Blair hails appointment of national selectors

SCOTLAND skipper Mike Blair today welcomed the appointment of provincial coaches Sean Lineen and Andy Robinson as national selectors for the forthcoming Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn rugby tests.

At the same time Blair played down disruption to the team's first squad session at Murrayfield yesterday caused by the withdrawal of ten anglos by the English clubs' organisation.

"I understood that they (anglos) were going to be coming and then they were out but I don't know at what stage the call was made," said the player, who welcomed the International Board's inquiry.

"You can't do anything about it except let administrators sort it out."

As for Lineen and Robinson's involvement, he said: "It makes sense if the coaches are watching players day in, day out."

Yesterday's session was the first including new coaches Mike Brewer and Graham Steadman. Blair noted: "It was good to hear a new voice in Graham and I was impressed by Mike's ability to look at small bits just as Andy Robinson does at Edinburgh."

Blair was launching a scheme whereby an adult purchasing a ticket for one of Edinburgh's Heineken European Cup ties starting against Leinster on October 11 will received four free under-18 tickets.