Not The End Of The World - But, Maybe The Beginning Of The End

I NEVER believed we could win in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Of course, I hoped we might, but, hope is the default setting for the Tartan Army - football and rugby branches. Sadly, in my lifetime, hope has all too often been dashed by the reality of defeat.

 

The South African team which won the battle of two shadow squads - battle, rout more like, was well under-strength, as was the Scottish team. The margin of defeat merely emphasised, again, the difference in numbers and resources between the two nations.

 

We might think we still sit at rugby's top table, Certainly, there are still Scots in positions of influence within the IRB, however, our influence, like our world ranking, is declining. We really have to have a radical overhaul of Scottish rugby, if we are not to be overtaken by, newer, younger, rugby nations.

 

For instance, once Sevens makes its bow in the Olympics, just watch rugby really take off in the USA. And, when, rather than if, they put in place a professional Rugby Union League in the USA, just watch them go - as such a league will, if nothing else, provide a means whereby those gridiron players not deemed godd enough for the NFLm can enjoy a career in professional sports.

 

When that happens, even the Blacks and the Boks will be worried.

 

We are no longer deemed strong enough for in-season games in the Southern Hemisphere. Addressing this should be a priority for the SRU. The best and quickest way of doing this will be a two-fold operation: becoming competitive in the Six Nations and at the 2015 World Cup.

 

That has to be Vern Cotter's first task.

 

I am coming round to the belief we should be totally rejigging our domestic game, although, this might not be properly possible until after a Yes vote and independence. Then, we might see tax reforms which would make it worth-while for our best professional players to remain in Scotland.

 

Independence might also make it easier to put in place the further professional teams we need, if we are to get the numbers up, and compete.

 

I want, as a first step, to see the clubs, finally, putting individual interests and "Aye Beenism" behind them, let's try, as a half-way house, the semi-pro league which the SRU is keen to start.

 

In time, let's have five pro sides, based on the old District teams - the fifth being London Scottish, playing in the Pro12 - thus giving that league a presence in the lucrative London sports market.

 

Let's see a real effort at grass-roots level, to get more state school boys playing and able to see a career progression in professional rugby.

 

Let's see a bit more rugby in the media too.

 

Lsoing badly to South Africa wasn't the end of the world. But, it could be the beginning of the end, if we do not resolve: never again, and make the necessary changes to prevent a recurrence.

 

 

Good Luck Adam - You'll Need It

NICE one Adam Ashe; it would be churlish not to congratulate the young Warrior on being the guy left holding the parcel when the music stopped - that parcel containing his debut Scotland cap, which he will win in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

 

Of course, there are about two complete back rows ahead of him in the pecking order, players either injured or barred from playing by the international window which was brought in as a sop to the big English and French clubs, who would have got the number eight jersey before him. But, that's politics and I wish the youngster well in what might be, for him, a very hard 80 minutes.

 

Still, there have been previous instances in team sports, where the player of last resort has measured-up and made his name out of a stroke of outrageious fortune.

 

I don't see too-much wrong with the squad Vern Cotter has come up with, in the circumstances. A win would be too-much to hope for, I think Scotland has already used-up a full season's luck in winning in Toronto and Cordoba, but, losing with grace will do for me tomorrow.

 

 

 

I WAS just wondering this week; should not the SRU be looking at maybe introducing central contracts? I appreciate that, since the Uni9on owns Glasgow and Edinbrugh, the players with those two clubs are already on de facto "central contracts". But, maybe a bit of tinkering with the jewels in our crown, might in the long term help Scotland.

 

Why doesn't the SRU identify the current players who would be first-choices for the Scotland team, in really big games - any match against England, the All Blacks or South Africa for instance, and get them onto direct contracts with the SRU.

 

There wouldn't be too-many of these: Hoggie, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Jonny and Richie Gray, the Killer Bs, Denton, Matt Scott would be my list. Put together a deal whereby these guys were used to sell rugby - when not training with Edinburgh and Glasgow, and, let's really put rugby in the forefront of the consciousness of kids in Scotland.

