My latest journalistic effort....

Due for submission to the college's sports pages tomorrow, not sure how good this is rushed job:

When will we see your likes again…

They may have finished fifth and lost to bottom placed Italy, but Scotland could easily have won the Six Nations.

By Sammy Wilson

When it comes to international rugby, Scotland are never considered alongside the likes of New Zealand and South Africa as a world-class team. Whilst the boys in blue boast a proud rugby heritage, let’s face it, they haven’t been that good over recent years. The last championship trophy to come to Murrayfield was that of the old Five Nations championship back in 1999. Since then, it is safe to say that, despite a few Calcutta Cup victories over England, the Scottish rugby record has been fairly miserable.

Coming off the back of a delirious 9-8 victory over Australia last autumn, Scotland were no doubt fired up more than ever for the 2010 Six Nations championship. However it was business as usual for Andy Robinson’s squad as they found themselves at the foot of the table in their annual battle for the unflattering ‘wooden spoon’ with Italy. This time around things seemed even more dire than usual: the Scots lost out 16-12 to a stubbon Italian side in Rome, after defeats to both France and Wales. A sordid 15-15 draw with England saw Scotland register just one point with as many games left in the competition.

After a long wait, Scotland’s visit to Dublin to play reigning grand-slam champions Ireland finally gave tartan-clad fans something to shout about. An impressive and determined performance saw them win 23-20 in Ireland’s last game at Croke Park stadium. As they celebrated a victory that lifted them to second-bottom in the final standings, supporters were left to wonder what could have been in spring 2010 if luck had gone Scotland’s way.

That’s because this year’s championship was by far Scotland’s best for several years. Their record – 3 loses, 1 win and 1 draw – does not do them justice. Coming within 9 points of France in their opening game isn’t too bad; considering France went on to win the grand slam in convincing style. Whilst losing to Italy would be seen as shocking by the more ignorant rugby fan, playing away at the Stadio Flaminio against a rapidly improving Italian team is never an easy task – as England found out with their own edgy visit this year.

It was, however, the Wales game that put the nail in Scotland’s Six Nations coffin. It was an agonising defeat in Cardiff. After a great display Scotland looked to be home and dry with a thoroughly deserved away win – but it was not to be. Not only did Scotland concede two infuriating tries in the closing five minutes to lose the game, they also lost several key players to injury in the process. For this reason, England’s ensuing trip to Edinburgh was always going to be a tough game for the home side, yet perhaps they should have managed more than a draw.

The thing about Scotland is that they’re always nearly there. Always nearly winning games before throwing it all away in the final quarter; always finding themselves inches from the try line before dropping the ball and so on. With the likes of Chris Patterson (arguably rugby’s finest goal kicker), Dan Parks, Sean Lamont and an incredible scrum line-up, Scotland should be up there with the best in world rugby. Despite the results, 2010 has so far proved that they have the potential to finally get there. With the 2011 world cup just around the corner, Scotland’s time may well be coming, and everyone else had better watch out.

You are missing a comma after up in the final paragraph.

FAIL.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:You are missing a comma after up in the final paragraph.

FAIL.

You are missing inverted commas in your 'up'.

FAIL.

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:You are missing a comma after up in the final paragraph.

FAIL.

dammit!

SamiPremier08 wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:You are missing a comma after up in the final paragraph.

FAIL.

dammit!

Did the college paper cover the Cheltenham Festival in its sports pages last week?

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:

SamiPremier08 wrote:

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:You are missing a comma after up in the final paragraph.

FAIL.

dammit!

Did the college paper cover the Cheltenham Festival in its sports pages last week?

the college paper is crap Loyal, it's only out every month or so

I thought the use of the term "world class" had been outlawed by forumites here.....

Personally, I would have used capital letters when referring to the 2011 World Cup...

I disagree with the previous contributors on the up there issue and thought, on the whole, the effort was world class...

x + 3y = 9

x^2 + y^2 = 13

Solve for x any y boys and girls.

