0:00:09 > 0:00:1230 years ago, rugby in Scotland was a barren land,
0:00:12 > 0:00:16starved of glorious victories and the trappings of success.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19But in 1984, a new seed of hope was beginning to grow.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26He's away.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28There's an overlap here.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31A brilliant Scottish try.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33They've done it again.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37There's a chance on the overlap. Kennedy goes through.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39That's a brilliant try.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41The flags wave.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Scottish hearts are lifted once again.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Well taken by Robertson. Robertson feeding on to Campbell.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Oh, he's stuck it.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00There's scenes of exultation here.
0:01:00 > 0:01:04There's the happiest man in Scotland at the moment.
0:01:11 > 0:01:131984 was one of my rugby highlights of my life.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16The Five Nations, it was just...
0:01:16 > 0:01:18It's brought me here today, it's given me a love for rugby.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Jim Aitken, I remember him, what a star player.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Blood and guts and just fiery and just led out like a warrior.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26It was just magic. Loved it.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30The atmosphere in the old stadium was crazy.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34I'm very lucky to have been part of the 1984 crowd.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38If you'd asked the fans to predict the result of the Five Nations ahead
0:01:38 > 0:01:42of the '84 series, you might not have had such a positive response.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Scotland hadn't won the Triple Crown since 1938,
0:01:45 > 0:01:49and hadn't achieved a Grand Slam since 1925.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54There always has been, and there still remains,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57something really magical about winning a Grand Slam.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00And obviously, it's been won quite a lot in recent years,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03but there was a long period, going through the '60s, '70s, '80s,
0:02:03 > 0:02:06where it was very, very unusual.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10It was the first season ever played at Murrayfield, and 80,000 people
0:02:10 > 0:02:14watched on as the Scottish team beat England to win the Grand Slam.
0:02:14 > 0:02:15At the end of the game,
0:02:15 > 0:02:18at least half their team or more lay down on the ground.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I'd never seen that on a rugger pitch before.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24They just lay out on the ground and packed up. It was extraordinary.
0:02:24 > 0:02:29It was a very clean game, I think, except...
0:02:30 > 0:02:33..one player was kicked in the head once,
0:02:33 > 0:02:37and his father, with an umbrella, hit the man who did it as he left
0:02:37 > 0:02:39the ground afterwards, which was quite funny!
0:02:39 > 0:02:43In typical Scottish fashion, it was a game that went right down to the
0:02:43 > 0:02:46wire, being decided by a drop goal in the dying seconds.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49We didn't think very much of the Grand Slam or
0:02:49 > 0:02:51the Triple Crown, I must say.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54The only thing that worried us was beating England.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57The importance of a Grand Slam or Triple Crown didn't seem to
0:02:57 > 0:02:59matter in these days.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Although winning a Grand Slam wasn't on anyone's mind going into the
0:03:02 > 0:03:06'84 Five Nations, we had a lot of experienced players.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10Eight of us had been on the Lions tour of New Zealand in 1983.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12The tour had been far from a success,
0:03:12 > 0:03:15and when our coach Jim Telfer was asked what he'd do next,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18he famously replied, "Is there life after death?"
0:03:20 > 0:03:26I came home very disillusioned, and I came home from New Zealand
0:03:26 > 0:03:29having been beaten 4-0 in the Test series
0:03:29 > 0:03:30and feeling like a failure.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33He's one of the most passionate guys I've ever met.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35He took it, rightly so, so personally,
0:03:35 > 0:03:38like you'd take playing for Scotland, coaching Scotland.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39It's a tough job, coaching.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42It's a great job when you win, but I promise you,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44it's not great when you don't.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46After that tour, Jim was a bit down
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and probably felt that he'd had enough of rugby.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50But we... I think
0:03:50 > 0:03:53we managed to talk him around on the flight home.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56And it was the right decision for Jim,
0:03:56 > 0:03:59and it was the best decision for the team.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02As a squad, we drew from the experiences on that Lions tour with
0:04:02 > 0:04:04a battle plan to work on,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07with Jim Telfer very much in the driving seat.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10He was much more like an Alex Ferguson than people really
0:04:10 > 0:04:11give him credit.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14He was a bright guy, as well as being a very hard guy to play for.
