A Fun Weekend Around Millbrae - But No Laughter In Other Parts as Problems Mount

I AM a proud member of what, when the definitive history of the 20^th century is written, and it is still perhaps too-early for this to be done, will be called the troublesome generation – the post World War II “Baby Boomers.”

We were the result of our parents' raging hormones being largely suppressed by having to sort-out Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Hideki Tojo and their minions, only to be released in a tsunami of hoochmagandy once Enola Gray had done her worst and brought an end to hostilities. Fast forward some 20 years and we, thanks to the invention of The Pill, were able to bring sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll to douce, buttoned-up-the-back Presbyterian Scotland.

We were also the first generation to be able to travel abroad and get used to civilised licencing hours, to have money of our own and to spend it. We had our own fashions and styles, we were no longer younger clones of our parents, while more of us than ever before enjoyed the freedom of university life. Add the malign influence of television, demonstrating there was a world beyond cold, grey, forbidding Scotland – and the floodgates opened. Dear auld Scotia went to hell in the hand cart we were pushing.

Today, as yin o' the Auld Yins, I occasionally, when I hear what my wild grandweans are up to, think: maybe we went too far, but, I am not sufficiently enough of an old hypocrite to tut-tut at their antics. However, if I do make tomorrow's celebration of rugby bachanalia at Millbrae – the Land o' Burns Weekender, I shall have the good sense to make my excuses and leave before “Rugby Mum” and the Lassies fully summon-up the spirit of Cutty Sark and the Hellish Legions which lie heavily around those parts until enough Prosecco has been consumed for it to burst free.

I was actually in at the start of beach rugby in Scotland. Back in that terrible winter of 1962-3, when snow covered Scotland for weeks on end, and everything froze, the members of Ayr, Cumnock, Marr and Irvine Rugby Clubs would regularly convene on the beach at Ayr and play each other in a refined version of the game. It was great fun as I recall, the only problem was perhaps having to call a halt at the height of a game, when the incoming tide threatened to wash away a slight winger.

The Weekender is somewhat different. Hundreds of tons of sand dumped on a Millbrae pitch still recovering from a hard season, spectators in Hawaiian shirts and Bermuda shorts, a disco in a marquee, a barbecue, live music and Ayrshire's Bonnie Lassies in their finery. It's a recipe for fun, with rugby at its heart. I commend this weekend to the house – assuming @Sajid Javid gives his permission for it to go ahead.

RIGHT, that's enough frivolity, back to depressing reality. The National Reserve Leagues are, it seems, about to be scrapped – with a one season only set-up of East and West Reserve Leagues.

Sheila Begbie and the Rugby Development team at Murrayfield are, meanwhile, undertaking a wider-ranging and more-thorough review of the club game, an undertaking which is long overdue and welcome.

I cannot say what I am about to say often enough, but, the blindingly-obvious facts must be faced:

• Professional rugby is a money pit
  
  
• There simply is not the money in Scotland at the moment to properly fund more than the two full-time professional teams
  
  
• It would almost-certainly be better for the game if these two teams were not fully-owned subsidiaries of the SRU
  
  
• For as long as the SRU wants to be control freaks, the professional game will never have the commercial freedom perhaps necessary for it to flourish and for the other two full-time teams we probably need to be up and running.

The four statements above are, I believe, factually correct. Just suppose a multi-millionaire, obsessed with rugby, living perhaps in Ayrshire or the Borders, or maybe even up in Aberdeen, wanted to found a third Scottish side to compete in an expanded PRO14. He did due diligence and decided: ok, I will need to pay to bring a ground up to scratch, I may then have to absorb the team making a loss for the first five years, but, thereafter, it will pay for itself. I can afford it, I am going for it.

Immediately he runs into trouble, because, the SRU will only allow him to run his team, as a minority stakeholder – the big boys at Murrayfield will have the major say in how the team is run. At that point, faced with such control freakery, our would-be investor will tell TCD and MH33 where to go – no third team.

