Is It Honestly Toony's Fault, We've Been Shite For Years?

APPARENTLY, there are “unresolved issues” between Finn Russell and Toony – I think we all guessed that was the case over the past nearly one year. However, for the good of Scottish rugby, these require early resolution.

Just how the SRU goes about getting Head Coach and star playmaker singing off the same page of the same hymn sheet – Ah! There's the rub. Sadly for those in the “Finn can do no wrong and it's all Toony's fault” camp, rugby protocol demands that Toony wins this one – since he's the guy whose job and neck are on the line if we fuck-up.

The upcoming Six Nations will be the 21^st running of the tournament in this format. So far, Scotland has been remarkably consistent, as this table shows:

Season	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Position
2000	5	1	0	4	5th
2001	5	2	1	2	3rd
2002	5	2	0	3	4th
2003	5	2	0	3	4th
2004	5	0	0	5	6th
2005	5	1	0	4	5th
2006	5	3	0	2	3rd
2007	5	1	0	4	6th
2008	5	1	0	4	5th
2009	5	1	0	4	5th
2010	5	1	1	3	5th
2011	5	1	0	4	5th
2012	5	0	0	5	6th
2013	5	2	0	3	3rd
2014	5	1	0	4	5th
2015	5	0	0	5	6th
2016	5	2	0	3	4th
2017	5	3	0	2	4th
2018	5	3	0	2	3rd
2019	5	1	1	3	5th
All	100	28	3	69	av. 5th

We have only managed to scrape into the top half of the table four times in those 20 seasons – in 2001, 2006, 2013 and 2018. Thus, clearly, at international level, Scotland is not offering much of a consistent threat; we are, in reality, making-up the numbers, with just the occasional Calcutta Cup win to lift our spirits and keep us cheerful.

We have had eight Head Coaches during the life span of the Six Nations: Sir Ian McGeechan, Matt Williams, Frank Hadden, Andy Robinson, Scott Johnson, Vern Cotter and Gregor Townsend.

It has made little or no difference who has been in-charge, results are fairly consistent over the piece. Reality has to be faced, we are not very good at this rugby lark.

Only three times in these 20 years of the Six Nations have we managed to win a majority of the games, so, putting pressure on Townsend to deliver a winning tournament is maybe a case of expectations being greater than experience.

From what I have seen since this latest version of Russellgate came into the public domain, there is no middle ground – commentators are either totally pro-Finn and anti-Toony, and vice versa, which is daft.

What I do feel is, the Head Coach is getting a raw deal. He appears to be, at least partially, adopting the model of asking the players to take a bigger share of responsibility for how the squad operates. Toony might not be going as far as say New Zealand, who insist everything is player-driven, but, he appears to be giving his senior players a bigger say in how things work.

What the Toony-haters appear to be missing is, it wasn't the Head Coach who told Finn to stop drinking – it was a couple of senior players from the Leadership Group. Only after he had ignored their advice, apparently, did the players call in the boss.

Now, I have made this point before, but, two Scotland squad members had played at Allianz Park last Sunday, but, only one of them got chippy about the drinking ban. Sean Maitland accepted the rules – why not Finn?

I love Finn to bits and have enjoyed watching him come through from the teenager who was sent to Ayr to develop. He has always been gallus in the extreme, but, in this instance, just maybe, it is Finn Russell who needs to look at himself, rather than Gregor Townsend.

FINALLY, I was under the weather over the weekend, so I could not make it to Millbrae for the Ayrshire Bulls v Southern Knights Super6 game.

I had my doubts about the live Super6 coverage before it began, these doubts were based on the poor job the production company was making of the Premiership highlights package. However, to be fair, aside from one or two instances of wrong player identification of Ayr players from match commentator Stuart McFarlane ( how he can mix-up bearded non scrum cap wearing George Bordill with clean-shaven, scrum cap wearing Blair Macpherson is beyond me) the coverage was good.

Pity we don't have a TMO on-duty in S6, I would love to see a frame-by-frame rerun of Cieran Whyte's try for the Knights, since it looked to me as if Whyte and Ross Thompson touched the ball at the same moment – but, that's rugby, you win a few calls, you lose a few.

