Rugby: McGeechan will look on in envy

Scotland coach Ian McGeechan may be tempted to cast an envious eye towards Bob Dwyer in tonight’s game against the Barbarians at Murrayfield.

McGeechan had a similar opportunity to work with the world’s best players in the Centenary Tests in New Zealand nine years ago and maintains that it was one of the highlights of his career.

But, while relishing his role in Scotland these days, McGeechan insists that the group of the world’s best still possesses the best camaraderie of any rugby side.

"I had the opportunity in New Zealand in 1992 in the Centenary Tests when I had a world XV," said McGeechan.

"Tim Horan and Jason Little were in the side and it was just great to be involved coaching them because their input is so high quality.

"You can talk about things on a different level because there are world class players all around you.

"The camaraderie is probably better than at international level. They want to play and they have their own talents and bring it out of each other.

"Bob and I get on with each other very well and have bumped into each other a lot over the years.

"He and I do not think dissimilarly about the game and what is expected of players. I am looking forward to speaking to him.

"You have got to respect the quality of the players. It is a tremendous privilege to be around these players and I’m sure that is why Bob tries to get involved every year with them.

"We have to respect the environment they play in but it shouldn’t stop us doing what we want to do where our game is concerned."

McGeechan is set to offer some of his fringe players an opportunity to impress against the Barbarians and wants those players to follow the examples of last year’s debutants against the Baa Baas.

"If you go back to last year’s game, there were a lot of players coming in for the first time," said McGeechan.

"Alan Bulloch, Iain Fullarton and Jon Petrie were all coming in and it has allowed us to play in the way we feel is most effective.

The Baa-Baas got off to a tremendous start and we had to pick the whole game up.

"But ultimately we came out of it very well and gained a lot of confidence. So we are very much a part of the game as they are on Thursday.

"This game is all about giving the players a very different challenge.

"All I want to do is give players an opportunity. If they are not the players, they won’t take it and, if they are, they will grow bigger and bigger.

"You have to keep putting new, harder challenges in front of players. If they reach it, you ask for more and the player gets better and better."