"Petty, Arrogant"...Fully Vindicated.

On what basis should an international rugby squad be picked? Should it be on 'form', this mystically subjective word, or class? Was Beefy Botham right in his confident assertion that 'form is temporary, class is permanent?'

In the run up to Scotland's first match in this 6 Nations, various people were worried about the squad not being picked on form, and instead on performances from several months ago. Ross Rennie was one such player under discussion.

Having not played a huge amount for his club side this season, some felt that his selection wasn't merited. How can he be expected to perform for his national side when he can't even get in his club side, they wailed.

No, I said, don't be so silly. I want a Scotland squad made up of the best players. If someone's form has shown them to be one of the best players then they are welcome in the squad. But form is not class, and form is not ability. It is too myopic.

It also assumes that just because a player has performed at club level that they will seamlessly rise to the challenges of international rugby. This sort of thinking is simplistic in the extreme. Yes, many do, and if in doubt, we should test these players out. That's the only way we will really know. But they must show both the form and the class.

In Rennie's case, he had proven the class, over and over again. This season, when he played for Edinburgh, he showed his class. He was clearly one of the best players Scotland has, yet some were questioning his place in the squad because of 'form'.

I took great exception to this before the England match and told all and sundry that Ross Rennie was world class and would prove it. Many joined me in this, the collective sticking out of our necks and standing up for the selection of a class player. We watched the England game hopeful, but with no shortage of expectation that class would show.

Of course, we were right all along. Andy Robinson was also right, picking a class player with scant regard paid to how many matches he has played this season. It is hard to avoid a 'told you so...' in the wake of these barnstorming performances, but those who were wrong should admit they were wrong, and if they need a little encouragement then I am more than happy to provide it.

What we have is a potential British & Irish Lion on our hands. These are world class performances. Being proved right isn't about being personal or taunting those who were proved to be wrong, but taking joy in one of our world class players. Let us be positive about class, not negative about 'form'.