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Before the '84 Five Nations could get under way, there was
0:04:17 > 0:04:19a small hurdle to get over.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23The old lads were coming to Murrayfield.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It was a tough match to play in, but in the dying minutes of the game,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35Jim Pollock scored to level the match at 25-25.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38Peter Dods had a kick to win the match right at the end,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41which would have been Scotland's only ever victory over the All Blacks.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43And it missed.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46So even allowing for the fact that they'd have been disappointed,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48they were on the up, there was clear momentum
0:04:48 > 0:04:49heading into the '84 championship,
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and so I think clever people would have seen that and thought,
0:04:52 > 0:04:55"Actually, Scotland aren't a bad bet for the title this year."
0:04:55 > 0:04:58A quite inspiring scene here
0:04:58 > 0:05:00at this great new-look stadium,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02as Hywel Davies,
0:05:02 > 0:05:05the new Welsh full-back, kicks it dead.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09John Rutherford will take the first drop-out of the match.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Lifting it back. Iain Paxton got hands to it...
0:05:12 > 0:05:16The first half against Wales did kind of fly past
0:05:16 > 0:05:19without anything really major happening.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22I know I scored and it was going towards half-time.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25So Scotland going for the short one as Colin Deans takes it.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Now it's fed out to Rutherford.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Rutherford checking back inside on the Welsh 22.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32A great try here for Iain Paxton.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34David Leslie gave the scoring pass.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38And Scotland have gone into the lead with a really brilliant try.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41It was the first try I'd scored for Scotland, so it did feel good.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Probably a six out of six tuck that I got when I dived over!
0:05:45 > 0:05:50The pass from David Leslie to me was probably like a baton pass.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52It was just right on the line.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Almost certainly a forward pass,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56but we got away with that.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00That's the kind of luck that you need to win these matches.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Dods then. Stroked it well.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Laidlaw goes on one of his sniping runs, and he's away.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Douglas half through. Back inside... A brilliant try.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12Dods then.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16It's certainly high enough. Has it got the legs? Yes, it has.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18And the Scots here are delirious.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Held up there by the wing.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24And it's Jim Aitken who scored.
0:06:24 > 0:06:30The Scots are in the lead and the Scottish captain has put them ahead!
0:06:30 > 0:06:33His try was exactly his distance.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37I think it was one metre from a line-out,
0:06:37 > 0:06:40but it was a very important try.
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Probably the most important try he's ever scored.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44He was a very good captain.
0:06:44 > 0:06:50He said the right things, and that's a tough thing for a captain to do.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Jim's good at motivating the troops and after that try,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55he pulled us together
0:06:55 > 0:06:56and told us
0:06:56 > 0:06:59in no uncertain terms that we have
0:06:59 > 0:07:01to keep focused and concentrate
0:07:01 > 0:07:03to make sure we win this game.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Peter Dods with this vital conversion kick now.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Because it'll put Scotland six points clear.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12He stroked it with, as they say in Scotland, "nae bother a taw".
0:07:12 > 0:07:16Everybody biting their fingers down, right to the ends,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18here in the stadium, Welsh and Scots alike.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Jim Calder guarding that blind side as Butler goes to Douglas.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25He lost possession.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27The referee's whistle has gone,
0:07:27 > 0:07:32and Scotland have won a remarkable victory.
0:07:32 > 0:07:33If you have an away victory,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36then there's a tremendous amount of confidence comes from that
0:07:36 > 0:07:39because you expect to do well at home,
0:07:39 > 0:07:43but away victories in test matches are like hen's teeth.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47- You don't get them very often. - To win in Wales is a great feeling.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51I do remember Eddie Butler, who is known to many as a BBC commentator,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54but he was playing number eight and I think captain of Wales.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I remember him wandering into the gents late in the evening.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00I think the dinner was on the go
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and here was Eddie sort of crying in the toilets.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07I remember feeling... Well, it was just quite a nice feeling,
0:08:07 > 0:08:08being Scottish in Wales
0:08:08 > 0:08:11and being witness to Eddie's state of mind at the time.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Now we concentrate on the big event here at Murrayfield this afternoon.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18Let's have a look around outside with the ground filling up all the time
0:08:18 > 0:08:22for this 100th meeting of the Scotland and England rugby union teams.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25And as when the first match was played in this city of Edinburgh,
0:08:25 > 0:08:28the rain is pouring down.
