The Return Of Super6 Shows - Normality Cannot Be Far Away

IT WOULD be wrong to say rugby was back, after last night's opening FOSROC Super6 meeting, in which Boroughmuir Bears just held off Heriot's second half fightback. After all, at the full-time, professional level, the game never really went away.

However, after a 500 day hiatus, the Super6 guys are back, the ordinary club players wil not be too-far behind and we are slowly getting back to normality. However, even a keen S6 supporter, like what I am, cannot hide the fact – given such a lengthy break, some of the rugby was pretty scrappy.

That is not a criticism, just reality. No matter how much you train, how many training hit-outs you have, real games are different and there is not enough WD40 in the world to eliminate all the rustiness first time out.

Bears' scrum half Kaleem Barreto won the Man of the Match award. He certainly demonstrated the speed of service and game control we all know he has. I thought, however, big Callum Marshall in the Nails' boiler-house ran him close over the 80 minutes.

The two young Bears' props impressed before the more-seasoned Heriot's guys came off the bench and, sadly for the younger Goldenacre players, I can see Ned Kelly turning to his tried and trusted guys in the weeks ahead. However, there is young talent there who, given time, can shine at this level.

I have long thought Paul Mitchell is one of the better commentators on the BBC Shortbread roster, and he has the advantage that he can cover both football and rugby.

He didn't make any major boobs last night, but, his failure to refer to Keith Allen as anything other than: “the referee,” grated somewhat. Keith has been around for a wee while now, and such a nice guy, and competent official, deserves the occasional name check.

In an unfamiliar talking head role, Chris Laidlaw did ok, but, if the SRU and the broadcast guys are going to be serious about regularly covering S6, they should maybe invest in at least one, perhaps two, colour commentators. All these guys have back stories, which could contribute to the viewer's enjoyment if brought-out.

Prior to the game, we were told the match could be viewed on the BBC iplayer. “Great,” I thought, I can watch it on the big screen of my television. But, no, when I tried to get the broadcast, not a sign. Eventually, I had to watch it through my computer, via the BBC website. Come on Pacific Quay, if you're going to advertise something as on the iplayer, make it accessible.

TONIGHT, there is only one show in town, the Second Test between the Springboks and the Lions, in Cape Town. This one will be crucial, as the wounded Saffers will throw everything, including the kitchen sink at the Lions.

I get the impression Warren Gatland's game plan is to largely frustrate and tie-down their hosts, which to my mind is risky. Replacing Ali Price with Conor Murray in the crucial number nine role means, the Lions will not be playing with any great tempo, which I fear might suit their opponents.

OK, Mako Vunipola has apparently been receiving additional propping lessons from Robyn McBride, addressing a weakness in his game which England has ignored for years. OK, he looked good against tiring Bokke opposition in the First Test; can he keep that up against fresh legs tonight?

Scrummaging still matters in South Africa and I would still rather see Rory Sutherland, the better technical prop, starting. Let's hope the Lions can win, so, maybe, Gatland will seek to end the tour on a high, by unleashing Finn Russell on them in the final Test. However, let's get tonight's show out of the way first.

I DELIBERATELY held off posting until I had watched the medal matches in the Women's Sevens. Of course it was disappointing when Team GB lost, however, and this must really have pissed-off Coach Scott Forrest, they made too-many unforced errors on the day.

But, credit to the Fijiana, who played with the joi de vivre of their men's team and thoroughly deserved to win the bronze.

It was then a case of “job done” for the Black Ferns, who exorcised the ghosts of Rio by claiming the Sevens gold. Getting that gold has kept the exquisite Portia Woodman and the other survivors of Rio going for the past five years, and, when it mattered, they delivered.

But, kudos to a French squad who cruised to the final below the radar. They were in Last chance Saloon when they won through the repechage round in Monaco to qualify for the Games proper. Nobody other than the French media paid much attention to them, but, they proved themselves to be a formidable squad, not least when beating GB in the semi-final.

The French also displayed a cracking change strip in the final.

Much as I enjoyed the Women's Sevens, can I repeat an observation I have made before. I feel the women's game would benefit from World Rugby ruling they play with a size four, rather than a full-size five ball. I think the smaller, lighter ball would be more-easily controlled by the girls and would improve the quality of their game.

