Scotland Reveal New Alternative Strip

by Dugald Skene

Scottish Rugby has revealed it's latest alternative strip by Canterbury.  With the upcoming Autumn tests, it's likely to be worn against New Zealand in Scotland's first match on November 11th.

What do you think?

Scotland's new alternative strip design

NFL Week 4: Things That Caught The Eye

by Dugald Skene

By any previous season's standards, the 2012 NFL year has got off to a sensational start and has seen many preseason favourites got off to varying degrees of success and a few of the unfancied sides claim some impressive scalps.

Week 4 has seen the return of the regular NFL officials, and not before time.  Despite some fantastic games, the replacement officials came up short too many times culminating in the terrible decision to award a game winning touchdown to Seattle over the Packers last Monday night.  The NFL saw this as the catalyst to resolve the issues and so we now we are back to normal.

Week 4, like all previous weeks so far, has thrown up some interesting results, but here are a few things that caught my eye over the weekend.

Drew Brees Breaks An 'Unbeatable' Record

The 0-3 New Orleans Saints travelled to Wisconsin to take on Green Bay on Sunday in an effort to stop the rot and prevent them going 0-4.  The Packers themselves were under pressure having lost (controversially or not) 2 of their first 3 games, 2 of them at home.  It may only be Week 4, but this was a must win game for both.

Drew Brees throws himself into the record books

As predicted, the first half was a bit of a shootout between two of the leagues greatest quarterbacks, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers and the Saints' Drew Brees.  And despite the Saints ultimately losing in a tight contest 27-28 after missing a last minute field goal on the third attempt, it was Brees that came away having broken Johnny Unitas' long standing record of throwing a touchdown pass in 46 consecutive games. His pass to Colson in the first quarter was number 47, and adds another remarkable accolade to his already lengthy list.  His team may be struggling without their head coach, but Brees keeps on proving his class.

The Rams Prove Their Home Worth

After clinching their second win of the season last week against the Packers in debatable circumstances, the Seattle Seahawks travelled to St Louis to kick on. But new head coach Jeff Fisher has got his fairly fresh Rams side competing well and home form clearly seems to be a priority for them. 

After beating the Washington Redskins in Week 2 in a high scoring contest, the Rams were at it again, this time using a little nouse to out-fox a stubborn Seahawks defence with a clever dummy play from a field goal set up to throw to a wide open Danny Amendola in the end zone.  The touchdown proved the difference as the rams ran out 13-19 winners.  No one will fancy going to St Louis this season.

Texans Continue To Show How It's Done In The AFC

Coming into Week 4, the Houston Texans were the only NFL team to rank in the top 10 on total defence and total offence.  On paper, they are the best team in the league.  Backing that up by being the only AFC team witha 3-0 record, the Texans entertaineda Tennessee Titans side buoyant from their high scoring win over the Detroit Lions in Week 3.

The Titans were brought down to earth, with a thump.  This was literally the case for starting QB Jake Locker who fell awkwardly after being hit, damaging his left shoulder and leaving the game after the first quarter.  Experienced stand in Matt Hasselbeck is far from the worst replacement quarterback in the league, but his lack of match time was clear against such an aggressive Texans defence. 

Texans linebacker JJ Watt was outstanding once again

JJ Watt was once again outstanding and for me, is the best linebacker in the league at the moment.  On the other side of the ball, Arian Foster had another solid rushing performance and Andre Johnson was superb again at wide receiver.  The Texans ran out 14-38 winners to go 4-0 in the league, a record for the young franchise.

Eagles Show Their Potential

The late kick off on Sunday night saw the Eagles welcome divisional rivals the New York Giants to Philadelphia.  With both teams on a 2-1 record coming into this, a win would be crucial for either with playoff aspirations in this incredibly tight division.

It was the Eagles that grabbed the initiative with accident prone QB Michael Vick having his best game of the season so far.  His offensive line protected him better than previous weeks, not something too hard to achieve given the number of times Vick has been hit so far, 78 times in 3 games.  Despite a late rally from Eli Manning and the Giants in the fourth quarter, the Eagles held out to record an impressive 17-19 victory.  The Eagles now go to 3-1, the Giants to 2-2.  With the Redskins winning to go 2-2 and the Cowboys looking to go 2-2 on Monday night, the NFC East is looking every bit as tight as we hoped preseason.

