I SUPPOSE, for Scotland's Sevens squad, the only way is up following a disappointing return to the World Rugby HSBC Sevens circuit in Singapore. After a promising start for Ciaran Beatttie's squad, beating Wales first time out, it all went downhill. Losing to New Zealand and Argentina, both of whose Unions take Sevens a bit more seriously than The Murrayfield Junta, well, we can live with that; but, losing to Spain and Japan – come on guys, we expect better.
OK, we have a few newcomers in the squad, they are virtually starting from scratch, but, let's hope for better this week-end, which finds the squad in Vancouver.
SCOTTISH RUGBY is growing more like Scottish Football with each passing year, certainly when it comes to European competition. We are also-rans when it comes to the big one – the respective football codes' Champions Cup, seeking some sort of consolation from the secondary event – in rugby's case, the Challenge Cup.
Glasgow travel to Kingston Park, Newcastle on Friday night, to take on Newcastle Falcons, while Edinburgh entertain Bath at the DAM Health Stadium on Saturday night.
On paper, these games are winnable, since Falcons and Bath are two of the lower ranked sides in the Gallagher Premiership. However, as anyone who has watched their recent games on BT Sport will testify, they are both capable of some brilliant attacking rugby. These two games will be a great chance to compare the URC with the Gallagher.
I am wondering if SRU Chairman John Jeffrey will make the short leap from his Kelso lair to Newcastle on Friday night, for a wee reunion with Falcons' DoR Dean Richards. As a former student in Newcastle, JJ surely knows his way round Bigg Market. Note to EPCR - don't have the trophy there – just in case.
The Edinburgh v Bath tie could well be the tie of the round. Two teams who love to attack, and with some terrific runners in their squads. A couple of exciting ties are therefore in prospect.
STRANGE thing team dynamics. Richard Gough, the former Rangers and Scotland Captain famously said: “The team that drinks together wins together.” Yet, legend has it, a previous Rangers team, dominant in their era, was largely split into two camps – who hardly spoke. Indeed, rumour has it, some 30-odd years after that team broke up, the hard man of one camp hung a member of the other camp on one of the notoriously high-up coat hooks in the home dressing room at Ibrox, during a get together.
Jock Stein's take on successful management was: “making sure the five players who liked you contributed more than the five who hated you.” Stein tended to discount goalkeepers.
I can remember helping to set-up for a St Mirren pre-season photo-call, when one of the first team stars came hurtling out of the tunnel, pursued by another, who was clearly intent on separating the first player's head from his shoulders. Serious injury was only averted by the timely arrival of the team captain. Five minutes later, the two fighters emerged for the pictures, arms round each other's shoulders. Funny thing team bonding.
Then there are the effects of drink in a team environment. Former St Mirren manager Tom Hendrie, speaking with the benefit of a couple of Honours degrees from University, always insisted: “I find sportsmen cannot, indeed should not drink. The fitter they are, the less-able they are to adequately get alcohol out of their system.” Tom might have a point.
Then there is the fact, some people simply do not get on together. In any group, say work colleagues, far-less team mates, there will usually be some degree of friction. Tom will not get on with Dick, who is quite friendly with Harry, but, nobody has any time for Willie. It's human nature, I suppose. And, there is always that one wee nyaff who annoys everyone, and even relishes this role.
If you are wondering what brought this stream of thought from my raddled head to this post – it's just I read a Guardian piece on former England full back Mike Brown, and the abrupt end of his international career.
Brown claims he was blameless in the incidents which led Eddie Jones to dispense with his services. He also insinuates that the rest of us might be onto something when we think Maro Itoje is a big nyaff.
I don't know, perhaps the truth is, any squad can carry one nyaff – I mean, England won the Rugby World cup in 2003 with Matt Dawson in the squad, but, although he was in Australia, Austin Healey was never officially registered for the tournament, thereby demonstrating Sir Clive Woodward's man management skills. He knew, he had a potentially winning team, but while he could tolerate one nyaff, he perhaps suspected, having two nyaffs in the squad would be problematic, and might be the difference between winning and losing.
Something for Gregor Townsend to ponder on, perhaps.
FRIDAY sees the return of Super6, with Ayrshire Bulls entertaining Boroughmuir Bears at Millbrae. I've been in possession of the Bulls' squad for a couple of weeks now, but, cannot publish it on here until it is revealed in the April edition of Pink and Black, the club's newsletter, which is due out any day now. I can live with that, the club members deserve to hear first.
Heriot's have put their squad up on their website, and I see they've done a bit of reverse Border reiving, recruiting a handful of players from Southern Knights.
I understand, the control freaks at BT Murrayfield want to release all six squads at once. Well, they might be drip feeding information, but, from great experience of how they work in the past, it's more-likely they haven't got their act together yet.
As I have been saying since S6 was first mooted – everything which has gone awry about this tier of the game can generally be traced back to Murrayfield inefficiency – basically, they couldnae run a bath.
Plus ca change.
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