THE SUNDAY TIMES REPORTS

Scotland join the big league in World Cup

Mark Palmer
If you set the alarm early enough, you can have Scotland for breakfast this morning. Chances are, France are thinking the same. The first Group B game for Steve McCormack’s side at the Rugby League World Cup is not one they are expected to win, but then few expected them to be in Australia at all.

At the home of rugby union’s Glasgow Hawks last November, Scotland declined to quiver before the might of Wales and completed an unlikely playoff win. A little before 6.25am, they will walk out at the Canberra Stadium before at least 10,000 fans. The scale of the challenge facing Scotland has risen in direct proportion to the stateliness of their surroundings. France have beaten them, heavily, twice in three years and given that only one of this pair and Fiji can reach the 10-team tournament’s semi-final playoff, a loss would leave the campaign effectively over before most of the nation realises it’s begun.

France boast a dozen members of the Catalans Dragons who came third in this season’s Super League, while four Scots, NRL players Ian Henderson, Michael Robertson, Scott Logan and Chris Armit, have never turned out with their teammates before. There should only be one winner.

“That’s just the way we like it,” says McCormack. “Nobody ever expects us to win, and yet here we are in a World Cup finals. We’re quite happy for everyone not to give us a second thought. I’ll just be interested to see how France deal with the pressure.”

Scotland ready to make their mark
Scots can make their mark in World Cup
McCormack, head coach at Widnes Vikings, has spent three years studying the lineage of countless individuals for the merest flash of tartan. Most of the squad have second or third-degree Scottish ties, while only Paddy Coupar, the stand-off, plays in the amateur domestic league. “We pride ourselves on telling them the heritage,” counters McCormack. “I don’t have any Scottish heritage myself, but I couldn’t feel more privileged to be part of it. We’ve been pretty stringent and only picked players who are serious about Scotland. You will be seeing these guys again and you’ll never hear a louder Flower of Scotland than today.”

Iain Morrison, a former Scotland junior international in union, agrees. His father, Craig, is from Edinburgh and served in the Scots Guards, and the family lived in the capital until the second-row was seven. “Few of the lads were born in Scotland but the sense of pride within the squad is incredible. Being Scottish is about how you were brought up and what it means to you and your family. I’m immensely proud that I have this chance.”

A move to the home counties saw Morrison sign a league scholarship with London Broncos, although while there he returned to union to represent Scotland at the under-19 World Cup in Italy. His power and strength attracted Gloucester, Harlequins and Worcester, but he opted to stay in rugby league and now plays for Widnes. He insists that the adopted Scots have nailed their colours to the Saltire mast as a first choice.

“Players like Danny Brough [the captain] and Michael Robertson had the chance to play for more established nations,” says Morrison. “Some people seem to think people play for Scotland because they are not good enough for England or Australia, but Danny and Robbo prove that’s not the case. There’s a wealth of experience from the highest level in our squad. People should underestimate us at their peril.” Robertson, who starts at full-back rather than his usual wing berth, scored a hat-trick for Manly in this month’s NRL final against Melbourne Storm. Brough had, in McCormack’s words, a “sensational” Super League campaign with Wakefield. Henderson has been “one of the best hookers in the world” of late with New Zealand Warriors. Jon Steel, the former Glasgow and Borders union wing, has played at Murrayfield, and once floored Jonah Lomu with a tackle. “We have some quality players in key positions,” says McCormack. everyone is playing at a very good level, so it’s a great pool.”

McCormack admits the sport must seize its moment in Scotland, especially with talk of launching a National League 2 side north of the border. “If we can get even one win here, that will help raise awareness, and that’s how people get involved. Scots are very passionate about sport and we want to bring that to our game.”

This article was originally posted on 26-Oct-2008, 11:58 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 27-Oct-2008, 10:35.