Brothers in arms

Published on Sunday 9 November 2003 00:00

IT ALL ended in tears.

The farewells would have been more aptly made, perhaps, at Murrayfield, but this was a fitting occasion and a fitting arena in which to make a final bow.

A fitting performance, too, for something finally stirred in the heart of all 22 Scots who took the field here last night as they produced a display of pride and passion against all the odds.

At times, the alleged world champions looked very ordinary indeed and the verdict of their coach Eddie Jones that "we knew the Scots would come out fighting and it was a case of withstanding the pressure then putting them away in the second half" were not only disgustingly arrogant, but sensationally inapt.

Telfer, Scotland’s retiring director of rugby, was a lot closer to the mark when he said: "I am very disappointed with the result and the score didn’t reflect the effort put in. It was a tremendous effort and the forwards played as well as I have seen in the last few years.

"I am very proud of the players and I hope the press will give us some credibility as well as the people back home, those former internationals who should know how difficult it is for Scotland to win away from home. Let’s give credit to Bryan and Kenny, because they have been a credit to the game. I am very proud of how Scotland played and the reaction of the crowd said it all. They can go home with their heads held high and I am very glad to be retiring."

With the score standing at 9-9 by half-time both Scotland management and the travelling media were entitled to begin looking up the number for the local Qantas office and begin a search for accommodation in Sydney, venue for Saturday’s semi-final, but Australia inevitably got their act together after the interval to win in reasonable comfort, scoring three tries, although Scotland still had the last word with a try by substitute hooker Robbie Russell near to time.

According to the Scotland hooker Gordon Bulloch, the captain-elect as Redpath retires: "This performance gave us lot of belief. We are due back here next summer and if we had been thumped by 50 or 60 points it would have been difficult. Chis Paterson came in at 10 and has given new impetus to the attack."

Paterson himself caused a minor sensation when he was spotted stretched out unconscious during the warm-up. He had been hit on the side of the head by a stray ball, but started the game and said: "It was no big deal. I was a bit dazed but got on with it." For Logan, it was "a privilege to be here at the World Cup. I have had a great 11 years and some wonderful times with Scotland. We have had a hard group, and a lot of the lower nations put in a lot of effort. Tonight was another step, and there are exciting times ahead for Scottish rugby. Ian McGeechan is moving to a new role, there’s a new coach coming in and Jim is off to do the gardening."

The last word went to Redpath: "It’s very hard to swallow an occasion like this. It is a tremendous stadium, and a marvellous occasion. In 10 years, I have had good times and bad times and I know there are other players like Mike Blair, Chris Cusiter and Graeme Beveridge ready to take over. I have had a wonderful time and now it is time to watch and to try not to criticise."

Asked about the future of the domestic game, the Scottish captain added: "We have to adapt. There have been a lot of positives and a lot of negatives out here and we have to look at them all. We have to go back to the clubs and districts and attempt to move forward. In the last couple of years it has been a bit stagnant and has not improved, but that is international rugby. It is not an easy game any more. I hope Scotland move on. I wish them every success. I’ll be watching and supporting."