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.
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