 

These guys are big game players, who we ought to keep fresh for the biggest games.

Another Chance To Sell Scottish Rugby Missed

SOMETIMES, I despair of the SRU. BT Murrayfield is still so-wedded to the belief that the two professional clubs are the only show in town, they are continuing to alienate and almost ignore their core support.

Those in the body of the SRU kirk, while able to be enticed from their houses on a dreich Friday night, by a promising looking Pro12 match, are, at heart, club men. Ayr, Melrose, Watsonians, Dundee, Howe of Fife, Gordonians, even Cumnock or Carrick mean more to them than Warriors or Edinburgh.

But, no matter how often we tell them - and believe me, we do tell them - reghularly and frequently - that they ignore the club game at their peril, the Murrayfield Mandarins will not listen.

Take today, for instance. I telephoned Murrayfield's press office to ask: "When will the Premiership fixtures be released?" This in the interests of forward planning. The intern (unpaid help), to whom I spoke couldn't have been nicer, no gripes there; he said they should be released today, but added, they went out to the clubs on Friday.

Mainly I cover two clubs, who are quite near-neighbours, so, it was easy for me to log onto their club websites and work-out the majority of the fixtures I will be interested in for the new season. Job done.

Except, would it not have been better, and had more-impact/generated more newspaper column inches or website hits, had the SRU given the fixtures for the new season a wee bit more top spin - some media clout.

The new SPFL fixtures weren't sneaked-out to the clubs on the quiet. As I've said, at times I despair of the SRU and their attitude to garnering publicity.

THERE has been an interesting wee discussion thread on the Scotsman's website today, about Scotland's place in the international pecking order, and how this has affected the scheduling of the 2014 summer tour.

At the moment we are almost having to beg for fixtures, or call-in favours, to get games against the big boys, the three Tier One Southern Hemisphere giants. OK, we are paying the price for too-many bad years, so, the task for Vern Cotter and the boys is, to rebuild our credibility as a major rugby-playing power.

This will be a lengthy process, but, he has started well; he is getting good backing from Glasgow and, with a bit more hard work, who knows, some day we might get back to having three-Test tours of the SH.

We might aspire to winning the World Cup, but, getting back to that stature would be a good stepping stone along the way.

I AM worried. Just as Roy Hodgson managed to dampen English aspirations prior to their ultimately disappointing World Cup campaign in Brazil, so Stuart Lancaster had gone a long way towards calming down the singing charioteers who flock to Twickenham.

Hodgson received a fairly-sympathetic press after his troops crashed and burned in Brazil, so also did Lancaster after his side's 0-3 Blackwash in the Land of the Long White Cloud.

But, we "Sweaties", who enjoy nothing more than seeing the English media tear into their side after a less than Master Race performance has been torn to shred in print can still laugh - good old Mick Cleary in the Telegraph is still an unreconstituted, English is best writer, producing tosh for the Home Counties set.

Thanksflly for England, even the Hooray Henries have finally twigged - England has a good, but not yet great team.

Losing 0-3 to the Blacks was no disgrace, and I fancy Lancaster will use this reverse to get England even closer to World Cup success in late 2015.

Mind you, if Vern Cotter continues as he has started, we just might spring a surprise or two by then too.

An Ugly Scottish Win - But, We Still Won

WINNING, far less winning ugly, is not something Scotland has done too-much of in the professional rugby era. But, we have now won ugly in North and South America, so, maybe, we are making progress.

 

That said, we are still a long way from winning regularly, far less winning with style. But, these things take time and the current squad is young enough to grow into things.

 

We are far from the finished article, and I hesitate to read too much into Vern Cotter's three from three winning record. That run is very unlikely to be extended to four out of four in Port Elizabeth next week, but, if we emerge from South Africa having govem those big, bad Boks a run for their money - I will be happy.

