Going Out In A Blaze Of Glory

OUR DEAR friends from South of the Limpopo do rate their Rugby teams highly – and never tire of telling us how they've won four World Cups. This has led to some of us rating South African teams as better than they perhaps are. Certainly, they have excellent home records in the BKT United Rugby Championship, but, on the other hand – they sometimes travel as well as Belgian wine.

If we accept that Edinburgh is the Rugby Union equivalent of Partick Thistle when it comes to consistency of performance, then it stands to reason, not even the most myopic Hive regular had great expectations prior to the kick-off on Friday night.

The Sharks set the pace from the off, and with their scrum totally-dominant things looked bad for the home team. However, the visitors failed to fully make the work of their pack pay off and at the break, it was all-square, mainly thanks to a brilliant break by Grant Gilchrist, who set-up Glen Young for the match levelling try late in the first half.

With The Sharks employing their Bomb Squad after the break, they again pulled clear; however, in a golden spell in the middle of the second half, Edinburgh shot past them and established a lead which they comfortably held until the final whistle.

Ewan Ashman, who switched from hooker to open side when Dylan Richardson replaced the outstanding Fredde Douglas won the Man of the Match vote, but he had excellent support from the aforementioned Douglas, Hector Patterson and Darcy Graham.

However, this was a triumph of teamwork, with every Edinburgh player standing up to be counted on the night. The Sharks did have one or two individual cameos, but, clearly, this is a team with serious problems – the whole team does not add up to what the sum of their parts might indicate.

Highlight of the night was surely when The Sharks' scrum-half was pinged for a squint scrum feed. The last time I saw that was over a decade ago, when, playing for Edinburgh, the young Sean Kennedy was pinged in a pre-season game at Northampton Saints – and that was as a result of a short-lived RFU-directed purge on squint feeds, which didn't survive the opening month of the real season.

It's long past time for World Rugby to clamp down on this and the other Laws of the Game which they have allowed to slip – allegedly in the interests of making the game more exciting. Aye Right!

SUCCESS IN SPORT often comes down to timing. For instance, in Football, Scotland always seems to play better the season before performing in either of the big championships. Thus, it appears, between tiredness and the timing of injuries, Glasgow has gone off the boil as they enter the home strait of the season.

They looked like a team running on fumes in losing in Cape Town on Saturday, a defeat which knocked them off the top of the URC table. They really have to make the best of their fallow week to get back to winning ways for their final two regular season games.

YOU PERHAPS heard my roar of anguished pain as Ayr went up to collect the Scottish Cup on Super Saturday. This broke as I realised, here I am, the voice of good sense and reason in Scottish Rugby Writing, effectively banned from Murrayfield by the diktakt of the chocolate fire guard what mismanages the SRU's media operation – yet, what do I see live on television: degenerate chancers Auld Auchlin (Jock Craig) and Billy McHarg, sitting among the great and good in the committee box at HQ!!!

All kidding aside, I was delighted for Jock and Billy, and the other Millbrae Silverbacks that they got to properly celebrate such a stellar season for their club. If the other Premiership clubs had a Billy McHarg running things, then Scottish club rugby would be a lot healthier.

Super Saturday, however, belonged to one man – Ayr Captain Blair Macpherson. It is often said, the hardest decision any sportsman has to make is when to hang up his boots. It falls to a scant few to be able to go out right at the top – scoring a hat-trick, winning the Man of the Match call in a national cup final, in which his team has just completed a league and cup double in an unbeaten season.

Big Blair got it spot-on, way to go Son. He took his inspiration from Jon Bon Jovi and Kenny Rogers and went out in a Blaze of Glory.

But, in hailing Ayr's achievement, it would be remiss of me not to praise Currie's contribution to the final. Before the game, I had this horrible feeling, they could well rain on Ayr's parade. In reality, they gave the Millbrae men perhaps their sternest test of the season, only to fall just short.

I had this sense during the game, if the back divisions had been switched, Ayr would have won by a distance. On the day, the Ayr backs looked second-best to the Currie septet, but, as we all know: “forwards win Rugby games, backs decide by how much” and the Ayr eight were again dominant.

