THE HERALD REPORTS

Joining the family business
KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer November 08 2006
Full XVs will be available to both sides should a celestial Dads v Lads Scotland international be played after Saturday, when John and Johnnie Beattie join the 14 other father/son combinations to have represented the country.
The unique aspect for the Beatties is that both face a particularly public challenge when seeking to keep emotions in check. While the youngster attempts to focus on beating Romania, the old man must tell the world – or at least those tuned to BBC Scotland – how he is doing it. It could be a tough day for someone who played so much rugby at the very highest level and has been paid small fortunes for offering his opinion on the sport.
"It will be challenging and it would probably be easier to be in the stands sharing the experience with the family, but you have to make a living," quipped a man who won 25 caps and had three tours of duty with the British & Irish Lions, but has never been more proud.
Beattie Sr hopes his professionalism will meet the task, admitting the biggest danger us being over-critical in trying to be seen as fair.
The younger Beattie, confined to training camp, will at least escape what might have been a relentless supply of tips and pointers. "He tries not to, but he does," he replied to dad's plea of not guilty to the charge of offering unsolicited advice. "98% of it is pretty useful, as good as having another coach."
Beattie also wryly observed that knowing dad's penchant for "a wee scoop" he took a calculated risk when telling him last week of his selection. When scrupulously avoiding the subject as he interviewed Frank Hadden, Scotland's coach, last weekend Beattie Sr was among the few in the Scottish rugby media not to predict openly that his boy would play. In terms of any conflict of interest, family loyalty rightly outweighed all else.
While the younger Beattie has grown up knowing famous rugby names as family friends, he refreshingly admitted that among the most important aspects of being taken on tour to South Africa last summer was overcoming a sense of awe when training with the likes of Jason White.
A 14-year-old in the Murrayfield grandstand the day White made his debut as the Calcutta Cup was won in 2000, Beattie was a spectator once more when the Sale Sharks flanker picked up the trophy as Scotland captain this year.
"It was strange months down the line to be sitting alongside him in that changing room," he said. "Going out there, though, you realise everybody's human and they are all just young boys like yourself and you can compete. That's the big thing. Once you get involved you realise you can do a job with them."
Like Beattie, fellow debutant Rob Dewey has shown a healthy on-field disregard for reputations by banging in tries before and after suffering two major shoulder injuries. He gets the chance to add to a burgeoning reputation.
So too, it seems, will at least one more debutant. This became clear when Jim Hamilton, the lock who chose Scotland over England, avoided one potential banana skin before slipping on another.
When asked if he had ensured he knew the words to the anthem, Hamilton hinted he would get on from the bench. "There are no problems with the anthem. I'm more worried about the song you have to sing after the game," he said, referring to the traditional role played by debutants in the post-match sing-song.
The 22-man nature of the modern game is such that the lock could be forgiven such presumption, particularly given his rate of progress.
He has also had much to deal with in making his decision, including a difficult conversation with John Wells, formerly head coach at his club Leicester, when telling England's disappointed forwards' coach that he had to go where his heart lies.

This article was posted on 8-Nov-2006, 07:38 by Hugh Barrow.