Looking forward

with nostalgia

With the Ospreys in murky water over doing an England and not replacing Sonny Parker in their cup match v Leicester, Matthew Tait explaining that he is a glorified number 7 in the Times and Kelly Brown signing papers with a club that gives away £250k at half time, it’s struck me again just how different life was prior to the game going open in 1995.

We didn’t have subs and blood replacements, we had skinny blokes at 13, players didn’t make the headlines for signing for another club and people spent apenny at half time, not become quarter millionaires. 

And then it really struck me, of course, as it did everyone in the rugby world, when Bill McLaren departed the scene.  

Rugby players talk of him in awe because he had mentioned their name while for mere spectators, he represented just as much, in particular a very familiar, warm and welcoming way of rugby life (two chairs drawn up in front of the TV for me and dad, tea and cake at half time, highlights of the matches just after Scotland’s epic win (or loss) etc. etc.).   

So while we approach a new 6N, wouldn’t it be a welcome sight for a centre to make an outside break, a sub not abusing the rules of the game and a full Murrayfield? We can do all that, I’m sure, just, alas, it won’t be accompanied by the gentlemanly and inimitable tones of (Sir) Bill McLaren. 

Instead, I hope to be in section 22, seat Y 4 of the Bill McLaren Stand.