I am sure there are a lot of sore heads down in Ayr this morning. The bad news for the rest is, Billy will be back in his office on Monday morning, plotting how to keep Ayr on top of the heap, without the immense on-field presence of Blair Macpherson.

FINALLY, I am reliably informed, the Scottish Cup Final result wasn't up on the SRU's official website until 9pm on Saturday night, some four hours after the game ended.

Four hours to get the result from the main pitch to one of the offices under the main stand at Murrayfield and then onto the internet. Did the carrier pigeon have a broken leg and difficulty walking that distance.

I have been saying for years, the SRU's Communications Department, run as it is by the ultimate chocolate fire guard, has long been unfit for purpose, this is merely the latest example of this numpty's inadequacy – how is he still in post?

 

Another Legend Has Been Taken

THE FINAL WHISTLE has sadly blown on one of Scottish Rugby's most iconic figures, with the death of Allan Hosie. Allan had been ill for some time, but, he bore his troubles lightly and in many ways, his passing is a blessing after a lengthy period of darkness.

 

 His father was a stalwart of Queen's Park FC, and this meant the young Allan had a close-up view of some of Scotland's biggest football matches, as a ball boy at Hampden. However, he went to Hillhead High School, a rugby-playing scholl, and thus he played the handling game, before, after injury curtailed his playing ambitions, he switched seamlessly to refereeing.

At school, he had hooked for the XV from 1961 to 1963, however, a bad back injury saw his playing career curtailed at the age of 19.

His work in the insurance industry meant that Allan was able to make himself available to referee midweek games more regularly than officials in other fields of life. This meant he rose through the ranks at a phenomenal level and at the tender age of 27, he refereed his first Test Match – going on to handle over 20 Test matches, at that time a record for a Scottish match official.

Allan loved the game and this was obvious in his control of matches, he refereed with a smile on his face and a quip for everyone. He liked to keep the game flowing, but, he was not averse to moments of humour.

There was his legendary inter-change with the late, great Gordon Brown, in a West of Scotland game which was threatening to get out of hand. “There are too-many would-be referees on this field,” said a frustrated Hosie at one point. “Aye, and you're no the best one,” was the reply, allegedly from Broon frae Troon.

In a past life, I was full-time touch judge for Ayr, back in the days when even top clubs had to supply a flag bearer on the lines. We frequently found oursleves being refereed by Allan, and it was always a joy to see him.

I remember one game at Millbrae, when Ayr winger Stewart Hay intercepted and broke away from his own 22. None of the opposition chased him, but, as touch judge, I had to follow him up the park, as did referee Hosie. Oblivious to the lack of genuine pursuers, Stewart kept the foot down, collapsing over the line for a try, then seeing the pursuers he had heard had been Hosie and I, he cast aspersions on our parentage – Allan led the laughter.

Another game I recall was an evening match at Burnbrae, West v Ayr and at one scrum near the West line, as West scrum half Tommy Motherwell went to feed the scrum, Allan discovered he could not get close to him, since that weel-kent Yorkshireman and Ayr fan Arnold Pickles was actually on the pitch and looking over Motherwell's shoulder.

Allan thanked Arnold for his assistance, but assured him he had control of the situation, as he escorted him back behind the ropes.

On another occasion, he had to endure a lot of ribbing from the Glasgow and District Referees Association, after he went down on his knees to assure himself a try had been scored in an international. Legend has it, at the Association's annual dinner, he was presented with a prayer mat, should he be required to make a similar decision in the future.

From refereeing, he graduated to the ranks of the Alickadoos, initially with the Glasgow District Union committee, before he was elevated to the ranks of the Murrayfield Mafia.

He served the Union with distinction, was President in  2001-2002 and Scotland Team Manager on the South Pacific tour of 1993; whilst also taking his talent and knowledge of the game to the positions of Chairman of the Five Nations, then the Six Nations committee – where he famously, at the lunch/peace talks in Glasgow's Drum and Monkey pub, he so-charmed Bill Beaumont, then President of the RFU, that England's attempts to virtually take over the tournament were averted.