 

Be honest, Scotland going into any international with just three or four first-choice players has, in the past, been a recipe for disappointment, if not disaster. We still butcher chances, our skills level is still appalling, but, somehow, this current lot managed to find a way to beat both Canada and Argentine. So, let's do something unScottish, puff out our chests and say: "Aye, we're winners".

 

We now have options and competition for places all over the starting XV; we have bench strength. We will not win the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but, I feel we will do a lot better than looked likely after the Six Nations.

 

Our overall rugby system still needs fine-tuning, but, let's look forward with hope for once.

 

Tommy Seymour got most of the kudos for the win in Cordoba, but, there were one or two other promising signs.

 

Ross Ford had his best all-round game for a long time - hitting his jumpers, getting across the gain line, welcome back big man.

 

Kieran Low was arguably our best source of line-out ball, while he and Blair Cowan had storming games in the loose.

 

Rob Harley was - well Rob Harley. Every Scottish team should include a big, hard-nosed, uncompromising "Ginger-nut".

 

Alastair Dickinson responded well to the rise of Gordy Reid, while Geoff Cross further emphasised the growing belief that Alan Solomons wouldn't know a good tight-head if he was mauled by one.

 

Finally, Dunky Weir isn't everyone's cup of tea, but, how lucky Toony is to have a choice between him ad#nd Finn Russell for next season. When the chips were down, the wee man (again) delivered.

Welcome Home Big Man

THE difference in thinking between our two professional team coaches has again been emphasised this week - while Alan Solomons gives extended contracts to two of his thoroughly-ordinary non-Scottish imports at Edinburgh, across in Glasgow, Gregor Townsend has moved quickly to repatriate a genuine class act in Euan Murray.

 

Now I have issues with Euan's "Never on Sunday" religious stance. I don't understand it, but, I respect his beliefs - certainly his stance has cost him a few caps and has not always been beneficial to Scotland, but, that's life.

 

However, since, without good "piano shifters" up front, the "piano players" in the backs cannot make music, Townsend has pulled-off a great deal in getting Murray on-board at Scotstoun.

 

Glasgow already has some terrific props, although, it has to be said, Mike Cusack's long injury travails haven't helped on the tight-head side. But, with Murray on-board, promising young Glasgow props such as Alex Allen, Jon Welsh and the even younger D'Arcy Rae can surely only improve, if they tap into Murray's vast knowledgte. Even the more-established Ryan Grant and Gordy Reid will surely benefit too from engaging with Murray on a daily basis.

 

Once it became clear Murray was available, I felt one of the Scottish teams simply HAD to move to bring him home. I felt, and still feel, Edinburgh would have benefitted more from signing him, maybe if he could speak Afrikaans, Solomons might have bitten!!

 

 

 

THIS post goes up before tonight's game in Argentine. I honestly don't fancy our chances, but, I am hoping to be proved wrong. British sporting prestige could benefit from a good result out of South America this week!!!

 

Go for it lads.

Hopeful But Fearful - That's How I Feel About Tomorrow Night

MANY long, often painful years of watching Scotland struggle in football and rugby internationals has taught me - we really need, if we are to have a chance of winning at "Test" level, to have most, if not all, our top players in a team, if we are to win.

 

To quote football's Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown: "There are no easy internationals these days". So, with that in mind - I fear for Scotland in Buenos Aires tomorrow night. This is simply because, we lack enough of our key men, particularly in the crucial decision-making roles.

 

Basically, we don't have enough "certainties" playing tomorrow night. Stuart Hogg would be in everyone's optimum Scotland team, ditto Sean Maitland, thereafter.....

 

OK, given his track record, Ross Ford SHOULD be a shoo-in at hooker; except, he hasn't been justifying that status for the past two seasons at least - he truly needs a huge game tomorrow.

 

Jo0nny Gray and new skipper Grant Gilchrist are the future, but, if we were playing England in a Six Nations match, would they be our starting lock pairing?

