Well boys ‘n’ girls wasn’t that a right royal kick to the rugby knackers?
Never have I felt so deflated, upset, despondent yet awfully proud at a game of rugby. To a man Scotland played out of their socks and in Dan Parks had the outstanding player on the field of play – his performance in defeat is one of the finest in a Scotland shirt in a long time. I’ve no idea how Robinson will go about lifting the spirits of the team after the crushing blow of Saturday but I hope he reminds the players of the level of performance they turned in and how, in the first half in particular, they played some damn good rugby. I also hope he shows them the dirge that Italy and England served up – in my opinion Scotland have a damn site more to offer that either of those sides, even with the injured players.
As with everyone else here at the blog I pass my best wishes onto the three injured players. Thom Evans injury looked horrific and I can only hope he will be able to return to top class rugby in due course. As for Mossy what a horrible way to end your 100th cap – a night in a Cardiff hospital!
I was lucky enough to watch the game in Berts Bar in Edinburgh (cracking pies Grommit!) so was spared from the one-eyed odious Welsh monster that is Jonathan Davies commentating on a Wales game. I’m sure as a person he is grand but as a commentator he is painful and if I’d been forced to listen to his nonsense I would have been tempted to launch the telly out the window.
As for Clancy I’d best not comment on his performance in the last quarter of the game. I just wish that the SRU would openly criticise the performance of officials. Scotland has no representation at the international level and it is my opinion that we are too often on the wrong side of officious officials! I can’t quite understand that if Godman was deemed to have tripped Byrne, and was last man, then not only is it a penalty but surely a penalty try as he is last man and stopping a clear try scoring opportunity? Clancy in my opinion lost control and joins a growing list of substandard referees appointed to Scotland games. Damn it…he just made me comment….grrrrr! Bitter? Damn skippy – we were stitched up like a kipper on a Sunday morning in Arbroath.
Despite this we should all be proud of the performance and the players will learn so much from this. This is a team that is developing and Robinson looks to be making progress in terms of performance and surely results will come. 18 months from now this could be a damn good Scotland side that heads out to the World Cup in New Zealand.
To cap Saturday’s heartbreak I got home after watching the game in desperate need of a cold beer to calm the savage beast only to find the fridge empty…heartbreak fridge indeed.
C’mon Scotland.