THAT WAS a smashing win for Glasgow Warriors, over Ulster, at Scotstoun on Friday night. I have to admit, I was worried about that one; the red hand mob are always difficult opponents and I thought, with them losing fewer players than Warriors to the Six Nations squads, this would be a real test of Warriors' squad depth.
I am convinced, under Messrs Rennie or Wilson, Glasgow would have lost that one, but, the team, under Franco Smith is a more robust beast and it says much for the Coach's skill that they won this one.
Smith's use of his bench, deploying the guys released from the national squad to get Glasgow over the line, was exemplary, while the journeymen – guys such as Johnny Matthews, Lewis Bean and Tom Gordon, who did the heavy lifting to give them that target to aim for, once again proved their worth to the side.
Sadly, between conceding that very-late penalty, and not quite getting a bonus point, Warriors failed to overtake Ulster into third place, however, with both sides off to South Africa this weekend, and Glasgow having, certainly on-paper, the easier game, maybe they can still overtake Ulster.
IF WARRIOR'S win over Ulster was a week-end highlight, Edinburgh's pathetic collapse against Scarlets was the polar opposite. Edinburgh were woeful, from start to finish, offering very little as an attacking force and lucky not to lose by more than they did.
Their abysmal performance was a sad return to the bad old days of Scottish rugby.
Edinburgh does have some very-good players, but, with most of them held back in the national squad, the lack of true depth over the whole squad was cruelly exposed in Wales.
Mike Blair is now under real pressure, to demonstrate his coaching qualities. It's a results-driven business, and right now, his side is not getting the results its talent perhaps should. Indeed, several long-standing squad members are, this season, starting to look as if they are past their sell-by date – which is always a difficult position for a coach.
CONGRATULATIONS to Hawick, on winning the regular season part of the Tennent's Premiership season. It is good to see the Green Machine back at the top of the club tree.
Mind you, other than guaranteeing home advantage in the Play-Off semi-finals, and, if that match is won, home field advantage again in the final, topping the table after all 18 regular season rounds doesn't amount to a hill of beans – and, you can bet defending Champions Marr will be keen to go to Mansfield Park and put one over on the Robbie Dyes.
While they were celebrating in the Station Bar and the other watering holes of Hawick Last night, commiserations have to go to GHA, who were relegated after their loss to Hawick.
Now the big unanswered question is: who will replace them in the top flight? As things stand, with at least five rounds of games still to play, Kelso have a three-point advantage over Ayr, and seem set fair for a return to the top flight.
The promotion race is even tighter in National League 2, where Newton Stewart are three points clear of the field, but, second-placed Falkirk and third-placed Glasgow Academicals – a further two points behind the league leaders, each has a game in hand.
Hawick are unbeaten in the league this season, a feat they share with National 3 leaders Gordonians. However, while Hawick were held to a draw by Selkirk, the boys from Aberdeen have won all 15 of their league games thus far, and, with an 11-point lead, will take a bit of catching over the seven remaining fixtures.
FINALLY – While enjoying a laugh at the expense of our Welsh cousins, I have got to admit, it is somehow typical of rugby life in the valleys that there should be discord and talk of strike action.
The players have never mattered in Wales, they have always been a commodity to be used. For instance, I recall an entry in the Rugby Memories Scotland page of Facebook. It was one of those end of season group photographs, of a Cardiff RFC team; the thing was, in the picture, there were 17 players and 19 committee-men.
This confirms, that in Wales, the blazers have always come first. I know it's a different game, but, there is the legendary and true story – I knew the player who was affected - of the Welsh FA party to go to an away European Championship game, arriving at Cardiff Airport, to discover, they had cocked-up the bookings and there was one less seat that members of the party. One of the players had to stay back and travel later, since it was more important that all the blazers got on-board.
At least, the SRU has never been that stupid. I hope that is not a “hold my beer” challenge to The Junta, however.
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