THE HERALD REPORTS

Investment in current Scottish international players represents such poor value for money that the time has come to sell off all the most-prized homegrown assets to the highest bidder.

It seems that is the conclusion the businessmen at Murrayfield are beginning to come to and not just the new private owners of Edinburgh.

The past couple of weeks have produced a near reversal of the "Fortress Scotland" policy introduced under Matt Williams three years ago. Frank Hadden, who took over from the Australian as Scotland coach, has taken a less rigid view, but still wants the bulk of his international squad to play in Scotland.

That would be exactly the right approach if, like the Irish and Welsh provinces, there was sufficient money to do that while generating the strength in depth required to be competitive, but everyone knows Scottish rugby is in desperate financial straits.

Is it not better, then, to let big clubs and provinces in England, France, Ireland and Wales pick up the tab for players who spend half their time on international duty, while concentrating Scottish money on players who will be available week-in, week-out?

Hadden's position is entirely understandable because logistically it will be extremely difficult for him to keep tabs on players who are spread all over Europe. Yet of those who are moving or have been the subject of speculation - namely Dave Callam, Chris Cusiter, Simon Danielli, Rob Dewey, Ally Hogg, Scott Lawson, Rory Lamont, Ben MacDougall, Euan Murray, Scott Murray and Simon Taylor - should be certainties to go to this year's World Cup. In other words, for the first three months of next season whoever pays their wages will see nothing of them. Furthermore in a tournament of such intensity there is the prospect they will come home injured, exhausted or both.

It is not ideal to let leading players go, but there is no ideal in the current financial situation. It is all about the least damaging option.

Professional rugby in Scotland is suffering a slow death, with minimal interest from crowds and abysmal performance on the field. The weekend's sequence of defeats suffered by the three pro teams was by no means the first time that has happened.

Following the home reverse to the Ospreys second team Lynn Howells, the Welshman who coaches Edinburgh, praised Duncan Hodge for the guidance he is giving a youthful side but noted that he cannot do it on his own. There is a need to recruit experienced leaders.

With the best will in the world, Scotland players focused on salvaging their Six Nations Championship campaign and looking ahead to the World Cup, have other priorities. Howells knows some big name players, like the Ospreys' Justin Marshall, must be recruited, but they are more valuable to him and the marketing men if, like the former All Black scrum-half, they have big reputations but have quit the Test scene.

Consequently he indicated the big-name signings may not be made until after the World Cup, normally a time when a number of established southern hemisphere stars decide it is time for their personal European tours.

Ask most Edinburgh fans who their favourite player has been down the years and a majority will probably say Todd Blackadder. One of the few times in history that the Border Reivers have managed to get a crowd was when an overweight Jonah Lomu turned up for Cardiff last season. By contrast no-one in their right minds would say the expensive recruitment in the twilight of their careers of local boys Gregor Townsend, Doddie Weir and even Gary Armstrong - arguably Scotland's greatest ever player - has produced any sort of return on investment for the SRU in their forlorn bid to stimulate interest in Borders.

Scottish supporters are more excited by foreign glamour than the very best homegrown talent. Even ahead of the World Cup there is nothing to prevent Edinburgh from bringing in strong characters who can help the youngsters along, however, particularly if money has been released by letting some costly Scotland players go.

On Friday evening, Howells pretty much cited the Ospreys as role models for Edinburgh, a province that has grown in strength to the extent that they now boast a strong nucleus of Welsh internationals, some quality overseas talent, substantial developing local talent and enormous strength in depth.

He reckons it has taken a side that gets money from the Welsh Rugby Union, private backers and big crowds, three years to reach that position. While that could be countered by noting that they won the Magners League two seasons ago it is only this season that they have begun to make progress in Europe.

For Edinburgh the next couple of seasons will probably be about building their squad, looking to build consistency through performance in the Magners League while developing their commercial strength.

At some stage the ideal of having competitive professional teams that can develop young talent and make sure the international squad is kept at home as the Scotland management want them to be can be attained.

Meantime a choice has to be made and it is all about value for money.

9:34pm today



By KEVIN FERRIE, Chief Rugby Writer

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This article was posted on 5-Mar-2007, 08:15 by Hugh Barrow.