Has The SRU Hired Graeme Souness?

I HAVE been thinking, for a wee while now, maybe Rugby Union's future lies in Sevens. It is a more-open, more-easily understood form of the game than 15s; the game is over quicker, and there are fewer occasions which remind one of that great book on the game's Laws of the 1950s – 'Why the whistle went': or, as is increasingly the case these days: “Why did the whistle go there?”

 Nigel and Wayne - even their decisions are not always clear

Speaking of which, I have often had to ask that question of the referee spotters and mentors who sit around the press area at Millbrae on a Saturday. The best response came from one of the SRU's elite referee performance managers, who took the trouble to explain: “There are so many potential penalties at every breakdown, the referee has to decide which was the most-relevant and punish accordingly.” Rather them than me.

As I have said frequently, before – when the Laws of the Game become that complicated and so open to debate, it's way past time for a review.

I was chatting to a now retired referee at the weekend. When he was playing, he was a fierce wing forward who would have happily stood on his granny if she was on the wrong side of a ruck. He, like me, longs for the return of old-fashioned rucking, and is convinced it would speed-up and open-up the game.

He suggested, it was still possible to ruck players out today. So, I went to the SRU website and to the section on the ruck. My mate's case was: “Provided the player doing the rucking-out has his shoulders ahead of his hips and legs, and he is clearly clearing-out with a backward movement of his foot, then he can clear-out a grounded player on his side of the ruck.”

However, the Laws clearly state: “It is forbidden to stand on a grounded player.” So, if you go in, head and shoulders clearly ahead of hips and feet, put your foot beyond the grounded player then heel him out, that's ok; but, you must not stand on the grounded player. That's asking a lot.

 How many penalties at this ruck?

I read through the section on the Laws, and can only conclude, EVERY ruck today should end with a scrum, particularly in the professional game. Go to the SRU website and have a read – the manner in which (in particular) English and Irish players are allowed to dive into rucks, making no effort to remain on their feet, makes a mockery of the Laws.

But, as I have said, when the Laws are so-obviously being broken willy-nilly, it is time for a revamp.

So as I was saying, we have a form of the game – 15-a-side, in which even spectators who have been around that game for years are left wondering what the hell is going-on at the ruck, the maul and the scrum. We also have a form of the game – 7-a-side in which even the most-casual of spectators can quickly pick-up the nuances, it is clear which form will prosper. The future is Sevens.

So, why does the SRU treat Sevens in such a cavalier fashion?

In asking that question, I reference the strange case of Matt Fagerson, who was seemingly “injured” and withdrawn from Scotland's Sevens squad for the Commonwealth Games, only to be fit enough to turn-out at Number Eight for Glasgow against Connacht tonight.

Who's in-charge at Scotstoun? Is it Dave Rennie, or has the SRU appointed Graeme Souness and forgotten to tell the press? This incident certainly harks back to the Souness era at Ibrox.

Is this manager now in-charge at Scotstoun?

The whole SRU management ethos is, we understand – Scotland first, #As One, #Whatever It Takes and all that. The Scotland teams should come first. So why, after supposedly “beefng-up” the core Sevens squad by bringing-in the likes of Fagerson Minor, Lee Jones and Ruaridh Jackson for the Commonwealth Games, is Fagerson pulled-out, “injured”, only to be immediately put into the Glasgow side?

OK, Adam Ashe and Ryan Wilson are both out injured, while Richie Vernon who could have done an emergency shift at eight is also unavailable. Rennie named a back row of Rob Harley Callum Gibbins and Fagerson for the game, leaving Chris Fusaro, Matt Smith, George Stokes Sammi Vunisa and Lewis Wynne, all back-rowers, watching from the stand. OK, of these only the Fijian-born Italian international Vunisa is a specialist Number Eight, but, even if Fagerson, (pictured left), had been left with the Sevens, there were surely enough available players to allow Glasgow to field a competitive back row combination. Why you could even put Tim Swinson into the mix.

I actually feel for the younger Fagerson, denied that special experience of being at a multi-sport games but, I hope Ally Miller, his replacement, who has had a terrific season with Melrose, enjoys his late break.

As to the Commonwealth Games. If there is a criticism of our Sevens squad, watching from afar, they do seem to blow hot and cold, often during tournaments, But when the action kicks-off on the Gold Coast tomorrow, they should at the very least, be looking at a winner takes all final pool game against South Africa.

Now the BlitzBoks will start as clear favourites, with the bookies at least. The Olympic Champions, Fiji, even without the magic of big Leone will be the popular favourites. but, a Scotland team with a built-up head of steam ought to be thinking: “We can beat these guys.” However, it will not be easy.

Mention of the Bokke reminds me of one of the iconic moments from the Glasgow Games back in 2014. We all remember what a triumph it was, and what a great atmosphere there was at the Sevens, as Ibrox rocked. The old ground never rocked more than when South Africa scored a magnificent try against the All Blacks, and I saw something I never thought I would see – an Ibrox crowd rising as one to acclaim a black player, wearing green, white and gold and crossing himself after scoring!! That was a parallel universe moment.