AND FINALLY, chapeau to the wonderful Jill Douglas for the one-liner of the Games: "Goodbye Ruby Tui," in praise of the Black Ferns' player of that name.

Shame There Were No Fans - The Olympic Sevens Tournament Was Brilliant Entertainment

ALL EYES will now be on the Lions v South African Test match on Saturday, but, this week's build-up, in an exciting Olympic Games Sevens tournament has set a high bar.

The Brazilians are everyone's second-favourite football side – which ratchets-up the pressure on the guys wearing the famous yelow shirts. It's a wee bit like that for the Fijians in Sevens. OK, right now, Brazilian football is in a bit of a slump, but, as they showed by beating New Zealand in the final on Wednesday, in Sevens, Fiji still rules – ok.

Now, Brazil would never have willingly gone into a World Cup without Pele, or the original Ronaldo, or Neymar Junior today, which makes the Fijian's victory all the more special, since Semi Radradra – the Bristol Bears' superstar didn't even hit the playing field in the final.

The Kiwis made the Flying Fijians battle all the way, we maybe didn't see the handling pyrotechnics we have come to expect, but, the Fijians were still worthy and deserved winners. I doubt if there is much more that Jed's own Clark Laidlaw and his kiwi charges could have done in their efforts to deny Fiji the gold.

Disappointment in the end for Team-GB, who fell to the inspired Argentinians in the bronze medal match. I feel, the Team GB management were guilty of going with just over the crest of the hill English players, who made a host of unforced errors in the final game.

The Scottish players were very-much peripheral figures in the squad, unlike in the women's football, where the two Scots, Kim Little and Caroline Weir have emerged as key components in the medal hunt.

I noticed at half-time in the bronze game, it was Scotland's Robbie Fergusson who was doing most to try to lift his team mates. But, after featuring strongly in Day One, Robbie, along with Ross McCann, Max MacFarland an Alec Coombes spent, for my taste, too-much time on the bench rather than on the park.

By the way, as an old hooker, I was delighted to see Ross McCann, in the bronze match, take one against the head off the Argentinians. It wasn't a case of pushing their opponents off the ball, it was a genuine nick against the head. Chapeau young Ross.

Maybe their sterling efforts in giving the USA a 21 point start and overhauling them took too-much out of the Team GB squad.

But, it would be churlish not to praise the efforts of the Argentinians, the way they overcame that early red card to beat the Springboks in the quarter-finals gave them an impetus to go on and claim the bronze. Vamos Pumas.

GIVEN that I am myself well into my eighth decade, I should not be surprised to read of the death of any of my childhood heroes, but, there is always sadness at their passing.

 

The latest recruit to that stellar side The Heavenly Scottish, is former Boroughmuir and Scotland flanker Ken Ross, whose death was reported earlier this week.

Kenneth Innes Ross won the first of an eventual 11 caps, against the touring Springboks, in January, 1961. This was a crucial match for the Scots; the last time the South Africans had trod the Murrayfield turf, they had absolutely obliterated the Scots, winning 44-0 (that's 69-0 in today's scoring values – 27-0 first half, 42-0 second, 10 tries in all).

That 1951 drubbing left a scar which, just over nine years later, new cap Ross and his team mates had to salve. The Scots were not expected to win, in fact, it was feared another hiding was on the cards but, inspired by some wonderful tackling from centres Eddie McKeating – who passed earlier this year, and Geordie Stevenson, the Scots held the tourists to a 12-5 win (16-7 in today's values).

Arthur Smith scored a memorable try, following-up a miscued Iain Laughland dropped goal attempt and if, even with such legends as the McLeod, Bruce, Rollo front row, ten Bos and Campbell-Lammerton in the boiler-house and Ken Smith and John Douglas in the back row with Ross, the Scots got a doing in the set piece, their work around the park largely nullified the 'Bok threat.

Watching from the sidelines, the 13-year-old me was inspired by the Scots' performance and, how great I thought, must that have been for Ken Ross – the first man from his club to be capped.

Just over a month later, Ross scored two tries in a 16-8 win over Ireland, and we were off to Twickenham in a vain search for a Triple Crown. The following season he helped Scotland post a first win in Cardiff since 1927, before, in March, 1963, the curtain came down on his Scotland career in the side which lost a Twickenham to a truly-memorable Richard Sharp try in a narrow 10-8 England win. Earlier that season he had helped Scotland inflict a first Paris defeat on France for five years.

