Nice Trip Nigel - Enjoy It, You've Earned It

Nigel Owens, pictured delivering his famous Stuart Hogg put-down

NIGEL Owens will, in June, become the "most-capped" Rugby Union referee of all time, when he passes South African Jonathan Kaplan's record, by officiating in his 71st international. And, John Jeffrey and his World Rugby Refereeing Committee have handed the little Welshman a nice wee present to mark the occasion.

 

Nigel will fly to Suva, Fiji, to control the Fiji v Tonga match, now that does promise to be a tough test for him, but, it is surely one to which "the only Gay" in  the village of Mynyddcerrig will control with his usual panache.

He is a class act, this blog congratulates him on a well-deserved honour. It is such a pity no other current Welsh referee comes anywhere near him in ability, or in personality.

MEANWHILE, lucky Glasgow Warriors, jetting off for a sojourn in Italy, where they will play back-to-back Pro12 matches against Treviso and Zebre. Toony and his gang have opted for what may well be the cheap option - they fly out for match one, against Treviso on Saturday, then go into a training camp in Italy, before facing Zebre on Friday night, 8 April. Staying in Italy for a week is probably cheaper than flying home, then going back out.

 

Toony is taking a 35-strong party to Italy, the squad is:

 

Backs
Mark Bennett, Glenn Bryce, Alex Dunbar, Grayson Hart, Stuart Hogg, Peter Horne, Lee Jones, Sean Lamont, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Ali Price, Henry Pyrgos, Finn Russell, Tommy Seymour and Duncan Weir.
Forwards
Adam Ashe, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Simone Favaro, Jarrod Firth, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Tyrone Holmes, Pat MacArthur, James Malcolm, Shalva Mamukashvili, Leone Nakarawa, Greg Peterson, Sila Puafisi, D'arcy Rae, Gordon Reid, Djustice Sears-Duru, Josh Strauss, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson and Jerry Yanuyanutawa.

I know of at least one Scottish rugby writer who is considering adopting the Glasgow pattern and having a week in the Spring sunshine in northern Italy. Enjoy the trip lads, but, to make it work - you have to win both games, while a couple of bonus points would be nice too.

Simone Favaro looks like being busy - he will be in demand as off-duty interpreter no doubt.

Simone Favaro - will have extra interpreting duties in Italy

BACK in the day, when I was a boy and rugby was a fun way of working-up a Saturay night thirst, we used to look forward to April. The fit boys would get to run around at the various Sevens events, while we hulking front five "donkeys" could enjoy the various County Cup matches.

Sevens wasn't just a Border affliction back then. The Spring Circuit was, of course, big business - not merely as it is today, the annual Melrose carnival, with the rest tagged-on via the Kings of the Sevens competition.

Forty or fifty years ago, the events at Gala, Hawick, Langholm and Jeforest mattered just as much as the Greeyards gala. There was also a well-established Glasgow Sevens Circuit: Greenock Wanderers, Allen Glen's, Ayr, Glasgow University and Kilmarnock were big events, while, for a time, thanks to some good sponsorship, the Glasgow Accies event, usually at Easter, would bring the big Einburgh and Borders sides west.

At a lower level, there were some great tournaments too - the drink and debauchery flowed freely before, during and after the events at Dumfries and the Wigtownshire Sevens at Stranraer. This latter event was a real marathon, the Galloway Irishmen couldn't half drink, while, the dance in the evening saw callow West of Scotland youths exposed to the demands of the wild women of Wigtownshire. Great days.

The County Cups were great too. In Ayrshire, we had two - the Ayrshire Rugger Cup, which was a Kilmarnock production, for First XVs, and the Ayrshire Junior Cup, which was run by Ayr, for Second XVs and lower.

I well remember one Junior Cup tie, which paired Ayr's second XV with their fourth XV. Because of the colour clash, it was decided that the second XV would wear the first XV strips - which differed from the normal club strip. The problem was, the fourth XV, designated the A2s, happened to contain at least half of the club committee, who pulled rank and insisted on wearing the first team strips.

There was nearly a punch-up in the dressing room, before they even got onto the park.

I dare say similar situations arose in the Renfrewshire and Lanarkshire Cup ties.

Then, there was the season-long Glasgow Knock-Out Cup competition, which was always competitive and hard-fought, Indeed, the final of this always attracted a big crowd. I feel, there is perhaps a place for these competitions being revived today. I might test the water at the April meeting of GROGS, the Glasgow dining club for older rugby types.

