And With One Leap The Ruling Cabal Left The Country

CONSPIRACY THEORISTS, of which there are many in God's County, were wondering what caused the Fullarton Woods branch of the Still Game Appreciation Society to take off for a jolly in Lanzarote on Sunday.

On Monday, the light flicked on, with the news that Marr's Dougie Steele had copped a three-year ban for a drugs violation. With that coming out, nae wonder the inner cabinet shot the craw. I do feel for Dougie, who must have felt intolerable pressures of some sort, to take such a chance. Please, he made a huge mistake, so, don't throw the lad to the wolves.

I see some of the Unco Guid, the 21^st century successors to Burns' Holy Wullie are calling for Marr to be stripped of their 2021-22 Premiership title, citing how, in other sports, such as Athletics at the Olympic Games, gold medals have been removed following positive drugs tests. Certainly, Steele played at full-back in the title-winning team, so, the removal of the title punishment might well be on the table. However, since the Rugby Union protocol appears to hold sanctions to the individuals concerned, at this juncture, I see Marr losing the title as something of a long shot.

The whole case is certainly embarrassing for the Troon club as much as for Dougie Steele – the banter will be good in the club bars of Burns Country, until they find something else to talk about.

THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP in Qatar has given us rugby chaps something else to be superior about – when you see the pig's breakfast FIFA has made of its great VAR system, and some of the cock-ups they are still coming away with.

The best double act in Qatar, ITV'S Jon Champion and Ally McCoist had great fun this week in one game, when Champion went through the list of VAR officials and their acronyms. It takes about five of them to get decisions wrong – whereas, in Rugby Union, we have one official in the tv truck, who tends to get almost all the decisions correct.

I feel the basis is the question the VAR or TMO is expected to answer. In Rugby Union the question is: “Is there any clear and obvious reason to change the referee's decision/” In football it often seems to be: “We think the ref's got that wrong, convince us to change it.”

Football also doesn't help itself with some of the daft strictures put in place by the law-makers, which of course includes Scotland, since we have a permanent seat on IFAB – the International Football Associations Board – the game's ultimate law-making authority.

When I was playing at school, there was an oft-used term: “The baw played him,” whereby a player would hit the ball with his hand or arm, or, more correctly, the ball hit the hand or arm, the hit occurring so quickly the player didn't have time to get his hand or arm out of the way. Everyone knew what had happened and played-on. Today, however, it is almost as if, if the ball hits a hand or arm, it's a penalty regardless – which is absolute pish. We've seen this once or twice in Qatar, and, when I see that, I cannot help but think – Rugby Union does things better.

ANOTHER ISSUE which has arisen in Qatar has been the way time is being added-on to compensate for time-wasting during games. A great innovation, but, here again, I think football has got it wrong – as has rugby.

At least in Rugby Union, the referee stops the clock in instances of time-wasting, or foinjuries, however, I feel we could do it better. That's why I have long argued for a rewrite to the Laws so that we get 80 minutes of “Ball-in-play time”.

That way, the ball goes out of play, the watch stops until play resumes. The whistle blows for an infringement, or an injury – the clock stops until play resumes. However, at the same time, I think there is a case for a “shot clock” and have the time allowed for various set pieces: setting a scrum or line-out, taking a penalty or a conversion being written into the Laws.

We already have, apparently a demand that the team awarded the put-in has 30 seconds in which to put the ball in. I gather a similar time-scale is in situ regarding a line-out. Have an official time-keeper, even have, as in basketball, a visible shot clock, to allow for monitoring of the break in play – we have a faster, more-entertaining game.

Harder to police and implement, perhaps, might be making sure scrum-halves get the ball away from a ruck within the five seconds of the referee calling: “Use it.” It is, however a fact, universally recognised, that scrum-halves are a law unto themselves.

I SEE The Sassenachs are tying themselves in knots again about what to do with their Championship clubs – a small matter which has become somewhat urgent with the demise of Wasps and Worcester.

As we all know, both clubs went down the Swanee, owing large and small sums to multiple debtors. However, there appears to be an attitude of them being “Too big to fail” these days. I am old enough to remember when London Scottish and Richmond, two of the biggest clubs in the land, over-reached themselves, back in the early days of professionalism. They had to go back to the very bottom and it is to the credit of the real rugby men at both clubs, that they managed to get back as far as The Championship. Perhaps the same treatment might teach Wasps, Worcester and any of the others facing financial melt down that a bit of humility goes a long way.

