I remember a far simpler time when I went to a test match or managed to get hold of a ‘golden ticket’ for a Six Nations fixture and simply headed to Murrayfield to be part of one of the greatest spectacles in world sport.
It’s been a while since I last went to Scotland’s home of rugby but the experiences were so powerful I can vividly recall details of the days.
I remember the avalanche of people streaming past the brown wall houses that line Roseburn Street as you steadily snake towards the stadium.
I remember the mild mannered but passionate support of rugby spectators giving for a reassuringly pleasant atmosphere compared to the sometimes edgy feel that can come with football games.
I also remember we would park so far away to avoid charges that not only was I happy to finally arrive at the stadium because we’d finally arrived, but because I was almost at my seat.
“There’s only so long you can delay tournaments before they have to be scrapped for the next event and, from a selfish point of view, I just want to watch something other than repeats of ‘Only Fools and Horses’.“
The games themselves weren’t always the most electrifying of rugby, but I remember the light from the pre-match pyrotechnics as flames burst into the air to welcome warriors to the pitch. I can hear the belting out of the national anthem, the slap of the big hits, the oohs and ahhs of the crowd and I can feel the pick up in intensity when a drive was on.
Most of all I remember the buzz of being in a stadium with so many other people all engaged in the sporting tale playing out before our very eyes.
Further articles:
–Review Six Nations 2020: Scotland finish on a high beating Wales in Wales for the first time in 18 years in a one of a kind Six Nations campaign
–Local legend Paul Lawrie calls time on the European tour and moves to the Seniors: look back on career highlights
–Recap: Aberdeen Uni take the inaugural Granite City boat race off rivals RGU
Rugby rocked by uncertainty on and off the field
Ten years is a long time and with the uncertainty in the current climate a decade seems more like a century at the moment.
It’s difficult for a rugby fan to purchase a ticket now not only because of the lack of availability, but because no one knows if a rugby match is going to be played.
Six Nations 2020 didn’t finishing until October and even though Six Nations 2021 is scheduled to start at its regular slot of February nerves about the tournament have been shook after the French Government’s latest travel restrictions have put to the scrap heap the last two rounds of the group phase of European rugby.
Added to all this the recent fallout after revealing the horrendous stories of CTE victims in the sport – the summit of this horror realised in Steve Thompson’s tragic account revealing he can remember nearly nothing of England’s World Cup glory in Australia in 2003.
It leaves rugby supporters scratching their heads thinking what is going on.
Bring on the Six Nations be it as it may
Be it all, Scotland are set to line-up against England at Twickenham on 6th of February for their Six Nations 2021 opener.
It’s difficult at the moment to lay down any form markers. Scotland captain Stuart Hogg is only just returning from a hamstring injury for Exeter Chiefs. Finn Russell was back in the side for Racings’ crucial win over Clermont to keep the Parisians in contention for the Top 14 in France. And it will be great to see Adam Hastings, who deputised so well for the AWOL Russell during Six Nations 2020, back in a Scotland jersey after a lengthy shoulder injury.
On field matters of form and injury are always so vital before a major tournament but this year it’s finding out what’s going to happen off the pitch that has taken precedence.
The big debate about the Six Nations is whether it should go ahead without fans – to put it in context there’s currently a petition, signed by 1500 fans in just 24hours, for this summer’s Lions Tour against South Africa to be delayed to 2022 to avoid it being played behind closed doors.
There is no question that it is the uniquely energising atmosphere generated by supporters that makes tournaments so special. Across the sporting world events have been utterly debilitated by a lack of vociferousness from the stands.
As we remain at home and with a production line of variants to the virus threatening to delay a release from lockdown, my opinion is to get as much sport played as possible, both for the fact that there’s only so long you can delay tournaments before they have to be scrapped for the next event (à la threatening the Olympics in Japan) and, from a selfish point of view, I just want to watch something other than repeats of ‘Only Fools and Horses’ to distract me from the mire of my thoughts.
Make no mistake though, tournaments without fans will be remembered as a very poor and distant relative to the glory days when 60,000 could cram into Murrayfield on a cold grey afternoon in Edinburgh to cheer on their nation free of the worries of the world.
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 