One of my favourite characters in that brilliant sit-com Dad’s Army was Lance Corporal Jones played superbly by Clive Dunn.

His catchphrase of “Don’t Panic!” was hilarious and legendary, not least because he only used it when he was panicking. 

Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach Sean Everitt came over all Jonesy after his side’s debacle at the weekend. He said: “There’s no panic button at this stage…I’m not going to push the panic buttons as far as selection is concerned.”  

Having just been dismantled 55-21 by Emirates Lions, most people would probably have said there was plenty need to panic, especially after that horrendous first half display that saw a record 48-0 lead for the Lions at half-time. 

On reflection, however, Everitt has a point. When the fixture list for the United Rugby Championship came out I remember thinking Edinburgh had been given a bum deal, having to face mighty Leinster at home and then travel to South Africa for two games – they’ve actually done better than I thought they would as they have notched three bonus points.

I couldn’t see them winning any of their first three matches and I knew they would be in deep trouble against the Lions when it was announced shortly before kick-off that Duhan van der Merwe was out with a calf injury.

The big winger has become something of a talisman for Edinburgh not least because he provides a vital function for his team. Like an ‘out’ ball player in football, his colleagues know he can be flung the ball and he is guaranteed to make yards and hold up the ball until the rest of the team catch up. No disrespect to Ross McCann, but he just doesn’t have the same presence as van der Merwe, and while there are no excuses for such a dismal 40 minutes, it was just the proof that Edinburgh always need their best players when playing the big teams in the URC.

At least the three tries in the second half gave the scoreline a modicum of respectability but too many players were out of form and they did not apply Everitt’s game plan that revolved around the boot of Ben Healy. The defensive errors that littered their performance will surely not be repeated when they face Stormers on Saturday, a game that may not quite be ‘must win’ but is approaching that status. And if they lose against Stormers and then Cardiff a week later, that will definitely be the time to panic.

Being frank, I don’t think Edinburgh’s season has really started, but Everitt and his coaching team must get the squad to start firing. I liked what big Ben Muncaster and Paddy Harrison did when they came on against Lions, so maybe it is time to give them a start.  

Edinburgh must find impetus from somewhere or else this could be a very long season for them, especially if they allow their opponents to dominate them as clearly happened in the first half in Jo’burg. 

Glasgow Warriors showed in their weekend match against Cardiff that they can win even when making mistakes – scrum-half Jamie Dobbie getting pushed off the ball to allow Dan Thomas to score a try was in the ‘howler’ category.

It was a fabulously entertaining match due somewhat to the errors made by both sides, the difference being that when Glasgow clicked they were devastating. Eight tries on the night says it all, and they will be hoping to continue that attacking form when they meet Zebre Parma at the weekend.

With table toppers Leinster facing third placed Munster there’s a chance Glasgow could go top but they will need a win and a bonus point to get the chance to do that.   

Yesterday’s formal announcement that Warriors have switched their 1872 Cup home match from Scotstoun to Hampden Park on December 22 is very good news for Scottish rugby. 

 It’s a calculated risk by Glasgow, but by giving many more people the chance to attend an important fixture in the city, it could prove to be an excellent fan recruitment exercise. I’m told the switch will also prove profitable as long as a crowd of 20,000 is achieved – and remember that last December’s 1872 Cup match at Murrayfield attracted a Scottish club record crowd or more than 39,000.     

For the 1872 matches to be played on consecutive weekends at Hampden and Murrayfield proves what I have always said, that if we borrow football’s infrastructure Scotland could host a World Cup on its own, even with the increase in the number of participants to 24. 

More possible is a joint hosting with Ireland, as long as some people are prepared to be diplomatic and end the long-running feud caused by the SRU’s failure to back Ireland’s bid a few years ago.

The next World Cup that is open for hosting is in 2035 with Australia and the USA having bagged 2027 and 2031 respectively. Yes the SRU is currently in the financial doo-doo, but why can we not have the ambition to host the World Cup 11 years from now.