Johnson Appointment A Coup For SRU

The recent appointment of Ospreys head coach Scott Johnson by the SRU is a significant move in a number of ways.

Firstly, Johnson is a high calibre coach.  Having coached within the Welsh national setup, been the head coach of the US national team and been an assistant coach with his native Australia, Johnson has led a successful spell at the Ospreys since April 2009.

Secondly, it is a strong signal by the SRU of their will to progress and support head coach Andy Robinson following the renewal of his contract after the World Cup.  Robinson will no doubt have played a large part in the apppointment emphasising the mutual respect the Union and he has.

Scott Johnson to join Scotland at the end of the season

Make no mistake, the signing of Johnson is a little bit of a coup for the SRU.  His skills are universally recognised and I'm sure there would have been other suitors willing to pay for his services.  Johnson's first involvement with Scotland will come during the summer tour following the conclusion of the season.

The real effects of his work won't really be seen until the Autumn Internationals in 2012, and I for one am looking forward to seeing the impact ofanother high quality coach is to the Scottish team.

Different Ways Of Investing In The Future

In the last week, both the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Irish Rugby Union (IRFU) have released detailed plans for the future to introduce and nurture new talent within the national setups.  However, both Unions approach the problem of increasing grassroots participation in different ways but both from the top, at the professional level.

Comparing both Unions, they have similar numbers in terms of registered professional players and both countries have 4 professional outfits.  So what are the two adopted strategies?

Let's start with the Welsh.  With full support from the WRU, the Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Blues have united to agree the terms of introducing a £3.5 million salary cap on each region, covering European squads only and excluding development players and academy costs, effective from the 2012/13 season. 

The WRU announced on their website that "...In removing the potential for dramatically increasing salary costs during a time of austerity for both businesses and individuals, the effect of a simple and focused salary cap will be to ensure balanced and sustainable costs...encourag[ing] further emphasis on the evolution of the development pathways".

Encouraging indeed.  There is a clear risk however to the strategy of having a salary cap; that the most valuable Welsh players playing in Wales will be lured elsewhere by higher salaries.  We have already seen the likes of Mike Phillips, James Hook and Lee Byrne moving to the continent to play for French teams in the Top 14 with the enticement of higher incomes.

The WRU intend to review the system on an annual basis to monitor it's effectiveness which strikes me as entirely sensible. The balance will be tricky to get right to avoid an exodus of top players.

Phillips, Byrne & Hook have all exiled to France

Meanwhile in Ireland, the IRFU have announced a series of adjustments of its player contract policy to further the development of Irish players and control the use of foreign players.  The plans, due to be introduced for the 2013/14 season, are geared towards increasing homegrown talent with the ultimate aim of improving the national team.

The clear difference between the two plans is that the Welsh agreement is one that has been generated by the clubs with the national Union in support whilst the Irish Union is the party taking control and imposing changes with apparently little or no consultation with Leinster, Munster, Ulster or Connacht.  This has rubbed certain people the wrong way, not least Leinster's foreign head coach Joe Schmidt. 

Schmidt has made no bones about his opposition to the IRFU revisions insisting that it is a knee-jerk reaction to Ireland's performance in the RWC in New Zealand, where they were knocked out by the Welsh.  He claims that the current setup is clearly sufficient and successful at bringing through young Irish talent in adequate numbers.

It begs the question of whether the roles would be reversed and the WRU would be the ones taking the lead and imposing sanctions on its regions had they had a poor World Cup. I suspect not, but it is worth considering.

Regardless, it strikes me that the Welsh system is the more sustainable longterm.  It is a considered and pragmatic solution to the times we live in, with the flexibility to be altered on an annual basis.  However, the attraction of the big money clubs outside of Wales and Ireland looks set to remain for the foreseeable future. 

Maybe there is a third option - one that has been adopted by New Zealand in recent years and is encouraged in Scotland: If you want to play for your national team, then you need to play for a club that belongs to that country.  Surely that is the ultimate incentive for any player?

Lennon Leads Celtic To The Top

October 15th 2011 is a day that will stick in my memory for a number of reasons.  The first, and clearly the most important is that it was the day I got married. But as I stood there in the church with my new wife, we were getting constant goal updates from Rugby Park where Kilmarnock were taking Celtic apart 3-0 at the halftime mark.

It proved to be a pivotal moment in the first half of the season for Celtic.  Whatever Neil Lennon told his men during that 15 minute break, it worked as Celtic clawed back the deficit to draw the game 3-3.

