THE proof that Scotland is producing very good rugby men who thrill us with a superbly dynamic style of play did not come against New Zealand on Saturday but in a couple of announcements made earlier this week.
The news that Finn Russell will depart Glasgow for Racing 92 and that Jonny Gray is wanted by Bristol – the English club are at the front of what will be an extensive queue – should normally depress all followers of Scottish rugby because two of our great talents are going away to ply their trade in France and England respectively.
Let’s just consider the Russell move, however. He is going to Paris to replace – wait for it – Dan Carter, most people’s idea of the finest No 10 of our times. Carter blotted his copybook with a drink driving charge and he now 35, so Racing have quickly snapped up Pat Lambie, South Africa’s fly-half as his first replacement.
Carter has duly moved to play inside-centre, but now Russell and Lambie will contest Carter’s old position, and even if Lambie is the man in possession just now, he has suffered from injuries – notably that long-term head injury picked up playing for the Springboks against Ireland last year – in the past.
In any case, Russell might well be rated ahead of Lambie – even after the South African’s excellent comeback recently - following his storming Autumn tests and brilliant play for the Warriors.
What a compliment to Russell that Racing, one of the richest clubs in world rugby, came looking for him with a reported €450,000 a year contract. He deserves it, and while Warriors will regret his departure, there’s little doubt that Russell will seriously improve in France and stay as Scotland’s stand-off for the foreseeable future.
Like every other professional, Gray knows that a career in rugby is not usually long, so he has to take his chance when his contract is up at the end of the season.
A salary of, say, £400k would be a steal, frankly, for a man who has become Scotland’s finest second row forward in decades and who the Rucker confidently predicts will lead Scotland – aye, and the British and Irish Lions, too, once that blinkered git Gatland goes away – for years ahead.
The Scottish Rugby Union simply cannot afford to keep the likes of Russell and Gray when the big money comes calling and that is just a fact of life for rugby in this country.
As long as our internationalists are allowed to attend squad sessions and play for Scotland as they want to, then we should be realists and note that they are going to be at bigger clubs in tougher leagues, and will be better for it.
I don’t want to dwell on the All Blacks match – the pain still hurts – but there is every hope that Scotland can make it two wins in a row over Australia, and it says everything about the revived state of Scottish rugby that people seriously think we can beat the Wallabies.
Do you know what? We can.
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