The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Mather urges SRU to ditch Brigado on-style razzmatazz
A FORMER Scotland World Cup star last night urged under-fire Murrayfield bosses to boot out the bagpipes and focus on what really matters to the fans — producing rugby talent.
Cammy Mather couldn’t disguise his disgust at the national team’s latest hiding at the hands of England in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown.
And he believes the chiefs need to concentrate on laying the foundations for future success — rather than forking out for the “cringe inducing Brigadoon- style” pre-match razzmatazz.
Ex-Edinburgh, Glasgow and Barbarians breakaway forward Mather, who won 11 caps, said: “I could write a book about what has gone wrong with rugby in Scotland.
“But what is needed in the current situation is a short-term fix. For a start, let’s do away with the socalled entertainment in the hour or so before kick-offs because it is embarrassing.”
“It is like the worst possible excerpts from Brigadoon— maybe more befitting an SNP annual conference in Perth, or wherever
“For England matches especially, you don’t need to create an atmosphere— we’ve been going hammer and tongs at each other in battle for a thousand years, so the backdrop is already there and always will be.
“It might be fine for the Tartan Army at Hampden, but it is not right for Murrayfield. “It is tacky and twee. “And I have yet to meet a fan who remembers a Test match for the parachutists or dancing group.
“I wish they would put the money to better use by investing in the game at grass roots level.”