Aristotle Tells A Story, Before Going Off On A Rant

MOST Scots are aware of the old joke about the Creation. God had been locked in his office for about five days, so the Angels were a wee bit concerned about what he was doing. Eventually, Gabriel broke in, followed by the other Angels, to find God standing over a model.

“What's that Boss” asked Gabriel. Whereupon the Big Man explained how, this was his big project – the master plan, which he was calling The World. He proudly took the Angels through all the wonders he had come up with, to nods and words of approval, until one of the lesser angels pointed to one small area – the top half of a small island off the shore of a larger land mass.

“Where's that Boss?” he asked.

“Ah!” said God. “That's Heaven on Earth, I call it Scotland,” before he went on to outline all the wonderful things he was giving Scotland: rivers, flowing with the purest water, majestic mountains the finest cattle and sheep, plentiful fish in its rivers and seas. Growing ever prouder God explained how, Scotland would be home to the best people on this new Earth; they would be hard-working, inventive, and would spread across the world taking the best of Scotland with them. Why, God continued – he would even allow the Scots to know the secret of the Water of Life. God then stood back in expctation of applause.

Instead, Gabriel said: “Fair enough Boss, but, is that not an awful lot to bestow on such a small part of this new World of yours. You canmot spoil these Scots – what's the drawback?”

God turned. “Ah! Gabriel – wait till you see who I am giving them as neighbours.”

The French version of this story is slightly different. In that one, God again waxes lyrical about all the good things he has bestowed on the land of France – only, in this version, the drawback is not the neighbours, but, the French themselves.

I sometimes feel the French version is also the Scottish one. Well they do say, it is very easy to differenciate between a Scotsman with a grievnce and a ray of sunlight. There are a lot of Victor Meldrews and Private Frasers abroad. And a lot of these Caledonian curmudgeons are not happy with Super-6 – as became clear to me after yesterday's post.

I cannot stress often enough – I have my concerns about S6:

• I think six teams is at least two too few
  
  
• Three franchises in Edinburgh is a total nonsense – they cannot all survive
  
  
• The way the SRU moved the goalposts midway through the bidding process was an own goal
  
  
• Not having a franchise in Glasgow is another nonsense
  
  
• As is not having at least one franchise north of the central belt

There is, as I see it, nothing wrong with the basic concept of S6 – to provide a higher level of competition than the Premiership for potential full-time professional players. The design, within that original concept, might, to some of us appear flawed, but, that's what we are going with, so, let's see if it flies. If it doesn't, it can always be tweaked during the original five-year time-scale.

Never forget, in taking-on the franchises, the six clubs are doing the SRU a favour, by picking-up some of the financial burden of player development. IF Six works, eight, then ten, maybe twelve will follow – that's how franchising works, and, while these original six clubs/teams/enterprises – call them what you will – are taking a huge risk, they could also be in-line for big rewards.

For that reason – the battle is over, Super-6 will happen and I you don't like this, tough, suck it up.

Already we are hearing stories of S6 clubs seeking to recruit new players for their existing “amateur” teams. Those doing the complaining are forgetting, players move all the time, and have always moved.

I admit, it might seem strange to say a club likely to be in the Championship/Premiership next season, to find one of their players being approached by an S6 amateur side who will be playing in National 1. However, if that player perceives he will be better-paid, or better-treated by dropping down a division – he will move regardless.

Clubs likely to lose players have two choices – let them go, or, give them a deal which keeps them. And, if they cannot be persuaded to stay, don't close the door on them. Not every blade of grass on the other side of the fence is as verdant as it first appears.

Also, don't be hypocritical. It's no use moaning about the big club just up the road “tapping-up” a couple of your first team – if another two of your squad came to you from that big team because they reckoned they'd get game time with you they would not get at the big club.

This point was made to me yesterday by a guy who is heavily involved in the rather succesful youth development scheme of a big club, who said: “A club complained that we had approached two of their players – no mention of the seven members of one of our successful youth teams that they got one year, or the three of last season's Under-18 team who went to that club.

“In fact, we had a very good Under-18 team last season. Nine of that squad are now playing with clubs who are lower ranked than us – it is a two-way stret.”

And, a word for the one or two clubs further down the food chain who are moaning about the SRU putting so much into S6. Don't get mad – get even.

Do your homework:

• demonstrate if you can, that Murrayfield is somehow “cheating” the smaller clubs of cash
  
  
• collate your figures
  
  
• gather your evidence
  
  
• build a movement among the smaller clubs
  
  
• call an SGM
  
  
• win your battle where it matters

OR: you could put the same amount of effort into getting your own club right, finding more local sponsors, increase your club's income, getting more kids playing for you and advance your own club – you might be in a position to take-on S6's eighth or tenth franchise when the time comes.

Moaning from the side-lines is easy, rolling-up your sleeves and doing something is the hard part, but, for those that do – the much-more satisfying outcome.

Rant over.