The Cardinals & Falcons Keep On Winning

Both NFC teams the Cardinals and the Falcons waon last night in games that saw both almost lose out on going to 4-0 for the start of the season.  For Atlanta, it was an up and down performance against the up and down team of the league, divisional rivals the Carolina Panthers.  The 28-30 win sees them go to 4-0 for the first time since 2004.

In Arizona, it was a Miami team that is making a habit of making a pest of themselves that drove the Cardinals to overtime but only after Arizona QB Kevin Kolb mustered up two touchdown strikes in the fourth quarter.  It was Jay Feely who slotted the 47 yard field goal in ovretime after Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill was picked off in overtime by Kerry Rhodes.  Despite a very average 3 and a bit quarters from Kolb, the Cardinals have mastered a way to get the job done.  That's now 11 wins from the last 13 games.

Cedric Benson Provides Packers A Much Needed Running Option

The Packers are a passing team, that much we know, and with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, who would blame them?  But the effectiveness of the Packers offence became all the more potent as Cedric Benson produced his best performance of the season to provide a rushing option that has been so lacking for a slightly one dimensional Packers offence.  His running with and without the ball meant the Saints defence was exposed at times and allowed Rodgers and co to capitalise.  A fine performance that head coach Mike McCarthy will be looking to see improve in coming games.

Despite only 84 yards from 18 attempts, Benson provided the impetus

for the Packers 27-28 victory over the Saints

NFL Needs Officials Back Before Someone Gets Hurt

by Dugald Skene

It has been an outstanding start to the 2012 NFL season, with the first 48 fixtures throwing up more than its fair share of thrills and spills.

But the season so far has been dominated not by the plays or the touchdowns, but the officiating of the games.  The NFL is still in a lockout with the regular NFL standard officials and there doesn't seem to be any sign of the dispute being resolved until at least Week 5.

In the meantime, games are suffering for poor and lengthy decision making.  The first half of the Denver Broncos at Atlants Falcons game last Monday for example took a full 2 hours, around 45 minutes longer than usual due to the prolonged periods of review, and the sheer number of reviews required by the more inexperienced officials.

The effects of lengthy games are more tedious than any. It's the calls that are made that are wrong that are causing the real problems.  Things seemed to come to a head last night as the final play of the Packers at Seattle game came down to a 60 yard 'Hail Mary' pass from Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, lofted into the end zone in a 'hit and hope' effort.  The ball came down and appeared to be caught by defensive Packer MD Jennings, with Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate appearing to miss out as his hand came down on the ball, but not in control of it.

NFL's replacement officials have been dropping the ball in

more ways than one



The two officials on the scene gave conflicting signals, one indicating a Seahawks touchdown, one an interception. After a lengthy review and multiple replays, the score stood, and the Seahawks took the game 12-14 and relegated the Green Bay Packers to a second loss of the season.

This is probably the highest profile bad decision made so at, but there will be others.  And it seems the players are catching on to the opportunity to take liberties and play on the replacement officials inexperience at this elite level.  We've seen bad tackles and hits that have beggered belief, most notably the shocking and illegal hit on Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub by Broncos linebacker Joe Mays, who has since been fined $50,000 and suspended for only one game by the NFL, small change in reality.

With such a focus on player safety, it's contradictory that the league refuses to ban players for longer rather than fine them for committing potentially career ending tackles. Luckily, Matt Schaub got away with a cut ear and somehow only missed out on one play.

These high profile and dangerous tackles are one thing, but petulance also seems to be setting in, with lots of small scraps and fracases happening around the field with the knowledge the officials don't have the authority they are necessarily used to having to cut them out on the field of play.  Players are taking advantage of the replacement officials, and whether it be dangerous tackles, petty scraps or just bad decision making, it is harming the game and the precious reputation of the sport.

While they may be discipline players for dangerous plays, the NFL has come out and backed the decisions made by the replacement officials, but of course they would.  They can't be seen to be standing opposed to the men tasked with holding the fort while they are still at loggerheads with the people that are supposed to be on the field.

The sooner the usual officials are back, the better it will be for everyone; players, coaches and fans alike.

Non-Selection Of Fit Players Only Goes To Hurt The National Game

by Dugald Skene

Tim Visser, the Edinburgh and Scotland winger, and top try scorer in the RaboDirect Pro12 this season, confirmed on Twitter on Friday that he was not going to be playing for Edinburgh in their league clash away to European Champions Leinster in Dublin.

