When you’ve got no one else to turn to..
Despite the differences between the two sports similar debates are currently going on amongst fans of Scottish football and rugby. In football, Kris Boyd had become accustomed to being left out of big games by Rangers and chose to quit international football because he was not satisfied with being always on the bench. This was […]
Blair Sees Red (and Green)
The Red hand, that is, and the green of money. The Scotsman have a story that Edinburgh scrum-half Mike Blair is being offered somewhere in the region of £300,000 a year to move to Ulster, whose current scrum half Isaac Boss is rumoured to be headed to Leinster. Good move or bad? While Edinburgh have […]
Edinburgh team for Ulster…Blair to Warriors? And a new blogger!
Ha, gotcha. No, Worcester are the Warriors I was talking about. I refer to an interesting article which on reflection is mostly about nothing (something of a Scotsman specialism sometimes) over at the Scotsman speculating as to the employment future of Mike Blair, which I missed this week. Although arguably not missing him at scrum […]
Double Trouble
Andy Robinson has announced Scotland is to have two captains for the autumn internationals – incumbent Mike Blair and widely touted replacement Chris Cusiter who led the A team to victory in the IRB Nations Cup. Whoever is on the pitch leads the team, presumably with the usual switch around the 60 minute mark (though […]
Glasgow Recover Their Strength, Blair Benched
Despite another virus rifling through the Glasgow team this week, Sean Lineen has named a team close to full strength for Friday.
Edinburgh Steel Themselves For Europe
Edinburgh team to face Ospreys: Steve Jones, Mark Robertson, Nick De Luca, John Houston, Tim Visser, Phil Godman, Mike Blair (capt), Allan Jacobsen, Andrew Kelly, Geoff Cross, Craig Hamilton, Scott MacLeod, Scott Newlands, Alan MacDonald, Allister Hogg. Replacements: Ross Ford, Ryan Grant, Steven Turnbull, Roddy Grant, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Ben Cairns. At first glance […]
STV to Screen Scottish Magners Games?
As usual, I trot back on to the pitch with a whimper rather than a bang. I had planned a grandiose piece to open the new season about how this was the summer that rugby found its soul (on the marvellous but ultimately non-victorious Lions tour) then lost it again (gouging) and again (armbands) and […]
Shaw Sliding Towards Test XV?
What with Donnacha and Nathan both starting here. Could be a fun game, but it’s still pretty obviously the dirt-trackers. Hopefully Hooky and Blair get another run from the bench… British & Irish Lions versus Emerging Springboks on Tuesday 22nd June 15. Keith Earls (Munster/Ireland) 14. Shane Williams (Ospreys/Wales) 13. Riki Flutey (London Wasps/England) 12. […]
If They Let Me Pick The Lions
I probably still wouldn’t put any Scots in there, save for Big Nathan – the only man to step up his game on tour so far. With the Springboks picking the Beast in the front row, its a real shame Murray is not fit as he was starting to come onto a game, and he […]
Broussow Gets Second Crack At Lions
The Cheetahs flanker Heinrich Broussow, who almost single handedly buggered up the Lions perfect tour record, has been given a late call up to the Springbok squad as cover for possibly injured Schalk Burger. He may yet have to fight for a place behind utility forward Danie Roussow but hopefully the extra B in his […]
A Game Of Two (Scrum) Halves
With a wee ankle strain keeping him out of Saturday’s game, it looks like Tuesday may be Mike’s last chance to try and sneak on to the bench for the test. With Mike Phillips now a certainty for the 9 shirt and Harry Ellis playing solidly if unspectacularly, Mike has been short of opportunities to […]
Lions Go To The Seaside
But it could be no picnic against the Sharks. Blair makes the bench: other Scots vanish without trace. Fitzgerald and Williams are given chances to show what they can do in a team that in sections (centres, back row) is starting to look like the probable test combinations. Halfpenny and Blair may get more of […]
Four Scots in 22 To Face Cheetahs
Nature metaphors continue: Lions vs Cheetahs – who will win? All four Scots in the touring party are selected to play tomorrow, with Hines and Blair on the bench and as expected our front row boys get a start alongside fellow beast Andrew Sheridan. After this match, everyone in tour will have played or at […]
Our Lions Handle Or Use Roughly Their Lions
The real winner last night was of course the word “maul” which is now experiencing something of a resurgence throughout the press.
Mike Blair Dancing Naked….Again
As anyone who can remember the BBC footage from inside Scotland’s 2006 Calcutta Cup winning dressing room will attest to, Mikey Blair loves to do little dances with as few clothes on as possible. Seems he goes by the nickname Blade – a new one for the Rugby nicknames page – and has been at […]