ALLAN JACOBSEN today admitted fearing for the future of professional rugby in Edinburgh as a wrangle ensued over team ownership a year ago.
At the time, businessman owner Bob Carruthers and Scottish Rugby Union bosses were trading insults on an almost daily basis and the full extent of the effect on players until the team was placed back under central control has never been fully reveale
d – until now.
The issue has perhaps been put in sharper perspective since Edinburgh have subsequently demonstrated the benefits of a stable environment by launching their campaign with a 22-15 friendly match win over English champions and twice Heineken European Cup winners, London Wasps.
The extent to which Saturday's success in front of a Murrayfield crowd of 4225 had its roots in Edinburgh players feeling more comfortable about their futures may never be known.
But recalling turbulent times, Jacobsen said: "There was strong concern that there might not have been an Edinburgh team (in 2007-08).
"The boys were really worried. Some were at the end of contracts and others just had a year left.
"I'd just agreed a new contract but hadn't finalised it so I just had to hope things would turn out okay.
"It was the uncertainty that was the problem and I just rode it out."
The upshot was a freshening of the ranks as some players moved on with Jacobsen rightly maintaining they couldn't be blamed for putting personal interests first.
He said: "Nobody likes uncertainty but sometimes it is harder for sportsmen because we are on shorter contracts.
"We worry like everyone else and the guys who moved were just trying to look after themselves.
"Contrast that with this season where everyone is concentrating on training and I haven't been involved in a squad that is so strong.
"At one stage, Edinburgh had about eight internationalists but now it is as high as it has ever been (17)."
Such remarks were borne out by Saturday's win over Wasps and if competition is key to developing momentum Jacobsen is keen not to look too far ahead while acknowledging incentives.
These include making another four appearances to become the first Scot to register a half century of outings in the Heineken Cup while there can be no escaping the fact that the Lions will tour South Africa at season's end.
The man nicknamed 'Chunk' may just be entering his prime for a prop forward – he turns 30 on September 22 – but has suffered enough setbacks such as an injury in the opening match of last year's World Cup to know the real benefits come from remaining in the present.
On his Lions aspirations, 31-times capped Jacobsen said: "You dream of things like the Lions when you are younger but then you try not to think too much about them.
"That's because there were times when I felt I should have been involved with Scotland and I wasn't... it really gets to you.
"What I have learned is that you concentrate on training and trying to get into the Edinburgh team to play well.
"Do that, and I've found you usually get what you deserve.
"Nobody is happy at not getting picked but it can really take over so you have to manage yourself to ensure you take any chance your are given."
Jacobsen has now set sights on Edinburgh's second – and final – warm-up at Bath on Friday.
And, while he dismisses the fact that, as a teenager, he played trials for the English west country team as too long ago to be relevant, there's no mistaking his intention of a settled run in Edinburgh colours after an injury-disrupted 2007-08.
"The first game of the World Cup saw me go off injured and, after getting back for the Six Nations, I tore a groin muscle in the final match against Italy.
"I set myself the target of being back for Edinburgh's last match of the Celtic League at Llanelli and was delighted to fulfil that goal.
"Now, having been fairly lucky injury-wise over the years, my fingers are crossed I can play a full part in what can hopefully be a good season."
The full article contains 706 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
