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Before heading up to Edinburgh for Saturday’s Test, I was in London for a couple of nights.
I had heard that the economy had taken a battering and yes, things were a little less phrenetic when compared to my last trip here in 2006.
Unemployment is a worry and based upon my anecdotal research from the best sources known to man – bartenders and cabbies – things are looking up a bit, with 2010 being better than this year.
What is happening around London is a lot of public works projects, with the 2012 Olympics the impetus to get things done.
The water mains project – some mains are from the mid 1800’s and needed an upgrade – the Cross Rail link, refurbished tube stations and various roadworks all paint a picture of London getting ready for a very big event, come 2012.
The same could be said of Edinburgh, home to many troubled banks and finance companies, but generally the punters are a wee bit skeptical of all the annoying public roadworks and the new Trolley system.
But public projects are never a bad thing when the economy is struggling. Unless, of course, you are a Republican.
Politics notwithstanding, it is obvious around London town that the economic calamities of 2007 did have a profound effect. It’s the trickle down – less money at the pointy end of the food chain means less budgets for expense accounts, less taxi fares less hitting the town, less travel. More video-conferencing.
My cab driver in Edinburgh reckoned his business has been down 25 – 30% over the last year.
And that has affected his ability to go to the big rugby and soccer matches. The trickle-down.
But back to the humour……
You may or may not be aware that Scotland beat Australia 9-8, winning for the first time in 27 years. Australia were generally awful, committing far too many turnovers and when they did get over the line – three times – were held up or called back for a forward pass.
The Wallabies finally set up a chance to win with the only try of the match in extra time, scored by last minute replacement center Ryan Cross.
Alas, Matt Giteau missed the conversion, to add to a couple of missed penalties and a drop kick attempt right on halftime. The teams went into the break tied 3-3, but with so many points left on the damp Murrayfield turf, Australia were leaving the door wide open for the Scots to creep home.
And they did, based on a fantastic defensive effort. They had to tackle their guts out, as they were only in the Wallaby quarter on the attack once in the whole Test and never really looked like scoring a try.
Beyond the belief of all and sundry, the Hopetoun Cup is back in Scottish hands.
They are a very knowledgeable rugby crowd, whether it was the lads at Carter’s Pub on the walk down to Murrayfield, Michelle the bartender at Au Bar or the folks I sat with during the match.
It was a crowd of rugby fans, and with the spectacular opening with the lone piper high above the stadium, it was a fantastic atmosphere. Scottish coach Andy Robinson gave big wraps to the Scottish crowd for their support – it was a factor.
The corporatization of rugby Test matches, something I noticed in Australia, was cheerfully lacking.
I have learned in my short stay to Edinburgh that the Scots are quite a self-deprecating lot. I think that losing games against teams like Australia and New Zealand is such a common occurrence, the Scottish rugby fans have a collective low level of expectation.
Which makes nights like Saturday night so special.
A lovely couple I met at one of the numerous tents set up at the bed and breakfast hotels on the way to Murrayfield remarked how their daughter had never seen Scotland defeat Australia – and she is 25 years old.
This was a big deal, yet the funny thing was that everyone who I talked to firstly said sorry for the loss, but OH YES! We will take it! They all knew Australia should have won, but the scoreline didn’t say that – Scotland won and George Street was a constant party long into the night.
I have long heard how good Edinburgh is on rugby day and now I know. The people here, the atmosphere and bearing witness to a memorable Scottish victory made the day.
Already, the Australian rugby press is calling this the new low for Australian rugby. Maybe so. It was difficult to sit through.
But I’ll always prefer to think it a special moment for Scottish rugby and a long overdue reward to some fantastic rugby fans. Congrats to them all!