He also made a serious impact on the global game as Chairman of the International Rugby Board's (as World Rugby was then known) Laws Committee. He was not, however, a fan of the introduction of the yellow and red cards, perhaps correctly forecasting that some referees would use the yellow card as a cop out for offences which perhaps demanded expulsion from the field.

He also, famously, advocated the introduction of “The ten-point penalty” for serious fould play on the park. As Allan saw it, this would have been a kick at goal, taken from a “penalty spot” in the middle of the 22-metre line. I have always held, that idea should have been taken up by the game.

Although always identified as a Hillhead man – Hughenden was his second home – he lived for many years in Ayr, where he was a member of a group of what I called: “The Millbrae Silverbacks”, offering criticism and comment from the back row of the Millbrae stand, and great company in the clubhouse, and at their lengthy lunches in Grant Steele's Chestnuts Hotel.

Indeed, on one of his last visits to a game at Millbrae, before illness kept him confined to home, he was able to watch a young lady named Hollie Davidson taking charge of the game and afterwards forecast great things for her.

He was followed into refereeing by son Andrew, who emigrated to Canada and became one of their top officials. Allan had hung up his whistle by the time the Rugby World Cup was instigated, but, Andrew made it to that level. He is survived by wife Fiona, Andrew and Malcolm and their families.

It was a priveledge to call Allan Hosie a friend. He was a truly-great referee, but, more than that, he was a true Rugby Man – Rest In Peace old friend.

It's Hard In The Shallow End of the Player Pool

THE REALITY IS – Scottish Rugby is so small, we can barely muster a full 40-man International-Class national squad. At international level, our depth chart is much shallower than that of England, France and Ireland, perhaps also Wales. Given that our few genuinely World Class Players – the likes of Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn naturally, from their desire to maximise their earnings, are forced to leave our only two full-time professional outfits, these two teams are carrying more Journeyman Players than their rivals.

This drawback has affected Edinburgh more than Glasgow, and it has shown over recent weeks with a lack of consistency and wins. However, the manner in which they buckled down to snatch victory at the end of Friday night's Hive clash with Zebre Parma was impressive.

In truth, it wasn't a great game – an at times ugly clash of two teams over burdened by distinctly-average players, but, given they hadn't won their last three meetings with the Italians, the Edinburgh players will surely be delighted to have taken this one.

Edinburgh Coach Sean Everitt has had to endure constant abuse and criticism from a portion of the team's following throughout this season. The genial South African forged his coaching reputation as an encourager of young talent, so it was perhaps fitting than a team, heavily-reliant on youthful promise, should post this victory.

Some of the kids, such as debutant scrum-half Hector Patterson, actually impressed more than the more-established players did; this, for me, has been the captial side's problem all season – some of the regulars have failed to deliver on a regular basis.

The Edinburgh squad now contains some highly-promising young talent, the problem is, as I see it, a lack of above-average talent among the more-established squad members, this will handicap the team going forward for a season or two – regardless of who is Coach.

Still, a win is a win, so, let's celebrate it.

FIFTY-FOUR YEARS have elapsed since Lions Legend Dr Doug Smith first pointed out the problem of jet lag in international sport – after the Lions squad he ultimately led to the only Test Series win in New Zealand had tripped-up, first time out in Australia.

Later in the 1970s the problem of adapting to the rarified air on the high veldt in South Africa got Rugby Union's scientific community in a bit of a fix, one I don't think they have yet properly answered.

Certainly, flying straight down to Johanseburg means there isn't the problem of crossing time zones, but, as I understand it, not every team flies straight UK to South Africa. However, adapting to life at altitude still takes a wee bit of getting used to and I just wonder if Glasgow Warriors gave themselves enough time to adjust before Saturday's thumping at the hands of The Lions.

The South African outfit looked highly-impressive as they repeatedly cut through a distinctly off-colour Warriors' XV. Their off-loading at pace was a cut above anything Glasgow could produce on what was an extremely bad day at the office for the URC table-toppers.