A point well saved, but certainly 2 points dropped and it dropped Celtic down to a 15 point deficit to league leaders and arch rivals Rangers, with Motherwell even taking the second place spot from the Hoops.

How times have changed.  Wednesday's 1-0 win over Rangers at a blustery Celtic Park completed a comeback that now sees Celtic top the table following a 9 win streak which began with a 2-0 win away at the then second placed Motherwell.  The streak sees Celtic taking 27 points from 9 games having only attained 23 points in the previous 12 games.

Joe Ledley scores the only goal against Rangers

So why the change in form, and more importantly the consistency of that form?

There's no doubt that the overall form of the team is down in large part to the form of individual and key players.  A prime example of one of those players is Georgios Samaras.  The love-hate relationship the Celtic fans have with the Greek is well known.  He often looks to be uninterested in games and so doesn'tinvest himselffully to the Celtic cause to the frustration of the fans, his teammates and the managerial staff.  However Lennon looks to have got h best out of Samaras these last few weeks, resulting in Samaras scoring goals including a brace against Kilmarnock on Christmas Eve.  Samaras goals are collectors items, but more often than not they come in important games.  But more than that is his seemingly renewed enthusiasm for playing the game, and in so doing has forged a strong relationship with striking partner Gary Hooper.

Celtic still have their problems.  I have lost count on the number of different back 4 combinations Lennon has been forced to field as a result of multiple injuries and suspensions.  Wednesday's game saw Thomas Rogne comfortably contain Nikica Jelavic despite a lack of game time this season, and Adam Matthews dominated the right flank on his return from injury.  The versatile Victor Wanyama was again outstanding in midfield after performing brilliantly at centre half against Kilmarnock and looks every bit the seasoned veteran at the age of just 21.

The youth of these players mixed with the tenacity and experience of the excellent Beram Kayal, Joe Ledley and Scott Brown is proving to be a balanced and potent mix for Neil Lennon.

Celtic have clawed their way back to the top of the table for the first time since April and without a consistent defensive lineup and key players like Emilio Izaguirre who is close to his comeback in the New Year.  The future looks bright for the Hoops, and much credit has to go to Neil Lennon and his young coaching team.  There were doubts about his lack of experience and his motivational ability outlasting the initial surge following his arrival late in the 2009-10 season. 

However, having narrowly losing the title by a single point, winning the Scottish Cup and now leading his team through this latest turbulent half of the season, Lennon is looking every bit the accomplished manager and indeed the man for the job at Celtic for the coming seasons.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves though.  There are no prizes for leading the league at New Year and Lennon will be all too aware of the challenge ahead of his team in the first half of 2012.  Let's hope this rich run of form continues to the end of the season.

In the meantime, I'd like to think that my marriage is a good omen for Celtic.

1872 Cup Preview

I cannot remember a time when the anticipation for the upcoming double header between Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby has been so feverish.  Is it because the annual Christmas and New Year event has become more and more established over the last few years?  Is it because the RaboDirect Pro12 is as competitive as it has ever been?

The answer to both is a resounding yes.  But I think that more than either of those is that Scottish rugby, headed by the two professional outfits, is on something of a high at the moment.  Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have won 6 of the last 8 in all competitions and are both still in good positions to achieve reaching the knock-out stages of the European Heineken Cup.

The rugby rivalry has certainly intensified in recent years to add to the plethora of other arguements each city uses against the other for superiority.  However the significance of this brace of fixtures goes beyond claiming bragging rights.  Rather, it goes a long way to securing ever valuable points towards achieving a play-off place in the league.

Can Glasgow Warriors retain the 1872 Cup?

In the past, most games have gone the way of the home team, and so the 1872 Cup has tended to come down to who can win by more at home, with Glasgow winning overall in 3 of the last 4 seasons.  With both teams in such a rich vein of form at the moment, I suspect the same will be true again, but I would have to fancy Glasgow over the course of the two games on Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Not only are Glasgow unbeaten in 7 games in the league, but they have been buoyed by the new signing of Rory Lamont and the announcement that they have secured the signing of his brother and fellow Scotland stalwart Sean from next season.  Added to the encouraging performances in Europe, they go to Murrayfield on the 26th full of confidence.

It's also been a big week for Edinburgh, not least with Chris Paterson (starting at full back) announcing his international retirement.  They also boast the league's top try scorer in Tim Visser who is lethal when given space.

