hope this goes well.
I have no doubt
everything possible is
being done to create the best
opportunity for success. But I
still feel I need to hope rather
than expect.
The schedule of four Tests to
prepare for the Rugby World
Cup is like playing the Group
Stage before arriving for the
Group Stage! France and
Georgia will pose immense
physical challenges. I hope
Scotland arrive in Japan with
the strongest squad, no one
watching at home with their
leg in a brace, arm in a sling
or lump on their heid thinking,
‘wish I was there’. I’ve never
missed a Rugby World Cup
due to injury (I have been
overlooked for selection a few
times), but I bet it’s a horrible
feeling.
Playing in big club games
and internationals must be
a phenomenal feeling, but
a Rugby World Cup must be
very special. It must be a fine
balance, play well and play
hard to make the squad, but not
too hard that something hurts
really badly.
I have no idea what selection
Gregor and his team will make
for the preparation tests. four
games in four weeks, two
away trips and the last game
two weeks and a long flight
before playing Ireland in the
BIG game of the group is a
taxing schedule. The 31 who
land in Japan will certainly have
earned the right to be there.
I’m excited to see who Gregor
goes for in the back line and
where he puts them. Hogg is
one of only a few guarantees
in the strongest XV. I would
love to see him and his protégé
Darcy together in the back
field. I would be excited to
see Blair Kinghorn join them,
but they would need to see
the ball early and not just
when its kicked to them. Now
throw in Tommy Seymour
and Sean Maitland! It means
there will be combinations to
be looked at and form, rather
than reputation, becomes
crucial. Who starts at 9??!!!
That discussion could fill a
few SCRUM Magazines alone!
I’m pleased to say it’ll mean a
role for all three and a chance
for Greg to move beyond the
Australia hangover from four
years ago. Delighted to see
Handsome Huw back and
I hope he fires along with
Duncan Taylor who must be
due some time without injury.
I hope.
I hope this World Cup gives
Stuart McInally the chance to
show he is the best hooker inthe world. Because he is. The
competition and combinations
in the front eight are going to
be very interesting to watch.
The dilemma is not just who
plays, but who plays in what
position! I hope Gregor gets it
right and the players make his
decisions very difficult.
I love the World Cup. All eyes
on the game. Heroes made.
I was at every home game in
1991 and still hurt the semi loss.
I was spoilt from the Grand
Slam win the year before and
expected rather than hoped.
Not very Scottish of me. I
loved 1995 when Jonah made
everything bigger. And Nelson
too. I lived in Hong Kong and
watched through my fingers
when Jonny dropped ‘that’
goal. I hoped Australia scored
again. I don’t blame the English
for banging on about 1966
or 2003, I won the Scottish
Schools Cup in 1997 in front
of a few hundred folk without
Ian Robertson commentating
and I talk about it most days.
And I remember when Beaver
answered the call in 2011 to
become the hero in Black and
then DC got to sign off in style
with his mate Richie by his
side four years ago. This year I
reckon Japan are going to go
crazy. Its going to be great to
watch. I hope.This is a funny old time in
these parts. The season
should be getting started for
everyone, but its only kicking
off in Clubland. I hope clubs
can thrive in this period, make
yourself known, invite members
and their friends and families
and strangers and old members
and ex-players and school kids
and cater for them all! Get them
on the touchline supporting in
the better weather (???!!!), get
them in the clubhouse enjoying
the buzz, get the BBQ on and
sing some songs and hold a
great raffle, have a fancy dress
and touch tournament, put the
internationals on the big screen
and sell them all tickets to a
themed event to get them all
back again! AND PLAYERS! Get
to training, pay your subs and
get ready for some of the best
times of your life. Don’t look up
and out, look in at what you’ve
got, be grateful and ask not
what your club can do for you,
but what you can do for your
club. Remember that coach or
teacher, parents or pal that told
you ‘the more you put in, the
more you get out’? Well they
are right. Make this the season
you put in more and see what
happens. After all...Happiness is Egg ShapedI
BRUCE AITCHISON
@happyeggshaped
I HOPE...
CLUB RUGBY
ISSUE 116 2019 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • 151