playing.

The Edinburgh side for tonight reads:

Rory Sutherland, Stuart McInally (CAPTAIN), WP Nel, Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist, Magnus Bradbury, Hamish Watson, Bill Mata; Henry Pyrgos, Simon Hickey, Duhan van der Merwe, Juan Pablo Socino, James Johnstone, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn. Replacements: Ross Ford, Murray McCallum, Simon Berghan, Luke Hamilton, Jamie Ritchie; Sean Kennedy, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean.

I am delighted to see Darcy Graham finally getting a start for Edinburgh. I cannot say it often enough, this kid is special, very special. I am pleased too for another of Edinburgh's Hawick contingent, Rory Sutherland, who starts at loose-head. Edinburgh has a veritable plethora of loose-heads, and I am pleased to see Rory's hard work in getting back from serious injury has paid-off.

Murphy Walker - one to watch in a position where we lack numbers.

We are awash in Scotland with guys who can play at one: we have capped loose-heads in Jamie Bhatti and Alex Allan at Warriors, and Sutherland, Darryl Marfo and Allan Dell at Edinburgh, as well as the South Africans Oli Kebble and Pierre Schoemann. However, we are somewhat light on the other side of the front-row at the moment.

But, looking a bit further down the road, big things are expected of young Euan McLaren, the Academy kid learning his trade with Ayr. However, the boy to watch, in my view, is young Murphy Walker. He is from the same Dundee High School/Strathallan "propping factory" which produced, among others, Zander Fagerson, and is currently doing a terrific job with Stirling County. The Under-20 cap is, for me, definitely one to watch.

WITH all six S6 franchise winners in the Tennent's Premiership, it is a rare week in which at least two are not going head-to-head; an that is usually seen as Match of the Day in Clubland.

However, this week, for all the attractions of Boroughuir v Ayr at Meggetland, I think the neutrals' attraction of choice might well be the Goldenacre clash of Heriot's and Currie Chieftains. You will not find too-many unconflicted observers of Scottish Rugby, who do not feel that Currie were royally shafted by the forces of the Edinburgh establishment, when it came to the final S6 pauchle – and a pauchle it was, nobody will ever convince me otherwise.

Still, not being one of the anointed ones has certainly been a motivating factor for the Malleny men, as they have already shown. They are well capable of going to Goldenacre and winning, and that is why, I rate this game as Match of the Day.

In truth, Ayr's record at Meggetland is not good. Even when 'Muir have been struggling, they have given Ayr many an uncomfortable afternoon there, and I don't see that pattern changing tomorrow.

But, having already won twice in the capital this season, and particularly after beating Melrose last week, Ayr will travel confidently.

Robin Chrystie - wants his men back on the winning horse tomorrow

Melrose v Stirling County, At The Greenyards, also promises much. County nicked the Charity Shield on their last visit, their youngsters have yet to learn the meaning of fear and, they will give the Champions a hard game. However, after falling short at Millbrae last week, Robin Chrystie's men will be keen to get back on a winning horse, and that could see them through.

It might not be pretty, but, there's a lot riding on the Hawick v Edinburgh Academicals clash at Mansfield Park. Neither side has yet won this season, and Accies only sit above the Greens in the table by virtue of having picked-up one losing bonus point. Both sides will fancy they can break their duck tomorrow, and, with home advantage, I feel this might be a big day for the Greens, although, it will be hard.

Finally, over in the West, at Balgray, Glasgow Hawks entertain Watsonians. On paper, this looks like an away win, however, the Hawks youngsters are learning fast, and, while you would still expect the visitors to come through, they will need to be focussed, or they could trip-up.