Hastings gets untimely reminder of 1991 missed kick

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 23:20

GAVIN Hastings believes Calcutta Cup matches for the next three years will have "added spice" after Scotland and England were drawn together in a World Cup for the first time since 1991, but he insisted that even a big win for Scotland in 2011 would do nothing to alter his worst moment in international rugby.

The former Scotland and British and Irish Lions skipper missed a penalty in front of the posts when Scotland and England were level at 6-6 late in their 1991 World Cup semi-final. The Scots had beaten their auld enemy to secure the Grand Slam the previous year, but Rob Andrew succeeded with a drop-goal minutes after Hastings' miss and England gained revenge.

Hastings had been tackled by Micky Skinner, the England flanker, moments before he was asked to kick and said he saw "several sets of posts" as he lined the ball up, "and chose the wrong one."

Hastings reflected yesterday: "That is not something I will ever need to be reminded of. Nothing will ever get over my disappointment of that and I would expect Scotland to give a very good account of themselves in 2011, but it will have nothing to do with my career.

"Years and years have passed and that is just my personal thing to deal with now; a massive disappointment in an otherwise memorable career, something I think that helps shape the person you are.

"People might remember that game with the draw we've got now, but I don't think we need any links to the past with this one do we? As far as being an enticing match is concerned, ScotlandvEngland in a World Cup is fantastic. We were always going to have to face one of the big teams and I'd like to think that Scotland can go down to New Zealand and feel the games with Argentina and England are ones they can win.

"And unlike the last World Cup, I don't think there is any way Scotland will put out a second team to face the auld enemy, which is a good thing in itself.

" This is the oldest international fixture in the world and the fact we haven't met in the World Cup for a long time adds an extra dimension as well. I'm just hoping the game is down in Dunedin because we will get the support of all the Kiwis in the country."

He added: "I'll definitely be there. I've been at every single World Cup final and I'll hopefully be at every one until the day I die because I just love the tournament.

"Some people might complain about the fact the draw has been made now, but it's neither here nor there, and I think it's going to add spice to any game between England and Scotland between now and then.

"There is one team we in Scotland want to beat more than any other and that's England, and it will be all the more special if it happens in a World Cup."