Mind you, we must remember, the RFU has a long tradition of incompetence, so we need not expect smart answers from there. I see there are already moves afoot to combine the loss-making Wasps and Worcester operations into what will, we must presume, be another loss-making operation based at Sixways, the Worcester ground.

There is also some talk of a Premiership/Championship cup competition involving the remaining Premiership clubs and the more-ambitious Championship outfits; while the others, the diddy teams such as London Scottish and Richmond, go into a new cup competition involving our Super6 clubs and maybe some Welsh club sides.

What to call this? Here's a notion, invite the All-Ireland League clubs in and call it something like – The British and Irish Cup. After all, it was a winner.

I notice, by the way, Northampton Saints crowing about what a great season they had last season – turnover in the region of £20 million, and a whopping £0.3 million profit.

They then added – this was due in no small measure to a one-of £0.5 million insurance pay-out, take that away and they lost £0.2 million.

Gentlemen, gentlemen – Unless it is under-written by the national union, professional rugby is a LOSS-MAKING ENTERPRISE. Accept reality – only the international game pays.

 

Trouble Along The Taff - And We Thought We Had Problems

A WEE REMINDER, for all the Boyos within the Taffia who are demanding the head of Wayne Pivac, following Wales' last quarter collapse against what was far from a full-strength Australia: You can only pee with the cock you are given.

Pivac might indeed be the wrong man, in the wrong job, but, facts are chiels that wanna ding, and the fact is, Welsh rugby has been a basket case for a wee while now. OK, they still tend to beat us more often than not, but, we're not exactly world-beaters at the moment.

Just take a look at the BKT United Rugby Championship table after eight rounds. There are 16 clubs in the league, and of the four Welsh sides, only Cardiff Blues, in seventh spot, are in the top half of the league.

Next come Dragons, lying in 12^th place, just below the under-performing Glasgow Warriors. The other two Welsh sides – Ospreys and Scarlets occupy respectively positions 14 and 15, just ahead of perennial basement boys Zebre.

Not exactly a good showing for the best of the Welsh game. If the talent isn't there, there's not a lot any coach can do. Indeed, if we go on the results of the Autumn Internationals, you could make a reasonable case for Wales being, as things stand, ranked fifth or sixth of the Six Nations.

Ireland and France look likely to dispute the destination of the 2023 championship – on current form. Then there is a gap with Us and The Common Enemy disputing third and fourth places, leaving Italy and Wales to squabble over ownership of the wooden spoon.

Things might be a little different in ten weeks' time, when the big show does start, but, right now, the Welsh are in a dark place. I see talk of bringing back Warren Gatland to steady the ship. Ah hae ma doots about that little ploy.

WE MAY not quite be back to the halcyon days of The Green Machine having games won, even before they kick-off, but, the 2022-23 version is purring along nicely.

I remember back in the day, when pre-game warm-ups were a lot less structured than today, attending a game at Millbrae. The Ayr team left the dressing room in dribs and drabs to do their thing, but, all 15 men in green came out together, yes they had a sprinkling of British Lions and Scotland caps; of course they expected to win – and they did – but, firstly, this was a TEAM, on a joint winning mission.

They haven't quite, as yet, nailed The Bill McLaren Shield to the front wall of the Mansfield Park grandstand, but, with the run they are on, it will be a bloody good team that wrestles it away from the Robbie Dyes. Edinburgh Academical, their closest pursuers in the Premiership title race, will be the next team to try, in what already looks like the game of the day on Saturday.

I HAD hyped-up the meeting of Ayr and Kelso at Millbrae on Saturday as a potentially pivotal clash in the National League One promotion race. It certainly lived up to the build-up, with the visitors overturning a 5-21 half-time deficit to win 22-21 and go three points clear at the top of the table.

One of my friends among the Millbrae 'Silverbacks,' the bunch of old-time pink and black stalwarts who inhabit the back row of the stand, was telling me how enjoyable the game had been, he said: “This was old-style club rugby, great entertainment, two highly-committed teams giving it their all and handbags out at regular intervals.” He did, however, feel the referee, who did well in difficult circumstances, would have benefited from having neutral touch judges to help him with some of the more-contentious incidents in a high tension games.

I appreciate we have a shortage of match officials at the moment, but, surely obviously big games like this one would benefit from the same level of officiating as in the Premiership.

The chase is now being led by Melrose, who crushed Gala 63-15 at The Greenyards. That's 108 points the Braw Lads have shipped in their last two matches, two defeats – to Melrose and Ayr, which have seriously dented, if not quite ended, their promotion hopes.