The two ties will also throw up some intriguing match-ups between rivalling Scotland first team contenders, not least between Ross Rennie and John Barclay and a rare contest between first choice Scotland scrumhalves (although I'm sure Rory Lawson would have something to say about that!) Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter.

All-in-all, we await two matches of great intrigue between two teams full of Scottish stars and who play very different styles of rugby.  I would expect that the two games will attract the biggest attendances of the season in Scotland, and perhaps ever in the league in Scotland.  I'm hoping for some entertaining, competitive rugby and of course, ultimately, a Glasgow triumph to retain the 1872 Cup

Cavendish Clinches Sports Personality 2011

It's not often that I predict things right, but the outcome of the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year 2011 award is one I hoped to see and one that I luckily stated in black and white on this very blog.

Mark Cavendish was lost for words as he took to the stage to accept his prize.  The most telling part of his acceptance speech was his modesty and humbleness.  He was very quick to thank his support group and GB teammates who helped him become World Champion and green jersey winner of the Tour de France this year.  He has always maintained that his personal success is built upon the combined efforts of whichever team he cycles within, and Thursday night was no different.

Cavendish's temperament and persona has often been misinterpreted or misconstrued in the past.  He is clearly a very focused athlete who knows his own abilities, and it is this that has seemed to some to come across as some kind of arrogance.  If you were to ask him who the best sprinter in world road cycling is, he would answer 'me'. That isn't arrogance, but an acknowledgement that he is indeed the best, and an understanding that right now he sits on top of the world in his sport.

Tellingly, he also commented in his acceptance how it was fantastic for cycling to be recognised on such a big stage in the company of all the other major sports in the UK, particualary in a non-Olympic year.  His girlfriend Peta Todd commented to the BBC that "I think that probably means more to him than this actual award".

Mark Cavendish accepting his prize on Thursday night

So what has made the public appear to warm to Cavendish and made them realise that his achievements this year rank among the very elite of any sport?

Certainly, the popularity of cycling has increased hugely with the track success that Britain has enjoyed these last few years.  A few of those track stars from previous Olympics and World Championships have now turned to competitive road racing and particularly the Tour de France, such as Bradley Wiggins, Geraint Thomas and Cavendish himself.  With them, they have brought an ever larger British audience. 

It is widely recognised that the annual Tour is one of the most gruelling, or possibly the most gruelling endurance event of any sport on the calendar.  For Cavendish to come through the Tour this year as the first British rider to ever win the green points jersey is simply a phenomenal achievement.

His own public persona seems to be better understood the more the sporting audiences have got to see him both within the sport and outwith it.  For those of you who follow him on Twitter, you would quickly realise he is a dedicated friend and family man.  Indeed, he was quick to thank his girlfriend Peta Todd and mention the upcoming birth of his baby daughter early next year.

A gentle soul, but fiercely driven and competitive to be the best at what he does and never stuck to thank those around him who help him make it possible.

Cavendish won Thursday nights BBC prize with a whopping 49.5% of the public vote.  Second place Darren Clarke got 12.3% and Mo Farah got 8.7% in third.  His landslide victory is testament not only to him as an athlete and what he has achieved this year, but to the audience and interest that he has helped to bring to the sport of cycling.  A very worthy winner indeed.

Suarez Ban Justified

The Football Association last night dished out an 8 match ban and a £40,000 fine to Liverpool's Luis Suarez for racially abusing Patrice Evra of Manchester United.

There has been mixed reaction to the news.  Liverpool issued a formal statement aying it was "very surprised and disappointed" by the FA verdict and punishment, going on to say "We find it extraordinary that Luis can be found guilty on the word of Patrice Evra alone when no-one else on the field of play - including Evra's own Manchester United team-mates and all the match officials - heard the alleged conversation between the two players".

Luis Suarez has 14 days to appeal the FA decision

Regardless of the decision, it was always going to be important what punishment the FA would issue.  The £40,000 is peanuts really, but the 8 match ban is unprecedented, and a lot more severe than most were expecting.  But I feel it is wholly right.

There has been so much talk on this subject throughout this season, with alleged racial abuse taking place on the pitch in at least two games that we know about.  The FA are completely right to take a hard stand on the issue.  Many may argue that they are using Luis Suarez as an example, and that John Terry would never receive such a harsh punishment as he's the national captain.

But we have to believe that the FA would be consistent with any punishment they issue for racially incited abuse on the football pitch and hope that they are in any future cases.

Racial abuse has to be stamped out, and the message needs to be sent to the players that it's completely unacceptable.

