Inter-city clash key for Scotland, says Gavin Hastings
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union

Gavin Hastings believes the festive double-header between Edinburgh and Glasgow will be key in determining selection for the Six Nations.
With Scotland losing all three autumn Tests and the head coach position vacant, places are up for grabs.
"On the back of a very disappointing series of internationals, these matches are going to assume huge importance," said former Scotland captain Hastings.
"They will be almost like trial matches."
Glasgow host Edinburgh on Friday, with the teams meeting again at Murrayfield on 29 December.
While the matches are RaboDirect Pro 12 fixtures, the aggregate points winners will also take home the 1872 trophy.
Glasgow sit fifth in the league, with Edinburgh seven points behind in seventh place and both sides are smarting from poor showings in the Heineken Cup.
Edinburgh, who reached the semi-finals of Europe's premier contest last season, are without a point from four outings and are yet to register a try.
Glasgow are also bottom of their pool after four defeats.
"The inter-city clash has been a huge boost to the rugby calendar, the Scottish public has taken to these matches," Hastings told BBC Radio Scotland.
"A few years ago Dan Parks completely outplayed his opposite number Phil Godman.
"And, for me, it was absolutely right that Dan went on to represent Scotland in the Six Nations.
"Whoever plays best in the head-to-heads, that player should be selected and the players will take these games very seriously indeed.
"It's a bit like way back in the dim and distant past when we always had the national trial early in the New Year and got fantastic crowds."
Hastings made 61 appearances for Scotland, amassing 667 points, which was a record tally until overtaken by Chris Paterson in 2008.
The full-back was a member of the Grand Slam-winning side of 1990 and the team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup the following year.
Scotland failed to reach the knockout phase at the last World Cup and followed that with a dismal Six Nations whitewash.
"Scotland is almost at the bottom of the pile and there is only one way to go," added Hastings, who scored 17 tries for his country.
"We'll have a new coach for the Six Nations.
"The likelihood is that it will be [attack coach] Scott Johnson and hopefully he can find something with his vast years of experience to lift the players.
"If anyone thinks we're going to get three or four victories next year, then my goodness me, we'll be doing very, very well to do that.
"You just want the players to really start playing for each other and playing for the jersey, doing justice to all the people who have been in the dark blue of Scotland before."
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Bring back the Borders.
...Good try mate! Nobody in real life could be such a caricature!
As an aside great to see Cairns finally back after a hellish year with the knee injury. Hope he manages to get back to his best.
Have a 2nd tier competition. Bottom of 6N plays top of 2nd tier for right to play in next 6N.
God.
Going down a league only means you're stronger in a lower league. By your reasoning, moving every team down a level at some stage would raise the overall standard of the higher league eventually, but only as long as every team in the higher league has moved down!
As for 6 nations changes, might work, but never see it happening.
Perhaps the moderators should also look out for blatant off topic comments as well as swearing & persona/nationality abuse in order to keep feedback healthy.
Just an idea ..... As you were ....
13 + 10 =23.
You've got Italy & Scotland winning 23 wooden spoons between them in 13 years!! Thank yourself (!) you're not responsible for the statistics!
And Georgia didn't win! Until teams like them do, what's the point in relegation/promotion? At least Italy & Scotland compete.
Surely with the world in such a bad way, you've got far more important things to do than try to wind people up on rugby forums! The biggest embarrassment to NH rugby are your opinions.
I think it would be wise to boast AFTER the game,.. they are no pushovers,... one swallow does not make a summer my friend,.. I can't see them being "embarrassed" by anyone. Let alone the runners up to France