Rugby World Cup: £85 to Watch Scotland B?

The only reason that Scrumbag will be tuning into the New Zealand v Scotland match this afternoon is to see the ABs knock it up from 2nd into 3rd gear. Scotland coach Frank Hadden has decided to give many of his best players the afternoon off: the backs still look passable for a Six Nations encounter, but the pack has been decimated in selection so that it doesn't turn up for the Italy game half-cocked. Jason White, out: debuts for pacy prop Ali Dickinson - huge potential for Gloucester and Scotland but on a hiding to nothing against the ABs - and flanker John Barclay. No Lamont action, the Rory brand of which has been in great form.

Hadden points to the scheduling - 3 games in 11 days - to explain his decision to select players who he refuses to describe as second string. And he also thinks that beating the Blacks is pretty simple. "If we do what we have been practising better than they do what they have been practising, we will win the game." So, not just aimless bullshit, then. Why not just sub in the whole of the Kelso 3rds to take on the favourites; it just depends on how well you transfer your game from the training pitch to the stadium. Australia have provided the blueprint for Hadden: "They tackled [the ABs] as if their lives depended upon it and produced a couple of moments of magic. We think we've got a team capable of playing in exactly the same way." Er, OK, mate.

Scots being Scots, they've got an eye on the main issue here: getting short-changed. Spiderman from Argyll blogs on The Scotsman site: "I'll be driving over 250 miles to watch the match, having paid a fortune for the ticket. I will support the team 100%. BUT I feel badly let down and I'm sure, like many others, I'll think twice about buying expensive tickets next time. It's all so cynical, the basic principles of sport forgotten. It's only a game and should be enjoyed and played 100%, especially representing our country against the best in the world. As Sean Kirkpatrick says - and his opinion is worth a thousand of ours here - 'I'm disappointed that Frank Hadden hasn't gone with the full team. It's sad for the great history we have of New Zealand-Scotland matches that we're going to see a Test with a second-rate Scottish team, because I'd hate to see New Zealand run amok on Sunday.'"

Top tickets have a face value of £145 (US$ 300, AU$340, NZ roubles 400), basic tickets £85 - still NZ$ 230. Add in the cost of getting to Edinburgh from the North North Island - about £150 return from London for most Kiwis - and it's an expensive proposition to see RIchie McCaw hand 20 year-old debutant John Barclay his backside on a plate. Now consider the fact that the match will start at 3am NZ time, and you have to wonder who actually schedules these matches or, indeed, wants them to be played.

New Zealand will be playing in their change strip - silver shirts - and Reuben Thorne will be looking to complete his redemption from 2003 in the second row, partnering the glass-jawed Ali Williams. Leon MacDonald comes in for Mils; it's a shame that Chris Paterson has been shifted inside to 1st 5, otherwise you'd be seeing two of the best running full backs in the world going at it. Hugo Southwell is a bigger proposition, but Pogo Paterson's chip and chase try against the Romanians shows that he's as sharp as ever; the signings of Luke McAlister and Rory Lamont by Sale are seen as some of the best business done by English clubs in the close season, but Gloucester's move for Paterson from the troubled Edinburgh Gunners could have more impact on his new team's fortunes.

Scrumbag wants to see "Junior Stirlo", Brendon Leonard, on the field for a good portion of the afternoon; we all know what Kelleher can do, and Leonard looks like the future. Best of luck to Doug Howlett as well - today's a perfect day to overhaul Christian Cullen's Test try record for the ABs before he heads offshore to play for Munster.