There are other blindingly-obvious facts to be faced:

• We need a proper development tier, so the best of our young talent is made ready for the professional game
  
  
• There is a case for such a tier being District-based, with the best young talent developing through their clubs, then coming together in inter-District play
  
  
• BUT – the D word must never be uttered around Murrayfield
  
  
• There is perhaps an even-better case for professional player development being the job of the two professional sides, by them running A or Under-23 teams, as is the case in England, Ireland and Wales
  
  
• BUT – Murrayfield is either unable, or unwilling, to fund such teams
  
  
• SO – Murrayfield has franchised out professional development to the Super-6 clubs, although, any outstanding youngster, such as scrum-half Jamie Dobie, will by-pass S6 and go straight into the pro teams' squads.

So, why not a root and branch reform of Scottish Rugby, whereby we came up with criteria for “Senior Rugby,” a level below S6, but above the normal club game. For a club to be considered “Senior”, it would need to have a ground of a certain standard: grandstand, floodlights, perhaps a 3G pitch, and be running at least 3 Xvs under-pinned by a youth development programme which met certain standards.

There would be a limit on how many clubs could initially be considered “Senior”. Certainly the ground standard criteria might help limit this. Below that, all clubs would be “Junior”, they would play in regionalised competitions. There would be less-stringent ground standards, but, they would need to have a functioning youth development programme. Paying players in “Junior Rugby” might be allowed – the game is after all open, but, clubs found to be breaching certain payment rules, would be in big trouble.

Of course, for this to work, the SRU would need to cede a lot of control to the Junior clubs, and, that, I am afraid is likely to be a major problem. It will take a long time for Murrayfield to be weaned-off control freakery.

To refer back to the problems facing the National Reserve Leagues. I can see no reason whereby the SRU's proposed Regional reserve leagues should not have a longer life than one year. Why, the SRU could even take a leaf out of Scottish Hockey's book and allow the top clubs' lower teams to play in the regional leagues.

However, I am convinced, unless the ordinary clubs are given more say, the game will die from the roots upwards. Time for action I think.

Oh Dear - Another Own Goal From Murrayfield's Media Team

REGULAR readers of this blog will be aware, I have a somewhat jaundiced view of the apparatchiks who toil on our behalf within the confines of BT Murrayfield.

TCD and MH33 may not be the first people you would choose to be marooned on a desert island, or even Langholm alongside, but, you have to admit, albeit grudgingly, they are doing their jobs well. That may not equate to best looking after the interests of Scottish Rugby, but, they are getting results.

Buddy Horler - another own goal

There are other excellent operators within HQ, sadly, there are one or two about whom the only sane reaction is to ask: “What is he for?” Foremost among these is my dear friend, “Buddy” Horler, the Chief Elf in the SRU's Department of (Min)Information, or whatever it is called. If it's media relations, under Buddy it is proof – you choose your friends, your relations are foisted on you.

Yesterday, the clubs and those media outlets considered suitable, received the season 2019-20 fixture list. Now, it says much about the place rugby has in the interests and affections of the Scottish sporting media that these new fixtures have had scant prominence in the papers. The Hootsmon mentions only the opening day fixtures, in a piece written by freelance Gary Heatley. The (Glasgow) Herald, not unexpectedly, ignores the release in its online version; well, it's not about the Old Firm so it cannot be sport, appears to be the default position at the top of Renfield Street these days.

Given this comparative indifference, and again I have to pay tribute to Graham Bean and his team in Edinburgh for continuing to cover the club game, you might have thought it was worth the SRU's while actually publishing the fixtures on its own website.

But, no, a look at the SRU website throws up absolutely no mention of the new season's fixtures. Why Not? Given Scottish Rugby does not get a fair crack of the whip from the Scottish sports media – surely any governing body worth its salt would have adopted the ethos of becoming the media.

The trouble is, while of late, the SRU's media department has flagged-up some good stories, and credit to them for that; when it comes to recognising a good story, and telling it, they are not that good, and certainly not as good as the one or two media outlets in Scotland that still have time for rugby stories.

Buddy and his team MUST do better.

