The Calcutta Cup

Finally! Scotland won a rugby match at the weekend! We beat the English! No tries were scored again, but a confident team performance saw the English well beaten by a score of 15-9. It was a cold damp day in Edinburgh, conditions which always seem to suit the Scottish team. I’ve now been at Murrayfield for three matches against the English, and I’ve seen three victories. In 2000, 2006, and now 2008. And on all three occassions the weather was damp, cold and generally inclement.

Standing for the players to come out, I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and suddenly I felt we could win for the first time all week. Flower Of Scotland was sung loudly and proudly, with more passion than I can recall from any other match recently.

The game started in the pouring rain, and I could tell we were looking better than the previous three weeks. This game was won with a strong confident performance. The victory never looked in doubt, and it was so nice to get a win. The English were all depressed, very glum and sad. I think they thought they would just have to turn up to beat us. Great to see them so depressed about the result

And why do I hate the English so? On the morning of the game my friend and I were walking down a street in Edinburgh, all dressed up in kilt and rugby gear. This middle aged guy walks towards us, and snarls in a heavy English accent ‘You guys have absolutely NO chance this afternoon’. ‘Thanks pal’, I responded. Not a hint of banter or humour in his comment, it was all malice. I wish I could have met him again that night

But one Swallow does not make the summer, so whilst it was great to win, Scottish Rugby as been under performing this season. So I think it will be more telling to see what happens next weekend in Rome. Another performance like this next week, and indeed we may have turned the corner. If the team under performs next week, then I think the SRU will be looking for a new coach.

Oh, and on the way back to Amsterdam, I finally bought the headphones at the airport!

Scottish Rugby

This past weekend I was in Dublin to watch Scotland take on Ireland at Croke Park. For the first time, I think I have lost faith in the Scottish Rugby set up. I attended all Scotlands games in the Rugby World Cup, with the excpetion of the Tuesday night match in Edinburgh. I thought that we played reasonably well in the RWC. Having watched Scotland regularly home and away for eight years now, I was impressed with the direction we were going in. Caught up in the excitement of the RWC, I booked myself up to attend all the matches of the 2008 Six Nations Championship.

Three matches in, I’m wishing that I had not. The performances have been getting worse, and the one against the Irish was the worst one I’ve seen recently. The side seem to hold onto poseession well enough, but they are completely devoid of ideas. They seem quite adept at going across the pitch from one side to the other, without the ability to make progress and make strides in a forward direction. Eventually, someone will get bored with this sideways routine, and either drop the ball, or kick posession away. And we are on the defensive again

The defense, something that had been very resolute, has went from creaking in the French game, to being completely broken against the Irish. Time and time again, they got through our line. Every time the broke, you thought they would score. I think inexperience on the behalf of some of their players meant that a couple of try scoring opportunities were missed

Scotland finally scored a try in the second half, their only try now in six halves of rugby this season. Sadly, no more came. Then the moment of the reason for my despair happened. Loosing badly, with no way seemingly back into the game, Frank Hadden, the coach, replaced Hugo Southwell with Dan Parks. Chris Paterson moved to full back, with Parks taking over at ten. What flair that Paterson brings was gone. Parks, whilst a solid player, is not going to inspire a side back to victory. For me, this was a damage limitation replacement. Try not to let the Irish score any more Dan, kick the ball away

This was the moment I lost faith in Frank Hadden. I think he is devoid of ideas, and has no idea of his best team anymore, or how to win matches. I believe that he should step aside after the current Six Nations tournament. We need new ideas at the top. Jake White, I saw you say you were looking for a challenge. Well, welcome to Scotland Mr White, we have one for you

As for me, two games to go. Rome will be nice. I was there in 2006, and had a great weekend. Looking forward to going back there again. As for Edinburgh, and the England game, if we loose by less than 20 points we will be doing well.

I’m off shopping for wooden spoons