 

Mind you, when it comes to County Cups, for me nothing comes close to the appeal of the Yorkshire Cup, in England. I was exposed to this while working in the Broad Acres in the 1970s. The tradition here was, if your team was knocked-out - you followed the team which beat you, then, if necessary, the team which beat them, until the final, in Leeds, attracted a huge crowd from all over the county.

 

It certainly was a great night. Mind you, I don't see that working in Scotland - we are simply too tribal, more likely to go to war against the team which beat our favourites, rather than supporting them.

The Italian Job - You Were Only Supposed To Blow The British & Irish Cup Off

Some weeks ago, I was discussing the lack of a Scottish presence in the British & Irish Cup – the equivalent competition to the European Cup and Challenge Cup, for the Home Nations' second tier clubs, with the President of one of our top clubs.

(OK, the B&I has never been a happy hunting ground for our BT Premiership clubs, only once has a Scottish club – Ayr – got past the initial group stages into the knock-out phase. As such, the belief has grown, not least in Murrayfield's corridors of powers, that our top clubs, all essentially amateur, could not go head-to-head with the full-time professionals of the English Greene King IPA Championship. This has meant no Scottish representation in either of the last two seasons.)

This club President, however, tipped me the wink – all was not lost; we might never again see Ayr, Melrose, Heriot's or Currie going head-to-head with Bristol, or Jersey, Llanelli or Ulster Ravens, but, plans were afoot for a competition involving Scottish and Italian clubs, to fill the B&I Cup dates.

Last week, the Italian Rugby Federation announced dates for this competition – two in Setember and two in November, with perhaps others in the spring of next season to follow. From Murrayfield – nothing, until Iain Morrison wrote a piece on this in this morning's Scotsman.

So, it looks as if the new competition is a goer, except, Murrayfield hasn't come out with a definite comment on the new competition, and Morry seems to feel they are swithering between making it a genuine club event, or going down the route of selecting "District" sides to represent Scotland.

I believe, if Murrayfield opts for "District" sides, there will be one almighty back-lash from our Premiership clubs, a body of clubs including some of the iconic "brands" in Scottish rugby, who have been repeatedly and distinctly short-changed by Murrayfield's cack-handed administration of the game over the 21-years since it went professional.

This Italian-Scottish competition MUST, from this end, be contested by our top club sides, albeit squas enhanced by the inclusion of those Edinburgh and Glasgow players who tend to spend most of their season in the BT Premiership in any case.

Of course, it would help if this long-mooted, often-discussed but as yet unimplemented semi-professional BT Premiership were to actually happen.There has been more hot-air exhausted on this than in the average hot-air ballooning rally, but, real progress there has been none.

There are professional players on the rosters of our two pro teams, who spend far more time in the BT Premiership than they do in the Pro12. If the Premiership was semi-professional, this would hopefully drive-up standards and better equip these fringe Edinburgh and Glasgow players for the step-up to the Pro12 than the Premiership currently does, to the betterment of Scottish rugby.

The clubs are in favour, but still in the dark; the players will absolutely love it, so, come-on Murrayfield, tell us what is going on.

Mind you, the Italian Job is not the only alternative – I believe there is mileage in Ayr Director of Rugby Jock Craig's alternative suggestion – an Irish-Scottish Cup, between the top eight in the All-Ireland League and their counterparts in the BT Premiership.

These leagues are of roughly equivalent standard, the logistics are a bit easier than trips to Italy and the competition will be keen. There is another potential benefit for Scottish Rugby. We are told the High Heid Yins who appoint the referees to the Pro12, believe officiating in the All-Ireland League better equips a referee for the Pro12 than officiating in the BT Premiership.

Maybe, through an Irish-Scottish Cup, we could bust this myth and show, our top referees are every bit as good and, in some cases – yes, you John Lacey and Gary Conway – better than their Irish contemporaries.

On the other hand, I mentioned the Italian Job to "Management" and she immediately became interested – the idea of, perhaps, a long weekend around Lake Como or Lake Garda in September, has a certain appeal for her.

GLASGOW Hawks have received a great deal of sympathy for the way the exited the BT Scottish Cup at the weekend – losing out to Heriot's, who won because they were the away team.

Certainly, in cups and more-so at the sharp end of the competition, there has to be a means of separating two clubs who cannot otherwise be separated by events on the park. There are various options – most tries, fewest yellow and red cards, least penalties conceded and so-on.

Well if those round ball hooligans can come-up with the penalty shoot-out, why not Rugby, since getting the ball over the crossbar under pressure does require a degree of skill – unless you are a Scottish footballer, to whom it is kid's play!!