Ken Ross also played for Edinburgh, the Royal Navy – during National Service with the Royal Marines, and he toured with The Irish Wolfhounds. Surprisingly, he was one of the few internationalists of his era to miss out on representing the Barbarians.

Rugby players of that era of course had the day job to contend with. Ken's business career was in the whisky industry, mostly with the Glasgow-based whisky brokerage of Stanley P Morrison.

He globe-trotted to some 72 different countries, but, home was always Boroughmuir, where he had been club captain during season 1964-65.

He settled in the Highlands, but was a welcome guest before lockdown, when he appeared at Canal Park, Inverness, to support 'Muir's NL1 side against Highland.

Ken is survived by wife Joan, daughters Tiffany and Trisha, son Gavin, grandchildren Flora, Hebe, Willow, Una and Chrissie and will be much-missed by the wider Boroughmuir family. His passing will be marked by a short silence and round of applause, when Boroughmuir Bears open the FOSROC Super6 season against Heriot's, at Meggetland, on Friday night.

Should We Take A Fresh Look At The Lions?

HAVING had a few conversations with the late Gordon Brown, who had a player's perspective, and several journalists who were lucky enough to cover a Lions Tour, I honestly believe the current restricted Tour is all wrong.

The real challenge about Lions Tours of the past was always the provincial games, taking-on good but not necessarily great players with something to prove – rugby's equivalent of their Rocky moment. And, like Stallone's great character, they often came out swinging.

The likes of big Alan Tomes was never a Test Lion, but, he could tell you of games which he and his fellow “Dirt Trackers,” as the midweek team were dubbed, found as hard as internationals.

The tourists also got to experience some of the culture of the nation they were visiting. Ok, occasionally they would arrive at a one-horse town, Nowheresville South Africa or New Zealand, just after the horse died. But, years later, meeting-up with fellow Lions, that was a good: “Do you remember?” moment.

I recall, for instance, the Glasgow Herald's Bill McMurtrie telling of, during a two-day drive through New Zealand's North Island, stopping for lunch in a small town, entering the only hotel, to discover Tennent's Lager on-tap. The local brewery had a tie-in with the Glasgow company. That little touch of home on the other side of the world stuck with Bill.

Today, the Herald doesn't even have a Rugby Correspondent who could enjoy such a moment, and, the main Lions party tends to settle in main bases in big city, five-star hotels.

Also today, it's all about the Tests. Too-much pressure about games which, in the bigger picture of international rugby, are unimportant. The reality is, international rugby is all about the Six Nations, The Rugby Championships and, every four years, the Rugby World Cup.

For me, The Lions are now over-commercialised, over-hyped and no longer relevant. Now, maybe if we over-hauled the Lions concept, allow the best of our club players or non-internationalists, to go off on longer tours, against hosts of a similar standard – that might be a concept worth looking at.

As I have often said, I refuse to pay Uncle Rupert's tariff to watch sport, so, I am stuck with the Channel Four highlights package. Much as I love wee Lee Mackenzie, I thought last night's programme was pretty shitty – not enough game footage and too-much of the panel. Could do better.

Now we move on to the Second Test, where we are sure to see a fierce Springbok backlash. Assuming Dan Biggar is missing under the HIA protocols, it will be interesting to see if Warren Gatland rushes Finn Russell back to wear the number ten shirt, or if he takes something of a punt on Marcus Smith? I doubt if he will go with Owen Farrell at ten, preferring to keep him back for bench duties, giving his ability to cover all three midfield positions. That said, Farrell's kicking might get him into the starting XV, it will be interesting to see what happens.

WHEN I started “Aristotle” the idea was that I could more-or-less anonymously, comment on matters rugby. This notion was quickly under-mined and I was outed early doors. The blog title has stayed, however, but I still write elsewhere under my own name.

Last week, in the run-up to the First Lions Test, I did a fun piece for The Offside Line. The stuff was factual, but, it was never meant to be taken as serious comment, it was a light-hearted “left field” look at the game.

As such, the piece was well-received, with a lot of positive feed-back, which was exactly what David Barnes and I were looking for.

BUT, and what a pity there had to be a but, the piece passed some six feet over the head of that great, all-knowing, all-seeing, commenter on matters rugby – The Dreaded Silver Croc, or to give him his Sunday name, Ron Sutherland.