[EDIT - Thursday afternoon IT appears I might have been a bit unfair on Buddy and his gang here, for which apologies. I understand, from messages received from various club officials, that there are errors in some of the fixtures.

Apparently these are (should blame be attributed), the fault of elves in other Murrayfield departments. Fair enough, but, that only leads me to say - the devil is in the detail, check, double-check and if necessary triple check. But, don't let the fixtures out until they are correct.

Buddy boy might not be to blame here, but, this latest fuck-up merely confirms the view most of us have about some aspects of Murrayfield's management - they are making it up as they go along - and: WE DESERVE BETTER.]  

SPEAKING about Murrayfield's poor track record when it comes to interacting with the media. On 17 May, 13 days ago, I sent in a series of questons concerning Super-6 to Sean Lineen and Zoe Paige, the two SRU employees who hold responsibility for delivering Super-6.

Sean Lineen - still awaiting an answer to some questions

Regular readers will not be surprised to learn, the answer has been – SILENCE. I only know Ms Paige as a name, but, I have always held Sean to be one of the good guys, and might have expected some sort of response by now.

But, when you find one of the few journalists generally in-favour of S6, the silence from HQ merely reinforces that journalist's view, that, if S6 goes tits-up, the fault will almost certainly lie with Murrayfield.

MY LAST blog post, about ending boring, pick-and-go rugby through umpteen phases touched a chord among readers. But, at least one btl comment pointed-out several other present-day practices in rugby, which, if jumped on, might speed-up the game and make it a better viewing experience.

For instance, while I doubt if I will ever be swayed from my belief – a return to real rucking would solve many of the present problems around the ruck/breakdown – I don't see the willingness within World Rugby to re-introduce real rucking.

I do wish, however, they would instruct the assistant referees to better police the offside line at the breakdown. I would like to see ARs told: “If the defending side's defensive line is offside at the breakdown – stick your flag up, football style, and keep it up.”

Three penalties against a side, followed by a general team warning and a yellow card and, I am sure in short order, the offside line would be properly policed and observed, and we would have a faster, more-attacking and more-entertaining game.

Another comment mentioned the time it takes some goal kickers to kick a penalty or a conversion. I would either: cut the kicking time from the present 60/90 seconds to 45 seconds; OR Stop the clock during the lengthy preparation period.

There might even be a case for going with 80 minutes BALL IN PLAY TIME. This might mean the introduction of an official time-keeper, taking that responsibility away from the match referee. It would also mean games actually lasting longer, but, at least, the fans would know they were getting 80 minutes-worth of rugby for their admission money.

Under Aristotle's plan, Peter Wright would have a job for life

Of course, there are also some hardy annuals – the squint scrum feed; the increasing number of squint line-out feeds; the way the mark for a penalty kick to touch increasingly becoming the mark from which the kicker starts his run-up. Surely our referees should be encouraged to stamp-out these nefarious practices. One of the great things about golf is, the game's absolute zero tolerance to rules breaches. Rugby might do well to be similarly strict.

Then we come to the second biggest plook on rugby's fair countenance. After the breakdown, this is the scrum, and, at the top level, the way so-many end in collapse and a re-set. I get the impression, the lower down the rugby food chain you go, the “cleaner” the scrums become: i.e. fewer re-sets.

At international and full-time professional level, we increasingly see these overhead cameras in use. With these, the television viewers get a bird's eye view of each scrum. Thus, those of us who have played in the front row and who are versed in the dark arts, can immediately spot which prop is “at it” and to what extent.

As would Brian Moore, pictured here in a fetching top

There is maybe a case for having a corps of retired props or hookers, able to be seated beside the various TMOs keeping them, and the referee right, on which prop is messing-up which scrum. Brian Moore and Peter Wright would have a job for life if this was introduced.

For Rugby's Sake, We Need Change

I DELIBERATELY held off from commenting at length on the Guinness PRO14 Final until I had seen the whole game on Free Sports on Monday night. That broadcast confirmed the poor opinion of Nigel Owens' refereeing performance which I had gleaned from listening to the BBC Shortbread radio coverage. Indeed, if anything, the Welsh Wizard's display was even worse than I had imagined from the radio. Sadly, he has gone as a top-flight official, time to hang-up the whistle I am afraid Nigel.

