Scottish Rugby Blog

Well, almost. It was announced today that Chris Paterson, Scotland’s record caps holder, has been recognised for his long and continuing service to the game with an MBE in the New Year’s Day Honours List.

Glasgow are trying to cultivate a party atmosphere ahead of the deciding 1872 Cup fixture. On New Year’s Day there will be a George Square party, situated at the Winter Cafe Bar, and good vibes will be pumped out through player appearances (before 4pm), tunes and a wee swally.

Glasgow are trying to imbue positivity. Drink and dancing are just added extras.

In which we (well, I) take a look at the various Scotland matchups that took place over the first 1872 Cup leg, to see if things are any clearer for Andy Robinson, and I suppose his new “guru” Scott Johnson. Of course this is just how I saw it, so if you think differently please let us know in the comments section.

You’ll have gotten up today and sat down at your breakfast table, poured some juice, spread over some slightly charred toast and opened your paper. Looked at the sports section. You’ll see that Edinburgh drew with Glasgow at home 23-23. You’ll see that the attendance was 13,240. You’ll smile and, like Scott Johnson, you’ll think, “Wow! Scottish rugby looks like it’s going well.”

For several reasons you would be right.

If you were watching your twitter feed a few nights back, you might have seen a few of your favourite rugby stars praising someone called Scott Meenagh, who was being honoured at The Sun Military Awards and who had visited the Scotland squad earlier in the year. Scottish Rugby has now added its congratulations to a rugby fanatic who faced adversity with great courage.

So here’s a little bit more about Scott Meenagh.

If you want to know what Glasgow’s current top team looks like, it’s a good bet that the team they choose for the back-to-back legs of the 1872 Cup against Edinburgh will be it. Edinburgh, too, will throw everything at these two matches – they are the closest you get to an International trial these days. Andy Robinson will be watching.

So, what hard facts can we learn from the selections announced yesterday?

We’ve got another ace competition for you as we have teamed up with Specsavers, sponsors of RaboDirect PRO12 match officials, to offer five lucky readers a fantastic prize of a pair of tickets to Glasgow’s 1872 Cup game against Edinburgh Rugby at Firhill on New Year’s Day (Sunday, January 1, kick-off 5.35pm).

On Monday afternoon the peace will be broken and two packs will crumple into each other. At the crush of the scrummage both Edinburgh and Glasgow will be fighting to gain as many inches of ground as possible. One man will be delighted whatever the outcome is. With a burst of glee Scotland’s scrum coach Massimo Cuttita tells me “there will be fireworks alright!”

Glasgow announced earlier in the week that Sean Lamont is to join his brother Rory at the Warriors from next season, following a successful spell at Welsh region the Scarlets where he has played not only wing, but also centre and fullback. Indeed this year’s Six Nations went on to see Sean collect unexpected international honours in the centre, filling in for Graeme Morrison during the Six Nations where he proved an effective battering ram.

Just as Jonny Wilkinson has announced he will no longer be playing international rugby, so does the other most consistent kicker of a generation. Chris Paterson is saying goodbye to the Thistle.

There will be not billboard featuring Dougie Hall in black and blue, arms unfurled, above the immortal line “Welcome To Glasgow!”. There will be no pigs heads thrown onto the pitch. There will be no flares. There will be no drive-bys. What this coastal rivalry shall have, though, is keenly contested rugby.

On Boxing Day we will see the first game in the 1872 Cup.

After what was a great tournament in Dubai again we were up at the crack of dawn (6.00am) to fly to Port Elizabeth in South Africa for Leg 3.

Glasgow travelled to the south of France to face Montpellier, eager to grab some points from a fixture that saw an understrength team defend their impressive stadium. And in the end that is pretty much what happened, though maybe not as either team would desire.

It was another home win for Edinburgh tonight, but a late lapse in discipline may yet cost Edinburgh as it allowed Cardiff a losing bonus point, despite this being a game Edinburgh controlled for great periods.

The most tann-ed one Gavin Henson could be in with a shout to line up against Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Friday, despite persistent injury niggles that have kept him out of the Blues line-up since signing for the region earlier in the year. His main problem has been his hand but that has apparently healed, leaving him with only a heal to recover. No bother, it’s only Edinburgh eh?