Time to swap 'England fans' for impartial commentators

Once again on the final weekend of the Six Nations championship the television viewer had to put up with a commentary biased towards one team. On at least two occasions Brian Moore shouted out "penalty" against the French but had to recant when the situation was reviewed. It also appeared that the heavy rain only affected England, while France continued to play in sunshine.

At the round-up at the end of play, the three England pundits, John Inverdale, Jeremy Guscott and Lawrence Dallaglio, spent 15 minutes discussing England and the referee's attitude to their team while the token Frenchman, Rafael Ibanez, sat silent.

Oh, for a real commentator like Bill McLaren or Bill Johnstone.

BRIAN ROOKLEY

Lochview Crescent

Stranraer

Barracking of opposition just belittles Scotland as a nation

Although living in England I, and my two sons, try and get to at least one international every year. For the Calcutta Cup only one of our boys got to Murrayfield. I saw the game in the local pub.

To listen to the crowd at Murrayfield barrack every penalty awarded to England is an embarrassment and the time has come for the SRU to ask for it to stop. Go to Northampton and hear the silence when the opposition have a kick at goal. It only highlights the lack of sportsmanship currently displayed at Murrayfield. We all want Scotland to win but this barracking belittles us.

GEORGE NICHOLSON

The Bradburys

Stratton Audley

Jeering of kickers certainly not unique to Murrayfield crowd

If Mr Gordon Lindsay and Mr Michael Crosby (Letters to the Sports Editor, 15 March) think that a few Scots booing is bad they want to go to Rome to watch Scotland where I'm sure they have made booing at place-kicks compulsory and it's not too great in Twickenham either.

The stance on booing at kickers is unfortunately part of the professional era, maybe it's the way of the crowd getting back at the English press juggernaut and English rugby TV pundits.

STEPHEN KILPATRICK

Edinburgh

Parkhead candidates need not be Celtic-minded to succeed

Celtic fans wanted rid of Tony Mowbray, but why pander to them? They were the ones who wanted him in the first place, as they did in past seasons with the likes of Tommy Burns, Lou Macari and Kenny Dalglish, and look where that got Celtic in terms of regaining their iconic 1960s success. The board should seek a top-notch candidate whether he is 'Celtic-minded' or not.

Fans usually get these things wrong, though there are exceptions to this general rule – for instance, I would usually back the judgment of Hearts fans over that of Vladimir Romanov when it comes to picking managers.

ANGUS LOGAN

Coates Gardens

Edinburgh