Is It Too Late To Call The Samoa Game Off?

OVER 60,000 tickets sold, the TV deal in place and the match-day infrastructure going in. The last thing Mark Dodson and the BT Murrayfield minions needed was this morning's announcement the Samoan Rugby Union was bankrupt, reportedly one million dollars in debt.

The Samoans perform their pre-match "haka", the Siva Tau

At this late stage, cancelling the game is probably not an option – more-so since the Samoans announced their squad this morning, which In 1-23 order is:

Jordan Lay, Manu Leiataua, Donald Brighouse; Josh Tyrell, Chris Vui (Captain); Piula Fa'Asalele, TJ Ioane, Jack Lam; Pele Cowley, Tim Nanai Williams; David Lemi, Reynold Lee-Lo, Kieron Fonotia, Paul Perez; Ah See Tuala. Repacements: Motu Matu'u, James Lay, Hisa Sasagi, Fa'Atiga Lemalu, Ofisa Treviranus; Mealani Matavao, AJ Alatimu, Alapati Leiua.

Surely the Scottish Rugby Union could well afford to insure the Samoan players so they are able to play – while a donation towards these players' costs would be welcome. Why, I am sure the ScRU could even afford to cover the reported £650 match fee which the SaRU now cannot.

But, this shows just how precarious the finances of the Pacific Island Unions are, and, while Scotland has a good record of going there and providing cash-generating opposition to these islands – who have provided some wonderful players over the years – maybe those unions who have poached Samoans, Tongans, Fijians and other islanders over the years, should do more.

However, that said, I cannot help feeling, maybe there has been a wee bit of pauchling of the petty cash, and more, going on back in Samoa.

EDIT: I had barely posted this when it was announced, World Rugby had stepped in to cover the insurance costs in a £1.5 million deal. Well done the team in Dublin, The match goes ahead.

CLOSER to home, there was a good money story last night, when the match between Caledonia and the South, at Bridgehaugh raised £5000 for Doddie Weir's Trust.

Not that you will read too-much about it in our national press this morning. I thought The Scotsman, which does a good job of covering every BT Premiership match every Saturday, would have had a man at the game. It is all but impossible to get a hard copy out here at Hole in the Wall, so, maybe they did, but, there is certainly no report online.

The Herald – cover rugby below the PRO14, don't be silly!! I would have thought, the return of inter-district games was worth a paragraph or two. Fair play to the online edition of SCRUM, which did mention the game, but, maybe Mr Barnes of Offside Line was baby-sitting last night.

 Line-out action from Tuesday night's match

I am told the game was a wonderful advert for rugby at this level – the home side racing into a 19-0 lead before a typically South fight-back, which saw the men in the legendary red and white hoops winning 40-24.

The pre-match meal went down well, the crowd was estimated at about 800, which, let's be honest, is good for what was in effect a Premiership match, played on an extremely cold night. “Baltic” was how one South fanatic described the conditions.

Unfortunately, I don't have the details of the scoring, scorers or order of scoring, but, I do know from the taster posted on facebook, Hawick centre Lee Armstrong's try for the South was an absolute cracker – complete with an over the top final dive.

I hate to come back to Agenda 3, the Super Six and all that, but, the more I go round the clubs, the more I learn:

• There isn't a great appetite for changing “semi-professional” rugby, as presently practised by the leading BT Premiership sides.

• The clubs feel, if they do agree to the Super Six, they are giving even-more power to the unelected suits at Murrayfield.

• BUT – there is an appetite for a return of inter-district rugby at club level.

Can some of our club reps on the SRU Council please get this message across, loud and clear, to the unelected suits.

THERE is a misconception, abroad in Murrayfield's corridors of power, that that old Ayrshire nuisance Aristotle Armstrong has it in for Scottish referees. This is a lie.

Scottish referees are like every other kind – some are good, indeed two or three I rate as Very Good, one or two – one in particular – are Bad, but, for the most-part they are honest guys - and girls, who love the game and who do a very difficult job well and to the best of their ability. AND, I am very-aware, we would not have a game without these oft-maligned gentlemen and ladies.

None of the preset group is, yet, at the level of a Nigel Owens, or a Wayne Barnes, and, certainly, at the level below international rugby – the top of the professional club game, I feel Scottish referees are under-represented.

Lloyd Linton - was good at Marr on Saturday, and is IMHO a better referee than

To go off-topic slightly here: on Saturday, I watched Lloyd Linton perform very well in the Marr v Glasgow Hawks game. He should be doing games further up the food chain, but, he made one awful mistake in a PRO12 game last season, and was cast down, to touch-judging in the PRO14 and refereeing in the Premiership – for one error. John Lacey and George Clancy make ten errors at least in every game, and still get internationals. What is going on?

 the walking disaster that is George Clancy, who still gets more international appointments than

Any way, World Rugby recently released its refereeing appointments for the Autumn International window. These appointments cover 41 internationals, 158 appointments. Scotland's share: we get just FOUR. Mikey Adamson will referee Romania v Samoa on 18 November, and be second Assistant Referee for Ireland v Argentina the following Saturday, while Neil Paterson is TMO to Mikey in Bucharest and also in the van for Italy v Fiji.

 Mike Adamson, who is off to Romania soon

The Three Stooges, George Clancy, John Lacey and Frank Murphy all get more games, it defies logic. Come on John Jeffrey, start knocking heads together and stand-up for our very good officials.

Spain, then globe-trotting on the Sevens circuit

Elsewhere, Hollie Davidson will be refereeing the Spain v France Women's international on Saturday, before going over to the World Rugby sevens circuit, where she will be officiating at five of the six tournaments, including the Commonwealth Games.

As also will be Sam Grove-White; both officials also on the Commonwealth Games roster

Sam Grove-White will be on-duty at 9 of the 11 Men's sevens events, including the Commonwealth Games.