The Heineken Cup quarter-finals are played this weekend and, sadly, as usual, there is no Scottish involvement. We have only had one team ever make the knockout stage of rugby's premier club tournament so I do not think that too many people are surprised. Edinburgh made it through in season 2003/04 mainly due to beating Toulouse at home during the group stage.
There was no doubt in the mind of Jim Hay, the Hawick coach, that his decision to field several novices against opponents who were targeting the runners-up slot in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership was justified.
Scotland's run of defeats continued at the Hong Kong Sevens but in losing by 5-7 to Argentina in the quarter final of the Plate competition the Scots regained respect after their prestige-lowering defeats to China and Kenya on Saturday.
In the end, survival in the top flight remained tantalisingly close but just beyond the reach of GHA. The narrow victory ensured the hosts will stay up and their visitors will be relegated.
STUART MURRAY
Edinburgh 0 - 20 Cardiff Blues: For the last two weeks, all that Edinburgh players have been talking about is their determination to avoid the end-of-season meltdown that has blighted pretty well every campaign since they were created. Last night, they were given a harsh lesson in rugby realities by a streetwise Cardiff side putting the finishing touches to their preparations for their Heineken Cup trip to Toulouse.
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