When this Glasgow side is good, they are very good; but, on off days like Saturday, they can be poor in the extreme. Let's just hope they can get back to being themselves in Cape Town this coming weekend.

Every team has its low point during a season-long campaign, it just strikes me as bad timing in the extreme that Glasgow should be having theirs at a crucial stage of their season.

 

What Did Kipling Know

THIS BLOG has long preached: no nation has greater victories, or worse defeats than Scotland. This has been our lot from Stirling Bridge and Bannockburn, via Flodden, Culloden and – when national sport replaced war – various visits to Wembley, Twickenham and World Cup and European campaigns. When it comes to victories or defeats which reflect on our view of ourselves and our nation – we Scots definitely lack a sense of proportion – and don't think much of Rudyard Kipling's advice in If.

Thus, when the draw for the quarter-finals of The Investec Champions Cup handed Glasgow Warriors home advantage against Toulon, we Scots found ourselves in perhaps our most dangerous spot – we fancied our chances, we began to dream of greatness.

Beat Toulon – we have home advantage against Leinster; beat them, we're in th final: it's the latest version of an auld Scots sang – we've been there before. And as seems to always happen, our dreams were broken on the rocks of superb Toulon defence and their ability to take chances which was, on the night, far better than Glasgow's.

Warriors went into the game below strength. We had two promising but distinctly “green” locks in the boilerhouse; we were fielding our third-choice scrum-half. On a night which called for a near 100% performance, we got at best a 75% one.

On the night which called for greatness, we got a thoroughly bad night at the office and another chastening defeat. Fair play to Toulon, they might not be the star-studded squad of their days as triple European Champions, but, forged in the white-hot heat of the Top 14, or travel as well as Belgian wine, however, they were more-prepared for the big night than Glasgow.

I canot say I was surprised at the outcome. I had a bad feeling about this one in the build-up. But, in my eightieth year, I've seen this movie before, with different casts of Scots.

My thoughts in the aftermath went back to something Jim Sillars came up with in his days of political activism. I think it was during the unsuccessful 1970s campaign for the setting-up of a Scottish Parliament. The bold Jim suggested if the Old Testament tale of Manna from Heaven – Exodus 16, had been about the Scots rather than the Israelites, they'd have told God: “thanks, but no thanks” - clearly happiness is not for us Jocks. This defeat was just the latest in a lang, sorry story, going back centuries.

Europe has gone, but, Warriors still top the BKT United Rugby Championship table. They have four regular-season rounds to go:

• Round 15 – Lions (away)

• Round 16 – Stormers (away)

• Round 17 – Cardiff (home)

• Round 18 – Ulster (away)

At the time of writing, these four opponents lie (in order): fifth, second, sixth and third. The only game you would, at this stage, classify as a banker Warriors' win is the home meeting with Cardiff. A first or second-place finish, and therefore the guarantee of home advantage in the play-offs, is far from a given.

The pressure is now clearly on Warriors' medical staff, to get their injured stars back and able to contribute during the run-in.

As Rabbie said: “Forward, tho' Ah canna see, Ah guess and fear”.

HIGHLIGHT of the weekend for me came on Friday night, during that fantastic Bath v Northampton game. No prizes for guessing what I am going to highlight – it has to be that Finn Russell try.

It was right up there with The Archie Gemmill Goal. The difference was, wee Archie did it all with his left foot – Finn used both feet, and had still to get to the ball in that ridiculously-narrow Rec in-goal area.

BTW – I came across this picture on a Rugby Site's Facebook page – someone, obviously Scottish, had captioned it: “Fin, Finn and a Fanny” - I like it.

I'VE HAD A strange relationship with Ayr Rugby Club for some 65 years – there is something strangely-compelling abiut those pink and black hoops. Over those 65 years, the Millbrae club has produced a number of guys who are club legends - “Stiffy” McClure, Alastair McClelland, Auld Auchlin (Jock Craig to the uninitiated), the Brown Brothers, “Skippy” Kelly, the McCallums (Colin, Chtis and Peter), to name but a few.

On Saturday, Blair Macpherson's name was added to that illustrious roll-call. He signed-off in his final game at Millbrae, by leading Ayr to victory over GHA and a place in the Scottish Cup Final, at Murrayfield, next month.

