Probably the Golden age of Scottish rugby in my lifetime. I remember in 1987 at the first world cup . The best game in the tournament was the pool match between France and Scotland. It was a non stop thriller ending in a appropriate 20 all draw. They were by far the best two teams in Europe at the time.
I was on a ski holiday in France during that match, we hired a TV and set it up in the foyer of the apartment building. Every bar we went into that night we got free drinks, the French wouldn't let us pay! Great night!
I was only 8 when this happened and I watched it with my grandfather who had played rugby when he was in the RAF. I didn't really know the rules but it watching with him was enough to get me hooked on the game. Looking back now the skills and ability of the players really was excellent and you have to love a Gary Armstrong dive pass from 9.....
So much to enjoy about this, apart from the result. Bill McLaren's dulcet tones and scrupulously fair commentary, so many Scottish legends on the park at the same time. (and what about those itsy, bitsy, teeny weeny shorts.....)
Can someone please do something clever with computers and get an AI to get Bill McLaren to commentate on every game until the end of time. Such a wonderful, insightful, passionate and non-biased voice. "A wonderful England try there" and he was right, but it didn't matter which shirt to Bill it was all about the beauty of the game.
I was at that game. I was standing at the clock end. From what I remember it cost me £4.00 to get in. There were Scots mixing with English, and although there was some serious "banter", there was never any suggestion that it would turn to violence. Great memories.
Some grat names from the past the time when Rugby jumpers looked like rugby jumpers & not a advertising platform that also look like soccer jumpers nowadays
Weren't England also going for the Grand Slam? I seem to recall the build-up was all about that, with the occasional "And of course Scotland could win it too."
I believe so. My dad was 20, and at the final Murrayfield match. He still remembers the pub afterwards like it was yesterday - all singing together, like a little beacon of hope in the Thatcher years.
I will never tire of watching this, the old Murrayfield, the Poll tax, the sheer bloodymindedness, Flower of Scotland sang for the first time as an anthem, and we sent them homewards, tae think again.
Trip down memory lane! What names, Guscott, Carling, Chalmers, Cronin, Hastings, Probyn, Hill, Andrew (I'm English in case you hadn't guessed). This is the era of rugby I fell in love with, and still love to this very day.
Why is it "really sad"? With a small pool of talent from which to choose we can only expect to win a grand slam every three or four generations. Probably even less than that now that the sport is professional.
@@peteryoungpeteryoung965 rugby is not played or watched in most of Scotland. And unknown in city housing schemes. In Wales it is in the fabric of their society. Is like saying why aren't France or England better than NZ.
@@neildiamondo1131 A good question, why are'nt they? Are you saying that Scotland shoud'nt even be in the Six Nations because no one in Scotland knows what rugby is. England, France and Scotland have all underachieved. Ireland and Wales have over achieved and so have NZ, massively so. In Ireland's case it's only their 4th most popular sport. In Australia its only their 5th most popular sport and look what they have achieved. It's all about desire, coaching and a will to win. Scotland has the players and it looks like Gregor has them playing at last.
A good lesson here for try time - don't be celebrating anything until the final whistle. It's why so many teams concede after scoring, they have indulged the chemical release and gone to sleepy mode. And what I wouldn't give to have Vern Cotter back with Craig Chalmers as his attack coach!
We can certainly do nostalgia! Simply by standing still we've gone backwards. At the next Calcutta Cup match @ M/fld, England clocked up a record win & did it on a regular basis. Record wins year after year. A major contributing factor to Scotland's win was English arrogance. Now we win about 1 match in every 5 against the Home Countries. Poor planning & preparation gives p*ss poor performance. The entire country really isn't prepared to compete at the required level.
