Just When You Thought Things Couldn't Get Any Worse

WHEN DAVID BARNES' yet unborn grandson comes to write the history of Scottish Rugby in the 21^st century, he may well devote an entire chapter to November, 2025, a month which definitely demonstrated, with Scotland, the biggest gunks tend to come when our expectations were greatest.

Prior to kick-off in the Quilter Nations Series we Jocks were in full Charles Dickens mode – we had Great Expectations for the month ahead: we looked forward to finally getting the All Blacks monkey off our backs; they were having a crisis of confidence, and we thought our Lions-heavy squad, with home advantage, could see them off this time.

We had the games against USA and Tonga counted as “gimmees”, while a Murrayfield victory over Argentina would secure for us a top six World Cup seeding and – on paper – an easier ride in the pool in 2027.

Aye Right!! You'd think we might have learned by now; after all, didn't God, after completing his master-work, in which he gave Scotland so-many riches, punish us unfairly by who he gave us as our closest neighbours? One month on, all those hopes and dreams lie shattered.

But, as we reflected on yet another doing from the Men in Black (or in this case black and white) and another Argentinian misadventure which left us crying, we could look forward to our two professional club squads lifting our spirits. After all, they were only playing a couple of Welsh teams and right now, Welsh Rugby is in an even worse state than ours.

Edinburgh's home match with a depleted Ospreys was only a probable win, instead of a definite one – because we are never sure which version of the capital side will turn up on any given night. But, Glasgow's trip to winless, bottom of the table Scarlets, well, that was as big a sure thing as Rangers winning at Berwick Rangers, or Celtic – at home – rolling over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Edinburgh did indeed beat Ospreys, but, in the history of ”ugly wins” - this one was in the Davie Dodds class. I have been saying for some time now, don't laugh too-hard at the current travails in the Principality – Wales will bounce back, and Ospreys, and indeed Scarlets, showed on Saturday, they have some bloody-good youngsters coming through.

Edinburgh's cause wasn't helped by yet another blind Irish referee being on-duty, but, somehow, Edinburgh managed to scrape their way to victory. It wasn't a great performance, or game, but, a win is a win is a win.

That, sadly, can not be said for Glasgow. It was almost a reversion to the bad old days of the early Celtic League, when Glasgow sides would regularly endure the long coach trip down the M74, M6, M5, M50, A 449 then M4; at their destination they would endure a bit of a kicking, before a downbeat return trip. We thought those days were past and in the past they would remain: Saturday night was a wee reminder not to get too-cocky.

Glasgow just didn't turn-up. It was a truly bad night at the office. Now, in Franco Smith I still believe and have confidence, but, as I watched the carnage on TV, I just wondered, what his critics might have made of the Coach, had that happened on Toony's watch.

I could offer excuses, possible reasons, but, on sober reflection, I think I will simply put it down to a bad result and trust the additional challenge of Europe brings out the real Glasgow. After all, that result was far from the first case of a Scottish sports team slipping on a banana skin.

I have my own thoughts, but will save these for a later post, which requires greater depth.

FOR ME, the biggest loser on Saturday was clearly Eben Etzebeth. OK, he has this image as an enforcer, the 21^st century version of Bakkies Botha, a previous Springbok enforcer. Now Botha it is generally accepted, broke the Laws with impunity and total disregard – until Saturday, Etzebeth was viewed as having a bit more control – definitely hard, not a man to trifle with, but he stayed within the Laws.

No longer – after that eye gouge, we all know he's nowt but a common thug. I trust World Rugby will throw the book at home; however, that will probably make him even more of a hero to those Bokke fans who tend to wear their IQ on the back of their replica shirts.

HOW DO you stop the Ayr Juggernaut? That has been the big question for the other Coaches in the Arnold Clark Premiership this season. Well, it appears, Heriot's on Saturday came up with the solution – you run out of props early doors, so go to uncontested scrums, thus taking away Ayr's advantage in that department. Interesting!!!

Or, am I being sceptical, intelligent thinking around Goldenace. Discuss!!!

I ENDED my weekend of Rugby-watching with Sunday's “Prem” (why does that ill-conceivedpiece of marketing tat jar so much?) clash between Saracens and Bath. This was a true heavyweight contest, which the TNT Sport team decided to big up as the meeting of the respective tens – Owen Farrell and Finn Russell.

The talking heads say nice things about MacMessi – but, I always feel, they don't really love him – not in the same way they love Farrell; he's a Jock after all, not as stable as a good Saxon such as Farrell.

Any way, Farrell Junr. Had a solid game, he did nothing wrong and produced one trademark dropped goal. But The Gallus One – well, he kicked his goals, varied play brilliantly and produced two passes in particular which opened up Sarries and were definitely in the WTF was that category.

He was in the frame for Man of the Match, but lost out to another Scot – Josh Bayliss, whose performance was on a different level. A pity, however, that Andy Onyeama-Christie didn't make the Saracens squad, their head-to-head would have been good, I am certain.