News

Blair desperate to level history

December 02 2008

Scotland general Mike Blair was in the Murrayfield crowd the last time his home nation faced England in World Cup rugby.

Little did the ten-year-old know he was destined to be captain of his country when the sides were drawn together for the 2011 tournament on Monday, more than seventeen years after their semi-final clash.

And it will be almost 20 years since that October 26 day when Scotland finally get the opportunity to even the score from the 9-6 defeat to their oldest enemy.

Edinburgh scrum-half Blair watched from Murrayfield's East Stand with his father that day, though he can recall little more than brief highlights of what remains the closest his country have come to World Cup glory.

"There was an incredible atmosphere, absolutely incredible," he said.

"Scotland were underdogs in the game and I remember it being a really physical, aggressive game. That's pretty much all I remember.

"You didn't realise at the time the opportunity Scotland had to get to a World Cup final and how close we got to achieving that.

"But I certainly remember it being a pretty big day for Scottish rugby.

"I was young at the time, I didn't really know what was going on. I knew that we'd lost but I think there was game of football in the park a little bit later on so it was quickly forgotten."

Nevertheless, the match was one of a number of trips to Murrayfield which inspired Blair to turn professional, and he hopes to have the same effect on the next generation.

"I suppose there'll be kids in three years' time when we're in that situation and it's a nice position to be in, to be part of that team which can inspire these young guys," he said.

Monday's draw could hardly have gone better for Scotland, who had feared the worst after losing their second-seed status following the autumn internationals.

As well as England, they will face Argentina - their conquerors in last year's quarter-final - and two of the minnows of the game, which will be decided by qualifiers.

Yet Blair was simply relieved to have avoided one of the all-conquering Tri Nations teams.

"We've avoided New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, which is great news," he said.

"It's still a pretty nasty group to be in but, in terms of what it could have been, I think we're fairly satisfied."

Indeed, Scotland's slide out of the world's top eight may have been a blessing in disguise.

"If you place yourself in Wales' position, they've got South Africa, Fiji, probably Samoa as well. That's a good pool to avoid," Blair added.

"I don't know if ours is the best possible one, but it's a pool that we're happy with.

"It's still a very tough pool to get out of but we're playing against two teams we've actually beaten in the last year, so that's a positive for us.

"However, the World Cup's another three years away so we can't dwell on it too much at the moment."

Something that will be decided long before then will be the schedule of matches.

Scotland will be desperate to avoid the kind of fixture congestion they insist forced them into playing a weakened team in their pool match against New Zealand last year.

"Everyone just wants an even playing field. That's how you find out who the best teams are," the number nine continued.

"Everyone gets the same preparation time; everyone gets the same rest between games.

"Obviously, it can't be exact every time. But we were put under a lot of pressure last time with the five-day turnaround between the games, and the travel as well.

"That meant we didn't want to field the strongest team against New Zealand.

"If the scheduling is sorted out, people will be happy."