IN RECENT years there has been a drift away from old-fashioned scrumming. In some recent internationals, or top-level club games even, such is the skill level that it has occasionally been half an hour into the game before the first scrum. Thus, props are being picked for their ability to carry the ball into contact then lay it back properly – the ability to scrum has become a secondary issue.

That has led to some props being lauded as special – because they can handle, pass and run. Two such recipients of “special” status have been England's Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler. Well, on Saturday they were badly exposed by a South African pack who really do know how to scrum. It doesn't help the English that, of their other front-line props – Joe Marler and Dan Coles, neither of whom was ever really international class, are now considered too old, while Maku Vinupola never has been a great scrummager.

The men in white really now need to unearth three or four props very quickly, or another disastrous World Cup will follow. Could it be, as with the English football team, the fact that their big clubs tend to recruit talent, regardless of country of origin, so potentially good English boys are not being recognised or given their chance.

FINALLY – I hear a pub in Lanzarote is this week being renamed 'The Clansman,' since a crack team of Marr worthies: President Tony Peters (Jack), his wingman Glenn Davies (Victor), Jim McGuffie (Winston) and Coach Craig Redpath (Boaby) have decanted to the island for a mid-season think tank. (Navid) – Gordy Reid is still wondering why he wasn't invited, I hear.

 

A Terrible Loss

WE KNEW the day was coming, but, we hoped, not for a while yet. We hoped, desperately, all his mighty fund-raising efforts might bring a quick result and a pill or potion which, if it couldn't reverse the terrible effect Motor Neuron Disease was having on him, might grant him a bit more time, to see his kids grow-up.

 

But, it wasn't to be and, at half-time in the England v South Africa test at Twickenham, the rugby world learned the sad news – Doddie Weir had died. I must admit, I was shocked at how much MND ravaged him, when I saw him being wheeled out at Murrayfield to help deliver the match ball for the All Blacks game. I think a lot of us knew then, the end was nigh.

Doddie put up a fantastic fight, he gave it everything. His fund-raising for MND research is a credit to him and an example to us all. Life often isn't fair, and it was particularly unfair that such a huge character should be taken from us far too soon.

Doddie was the successor to Gordon Brown, the larger than life Scottish sporting giant who battled bravely against a horrible disease, never lost his sense of humour but, in the end, had to admit defeat.

Of course Doddie will be sorely missed by everyone in the wider Scottish Rugby family. His loss will be even more keenly felt by Kathy, his widow, his sons and the wider Weir family. No words can adequately express the sorrow they will be enduring.

But, he left us with a magnificent example of how to face disaster head-on and go into that dark night smiling.

The greatest sadness I shall feel is that the Scottish Rugby Union and the Scottish Establishment failed to ensure that he went to his Maker, as he deserved to do, as Sir George Weir, but instead, as plain Doddie. Lesser men, who achieved less, and gave an awful lot less were granted honours, often on the basis of who they knew rather than what they did.

Doddie did not get the official recognition he deserved, an OBE was scant reward for his efforts, but, those of us who saw him play and followed his fight against illness – we know, we have lost a National Treasure. Rest in Peace Big Man.

AS FOR the now rather meaningless matter of the day's rugby. Well, both Edinburgh and Glasgow were less than average in losing to Benneton and Leinster respectively.

To lose, as Edinburgh did, to a team forced to play for 70 of the 80 minutes a man short, following a red card, that's a bad result in anyone's language. At no time, even when the Italians had every man on the park, did Edinburgh look to be in control of the game. Then, after Matteo Minozzi was sent off, it looked as if it was Edionburgh and not the Italians who had lost a player. Edinburgh struggled to impose themselves and paid the price.

At least, Glasgow didn't ship more than 70 points this time, but, they were still a very-poor second to a Leinster team lacking the bulk of their front-line Irish internationalists.

To be fair, Glasgow had their moments, however, too often individual errors and poor decision-making saw possible good moments turn bad. They never looked like getting a result on the day.

I WAS feeling very low after the Glasgow game. But, things improved thereafter, when I switched to Amazon Prime to watch England being put in their place by South Africa.

Another red card here, but, the visitors had this Twickenham clash well won before they were reduced to 14 men. Particularly satisfying from my point of view was to see the much-vaunted English props being given a scrumming lesson. It will not stop their cheer-leaders in the English media assuring us that Ellis Genge & Co are the best props to ever draw breath, but, I will no longer be in the minority who knows this claim is pish.

