Well Done Ayr, But, The Fat Lady Isn't Even Practising Her Scales Just Yet

CONGRATULATIONS are due to Ayr; after their narrow win over Stirling County, at Bridgehaugh on Saturday, the Millbrae Men have guaranteed themselves pole position at the end of the regular BT Premiership season. Up until last season, that would have guaranteed them the title, now, all it does is ensure home advantage against whichever club finishes fourth in the regular-season title race, in the Play-Off semi-final.

Slightly off-topic here, but, can I suggest to the BT Murrayfield Mandarins, maybe a wee pennant ought to go to the side which finishes the 18 rounds of home and away games on top of the heap. This does not guarantee the title will be theirs after the play-offs, so perhaps a wee memento for what is still a great feat, is in order.

I know Heriot's turned pole position into the trophy last season, but, this is not a given.

Ayr finish first, but, the battle for places two, three and four is ongoing. Realistically this will be between Heriot's, Currie and Melrose, and, to add grist to the mill, on Saturday, 'Rose will welcome Currie to the Greenyards.

Currie are on 51 points, but have two games to play - that one at Melrose, then a home clash with Gala. Melrose also have two games left, the Currie clash, then a visit to already-relegated Selkirk. They lie two points adrift of Currie and Heriot's, so will need to win both matches - and they could do with one, if not two, four-try bonus points, if they are to clinch that home-field advantage (I know, terrible use of an Americanism there), if they are to clinch second spot.

If Heriot's are to successfully defend their crown, they must do it the hard way. Assuming (and nothing can be assumed when it comes to the BT Premiership) they beat Stirling County at Goldenacre in their final regular season game, they will finish on 56 points. This COULD be enough for second, but, it might not be, depending on results elsewhere.

So far, it's all fairly simple - three teams, fighting for three places, the final order to be established by results. However, it is NOT that simple. Suppose the pressure was to get to Melrose and they were to lose their final two games - that would open the door for Glasgow Hawks, who lie fifth, IF they could accrue a bonus point in beating Boroughmuir at Meggatland in their final game. And, DO NOT write-off Hawick, who lie on 43 points, with two games to play, at home to 'Muir on 13 February, and then to Ayr two weeks later.

A couple of bonus-point wins for the Green Machine, and melt-down by one or even two of the teams above them and, suddenly they are in play. Much to mull over there, but, one thing is clear in all this uncertainty, and that is, the BT Premiership is one exciting and tight competition.

REGULAR readers of this bog will know, I have steadfastly backed the claims of the BT Premiership to greater exposure in the Scottish press, in particular in the columns of The Scotsman and The Herald - Scotland's two "newspapers of quality".

The columns of these two newspapers' sports pages are rugby's natural home north of Solway and Tweed. Sadly, the game's cause is, I feel, currently being ill-served therein.

To be fair to Head of Sport Graham Bean and his team at Orchardbrae House, The Scotsman's new Edinburgh base, they continue to recognise the importance of the club game. Scotland on Sunday carries short reports on every round of matches in the BT Premiership, with at least one game picked-out for additional, more-extensive coverage.

Then, on Monday mornings, The Scotsman also carries reports on every BT Premiership match, with a round-up of the National League 1 games.

Sadly, The Herald seems to think there is little or no rugby beyond Scotstoun and Murrayfield. They do, in their Monday print edition, carry a round-up of the BT Premiership games, put-together by an Arran-based journalist who attends gey few games, if any; while last season, they also ran a general club rugby column, by an Aberdeen-based freelance who again, was a seldom-seen figure in the press boxes of Scotland.

I had a run-through of the two papers' websites this morning. The Herald has 71 rugby stories showing, dating back to the two 1872 Cup matches over the Christmas/New Year holiday period. The break-down of these stories was as follows:

Glasgow Warriors stories - 41

Edinburgh Rugby stories - 24

Scotland stories - 9

"Others" stories - 5 (by others, these were stories concerning the Lions, English rugby, plus one Rugby League story).

Alert readers will note, this comes to 79 stories, rather than 71, the difference comes from some being of joint interest, covering both Glasgow and Edinburgh - the story of Duncan Seir's move East for instance.

In the same period, The Scotsman ran 98 rugby stories online. The break-down was:

Glasgow Warriors stories - 33

Edinburgh Rugby stories - 32

Scotland stories - 18

"Others" stories - 12

Club Rugby stories - 10

That comes to 105 stories, again, the difference is down to joint-interest stories.

So, if you want to read about club rugby - go to The Scotsman, is old Aristotle's advice.      

Good Squad, Good Prospects, Could We Have A Better Tournament?

SO, the waiting is over and Big Vern Cotter has announced his preliminary training squad for the Six Nations, which is, lest we forget, a mere 18 days away.

