Doddie Weir Cup should have been kept for South Africa clash. The Breakdown

The first and most embarrassing lesson I got in journalism was when I mis-spelled the word Victuallers. Although it sounds then as it does now, a term neglected from disuse since the 1880s, it was still actually being utilised by someone in the early 1980s.

I had never heard the word before – and have never had cause to use it again until now – so I guessed the spelling. Big mistake.

“What is this?” said my chief reporter with utter contempt when he saw my copy. “I just assumed it was spelled like that”, I said.” Second big mistake.

“NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING” he roared, in front of a full office as I cowered...

It’s a fundamental. I believe they now warn in journalism school “Assume makes an ASS of U and ME”. Cute.

This is a long way to explain why I think the furore over the WRU and SRU initially failing to make any contribution to Doddie Weir’s Foundation from the game this week that bears his name in Cardiff is a trifle disingenuous.

I remember the joint announcement when it was made in January, and at no time was any contribution mentioned.

It was just assumed they would by many people – the general public, mostly, who have an excuse in that they don’t necessarily have to be right about what they say or write, and some journalists, who do.

Now, should the unions be making a contribution from the multi-million profits? Of course they should, the game bears the name of one of the most popular figures in world rugby who is raising funds to research a presently incurable condition he suffers from personally.

But should we in the media have been pressing for this since January, when it was first announced, rather than springing it as a “shock” a week before the game? Surely yes.

My own view was that the Doddie connection was a “dress-up” idea by the PR departments at the WRU and Murrayfield to add appeal to a match that nobody much wanted except the unions’ beancounters.

It’s outside the international window, an utterly unnecessary extra game that deflects from the importance of the Guinness PRO14 (which still has a full schedule of games this week).

I’m not even sure why Scotland are involved at all, and I can think of no good reason to be going back to Cardiff so soon after the debacle there in February during the 6 Nations, and before March’s Murrayfield rematch.

I’m told by Welsh colleagues that a fourth Autumn Test is absolutely necessary to break even on the WRU’s annual budget. Fair enough, but what has that to do with us?

Gregor Townsend spoke yesterday of extra finances helping to bridge the gap for Scottish rugby against richer unions or millionaire club owners. So, just to be sure, it’s all about the money,

For the avoidance of doubt, I have no issue whatsoever honouring Doddie, who Toonie correctly pointed out yesterday was actually one of the first ball-playing, mobile locks in the modern style.

He probably would have had a full Lions cap in 1997 but for that hideous assault in Mpumalanga in South Africa in 1997.

He’s always been a larger than life character, and heroic in his battle against MND. But he was already a Scottish rugby hero on the pitch.

It’s only fitting that there’s a trophy being struck in his name. But we could

“I can think of no good reason to be going back to Cardiff so soon after the debacle there in February

have easily played for it against South Africa in the normal round of Autumn Tests and honoured him all the same.

Have faith in the club game

As I mentioned in these columns earlier in the week, Saturday’s riproaring game between Dundee High and Kirkcaldy was the best rugby game I’ve seen this season, and would have counted for all of 2018 had there not been the little matter of a win in the Calcutta Cup.

It reminded me so much of the games between the clubs in the 1990s, when Kirkcaldy were on the up under Ian Rankin (who eventually became the coach for a decade at Dundee) and there was a real dig about the contest between the two.

Times have changed, and you don’t get internationals like Shaun Longstaff and Rob Wainwright playing in the fixture anymore. Indeed, the dire warnings of some suggest that the dearth of players is even affecting the second tier of club rugby, in which both High and Kirkcaldy now play.

High have lost a veritable shedload of players this year, although there are signs of some coming back. The Blues lost their entire first choice backrow in one game and lost 80 points as a result.

In the city of Dundee, Harris, the second highest team in the league structure, are struggling. Morgan have joined up with High, Panmure and Stobswell are down in the lower regional divisions.

Clearly the situation is not great. But Saturday to me showed that both clubs have amazing potential, well-coached players producing superb, entertaining rugby.

And I’m not patronisingly lowering my standards, I don’t think High dropped a ball for an hour in their remarkable double comeback to win 36-29.

Club rugby is still great fun. More of you should go and see it.

Picture: SNS. The Doddie Weir Cup is a welcome addition, but could have easily and more fittingly been contested against South Africa.