Chris Paterson To Retire From Test Rugby

Chris Paterson is expected to announce his retirement from International rugby later this Wednesday.  Before I go any further with this blog on one of Scottish Rugby's greatest servants, let's look at the numbers.

109 international caps for Scotland since his debut in RWC '99.  809 test points scored, highest in Scottish history (22 tries, 90 conversions 3 DG's and 170 penalties).  12 caps as captain of his country.  15 games played in 4 Rugby World Cups.

An incredible achievement indeed.  As a huge fan of Scottish Rugby, I've not always been a fan of Paterson.  I feel he was always a winger; his pace and 7's experience made him perfect for the position.  But all too often he has played at full back where I think he has always been a bit lightweight, never the best defender.

But Paterson has always been an attack minded player.  When he did play at full back, he used the opportunity to employ his natural counter attacking style, a style that suited broken play.  His pace early in his career was refreshing for the Scottish Game, but of all of his many attributes, it will be his goal kicking that he will be remembered for.

Chris Paterson - Mr Reliant at the kicking tee

Paterson became one of the most consistent goal kickers in world rugby.  He successfully kicked 36 consecutive goals for Scotland between 11 August 2007 and 7 June 2008, not missing a single attempt during the 2007 Rugby World Cup or the 2008 Six Nations Championship.  His 809 points eclipses the previous record of 667 held by the legendary Gavin Hastings.

His 109 caps also dominates the previous record of 87 by Scott Murray and his 15 RWC appearances is one more than Doddie Weir's record of 14.

It feels like Paterson has been around forever, but he announces his retirement at the age of 33.  So what has been the key to his longevity?  Certainly, his attitude to rugby has always been first class. He trains hard and well, he has always spent a lot of time working on the basics of the game and works on his weaknesses.  As mentioned, he has never been the strongest defender, but that doesn't mean he won't throw his body on the line for the cause, often causing injury like the impact to his kidney during the first few minutes of his landmark 100th cap in Wales.  His dedication to his country has been unprecedented.

Scottish rugby is losing a true servant, humble and always consummately professional.  World rugby is losing an ambassador for the game.  But I get the feeling that this quiet, unassuming rugby thinker will be back after his playing days with Edinburgh  in some form of role at the SRU.  And well deserved it would be.

A Blessing In Disguise?

In the fallout from Sunday's defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, there seems to be some quite conflicted thoughts coming from the terraces of Lambeau Field.  Would it have been great to get the perfect 16-0 season? Sure.  But there seems to be a rising tide of thought that the weekends result was for the best.

It seems increasingly clear that the Packers fans were waiting for the loss.  The law of averages always meant that the longer the streak went on, the higher the chances of the loss coming along.  The greatest fear of all was that it would come post-season, when there would be everything to lose.  I sense that there is relief from the fans that it has come along at the best time, when the divisional title and the bye for the first round of playoffs have been secured.

But what about Mike McCarthy and his players?  There was certainly no hiding from the facts at Mondays press conference back at Lambeau Field after the game.  McCarthy was clear about the failures of his team and the areas in which they were outplayed.  And let's be clear, had the Chiefs converted more of their offensive drives into touchdowns rather than field goals (Ryan Succup converted 4), the margin of victory would have been far more convincing.

Mike McCarthy - Clear about Packers priorities

I think Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the Packers players will be of course disappointed not to be in the running for the 16-0, but in a way the pressure is now off them and they can start to concentrate on the more immediate and bigger challenges that are coming their way in the post-season.

The Packers have lost some crucial players in the last couple of weeks, not least offensive linemen Bryan Bulaga (knee) and Derek Sherrod (broken leg) who help form that crucial safety net for Rodgers and these injuries at such an important time in the season will start to have an effect on the squad mentality.

But the Packers have been here before.  The defending Superbowl champions won the Vince Lombardi trophy last year with no less than 10 first pick players missing.  Remember also that the Packers lost in Week 15 last season and went on to dominate through the post-season.

The Packers are still big favourites to defend the Superbowl title and confirm themselves as a truly elite team in the annals of NFL history.  But they have a long way to go, especially when you consider the ominous late season form of their fellow NFC rivals like Drew Brees and the Saints and the San Francisco 49ers.

I would love to see the Packers go all the way.  I have a soft spot for this team that is run in a different way to all other US sports franchises - it's owned by the fans.  It has a unique history and support that sets it apart from the rest and is ultimately one of the reasons for it's continued success.  Long may it continue.