IT was timely and pertinent for Kevin Ferrie to strike a cautionary note about Scotland’s prospects ahead of the start of the Six Nations (“ For all the talk of a shining new era, Scotland are likely closer to the dark old days”, The Herald, February 4).

It is easy to lose count of the number of occasions in the past when rugby commentators, some seeming like “fans with typewriters”, hyped up Scotland’s prospects only for hopes to be dashed once again. Much has been made of Scotland’s World Cup performance last year. One is left wondering whether or not things would have worked out so well if Japan had had more time between fixtures.

The glory days of Scotland producing teams at team sports such as rugby and football which could win consistently at international level seem to be well behind us. The occasional cheering victory against Italy (at rugby) or Gibraltar (at football) has proved to be somewhat thin gruel, as they say. Today’s game, and those which follow it in the Six Nations, should be approached with no more than modest optimism.

Ian W Thomson,

38 Kirkintilloch Road, Lenzie.