0:08:28 > 0:08:29As a squad of players,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33we felt very honoured to be playing in the 100th match against England.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36But we never needed any additional motivation
0:08:36 > 0:08:39for a game against the Auld Enemy.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Well, listen to the roar all round the ground.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I think the crowd realised that there may not be too many scores in this match and every one's vital.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50Deans throws long to Leslie. The palm meant for Calder.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Paxton kicks on. Johnston was a football player.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Dusty Hare in trouble. The referee has given the try.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59Scotland in the lead, 4-0.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03David Johnston was a professional footballer when he left school.
0:09:03 > 0:09:09He had a couple seasons with Hearts, and he kicked the ball through.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11David was on to it. He dribbled the ball
0:09:11 > 0:09:15and I think he actually beat Clive Woodward to the touchdown.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18It wasn't an easy try by any means.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20He made it look easy, but it certainly wasn't.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24Teams get sort of pigeonholed sometimes on how you play
0:09:24 > 0:09:28and certainly there's obviously the history of rugby up in Scotland -
0:09:28 > 0:09:33it's raining and they like to kick ahead, some would argue anyone's head!
0:09:33 > 0:09:36But they kind of kick and rush and they're quite good at it.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Certainly in David Johnston, I think he was an ex-professional football player.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45It's almost like in slow motion when this happens when you're playing because players are kicking
0:09:45 > 0:09:49and you think, "He's not going to kick it properly," and then he kicks it again and again
0:09:49 > 0:09:52and suddenly you're thinking, "He's going to score here."
0:09:52 > 0:09:57Dods then, the relaxed little chip. It's a beauty. 6-0.
0:09:59 > 0:10:03I've probably seen two great kickers in my lifetime in England.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05One's Dusty Hare and two's Jonny Wilkinson.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07He was a phenomenal goal-kicker.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10When he starts missing goals, does it affect your team? Absolutely.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13You know, you try and say it doesn't, but deep down it does.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16There is the saying, "It's just not going to be our day."
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Because of Dusty's misses,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23we actually were well in control of the game.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25Up goes Beattie, first touch of the ball.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Jim Calder gathers in.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31He's caught there by Steve Bainbridge. Now it's Roy Laidlaw.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Robertson after it. Dusty Hare comes in.
0:10:34 > 0:10:35A bit of indecision.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Robertson went for it and Hare took it second time.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41Calder gives it to Tomes. Tomes drives on.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44A lovely lay-back there for Laidlaw. There's a chance now.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47Kennedy goes through. That's a brilliant try.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Euan Kennedy, the scorer.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51And you can see how delighted he is.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54It's as good an example of getting a quick ball as I've seen
0:10:54 > 0:10:59from a Scottish pack, where Jim Calder, David Leslie and the rest of the forwards
0:10:59 > 0:11:02just whipped the ball off him, and drove and drove.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06And then the ball came back to Roy who passed to John.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09It was a poor pass. John took it off his toes.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11And then Euan Kennedy was at his elbow
0:11:11 > 0:11:14and took it and it went under the posts.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16Maybe we're being a bit revisionist in this,
0:11:16 > 0:11:19but you can see a lot of Telfer in the way they play,
0:11:19 > 0:11:23that absolute dog about, "We are not going to lose this game, come what may."
0:11:23 > 0:11:27We developed a rucking game because it suited our purposes.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31We're never going to be the biggest group of forwards in the world,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33but we can be dynamic.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I think all our pack hit that ruck as hard as they could.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Euan Kennedy hit a great line.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41And Euan was a big bloke.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45And that close to the line, he was just about unstoppable.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Peter Dods, straight and through.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Scotland made it awkward. Scott did well.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Youngs does well along the line to Woodward. Now it's out Clement.
0:11:56 > 0:12:01Inside to Hare. Kicked on by Rutherford.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Rutherford still. Kicked on by Pollock.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Inside England's 22, a penalty.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13And that was a typical old-fashioned hack and chase.
0:12:13 > 0:12:18Peter Dods has this kick to seal it for Scotland. The little hitch there.
0:12:18 > 0:12:19The wee twitter.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Dods then. Oh!