 

The squad is:

 

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR THE 2016 RBS 6 NATIONS

 

 - FORWARDS -

 

Hooker
Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 94 caps
Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps

Front-row
Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 52 caps
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) - uncapped
Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs) – 29 caps
Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh Rugby) – uncapped

Lock
Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
Richie Gray (Castres) – 51 caps
Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap

 

Back-row
Adam Ashe (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
John Barclay (Scarlets) – 45 caps
Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 15 caps
David Denton (Bath) – 32 caps
Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps

- BACKS -

Scrum-half
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester) – 46 caps

Stand-off
Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps

Centre
Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 33 caps
Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 12 caps

Wing
Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 101 caps
Sean Maitland (London Irish) – 20 caps
Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 23 caps

Full-back
Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps) – 27 caps 

In addition, Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist and Glasgow scrum-half Henry Pyrgos will train with the squad during their traditional pre-tournament get-together at St Andrew's, before returning to their clubs to continue their recovery from injury.

 

We must presume, the medics believe both should be fit to play some part in the Six Nations, if required, but, will not be fit for the opener against England. The fact that Mrk Bennett has been named as a full member of the squad seems to indicate, Dr James Robson and his team believe he will be fit enough to be considered for the Calcutta Cup match.

 

I am delighted to see Pat McArthur and John Barclay back, reflecting their excellent club form, while some splendid cameos for Exeter has got Moray Low back into the squad.

 

Also returning in the backs are Saracens' Duncan Taylor - who had a storming European game at the weekend, and Ruaridh Jackson, who is enjoying a new lease of life at Wasps. Although listed at full back, Jackson will surely fill the "utility back" role, given his ability to cover several positions.

 

The big news, however, is the selection of two uncapped props: Rory Sutherland of Edinburgh and Zander Fagerson of Glasgow.

 

Rory Sutherland, left, and Zander Fagerson

Fagerson has been seen as: "the future" for a couple of seasons now and after his performance at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday, when he came on and more than steadied the creaking right-hand side of the Glasgow scrum, he was a shoo-in for a place.

Sutherland has been the beneficiary of Ally Dickinson's injury problems, but, he has done a good job of holding-up the left-hand-side of the excellent Edinburgh scrum. For my money, however, I would still prefer the slightly-more-experienced Alex Allen, who has now supplanted the fading Ryan Grant as back-up to the rock that is Gordy Reid in the Glasgow pack. Allen, I feel, offers a lot more about the park, but, hey, what do I know.

Notable by his absence is Glasgow's Ryan Wilson, whose latest brain fart, if proved, doing a Vinny Jones on the Northampton scrum-half, looks likely to see him out of action for some time. Having been very lucky to survive the McLay Affair still with a professional contract, maybe this is a case of one act of stupidity too-many for Wilson. Still, a conviction for ball-tampering just might increase his value in the French market?

   

Glasgow Were Never Going to Be Allowed To Win That One

YESTERDAY, Sunday, was a slothful day for old Aristotle. Apart from having to get Papa's Taxi out a couple of times for the benefit of grand-children who refuse to walk more than their own height, I did not stray far from my recliner and my TV, set to BT Sport.

 

Wasps v Toulon was an absolutely cracking game, won at the death. Northampton v Glasgow Warriors wasn't quite as good, but, again, the home team won it in the final play. On neither occasion, pre-match, could I see the visitors being allowed to win it.

 

Both matches, however, emphasised how flair, elan, champagne rugby if you like, does not sit comfortably on our dear Southern neighbours. Toulon, and with the amount of Antipodean talent they have at their disposal, why not, played a much-more open, attacking game than Wasps. Fair play to Wasps, who found a way to control their hosts for most of the match, but, in the end, flair and skill won out.

 

Northampton won it, because they managed  to manufacture a mis-match in a contest for a high ball, but, if they hadn't won it there, or if they had missed the kickable penalty they would have got had George North not deflected that final cross-kick back to young Mallinder, I still had the feeling, Mr Poite would have played on until the did win the thing.

 

But, in both games, the English side's principal tactics were: stick the ball up our jumpers and grind out a try from a maul or a penalty for the opposition illegally stopping that maul; and, try for a scrum penalty.

 

It was ever thus. Think back to Victorian times, the cock-up that was the Charge of the Light Brigade was, at least, a case of: it might not work but, let's give it a go. Such thinking was then and still is anathema to the English mind-set, far better the infantry square, safe, solid and secure.

 

Don't take chances, make small gains, grind-out wins, that's English thinking.always has been. This, by the way, is what will do for Eddie Jones as England coach. Aussie: "Let's give it a whirl" attacking thinking will not sit well with the Old Farts at Twickenham, even if he can persuade his players to set-aside all they have learned at their clubs when with England.

