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Posted 83 days ago
ON SUNDAY there were so many numbers being thrown around, but the shock of it all was that it was Ireland, rather than Scotland, whose number was up. Heads spun as percentages and figures swirled. Scotland conceded 16 penalties, had 29% possession and made no linebreaks. Ireland had 71% of the ball, only had to bend for 44 tackles and offered up four searing line breaks.
Posted 83 days ago
The young Scotland No 8 talks sevens, socks and superstitions
RUGBY WORLD: Who’s the best player to room with for away games?
DAVID DENTON: Chunk (Allan Jacobsen) is a pretty good one. You learn an awful lot about life in a very short time.
RW: And the worst room-mate?
DD: Tim Visser is a nightmare. He watches some very strange TV, loves a long…
Posted 84 days ago
LAST TIME Scotland won two Six Nations matches on the bounce, Greig Laidlaw was 15 years old. That was in 2001, since when Scotland have only won more than one match in a Six Nations season three times, most recently in 2006. But all those gloomy memories were cast aside as Laidlaw kicked four penalties to sneak a hard-fought victory over an Ireland side that had enough chances to win this match twice over, but butchered them. Add this win to the victory over Italy two weeks ago, and Scotland have a reason to celebrate.
Posted 87 days ago
WE’VE HAD a breather from the RBS 6 Nations to catch our breath, but the heat is back on this weekend as Wales head to Rome, France hop across the channel to Twickenham and Scotland host Ireland. We put our neck on the line and pick our winners, but do you think we’ve got it right? Join the discussion on Facebook Rugby World magazine and Twitter @rugbyworldmag.
Posted 89 days ago
THE BRITISH and Irish Lions are still hotter than a Justin Bieber and David Beckham collaborative calendar. Need proof? Every single test ticket for this summer’s tour sold out in 15 minutes. People are tearing their hair out, trying to find a seat. The powers that be Down Under have promised a spectacle to rival the 2003 Rugby World Cup and the omens are good.
Posted 89 days ago
SOMETIMES WITH Scottish rugby there is a feeling that you are being shown a flat that has all the mod cons, a nice view and above all else is cheap. You move in, snapping up the deal and hurriedly cramming all of your baggage in, remarking on how accommodating it is. Then the first train goes by and you realise how shaky the foundations are.
Posted 97 days ago
WITH CLEAN linout ball, Ruaridh Jackson stepped left and threw a pass behind Sean Lamont just as the centre screamed in against the grain. At his back, Sean Maitland barely put his fingerprints on the ball before sending it over to Matt Scott, who hotfooted his way to a score from outside the 22.
Posted 104 days ago
AFTER SCAMPERING backwards and forwards all afternoon, a red-faced and heavy-legged Matt Scott leant against the bar in the conference room and pronounced, “that was the hardest game of rugby I have ever played.” He was not pronouncing this into a recording device, nor were there any vulture-like press folk prodding him to extol how much inner agony he was experiencing after losing a Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham, 38-18.
Posted 106 days ago
CALCUTTA CUP matches are so often dour, attritional battles but this Twickenham clash was a world away from that, featuring six tries and some helter-skelter running rugby. Scotland had their moments, but England weathered the storm and took control of the breakdown, possession and, ultimately, the match.
Posted 107 days ago
WHEN SATURDAY comes the Six Nations will throw up an interesting anomaly. In one day we will get to see several fit and firing candidates for the British and Irish Lions tour, facing off, with the gloves off. It could be argued that a strong performance this weekend could propel a player to the forefront of Warren Gatland’s mind, like an Iranian astro-monkey fired into the stratosphere.
