OFF the top of my head, I can remember covering Scottish international teams in Athletics, Basketball, Bowling, Cricket, Football, Golf, Hockey, Judo, Karate, Lacrosse, Netball, Orienteering, Rugby and Volleyball - plus perhaps a couple of the more-esoteric sports which I have forgotten about.
A common denominator across all these sports has been an ability: to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
This is a long-standing Scottish tradition, which we perfected during the centuries-long Wars of Independence, between Bannockburn in 1314 and the eventual Union of the Crowns in 1603.
For instance, I can still remember a Scotland v England basketball international, at the old Coasters Arena, in Falkirk, in the mid-1980s. Midway through the second-half, we were 20-points up (in football - think leading 4-0); the game was effectively over.
Then, big Bobby Archibald, (the best lock forward Scottish rugby never had), broke away for an unopposed score. A simple lay-up would have sufficed, but, no, Bobby. being a Paisley Buddie, went for broke and tried a spectacular, one-handed, overarm, windmill dunk. He miscalculated and rattled the ball off the metal arm which fixed the hoop to the backboard; the ball rebounded the length of the court, was grabbed by an English forward, who scored.
Galvanised by this, England hit back, wiped-out our lead and went four points ahead themselves. Thankfully, however, we had the better team and we hit back to win narrowly, but, it was a far-closer match than it ought to have been - we should have buried them.
Therefore, hardened by such prior experience, I was relatively unconcerned as we staggered to half-time at St James Park, on Saturday. I always sort of knew, we would prevail, but, my confidence was sorely stretched at times during the game.
Let's be honest, plenty of previous Scotland teams would have panicked and found a way to lose to Samoa. Thankfully, between Vern Cotter's half-time talk and Greig Laidlaw's calm captaincy - we came through and, by the end, for me there were more than three points between the two sides.
Winning ugly is not something we do too-well. We are much better at losing ugly - we have had a lot more practice, but, this was one ugly win which I welcomed. We can play better, indeed, we MUST, or Australia will murder us in the quarter-final.
Still, we are alive and in the last eight. To quote the great Andy Cameron: "We're representing Britain, and here's the reason why England cannae dae it, fur they couldnae qualify".
Sorry - couldn't help myself there.
We might even beat them, stranger things have happened, but, let's wait and see. After all, although they were wrapped-up in the Union flag at the time, Scotland's Jamie and Andy Murray did beat Australia in the recent Davis Cup semi-final.
Well, what the Murrays have done, Richie and Jonny Gray will surely want to replicate.
Can we beat the Aussies and keep our Rugby World Cup dream alive? I don't know, but, I live in hope and leave the final word to Kenny Dalglish: "Maybes aye - maybes naw".
FINALLY - anent Saturday. Can somebody please tell me: what did a Samoan have to do to be yellow-carded in the match?
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