But, what it also confirmed is, World Rugby MUST get a grip of the Laws of the Game, if professional rugby is to have a future. Quite honestly, if we are to see, going forward, the game dominated by sides such as Exeter or Leinster, whose game plan is to simply stick the ball up their big men's jumper and advance downfield, one metre or so at a time until they finally bore the defence into submission – we may as well pack it in now, because nobody will want to watch.

Amateur rugby, as practiced down at your local club, may well be a very good way of passing what that Hawick youth club was supposedly all about – PSA – passing a Pleasant Saturday Afternoon; at professional level, it's about money and is a definite part of the entertainment industry.

Scotland's considerable Aye Been faction will throw-up their hands in horror at this suggestion, but, it is fact, and the apparatchiks inside Murrayfield acknowledge this fact. The SRU's management model for the game up here is:

• The National team, and to a lesser degree the two full-time professional sides are the cash cows of the game.
  
  
• They bring-in the bulk of the cash which the game requires to survive and thrive.
  
  
• This is mainly done by filling Murrayfield to capacity and making as much money as possible from these capacity crowds and the the television money they attract.
  
  
• This money is then distributed to the ordinary clubs, enabling them to progress the game at grass roots level, encouraging the future players and supporters.

That is the commercial game plan. Nothing wrong with it, other than, it is difficult to pull-off in the current economic climate.

Ideally, the professional game, below international level, would be more or less self-funding. The two – and hopefully three or even four – full-time professional teams, playing in the PRO14 would be able to operate without subsidy from the Union, who would thus have more money to distribute to the ordinary clubs.

However, as has been shown elsewhere in World Rugby, particularly in England, it is extremely difficult, in fact well-nigh impossible, to make a profit from running a professional rugby union team.

In Scotland, rugby comes a very-poor second to football as a meaningful professional sport. The most-successful full-time professional sports team in Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is Glasgow Warriors. On the back of a lot of hard work by their off-field team, they have built-up a regular hard-core audience of between 7000 and 10,000 for their home games at Scotstoun. Against this, a honkingly-bad Rangers team, and a Celtic team which is not much better, have respectively 40,000 and 50,000 season ticket holders, who will happily turn-up to watch absolute mince at every home game.

At the other end of the M8, Edinburgh has a regular 4000 or 5000 fans rolling around in Scotland's largest stadium, while poor Hearts and Hibs teams attract around 13,000 season ticket holders each. Edinburgh is supposed to be Scotland's rugby city, but, in attendance terms, Edinburgh, who had a better season in the one just ended than the city's two football clubs, are a poor third in terms of popular support and commercial viability.

“Cooncil telly” - i.e. free to air television via the BBC or STV is reluctant to put money into Scottish Rugby. The fact that the national BBC pays a single football presenter – Gary Lineker – more than they pay for their entire Scottish football coverage demonstrates how highly they rate our domestic game. But, domestic Scottish rugby's media profile is so-low as to be invisible, while the PRO14, one of the three biggest leagues in the northern hemisphere, can only persuade an obscure Irish-based pay tv channel to cover their games, while the big hitters: BT Sport and Sky throw money at the English game.

It is this commercial imbalance which has, in part, persuaded the SRU to franchise-out the professional development strata of the game to six clubs, since they themselves are unwilling/unable to underwrite these development costs by running their own in-house development tier.

So, the money isn't there. Rugby is part of the entertainment business, but, it is not high art – ballet or opera, where national companies get government funding. Professional Sport is “light entertainment,” it has to fund itself in the commercial market-place, which is a pretty-crowded arena.

• How best do you do this?
  
  
• How do you stand-out in a crowded room?

Difficult couple of questions there, but, one way might be to provide an entertaining spectacle which the public will happily pay for, over and over again.

