It shouldn't happen

It shouldn't happen."So where does Hastings stand on the appointment of John Leslie as captain? "No disrespect to John, but he doesn't even play his club rugby here," Hastings said. "Personally, I believe that Gordon Bullock should have been given the armband. He plays his rugby in Scotland, he's a product of the system and he knows exactly what playing for Scotland is all about. That is crucial."Of equal importance is for the national team to find a win, from somewhere - "anywhere" - on Saturday in Cardiff.

"Scotland have to dig deep, show pride, out-think Graham Henry and beat the Welsh," said Hastings who has demonstrated his own battling qualities in the past. During the 1993 Lions tour to South Africa, for example, he fractured his jaw and cheekbone. "The doctors took over four hours to rebuild my face." Hastings dare not think how long it will take to repair the damage done to Scottish rugby.. The Italian job is clearly going to prove more of a problem to Brad Johnstone than South Pacific did. In Fiji all the former All Black prop had to do was remould sevens philosophy and create a competitive 15-a-side outfit. Fiji's appearance in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final play-offs was testament to Johnstone's success.

But Fiji already had a rugby culture when Johnstone arrived there. In Italy calcio (association football) holds sway; rugby is confined to isolated outbreaks of enthusiasm, clustered chiefly in the north. The Italian job is clearly going to prove more of a problem to Brad Johnstone than South Pacific did. In Fiji all the former All Black prop had to do was remould sevens philosophy and create a competitive 15-a-side outfit.