WEEKENDS really don't get much worse than the one just experienced by Scottish rugby; so it is probably as well that many of those involved will get a chance to revive flagging spirits on Friday, when the two pro teams return to action with their internationalists back in the frame.
All those picked will have points to prove. While the Test players were falling to Australia, Glasgow were putting on their worst display of the last three years and Edinburgh were shipping 41 points in Belfast, so redemption will be sought.
At least the club coaches have a clear path on selection. In previous years, the national coach has insisted those heavily involved in any Test series should be allowed a rest immediately afterwards, but yesterday Steve Scott, the Edinburgh forwards coach, made it clear that is no longer the case.
"All the players who are fit will come into consideration," he said. "We will be looking to play as strong a team as possible. It is the same protocol in place all season — play so many games and then get a rest. Each player will be looked at on an individual basis, if each player has only played two or three games they will be picked."
That is not quite the same as saying the current caps will all return. Protocols state a player should not play more than five successive matches, so those who started all three Tests - in Edinburgh's case David Denton, Greig Laidlaw and Nick De Luca - would have to stand down for one of the Heineken Cup matches that follow if they feature this weekend.
"We have some important games coming up," Scott said. "The first is on Friday, then we have two weeks of the Heineken Cup, where we have to win our home games to stay in the pool. After that, we have Leinster at home and back-to-back games against Glasgow. They are big games, but ones we can target."
Scott knows just how dangerous Friday's opponents Connacht can be. They were the side that stalled the mini-revival when he took temporary charge last season and, while he says Edinburgh are on the up, he knows there can be no slacking.
"The team is improving," he said. "Some will say the results don't always show that but when we analyse it to the depth that we do as players and coaches, we can see we are making gains — small gains but I'd hope they'll add up to bigger gains. We just need to be consistent because we work hard to get ahead but need that full concentration so we don't leak easy points."
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