Final Five Nations glory had us ready to take on the world
On 10 April 1999, Scotland pulled out all the stops to defeat the highly fancied French on their own patch, 36 points to 22. The win, in what was our final game of the last ever Five Nations tournament, saw us sitting pretty at the top of the table with three wins out of four. Hopes now rested on the outcome of the following day’s game between Wales and England, the Auld Enemy being level on points.
Against the run of play, the Welsh claimed a narrow 32-31 victory to send Scots’ hearts, minds and expectations into the stratosphere. Silverware success had us believing we could repeat the feat in the World Cup that year. Sadly, the All Blacks had different ideas, but at least we had the Five Nations. The Scotsman’s Stuart Bathgate covered the moment history was made. ‘First the Five Nations... now for the world’ It was a triumphant conclusion to the season, and to 89 years of rugby history. In their final match of a championship which began in 1910, Scotland turned in what must rank as one of their most complete Five Nations performances. The outcome at Wembley yesterday was undeniably a just reward for the effort expended in Paris a day earlier. With 55 points in the first half and a mere three in the second, this was clearly a game of contrasts: what remained the same was Scotland’s superiority, no matter the tactics employed.
The first half – or, more precisely, the first 27 minutes – verged on the bizarre. On those rare occasions when Scotland have won at France, it has usually been narrowly, after a gritty, defiant display in which they held out against France’s creative genius. What happened at the Stade de France on Saturday made nonsense of that history, as the Scots ran in five tries against a shellshocked French defence.
It was easy to feel some sympathy for the home side. The spectators were wholly bewildered by the events that were unfolding before them, but at least all we had to do was watch and wonder: the problem for France was to find some way of stopping what was going on.
They did, at least in terms of points conceded, losing only a penalty after the break. But, in a second half which was far tighter, far more comprehensible, they were unable to add to their own tally.
The reason for that was simple: Scotland, after leaking three tries in the first 40, defended with far more cohesion and conviction, especially when close to their own line. It was just as well they did, for France, despite the demoralising events in the first half, undeniably fought back with vigour; one score and they would have been right back in the contest.
Yet Scotland did far more than defend in the second period. They played with somewhat more serenity, employing kicks to the corners and other more conventional attacking options; but they also continued to play inventive rugby, and on several occasions were just a pass away from adding to their try tally.
That was a masterpiece of defiance: this display confirmed that Scotland can play with an unshakeable belief in their own ability to attack as well as defend. If they can store up Saturday’s memories and then reactivate them for the opening game in the World Cup, South Africa could just be in for a shock.
That is the level the team are at now. The midfield triumvirate of Gregor Townsend, John Leslie and Alan Tait attract most publicity, but there is quality throughout the side now, from Gordon Bulloch at hooker and Scott Murray and Stuart Grimes in the second row to Glenn Metcalfe at full-back.
The squad came home yesterday in time to watch the game at Wembley, and as it transpired, to become champions.
It was an extraordinary end to one of the most perplexing and uplifting Five Nations Championships. And, after years of supposed Celtic inferiority, it was a victory for positive, adventurous rugby.