ROOM 101
SCOTT HASTINGS
THE FORMER SCOTLAND & LIONS CENTRE TAKES US THROUGH HIS PET HATES FROM THE RUGBY WORLD AND BEYOND
1. Slow golfers
I’m a keen golfer but it’s a nonsense that it can take some people over four-and-a-half hours to complete a round of 18 holes. I blame the top pros, as they set the example. I think the PGA tour should clamp down on slow play a lot more than they do. Why do you need to mark your ball and then throw it to your caddy to clean it when you’re only one foot away from the hole? They should put a stopclock on putting.
TRP VERDICT: Congrats, you’ve nailed your opening shot at Room 101 straight down the fairway.
2. Litter bugs
This is one of my biggest bugbears because it so unnecessary and shows a complete disregard for the environment and a lack of moral values. We were taught as kids to ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ and the message seems to have got lost somewhere down the line. If I see kids dropping litter, I tell them what I think. It’s even worse at the moment with all the face masks lying around everywhere.
TRP VERDICT: Rubbish, innit?
3. Lengthy scrums
At the end of the day front row forwards need reminding that scrums are a means of restarting play. Us backs want the ball! I think the problem lies with the ‘touch, crouch, engage’ sequence, that doesn’t need to happen at professional level because the players are strong enough. Just let them fold in and scrummage accordingly is what I say.
It is a bind, we agree.