The Coach Might Be "God", But Captains Matter Too

LEADERSHIP is one of these sporting intangibles – you cannot see it, but you can feel its positive and negative effects. As Billy Connolly, back in his glory days on vinyl, so-memorably pointed out: claiming: “I'm a born leader” is often shite.

Mike Brearley was a better captain than player

Mike Brearley, for instance, is often used as the prime example of a great captain who, as a player was not worth his place in the side, but, as a captain, he had to be first-pick. Geoffrey Boycott, on the other hand, was first-pick as a batsman, but, the teams he led were usually hot beds of internal differences.

In football, Rangers' George Young was an inspiring leader, but, on one foreign tour, when he was injured – the SFA selectors turned to Hibs' Gordon Smith, a man who, by common consent, seldom played as well in navy blue as he did in green and white. Lawrie Reilly said: “We played for Gordon, because we so respected him and didn't want to let him down – he inspired us just by being there.”

 As was 1984 Grand Slam skipper Jim Aitken

In rugby, when you think of great Scotland captains, the comparative journeymen – Jim Aitken being the prime example, were very often better leaders than the supposed super-stars. I always felt, Ken Scotland and Andy Irvine, Scotland's two greatest full-backs, always played better without the cares of captaincy.

Thus, we turn to the vexing questions of the week – the new captains of the Edinburgh and Glasgow PRO1 sides.

Dave Rennie has quietly handed the leadership of Glasgow to Ryan Wilson – one-time hooligan turned inspiring professional, and I welcome this appointment. Wilson has been growing as a player following his shaming for his part in “Kebabgate” a few years ago. He tholed his assizes and came back stronger. He will not let Glasgow or Rennie down.

Ryan Wilson - the new Glasgow captain

I also welcome the return of Jonny Gray to the ranks. For all his massive potential – he still has more to give – Jonny will be nane the waur of being just a player, he was maybe just too young to have the responsibility he held last season, when his form definitely dipped.

Of course, with so-many Glasgow players in the Scotland squad, perhaps the key appointment for Rennie will be the stand-in captain, for when the big guns are away with Scotland. The new coach has said Gray (who of course will, once fit again, be with Scotland) and Henry Pyrgos – whose Scotland days may be behind him – will still be in the leadership group. I can see Pyrgos as stand-in when Wilson is on Scotland duty.

Across at Edinburgh, Richard Cockerill is hinting at giving the captaincy to one of the younger players – which would be no bad thing. Leading the team has, in perhaps different ways, been a poisoned chalice to the likes of Ross Ford and Grant Gilchrist – I fancy either of the scrum-halves, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne or Sean Kennedy, could bring something to the role. Jamie Ritchie, of course, has always been seen as officer material, but, he's maybe still too-young for the job on a permanent basis.

We await Cockerill's decision with interest.

MEANWHILE, the SRU's French connection moved forward this week with the announcement that Lisa Thomson and Chloe Rollie are to join Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois (LMRCV) on initial one-year contracts, playing alongside Jade Kronkel, who is already at the French club, in the top flight of French women's rugby.

The French international side looked very good in running World Champions England so close in the Women's World Cup semi-final earlier this week, so, clearly Lisa and Chloe are moving up a couple of levels from the domestic Scottish game. They are also becoming full-time professionals, which can only benefit them, and Scotland.

Speaking of the Women's World Cup. The two semi-finals were cracking games, and, as I prepare to support the Black Ferns against The Common Enemy, I can only say, how much I enjoyed the two matches.

By the way, apart from the first scrum in the England v France game, when the front rows slipped, there wasn't a single scrum re-set in both games – maybe the girls can yet teach the men a thing or two!!!

If I can act my age and be allowed to be seen as a sexist old reactionary – which I deny – I would not fancy taking a broken pay packet home to some of those New Zealand forwards, the way they hit opponents.

Portia Woodman - a very special talent

Also, if the New Zealanders ever get Portia Woodman and Beauden Barrett together, in 20-years or so, they might have on helluva player on their hands. That girl is something else.

I SEE, Saracens are bleating the English Premiership's salary cap is causing them concerns. They can only spend £7 million on wages for their players – plus a couple of “marquee” players, whose obviously inflated salaries are not counted.

This works out, allowing them t have a fairly-average 50 full-time players, an average annual salary of £140,000 per year. Now, they will not all be on that – their bigger names, Maro Itoje, Sean Maitland, Duncan Taylor and the likes will be on more; young Academy players a lot less.

But, given their small ground and comparatively-small, if fanatical following – that level of pay-out on salaries is unsustainable. It's OK now, while Sky and BT are fighting for television rights, and they have a "Sugar Daddy" owner, but, as with Premiership football, the day will come when the gravy train hits the buffers – then just watch the carnage.

The Celtic Unions, by taking greater control of the club game than their English an French colleagues, will be better-positioned to keep rugby going when things get rough financially – as they surely will for the English clubs, once Brexit, followed by Scottish Independence, kicks-in.