THE late, great Bill McLaren called his last game for the BBC when Scotland beat Wales in Cardiff in 2002. No-one who watched that final broadcast from “the voice of rugby” would have expected it to coincide with Scotland’s last Six Nations win in the principality.
On Saturday, Scotland have a chance to put that atrocious record right when they tackle an equally-depleted Welsh side at the Millennium Stadium, something former Scotland lock Stuart Grimes would be delighted to see.
The former Newcastle man was a member of that successful Scots team 16 years ago. However, he dearly wants to shake off the label as having been a member of the last Scottish team to depart Cardiff cheering a victory.
“I’d love to say I remember everything about that day, but I don’t think it was a very memorable game,” admits the 71-times capped lock. “Similarly I’d love to say I was a game-changer. I came off the bench with 23 minutes remaining to replace Jason White, when Scotland were 16-15 behind. We eventually won 27-22.
“What part I played, who knows. I had look it up to sound authorit-ative,” laughed Grimes, tongue in cheek as he can actually recall more than he is keen to let on.
“I was shoving behind George Graham, my Falcons team-mate, who was coming under a bit of pressure in the scrum. I just remember telling him to keep going, not to give in, and him replying ‘I’m trying’. There may have been an expletive used part way through that witty retort.
“What I clearly recall is the man-of-the-match being Brendan Laney. I saw him playing a few times with Edinburgh, and he was a talented guy, a real ball player, and a lovely person. The players adopted him very quickly.
“But, he was never fully accepted as a Scotland player, and I always felt a bit sorry for him. Firstly, he was a Kiwi parachuted in to the Scotland set up, which to some meant he wasn’t good enough to be an All Black, but, would be good enough for us, quite an unfair assertion to make. As was the notion he wasn’t up to it physically. He was a bit of a bulky lad, which always gave the impression he wasn’t as fit as he should be, and therefore was slow. Nothing could be further from the fact. He could cover the pitch, and at speed.
“That afternoon though, he kicked just about everything, including four penalties which kept us in contention as Wales kept trying to edge ahead. Typically, he couldn’t even take the acclaim at the end. He was injured trying a drop-goal, leaving Duncan Hodge to come on and sink the clinching penalty.
“I remember with more clarity about what happened before and after that match. Cardiff was probably my favourite place to play after Murrayfield, simply because you catch the atmosphere as soon as you get near the place. The venue is smack in the middle of the city, so you have to part the crowds as you arrive on the coach, and all the fans are banging on the side of the bus. It wasn’t scary or anything. For me it brought a bit more excitement and feeling to the day.
“It was Rob Howley’s last game for Wales that day, and I think it was at the dinner later that John Leslie told me it would be his last game for Scotland and that he was just going to focus on club rugby. That was a ‘wow’ moment, and a bit of a shocker to be truthful.
“And, it was also Bill McLaren’s last commentary before he retired. He was awarded a special commemorative Scotland shirt after the game by Ian McGeechan. So, it was nice to send the two of them in to retirement with a Scotland victory. Actually, it was nice to send all three of them in to retirement off the back of a Scotland win.”
Grimes is still talking about that win today, although not through choice.
“Yes, it’s nice to be recognised as having played a part in that game, but it’s not something you want to be doing after 16 years. I wish that record was consigned to the waste-paper basket next Saturday and we could talk about the current Scotland team ending that run and taking a victory into the French tie.”
Like many, Stuart feels an air of optimism around Gregor Townsend’s Scotland team.
“A first-game victory is so import-ant in the Six Nations. It’s a short, sharp tournament in which every game counts so you want to make the best possible start because it is all about momentum. Win this, and it gives you a real boost to go forward. And I don’t think anyone is getting too carried away about how Scotland might do in Cardiff, based on a series of performances under Gregor; winning a Test in Australia, running the All Blacks close, then crushing the Wallabies again.
“This is definitely Gregor’s team now, playing the game as he wants it, and completely buying in to his philosophy on how the game should be played for 80 minutes.
“Some of the tries Scotland scored in the Autumn Test were just wonderful examples of 15-man, running rugby. And the Scots possess some real firepower throughout, but
especially in the back division.
“If we keep the error count down, we can win in Cardiff. And it means you won’t have to talk to the class of 2002 ever again.”
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