BENNETON v Edinburgh was yet another professional game spoiled by a very-early red card. It seems to me, to be long past the time when World Rugby steps in and totally rewrites the Law Book, to reflect the realities of the modern performance game.

At the level of The BKT United Rugby Championship, Rugby Union is as much a department of the entertainment industry as a sporting contest. Spectators pay big money to watch such games, so, they are entitled to see a competitive game, which means two teams, each comprising 15 men.

Yes, dangerous play such as the collision which cost Matteo Minozzi an extremely-early bath has to prove costly to the individual player concerned; but, the crowd is still entitled, I feel, to enjoy a game which is not skewed by one side having to play the bulk of the game a man short.

Other sports such as Basketball have long employed the concept of individual fouls – why shouldn't rugby. I know the game has toyed with the notion of the 20-minute sanction for a red card – whereby the side which loses a man plays that length of time a man short, before a replacement comes on. Maybe it's time to trial this properly.

I could also make a case for adopting the Ice Hockey concept of having Major and Minor penalties. Minor penalties get the perpetrator two minutes in the sin bin; major infractions get at least five minutes in the cooler. That I feel is something worth considering.

Another ice hockey protocol I would like to see introduced is the way in which a power play – a period during which an offending player is in the sin bin – ends when the team enjoying the one-man advantage scores. Why not try something like, when a team enjoying a one-player advantage to a sin binning scores a try, the player in the sin bin can rejoin the game?

I understand and can accept the concept of, in such a physical game as rugby, there has to be a consequence of law-breaking. But, particularly when, as we often suspect, referees are guessing as to what is going on in the front rows, it is ludicrous that a wrong guess could cost a side three points.

Yes, blatant foul play must always be punished; I have long supported the suggestion made by Alan Hosie back in what are now sepia-toned times: that the worst cases of foul play – anywhere on the park – should be punished by the equivalent of a penalty kick, from bang in front of the posts, on the 22. But, when a poorly-timed technical offence costs a team three points, to me something is amiss.

Again, I cite basketball, where one of the sides can make a certain number of fouls without undue penalty, but, once that number is surpassed, every defensive foul gives the non-offending side a free throw from the penalty line. The question is – how many penalties should a side be permitted before it starts to cost them points?

 

Glasgow Hopeful of A Better Afternoon In Dublin

FACING LEINSTER, in Dublin, is never an easy gig. After their last visit to the Royal Dublin Showground, Glasgow Warriors might be excused a feeling of unease as they prepare to return there this afternoon. They will surely expect and get a hard examination, but, I am confident they will not be on the wrong end of a seventy-plus points, as they were on their last visit.

Following the Autumn Internationals, both sides will be minus some big names, but such is the depth of the Leinster playing pool, they have still named a strong XV as they seek to maintain their great start to the new season.

Franco Smith, Warriors' Coach has named the following squad (in 1-23 order) for today's game:

Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown, Murphy Walker, Sintu Manjezi, Alex Samuel, Gregor Brown, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey; George Horne, Tom Jordan; Rufus McLean, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn (captain), Sebastian Cancilliere; Josh McKay. Substitutes: Johnny Matthews, Jamie Bhatti, Simon Berghan, J P du Preez, Lewis Bean, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson.

With seven Scotland caps in the starting XV and a further four on the bench, this is hardly an inexperienced Glasgow squad, who can, hopefully, run Leinster close and, maybe, with a bit of luck, manage a rare Dublin win over a Leinster side who have given a few of their bigger stars a weekend off.

MEANWHILE, Edinburgh will be in Parma, to face Benneton in a game which will be another tough test for Mike Blair's side. The capital coach has given ten of his key international players the weekend off, but, he is still able to name eight Scotland caps in his starting XV, with a further three on the bench.

The Edinburgh squad (again in 1-23 order) is:

Boan Venter, Stuart McInally, Angus Williams, Marshall Sykes, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Haining, Luke Crosbie (Captain), Ben Muncaster; Henry Pyrgos, Charlie Savala; Will Goosen, James Lang, Matt Currie, Damien Hoyland; Henry Immelman. Replacements: Patrick Harrison, J Jack, Lee Roy Atalifo, Glen Young, Cameron Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Jaco van der Walt, Chris Dean.

Long gone are the days when Scottish sides could expect to turnover an Italian one, on Italian soil. This will be a tough test for Edinburgh, but, if they can display the qualities which carried them to victory in Cardiff not that long ago, then they can look forward to a victory.