Few players get the chance to go out in a blaze of glory, following a national cup final, at the national stadium. If the Gods of Rugby Union have any sense of fairness, Blair will hang-up his boots as a double winner – he deserves to.

So, why do I have this sense of foreboding. Having offered Ayr their stiffest tests of a hitherto unbeaten season – might Currie Chieftains prove to be the ultimate party poopers? Again: “Forward, tho' Ah canna see, Ah guess and fear”.

 

Surprise - A Magnanimous Saffa

FOR ME – the highlight of Warriors' magnificent come from behind victory over the Bulls at Scotstoun on Saturday night came some time after the final whistle, via a very magnanimous and dignified summing-up of the game from beaten Bulls Head Coach Johan Ackerman.

We have become so used to Saffas being boorish, myopic and ungracious in defeat: they definitely don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring. But Ackerman was measured, generous in his praise of the winners and totally alien to our image of the Saffas as The English on steroids when reflecting on a defeat.

The game was engrossing and entertaining, a match of two halves, largely courtesy of the weather conditions, with the Bulls on top, when they had the wind at their backs in the first half, before Warriors raged back in the second to take the victory and set up a home quarter-final, against Toulon, back at Scotstoun at the weekend.

Big Stafford McDowall, somewhat controversially selected ahead of British Lion Huw Jones at outside centre, was a deserved Man of the Match, but one or two others of the lesser names pushed him hard: Patrick Shickerling, Alex Samuel, were also in the frame; Ben Afshar did a sterling job when he had to replace the injured George Horne, while Dan Lancaster again impressed at ten.

Given Warriors are currently without one or two full internationalists, this win demonstrated, yet again, how well Coach Franco Smith has worked in assembling a squad able to cope with injuries and Scotland calls. The man is a great coach, who has constructed a squad which believes in him and his processes.

Toulon on Saturday will be anothr tough test for the side, but, having taken down a squad jam-packed with Springboks, and with home advantage, even with their long injury list, why shouldn't Warriors be too concerned about their last eight challenge?

I WOULD love to have been a fly on the wall of the Leinster dressing room at the Aviva on Sunday. Or perhaps not. From what happened in the second half, I sense Leo Cullen used a flame thrower rather than old Fergie's hair dryer on his men.

That Edinburgh were still in the game at the break, having barely got their hands on the ball, spoke volumes about how Leinster had approached that first half. They seemed after their elerctric start, to think they only had to go through the motions to see off their visitors – then kept giving away interception chances, which to be fair, Edinburgh gobbled up with glee – to find themselves in bother.

But, the second half was virtually one-way traffic as Leinster cruised through to claim their expected last eight slot.

Huge kudos to Edinburgh for seizing those first half chances and for never giving up, but, the game finished roughly as we thought it would have before the start.

Mind you, I still think Leinster would have won, even without the help they got from Referee Luke Pearce, who was entirely oblivious to the usual Irish shithousery around the breakdown. This was never more evident than in van der Flier's second-half try, when Doris clearly ran interference to take out three potential Edinburgh defenders, leaving him a clear gap to run into – Pearce did nothing.

ELSEWHERE – I had to laugh at one English social media platform, in which MacMessi was awarded just 2/10 for his performance in Bath's win over Saracens.

Blink and you missed it, but, the try of the game, a Coast to Coast Bath effort, finished-off by scrum-half Ben Spencer, was initiated by Finn, on his own line and under pressure, choosing to, while facing his own line, off-load and stsart the counter-attack with a pass conjoured-up in a flash. I don't think there's another player in these islands who would have done what he did in that instance – that try was probably the turning point in what had, up till then, been a very-close game.

The man is a genius, ordinary does not come into it with him – then, he kicked his goals as usual. OK, overall, it was maybe only a 7.5 or 8/10, but, that degree of effectiveness from Finn is still way above almost every other ten in the game.

There are eight very-good teams left in the main competition: well, seven and Sale, and I am already looking forward to Warriors v Toulon. Bring it on.