Ron let himself down badly with some petty and ill-informed comments on the post. Well, he is a Fifer who has moved to 'Pailmerkland.' More to be pitied than criticised.

GOOD to see the FOSROC SUPER6 sides completing their pre-season warm-ups at the weekend, with some closely-contested matches. Things get under-way on Friday night, while I will be getting my first view of live rugby for a long time, at Millbrae on Sunday, when Ayrshire Bulls entertain Watsonians.

Bring it on.

LAST WEEK the SRU quietly produced a new refereeing initiative. Over the next three years they are aiming to make the world of Scottish refereeing a lot better.

Scottish officiating, certainly at the top level, has been in the doldrums for years. We haven't had a “world-class match official” of the calibre of the great Alan Hosie and Jim Fleming this century. Now however, with Mike Adamson leading the charge among the men, and Hollie Davidson for the women, we are fighting back.

Certainly Wee Mikey and Wee Hollie get most of the headlines, but, guys such as Ben Blain, Sam Grove-White and Fin Brown are not far behind. Some big hitters are involved in the new initiative, which I wish every success.

One of the big areas of concern in refereeing circles concerns touchline abuse of officials, and this is somewhere where the clubs really have to up their game, to the extent of, if necessary, telling the club's self-appointed refereeing expert to either: “Shut up or Fuck Off.”

I've been involved in rugby since the bad old days of yore, when every club had its own tame “home official.” You knew with guys like that on the whistle, you were going to get nothing and would have to kill to get a draw.

These officials are fewer these days, and I can honestly say, in recent years, I have seen one or two whom I wished could do better, but, I have only encountered one official who I was convinced was “bent” and a “homer.” To be fair, in his case, he was also an “awayer.”

Remember, no referee – no game. We need to nurture and support the men and women with the whistles and flags.

Inter-Districts: Maybes Aye, Maybes Naw, But Not At The Level Its Supporters Crave

 JUST as I expected, the high heid yins at BT Murrayfield have said: “You're not on lads,” to the AGM motion calling for a return to Inter-District play at the expense of Super6 rugby.

In the Union's latest circular to club officials, outlining decisions taken at recent Board and Council meetings, Murrayfield makes it clear – they would welcome an Inter-District competition – if desired by the clubs – but at a level below S6, which they still see as a crucial part of the Union's High Performance Rugby strategy.

That is a view which I have long held. I also note the Union has, albeit belatedly, confirmed, the funding for S6 comes from the High Performance budget, rather than the Community Rugby one.

The view from HQ is that any introduction of an Inter-District competition should be dealt with through the normal season structure consultation process and their view is that such a competition replacing S6 would not be in the best interests of ensuring there is a player development pathway in place.

The SRU briefing paper also mentions the Glasgow Hawks AGM motion calling for greater transparency on how the Scottish Government financial support re Covid is to be spent.

It seems pretty straight-forward to me. However, the Union apparatchiks point-out, if they or the clubs were to be stopped spending some of the money in hiring non-Scottish-qualified players, it could leave them open to possible legal action under the 2010 Equality Act. However, the Union will put forward a simple amendment designed to get round this thorny issue.

As I think I have said before on this, we could always go back to Chick Young's 'Eight Diddies Act' in football – the old rule where by a Scottish club could only field three non-Scottish-qualified players in any one XI. It doesn't stop a club hiring non-Scots, but, they can only play a limited number in the team at any one time.

For instance, in England, the RFU are now insisting on 15 “England-qualified” players in each match-day 23-man squad. That equates to 65%, which, for my money is a wee bit on the low side. They used to have a 70% rule in place.

The third motion up for discussion is the Haddington one, calling for the abolition of the in-house legal department at Murrayfield. This one, The Junta is going to fight.

Cynic that I am, I get the impression, perhaps old 'Howzat' is threatening to spill the beans as to where the bodies are buried, if he looks like getting booted out.

Interestingly, as with the other motions, the suggestion is – this should be a matter for the Governance Review Committee, should they ever get around to reporting on their ongoing deliberations. Did they bring in Stuart Hogg to kick that particular can down the road?

The suggestion is, if the in-house legal team is disbanded, it could incur costs of upwards of £1.5 million per year. Over to some of the well-heeled lawyers on various clubs for a view on that particular hot potato. No, let's not bother – some might think that was doing things on the cheap.

