SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS

Best of the bunch
IAIN MORRISON
THE last regular round of Premier One action took place yesterday afternoon and the thoughts of the club players inevitably turn to the \"amateur\" international taking place against Ireland on Friday March 9, ahead of the main Murrayfield clash.

The event is due to take place at Boroughmuir\'s spanking new Meggetland ground, although it is a pity that the pitch fails to match the off-field facilities. The Scotland team is to be coached by Dundee\'s Ian Rankin, who has already learned some valuable lessons from last year\'s encounter.

\"There was an agreement between the two unions as to how much preparation time each team was allowed but the Irish just did what they wanted. They had a warm-up match and we didn\'t so perhaps we were a bit naive. We are just looking for a level playing field.\"

Rankin can scour the Premier League for his players but they must be qualified to play for Scotland and they cannot have played at full international or A international level. Furthermore, anyone who has played full-time professional rugby within the last three years is excluded but apprentices are eligible, provided they are not required for Scotland age-group or sevens duty... clear?

Rankin\'s problems when selecting the side are not entirely unlike Hadden\'s in that the \"amateur\" side, a term he dislikes because it is simply inaccurate, is short of midfielder and front row options. However, while Hadden is awash with locks, Rankin may be tempted to delve into Premier Two rugby to find a lineout specialist.

WINGS: The coach\'s problems in choosing his wingers are the sort that everyone wants; he has any number of options available to him. Mark Robertson starred in this fixture last year but the Melrose man has been playing sevens this season and Rankin may look instead to Heriots\' Marc Teague or Hawks\' Max Evans to fill one wing slot. Boroughmuir\'s Rory Couper should play on the left wing.

FULLBACK: Couper\'s team-mate Ross Cook could get the nod, although Rankin may spring a surprise and select the gifted Andrew Skeen of Watsonians who has impressed this season despite not starting in recent weeks for his club side.

CENTRES: Rankin only has to find one man, since John Houston of Heriot\'s should be one of the first names the coach writes on his team list, but choosing who to play alongside the classy midfielder poses problems. Currie\'s Andy McMahon runs straight and hard but Doug Brown of Watsonians, Jamie Murray of Melrose and Graham Thomson of Dundee, brother of Glasgow hooker Fergus, all have their backers.

HALFBACKS: AJ McFarlane should get selected ahead of another Malleny man in Richard Sneddon but who partners the Ayr scrum-half remains in doubt. Michael Adamson would do the job but he is likely to be on sevens duty in which case team-mate Murray Strang is one option, Watsonians\' James Easton another.

BACK ROW: As always there is an abundance of breakaways for Rankin to mull over, with Tam McVie, Mark Cairns and Greg Francis all sure to get a mention. However, those three might be pipped by Angus Martyn and Roddy Deans if Rankin opts for mobility. Ross Weston remains the likeliest candidate to give the side some go-forward from No.8.

SECOND ROW: Ayr\'s Damien Kelly should get the No.4 berth but Rankin may be tempted to go down one division to find his main lineout man. Richard Maxton has been on good form for Hamilton and Bruce McFarlane has never let anyone down at Bridgehaugh. Currie skipper Andy Adam is on the small side but athletic for all that.

PROPS: The front row looks a lot healthier if Aberdeen\'s very own lump of granite, Moray Low, is available to stretch the No.3 shirt, which may allow Hawick\'s Bruce MacNeil another run at loosehead. Currie\'s Steve MacEwan could have been in the mix but he is injured and will struggle for match fitness even if he recovers in time. Watsonians\' Kian Coetzee has been in Scotland four years now so, if his South African antecedents are not held against him, he too may feature in discussions.

HOOKER: In between these two, the hooker\'s spot should come down as a straight fight between Melrose\'s Wayne Mitchell and Steve Lawrie of Watsonians, who earned a start with Edinburgh yesterday. Outside of these two, Rankin may spring a surprise with Aberdeen\'s promising apprentice Sean Crombie.

Warning: the following selection may bear absolutely no likeness to the eventual team.

Possible Club International XV: 15 Ross Cook (Boroughmuir); 14 Rory Couper (Boroughmuir), 13 Jamie Murray (Melrose), 12 John Houston (Heriot\'s), 11 Max Evans; 10 Murray Strang (both Glasgow Hawks), 9 AJ McFarlane (Ayr); 1 Bruce McNeil (Hawick), 2 Wayne Mitchell (Melrose), 3 Moray Low (Aberdeen GSFP), 4 Damien Kelly (Ayr), 5 Richard Maxton (Hamilton), 6 Roddy Deans (Heriot\'s), 7 Angus Martyn (Boroughmuir), 8 Ross Weston (Currie).

This article was posted on 14-Jan-2007, 09:09 by Hugh Barrow.