0:12:22 > 0:12:26The tartan hordes are delighted.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30The referee's whistle has gone for the end of the match.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34And, well, it's pretty straightforward.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37When you're playing in the 100th game against your biggest rival,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41then it's a great moment. But to win, it's even better.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Would Dusty Hare have missed those kicks with the modern ball? Probably not.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47But in those days it was so wet and heavy and difficult to pass.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52I'm just trying to think of as many excuses as I can now why we lost the game!
0:12:52 > 0:12:54But it probably wasn't the ball.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Having beaten England, it meant a trip to Dublin
0:12:59 > 0:13:04with a chance of winning the first Triple Crown for Scotland since 1938.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09To be quite honest, I had no idea,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13I had no benchmark to go on how you prepare
0:13:13 > 0:13:15a team for a Triple Crown match
0:13:15 > 0:13:18because it hadn't happened in my time.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21This might not be the most rugged of landscape in Scotland,
0:13:21 > 0:13:25but, over the years, the Borders have produced by far the roughest
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and toughest of Scottish rugby players.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31And, without a doubt, the Border forward has been renowned
0:13:31 > 0:13:33over the years because whereas
0:13:33 > 0:13:35a city forward might step beyond you,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37a Border forward would walk over the top of you.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39And there is a slight difference.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43Bill McLaren's appreciation is reflected afterwards
0:13:43 > 0:13:44in the Selkirk clubroom.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Everyone from the tea ladies to the team coach
0:13:47 > 0:13:49have their sights set on Ireland
0:13:49 > 0:13:51and the hope of a Triple Crown victory
0:13:51 > 0:13:54which would reverberate through these valleys
0:13:54 > 0:13:58and quickly become part of Border folklore.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Peter Dods gets the game under way.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06And both Moss Finn and Tony Ward
0:14:06 > 0:14:08just let it drift over the dead ball line.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Deans throws long and Campbell charges on.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Laidlaw goes. Laidlaw cuts back,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17going for the line, it's a try!
0:14:19 > 0:14:24Scots' arms raised aloft as Roy Laidlaw puts them
0:14:24 > 0:14:27in the lead by four points to nil with four minutes gone.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Peter Dods with the conversion.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Straight in through. Scotland are six points in the lead.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Well, they couldn't have hoped for a better start
0:14:38 > 0:14:40to their Triple Crown attempt.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42The Irish back just marginally heavier.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46And getting a very good strike indeed there from Harbison,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48but it's a penalty for taking it down.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52And the onus falls again on Peter Dods.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Done some great scoring this season.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Remember his five penalty goals against the All Blacks,
0:14:58 > 0:15:00three against Wales and four against England.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03When people miss a goal kick in modern rugby, it's kind of,
0:15:03 > 0:15:05"What happened there?"
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Some international rugby kickers
0:15:07 > 0:15:10barely had a percentage rate of 50%.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12So if you look at the contribution
0:15:12 > 0:15:14that Peter Dods made to that championship,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17it was absolutely immense.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21You know, all those goal kicks against Ireland, against Wales
0:15:21 > 0:15:25and against England, you can't underestimate the value of that.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Peter Dods then. Lovely follow-through.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Nine points to nil, Scotland in the lead, eight minutes gone.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33What a start they have made!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35So there is obviously a ploy on.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39Now, are they are going to turn it to the left?
0:15:39 > 0:15:43And probably Leslie will try and pick up and drive over.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Now, referee, Fred Howard, he's given a penalty try for Scotland
0:15:49 > 0:15:55for a bit of misconduct or foul play that prevented a try being scored.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00And the crowd is stunned by that decision.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02And Peter Dods not stunned at all
0:16:02 > 0:16:04and Scotland are way, way ahead.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09Laidlaw... Laidlaw going again
0:16:09 > 0:16:11and he's done it again!
0:16:12 > 0:16:15He was a dangerous runner, Roy, and had scored on two tries
0:16:15 > 0:16:17and we had kicked the goals as well.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20We were well over 20 points, at half-time, up.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22It was just a dream come true.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23Think about any...
0:16:23 > 0:16:27any rugby international that, you know, you've ever been to,
0:16:27 > 0:16:28almost of any level.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33To have that kind of domination at the half-time point is very unusual.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I remember speaking to Willie John after the game
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and he said that they had talked about defending
0:16:37 > 0:16:42the blindside against Roy, but it just didn't work and Roy
0:16:42 > 0:16:47scored two tries in the first half and then he got himself concussed.
