Cronin sees a bright future. A good season despite changes

him out of rugby activity for three months, if not longer.

Chalmers suffered a double fracture to his right forearm midway in the

first half of Scotland's hundredth Calcutta Cup match against England at

Twickenham on Saturday, and the injury was operated on in the

Westminster Hospital that evening. A plate was inserted to strengthen

the broken bones.

He joined his fellow Scots on the flight from Heathrow to Edinburgh

yesterday afternoon, but while they went home he was taken to the Royal

Infirmary.

Scott Hastings, the Watsonian centre who, like Chalmers, was injured

at Twickenham, should be fit to be considered for the Lions' squad. He

damaged ankle ligaments during the second half of the Twickenham match,

but he was able to hobble through Saturday evening and yesterday's trek

home. He could be fit to play again in two or three weeks.

Before Chalmers's injury the Scots had had a slight edge in the match.

Afterwards, however, they struggled to stay with England, and the Scots'

Five Nations' Championship season ended on a break-even count, two home

wins against two away defeats.

England's win was their fourth in a row against Scotland: it is the

longest run by either country in the Calcutta Cup series since England's

seven from 1951 to 1957.

A victorious send-off for Ian McGeechan was not to be. Scotland's

coach, reaching the end of his term, had to succumb to the

disappointment that has befallen others before him at Twickenham.

His departure, though, was acknowledged by the Scottish players when

they presented him with a watch as their token of appreciation of what

he has done for them in particular and Scottish rugby in general.

One of the senior forwards, Damian Cronin, looking beyond the season

itself, saw it as a championship with promise for the future of Scottish

rugby. It was a good season considering the changes among the forwards,

he suggested.

Scotland introduced Andy Reed and Iain Morrison to the pack, recalled

Derek Turnbull, moved Doddie Weir from lock to No.8, and enlisted Peter

Wright out of position at loose head. By any count it was major

reconstruction.

Cronin, who found new lease of life on Scotland's Australian tour last

year, was pleased how ''the younger guys have come through.'' Yet older,

longer established players such as himself have their eyes set on

staying on for the 1995 World Cup.

Turnbull, the Hawick flanker who had been out of international rugby

for 14 months until his recall in January, has been drafted in to

replace Rob Wainwright in Scotland's squad for the world sevens tour.

Wainwright damaged his left hamstring while he was playing for Edinburgh

Academicals in the 25-12 win over London Scottish at Richmond on

Saturday morning.

Also at the weekend, more than halfway through the Five Nations'

Championship, it was confirmed that the tournament would be decided on

points difference if necessary so that the new trophy could be awarded

to one country instead of being shared if two finish level.

England and France will therefore be going for as many points as

possible when they play respectively Ireland and Wales a week on

Saturday.