THE SCOTSMAN OBSERVES



Published Date: 28 March 2009
CONSIDER these line-ups. In the left corner: Leicester, Harlequins, Gloucester, Bristol, Saracens, Newcastle, London Irish, Exeter Chiefs, Sale Sharks, Leeds. In the right corner: Stirling County, Durham University/Edinburgh Accies, Aberdeen GSFP, Leeds University, Northumbria University, Glasgow Hawks, Loughborough University, Boroughmuir, Heriot's, Bridgewater, Glasgow Warriors, Watsonians.
These were the clubs represented by the 30 players who started the England v Scotland Under-20 international last week. If it had been a boxing match, the Board of Control would probably have refused to permit it to go ahead.

One intends no disrespect to the Scottish players or to their clubs when remarking that this was scarcely an even contest. Thirteen of the starting English XV were professionals from the Guinness Premiership; only one of the Scotland team – the captain Richie Gray – is attached to a professional club, and he, I believe, has scarcely, at the age of 19, played more than half-an-hour for the Warriors. In contrast, though only a handful of the English players have had a number of games in the Premiership, they are all following professional conditioning and training programmes, and playing in the competitive Premiership reserve league.

It says a lot for the enthusiasm, determination and skill of the Scottish team that they made a good match of it and were at one stage within a few points of pulling off a win. But for most of the game the English team was manifestly stronger, faster and more skilful. It could scarcely be otherwise.

There are good players in that Scottish team, some of whom will gain professional contracts and perhaps go on to play in the Six Nations.. Nevertheless the disparities noted above demonstrate just why we are struggling to cling to our place in the upper reaches of the international game. It is no exaggeration to say that in terms of development – physical, technical and mental – the English boys are probably two or three years ahead of ours. Furthermore, with only two professional teams here, opportunities for young players to advance are inevitably limited, and the situation is made worse still by the fact that Edinburgh and Glasgow cannot give their young recruits and fringe players much in the way of meaningful and fiercely competitive rugby. It's therefore probable that a considerable number of youngsters capped at age-group level will never be given the best chance of fulfilling their potential.

The problem is acute, and particularly so in specialist positions. Take number 10 for example. There are four fly-halves playing professional rugby here, five if you include the versatile Colin Gregor. Dan Parks remains first choice at Glasgow, Phil Godman at Edinburgh. Parks's international career may be over. Godman has played throughout the Six Nations. He has had a couple of good matches and done many good things without being wholly convincing. But at the moment there is no challenger, because young Ruaraidh Jackson is playing 12 for Glasgow while David Blair's development has stalled in his two years at Edinburgh, probably because he has had insufficient game-time. We need to broaden the base, but it is difficult to see how this is to be done, or indeed that there is any will to try to do so. It's unlikely in the present state of the economy that anyone is going to come forward with a credible offer to finance a third pro team. Meanwhile, the powers that be at the SRU appear content with only two teams, because their first concern is with the Union's financial position. They have been successful in improving this, but there is no sign that they are ready or willing to invest in expansion. So, when the present generation of international players moves on, will there be a sufficient number of replacements ready? If a young player came to you saying he had been approached by Edinburgh (or Glasgow) and by an English Premiership club, what advice would you offer, given the state of the game and the restricted opportunities here? In his own interest you might well say, "Go south, young man", because, even if he didn't break into the first XV quickly, he would still be playing regularly at a demanding and competitive level; would therefore be more likely to develop. This is not a healthy position for the game here.

Much of the discussion about Frank Hadden's position as national coach seems to be based on the unrealistic assumption that responsibility for our poor international record lies wholly with him, and that a change of coach would almost automatically effect a miraculous improvement. Yet, given the fundamental weaknesses of the professional game in Scotland – weaknesses reflected in the repeated failure of Edinburgh and Glasgow to match the Heineken and Magners achievements of their Irish and Welsh rivals (despite the occasional splendid result) – it is probable that no change of coach will bring about a sustained improvement.

In short, until we contrive to broaden the base of the professional game and give real opportunities to young players comparable to those enjoyed by their rivals we will continue to struggle. There will be the occasional victory won against the odds, but defeats will remain more common.

This article was posted on 28-Mar-2009, 08:19 by Hugh Barrow.