On Saturday night, the PRO14 Final attracted over 47,000 fans to Celtic Park. I accept, most were already rugby fans. I know a lot of guys whose regular rugby spectating is done at their local clubs, who made a rare excursion to watch Warriors – because it was a huge, meaningful game, an occasion – I know a few of these who were not impressed and will think twice about going back.

There were off-field issues which detracted from the overall spectator experience, these can and, if such a big game is ever attracted back to Glasgow hopefully will be addressed. But, what needs more-immediate addressing is the on-field experience.

Because, to be brutal, many more seasons of Leinster winning by simply retaining possession and grinding-out a boring win, and professional rugby will get stopped.

Association football – the round-ball game – is the most free-form version of the several popular variants of “football”. American Football, Australian Rules, Rugby League and Rugby Union, the four most-popular other forms of “professional football” are all stop-start games. Leaving aside Aussie Rules, the other three all involve a series of free plays from a set piece.

• American Football allows the side with possession to advance, ten yards at a time, through four “downs”. If they fail to advance those ten yards, that side loses possession.
  
  
• Rugby League allows the side with possession to advance through six “passses”, if they have not scored within their six passes, the forfeit possession to the opposition.
  
  
• Rugby Union allows the side in possession of the ball to keep it, until the either score or give away that possession.

I accept, sides such as Glasgow, Saracens, Racing 92 or any good New Zealand side, committed to an expansive game and capable of executing it, provides a rare thrill. There are few finer sights in sport than a Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Liam Williams, Beauden Barrett or any one of two dozen Fijians, igniting a length of the field passing and scoring move from behind their own line.

The trouble is, too much of today's rugby involves attacking instinct being strangled at birth by obdurate defence, often with cynical ignoring of the offside line. Possession is then lost and certain clubs then bore us to death by, once they have the ball, sticking it up the jumpers of their big men and grinding their way forward through interminable phases.

The ball is taken into contact, recycled, taken in again by a pod of three forwards; recycled, taken on another metre or half metre by another three forwards. Repeat until either, the defensive dam breaks, or, the opposition infringe. Depending on where the infringement takes place, the ball is either kicked to the corner, a line-out won, cue that plook on the countenance of the game: the rolling maul and a repetition of the one-pass recycling to a try, or, a penalty is awarded and kicked . A beautiful game this is not.

And that is why I think Rugby Union should be considering a limit on the number of times in which the team in possession is allowed to recycle the ball through the phases. I don't know about four phases – from American Football; or even six phases – from Rugby League. But, certainly, if a side hasn't scored after ten phases, then they should be made to cede possession to the opposition, to give them a shot.

We have to try something – or Leinster's style of play, highly-effective though it is, will kill off Rugby.

It Wasn't Just Warriors Who Came Up Short On Saturday Night

OK, IT WASN'T a great game, barely Prosecco, far-less champagne rugby. It didn't help that the majority of the wonderful record crowd didn't get the result they wanted; so, the overall impression from Saturday's Guinness PRO14 Final was perhaps, at best, close but no cigar.

However, I fear, it may be a long time before we get the PRO14 show-down back in Scotland, anywhere but at BT Murrayfield. I base this fear on the feedback I have been receiving from some who were there.

Here is this from one of the Great and Good of Scottish Rugby:

“Some points from yesterday:

• The off-field operational management was a disaster.
  
  
• Knowing your client or as the SRU call it 'taking advantage of them.'

Only two on duty to serve the thousands in the fan zone, then running out of the sponsors product "Guinness ." They (Guinness) were not happy.

• SRU events Staff blaming Pro 14 and vice versa , no proper communication.
  
  
• Event management team from BT Murrayfield posted missing , though many of them enjoyed "fully" VIP hospitality.
  
  
• It is one thing to market and sell over 40,000 tickets , well done for that , but another to take those ticket holders for granted
  .
• Unfortunately the SRU President didn't attend - we don't know why.
  
  
• The Vice President was there, knows how to network , but was allocated seats away from the main VIP section.

“Leinster, for me, were too street wise. I thought Kearney's challenge on Hoggy was a definite red card. You're right about Nigel I feel. Unfortunately, he has just passed his best. I hear he is considering retirement from tier one refereeing post world cup. I think, like you do, he should leave when at the top , dignity and reputation intact .”