 

I still feel, IF all three were fit and firing on all cylinders, the "Killer Bees" would be our optimum back row trio - nowhere to be seen tomorrow. That said, I have nothing but admiration for Rob Harley, perhaps tomorrow night he will persuade Vern Cotter that he can do a regular job for Scotland, while Blair Cowan, if he can carry-on where he left off in Toronto, might give the new coach a selection headache.

 

Duncan Weir is another who needs a huge hour, while Grayson Hart's slick service could take him far.

 

I don't really fancy our chances too-much, but, Scotland has a history of under-rated teams clicking and over-achieving. Let's hope we can do this tomorrow.

 

 

Why Were We So Lucky?

THE memories of 'A Scotland XV' butchering a winning position in the last 20 minutes of a game against British Columbia, in Vancouver, in 1985, still occasionally bring me out in a cold sweat.

Thus pre-warned, I was not in the least surprised when we struggled and scrambled to a narrow and, let's be honest, barely-deserved, one-point win over Canada in Toronto last night.

I also covered ice hockey for several years, and had a father-in-law born in Ontario, so, I have long been aware of how cussed and hard-to-beat these Canucks can be.

Last night's game made me feel old - not least because I recall seeing Canadian assistant coach Gareth Rees, then a 17-year-old - with the assurance of a 35-year-old - schoolboy stand-off back during that 1985 tour.

But, let's look for (the few) positives. For once, we got the breaks from a poor referee, and, we won playing badly. These points aside - Phew!!!

If Vern Cotter didn't know before last night, how much of a roller-coaster ride coaching Scotland could be, well: "Ye ken noo".

We must hope things go better in stage two of the summer tour; put this down to: "A bad day at the office" and move on, perhaps smiling at our narrow escape, something the guys still scarred by that 1985 reverse cannot do.

NOW, to other matters and England's series loss to the All Blacks. Fair play to Stuart Lancaster's men for keeping going to the end, to reduce the Blacks' winning margin to a single point, but, in reality, there was more than a point between the sides.

That said, it will do England no harm to have lost yesterday. I fancy, they will gain their revenge, perhaps next week in the final Test, more-likely, when the Blacks come to Twickenham in the Autumn.

But, I now fancy, a punt on England using home advantage to win the World Cup next Autumn, might pay-out. I sensed, listening to Ian Robertson's excellent commentary yesterday morning on the radio, that perhaps the pendulum of power is swinging towards the men in white.

This England team is still a work in progress, the Blacks are a team on the wane.The mighty McCaw is now on the downward slope; sure, Daniel Carter will probably be back next season, but, I think England is the team in the ascendancy.

The Ausies, the Bokker and the French will be factors next year. Hopefully Mr Cotter will make us competitive, but, I now quite fancy England can win the 2015 World Cup.

And, on that bombshell - good morning.

A Bright Start - Now, To Keep It Going

So far, so good - following the first victory of the Vern Cotter era, in Houston, last Saturday. I bet Big Vern was pleased to get away to a winning start. Given Scotland's erratic form under our last two coaches, the Eagles were always likely to shit on an under-strength Scottish XV from a great height.

 

The new boys seemed to come through ok; sure, the injuries to Duncan Taylor and Jim Hamilton were not in the script, but, we now have momentum.

 

I cannot argue with Cotter's selection for tomorrow's match in Toronto, other than to (again) question the SRU's seeming reluctance to cap Mark Bennet. I was speaking with one of young Mark's coaches from his mini-rugby days, and he reckoned the kid's natural reticence is perhaps holding him back. In the days, 50 years ago now, when he was scoring goals for fun for Scot Symon's great Jim Baxter-inspired team, Ralph Brand could be heard, as he got into the opposition's penalty area, shouting: "Here I am". My friend reckons, Bennet ought to be screaming this, as he runs these great lines which have brought him, and Glasgow, a few tries this season.

 

My mate, however, reckons, Bennet doesn't push himself forard enough, and still, to an extent, plays second fiddle to more-experienced players around him. Good team members are always welcome, but, a wee bit "Me, Me" from Mark, just might be good for Glasgow, and Scotland.

