Aristotle Armstrong

Aristotle Armstrong
The thrawn, alternative voice of Scottish Rugby

Monday, 3 February 2014

The Tartan Army Got It Correct All Those Years Ago

WEMBLEY, 1996 - the final whistle blows and, courtesy of Uri Geller's earlier intervention (aye right), a not very good England team, inspired by a truly wonderful Paul Gascoigne goal had got out of jail to beat Scotland in a European Championship game.
 
Half an hour later, the polis finally allow the Tartan Army, who had certainly won the terracing support match over the English fans, are allowed to leave: marching out to the strains of: "We're shite, but we know we are".
 
Nearly 20 years later, as I disgustedly switched channels at the conclusion of the game in Dublin - I thought - that old Tartan Army anthem is now Scotland's rugby song of choice.
 
We could blame the players; we should blame the coach; we must blame the Murrayfield blazerati; but, the fact is - much though the English media's constantly harping-on and making the point might hurt us - in rugby terms, we are second-rate.
 
We are still, quite likely, to rise to the occasion when those awfully nice chaps from the other side of Hadrian's Wall come calling on Saturday. This, aligned to the fact that, for all Stuart Lancaster's warnings to the contrary, the English might arrive with the impression: "It's only the Sweaties - we just have to turn-up to win", and, we can drag them down to our level and somehow slink home in a poor game.
 
But, I see more pain and suffering to come in thes Six Nations. How things have changed since even Friday.
 
 
 
FINAL word on Dublin. When will Ross Ford finally be pensioned-off. He crumbles under the pressure line-out throws. HE IS A HOOKER WHO CANNOT HOOK, and, whilst on this sorry subject - will the Scottish coaching staff please ditch their supposed tactic of not striking for their own ball, relying on an eight man shove to get the ball - it doesn't work.
 
If they cannot show how to feed and strike, there are enough former Scottish and Lions legends around who could teach these lost arts.
 
AND - that taxi for Ford, should also be for Jim Hamilton. I've said for years the big man was a liability - surely, after Sunday, I am no longer a lone voice.

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