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Of course, he went off at half-time.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52Just as well for the Irish, eh?
0:16:52 > 0:16:53If I'd stayed on, I'd have had four maybe!
0:16:56 > 0:17:00Tony Ward, then, gets the second half under way.
0:17:02 > 0:17:03As Campbell deflects.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Hunter takes.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Hunter going. Hunter, Rutherford.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Rutherford through. He gives it to Robertson!
0:17:09 > 0:17:11That's the clinching try!
0:17:11 > 0:17:15A brilliant try and Scotland surely have clinched it!
0:17:15 > 0:17:18So it's just the final little touches now.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21He could almost have kicked it with his eyes closed.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Paxton feeds Rutherford and Robertson comes.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27It's out to Johnston and over it goes!
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Gives it to Dods and another brilliant Scottish try!
0:17:31 > 0:17:32They've done it again!
0:17:32 > 0:17:35The referee's whistle has gone
0:17:35 > 0:17:38and Scotland have won an astounding victory.
0:17:38 > 0:17:4032 points to 9.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Their biggest win here in Dublin.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48# And the Irish sing of the Emerald Isle
0:17:48 > 0:17:52# Where the four-leaf shamrock grows... #
0:17:52 > 0:17:55I thought winning the Triple Crown was the best thing ever
0:17:55 > 0:17:59because I had never won anything playing for or coaching Scotland.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02To win a Triple Crown for Scotland, it's really special.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05There was a massive Scottish support
0:18:05 > 0:18:09and when we got back to the hotel, there were literally
0:18:09 > 0:18:13hundreds of Scottish supporters there to cheer us in
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and they were in the foyer,
0:18:15 > 0:18:19they were standing up the stairs as we were going up to our rooms,
0:18:19 > 0:18:23clapping the team and patting our backs. It was...
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It was just fantastic for Scottish rugby.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I missed out on the celebrations because I was in the hospital
0:18:29 > 0:18:33and, you know, suffering from footballers' migraine.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36And I was probably feeling a lot better than the players
0:18:36 > 0:18:39were in the morning because I had spent the night in the hospital
0:18:39 > 0:18:41and they had spent the night in the pub.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46# I don't want to go I don't want to go
0:18:46 > 0:18:50# I am in love with a beautiful Love with the beautiful
0:18:50 > 0:18:53# Love with a beautiful girl. #
0:18:55 > 0:18:57On the eve of a crucial weekend of international rugby,
0:18:57 > 0:19:00we're off to Scotland, because tomorrow they are trying to
0:19:00 > 0:19:03win their first Grand Slam since 1925 and they have already beaten
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Wales, England and Ireland and now they take on France at Murrayfield.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Now, appropriately,
0:19:08 > 0:19:10commentary on the match on Grandstand tomorrow
0:19:10 > 0:19:12will come from a Scot, Bill McLaren,
0:19:12 > 0:19:14a commentator now for more than 20 years.
0:19:14 > 0:19:18And Guy Michelmore has been the border country to meet him.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21To the young rugby players of Hawick in the Scottish Borders region,
0:19:21 > 0:19:22Bill McLaren is the coach.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25But to millions of followers of the game
0:19:25 > 0:19:28throughout Great Britain, his is the voice of rugby.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Boys, probably the most important factor in Scotland's success
0:19:31 > 0:19:34in the Triple Crown this season has been the rucking of the forwards
0:19:34 > 0:19:38because so often the ball has been laid back
0:19:38 > 0:19:40beautifully for Roy Laidlaw, the scrum-half,
0:19:40 > 0:19:43whilst the forwards drove most of the enemy off it
0:19:43 > 0:19:46and often knocked them flat on their backs.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48I worked with Bill for a couple of decades.