Visser wasn't injured, it was a decision taken by the coaching staff not to take him to Edinburgh.

It is exactly this kind of decision, however, that baffles me in any sport, not just rugby. Tim Visser represents the real strike threat in the Edinburgh back line, having scored 6 tries in 3 games, and yet it has been decided not to take him to one of the hardest places to play rugby in Europe, a place where his ability to make a difference in a game could be all the more important.

Not only this, but tough rugby tests against the likes of Leinster represent the exact sort of game to stretch players of quality in an effort to improve.

Leinster beat Edinburgh 22-16 in a hard fought game

Many see Visser as an automatic selection for Scotland in the autumn tests coming up in 6 weeks, and based on current form, rightly so.  However, I struggle to see the benefits both for Edinburgh and Scotland by not fielding a player of his quality in the big league games.  They can only go help to improve their game and strengthen their resolve in the tightest of game scenarios.

So why leave Visser out? Are Edinburgh 'saving' him in an effort to concentrate more on European competition?

This raises a deeper question that has been discussed at length in European rugby - why should all teams represented in the multinational RaboDirect automatically be eligible for the Heineken Cup, the premier European club competition?

The Welsh Rugby Union took the decision last season to only allow the 3 highest ranked teams from their 4 professional outfits in the league to qualify for the Heineken Cup. It's a start, but in my opinion, it's not enough.  I believe in the proposed system that each country represented in the league should allow half of their teams in the league to qualify, based on where they finish relative to each other in the league. This would mean that a team like Edinburgh, who quite deliberately concentrated on their run in the Heineken Cup over their aspirations in the league last season, would not have qualified this season over their rivals Glasgow Warriors who finished in the top 4 of the league.

All this means that only 2 Welsh, 2 Irish, 1 Scottish and 1 Italian team would qualify from the Rabo Direct Pro12.

It would also provide incentive for the teams competing in the league to play their best players in every game they are available in an effort to achieve European qualification.  The net effect on the league would be increased competitiveness, a resultant increase in quality and ultimately revenue for all the teams.

As the league provides the majority of players for their respective nations of Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy, increased competitiveness in the league would raise the standard of quality of player, and no one could deny that would ultimately benefit the national teams.

Leaving out your best players in big games when they are available to play only goes to emphasise the complacency of teams in a system that allows them to play in the biggest European competition, even if they come bottom of the league.  Something has to change, and I can only see the league and the national unions treating the Heineken Cup as an exclusive competition and restricting access to those who deserve it on merit being the way forward.

The Skene Skrum Joins Facebook

by Dugald Skene

The Skene Skrum has a new Facebook page! Track it down or follow the link here and click 'like' to keep up to date with everything going on here at the blog, and to get extra videos and links to some other interesting blogs that have caught the eye.

Third Time Lucky For Warriors

by Dugald Skene

Glasgow Warriors have won for the first time this season, beating the RaboDirect Pro12 champions the Ospreys in Swansea 28-10.

The game was a story of defensive resolve from the Warriors, a familiar tale from last season when the Scots built their season on a tight defensive game.  The effort was epitomised by the Glasgow back row, led by the outstanding Chris Fusaro with cohorts James Eddie and John Barclay who outplayed their revered Osprey counterparts.  Fusaro in particular made a constant nuisance of himself, constantly involved at the breakdown.  Glasgow's tackle count outnumbered the Ospreys by 4:1.

To win though requires scoring and Glasgow took their opportunities when they presented themselves. And it was quite a gift they got as the Ospreys gave away the ball in the Warriors 22, gifted a loose pass to DTH van der Merwe who ran in from 80 yards to capitalise.  Glasgows possession play was considered if a little conservative, but ultimately successful.

Man of the match Chris Fusaro went over the line for Glasgow following some persistent forward play to give the Warriors a 15-0 lead at half time, the extras added by Duncan Weir.

The second half saw a resurgent effort from the Ospreys, but Glasgow continued their defensive effort, resisting waves of Welsh pressure. In a rare second half break into Ospreys territory, scrum half Rhys Webb was judged to deliberately pat down a Glasgow pass, earning him a 10 minute cool off in the sin bin.  Weir slotted the resultant penalty to take the Warriors 18-0 up.

The reduction in personnel seemed to galvanise the Ospreys as they launched another sustained foray into the Glasgow 22. Relentless pressure started to show as Glasgow began to infringe at the break down, James Eddie being judged the guilty party as the referee had seen one hand too many in the ruck. Both teams were down to 14 men for a few minutes.