Another friend of this blog, a past-president of one of our leading clubs, had this to say:

“Don't know if you attended the so called Paradise yesterday. Nice enough stadium, shambolic organisation from the smallest fan zone to no one helping at the Turnstiles to 40 minute queues to get a beer. I actually gave up trying to get a beer after waiting for 15 minutes and the queue move three feet! Incredibly poor event organisation,

“The stadium it self is quite an impressive building, just the whole event organisation around it for fans to engage and have fun at the stadium pre-match was dreadful, it's not as though there's a lack of space, plenty of space for outside bars etc, just really poorly organised and massively under resourced.

“Not sure if Guinness need to up their game or the Celtic Events Team just didn't know how different a rugby crowd is from a football crowd.

“Then there was the announcement telling supporters heading west not to go near the Gallowgate! What does that say about the so called greatest fans in the world?....”

Another long-standing rugby friend, who made a 200-mile round trip to be there, had this to say:

“I enjoyed the atmosphere, but got totally soaked walking back to Merchant City. Good ground for the game but couldn’t see the screens for replays etc.”

These are reports from Warriors-supporting Scots. If the Celtic League gets similar feed-back from Leinster fans, or from neutrals who took in the game, the SRU will face an uphill battle to get further big games back to Scotland. That said, they could and I am sure would, do a better job at Murrayfield.

The City of Glasgow certainly seemed to pull-out the stops in the city centre, I don't know for sure, but, just maybe, Celtic FC's well-known reputation for treating their own fans, far less visiting fans like shite, had a part in the general dis-satisfaction.

I deliberately chose not to apply for press accreditation, for several reasons, two of which were: the Celtic club staff with whom we as press men have to deal, I find unhelpful and disdainful, while the actual press facilities are poor.

Celtic Park is not the only Scottish football ground like this, but, the actual working area is cramped and uncomfortable. The old press box, which was suspended from the roof of the main stand, was one of the best in the country. But, many years ago, this was converted to a VIP corporate hospitality area, and the press were decanted to inferior facilities in the main stand.

Winning the right to host such big matches is largely a matter of presentation. But, if you promise to deliver certain facilities – you have to deliver. OK, anyone will be allowed one chance to show they can put on a big game, the secret to getting further games afterwards is in attention to detail – to getting it right, and, where you get it wrong, convincing the men who matter: it will be right next time.

Hopefully, the SRU, and Celtic can learn from this and, if such a big game is ever again given to Glasgow and Celtic Park, they can eliminate the failings this time around. However, both the SRU and Celtic FC have in their employ, a few arrogant people whose mind-set is: “We know best.”

I hope I am wrong, but, such people tend not to be welcoming to changing their ways.

Finally, well done to Leinster. The way they play is not a form of rugby with which I am happy – I far prefer Glasgow's more-Cavalier style. That said, the Leinster way works for Leinster; the players know their roles and are well-drilled in playing that role. This is testimony to how good a coach Stuart Lancaster is. I reckon he, and not Leo Cullen, who is perhaps more Mr Motivator, are, at getting their squad to work for them.

But, they did what they had to do to win, and let's praise them for that. Baron Pierre de Coubertin got it wrong: the glory is in winning, not merely taking part.

It Hurts To Say This, But, I Fear Nigel Has Lost It

THE JOURNEY, across what are now referred to as: “The Rutshire Chronicles” from cad and bounder to all-round good guy, of Jilly Cooper's wonderful invention, show jumper turned politician Rupert Campbell-Black,  has in reality, little to do with actual sport. However, Jilly did give him one very true line, when he discusses the pain involved in actually giving-up competing, and the timing thereof.

