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.
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