Nobody? I'm shocked and appalled.

I worry about the future of Engineering in Ireland (once reputed to be the home of enginners). Can't even solve a simple little equation like that. At this rate, I'll have to finish off the N3 on my own.

I will admit I did wap a pen out and give it a try but all i got was x=4.12. no good at maths

SamiPremier08 wrote:I will admit I did wap a pen out and give it a try but all i got was x=4.12. no good at maths

Yeah well don't expect to be bypassing Kells any time soon.

Sami are you just running this newspaper thing?

RoyalGirl wrote:Sami are you just running this newspaper thing?

admittedly, pretty much yeah. There are a few others, I'm only in it to write it on me CV.

SamiPremier08 wrote:

RoyalGirl wrote:Sami are you just running this newspaper thing?

admittedly, pretty much yeah. There are a few others, I'm only in it to write it on me CV.

Fair play duit! Just don't write on your CV that you support Tipp...

Loyal2TheRoyal wrote:x + 3y = 9

x^2 + y^2 = 13

Solve for x any y boys and girls.

x=3 y=2

anything harder?math was my favourite subject in school,havent done much of it lately though

SamiPremier08 wrote:A sordid 15-15 draw with England saw Scotland register just one point with as many games left in the competition.

Well the subject matter is a little painful Sammy but a very good read nonetheless and well structured. The line above is memorable - I have never heard of a rugby match referred to as 'sordid' - so that's class !!! (May not go down well in D4 though! )

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

SamiPremier08 wrote:A sordid 15-15 draw with England saw Scotland register just one point with as many games left in the competition.

Well the subject matter is a little painful Sammy but a very good read nonetheless and well structured. The line above is memorable - I have never heard of a rugby match referred to as 'sordid' - so that's class !!! (May not go down well in D4 though! )

a great adjective

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

SamiPremier08 wrote:A sordid 15-15 draw with England saw Scotland register just one point with as many games left in the competition.

Well the subject matter is a little painful Sammy but a very good read nonetheless and well structured. The line above is memorable - I have never heard of a rugby match referred to as 'sordid' - so that's class !!! (May not go down well in D4 though! )

I doubt they'd know what it means Jayo

RoyalGirl wrote:I doubt they'd know what it means Jayo

Believe me RG - they are the ones who'd know exactly what it means ....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RoyalGirl wrote:I doubt they'd know what it means Jayo

Believe me RG - they are the ones who'd know exactly what it means ....

Well grr them!

as someone studying Journalism Sami i think its quite a good article. the grammatical errors are nothing which cant be fixed on microsoft word so i wouldnt worry too much about that.

Fair play, and i completely agree with you about Scotland being much better than the 6 nations table claims they are

Very good writing sami, but I must admit I'm a little disappointed in you.

I can understand the Scots getting carried away with Saturday's result (they do every time they beat anyone other than Italy), but I thought you'd a bit more sense than to be saying they "should be up there with the best in world rugby."

Ireland had a shocker on Saturday, and Scotland still only scraped by. If Sexton had been anywhere near his normal kicking form then Scotland would still have lost. Equally well Rory Best has never had as many overthrows in an International before this. Scotland caught Ireland on an exceptionally bad day, but yet their being made out as if they are nearly on a par with the Tri-Nations.

Based on performances in this year's Championship, Scotland have certainly improved. But one swallow does not make a summer.

Their scrum is strong, but in the loose the front three (Euan Murray in particular) need to do an awful lot more.
Parks has been good at goal-kicking this season, but he's still not a great 10. His distribution is only average, and his decision making is extremely hit-and-miss. Their backs are not World-class in any way shape or form. 3 tries in the Championship should be enough to show you that.

As I said, it's a well-written piece sami, and the budding journalistic skills are evident. But I thought more of you than to be getting carried away with the Scots' over-excitement.

Are you really called Sammy Wilson?

God love you.

Great stuff Sami. Remember me when you're famous.