Jackie Stewart - he got it right in 1973

It is a sporting truism that very few ever get it right – that moment when it is time to hang-up the boots and join the real world. Years ago, Danny Blanchflower almost did it, when he turned his back on Tottenham's “Glory, Glory Years.” The decision to stop may have been forced on him by the death of his young French team mate Francois Severt, but oor ain Sir Jackie Stewart retired at the top, as World Champion. That great Scottish footballer George Young declared he would retire after leading Scotland against Spain in Madrid, only to have his dream ending denied by a jealous pack of selectors – who didn't pick him for the game, while, just this month, Manchester City's Vincent Kompany went out at the top, after leading City to the first domestic treble in the 140-years plus of English football.

But, these guys, who got it right, or mostly right, are in a very small minority – most sportsmen, so love the adrenaline rush of competing – they hang around too long and, in some cases tarnish a glorious reputation.

On last night's evidence - Nigel has maybe over-stayed his welcome

I fear perhaps Nigel Owens, arguably Rugby Union's finest referee, has over-stayed his time in the middle, if his error-strewn display in last night's Guinness PRO14 Final, is any example. How sad, with him, of all officials in charge, the big talking point from last night's show piece was the officiating.

Now, I am not going to say Nigel's mistakes, in particular his failure to show Leinster's Rob Kearney a straight red card for his dangerous aerial take-out of Stuart Hogg was the reason Glasgow Warriors lost. The Irish side won, and won well, but, on the night, Nigel made more mistakes than we have come to expect of him, and, not for the first time this season, the feeling has been abroad in the wake of a match he has controlled: “Nigel's lost it.”

I accept, Rugby Union is just about the most-difficult team game to referee. The laws are so-complex, there is so-much happening at every breakdown, at times it is, I feel, beyond the capabilities of a single person to get control right. And that is before you even consider the minefield that is the scrum in a professional game, or the endemic if not “cheating”, then seeking to gain an unfair advantage by pushing the boundaries, which is such a part of the professional game.

However, there appears to be an acceptance by referees, and last night Nigel fell into this trap, of giving what is considered the stronger scrum, the benefit of the doubt when things go awry. So, just because Leinster's Tadhg Furlong is considered the best tight-head in the world, when that side of the scrum goes down, it must be the fault of opponent Jamie Bhatti. A couple of times last night, Nigel let-down Bhatti with this stance; an error he compounded by similarly under-rating Zander Fagerson's work on the other side of the scrum.

So, Nigel had another off night. I fear, unless England is involved, on his current form, Wayne Barnes and not Nigel will have charge of the Rugby World Cup Final later this year. Sadly, I feel the magic may have deserted the most-famous resident of the village of Mynyddcerrig.

Last night's game was also the swan song of Assistant Referee John Lacey, who, needless to say, because he was in Scotland, made his mandatory stupid intervention, with one scrum penalty against Glasgow, notifying Nigel from fully 40 metres away of what he thought was an offence by Glasgow. But, getting things wrong is what Lacey has always done when in Scotland.

 Goodbye John Lacey, don't let the door hit your arse as you leave

Nigel is going to the World Cup, but, I just wonder if, perhaps Rugby Union can learn from Football. In the Beautiful Game, the world governing body FIFA, prior to 2016, insisted their top-ranked FIFA grade referees had to come off that international list at aged 46, but were allowed to referee domestic games after that. Today, that upper age limit has been removed, however, the over-45s are required to undergo additional testing and assessment to be allowed to carry-on past that age.

Any way, kudos to Leinster, who took advantage of Glasgow's mistakes, got in front and did what they have always done well, strangled the game and controlled it. The two Scottish teams are still playing catch-up when it comes to learning how to use rugby's quaint laws to advantage to win tight games. But, some day, we will get there.

Watching Leinster go through their repertoire of endless one-pass pick-and-go moves, through teens of phases did not make for an entertaining game, but, for so-long as the lawmakers allow them to do this, sides such as Leinster and England's Exeter will play this way.

Perhaps it is time for Rugby Union to mimic Rugby League, by artificially limiting the number of phases a team is allowed to go through when in possession. League set its limit at six phases of play, before possession had to be surrendered. How about Union, initially going with ten phases before possession is lost? It might make for a more-entertaining game. Just a thought.

