Wilbach has managed to get permission from Senior Management to attend, with his bruzzah-in-luh, French Pierre, Blues v Edinburgh Gunners....
That should read Edinburgh Gunners v Blues as it will be in Murrayfield!
We are visiting his family here in Scotland and enjoying the Scottish lifestyle (hat, coat, scarf, snood, muff, galoshes, willywarmer etc. etc.). It is Cold here and My Battered Knee* doesn't like it one bit.
I want you all to watch out for me and him and wave at the TV if you see us, ok? I look like a cross between Ben Elton and Baldric, and Pierre looks… well, French, really.
Now, this may seem a daft little thing to request – ‘…if you see us on TV…’ – but the record Scots attendance is just a wee tad over 5,800 for the H-cup games which tend to draw bigger crowds than The Cider Sides. So, really, you may well see Me and The Big Man on Scrum V.
Now then, the strength of rugby in Scotland is always relatively parlous, and with the introduction of regions and a rugby-politico balls up of almost Welsh proportions recently battering the game, it continues to struggle.
Welsh rugby could learn something here, though: Even created or manufactured regions can start to work if the nettle is grasped firmly without wincing or crying "no-no-no-ow-ow-ow-that-hurts-mummy-make-it-stop-i-don't-like-it."
In terms of true regionalisation, the NSO have done best (and well done indeed in doing a number on the Aussies!), the Turks started out ok but have got more pressing problems now and, quite frankly, The CARDIFFblues and The NEWPORTgwentdragons were (and for the most part still are) narrow-minded city-centrics.
My thoughts:
Blues – drop the 'Cardiff' and move to a new stadium.
Gwent Dragons – drop the 'Newport' and, err, move to a new stadium.
If they both do that, they stand a slim chance of surviving as, and when, the Regions become franchise based and open to bids.
To use a good little buzz-phrase I intend using a great deal
If you only do what you done, you’ll only get what you got
Change, guys!
Right, so wish me luck in:
finding the bludi place first,
getting in in time,
cheering on my nominal region to victory.
It is a tricky and cold place to come, Scotland, so be careful and learn...
*Not dissimilar to a deep-fried mars bar.