IN the wake of certain utterances from Adam Crozier it's time for a spot of Scot-bashing.

The bagpipe brigade's rugby team will be firmly silenced by the wizards of Oz at Murrayfield tomorrow.

An English captain and their liking for kilted Kiwis won't help Scotland, even though they have one of the few world-class British coaches in any sport in Ian McGeechan.

Dammit if these Aussies aren't producing good footballers now on top of everything else, as witnessed by Mark Viduka's four goals for Leeds against Liverpool.

Not content with being world champions at cricket and both codes of rugby, they also showed the world how to put on a marvellous show at the Olympics.

OK, so they have a climate which encourages an outdoor life while we shelter indoors contemplating taking up bog snorkelling.

Yet the Scots used to be such a hardy breed, knocking back the hard stuff, tossing their cabers and producing great football managers like Bill Shankly and Jock Stein.

It all started to change when the likes of former Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas began to receive national acclaim, as much for his hairstyle, it seemed, as his footballing skills.

Now Scotland have a rugby captain in Budge Pountney who was born in Southampton and apparently qualifies to play for any of the home nations because he had a grandparent born in the Channel Islands. And England have a Swedish football coach foisted upon them by a smoothie Scot, the aforementioned Crozier, a Peter Mendelson lookalike who goes under the title of FA chief executive.

Having said last week that the England players deserved some proper coaching - a clear dig at Kevin Keegan - Crozier is now saying it's "preposterous" to suggest he intended any criticism of someone he claims is a bosom buddie.

Does he think we were all born yesterday?

Keegan-bashing has been all too popular since his extremely sensible resignation. It's sad that he became part of the gambling culture which is clearly rife among players who don't know what to do with their obscene earnings.

But unlike most of his charges we should remember that he was a player of modest natural talent who, through sheer determination and enthusiasm, reached the peak of his profession.

I don't give a monkey's if he creamed off a few grand from card schools with those who now represent the cream of our crop.

Unlike most of them he deserves to be remembered with admiration, and despite their famous Charity Shield joust I daresay he has far more respect for a certain Scot of the old school named Billy Bremner than he does for Crozier.

TALKING of gambling, I wouldn't lay odds on Ladbrokes or William Hill becoming one of the three new sponsors English cricket is seeking.

They are more likely to be asked not to offer any cricket-related odds as the match-fixing scandal gathers force. Still, I wouldn't mind betting that England include Graeme Hick in the Test series against Pakistan and leave out Dominic Cork.

They must be barking. When the going gets tough, as it inevitably will, I know which of the two I'd want on my side.

MOST heartening news of the week is that Andy Blyth, the young rugby player threatened with life in a wheelchair, is back home in Hexham after eight months in the spinal unit at London's Stanmore Hospital.

Paralysed from the neck down when playing for Sale against Saracens last March, he vowed to walk again and has recently graduated to crutches.

After returning home last week, shortly after his 25th birthday, he was able to watch Newcastle beat Ipswich on Saturday, followed by a fund-raising match for his benefit between Alnwick and a Northumberland XV on Sunday.

Having played for Tynedale, West Hartlepool, Newcastle, Northampton and Sale, as well as England A, Andy has plenty of friends in the game willing to rally round.

Events organised for next year include a ball at the London Hilton, a dinner at St James' Park and a golf day at Slaley Hall. Half the proceeds in the first year will go to Stanmore.

A visit to Andy's website (www.blythspirit.com) has more details and also reveals that he hasn't lost his sense of humour.

"My walking on crutches is similar to what it used to be like after 20 pints of lager," he says. "But I only have a range of about 100 yards."

Determined lad that he is, he's paying daily visits to Hexham General for physiotherapy, which should help him work up a thirst.

ANDY Blyth was one of the unfortunate youngsters whose progress was initially stalled by professionalism.

Having signed for Newcastle, he found his way blocked by seasoned internationals Inga Tuigamala and Alan Tait (an admirable Scot).

At 31, Tuigamala seems to be a fading force. But after several weeks on the sidelines he hopes to play for Newcastle at home to Bristol in the Tetley's Cup on Sunday, having turned down the chance to watch his cousin fight for the world heavyweight title.

Inga was invited to be in the corner for David Tua's fight against Lennox Lewis after closely following his progress since he was suspended from rugby for over-aggressive tackling eight years ago.

With his prop forward's physique, Tua cuts a fearsome figure. But it's his Don King hairstyle which is most worrying - that will be quite a scalp for Lewis to take.

DARLINGTON Rugby Club's well-drained pitch was in good condition for last Saturday's match against York.

But the flood-bound visitors were unable to travel, and when their fixture secretary rang with the news discussing an alternative date was not high on his list of priorities. He had just been given ten minutes to leave his house