THERE ARE some interesting-looking fixtures in the Tennent's Premiership this afternoon. With last Saturday's fixtures being used to play the ones cancelled back in September, when Queen Elizabeth II died, this weekend sees the reverse fixtures, the pick of the bunch probably being the Raeburn Place clash of third-placed Edinburgh Academical and Currie Chieftains.

Another interesting clash will be the Glasgow Derby between GHA and Glasgow Hawks at Braidholm. Last Saturday “The Mexicans” as one of the droller spirits at Hawks refers to them, crossed the Rio Grande (River Clyde) to travel to Balgray and beat Hawks. This week, it's the West End toffs who have to cross the big river and venture south of the border, looking for revenge.

A bonus point win will possibly take GHA above Hawks in the perennial battle for bragging rights in the Dear Green Place. This one should be good.

Elsewhere, there is a tasty Borders battle, with Selkirk travelling to face Jed-forest; however, one of the most-anticipated games of the season will be at Millbrae, where National League One leaders Kelso visit an Ayr XV lying just one point behind them in a tight promotion race.

Ayr have put together a nine game unbeaten run, since losing to Highland in Inverness on the opening day of the season. Kelso also boast a 9-1 win/loss record, their only reverse coming at The Greenyards a couple of games ago. This one should be highly-competitive.

As if a second v first fight wasn't enough for one Saturday, there is another promising humdinger on the card, with third-placed Melrose entertaining second-placed Gala on The Greenyards' artificial surface.

I HAVE a get well soon message for one of the nicest guys in rugby – Scotland's top male referee Mike Adamson. A niggling calf injury meant Mike's name was missing from the officials list during the Autumn Internationals.

The injury is continuing to trouble him and he could well be out of action into the New Year, however, he is expected to be back fully-fit and in contention for appointments come Six Nations time.

Having recently become a father, wee Mikey is probably glad of the time off, to adjust to his new responsibilities. Meanwhile, I am wondering, after her terrific display in the recent Women's World Cup Final – might we see wee Hollie Davidson getting a call-up for the Men's Six Nations? World Rugby could do a lot worse.

 

Townsend's Record As Scotland Head Coach

I HAVE this week been turning my attention to Gregor Townsend's record as Scotland's Head Coach. With the conclusion of the 2022 Autumn Internationals, that's him completed five years in the job, so, a good time to reflect on his performance.

 Toony's overall record reads:

• p – 59 : w- 33 : d- 1 : pts for- 1431 : pts agnst- 1280 : wins 55.9%

Breaking it down into individual years it looks like this:

• 2017: p-6 : w-4 : d-0 : l-2 : +194 : -143 : wins 66.6%

• 2018: p-12 : w-7 : d-0 : l-5 : +253 : -323 : wins 58.3%

• 2019: p-13 : w-6 : d-1 : l-6 : +290 : -279 : wins 46.2%

• 2020: p-6 : w-4 : d-0 : l-2 : +104 : -87 : wins 66.6%

• 2021: p-9 : w-6 : d-0 : l-3 : +257 : -168 : wins 66.6%

• 2022: p-13 : w-6 : d-0 : l-7 : +333 : -280 : wins 46.2%

I counted the Scotland A game against Chile in the 2022 figures.

It is, I would argue, difficult to be too critical of Toony's record. Apart from continued difficulties against Wales – the Dukla Pumpherston of international rugby - we tend to win the games we should win; we get the odd bonus win against the likes of England, but, have retained the traditional Scotland failing of occasionally tripping-up in games we should win with a bit to spare.

In all, over the 59 games, Townsend has awarded caps to 105 different players – seven full XVs. He inherited 46 of these players from Vern Cotter but has capped 59 new players – an average of one per game.

While some players have turned out in more than one position, the breakdown of players in positions is:

• 9 loose-head props

• 10 hookers

• 9 tight-head props

• 12 locks

• 24 back rowers

• 8 scrum-halves

• 8 stand-offs

• 16 centres

• 16 back three

The First XV, in terms of appearances in a Townsend squad is:

Ali Price, Hamish Watson, Zander Fagerson, BLAIR KINGHORN, Grant Gilchrist, Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, CHRIS HARRIS, Jonny Gray, JAMIE RITCHIE, Willem Nel, DARCY GRAHAM, Ben Toolis, Fraser Brown, MATT FAGERSON. The guys in lower case type had already been capped before Townsend got the Scotland job, those in upper case were first capped by him.