Why not a penalty shoot-out? But, for sheer badness, might I suggest the penalty takers are drawn by lots: shirt numbers into a bag, pulled-out at random, the "lucky" kicker gets to take his kick from slap-bang in front of the posts, on the 22-metres line.

It might be fun, and, I wager would be far fairer than: "the away team goes through".

Just imagine a hulking tight-head prop being asked to kick a semi-final-winning penalty. He'd probably do it – inside every Willem Nel or Zander Fagerson, there lurks a wannabee Stuart Hogg.

 

Willem Nel (above) and Zander Fagerson  - inside each there lurks a wannabee Stuart Hogg

 

It Is Always Hard To Lose A Semi-Final

I DO, I admit, have a soft spot for Ayr - a failing which gets me into repeated bother at my own wee Ayrshire club, where hating the pink and black hordes is a given. So, I had some sympathy for them when their League and Cup Double hopes were dashed by Melrose yesterday.

Not that sorry. Yes, the better team won, but, Ayr contributed greatly to their defeat, not least by their indiscipline. No, my real sympathy yesterday went to Glasgow Hawks, who lost out to Heriot's in the other BT Scottish Cup semi-final. Not only that, they lost in the cruelest of circumstances.

After the regulation 80 minutes, plus extra time, the competition rules had to be consulted, before it was revealed - Heriot's had "won", by virtue of being the away team.

It is never easy to lose a semi-final: so near, yet so far. However, to lose that semi-final on the spurious basis of being the home team - no, that's just too cruel. Time to refine the rules methinks.

There were other semi-finals played on Saturday, and, if things were going badly for Ayr on the main pitch at Millbrae - they were going swimmingly for Millbrae, th Alloway club's "social XV", who reached the final of the BT Bowl, by beating Grangemouth Stags on the second pitch at Millbrae. They will face Aberdeen University in the final.

After the match, that wonderful supporter of Ayr rugby, Andrew Pickles, was even moved to purchase beer for the troops. "Pixie", that rarity, a really nice Fettesian, was even threatening to list himself among the replacements at Murrayfield, simply
to come on in the closing minutes and possibly kick a penalty for Millbrae.

"Pixie", you're n your seventh decade - time to stop dreaming old mate.

But, the really big win of the day was surely that of another South Ayrshire side - Carrick - who ended St Boswell's three-year unbeaten run in the Shield semi-final at Maybole.

In the Shield final, the "Rick" will face Highland, who just edged-out North Berwick, at North Berwick.

Watsonian's Head Coach Marcus di Rollo

Away from the cup excitement, Watsonians clinched their return to the top flight by beating Howe of Fife. However, elsewhere in National League 1, Marr lost at Dundee, so must wait a while before clinching the promotion/relegation play-off spot.

With Hamilton having already sown-up National League 2, there was another big win in National 3, where GHK confirmed what has been certain for weeks - they were going up. A shaft of sunlight to brighten the Saturday gloom at Old Anniesland. 

  

Watsonian's are coached by Marcus di Rollo, with some input from another former Scotland cap in Simon Taylor, just two of the former internationalists now making their way up the coaching ladder 

I UNDERSTAND, John Lacey's totally unacceptable demonstration of refereeing - or rather, how not to referee, at Scotstoun on Friday night, did not go unnoticed at BT Murrayfield.

This was the straw which broke the camel's back, in terms of how Pro12 Rugby seems to think only Irish referees count. The SRU are apparently about to make it clear to the guys in Dublin: enough is enough - we are fed-up being screwed by incompetent/cheating Irish referees - it has to be sorted-out now.

Let's hope it works out for Scotland, the SRU should have hit out years ago.

When Graeme Wells arrived to referee the Ayr v Melrose game, he was informed by more than one Millbrae and Scotstoun regular: "It doesn't matter how poorly you officiate this afternoon Graeme - you cannot possibly be the worst referee we've seen this week.

As it happened, aside from his somewhat precipitate and controversial award of a Penalty Try to Melrose, Mr Wells did nothing amiss over the 80 minutes.     

Happy Easter Everyone

WHEN I was a boy, the Easter long weekend meant one thing to rugby - touring. Whether you were merely interested in whatever high jinks those Barbarians chaps indulged themselves in as they invaded South Wales, or if, perhaps, you were fortunate enough to be off on a jolly with your team mates - here was a weekend dedicated to fun and games.