 

Any way, enough about the Common Enemy; what about Glasgow and Scotland. It is hair-pulling-out Hell watching Glasgow just now. for some reason, things simply are not working as they might for them. They are still playing their familiar fast-tempo, off-loading game, but, not quite reaching even 90%, far-less 100% effectiveness.

They will, I am certain, click some day soon, and, when they do, some poor unfortunate side will be on the wrong end of a hiding. Whether this change in fortune will happen quickly enough for them to mount a sufficiently-strong defence of their Pro12 crown is open to question, but, I sure as Hell hope they do.

Of course, the Six Nations is about to intervene, which will stretch Glasgow's resources more than perhaps any other club in the British Isles. At least, at Franklin's Gardens, Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg were more like their real selves, while Alex Dunbar eased himself back into things. The Glasgow back row also performed better than of late, which was good.

 

I had to laugh at the reading of the game by some English hacks, who claimed that the Saints held sway at the scrums. I thought what problems Glasgow did have in that area were on the tight-head side, until Zander Fagerson came on for another mightily-effective cameo.

 

Some English writers were talking-up the performance of young Hill, at tight-head for Saints. Well, I thought he got absolutely nothing out of Gordy Reid, who was again an immovable rock. Then, when Gordy went off, Alex Allen came on to further demonstrate he is the future.

 

Right now, Al Dickinson and Willem Nel are arguable the best pair of props in the Northern Hemisphere, come the 2019 World Cup, that accolade may well be sitting on the shoulders of Messrs Allen and Fagerson - I only hope they are still with Glasgow then. Meantime, Gordy Reid is, for me, secure as Dicko's number two, while, sadly for him, I now see Ryan Grant as Yesterday's Man.

 

Finally, on this point. Can I say how disgusted I was with BT Sport, making young Harry Mallinder their Man of the Match - how could they, after the performance Leone Nakarawa gave over the 80 minutes? Typical English bias, that's how.

 

 

 

YOU may have missed it, but, at the weekend, Sean Lineen and Rory Grant had an encouraging first outing in their new positions with London Scottish, who slammed an Ospreys Premiership Squad 49-7 in a British & Irish Cup clash.

 

Rory Hughes bagged a brace, to take his tally to five tries in as many games for Scottish, while Robbie Fergusson, another of the guys loaned-out to Scottish from Glasgow, was voted Man of the Match.

 

OK, getting the Exiles up the Greene King IPA table will call for such victories on a regular basis, but, this is a great start for the new, closer relationship between BY Murrayfield and Richmond Athletic Ground.

 

 

 

Collateral Damage Might Blight The Six Nations

ONE of the downsides to professional Rugby Union is the high attrition rate, the number of severe injuries being sustained by the top players. And, with the Six Nations' kick-off just four weeks away, this is starting to affect the thinking of the national coaches.

 

Right now, Glasgow has Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne and Richie Vernon - their first four centres in the pecking order all injured; additionally, these four, plus Edinburgh's Matt Scott would be Vern Cotter's midfield pool for the 6N.

 

At Edinburgh, Ally Dickinson and Ross Ford, two-thirds of Alan Solomons and Vern Cotter's first-choice front row are hors de combat, while Henry Pyrgos's prolonged absence has, I believe, contributed a large portion towards Glasgow's misfiring performances this season - Pyrgos is another you would expect, if fit, to be in Cottr's 6N squad.

 

Scotland is woefully-exposed at tight-head prop, where we are maybe one injury away from a crisis, while Josh Strauss's injury is a potential back-row problem.

 

Not that Cotter is alone in not having his selection problems to seek. Even with the greater playing resources which he has to call on, new England coach Eddie Jones is already looking at having to name his first 6N squad, without a clutch of players he might be expected to pick. A similar scenario is playing out in Cardiff, Belfast and Rome, where guys the national coaches there would want to see running-out for the start of the 6N will, at best, be in a warm TV studio as guest analysts.

 

Already, the question is being asked: "Are we playing too-much rugby, and should we perhaps be seeking a uniform international season"?

 

Given the way the BBC is bailing-out of top-class sport, which is very expensive to broadcast - Cricket (gone), Formula One (gone), Open Golf (gone), as they rush to consolidate behind the English Premiership football and the Establishment's favourite, Wimbledon - might this 2016 tournament be the last 6N to be shown free-to-air, or on "coonsil telly"?

 

I remember, over a decade ago, when Sky first began flexing their financial muscles towards Rugby Union, a commentator, it might even have been John Beattie, suggesting, the day would come when, on TV, there would be one game, a hybrid of Rugby Union and Rugby League, played internationally world-wide over a single unified season.

