Scrum half baked

GIVEN that Sunday is the most conspicuous Rugby World Cup fixture day, with quarter-final, semi, and the actual final scheduled for successive Sundays, a question of judgment arises as to the inclusion of Euan Murray in the Scotland squad in New Zealand.

His religious adherence excluding rugby on Sundays doesn’t say much for coach Andy Robinson having optimistic prospects of Scotland reaching far into the latter stages of the competition.

Surely the place occupied by Euan Murray could have been allocated to a player free to compete on such conspicuous occasions. It would surely have served Scotland better. The Argentina game, realised in advance as probably Scotland’s most crucial encounter, and scheduled for a Sunday, had already reduced Robinson’s team choice from the outset.

Ian Johnstone

Forman Drive

Peterhead