Today, even though Easter 2016 is one of the earliest dates in this moveable feast, Easter is just another Saturday in the season. Well, not quite, in Scottish domestic rugby - this is the biggest week of the season, by far, with semi-finals and crucial games all over the shop.

Not that you would know from reading our newspapers, even the ones which have a history of treating rugby as rather more than a minority sport, played by posh boys from public schools.

The lack of coverage given to Scottish rugby below the professional club level continues to be a disgrace. I have repeatedly told Sports Editors, who ought to know better - their failure to properly cover the club game is just one factor in the downward graph of their circulation. But, do they take steps to change things - taught from birth that fitba is the only game in town, do they heck.

So - what's on today? Let's start at the very top: game of the day is surely Ayr v Melrose, at Millbrae, in the BT Scottish Cup semi-final.

Frazier Climo scores for Ayr during their last Millbrae clash with Melrose back in September

Clashes between these two clubs are always exciting and hard-fought and this afternoon's will be no different. Melrose have won the last three meetings - both league matches this season, plus last season's BT Premiership play-off semi-final. This statistic leaves Ayr with much to play for this afternoon. However, nobody at Millbrae is taking home advantage for granted, this one could be a classic.

The other semi-final is up at Old Anniesland, where Glasgow Hawks take-on Heriot's. On paper, the visitors will start this as favourites, however, Hawks have a habit of upsetting the Goldenacre team, and, as at Millbrae, when it comes to forecasting the outcome, this one is a fence-sitter's paradise.

All four teams are 80 minutes away from Murrayfield, which will ramp-up the tension, and, as down in Alloway, events in the West End of Glasgow promise to be exciting.

 Line-out action from Heriot's last visit to Old Anniesland

If the two Cup semi-finals are the main events, there are other key matches taking place right across Scotland.

In the semi-finals of the BT National Shield, the match-ups are: North Berwick v Highland and Carrick v St Boswell's. In the BT National Bowl, the last four line-up: Millbrae v Grangemouth Stags and Aberdeen University v Earlston.

Sunday is Ladies Day, with the semi-finals of the three Women's knock-out cups. In the main Women's trophy - The Sarah Beaney Cup, it's Murrayfield Wanderers v RHC Cougars and Ayr v Hillhead-Jordanhill.

The Women's Bowl semi-final line-up is: Howe of Fife v Annan and Glasgow University v Garioch; while in the Women's Plate - Stirling County v Broughton and Watsonian's v Aberdeen Quines.

Today's fixtures are not all about the cups, however; not least in National League Division One. League leaders Watsonians welcome Howe of Fife to Myreside, where a home win will guarantee the Myreside Men a return to the BT Premiership next season. In the same league, a Marr win at DUNDEE HSFP will wrap-up the Troon side's place in the promotion/relegation play-off match against Gala, with a game to spare. 

It is all but certain that Marr will be facing the Braw Lads, but, coach Craig Redpath and his men want the job done asap.

Interestingly, Ayr's Millbrae will be the scene of three of these semi-finals, while the need to mention Carrick and Marr indicates - South Ayrshire seems to be where it's at, in domestic rugby these days.

BUT, to more-serious matters. We Scots rugby fans are well used to seeing our enjoyment of Pro12 and international matches by a species first identified by Max Boyce nearly 50-years ago - "blind Irish referees". We all know they march to a different (Lambeg) drum in the smaller of the two main British Isles; over the years we have seen some strange decisions arrived at by referees in green, but surely no Irish official ever plumbed the depths to the extent of John Lacey, at Scotstoun on Friday night.

In rugby, more than most games, we CANNOT allow ourselves to consider that referees might be bent, corrupt, buyable, less than neutral. To think this is to fatally undermine the foundations of our great game. We may think them incompetent, promoted above their pay grade even, but, never corrupt.

On Friday night - I felt, John Lacey was corrupt. I know, it is unthinkable, but, I can see no other reason for the manner in which he punished Glasgow for one indiscretion, but, when Ulster did the same thing moments later - he let it go.

Some of his decisions, or in the case of Ulster activity at the breakdown, non-decisions, defied all logic. When a man of probity and experience such as The Scotsman's Ian Morrison is moved to question the fairness of the referee, then something was far wrong on Friday night.

John Lacey - gave a woeful display of refereeing on Friday night

World Rugby currently has a problem with its Laws, and with the manner in which referees interpret these Laws. Sadly, for we Scots, the man who should be leading efforts to sort this situation out is oor ain John Jeffrey, and I see little evidence of the White Shark biting.