 

I would suggest, that day is coming closer. Rugby Union may yet become a game played in better weather, or as much as we can guarantee good weather in these here British Isles.

 

If/when that day comes, we will still enjoy our trips to Cardiff, Dublin, Paris and Rome - does anyone actually enjoy a trip to London? - but, Jo'burg, Buenos Aires, Sydney and Auckland will only be for the really well-heeled.

 

 

 

AYR'S 78-0 hammering of a very game Selkirk side on Saturday was a timely warning to the SRU - they really have to get a move on in establishing this proposed semi-professional league, or in levelling the playing field in the BT Premiership.

 

Selkirk, lest we forget, rampaged unbeaten through the National League last season, but have, despite some very good spells of attractive, attacking rugby, failed to make an impact in the top flight. Indeed, both Ayr and Heriot's, the top two teams in the Premiership, have put 70 points on the Souters this season.

 

It is difficult to see the situation being any different for the team which wins National One this season - at the time of writing, Watsonians being in pole position for this dubious honour.

 

Right now, Marr, who have done marvellously to climb through the divisions to where they now are, are favourites to contest the promotion play-off against the club which finishes second-bottom of the Premiership; either Stirling County, Boroughmuir or Gala as things currently stand.

 

Much as I love Marr, I scored my first try there as an 12-year-old school-boy, I fear for them, whichever of that trio they might end-up facing.

 

I repeat my oft-written warning, unless Murrayfield gets to grips with the shambles that is the amateur (or semi-professional) club game, Scottish Rugby will only go backwards.

 

 

 

FINALLY, it is good to see the Murrayfield Mandarins getting closer to London Scottish, with the news that Sean Lineen and Roddy Grant are being sent to Richmond Athletic Ground for the remainder of the season.

 

I still maintain - getting the three London-based "Exiles" teams: London Irish, Scottish and Welsh, into the Pro12 would be the biggest boost the Celtic fringes of the game could get.

 

Guinness, with their corporate headquarters in London, would love to have them in their competition, while those Scottish companies with London bases within the Square Mile would I am certain, be even-more supportive of Scottish if they were in the Pro12 than they are of them in England's second tier. Plus, having a Pro12 presence in the UK capital wouldn't half piss-off the RFU, always a happy bonus. 

 

Sort-ut This Dog's Dinner, Quickly

LIKE most people in Scottish Rugby, my loyalties lie more with my wee local club than with the artificial, Murrayfield-manufactured models that are Glasgow and Edinburgh. Of course I enjoy reading about their progress in the Pro12; I take every opportunity, either live or via the catch-up facility to watch their games on TV; I simply love listening to Bill Johnson and Peter Wright, one of the great broadcasting double acts, on BBC Radio Scotland; why, I even go to Scotstoun to watch Glasgow now an again - but, neither club is MY team - that team plays several rungs down the ladder.

 

Professionally, while I do occasionally get asked to cover Glasgow business, my main intrest is in coverage of BT Premiership games. I think this is a thoroughly-entertaining, much-under-rated and terribly under-sold competition. I have sat through a couple of less-than-riverting halves of rugby in the Premiership this season, but, never a totally piss-poor 80 minutes. This is a competition which deserves better media coverage than it gets.

Of course, things should and hopefully will change, when the SRU is finally able to overcome the self-interest of one or two of the possible contenders and get the semi-professional league which will replace/succeed the BT Premiership up and running. We now have, I believe, a sufficiency in numbers of players of a good-enough quality to make a semi-pro league a goer.

Indeed, I would go as far as to suggest, we are fairly close to having enough players to have three or even four fully professional Scottish sides. But, that's just my view.

Any way, the Premiership returns tomorrow, Saturday - weather permitting, for what will be, on-paper, the 17th of the 18 rounds of games. If there are no further call-off due to flooded or frozen fields, the head-to-heads will be completed by the end of this month, and we will know the four clubs which will have to keep themselves ticking-over until late March and early April, when we have the final four play-offs.

OK, we will have some cup rugby and the ludicrous Premiership Development Competition - a not-very-inspiring hybrid competition which th clubs came up with themselves, because nobody at Murrayfield had the wit to realise what a dog's dinner the club season had become and to do something about it.

I have heard of plans for a Scots-Italian Cup coming along next season, Ayr's Jock Craig's idea of an Irish-Scottish Cup, I believe, has merit, but, the sad reality is - with their obsession in getting their professional game right, and to be fair, they are nearly there, the SRU has grossly maltreated the club game, the bulwark of Rugby Union in Scotland.

Their primary resolution for 2016 ought to be, to sort out the club game and get it fit for purpose.