Could Rugby Catch-On In Edinburgh?

TO REHASH an old Bobby Knutt classic, which I first heard at Batley Variety Club over 45 years ago: “Rugby in Edinburgh – you never know, it might catch on.” If the capital is THE rugby city in Scotland, well it got its erse handed it on a plate by the allegedly fitba-loving Weegies in Friday night's BKT URC 1872 Cup clash at Bt Murrayfield. The way Franco Smith's side moved seamlessly through the gears in the second half, to push past their hosts and claim the trophy, well, if you've got something to do with the Edinburgh club – you should be worried.

It's not that Edinburgh were bad, more, when push came to shove, they were out-classed by a team who clearly came with a plan and wanted it more. Rugby is essentially a game of one-v-one clashes, and the Warriors won the ones which mattered. I noticed on Facebook, pre-match, one weel-kent Edinburgh supporter saying his best composite XV from the two squads had 13 Edinburgh players to 2 Glasgow.

He's gone missing since. Mind you, I may have to have another look at my pre-game composite XV, which had a 9/6 pro-Glasgow bias.

Glasgow Coach Franco Smith has come in for a lot of praise post-game. Those of us, including this writer, who were under-whelmed when he was named as Danny Wilson's replacement, are now having to eat humble pie – the South African has been an inspired choice, he really has brought the best out of his squad.

There's a togetherness about this Warriors squad which bodes well for the rest of the season. After the match, even guys who didn't make the match-day 23, the likes of wee Dunky Weir, were on the pitch to congratulate the squad and join in the celebrations. These guys appear to like each other and to get on – that's a factor which only the best coaches bring to clubs.

On Friday night, Glasgow's big guns didn't just out-fire Edinburgh's star names, more-importantly, the supposed journeymen in the Glasgow squad all made important contributions – that was a huge bonus on the night.

So, a great win for Warriors, a first piece of silverware banked, but, the challenge now is to back-up Friday's win with another – against the URC Champions, the Sharks, this Sunday. If they can do that, 2023 just might be a vintage year.

I NOTE Edinburgh has recruited Munster's Ben Healy on a two-year deal. Healy is Scottish-qualified, so he will provide further options for Mike Blair at ten, although, we have to presume, with Healy arriving, someone, probably Jaco van der Walt, will be departing.

I have long believed, since our domestic rugby puddle is so small and shallow, we cannot afford to ignore the likes of Healy, from the Great Caledonian Diaspora, and I welcome his arrival. However, I honestly feel, we are now at the stage where, we really do need to get that third full-time professional side up and running; while we also need to have deeper squads at the development stage – more Scotland A games, etc.

HE Might still be on every Scottish rugby man's list of the person we'd most like to meet at the foot of an old-fashioned 1970s ruck, but, against Exeter Chiefs on Hogmanay, Owen Farrell proved the truth of that old chestnut: “Form is transient – class is permanent.”

He won the Man of the Match award by the length of the NC500. Had he done nothing else that no look, reverse pass for the final try would have won it him any way. Farrell, on this form, has to start at ten for England. Let's hope Steve Borthwick has other ideas.

I HAVE only just learned what Joe Marler said to New Zealand flanker Jake Heenan, to spark-off an outbreak of handbags during the refcent Harlequins v Bristol game. Apparently Heenan only set about Marler, after referee Karl Dickson – who clearly heard what Marler said – refused to take action.

I have said for a long time, Dickson is a shite referee who has been significantly over-promoted. I don't think he should be doing elite club games, far less internationals. This incident is further proof, but, he's got the RFU behind him, so, we are seemingly stuck with him.

Weak or incompetent referees are one of the biggest curses in the game – they need to be rooted-out, ruthlessly. This, however, will not be an easy job and, right now, with the shortage of officials, I suppose we are stuck with the incompetents for a while.

On a brighter note, another English referee, Luke Pearce, impressed in his efforts to speed-up the game, when in charge of the Northampton v Harlequins game. We need to see his example become common-place, for the good of the game.

I SEE Sir Clive Woodward has been having another wee go at Eddie Jones. I really wonder about Clive. He delivered the one thing the English craved above all others – a Rugby World Cup win. That put him in a class of his own in the game darn sarf, but, as if to prove, Nae Class is another class, he has all but surrendered the status that success gave him.

A period of silence from Sir Clive would, I suggest, work wonders for his diminishing status among our southern neighbours. It's an old sporting truism – the further you get away from your playing or coaching days, the better you become.

Unless the English system is radically altered, they will not win another World Cup for a long time. So, the less Clive has to say on the matter, the better he becomes.