Once Again the Mainstream Media Is Failing Scottish Rugby

IF THE mainstream media in Scotland was grown-up and responsible, they'd be all over the story like a rash, but, this is Scotland in 2018. If the so-called top journalists in the field had any pull at all, they'd be telling their line managers: “You must cover these matches,” but, this is Scotland in 2018.

So what are the main Rugby Union stories in Scotland's two principal newspapers which cover the sport with any authority, on this penultimate Saturday in April, 2018? The (Glasgow) Herald goes with the estimable Hugh Dan MacLennan assuring us: “Rugby and BBC Alba have been good for each other.” That is a statement of the obvious; I shall miss Scotland's favourite Gaelic channel's coverage of our sport – we all will - even though I opted for the English language commentary, rather than Hugh Dan's dulcet tones. Hugh Dan (left), is a national treasurer, but, come on.

And at the opposite end of the M8, what is the venerable Hootsmon's big rugby story? Apparently, GLASGOW'S Dave Rennie is seeking a big game from his re-called Scotland stars as they stake a claim for a spot in his PRO14 semi-final line-up (in a month's time, on the weekend of 18-20 May).

Cynical I might be, but, that strikes me as a paper which has lost its way, badly. The Scotsman's core audience – and, having looked at recent circulation figures, I reckon it is down to that diminishing core – resides in the New Town, or in some tranquil Borders toon, and (if the btl comments on its website are any guide) sees itself as “North British” rather than “Scottish”.

Because this afternoon, in Selkirk and in Dundee, two rugby matches will be taking place which ought to be the back page “splashes” in any newspaper which presumes to take the game of Rugby Union Football seriously.

In the 22^nd and final games of the season-long battle to win BT National League 1 of the SRU's club championships, Selkirk entertain Edinburgh Academical, while Dundee High School FP play hosts to Jed-forest. Accies top the table, with 99 points from their 21 games and a positive points difference of 685 points,

Second-placed Jed also have 99 points from their 21 games, but their positive points difference is only 452 points. Both of these clubs have garnered 19 four-try bonus-points over the season.

 Can today's Jed and Selkirk players find common cause as these two legends did?

If both win, Accies will go up. For Jed to pip the city slickers to the title and the single automatic place in the BT Premiership next season, they have to win at Mayfield, hopefully with a four-try bonus and hope near-neighbours Selkirk do them a huge favour by either beating Accies, or denying them a bonus point – while Jed do indeed get one in Dundee. It could hardly be tighter.

Of course both Accies and Jed could yet win promotion. Whichever club finishes second will go into the promotion/relegation play-off against a Glasgow Hawks side who last played on 17 March. That play-off cannot take place before 5 May, which will be seven weeks since Hawks last saw action. Aye, you cannot say the SRU cares about its principal club competition and the integrity thereof.

THERE is another quite important match taking place this afternoon, at Lasswade. This is the final of the inaugural BT National League Cup, featuring Kelso and Dumfries Saints.

Do not, dear reader, accuse me of damning this game with faint praise, but, the reality is, it is Scottish Rugby's equivalent of football's “What the Hell is it called this season” trophy – the consolation event which the biggest clubs are not allowed to enter. [Cut the cynicism – Ed.]

The Murrayfield Ayatollahs decided this season to limit National League participation in the BT Scottish Cup, to the top six clubs in National 1, who were allowed to lock horns with the ten Premiership clubs. So as a consolation prize they came up with the National League Cup for the rest.

Those 30 clubs have now been whittled down to the final two, and while Kelso, from National League 1, will start as favourites against a side from one league below them, you write-off the Saints at your peril.

It is a pity this competition could not be shoe-horned into next weekend's Silver Saturday celebrations at Murrayfield but it's a trophy and these two sides will go at it hammer and tongs. It promises to be entertaining.

RUGBY gets a rare (outwith the 6Nations) Saturday tea-time TV slot tonight, when BBC Scotland broadcasts the Ulster v Glasgow, Guinness PRO14 match from Belfast. The programme starts at 6pm.

With their home semi-final assured, this is a bit of a nothing game for Warriors, apart from a couple of things. By winning, they will do Edinburgh a huge favour in their quest for a play-off spot, while one or two of Glasgow's big names need a big game after some recent less-than-stellar displays.

Ryan Grant, on the bench for Glasgow today

Accordingly, Dave Rennie has picked a hard-nosed team well capable of getting the job done. The squad, as ever in 1-23 order is:

Alex Allan, Fraser Brown, Siua Halanukonuka, Scott Cummings, Tim Swinson, Rob Harley, Callum Gibbins (Captain) Matt Fagerson; Ali Price, Finn Russell, Lelia Masaga, Alex Dunbar, Huw Jones, Tommy Seymour, Stuart Hogg. Replacements: George Turner, Ryan Grant, Zander Fagerson, Greg Peterson, Matt Smith, Henry Pyrgos, Peter Horne and Nick Grigg.

AND FINALLY, BBC Shortbread a body not known for having a great interest in rugby, has at least noticed the plans for a PRO14 Development League, and unlike the rest of the mainstream Scottish media – they have mentioned it.

In fact, Jamie Lyall, who wrote the piece for the BBC Sport Scotland website, also has it on the Northern Irish and Welsh sites, so kudos to Jamie.

No mention yet of the plan on the official PRO14 site, which seems to indicate, they are still merely at the talking about it stage, but given the pace at which the PRO12 became the PRO14, things could move fairly swiftly. Whaur's yer Stupid 6 noo right enough.