I HAVE become somewhat detached from The Lions over recent tours, with the way Scottish players have been side-lined to a degree.

Sure, I am delighted to see us getting guys into the starting XV and on the bench, but, I don't see myself searching-out somewhere showing the game live tomorrow night. I will continue my policy of refusing to pay Uncle Rupert's levy to watch the game, I will wait for the Channel four highlights package.

I do think, however, there has still been an element of politics at play in the XV. I would start Mish every game, but, I think the English Media Mafia would have taken-out a contract on Gatland, had he not picked their golden boy Curry.

Wyn Jones v Sutherland was another toss of a coin call for the starting shirt, but, at least Rory knows, he will get on. It's not a bad team, weakened by the Finn Russell injury, and I feel, the odds slightly favour the Bokke.

 

 

BY THE WAY, not that the Test Series will need it, but, there's a wee extra edge to tomorrow's opening Test, since the Unofficial World RugbyChampionship is also up for grabs.

The Unofficial title is arrived at by taking the boxing concept of: you win the world title, you keep it till you lose, then whoever beats you is World Champion until they lose. Scotland won the first international, back in 1871, to become the first World Champions. Extrapolate that result forard over the years and you find, when the Lions beat ll Blacks in the Third Test in 2017, they became the latest champions under that system. Now four years later, the South Africans have a chance to add the Unofficial title to the Official one they won in 2019.

David Barnes has the full listings – compiled by an old rugby hack with too-much time on his hands - and is hoping to run a story in TOL, so, I will not cramp his style here, but, read it when it appears, there are some fascinating results in the listings.

FINALLY, good luck and go well to two Scots whose Olympic Games participation has gone somewhat under the radar.

I refer to Sam Grove-White and Hollie Davidson, both of whom will be on refereeing duty at the Games, in the Rugby Sevens tournament.

It's Sam's second straight Games and a first time in the Olympic goldfish bowl for wee Hollie – good luck you two.

There's A Coach Going Out - So What.

OPINIONS are like arseholes – everybody has one. So, for what it is worth, here's mine on Richard Cockerill's sudden departure from Edinburgh.

“Leaving by mutual consent” is a football cliché. There's been a major fall-out, probably over money, TCD has almost-certainly told Cockers: “This is what's happening, like it or lump it.” Cockers has decided to lump it and a wee mutual face-saving exercise has been carried out.

I like to see Edinburgh winning, except when they are facing Glasgow, so I am not overly perturbed at this parting of the ways, in fact, the departure of the former Leicester Tiger gives the SRU a great chance to do what they have not done well in the professional era, and promote a Scotsman to the top job.

Mike Blair will be favourite, given the state of the SRU finances post-Covid will more or less force them to go for an in-house appointment. He certainly deserves his chance and if he gets the gig – I wish Mike well.

The state of the Union's finances is a major issue. I am fed-up trying to explain the realities of life to those Glasgow and Edinburgh fans who think like fitba fans, demanding big name signings both on the park and in the technical area – this is not a path the SRU should be going down.

As I have repeatedly written, the way the SRU's finances are managed, the bulk of their income comes from the international A squad; this is the one Scottish side capable of filling all 67,000 seats at Murrayfield. The two full-time professional sides are Scottish Rugby's equivalent of Rangers and Celtic – existing on the sort of crowds attracted by the likes of St Mirren and Livingston. That's a circle which cannot be squared.

The SRU also has a duty of care to the entire game in Scotland. Now to me, a large part of that is to encourage Scottish players. As I have repeatedly written, I have no objection to the SRU, the two professional clubs, and even the six Super6 franchises recruiting Scottish-qualified players from beyond Scottish rugby. We've got a shallow local talent pool and have to use any other talent at our disposal. BUT – I don't think we should be recruiting non-Scottish players or coaches.

Again, I've been writing this for ages. It makes no sense to me to recruit Pacific Islanders, or other non-Scottish-qualified players to play in the United Rugby Championship, a competition in which there is no promotion or relegation, and one which is being used by the SRU to prepare young Scottish players for the rigours of the international arena.

Appoint a Scottish coach, and let him show what he can do with native talent. Toony proved himself at Glasgow. Tell the public straight, we are going with Scottish-qualified and developed players, and the more guys we can bring through who are from Edinburgh, the better for rugby in the capital.