Those are the 15 most-used players. The Townsend First XV, in the players' positions looks slightly different. In fact, since international rugby is now a 23-man game, here is the definitive Gregor Townsend match-day squad, in 1-23 order:

Allan Dell, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson; Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray; JAMIE RITCHIE, Hamish Watson, MATT FAGERSON; Ali Price, Finn Russell; Sean Maitland, SAM JOHNSON, CHRIS HARRIS, DARCY GRAHAM, Stuart Hogg. Replacements: GEORGE TURNER, RORY SUTHERLAND, Willem Nel, Ben Toolis, Ryan Wilson, GEORGE HORNE, ADAM HASTINGS, BLAIR KINGHORN.

Again, the players in lower case were capped before Townsend took charge, those in capitals are players he has capped. The split is 13 pre-Townsend, 10 Townsend picks. So, after five years in the job, he still does not have HIS men in the bulk of the positions. Note, of the 23 listed, only three, Toolis, Wilson and Maitland were not in contention for the Autumn Internationals squad.

Only 14 of the 105 players capped by Townsend have been in more than half of the 59 squads he has named; only 4 of these 14 players: Blair Kinghorn, Jamie Ritchie, Chris Harris and Darcy Graham are Townsend selections, the other ten: Ali Price, Hamish Watson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Jonny Gray, Willem Nel, Ben Toolis and Fraser Brown were players he inherited.

Of the 23, only Maitland, Toolis and Wilson could be said to be “yesterday's men.” A fit Allan Dell will be back in the wider squad for a Six Nations or a tour; same story with the also injured Sutherland.

Fourteen of the 23 have appeared in more than half of Townsend's squads over the five years he has been in-charge. This shows consistency of selection, given the way club calls in the Autumn Test window and injuries impact on selection.

Forty-five of the overall 105 players were already capped when Townsend got the job – that's 43% of the players. Eight players (7.6%) of the total, were capped in Townsend's first year in the job. In his second year, he capped 11 new players (10.5%). In year three, 2019 – a World Cup year - he gave new caps to eight players (7.6%). Then, in 2020 he brought in six new caps (5.7%), before, in 2021 going a bit cap crazy and handing the precious head gear to 16 players (15.2%). This year, he has given out 13 new caps (12.4%) of the total. (by the way, students of arithmetic might notice, that adds up to over 100% - probably because I corrected each percentage to the nearest one decimal point).

The list includes 11 “One Cap Wonders” - guys who in some cases got a cap after only a matter of minutes off the bench. However, to be fair, this number includes one or two younger players who will surely add to their caps tally and indeed start internationals in years to come.

In researching this piece I noticed, among the listings for Autumn Internationals, or Summer Tests, some games where a Tier One nation has sent an “Emerging” or an “A team” to face a Tier Two nation.

Georgia might well have earned the right to face a full Scotland team, but, the likes of Spain, Romania, Holland, Germany, Portugal and Russia are surely nations we might wish to look at for A team matches, as a means of keeping our fringe players in the international tent.

How's this for a potential Scotland A squad to take on some of the European Tier Two nations (as ever, in 1-23 order): Nic Auterac, Johnny Matthews, D'Arcy Rae, Jamie Hodgson, Marshall Sykes, Ben Muncaster, Dylan Richardson, Gary Graham; Ben Vellacott, Ross Thompson, Rufus McLean, James Lang, Matt Currie, Kyle Rowe, Ollie Smith. Replacements: Grant Stewart, Ollie Kebble, Javan Sebastian, Alex Craig, Nick Haining; Jamie Dobie, Jaco van der Walt, Kyle Steyn.

With the exception of Auterac, all are already capped, but, as things stand, nowhere near the full Scotland squad – so, let's keep them motivated and involved by finding A team games in which they could play.

 

The Natives are Restless Carruthers

I RECEIVED the following missive from a regular reader and critic of the blog. The sender is a weel-kent face around Rugby Union in the West of Scotland, a current club coach, formerly a player at the top level of club rugby, indeed, without giving away his identity, you might say he is the Wee Nyaff Hookers' Wee Nyaff; and, I love him to bits. He says:

“I see Edinburgh have signed a 33 year old English hooker to provide injury cover. What message does that send to all the hookers in the Academy system and super 6?

I will tell you, its loud and clear that they think they are not good enough and if that is the case why are those who are responsible for identifying and bringing through talent not having their feet held to the fire for failing? It is beyond ridiculous, no wonder the Scotland team is full of second rate Aussies and Saffers. Someone needs to drain the swamp.”