That said, the near-impossible job of policing the Laws in the professional game is not being helped by poor referees such as Lacey. And, to compound our frustrations in Scotland - we do not have a single official who is considered good enough to referee at the elite level.

 Alan Hosie (above) and Jim Fleming (below) - where are their successors as Scottish elite level referees?

But, as we wait for the new generation of top Scottish referees to emerge, be noticed and given their opportunity at the highest level, at least we can reflect in the scant consolation - it isn't Scottish guys who are making such a mess of refereeing today.

Lacey's pig's breakfast of officiating on Friday night, somewhat took away from a brave Glasgow performance. Effectively, they beat 16 men, so well done to them, and in particular to Man-of-the-Match Finn Russell, and to Stuart Hogg, who lit-up Scotstoun with yet another sparkling display.

 

This has been quite a week for the talented Teri - named RBS Six Nations Player of the Year, then yellow-carded before he had broken sweat on Friday night, he bounced back with another trademark solo try, before giving the Scotstoun crowd the grandstand finish they wanted, with that outrageous 50-metres-plus penalty to deny Ulster even a losing bonus point.

Of course, since he learned his rugby on the notoriously-soggy Mansfield Park pitch, it might be said: Hogg is used to walking on water.

 

Player Selection - The Hardest Part Of Coaching

I REALISE professional sport is a results-driven business. Coaches, in assessing which particular player they wish to recruit to their squad have to be aware, the right guy can if not guarantee success, then certainly make it more likely; the wrong guy can have a catastrophic effect on the team, with resulting poor performance and the sack for the coach.

Getting squad selection correct is therefore a key aspect of coaching, and probably the hardest to get right. Gregor Townsend has had a positive affect on the fortunes of Glasgow Warriors, since taking charge, however, I am not so sure about his recent player acquisitions.

Leone Nakarawa and Niko Matawalu were inspired buys - some of Toony's other signings, perhaps most-notably the soon-to-depart "Mr T", have not worked as well. Obviously the jury is still out on his most-recent signings, time will tell, but, if he performs in a Glasgow shirt as he has in an Italian one during the Six Nations, Sarto, for one, looks like being a great acquisition.

I am less certain about the new props Toony has brought on-board; mainly because, I think Toony has ignored some locally-bred talent. I accept, with Ryan Grant and Alex Allen injured, he needs loose-head cover, hence the recruitment of Canadian Djustice Sears-Duru.

New Warrior Djustice Sears-Duru

Gordy Reid is a slight doubt, following his early retirement against Leinster, thus, we might see Jerry Yanuyanutawa in the number one shirt against Ulster tomorrow night, with Sears-Duru on the bench. Fair enough, but how must the likes of George Hunter and Steven Findlay, the two props from BT Premiership sides Ayr and Glasgow Hawks be feeling? They stepped-up for the duration of the World Cup, and now, when Glasgow is once-again short-handed on the left-hand side of the scrum, they have been ignored.

Mind you, both have a Scottish Cup semi-final to get through this weekend, so, perhaps they do not quite feel the sense of loss you might expect.

If Glasgow are somewhat exposed on the left of the front row, there is a positive over-abundance of talent on the other side: Sila Puafisi and Zander Fagerson will likely be on duty against Ulster, with newcomer Jarrod Firth, D'arcy Rae and Javan Sebastian watching from the stand.

I appreciate covering specialist positions - and, being old-school, I remain unconvinced that props can only play on one side of the front row - is an inexact science, but, I think Glasgow ought to be looking more-closely at the relative strengths and weaknesses of what is a massive squad.

A lot of Glasgow guys play far more often in the BT Premiership than in the Pro12, which is good for the Premiership, but, when Glasgow has a crisis, it would be nice to see some of the guys who are in effect, "playing the provinces" getting their shot on "Broadway".

THE first time I clapped eyes on Joe Marler, my immediate reaction was: "Bully". This was in a pre-season friendly, between Glasgow and Harlequins, at The Stoop. He swaggered around pre-game, trying to look hard, then, after the first coming together of the packs, he took a cheap shot at Gordy Reid.

This, he quickly realised, had been a mistake, as Gordy replied in kind, and more. I noticed, Mr Marler kept a fair distance between himself and Mr Reid thereafter. I am told by an old school team-mate, a long time 'Quins member, since he has these many years been with the Scottish missionary service in the Sudetenland, that, nobody around The Stoop has much time for the England loose-head.

I am not therefore surprised that his alleged: "Gypsy Boy" comment to Samson Lee during the England v Wales game has earned Marler an appearance before a World Rugby tribunal.

