There was a real danger that Will Carling was going to lead the Lions that year, luckily that poncy twat was relegated to a midweek player !! Gav was a star on that tour with his play but more how he handled himself. The fact that so many Ferners named him in their "favourites 15" is a testament to how highly he is regarded, as Fitzy said he "has the heart of an All Black". Gav got trampled by Jonah Lomu en route to setting up a try in the world cup in 95, no one cared though cos Gav was so cool. The fact it happened to Mike Catt a week later helped as well !!!

My old man was born in York but is a Scotsman through and through. That fact is usually given away by the family surname which depending on which way you look at it is either a burger bar or a guy who owns a farm. Its also the same as one of the All Black Fullbacks and a former AB loose forward from Auckland. So despite living most of my life in NZ I will support the thistles through and through, as much as the All Blacks.....that makes this upcoming game such a tough one for me personally. The All Blacks will win, of that there is little doubt but as someone who follows the boys in blue I hope they give them a hell of a game. On paper they may do this but you never know. They have a spectacular ability to fuck things up and get on the end of some fearful hidings. Jeff Wilsons hat trick in 93, Jonahs steamrolling efforts in 95, Cully getting four against them in 96. Another hat trick by Jonah in 2000.....you get the drift..... I remember watching the 93 test with a bunch of mates who gave me all sorts of shit about the performance of the Scotties, pack of PistonwristedGibbons, we're all still great mates though 

Talk in the paper is that Frank Hadden the Scottish coach is putting out a "B" team in an effort to keep the players he wants for the game they will target as a must win, Italy next week. Going from pool play form Scotland should piss in and on the surface it would appear to be sensible given that they haven't beaten the AB's in 25 tests. Two of Scotlands best players, the Lamont brothers Rory and Sean, have come out saying they believe they can knock over the men in black. Can they do it ? anything is possible but it would take a hell of an upset for this to happen, the AB's would need to be off their game and the Scotties would all need to play at 150%. Scotland have beaten every test nation before, bar the ABs. Come monday morning when we're having our cups of coffee and preparing to head of to work ( late ) its doubtful this will change.

I don't think any kiwis will take pride in giving the Scots too much of a hiding. We are kindred spirits, look at places in NZ like Invercargill and Dunedin. These names didn't get there by accident. Why then did places up north become Whangamata, Whangarei and Whakatane ? Too focken hot jimmie !!!! Taking a stroll down the Royal Mile is an absolute must for any kiwi on an OE and after the hassle of living in the quagmire that is London the fresh ( and of course freakin cold ) air of Scotland is magic. My grandmother worked in England and lived in Scotland and always commented that coming back across the border on the way home was always a pleasure "because the air was so much fresher". I got married last year, did I wear the suit the wife wanted me to ? Hell no, I wore a kilt and wore it with pride !!!!

Team hasn't been named yet but here is my stab at the best of the bunch.....

15 R Lamont  14 S Lamont  13 R Dewey  12 A Henderson  11 N Walker  10 C Paterson   9 C Cusiter   8 S Taylor   7 A Hogg   6 J White ( c )   5 S Mcleod   4 N Hines   3 C Smith   2 R Ford   1 G Kerr.

MN5's prediction ?  49-24. The Scots generally manage to get a couple of tries against the AB's unfortunately they concede a few more !!!