I'd Rather Get My Wine From Stellenbosch - My Props From Hawick

I HAVE been involved in Scottish Rugby for over 60-years. In that time I have seen many outstanding players in navy blue. OK, in recent years, blatant selectorial bias has cut the numbers significantly, but, since I first became aware of the British Lions – back in 1955 – a whole host of outstanding Scots have worn their red shirt.

Take prop forwards alone. Hughie McLeod and Tom Elliot, two proud Border callants were on the 1955 Tour. McLeod was one of the outstanding forwards in New Zealand and Australia in 1959. His long-time partner-in-crime David Rollo, was on the 1962 Tour.

The 1970s are recognised as The Golden Decade for the Lions, with the series wins in New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later. Ian McLauchlan was loose-head in all eight tests in those two tours, while Sandy Carmichael would surely also have been a Test Lion, but for the brutality in Canterbury in 1971 and the sterling form of Fran Cotton in South Africa three years later.

In the 1980s, Iain Milne and David Sole joined the ranks of Scottish Lions' props, before Paul Burnell and Peter Wright in 1993 and Tom Smith in 1997 joined the ranks of Scottish Lions' props.

This millennium, Smith toured for a second time in 2001, Euan Murray in 2009, Ryan Grant in 2013 and Allan Dell had a cameo as cover in 2017.

That's a proud record, which we have high hopes of seeing extended this year – if the Tour happens, with Rory Sutherland already pencilled-in in many observer's preliminary Tour squad. His red card against Wales has put a question mark against Zander Fagerson's name, but, if he can get straight back up to speed when he returns, then he could still claim the tour place that was assuredly his, before his suspension. There have also been suggestions that, since he is the best pure scrummager in British Isles rugby, there could be a place on the tour for WP Nel

But, I fear if Sutherland and Fagerson are picked, they could be the last pure-bred Scottish Lions, given South Africa rather then the South of Scotland, seems to now be the SRU' destination of choice when seeking to recruit new props for the centrally-owned PRO14 teams.

Certainly, Messrs Dell and Neil, along with Oli Kebble and Pierre Schoeman have been good for for Scotland, but, given recent recruiting moves, I think we could be seeing a return to the days when Edinburgh's line-out calls were made in Afrikaans. Where does that sit with the SRU's need to grow and encourage the game up here. Recent recruiting appears to be on the basis of anyone but a Scotsman. This is not good enough.

I have never had a problem with Scotland capping players from the great Caledonian Diaspora. I have reservations about some of the Saffers, Aussies and Kiwis who have come in and qualified for Scotland through playing for our clubs, but, I accept – they have used the rules and shown their commitment.

Then, just yesterday, we had Glasgow Warriors hiring an Argentinian fly-half. As I have been saying for months – The Junta are taking the piss.

However, the current fashion for seemingly preferring non-Scots, who might hang around for five years and qualify, to young players who have come through the Scottish club system – that's a definite no-no for me.

Mind you, to be fair to the decision-makers in EH12, we have seen some Scottish talent being promoted, with Peter Murchie being called up from Ayrshire Bulls to replace Kelly Brown in the Warriors' coaching staff, then Al Kellock replacing Nathan Bombrys as the High Heid Yin – in commercial-speak, Managing Director – at Scotstoun.

Big Al has been quietly learning how things work on the commercial side of the game, since hanging-up his boots. He's a Glasgow man to the core and while his appointment is yet another example of SRU internal promotion, nothing wrong with that. If the talent is there – use it.

THIS WEEK'S wee story, about England calling-up Wayne Barnes and Matthew Carley to work with their training squad, in an effort to cut down the high number of penalties which England has given away in the Guinness 6 Nations, thus far this season.

Makes sense I suppose. You call-up the best internaitonally-active referee, and one of the worst – ergo, hopefully, the squad will have an idea what is the median of match officials expectations of them, when it comes to obeying the Laws.

Mind you, I don't think a few of the England squad are the sharpest knives in the box, but, if you're Eddie Jones or the RFU Old Farts, doubtless, the thinking will be: “Their discipline has been so poor, anything would be an improvement.”

IN MY last blog post, I paid tribute to Marr's Arthur Dunsmuir, following his passing. A bit late, certainly, but, today I want to pay tribute to another gret rugby man, who has gone off to the clubhouse in the sky – Sandy Bryce.

Whether as a strong-running winger with Dunfermline and the North and Midlands, as a referee good enough to be handed the flag in international matches or as a stalwart of Stirling County, both on the rugby pitch at Bridgehaugh or on the cricket square at Williamfield, Sandy was a weel-kent face around Scotland.

He joined County from Dunfermline, when the club was nowhere near the standard it is today, and he was one of those who drove-up those standards and helped in County's rise.

As a coach, he started with the youngsters, and was in at the beginning of forming what is today, Scotland's outstanding club development programme. He later moved up to coaching adult teams, with equal success.

As a bastion of the County agricultural community, Sandy also played his part in developing and caring for the Bridgehaugh pitches.

In tributes to him, his ability to make coaching simple, his concern for the players under his care and his sheer enthusiasm for the game were all stressed.

He did everything with a smile. The game of rugby union football has lost a great enthusiast. RIP Sandy.