Any way, that is, in Scotland at least, season 2018-19 done and dusted. We still have the English play-off to enjoy, courtesy of BT Sport, the finale to the French season, and Super Rugby – then the players come back from their all-too-short holiday to prepare for the World Cup. But, by then we will be back on the club treadmill.

Rugby is now an all-year-round sport.

Let's Hope They Are Sobbing In The Fields Of Athenry Tonight

NOW'S THE DAY and soon it will be the hour, when hopefully, Glasgow Warriors will see off the formidable challenge of Leinster to be installed as 2018-19 Guinness PRO14 Champions.

Let's hope Hoggy departs as a winner

Of course, they can win this thing, after all, they won their conference, then saw off Ulster in the semi-final, they are in good form, can field their optimum team, and, they are playing, if not at home, certainly in their home city – so, why should they not win?

But, their Irish opponents are the defending champions, they have greater big-match experience and, they are, naturally a bloody good side who are extremely difficult to break down. I fancied getting past Ulster would involve Glasgow in an arm wrestle, but, they proved me wrong that day. I do not, in all honesty, see this one being as simple as the last game was.

However, I have no doubts, Glasgow can win this, albeit they will, all 23 of the match day squad, need to be at their very best for this to happen.

Dave Rennie, the Glasgow Coach, has named an unchanged squad from the semi-final, his selection (as-ever in 1-23 order) is:

Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Callum Gibbins (Captain), Matt Fagerson; Ali Price, Adam Hastings, DTH van der Merwe,  Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn, Tommy Seymour, Stuart Hogg. Replacements: Grant Stewart, Oli Kebble, Siua Halanukonuka, Ryan Wilson, Tom Gordon, George Horne, Pete Horne, Huw Jones.

That squad has between them 1655 Warriors' appearances. The starting XV have played a total of 1195 games for the club, the bench guys a total of 460. That averages out to each player having played 72 games for the club. Only Kyle Steyn (9) and replacement flanker Thomas Gordon (5) have an appearances total in single figures.

Leinster Coach Leo Cullen – and well done to him for apologising for his throwaway line about the Warriors' players all being Rangers supporters – has made some changes to the team which got past Munster in their semi-final, but, as you would expect, he too has named a battle-hardened and experienced squad which (again in 1-23 order) is:

Cian Healy, Seán Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Fardy, James Ryan, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan; Luke McGrath, Johnny Sexton (Captain), James Lowe, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose, Jordan Larmour, Rob Kearney. Replacements: Bryan Byrne, Ed Byrne, Andrew Porter, Ross Molony, Max Deegan, Nick McCarthy, Ross Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin.

The Leinster squad is even-more experienced than Glasgow's. The starting XV have played a total of 1520 games for the club, the bench guys a total of 429. That averages out to each player having played 85 games for the club.

The third team on duty, the match officials is also an experienced squad. Nigel Owens will have the whistle, there is nobody better. This will be the Welsh Wizard's sixth Celtic League final, and with six European Cup finals, and the 2015 World Cup final behind him, this will be his 13^th major match as a referee.

And it's goodbye from Scotland's favourite referee as well tonight

In a significant move with regard to refereeing, oor ain Mike Adamson is named as Assistant Referee 1, with John Lacey – in his final appearance as a match official – as Assistant Referee 2. The experienced Welsh official Ian Davies, is the Television Match Official.

Celtic Park might not be full tonight, but, there is a chance of a 50,000 crowd, or close to that number. Who could ever have imagined a crowd of that size, for a rugby match, in Glasgow on a May evening?

This just shows how Warriors have been embraced by football's first city. Of course, Leinster will bring a big following, but, the bulk of the crowd will probably be from the Warrior Nation.

Let's just hope Rennie's men can keep their nerves under control, and make this an occasion to remember – particularly for Stuart Hogg, who will surely want his 121^st and for the moment, final Glasgow game, to be a winning one.

I think he will depart for Exeter with that prized medal in his possession.

The match will be live on Premier Sport TV, or, for those who want to enjoy a bigger and better picture, broadcast live on BBC Radio Shortbread.