Don't Fence Me In

Andy Robinson's defence of his decision to deny Wales the luxury of closing the Millenium Stadium roof is one that could help his battered and beaten Scotland side that were so helplessly crushed by France last Sunday.

In his column for the BBC Sport website, flanker John Barclay admitted that the defeat had been like smack in the face. He said: "we let the supporters down and ourselves." adding, "We know that you don't become a bad team on the strength of one result."

It's hard to argue with such a synopsis. Despite the hype and the build-up to the game the Scots failed to make the French sweat let alone give them a game. Hardly a change from previous championships you might ask but for once, I sense that the bagpipes may be stirring a revivial for Caledonian rugby.

Since winning the last ever 5 Nations championship in 1999, the Scots have often been fighting at the wrong end of the table, failing to reproduce some of the great players that guided them to their last Grand Slam in 1990 and a semi-final appearance at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. Now however, there is a growing optimism that Scotland could be about to start punching their weight amongst the big boys.

Ironically, the man at the helm is an Englishman and Andy Robinson was well within his rights to decline Wales' request to shut the Millenium Stadium roof for their game on Saturday. The home of Welsh rugby is undeniably a tough place to go for any team when the crowd are in full voice. This is exacerbated when the roof is shut and gives that little bit of edge to Wales with such a vociforous crowd behind them.

Is Warren Gatland so perturbed by the Scottish wounded jackal so much so that he tried to give his side by requesting that the roof be shut? Wales have not lost to the Scots on their own patch since a 27-22 defeat in the 2002 championship and after losing at Twickenham last week, Gatland is clearly looking to boost his team's confidence.

It's not surprising: Robinson's arrival has certainly sparked something north of the border after his rather unfortunate spell in charge of England. After masterminding Scotland's 9-8 win over Australia at Murrayfield in the Autumn Internationals, I feel it's time they started flexing their muscles in the 6 Nations.

Hats off to Chris Patterson who will recieve his 100th Scotland cap on Saturday. There is no doubt that he will be buzzing and with the rest of the squad itching to bounce back after their opening day defeat, could we see the Scots show the rest of the home nations that they mean business?

The Curse Of The Late Goal Strikes Again

It was another disappointing Saturday for Swindon Town as visitors Charlton Athletic snatched a dramatic late leveller to earn a share of the spoils.

Since thumping Leeds United 3-0 last Tuesday, Town have dropped points in their last two league outings courtesy of last minute goals.

As a reporter on the club's official website here is my latest match report:
http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10341~47958,00.html


After Kevin Amankwaah (pictured) turned in his third goal of the season, things seemed to be looking rosy for the home side. However, we've seen it one too many times this season at the County Ground: the last minute switching off that leads to a late goal.

It's not only been confined to home matches either. Charlton's 9 men found a late goal in the meeting between the two sides on Boxing Day. Added to games like Southend last weekend and at Oldham way back in August, Danny Wilson's men have dropped points far too many times this season.

You can't help but feel that had the Town held on to record those points then, coupled with the current points tally, they would have been edging towards the summit of League One rather than sitting pretty in the play-off positions.

Tuesday's fixture against the afore-mentioned Oldham Athletic really must yield three points in order to keep the nearest challengers at arms length.

Football Shirts Are The Least Of Society's Problems

Earlier this week, Celtic and Rangers signed a £1.5 million-a-year shirt sponsorship deal with Tennent's Lager.

As is usual in these situations, there always seems to be somebody available to complain. The article in The Scottish Sun quoted Jack Law, the chief executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland.

One particular line that stood out was "Players don't drink alcohol before a game to ensure peak fitness but during the match itself they wear a top which promotes alcohol" I read this and wondered whether this had been a mis-print. Under what circumstances would anyone go to a football match and come away from the ground brainwashed into buying alcohol? It just simply doesn't happen!

In France, the authorities have banned the advertising of alcohol on club shirts but there is little evidence to suggest that this would work in Scotland. This is just another classic example of the do-gooders winning the PC battle. In fact, just to make the connection between players not drinking before a game then going out with an alcohol advert on their jersey potentially stimulating alcoholism is almost beyond belief. Seeing AIG on the front of a Manchester United shirt doesn't flick a switch in peoples' minds telling them to start banking.

Snooker's long association with Embassy Cigarettes was cut short when the smoking ban came into force a few years ago. Any sports fan of a certain age would agree that the fact that Embassy sponsored the World Championships had nothing to do with whether or not they smoked.

People will continue to smoke and drink regardless of an alcohol or cigarette company sponsoring a major sporting event. With money playing such a huge part in modern sport, banning advertising is just pointless, even if I do harbour a yearning to see the return of the sponsor-less football jersey...


(Photograph taken from www.mirrorfootball.co.uk)