Clearly on a roll, later that same night he contacted me again, this time he said:

“Here is another one to add so you can wear down your quill, no supporters allowed in to watch Edinburgh v Glasgow U20 match, only friends and family who have pre registered?

Another marketing and PR masterclass from The SRU, maybe they are afraid that folk might watch these guys playing and realise that they are actually better than the non SQ journeymen they are bringing in. The madness continues !!!”

It is hard to argue with his reasoning, and he will not get an argument from me. No harm to Tom Cruse, one of the unfortunate victims of the mis-management at Wasps. He's a professional rugby player who needs to be playing somewhere, and his agent has obviously got good contacts at Murrayfield to get him fixed-up.

But, really, with the Super6 in shut-down until the Spring, surely this was an opportunity to get one of the several good hookers from there involved with Edinburgh. For instance, young Angus Fraser is, at best, fourth-choice for the Glasgow number two shirt, behind internationalists Fraser Brown, George Turner and Johnny Matthews – could not he, or even Matthews, who earned his spurs at Boroughmuir, have been temporarily loaned to Edinburgh?

Or, what is the position with Grant Stewart? Is he now full-time with
Connacht – or is he still on a short-term deal? Might he have filled the vacancy?

Then there is James Malcolm who has been playing well for Ayrshire Bulls, and has Glasgow experience, or Carl Davies at Watsonians. It's not as if there are no Scottish hookers who might have benefited from a spell with Edinburgh – or, does my dear friend Baldrick get a finder's fee, every time the SRU offers a contract to a player with one of his favoured agencies?

Then we have the clusterfuck of the Under-20 Inter-City game. I think my complaining friend hit the nail on the head. The way that game was set-up and organised is even more proof, not that some of us needed it, of how some people at Murrayfield couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.

The Offside Line is now the bible of Scottish Rugby, but, they didn't cover it. To be fair to the SRU, Chief Gospel Writer David Barnes told me, the game had somewhat slipped beneath his radar – it certainly was not listed on the SRU's weekly media schedule of upcoming events, so, he still isn't sure if, had he tried to, he would have been admitted to the ground, or might he had to have proved some relationship to one of the players?

The fact, admission to spectators was on the basis of friends and family of players, who had to pre-register, indicates, or maybe, as my upset friend at the head of this post suggested, the SRU didn't have a lot of faith in the talent on show.

Here was a great chance to show-case our young talent, but, they managed to blow it, big time, for reasons known only to the time-servers within The Ruling Junta.

And, while we are at it, the 1872 Cup is coming up on the starboard bow, and to mark the milestone of this being the 150^th anniversary of the first Inter-City game, both sides will be wearing specially-designed, bespoke anniversary shirts – replicas of which will be on sale from the usual SRU-approved outlets.

OK, professional sport is an expensive hobby and the SRU has to find any and every way of making money, but, it's getting to be an expensive business to be a rugby fan these days. At £72 for the adult and £55 for the kids' replica shirts, supporting the team and proudly wearing the colours is a costly business.

Then there is the actual cost of getting into the games. A rugby-writing colleague, who has arranged to meet-up with an old university pal at the Inter-City, and agreed to buy his guest their tickets, was a wee bit shocked to have to splash out £75 for father-and-son tickets. Is Baldrick maybe taking his pricing cue from the old Brooklands days of: “The right crowd and no crowding?”

 

 

FINALLY – it is pssible to read a report on the Under-20 Inter-City game, since one of Buddy's lesser elfs wrote a report which is now up on the official SRU website.

It's not a great report – several old subs of my acquaintance would have ripped some of the phraseology to shreds, but, it is, even if flawed, at least a report.

The Scotland Number Ten Argument - C'Est Finni

WHAT to say about Saturday's diet of back-to-back rugby internationals. It's a difficult job.

• Wales v Georgia: well, we've known for some time that Welsh rugby is in an even-worse state than Scottish Rugby. They are selecting from a very-shallow talent pool, with a few guys over the hill and a lot more not even at the fit o' the knowe. Yes, Wales, against the better teams, can often drag them down to their level, but, the way Georgia hung on to win demonstrates, they (Wales) are falling towards tier two status. And that late, steam-rolling Georgian scrum – Wow!!

  

  The Man

• The Finn Russell Show. What can you say, even when he throws a backhand offload to nobody, he's entertaining. I feel maybe he's too-good for some of the players around him, but, when he brings Hawick's answer to Francie and Josie into play, the magic happens.

