SRU and Hadden have made boo-boo with Baa-Baas game

KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer May 23 2006

The withdrawal of Scotland players from this weekend's final round of Celtic League matches will not only be interpreted as showing contempt for the competition but could act as a substantial disincentive to would-be investors in the game.
Frank Hadden has done little wrong since being appointed national coach but in prioritising a chuck-it-about friendly against the Barbarians ahead of three crucial league matches he has made a horrible blunder.
As competition leaders, Ulster must win in Wales on Friday to be sure of the title. Reigning champions Neath-Swansea Ospreys are a resurgent force, however, and could easily upset them, whereas star-studded Leinster, the only team who can wrest the title from their Irish rivals, will be very confident of beating a sub-strength Edinburgh Gunners.
There are, too, issues for the other Scottish sides vying for the second place in next season's Heineken European Cup. A full-strength Border Reivers conceded 63 points in Ulster last time out. What can they expect to do against Newport Gwent Dragons without their senior internationalists? Then again, they will probably still qualify because they are ahead of a Glasgow Warriors side who must travel to Connacht without their own key players.
In taking this unilateral action the SRU are devaluing both European and Celtic competition. This is very different from the weekend before the autumn Tests and that ahead of the Six Nations, when all three countries took the same approach.
Another element to be considered is the impact on anyone thinking of buying into one of the professional teams. When Gordon McKie, the SRU's chief executive, said last month that private investment was required to ensure there will be three pro teams next season, the indications were that prospectuses would be available within a week. Apparently those were finally issued late last week, but exercising this level of control immediately after doing so and at such a crucial stage of the season sends out all the wrong signals.
One final thought: Hadden was widely quoted at the weekend declaring his respect for Todd Blackadder, the former All Black captain who helped him turn Edinburgh Gunners into a force worthy of respect within the European game and who replaced him as their head coach this season. Was this, then, really the way to show that respect? Friday is Blackadder's last game in charge and, having seen his side regain some momentum by winning three successive matches for the first time this season, he was desperate to finish with a flourish. The New Zealander would be first to say that sentiment should never get in the way of the collective good, but is a friendly against an invitation XV really more important to Scottish rugby than a chance to influence the outcome of the Celtic League?

This article was posted on 23-May-2006, 06:28 by Hugh Barrow.