Neil Irvine-Hess, scored a try but his day ended on a stretcher.

Pic courtesy of Fotosport/Neil Gibson

I do hope Neil Irvine-Hess makes a speedy recovery from his serious-looking injury, he has long been one of my favourite club players, and a really nice guy into the bargain.

A Cautionary Tale of The 27 Club

TO THOSE of us who were in the Tartan Army during his few, all-too-brief peak years, Jim Baxter remains a legendary giant of Scottish football.

Between 1962 and 1965, the gallus ex-miner from Fife was arguably the best and most-influential player in the world – he was certainly, genuinely “World Class” - if anyone was picking a World's Best XI, then Baxter was in contention for a place.

Jim Baxter with another Stirling boy whose bevvying

sometimes got him into hot water on Scotland duty

But, following a broken leg in a European game in Vienna, it was a case of a short, fast decline and aged 30, his career was over and we were left to mourn what might have been.

Baxter was 27 when he tormented England in 1967.

Now, following this week's bombshell news of the 27-year-old Finn Russell's expulsion from the Scotland training camp on disciplinary grounds, some are suggesting - “Finntastic” could be in danger of going down the Baxter route to sporting oblivion.

Might he be in danger of joining a sporting version of rock music's "27 Club?"

There has been a lot of conjecture over what we have dubbed “Russellgate 2”, but, slowly, the truth is emerging:

• Russell reported to the Scotland team hotel on Sunday night, showing signs of having over-indulged on the drink front.
• He continued to drink, and was told to cut it out – not by Head Coach Gregor Townsend – but by team mates, part of the Scotland Leadership Group, which is believed to include captain Stuart Hogg and hookers Fraser Brown and Stuart McInally.
• He refused to stop, then, when asked to quit by Townsend, he left the team's hotel to travel to the Russell family home near Stirling.
• He then failed to report for training on Monday and was subsequently removed from the squad, travelling back to Paris.
• The door, however, remains open for his return, but, for this to happen, a big degree of contrition will have to be shown.

Apparently, this is not the first occasion when Finn's liking for “A wee swally” has got him into hot water while on Scotland duty. But, some around the Scotland camp are becoming concerned that his love of the good life, his penchant for misbehaviour, has worsened since his move to Racing 92.

Un boulevardier de L'equipe Racing

The Parisienne club has a long and proud tradition of eccentric behaviour by players, they see themselves as boulevardiers, men about Paris, with a fondness for wine, women and song. There are suggestions that Finn has maybe bought-in rather too well to this aspect of the Racing culture.

When Baxter was with Rangers, his excesses were tolerated, because he was still doing it on the park. After the leg break, at Sunderland and Nottingham Forest, the match-dominating performances became fewer and fewer, the bad headlines took over and when he returned for his final swan song at Rangers, he found new boss Willie Waddell and coach Jock Wallace less willing to indulge him than Scot Symon had been, and, within a season, he was gone.

Now, I am not suggesting Finn Russell has sunk to these levels, however, there is concern around Murrayfield about his behaviour.

Russell is already a British and Irish Lion, following his part of one game cameo in New Zealand in 2017. However, there was, up until this week, a very good chance that he might have gone to South Africa in 2021 as the hot favourite to be the Test number ten.

Some leading people within the SRU are now asking: “Who is advising him? Why isn't his agent bringing him into line? He is potentially chucking away a lot of money.”

These are crucial days for Finn Russell. If he can “screw the nut,” accept the error of his ways and mend the fences he has kicked over – he can still further embellish his already impressive escutcheon.

But, he could just as easily drift away to become yet another in the long list of Scottish sporting under-achievers.

The ball is in Finn's hands.

Finn Russell - A Convenient Side-Step Around the SRU's Gammell/Murray Problems

CYNIC THAT I AM, I cannot help feeling all this noise and fury over what we must now refer to as Russellgate 2, has come at a very-convenient time for the hard-pressed Junta at the top of the SRU.

Few, if any, nation does player misbehaviour as well as we Scots. Our fitba team has a long and proud record of player misdemeanour going back to Hughie Gallacher getting rat-arsed in Paris in 1930 – various similar incidents pre-dating that have apparently been lost in the mists of time.