• England v New Zealand. In beating us, the All Blacks were maybe at seven out of ten on the All Blacks' performance scale. Against England, they were maybe at six out of ten, and England still could not win. Had the Abs produced the same level of last quarter play they came up with to beat us, England would have been absolutely thumped. Instead, probably thinking they had the game won and looking forward to their summer break; for once, the men in black took their foot off the gas, and allowed England into a game they had already lost.

• Ireland v Australia. This was a pish-poor game. I actually fell asleep and missed Bundi Aki's try. But, it was still rubbish.

• I didn't watch Italy v South Africa, reckoning, Italy would hang-in there for a while, befoe being steam-rolled. That's what happened.

Now for deeper analysis of Scotland's performance in beating Argentina.

1. Pierre Schoeman – typically solid scrumming, but, he's top heavy and still tends to lose his balance and fall over/be brought down too easily.

2. Fraser Brown – we now know what we will get from him. The 6 Nations may be his international swan song, if not, for sure the World Cup will be. Might be time now to go with Turner/Ashman.

3. Zander Fagerson – He's now at the top of the second tier of world tight-heads, over the net year, he needs to step-up to the top tier.

4. Grant Gilchrist – Time perhaps for Toony to finally recognise, he's a good club player but, not quite international class.

5. Jonny Gray – I feel the younger Gray would benefit from a return to one of the two professional clubs, where his work-load could be better managed, to keep him fresh for the big games.

6. Matt Fagerson – Like his elder brother, now a key player for us, across the back row. I'd like to see him given an extended run at eight, however.

7. Jamie Ritchie – getting so-heavily involved in that second half fracas and yellow carded was maybe not the best look for the national captain, but, at least, he leads from the front.

8. Jack Dempsey – for me he's another Josh Strauss, a good club player but not quite international-class; which is maybe why he comes to be playing for us in the first place. If we has international class, he'd still be in the Australian squad.

9. Ali Price – Another who I think has passed his peak as a Scotland player and should be benched, or left with Glasgow.

10. Finn Russell – I fear, he might now be too-good for us, but, let's be happy we have him. He's Da Man.

11. Duhan van der Merwe – The opposition has a collective attack of the skitters every time he gets the ball. What about cries of “Feed the Wilderbeest” as a Murrayfield chant.

12. Sione Tuipoluto – Had perhaps his best Scotland game on Saturday. I still think he is more of a 13 than a 12.

13. Chris Harris – Typically dominant in defence and had his moments in attack. Could he and Tuipoluto switch positions?

14. Darcy Graham – Another terrific display from a player who might be the most-exciting Scotland winger since Jinky Johnstone in full flight.

15. Stuart Hogg – Taking away the captaincy has released him, he is now once again up there with Finn as genuinely World Class.

16. George Turner – A couple of line-out wobbles, but, what Scotland hooker since Colin Deans hasn't had this failing? I've seen him livelier around the field, but, he is the future.

17. Jamie Bhatti – I still feel Allan Dell and Rory Sutherland, when both are fit, will overtake him, but, he didn't let Scotland down.

18. Murphy Walker – He's the future and is being groomed slowly and well.

19. Glen Young – Didn't really show much, another in the good club player, but not international-class category.

20. Andy Christie – Another who is, for me, not quite Scotland class.

21. Ben White – I feel it is maybe time to give him a couple of starts to see what he can do in shaping a game.

22. Blair Kinghorn – Now a key player in the odd-job man role, He will not let us down.

23. Cam Redpath – I would love to see him given an extended run at 12, to develop a working relationship with Finn Russell.

Overall, it was the usual Scotland story. We made things hard for ourselves by taking the wrong options when close to the opposition line. Against 12 men, with Finn Russell on the park, there is no need to repeatedly bash our heads against a brick wall with short yardage pick and go moves – Finn will find the space for us to score.

Again, our individual discipline let us down at times. I don't know what the answer to this is, but, we need to find one.

I felt we missed Richie Gray at the touchlines, but, now that Finn has come back to own the ten jersey – I'm a lot happier about the 6 Nations and the World Cup.

FINALLY – Sunday lunch time saw France beating Japan to remain unbeaten over the entirety of 2022. It wasn't a faultless French performance in Toulouse, but they remain the team to beat in both the 6 Nations and probably next year's World Cup.

It's a toss-up as to who is the best winger in the world at the moment, between oor ain Darcy Graham and Damien Penaud. Meanwhile, after sitting on the bench for the bulk of the game, Mathieu Jallibert had a: “tenez mon bier” moment when someone suggested Finn Russell might be the best ten in the world at the moment. And, they won minus Antoine Dupont.