You lived on the edge with Scotland
The Rugby Paper|May 05, 2024
WHENEVER I cross paths with Paul Ackford, he always shouts across the room, “he taught me everything I knew!” Both of us were called into the England squad on the back of the London division’s famous win over Australia in 1988 but he got into the Test team later that year, and I didn’t.
NEIL EDWARDS
You lived on the edge with Scotland

They put him to the front of the lineout for his first cap against the Wallabies and, as he had never played at the front of the lineout before, we had this training session at The Stoop where I went through all the positions you had to get into to stop the opposition getting the ball. Paul and I had played together for a number of years, for Surrey as well as London, and I knew that Test rugby was the level he deserved to be at and also, as a friend of mine, I was only too happy to help. As we all know, he flourished once he finally got the opportunity at the ripe old age of 30 and turned into one of England’s greats.

I, on the other hand, ended up winning six caps for Scotland. As someone who had grown up in Wimbledon, I never expected that to be my route into Test rugby but I am extremely proud that I got to represent the land of my grandfather, George Watt, who came from Dundee.

My first cap was at Murrayfield in the 1992 Calcutta Cup match. At that stage, Scotland punched above their weight, they’d been down to New Zealand and almost beat the All Blacks, nearly made it to the final of the 1991 World Cup, and were a pretty good unit still. It was good fun being involved back in the day under the coaching of “Creamy” (Jim Telfer) Ian McGeechan and Richie Dixon. Creamy would think nothing of live rucking on a Sunday morning after a game or sending you on a three-mile run on the morning of the match. I remember being selected to be the player that lay down on the ground, where a tackle shield would normally be, while the rest of the forwards rucked over me. I could see the delight in the faces of my team-mates who thought it was great fun to give a Harlequins player a pasting on a cold and grey Sunday morning in Edinburgh.

この記事は The Rugby Paper の May 05, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は The Rugby Paper の May 05, 2024 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

THE RUGBY PAPERのその他の記事すべて表示
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
The Rugby Paper

Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy

TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.

time-read
2 分  |
November 03, 2024
South America look to keep on building
The Rugby Paper

South America look to keep on building

AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.

time-read
3 分  |
November 03, 2024
Scarratt excited by new pathway
The Rugby Paper

Scarratt excited by new pathway

ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.

time-read
3 分  |
November 03, 2024
Baxter: I want to make things better
The Rugby Paper

Baxter: I want to make things better

ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.

time-read
3 分  |
November 03, 2024
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
The Rugby Paper

Pearce walks in his father's footsteps

PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.

time-read
2 分  |
November 03, 2024
New England group will cause uncertainty
The Rugby Paper

New England group will cause uncertainty

SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.

time-read
4 分  |
November 03, 2024
Galthie turns his sights to the future
The Rugby Paper

Galthie turns his sights to the future

FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.

time-read
4 分  |
November 03, 2024
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
The Rugby Paper

Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson

CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.

time-read
2 分  |
November 03, 2024
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
The Rugby Paper

Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath

BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.

time-read
2 分  |
November 03, 2024
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
The Rugby Paper

New faces take the plaudits for Saints

NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.

time-read
2 分  |
November 03, 2024