Of course, our rugger chaps, being well-brought-up mainly ex-public school boys have never been as prone to media chastisement. I have no doubts that John Jeffrey's wee outing with Dean Richards and the Calcutta Cup wasn't the first case of bad behaviour involving drink and post-match de-stressing, but, as far as I can recall, it was the first to be noticed.

Then there was the Omerta to which we press johnnies happily signed-up, whereby: “What happens on tour – stays on tour.” Speaking of which, I have always loved the legend of the Scottish rugby journalist who almost got kicked-off a Lions Tour, for the henious crime of building a near unbridgeable lead in “The Jockeys Championship.” He had apparently bedded more New Zealand ladies than any of the players, who were not happy about this. But, I digress.

We will doubtless have to wait for the Townsend and Russell memoirs, before we get both sides of what happened, meanwhile, well, we journos never let the absence of facts get in the way of running a story.

But, as I said above, if Russellgate 2 proves a distraction from the Gammell/Murray fuck-up, I don't suppose The Junta will be unhappy.

The SRU Media department prepares a statement on Russellgate 2

What this latest storm in a teacup does demonstrate is – the SRU Media Department might as well be manned by Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb when it comes to fire-fighting.

They were (yet again), slow to react, less than clear in what they put out and completely out-manoeuvred by the press. But, what's new there.

Best bit of fire-fighting I ever saw was by Jimmy Bone, the St Mirren manager, who, after star striker Barry Lavety tested positive for taking an E tablet, had Basher parcelled-up and delivered to a specialist clinic even before the story was a rumour. He then called a pres conference, put the Saints' version out there and killed the scandal at source.

That's the way to do it.

TOMORROW is Scottish Cup quarter-final day, with some interesting matches over the four ties.

Game of the day will surely be at Malleny Park, where Currie Chieftains, second in the Tennent's Premiership, entertain third-placed Hawick. This one is hard to call, but, home advantage just might prove crucial for Currie, but, it will be a battle royal.

The meeting of Edinburgh Academical and Jed-forest is also a hard one to work out. Form – they've won both league meetings this season – says Accies, but, even away from home, you write-off Jed at your peril.

Highland have, for some, over-achieved this season, in consistently being at the sharp end of National League 1. They are a cohnesive outfit, who have become used to winning, and, with home advantage they will offer a stiff test to Premiership leaders Marr.

The Troon team are taking this one seriously, travelling up on Friday for the game and, while a Marr win is hotly-anticipated, they will not find it easy.

Finally, the match which guarantees there will be a NL1 side in the last four, the Netherdale meeting of Gala and Heriot's Blues. On paper, you have to lean towards the visitors, but, at Netherdale, you can take nothing for granted.

THREE of the four quarter-finals in the National League Cup are also scheduled for tomorrow. Perhaps the pick of the bunch will be at Laigh Bent, where Hamilton, currently eighth in the National League 2 table, face Peter Wright's table-topping GHK.

Form suggests the city slickers will win this one, except, Hamilton won when the sides met at the start of the season and, they do score a lot of points, so, GHK will need to be at their best to win.

The meeting of Lasswade and Peebles pits the side lying third in NL3 with that lying third in NL2, so, even on the road, Peebles will start as favourites, but, will need to graft for the win.

The third game is an all NL3 clash, between fourth-placed Howe of Fife and seventh-placed Strathmore at Duffus Park. Home advantage ought to be good enough for Howe.

There are also some Regional Shield and Bowl games being played tomorrow.

In the Edinburgh Shield semi-finals, Forrester entertainRoyal High, while Dunbar will take on Haddington.

The East Region Bowl fixtures see Dalkeith hosting Gala YM in a pool play-off, with the winners taking-on Edinburgh University Medics in the semi-finals next weekend. The other semi-final sees Edinburgh Northern facing Lismore.

Turmoil In The Committee Room - Arguments In The Dressing Room: Now Is The Time To Get Your Money on Scotland

I JUST MIGHT break the habit of a lifetime and place some money on Scotland to win the Six Nations, following the shock news of this morning that Finn Russell has been disciplined and sent back to his club, Racing 92, for: “A breach of team protocol.”