 

If not Toronto tomorrow, when will Bennet get his cap? Time is running out for the World Cup, and, while I am excited about the Russell/Horne, first/second five-eighth style midfield axis, even Cotter must, by now, what we can expect from Sean Lamont. Not picking Bennet was a chance missed.

 

 

 

I AM a wee bit disappointed at the decision to withdraw the four top Premiership sides, Ayr, Gala, Heriot's and Melrose from next season's British & Irish Cup. The excuse about threatening the integrity of the Premiership, to me, seems like a bad case of the tail wagging the dog, and doesn't say much about the chances of ever getting the semi-pro Premiership up and running.

 

To go further, I do not accept that six pre-Christmas fixtures in the B&I Cup, could not be shoe-horned into the season. Last season, the league programme was lop-sided, very lop-sided, but, in this 21st century of professional (or semi-professional) rugby, we must not let anything get in the way of April being Sevens season - at least in the Borders. We cannot have genuine, competitive 15s getting in the way of the "sports".

 

After all, it has aye been thus, we cannot have progress - can we?

 

 

 

TO return to tomorrow in Toronto. How good to see BT Sport picking-up this game for live coverage, although, I fear, we might end up hearing an awful lot about England and English rugby in the commentary.

 

In spite of their £20 million investment in Scottish rugby, I still think, around the BT Sport HQ in Queen Elizabeth Park, in that there Lunnun, Scotland is still, by-and-large, a small, far-off land, of which they know nothing. 

It's Better To Work-Up To Major Victories

WELL - it is never a good idea to win things immediately; you don't want to set the bar too-high. Just look at Celtic, they won the European Cup at their first attempt, immediately creating Legends status on the 11 'Lisbon Lions' who so-memorably saw-off Inter Milan in 1967.

Subsequent generations of Celtic players have toiled in vain to match that iconic victory. Maybe, had the men in hoops worked-up to being the Kings of Europe, they would have had more than that singular European triumph to reflect on.

We can therefore dream that maybe another professional Glasgow sports side will work-up to European success. Sure, it was great, after their previous semi-final defeats, to see Glasgow Warriors reach the PRO12 final; then disappointing to see them lose to Leinster.

Hopefully, the disappointment of losing in Dublin will drive Glasgow forward to replicate their final appearance, with a better outcome - then, hopefully perhaps, Glasgow can become as-frequent finalists as Leinster have been.

To stretch their run of nine wins into double figures was always going to be difficult, particularly against a Leinster side determined to send Leo Cullen and the incomparable BOD into retirement on a high. Sadly, in the face of Leinster's street-wise forwards (rugby shorthand for: "they're a shower of cheating bar stewards"), Glasgow failed to play to their best.

One or two Warriors didn't match their recent form, I would not criticise them for that, but, I will criticise one. Niko Matawalu is, rightly, a fans' favourite with his off-the-cuff moments of genius; but, that attempt at a solo try when Warriors were camped on the Leinster line wasn't his best bit of decision-making.

I don't suppose you will ever tame the maverick inside the Fijian, and, that's why, for me, he has to stay on the winng - leave the crucial half-back decision making to Henry Pyrgos and Murray McConnell, the two Scottish scrum-halves for next season. They might not have Matawalu's "genius", but, they are better decision-makers and team players.

GOOD to see Tom Heathcote joining Edinburgh from Bath. The rivalry between him and Greg Tonks will be good for Edinburgh at club level; while, assuming Finn Russell kicks-on at Glasgow and brings the best out of Duncan Weir in a similar in-club  rivalry, and that Rhuardhi Jackson develops at Wasps, Vern Cotter will have an embarrassment of midfield riches to choose from next season.

MR COTTER is now getting to know his squad in Houston, we wish him well and, we have to congratulate the Daily Record - a newspaper which hasn't paid much attention to rugby in recent years, on sealing a deal to stream Saturday night/Sunday morning's international against the USA from Houston live on their website.