I think this is a storm in a tea-cup and a reflection of how what Burns, all those years ago, described as "the Unco Guid" have gained undue prominence these days, and go out of their way to find offence.

Verbals between rival players is nothing new. Cricket, that most-gentlemanly of games, is awash with "sledging", some of it crude, the odd one a gem. Who, for instance, can fail to be impressed by Ian Botham's retort to Aussie wicket-keeper Rod Marsh, who greeted his arrival at the crease with: "How's your wife and my children, Beefy"?

Botham replied: "The wife's fine, the kids are retards". One-nil Botham

Ian Botham - had the answer to "sledging"

Seventy Years Ago – The Year Scotland "Won" The Six Nations

RUGBY'S Six Nations Championship, concluded on Saturday. England won the competition – Scotland finished fourth. However, 70-years ago, it was all so different, when the Scots emerged, top of the pile, from what might be considered the inaugural "Six Nations".

These were a series of unofficial "Victory" internationals, which re-introduced top-class rugby to the sporting calendar, after the Second World War. For these games, England, France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales were joined by "The Kiwis", a side of New Zealand Army soldiers, some of whom got straight back onto the rugby pitch from years in Prison of War camps in Germany.

The Kiwis only fielded one pre-War All Black, their captain Charlie Saxton, but, a further 15 of the 31-strong squad, including future greats such as full-back Bob Scott and the legendary All Blacks coach Fred Allen, would go on to wear the black jersey adorned with thesilver fern, once they returned to New Zealand.

And they proved their fitness to take on the five international sides, by winning four of their "internationals", losing only to Scotland, at Murrayfield – the only time a representative Scottish side has ever beaten a New Zealand one.

The series cannot be regarded as a "normal" six nations tournament, since the sides did not all play each other. Scotland did not play France, the Kiwis did not travel to Dublin, while the number of games each country played differed: Wales played seven games, Scotland and England six, the Kiwis and France five and Ireland four.

The matches kicked off on 24 November, 1945, at Twickenham, where the touring New Zealanders showed, official All Blacks or no, official international or not – they were a team to be reckoned with as they beat England 18-3.

There was one other game in 1945, on 22 December, 1945, when Wales beat France 8-0 at St Helen's, Swansea. The Welsh were also first into action in 1946, going down 11-3 to the Kiwis, at Cardiff Arms Park on 5 January.

Two weeks later, on 19 January, there was the first double-header, England lowering Welsh colours with a 25-13 win in Cardiff, while, up at Murrayfield, Scotland were posting that still unique win over the New Zealanders, winning 11-6.

The New Zealanders led 3-0 at half-time, courtesy of a Woolley try, but J Anderson of London Scottish levelled, before Bill Munro of Glasgow High School FP touched down. Future Lions player and manager Doug Smith converted to make it 8-3. Hawkes Bay full-back HE Cooke kicked a penalty for the Kiwis, but winger Anderson, who never won a full cap, scored a second, unconverted try, to ensure Scotland's win.

The Irish got in on the act, at Lansdowne Road, a week later, going down 3-4 to the French.

A week later Wales went down to their third straight loss, when the Scots travelled to St Helen's, Swansea and won 25-6. Melrose's Charlie Drummond came in for Anderson for this game which saw the Scots get off to a flyer – Douglas Elliot scored an unconverted try, then Glasgow Accies' centre CR Bruce scored, with full back and captain Keith Geddes of London Scottish converting. Drummond then scored another unconverted try before future Chief Constable and SRU President John Orr touched down, Geddes converted and Scotland led 16-0 at the interval.

Glyn Davies the Pontypridd outside-half offered Wales hope with a great solo try, but, this was cancelled-out by a second Elliot try, negated in turn by a try from Llanelli flanker G Bevan, before Scotland pulled away to extinguish the fight-back, scrum-half Gus Black of Edinburgh University scoring a try and Geddes goaling a penalty.

Gus Black - the future 1950 Lion was one of Scotland's 1946 heroes

The games were now coming thick and fast and four days later, on 6 February, England deepened Irish gloom with a 14-6 Twickenham win.

The return game between England and Wales was staged at Twickenham, on 23 February, with the Welsh gaining revenge for their Cardiff loss, with a narrow 3-0 win. That same afternoon, up at Murrayfield, Scotland maintained their good form by beating the Irish 9-0. The scorers here were Munro, with a try which Geddes converted and Watsonians' stand-off IJM Lumsden, who landed a second-half dropped goal, then worth four points.

