No Drama In Yokohama As Scotland Flop Again

WHAT can I honestly say about that hugely-disappointing loss to Ireland, inYokohama this morning?

Well, when the team ranked Number One in the world, playing at something above 90% efficiency beats the Number Eight-ranked side in the world – playing at between 50% and 75% efficiency, with a four-try bonus, a couple of questions need to be asked:

1. Is the outcome a surprise?
2. If you're a supporter of the losing side – which straws do you clutch at?

I honestly have not felt as bad about a Scottish team's performance, in either of the two popular codes of football, since half-time in the game against Iran back in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, that's 41-years ago.

Almost everything the Irish tried came off, nothing we attempted worked, while, when it came to the iffy or 50-50 decisions, the Luck of the Irish came into play.

But, while it was a bad day in Yokohama, on the broader canvas of Rugby World Cup 2019, this defeat, while a serious wake-up call, is far from the end of the world.

In reality, this game was always going to settle who got whom in the quarter-finals, since it was always going to be Ireland or Scotland v New Zealand or South Africa.

We now know, we are likely to get New Zealand, it is now up to our squad to get past Samoa and Japan to claim our expected place in the last eight. I will not put the boot in until such times as we fail to achieve this pool outcome.

It was a bad morning at the office, we re-group and move on.

LET'S BE HONEST, there are always fresh experiences to be had in rugby. Yesterday, at Braidholm, I posted a first – never, in a life in rugby which has now encompassed more than 60-years, have I been kissed by a referee.

Cheers Hollie - a deserved first

Until yesterday, when Hollie Davidson made an old hack very happy by greeting him with a kiss. Hollie is a lovely wee lassie, and a cracking referee too, as she proved over the 80 minutes of GHA v Marr.

In taking charge of this game, Hollie became the first female referee to have the whistle in a top-flight club game. She did very well, while her extensive experience on the World Rugby/HSBC Sevens Circuit enabled her to play her part in a swashbuckling game of running rugby, which produced 12 tries.

Their 48-29 win took the Troon side to the head of the Tennent's Premiership table, which was a wee added birthday bonus to the now 50-year-old Craig Redpath, their coach.

It also sets-up an absolute humdinger of a top-of-the-table game next week, when second-placed Currie Chieftains come calling at Fullarton. Currie pricked the Hawick-hype bubble (guilty M'Lud) by demolishing the Green Machine at Malleny Park; all roads should lead to Troon on Saturday.

IT IS 11am, on Sunday, 22 September, 2019. ITV has now decided – it is all about England, who are about to win this Rugby World Cup. We must now, stand-up for the Master Race.

Does it no give you the dry boak – this attitude of our southern neighbours certainly does for me.

A FEW observations on the opening weekend of RWC 2019:

• The England fans are almost as-bad at singing their anthem in tempo as football's Tartan Army.
• That highly-rated South African winger Cheslin Kolbe is, for me on first-viewing, a bit over-rated. A top-class winger should not be hauled down from behind by a covering first five-eighth; while for all his sand dancing – very little end product.
• Ardle Savea (New Zealand 6) – WOW!!!
• Do not under-estimate Australia – they could go far into the competition
• If France get it right – look out.
• Line-out throw-ins are now as “straight” and fair as scrum feeds.
• Things the law-makers need to sort-out – quickly 1: players diving off their feet into and over rucks.
• Things the law-makers need to sort-out – quickly 2: Abolish holding the ball at the back of the scrums, at any scrum other than a five-metre one.
• Things the law-makers need to sort-out – quickly 3: BRING BACK OLD-SCHOOL REAL RUCKING.
• Joe Marler, Owen Farrell and Clive Woodward are still fuds.
• And finally: lots of Scots commenting on social media about how poor Wayne Barnes was when refereeing our game. OK, name one Scottish player who had a better game?