On the flank: Scotland could go into record books... sort of

The All Blacks have put together a run of victories stretching back 15 matches, during which time they have scored 51 tries and conceded just 15. The Kiwis can beat their own record - shared with the Springboks - of 17 consecutive victories when they tour the UK this autumn presuming, of course, that they beat the Wallabies in Hong Kong on 30 October.

That would mean that a win over England at Twickenham on 6 November would equal the record and victory at Murrayfield against Scotland the following week would break it.... as if they needed the added incentive. Incidentally, Lithuania won 18 consecutive matches while moving from 73rd to 37th in the IRB rankings before losing to Ukraine a few months back but this admirable record doesn't count towards the official statistics as they are a third-tier nation.

• ACCORDING to a recent interview with Ospreys' winger Nikki Walker, Scotland coach Andy Robinson assured him that all he has to do to regain his place in the national side is to start the big Heineken matches for his club. That sounds simple enough until you remember that Shane Williams and Tommy Bowe are both on the Ospreys' books.

• THERE is a tug o'war going on between Sydney and Manchester over which city should hold the next Bingham Cup, the gay rugby world cup named after Mark Bingham, a gay player and victim of the 9/11 attacks on the USA. The event will attract 40 clubs from all corners of the globe and as such cities are keen to host the event. The governing body for gay rugby is the International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRIP for short) has to make the decision.

• THE age-group coaches have been interviewing at Murrayfield with appointments for the 17s and 18s expected soon. Candidates for the U20 post make their case next week but Eamon John isn't amongst them. The popular Welshman can't take the time off his work with East Lothian Council so he leaves the field open for someone else to step up. Last year's assistant coaches Craig Chalmers and Peter Wright are obvious candidates, with Bryan Easson and Edinburgh Accies' new coach Simon Cross also rumoured to have thrown their hats into the ring.

• SIMON Taylor's miserable run of injuries continues. The Bath flanker pulled up after 35 minutes of his new club's second match last weekend with a pulled hamstring. At least there was better news for another Scot because Mark McMillan got a start against Northampton on Friday night with regular No.9 Michael Claasens coming off the bench.

• CONGRATULATIONS to the new chief executive of the RFU who is a Scot... well, a London Scot to be strictly accurate. John Steele joined the exile club from Northampton and was first team flyhalf for a few years in the 1990s before going on to coach the London outfit. He was once asked to tour with Scotland because he was qualified somehow or other (things were a little lax in those days) but being a man of principle, and English to boot, he declined. After all, when he was first profiled in the London Scottish programme, Steele was pictured proudly sporting his England "A" jersey.

MORE RUGBY

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• Heriot's 26 - 25 Melrose: Heriot's out of jail as Melrose's last gasp hits the post

THE FLANKER