RWC Build-Up: Expectations and Omens
The first time Scotland played against Romania in a Rugby World Cup we won 55-28. That day John Jeffrey scored a hattrick and Gavin Hastings finished with 2 tries, 8 conversions and 1 penalty.
Playing Past the Present
With the EMC tests looming and the daily press releases telling us how our players are “harder, faster, stronger” than ever before whilst the players assure us the group has never been so tight-knit, I must ask: how will the warm up games pan out? The reason I ask this is that everything in training, […]
Analysing The Opposition: Between A Rose And A Hard Place
On Sunday at 3pm there will be a meeting between two teams desperate to win. The only problem is that one team is eying a grand slam and the other team doesn’t want to get splinters in its hands…
Scotland’s Sunday In Numbers
When you read a national newspaper everyone is obsessed with numbers. People want a player rated out of 10, a statistical breakdown of offloads out of the tackle and the number of pints sold at a ground. Despite being sober and despite the improved nature of our performance we have still lost 3 in a row and look […]
Looking To The ‘A’ Team
Monday morning: a time to take stock. Has your football team made that sensational transfer? Have you won a monumental Grand Slam? Are you still in charge of a whole nation? If the answers to your bleary Monday morning questions are ‘Yes’ then congratulations: you are either a Russian Billionaire, a skilful Serb or a delusional […]
Putting Our Place To Use
I’m gonna blow my own trumpet…last week, like a new-age Mystic Meg, I predicted Scotland would usurp Ireland and Argentina in the World Rankings. I just had no idea we would do it so soon! Q: What does it mean to be the 6th best team in the world?
A Quick Chat With The Future: Part 2- Richie Vernon
On the 21st of November 2009 Scotland recorded a magnificent result. A win against Australia thought to be nigh on impossible in the days leading up to the fixture. It was some day. Yet while this day was special for everyone lucky enough to see such a spectacle it held extra significance for one young […]
Less Invictus, more Convictus
Despite the result Saturday had everything a 6N weekend needs. Plus a little more criminal activity. Any great story or sporting event has certain key components that make it memorable. If you were making a feature film about a game (Take notes, Mr. Eastwood!) then Scotland vs. Wales certainly met all the right criteria. Somehow […]
The Highs and Lows of a Scottish Weekend…
We had two wins, a draw and a loss from various national teams. Sounds alright, doesn’t it? However, the public’s opinion of Scottish rugby is shaped entirely by the fortunes of the national side. Every other result is a bonus (or a continued indicator of the fallow years to come; although thankfully this doesn’t seem […]
Bring in the reinforcements!
Panic seems to have hit Martin Johnson. Shontayne Hape?! Well we’re used to this in Scotland. Every time Scotland sees a decline in talent in certain positions there seems to be a desperate snatch for anyone Scots qualified, by the SRU. While some might question Andy Robinson’s desire to put in a long term plan […]
Scotland Pre-Autumn Training Squad
It’s a biggie, so expect it to be well culled before the final playing squad of 30-odd is announced. Still, they should be able to have lots of probables versus possibles games and injure each other sufficiently before November rolls around. Backs: Mike Blair (Edinburgh), Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Simon Danielli (Ulster), Nick […]
Scotland beat Argentina for first time since I was 11
Argentina 14 – 26 Scotland What a shocker, eh? Did you see that one coming? Having belatedly caught the game on pay per view through Mediazone – disgustingly the only broadcast provider willing to carry it, good on them though – I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. We could mutter about how Scotland […]
A chance for revenge…sort of
So, 15 points. Can we really beat Argentina by that much? Without scoring any tries? With Dan Parks at 10? Not having seen the previous game yet, I can’t really comment specifically but from the sounds of it on the radio we were solid in the set piece but bullied at the breakdown, which led […]
More Squad and Coaching Roundabout News
Edinburgh prop Geoff Cross has been called up to the Scotland squad to tour Argentina after Craig Smith pulled out of the squad. Smith is also reported to be “considering his future in rugby” after a less than successful season. I suppose after meeting Al and I in St Etienne it was all downhill from […]
Battle of the Nicknames – Malkovich and Munchkin called up
Simon Webster are the latest additions to the tour party for Argentina, with the fleet-footed winger being declared fit after a hamstring injury and Edinburgh lock (but New Zealand born) Matt Mustchin added to boost the second row numbers. Mustchin’s inclusion will no doubt raise eyebrows in some quarters – he only just qualifies on […]