A New Year List With A Difference

WEE JOCK MUNRO was a more-than-useful scrum-half for Kilmarnock and Cumnock. He married one of the MacMillans from Stranraer, so, Curling is now his game, although he was still, until Covid, a regular attender at Scotland internationals home and away, and his daughter Robyn just might make it to the top of the Roaring Game..

Jock posted the following message on Facebook, on New Year's Day, and I thought it deserved to be pinched for the blog.

“Hogmanay, supping a lovely bottle of chateau neuf du pape, reminiscing about the many great players I have seen playing live. So I made a list. This is not my list of the greatest players ever, but the ones I have seen and were a joy to watch. In no particular order:

David Duckham

Andy Irvine

Barry John

Gareth Edwards

Phil Bennett

John Rutherford

Gary Armstrong

Mike Gibson

Jean Pierre Rives

David Leslie

Phillipe Sella

Vincent Clerc

Finn Russell

Wullie John McBride

Favourites: Rutherford, Armstrong, Russell and Clerc.

I’ve probably missed a few, but they are the ones that stick out. Feel free to add your own.”

It's not a bad list, and a few of them would make my own particular list. But, note, the only contemporary player to make the cut is Finn Russell (pictured below). Jock has just confirmed what I have been thinking for some years – professionalism, or at least the way the professional game has been allowed to go, has taken individual brilliance out of the game.

 

 

Today, it's almost “Rugby by numbers,” and, as in North American professional sport – we have gone down the road of “The Coach as God.” This is not good for the long-term health of the game.

Player burn-out is another factor in today's game. Speaking of this, and looking back to how it used to be – albeit to an extreme case, but, I can still recall reading about the great Jim Greenwood, legendary Scottish international back rower, international team captain and, following his many years at Loughborough University, described as: “The Best Coach Scotland Never Had.”

 

Jim Greenwood
 

Greenwood's breakthrough to the top flight of the international game came during the 1955 British Lions Tour to South Africa. At the time of the Tour, he was teaching and playing for Dunfermline and the North and Midlands. The story is that Greenwood came back from South Africa at the end of September, 1955, went back to the blackboard and did not play again until December.

He played one game for Dunfermline, three for North and Midlands, the final Scottish Trial then the four games in the Five Nations of 1956. That was his playing record for that season – eight matches. Different times right enough.

With today's programme of domestic league matches, European ties, the Six Nations, a summer tour and the Autumn Internationals, no wonder we see more injuries and player burn-out.

Sure, players had short careers too in the amateur days, because there would come a point when it was a straight choice between playing rugby and the demands of a career and family. Just think of some of the legends who had to turn down the chance to tour with the Lions, because they simply could not afford to take time off their work to travel.

WATCHING the Gallagher Premiership meeting of Gloucester and Sale on Saturday night, I noticed, as one of Sale's many South Africans – their tight-head Coenie Oostheizen was substituted, he was wearing white boots.

To me, nothing quite emphasises the loss of dignity in the game today than front row men wearing coloured boots – it goes against the grain. I wouldn't even allow backs to wear coloured boots, but front rowers – that's a definite no-no.

Back in the day, when men were men and we played for fun, I remember Ayr hooker Ernie Finnie taking advantage of big brother Jack's decision to open a sports shop and helping himself to a spanking new pair of Puma Kings, which he wore for the first time in an Ayrshire Cup final against Kilmarnock.

 

These Kings were made for spotting
 

The decision didn't look so-clever when Allan Hosie pinged him three times for foot-up. I should perhaps explain to younger readers. Back then, in the 1970s, hookers had to actually strike for the ball, since it was put down the centre of the tunnel – or else. Strike too soon, you conceded a penalty.

Also, not cleaning their boots was almost mandatory for front rowers back then, so, wearing a pair of Puma Kings, with those massive white flashes, striking too early, was easily spotted.

WEE ROB Robertson posted a wee cracker on Facebook on Saturday night – a screenshot, taken at half-time in the Edinburgh v Glasgow match, of his lap top.

The page on-screen was blank, visual confirmation of what a dire first half it had been. The fact an hour had passed before the first points were scored is further indication of what a dire game it was. “Murrayfield, we have a problem,” right enough.

As I posted in a message to Rob - “Let's hope the coaches say something interesting post-match.” I have been there too-often, there is nothing worse than “a draw – nae rugby,” when you've got 1000 words to find. However, finding those 1000 words is why the likes of Wee Rob gets paid so much.

I reckon there is a case for those guys who are leaving at the end of the season being told: “We are starting to build for next season, you will be stood down and the young Scots who will be here next season will be given every chance to show what they can do.” Then the management of both teams can really prepare for that campaign.

OK, we might see the two teams in the Challenge Cup rather than the Heineken next season, but, would that be so bad? A few wins, maybe a trophy. You might win nothing with kids, but, they have to be given a chance to show what they can do. Who knows what it might lead to.