He may be the Messiah,but he can also be a very naughty boy

I cannot say I am surprised, it has been fairly common knowledge, since the World Cup, that, while he might not quite have “lost the dressing room,” Gregor Townsend was not seeing eye-to-eye with some of his senior players.

Indeed, one, who has since announced his retirement from international rugby, went as far, before announcing that retirement, as to admit: “I am never going into another camp with that man,” (Townsend).

These are certainly difficult times, on and off the park, from the top to the bottom of Scottish Rugby.

Hence my decision to wager some money on Scotland – we tend to do best when in disarray and expectations are lowest. But, that said, I'd rather see Finn at ten than anyone else.

But, what happens next? Is Finn's banishment just for the one game, or might it escalate and he doesn't feature at all this year? It seems obvious, Adam Hastings will wear ten against ireland, but, what is Plan B – should we need to change things?

With Duncan Weir seemingly yesterday's man, James Laing injured and question marks over Pete Horne's ability to play ten at international level, what happens next, if something happens to Hastings?

Hogg to 10 and Blair Kinghorn to 15? Come back Finn – all is forgiven? Come back Dunky? Kinghorn in at 10? So many questions – so few real answers.

Then, there is the nuclear option. Persuade Greig Laidlaw out of retirement to come back and play at 10.

It does not help either, that at the two SRU-owned full-time teams, apart from Adam Hastings, no specialist ten is qualified to play for Scotland.

This just proves, with Scotland, catastrophe and disaster is never far away. But, still we believe, in spite of evidence to the contrary.

I AM TELT – after last night's joint meeting of the Tennent's Premiership and National League clubs, to discuss the implications of the Gammell/Murray Governance Review – there is a definite split in attitudes.

Initially, I was told, only one of the 42 clubs voted to accept the G/M suggestions.

However, I have since received a pair of alternative script rewrites:

• Only one of the the six clubs who hold Super6 franchises apparently voted in favour of Gammell/Murray.
• All six S6 clubs supported G/M, but there was a great deal of opposition elsewhere.

But, the Six were still, seemingly,heavily-out-voted by the other 36 clubs at the meeting.

A big majority of the clubs were apparently highly-critical of the SRU Chairman, the Executive and some of the Council. So, it appears the message on The Junta's What's app group this morning is: “Murrayfield – you have a big problem.”

Preliminary soundings across the Regions appear to suggest, the clubs generally are unwilling to back G/M, indeed, resistance is growing, with an increasing number of Councillors being mandated to tell The Junta and Messrs Gammell and Murray to shove their suggestions where the sun doesn't shine.

Some of the Great and the Good, hitherto considered to be safely tucked into TCD's back pocket, and guaranteed to “jump” when ordered and toe the party line, have apparently indicated an unwillingness to support G/M. One is almost tempted to say it has nae chance of getting through – except that would be to under-estimate The Junta's readiness to resort to any level of dirty tricks to get their way.

When you think of the number of recent occasions on which TCD & Co have shit all over the Murrayfield front door step – and not only kept their jobs, but been handsomely rewarded – it would be daft to write them off, or see them meekly rolling over and telling the clubs: “Yes Guys, you're right – we will forget G/M.”

Again, the shock troops in this battle will have to be The Council, and I hear one or two prominent members have been told by their constituents: “Get a grip, and get this stopped, or else.”

I was actually speaking to a Council member last week, who described the situation as: “Constant fire-fighting, very wearing.” I have sympathy for these guys, mostly good, solid club men with the health of Scottish Rugby constantly in the forefront of their minds, but, now, more than ever, they really need to gird their loins and fight for their clubs.

Gammell/Murray is not the answer, it has to be killed off.

Colin Grassie - under pressure

And, just to keep the pot boiling, a ground-swell seems to be building against Chairman Grassie, who won no new friends and lost a few old ones with his interruptions to last week's Clubs Meeting.

There are suggestions, the Chairman has not been playing an entirely straight bat in dealings with the Board and Council.

Just another day around “The Murrayfield Big Top – the circus where the clowns are running things.”