80 minutes vs 1,000 years: pitch battle

Former Scottish Rugby Union captain Rob Wainwright looks back on the rivalry between the Scots and the auld enemy - and how history off the pitch can create motivation on it

Scotland's national sport, as in so many other countries, is undoubtedly football. This is reflected in the massive profile of our domestic game and the huge followings of our top clubs, be it Rangers, Celtic or St Johnstone (well, I am a Perth man!) But when it comes to international sport, it is probably fair to say that the country's primary focus is its rugby team.

And why? Simply because every year, without fail, we get a chance to take on (and occasionally defeat) The Auld Enemy. In contrast, such opportunities are only rarely offered to our less lucky footballing counterparts.

The Calcutta Cup is one of the universe's oldest sporting fixtures. England first took on Scotland in 1871 at Rayburn Place in Edinburgh. The Calcutta Cup was introduced as an added incentive, as if any were needed, in 1879.

Since then the two countries have met on 119 occasions, with the victory tally standing at 62 to England and 40 for the Scots.

What is it that makes this such an important game for players on both sides? I have no real insight into the motivations of the English team, but ask your average Scot and he will put forward a number of theories, none of them complimentary. Similarly, it is fair to say that most English players have little understanding of the forces that drive the Scots, and the Irish and Welsh, when they line up against the men in white.

A quote from a young Jeremy Guscott comes back to me. When questioned about the overwhelming desire of all the other Hom...

To read the rest of this article you can do any of the following.

• By : Rob Wainwright
• In : Sport
• Issue : 2
• Page : 24
• Words : 2,111