Wineand newcoach perfect to Pepmeup
TEAMS
EDDIE PEPPERELL grabbed a share of the Qatar Masters lead thanks to a change of coach and a couple of glasses of red wine.
The Englishman fired eight birdies and a solitary bogey to card a seven-under 65 at Doha Golf Club matched by Aaron Rai and France’s Gregory Havret.
Former winner Alvaro Quiros, Italy’s Edoardo Molinari, England’s Oliver Fisher and Germany’s Marcel Schneider are a shot off the paces.
Pepperell said: “I made a change this week with personnel, just working on a couple of new things and I surprised myself with how well I managed to trust it and hit some quality tee shots as well.
“It’s always tough to take it out on to the course. It’s been nice on the range although yesterday was a bit of a struggle so I was in my room in my boxers doing drills last night!
“I even prepared with a couple of glasses of red wine last night.”
Scots Steven Gallacher, Marc Warren, David Drysdale and Paul Lawrie are three off the pace, with Scott Jamieson a shot further back. PETE HORNE’s expression still spells pain when he recalls Scotland’s trouncing at Twickenham a year ago – and he wasn’t even playing.
The Glasgow midfielder is determined to replace the agony with ecstasy by helping to claim the first Calcutta Cup triumph for a decade.
Horne was on the injury list when his mates crashed 61-21 to a rampant English outfit.
But now he can at least have an influence when the old rivals go head to head at Murrayfield tomorrow.
Horne said: “I watched last year’s match on TV and it was hard to take.
“I felt for the boys. You know what it’s like when you’re really passionate about it – you’re keen to be out there in the thick of things with them.
“So it wasn’t nice and we are all desperate to turn that around.
“We’ve not spoken too much about it – it’s just we don’t want to get mugged again, especially on our own patch.”
Horne, who superbly filled the role of calm backline orchestrator in the dramatic triumph against France two weeks ago, said: “The main emotion is one of excitement.
“We know it’s going to be a massive challenge. They’ll be coming up here with their backs up. They’ll be expecting to win – and so they should be because they’re one of the best teams in the world.”
Horne would dearly love Scotland to pull off a shock success – and go on to repeat the feats of the squad he revered as a kid.
He said: “I remember the glory days. My dad taped all the Grand Slam matches so I know all about the history.
“It gives me goosebumps every time we chat about it.
“But I don’t want to attach too much emotion to what happened all those years ago. As I’ve got older and matured I have become a lot better at playing the situation in front of me and not worrying about too much else.”
On the long wait for a Calcutta Cup victory, Horne said: “You know what it is like – no one likes getting beaten year after year. If anything, it just fuels the fire.
“We’re obviously aiming to change the trend, not just for us but for the whole country.
“We have managed to string some good results together since Twickenhan but England probably won’t be too fazed by that.
“They have won some massive games away from home in the past Replacements: Replacements: couple of years. They whitewashed Australia over there and are used to playing in front of hostile crowds.
“But hopefully our folk can get right behind us, make it a really special day and try to put them off their stride.”
The midfield battle featuring Horne and Finn Russell against Owen Farrell and George Ford is sure to be crucial this weekend.
Horne said: “I like to think I help Finn out and take a bit of the pressure off him.
“A big role in my game is trying to organise everyone outside of Finn, give him lots of chat so he can take care of the first phase.
“And then when he’s coming round the corner I’ll hopefully have everything organised for him.
“We’re not at the same stage as Ford and Farrell in terms of experience but we’ve got a really good relationship.
“However, he puts me through plenty of gaps – and it is rare you see Finn have a bad game alongside me. Every time there’s a stoppage, we’re chatting.
“That’s a vital part of the game, making sure we’re all on the same wavelength. We’ve all got ideas but we have to make sure we collate them and run with it.
“During multi-phase sequences it will be me who is calling the moves as Finn will have plenty of other things to contend with.
“You can’t overestimate the value