NOW
we know, if Glasgow is going to give a Scottish presence to the
Guinness Pro12 final, at Murrayfield later this month, they will have
to get there the hard way, by breaking the mould.
No
away team has ever won a Pro12 semi-final, which is what Warriors
will have to do at Galway Sportsground. Of course they can do this –
on a dry day, you will always fancy Toony's Troops to beat Connacht –
but, will they? That is the question.
Connacht
have demonstrated all season, they are a very good team, who are
difficult to beat, particularly at home, but, Warriors have more
players with the X-factor. I have no doubts, had they managed to keep
all 15 players on the park, they would have won yesterday afternoon,
which makes Sila Puafisi's “brain fart” which earned him a
correct red card, all the more annoying.
Sila Puafisi - needless and costly red card
Only
slightly less-annoying was the decision to keep Glasgow pinned back
on their own line, after Jonny Gray's half-step to the right to block
a Connacht player from getting close to Finn Russell as the stand-off
cleared to touch.
This
was made at the behest of the Irish TMO, who managed not to become
involved when Connacht pulled some equally nefarious dodges at other
times. That decision is not why TMOs are there, but, as we have
learned from bitter experience in the Pro12, when you are playing in
Ireland or Wales, the referee might be neutral, but, the rest of the
officiating team most-certainly is not.
Back
in March 1928, the night before Scotland's footballers played England
at Wembley, skipper Jimmy McMullan told his players: “Go to bed and
pray for rain”. I don't know Jonny Gray's relationship with the
Almighty, but, I would suggest a late-night encouragement to: “Go
to bed and pray for a dry day and pitch”, might help come the
semi-final.
The Wembley Wizards prayed for rain; Glasgow must ask for sunshine
It
will be hard in Galway, it always is, but winning this semi-final is
by no means mission impossible for Glasgow.
MEANWHILE,
Edinburgh's disappointing season ended in ignominious defeat to a
Cardiff Blues team who are, quite frankly, a disgrace to the history
of the Cardiff club.
I
don't know what the answer to the continuing under-performing capital
professional side is, but, we have to hope, someone inside
Murrayfield can come up with one, very soon. That club promises so
much, but delivers so little. Something has to change, immediately.
Taxi for Solomons perhaps?
THE
Scotland squad for the Summer Tour to Japan will be named tomorrow,
and it will be interesting to see who makes it.
One
or two of our top men, the shoo-ins for selection, could do with a
rest. For instance, Stuart Hogg has seldom been off the treadmill
since he broke through, he has a Lions Tour coming up next summer,
this might be the only chance he has for some time for a summer back
in Hawick, particularly with his wee bairn, and, in any case – who
is his preferred back-up? Japan would be a good time to find out.
We
need to sort-out who is the best back-up, possible successor to Greig
Laidlaw, while Mark Bennett might benefit from a rest. Alasdair
Dickinson, most-definitely, needs a break, while the queue of
would-be successors to Ross Ford needs arranging in preferred order.
John
Hardie definitely needs a break, but, the problem for BVC is – how
many of the front-line troops can he really afford to leave at home?
It
will be an interesting press conference when the touring squad is
revealed tomorrow.
Vern Cotter - has some serious selection thinking to do
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