There was more bad news for the Irish in their next match, at Cardiff, on 9 March, with Wales winning 6-4. Twenty-four hours later, in Paris, the Kiwis got back to winning ways after their Murrayfield reverse, by beating France 14-9. Six days later, the action switched to Twickenham, where England beat Scotland 12-8 to inflict the only defeat the men in navy blue suffered during the entire series.

Scotland actually led 8-0 at half-time at Twickenham, JRS Innes of Aberdeen GSFP and CR Bruce scoring tries, with Geddes converting the Bruce try. However, England lasted the pace better and on the back of a superb effort from their pack, hit back to overhaul Scotland for victory in the final 20 minutes.

But, Scotland bounced back quickly from this, edging-out Wales 13-11 at Murrayfield, on 30 March, to complete a double over the men in red.

This game was much closer than the Swansea match had been. Cardiff flanker Haydn Jones put the Welsh ahead, Bill Cleaver converting, but, a Drummond try, converted by Geddes, made it all-square at the break. Newport wing WE Williams had a try to restore the Welsh lead, but a Geddes penalty squared matters. L Williams, the other Welsh winger, then restored the Welsh lead with an unconverted try, but the strain of playing all but the first 15 minutes with 14 men, Newport full back Terry Griffiths had to go off with a broken rib, told on the Welsh and when Bruce touched down, Geddes's conversion was enough to win the game for the Scots.

Between these two games – on 24 March, down in Toulouse, the Kiwis had again beaten France, this time by 13-10.

England then travelled North to Murrayfield for the return game with Scotland, on 22 April, with the home side scoring a comprehensive 27-0 win over their oldest enemy, before the whole shooting match concluded with a 12-0 win for the French, over Wales, at Stade Colombes in Paris.

As with the game against Wales, that Murrayfield match turned on an injury, English full back HJM Uren of Waterloo retiring hurt after 225 minutes, and the English could not overcome their one-man handicap.

When Uren went off, Scotland were leading 6-0. via an unconverted try by lock AGM Watt of Edinburgh Academicals-Wanderers, and a Geddes penalty. Bruce then scored an unconverted try to make it 9-0 at half-time, and, as England wilted after the break, Lumsden, Watt, Munro and centre WD MacLennan of Watsonians all scored tries, with Geddes converting the first three.

Douglas Elliot

Scotland used 22 players in the six games. The team against the Kiwis was: K I Geddes (capt) (London Scottish), J Anderson (London Scottish), WH Munro (Glasgow HSFP), CR Bruce (Glasgow Academicals, DWC Smith (Aberdeen University), IJM Lumsden (Watsonians), AW Black (Edinburgh University); IC Henderson (Edinburgh Academicals-Wanderers), GG Lyall (Gala), R Aitken (London Scottish), AGM Watt (Edinburgh Academicals-Wanderers), J Kirk (Edinburgh Academicals-Wanderers), WID Elliot (Edinburgh Academicals-Wanderers), DW Deas (Heriot's FP),

JH Orr (Edinburgh City Police).CW Drummond (Melrose) came into the team against Wales; JR McClure (Ayr) played against Ireland, JRS Innes (Aberdeen GSFP), and KSH Wilson (London Scottish) played at Twickenham, while FH Coutts (Melrose) came into the team against Wales at Murrayfield and WD MacLennan (Watsonians) and TGH Jackson (Cheltenham) were in the team which hammered the handicapped English at Murrayfield.

IC Henderson and JRS Innes had been capped pre-war, every other player except J Anderson, J Kirk, JR McClure and KSH Wilson went on to be capped in official internationals which resumed in 1947.

In all, 17 Victory Internationals were played. Scotland had the strongest claim to have "won" the whole thing. They had won five of their six matches, an 83% success rate. Next most-successful were the Kiwi soldiers, whose four wins in five games gave them an 80% success rate. England were third, with a 50% rating, three wins and three losses in their six matches, ahead of Wales, whose four wins and three losses from their seven games represented a 42.85% success rate. France, with two wins and three losses from their five games posted a 40% success rate, leaving the Irish, who lost all four of their games, to collect the mythical wooden spoon.

The Five Nations officially resumed the following season, with Wales and England sharing the title, after three wins each, Ireland recovered to finish third, with the French fourth and the Scots, whitewashed by losing all four games, in what was to become an all too familiar fifth and last place – their heroics of the previous season all but forgotten.

