How Typically Scottish - We Win In Rome And Some Are Moaning

I WAS dragged off the bench to go out and actually report on a live game on Saturday, so I had to settle for listening to some of the BBC Shortbread radio broadcast, before watching a recording of the entire match later.

It wasn't as bad as I feared, and nothing like as bad as the ultra-negative Tom English and Peter Wright led me to believe it had been, in their post-match chatter. At the end of the day, the Guinness Six Nations is all about winning – and we won. We have now beaten the two worst sides in the competition, England and Italy, so have to realise, this current squad is, at the moment, only an average Scotland team.

I honestly feared we might lose in Rome, so the fact we didn't might be some sort of progress – after poor displays against Wales and France – so let's be thankful for small mercies.

Maybe Italy's late come-back was down to Toony getting the timing of his replacements wrong. But, I do not entirely share the BBC pundits' negativity, the game was won and Italy were never going to catch us. Some times, when that happens, slackness kicks in, I think there was a touch of that in Rome.

Now, more in hope than expectation admittedly, we move on to Dublin. Here's a wee game plan for Toony to mull over – can we get one of the more-useless members of our team, Zander Fagerson perhaps, sent off in the first half. Ireland definitely appears to struggle against a depleted side. Then we might have a better chance.

WHAT TO say about Ireland beating England on Saturday night – other than to do Mutley-type sniggers at the all-too-obvious pain of the English commentators. How dare a Frenchman red card a stout English yeoman fow whacking a Paddy was the sub-text to everything Dallaglio & Co said.

But, what did we learn from Ireland's win:

1. It's not just football team coaches who “park the bus” in adversity

2. World Rugby MUST, as a matter of urgency, do something about the scrum at professional level – the scrums in this game were a farce

3. Mathieu Reynal doesn't have a clue when it comes to officiating at the scrum – which didn't help

4. Maro Itoje, when he concentrates on playing, is some lock

5. Maro Itoje when he tries to cheat is a disgrace, cynical, he lets himself down and should have been yellow carded

6. There will be kids all over the country attempting to master those Andrew Conway banana kicks this week

7. Ireland will be bloody hard to beat in Dublin on Saturday – but, we knew that already

8. Ellis Genge did not get the better of Tadgh Furlong, he did not give him a scrumming lesson. Genge cheated brilliantly to persuade a referee who hadn't a clue that he was on top. With a referee who knew anything about the scrum, the penalties would have gone the other way.

As I said above, Ireland definitely struggle against a depleted side, but, while they had a bad day at the office, they found a way to win, which is the mark of a good side.

And, if England are as good as their media cheer leaders would have us believe, they would have found a way to score at least one try, but, they never looked likely to cross the Irish line, even allowing for their one man deficit.

WE LEARNED several things from France beating Wales in Cardiff on Friday night:

1. If winning “ugly” or when playing badly is the sign of a good team, then this French outfit is a good team.

2. Wales are the masters at dragging even the best opposition down to their level.

3. Dan Biggar is the best cheat in the game – every penalty, he helps himself to about five metres. Everyone now knows he does this, but, he continues to get away with it.

4. Matthew Carley is a shite referee, this is not subject to argument – he's an embarrassment.

5. Allowing players to “bend” the laws in the name of entertainment isn't working – past time for a crackdown.

France produced their poorest performance of the campaign – but, maybe my second point, above, had something to do with that. But, they still won and I don't see England as being capable of denying them a Grand Slam next week.

FINALLY – I appreciate it's a price we are still paying, England getting pay-back for all that gold they used to buy Scotland's movers and shakers in 1707. but, MUST we have an English talking head on every international rugby commenting panel, even when, as with Italy v Scotland, it's got hee-haw to do with them.

It's a big bit annoying, but, it might just be another positive factor in the battle for independence. “We guarantee, when Scotland is independent and we have our own TV station, Ben Kay, Lawrence Dallaglio, Austin Healey and most-definitely Sir Clive Woodward will NEVER be heard commenting on a Scotland game.”

If the SNP ever shows an interest in pursuing Independence, I will suggest that to them as a definite vote winner.