Ospreys made the most of it, Dan Biggar converting the penalty from the breakdown offence and then scoring in the corner as the Ospreys attack stretched the resilient Glasgow defence to breaking point.

18-10, and the game was suddenly a lot tighter as the Ospreys were restored to their full complement. However, against the odds,  Glasgow repelled again, forcing their way down to the other end of the pitch to see DTH van der Merwe crash over the line with the help of some of his forwards. The decision went to the TMO but it was a clear cut decision. Glasgow had restored their 2 try advantage and stretched it to 15 points as Duncan Weir stuck over the conversion.

With 15 minutes to go, it was all Ospreys as they kept knocking on the Glasgow door.  But Glasgow stood firm in typically stoic fashion, either forcing Ospreys to make mistakes or backwards towards their own line.  A late scramble up the pitch saw Glasgow get another penalty, made all the easier with an extra 10 yards after Ospreys captain Alun Wyn-Jones made himself a little too outspoken to the referee's mind.

A fantastic win for Glasgow, tarnished only by the news that Scotland international Chris Cusiter went off with a nasty injury in the first half, an injury that may see him out for weeks if not months.

After two losses at Ulster and at home in their new stadium at Scotstoun to the Dragons, teams Glasgow would be expecting to beat, an away trip to Ospreys would have been considered the toughest of the 3 on paper.  But Gregor Townsends men have defied the odds and notch up their first win of the season, a win that should provide plenty of impetus going forward.

Can Cavendish & Co Repeat World Success?

by Dugald Skene

UK Cycling has announced the team bidding to defend the road race title at the World Championships next week in the Netherlands.

Included are Cavendish, Cummings, Dowsett, Froome, Rowe, Stannard, Swift, Tiernan-Locke, Wiggins

Mark Cavendish clinches the World title in Copenhagen in 2011

Perhaps the most surprising news in the omission of Geraint Thomas from the 9 man squad. Despite a successful Olympics for the Welshman, I can't help but feel his decision to opt out of the Tour de France with team Sky, also directed by UK boss Dave Brailsford, has counted against him.  That said, he has plenty of road racing experience and he'll no doubt be devastated by the news.

Cavendish is the reigning champion, the UK's first for 42 years when he won in Copenhagen last year, and the British team will be going in full of confidence after a prolific year for UK cycling.  With the setback of failure in the Olympic road race, they will no doubt be looking to make amends this time around.

With the calibre in their team, it would be foolish to bet against them.

Scotland Draw Again To Leave Uphill Battle

by Dugald Skene

Scotland have come away from their Hampden double header with only 2 points garnered from matches against opposition that they should be beating at home.  Serbia and Macedonia aren't the strongest in the group, and with Belgium and Croatia still to come, Scotland have it all to do in Group A.

Shaun Maloney competes for the ball in an

often outgunned Scottish midfield

Many of the questions over the performance, attitude and execution centre on manager Craig Levein. His 4-1-4-1 formation at home is negative, despite his insistence that 3 of the midfield 4 are attack minded players. Lone striker Kenny Miller isn't the chase-anything player he was and clearly struggled. Never blessed with the best first touch, he is rendered redundant when he has his back to goal and only poses any kind of  threat when the ball is played ahead of him.

The strategy to revert to a standard 4-4-2 only when under the cosh seems like immature management, especially after it happened in the first game against Serbia.  Levein will no doubt defend himself by saying that the decision to throw on Jordan Rhodes came 17 minutes earlier than it did on Saturday, but it doesn't defend the decision to play the starting formation to begin with.

Scotland now have time to reflect on their two draws.  The calls to fire Levein may be premature, but he needs to affect the mentality currently in place in the squad and coaching staff.  Some would argue he had his chance during the last qualifying campaign and that this was the time to adopt the lessons learnt then.

Scotland may only be 2 points behind Serbia, Belgium and Croatia, the latter two of which drew on Tuesday night, but there is such an emphasis to win at home particularly against those around you in the group. Put it this way; I'd rather have Macedonia's single point having played two away games than Scotland's brace after two home games.

Not only will Scotland have to rely on their unreliable away form, but more likely on the results of others in the group. Nothing is impossible, and all hope is not lost, but Scotland have got off to a poor start, and they'll need to pick it up if they harbour any aspirations to qualify for Brazil.  Next up, Wales.