We Were Never Going To Be Allowed To Win That One

MANAGEMENT and I had a prior engagement on Saturday night, which meant I did not get a chance to watch Ireland v Scotland "live" on TV. I did take the precaution of recording the game for later watching, but, given the result, I do not think I can, now that I have the time and opportunity, be bothered.

I did see enough of the game, however, to be sure of one thing - once again we were screwed by a referee of the: "I know, before I start, Ireland is the better team here, so, all my decisions will be skewed towards them -if Scotland do anything, they must be cheating and I will penalise them" school.

In the 25 minutes or so of the game which I watched, prior to leaving home, it was clear to me: "This guy's a Homer", and we would never be allowed to win.

Let's be clear about this, the 2016 Six Nations was a far from vintage year. England won, and won well, they deserved their Grand Slam, but, they are far from being a great team and, if they were to play the All Blacks on Saturday coming - even an All Blacks side without Carter, McCaw and the others who went out at the very top with the World Cup win - the Blacks would win.

I plead, almost certainly in vain, to my English friends - reserve your judgement on your team until after their summer tour to Australia. If they emerge from that test with a Wallaby scalp hanging from their belts, then you have the makings of a good, potentially great side.

Meantime, to be the best in Europe, in world terms, aint worth a hill o' beans.

 John Jeffrey - he and his fellow World Rugby "blazers" need to get their fingers out

I WAS at Scotstoun on Friday night, covering the Glasgow v Leinster game. We didn't get the pyrotechnics which are always possible when these two most-entertaining of Pro12 teams are at their free-flowing best. In truth, it was a bit of an arm-wrestle, but, enthralling for all that, with Glasgow narrowly winning, courtesy of a perfect place-kicking display from the returning Rory Clegg.

For me, however, the big interest, pre-match, was what influence, if any, George Clancy might have on proceedings. To be fair to GC, by his own low standards, he wasn't bad, but, he still managed to infuriate the sell-out 6800 crowd far more often than he earned their praise.

Why is it, Irish teams are allowed to cheat so-outrageously at the breakdown, without penalty? George let Leinster away with murder all night. Also, the fact Glasgow lost half a dozen players to head knocks, far worse than the one Jonny "Depp" Sexton took a wee while to get over on Saturday, and not a single Leinster player was yellow carded, made me wonder.

Rugby, right now, has a severe problem with refereeing and law enforcement, which, if not addressed seriously by World Rugby, might well have grave fall-out for the sport. John Jeffrey and the guys in the World Rugby blazers, really need to get a grip on things when they meet shortly.

Personally, I believe we are rapidly reaching the stage when, like American Football, we need larger teams of officials monitoring events on the park. In "grid-iron" there are seven on-field officials, to monitor 22 players. The way things are going in rugby, we perhaps need more than the three we currently have.

Mind you, even it we did go to seven on-field officials per top-flight game, World Rugby would still, I am sure, find a way to make certain, none of them was Scottish.

Ross Curle - has led the Club XV to two wins, but, has other fish to fry at club level

THEY get the absolute minimum of coverage, from a Scottish rugby media which gets more like their football bretheren with each passing week - there are, apparently, at club level, only two clubs worth covering - Glasgow and Edinburgh; but, let's hear it for our unbeaten Club Internationa XV, who followed-up their terrific big win over the English at Gala, with a victory over the Irish in Cork, to retain the Dalriada Cup.

Skipper Ross Curle and his men have struck a blow for the prestige of the amateur/semi-professional game in Scotland with these two wins. They deserve rather more coverage than they have had. So, well done boys.

The Club International XV have played their French counterparts in the past, and I am sure it would not be a great struggle for the SRU if they were to reinstate that fixture, and arrange games against Italian and Welsh Club XVs, for a second-tier Six Nations - go on guys, why not?

Meanwhile, a few of the victorious Scots will be going head-to-head this weekend, with the BT Scottish Cup semi-finals. In these, Ayr face Melrose at Millbrae, while up at Old Anniesland, Glasgow Hawks take on Heriot's, in what should be two cracking games.

The Ayr v Melrose game is the first of a winner-takes-all double-header. On 2 April, the teams will lock horns again, back at Millbrae, in the BT Premiership Play-Offs semi-final, for the right to take-on the winners of the other semi-final, which will pit Currie against Heriot's, at Malleny Park, the same afternoon.

We can only hope these four games attract the big crowds they deserve, to see the best of Scottish domestic rugby in opposition.

Once again, I remind those in power at Murrayfield - your club game is in rude good health, support it better than you currently do.