Cockerill going is not a disaster, it is an opportunity – grab it with both hands.

And, while I am on the subject. More than 24 hours have now passed since Cockerill's departure was announced. To their credit, Edinburgh has announced his departure on their club website, but, Stuart Rutherford, their media manager, is as good an operator in his field, as his distinguished father John was on his particular rugby field.

However, if you go to the Scottish Rugby official site for your news – no mention. But, as regular readers will know, my view of the SRU's media department is: of the many sections of Scottish Rugby “Not fit for purpose,” the media department is aboon them aw when it comes to not functioning properly. Has Buddy the Elf gone walkabout again?

I Am Not Worried About Cockerill Going.

OPINIONS are like arseholes – everybody has one. So, for what it is worth, here's mine on Richard Cockerill's sudden departure from Edinburgh.

“Leaving by mutual consent” is a football cliché. There's been a major fall-out, probably over money, TCD has almost-certainly told Cockers: “This is what's happening, like it or lump it.” Cockers has decided to lump it and a wee mutual face-saving exercise has been carried out.

I like to see Edinburgh winning, except when they are facing Glasgow, so I am not overly perturbed at this parting of the ways, in fact, the departure of the former Leicester Tiger gives the SRU a great chance to do what they have not done well in the professional era, and promote a Scotsman to the top job.

Mike Blair will be favourite, given the state of the SRU finances post-Covid will more or less force them to go for an in-house appointment. He certainly deserves his chance and if he gets the gig – I wish Mike well.

The state of the Union's finances is a major issue. I am fed-up trying to explain the realities of life to those Glasgow and Edinburgh fans who think like fitba fans, demanding big name signings both on the park and in the technical area – this is not a path the SRU should be going down.

As I have repeatedly written, the way the SRU's finances are managed, the bulk of their income comes from the international A squad; this is the one Scottish side capable of filling all 67,000 seats at Murrayfield. The two full-time professional sides are Scottish Rugby's equivalent of Rangers and Celtic – existing on the sort of crowds attracted by the likes of St Mirren and Livingston. That's a circle which cannot be squared.

The SRU also has a duty of care to the entire game in Scotland. Now to me, a large part of that is to encourage Scottish players. As I have repeatedly written, I have no objection to the SRU, the two professional clubs, and even the six Super6 franchises recruiting Scottish-qualified players from beyond Scottish rugby. We've got a shallow local talent pool and have to use any other talent at our disposal. BUT – I don't think we should be recruiting non-Scottish players or coaches.

Again, I've been writing this for ages. It makes no sense to me to recruit Pacific Islanders, or other non-Scottish-qualified players to play in the United Rugby Championship, a competition in which there is no promotion or relegation, and one which is being used by the SRU to prepare young Scottish players for the rigours of the international arena.

Appoint a Scottish coach, and let him show what he can do. Toony did this at Glasgow. Tell the public straight, we are going with Scottish-qualified and developed players, and the more guys we can bring through who are from Edinburgh, the better.

Cockerill going is not a disaster, it is an opportunity – grab it with both hands.

An Expert Is Someone Who Knows All There Is To Know About Fuck All

WHAT FOLLOWS is one of my occasional rants against the iniquities of the modern world, one which, particularly where the media is concerned, is almost an alternative universe to an old hot metal hack such as I. Be prepared for possible bad language, bias, and lack of reason – you have been warned.

This week is going to be difficult for those of us who care about this great game of rugby. Between now and Thursday, when Warren Gatland will put us out of our misery by naming the actual team, the air waves will be polluted, the internet jammed, a Finnish forest will bite the dust to supply the newsprint as everyone and his sister pronounces on the match-day 23 which Gats will name for the First Test.

Test team selections are opinions, and, like arseholes, everybody has one. One thing I can guarantee, hardly any of the prophets will correctly guess Gats' 23, 'twas ever thus.

I took a tortuous and roundabout route into sports-writing, the only job (other than keeping goal for Scotland) I ever wanted. But, I had my first sports story published in 1968 and am still on the tools – so, I think I know what I am talking about – because somebody once was fortunate enough to get picked for his country, or for the British Lions, does not make him any more of an expert than someone who has reported on thousands of games, of all standards, over many years at the coal face of journalism.

Indeed, some of the sharpest rugby brains are to be found around the ropes at places such as Hawick, Pontypool, the forest of Dean, South West France, or in any small town in New Zealand or South Africa. Some of these guys could lose the so-called “experts” on their sport.

And not just men. The late Dod Burrell – Gala international full-back turned international referee, had a great story about being summoned to the touchline at Mansfield Park, during a heated Borders Derby, to be told by “Old Mary” a weel-kent supporter of her beloved Greens that: “Burrell – when Jake Young's deid, you'll be the worst referee in Scotland.” Mary, he believed, had forgotten more about rugby than most people had ever learned.

When it comes to commenting on rugby today, we up here in Scotland are at a distinct disadvantage – particularly if, like me, you are old enough to know better.

As schoolboys, going off in our short trousers to Murrayfield, to get a ringside seat in the Schoolboys Enclosure, we would purchase our programmes and read the wit and wisdom of Jock Wemyss. We listened to the man who, when it came to match callers is undoubtedly the G.O.A.T. - Bill McLaren, “The Voice of Rugby.”

On Monday mornings, we would read in The Scotsman, the measured views of Norman Mair. Norman didn't write match reports – he produced well-crafted essays on the game. His Monday match report on Scotland's 1971 Twickenham Calcutta Cup win breaks every rule in the newspaper-writing book, but, is a fantastic record of a great occasion.

Norman was an international hooker, who got into journalism via school-teaching. Perhaps the only later internationalist to have followed successfully in his footsteps is another hooker, England's Brian Moore, who got into journalism via the legal profession.

Bill McLaren was denied a seeming-certain Scotland cap by illness. However, while working at the chalk face as a PE teacher, he forged a second career in journalism and broadcasting – he had lived real life, he didn't merely step from the dressing room to the press box with no training or experience.

Another great Scottish rugby writer was Bill McMurtrie of the Glasgow Herald. Bill went into the family business of journalism. His father was a distinguished local newspaper editor and I recall Bill once writing; “The McMurtrie's have been reporting on rugby since before the Kaiser's War.” Bill was not as great a wordsmith as McLaren or Mair – but, few of us were. But, his research was exemplary, his record-keeping immaculate and his commitment to his craft absolute.

Bill also, when the Herald management slackened-off on his choke chain, could come up with some wonderful word pictures – who could forget his flight of fancy which had supporters of GHA, the club where he was secretary for some years, causing disturbance in Barcelona while supporting their club in the European Rugby Cup final, brilliant stuff.

When Bill was in his pomp, no rugby player in the West of Scotland farted, but, the Herald knew about it. He later went on to become a highly-respected SRU “blazer” and, for my money he's the best President the SRU never had. These modern players turned commentators could never amass the sort of background experience the likes of Bill had accrued.

Another thing which is against today's commentators is, it's very easy to sit there, in front of a live microphone and just speak. Also, the way in which the bean counters have done a slash and burn job on the subs desks, any old pish which you may input to your lap top has a chance of making it into the paper.

Back in the day, when you had to dictate your copy down a crackling 'phone line, to copy takers such as the Record's legendary Tommy McGhee, who could bring your wilder flights of fancy down to earth with a well-timed: “Is there much more of this pish?” your rough copy had to be fairly-smooth to start with.

The likes of Tommy or “Blinky” Thomson at The Herald kept you honest and your mind on the job. The late, great, Hugh Taylor, had a great story about “doing a runner,” dictating a match report live while the game was unfolding before him, from Nice to Tommy back in Glasgow.

According to the finest sports writer to come out of Kilmarnock, he could hardly hear himself because of the cacophony from the French fans surrounding him; yet, Tommy got it all down first time.

I wonder too, how some of today's precious media stars would cope with anonymous voices on the other end of a telephone, such as the Belfast Telegraph copy taker, who cautioned the great Malcolm Brodie, on the line from Buenos Aires with his report on the 1978 World Cup Final: “I heard you the first time Malcolm,” after the bold Brodie began his piece: “Ole, Ole, Ole.”

And finally, trained, experienced journalists, are not beyond calling it like it is – unlike the retired sports stars turned pundits. We are not close friends with the players and are therefore free to criticise if we feel criticism is merited.

While, unless we are working for one of the last remnants of 'Fleet Street,' we are not obligated to talk-up the English players to the detriment of those from the Celtic countries; or mindful of the Welsh dictum, nobody but us can play rugby – that makes for more-honest commentary.