0:19:48 > 0:19:53He went into every single match ready for any eventuality.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56If, suddenly, a meteorite had struck the pitch
0:19:56 > 0:20:00and a four-foot crater appeared, he would've had, at his fingertips,
0:20:00 > 0:20:03the last time that had happened somewhere in the world.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05There was nothing left to chance.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08So he would have gone into that match as prepared as
0:20:08 > 0:20:10he would've been for any game ever, excited
0:20:10 > 0:20:13and with one or two little phrases up his sleeve
0:20:13 > 0:20:15in the event of Scotland winning it
0:20:15 > 0:20:18and winning their first Grand Slam for, you know, nearly six decades.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23I... I remember clearly Jim getting over to the team
0:20:23 > 0:20:26that the first three games were tough,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30but this was going to be a different level altogether.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32They were absolutely outstanding.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35Of course, Codorniou and Sella in the centre
0:20:35 > 0:20:37were absolute world-class.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Particularly Sella.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Sella would have been the best centre in the world.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43France, at that time,
0:20:43 > 0:20:47were beating the teams we had played against convincingly.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Peter Wheeler, the English captain,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52is quoted as saying that they were unbeatable, the French.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55We were definitely the underdogs.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58We liked being that when I was the coach anyway,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00but we knew it was...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02It was not an Everest to climb,
0:21:02 > 0:21:05but we had a huge mountain to climb to beat the French.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Scotland against France, that Grand Slam finale to the season
0:21:10 > 0:21:13and I am not going to back away from my original suggestion,
0:21:13 > 0:21:15with which I started this international season
0:21:15 > 0:21:17that this is going to be France's year.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20A Grand Slam, I think, for France on the cards
0:21:20 > 0:21:23and a fairy-tale finale for John-Pierre Rives.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26So the French came to Murrayfield with the same record as us,
0:21:26 > 0:21:28played three, won three.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30What a finale!
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Serge Blanco kicks short
0:21:34 > 0:21:38and immediately the French are up to their tricks right away.
0:21:38 > 0:21:39Good tackle by David Johnston.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43But what a clever start to an international match.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Philippe Dintrans throws.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48Free kick for closing the spaces.
0:21:48 > 0:21:51So that's a warning right away to the Frenchman.
0:21:51 > 0:21:55A great cheer for the Scots as they go for a shot and Laidlaw to Milne.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58The dummy to Laidlaw and the feed on there to Leslie.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Leslie fought and put down there.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03Yes, that tackle looked high.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06The tackle by Jean-Charles Orso.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09Study in concentration, the little twitter at the beginning
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and then Dods goes high enough.
0:22:12 > 0:22:13Dead straight.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Scotland leading 3-0.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Well-known, the French have cut to 2.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22The key man, Gallion has it, out to Rives,
0:22:22 > 0:22:24he feeds onto Dospital,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26Dospital up to the Scottish 22.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28Nicely out there out along to Dintrans.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Dintrans feeding back into Gallion,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Lescarboura brilliant handling here.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Oh! That was a try in the making.
0:22:35 > 0:22:40They had a particularly good player at scrum-half called Jerome Gallion
0:22:40 > 0:22:43who'd been recalled to the French team,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45having not been played for three years.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Jerome Gallion said about the coach, Jacques Fouroux, that the
0:22:48 > 0:22:51only time he had spoken to him,
0:22:51 > 0:22:54beforehand was because he was a dentist, was to have
0:22:54 > 0:22:57a look at his teeth rather than speak to him about the rugby.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Jerome Gallion scored a very good try.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Certainly that was very nicely done. Gallion drives.
0:23:03 > 0:23:08The try is given. And France surely deserved that one.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11They've gone up ahead by four points to three, 24 minutes gone.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Lescarboura. Referee's whistle goes for half-time.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22France have arrived there deservedly in the lead by six points to three.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24We were outplayed.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28Completely outplayed by the French in the first half.
0:23:28 > 0:23:29The second half was different.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34We came out realising that we had been lucky just to be
0:23:34 > 0:23:36not too far behind in the score.
0:23:36 > 0:23:42We'd a bit of luck in the second half where the French had
0:23:42 > 0:23:45a move in the line-out where they shortened the line-out, threw the
0:23:45 > 0:23:50ball over the line-out, for Gallion their scrum-half to run onto.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Now, we knew they would do that.
0:23:54 > 0:23:55France again down to two.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00That time meant for Gallion but taken by Leslie.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Paxton was the man who got over.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04That's Jerome Gallion, I think,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06the French scrum-half who got such
0:24:06 > 0:24:09a dunt there as David Leslie and he went for the ball.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12That's the game. Going for the ball,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15and David Leslie catching him with his elbow.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18Purely accidental when going for the ball.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21It's very sad indeed to see Gallion leaving the field
0:24:21 > 0:24:23because he has been one of the outstanding
0:24:23 > 0:24:25players of the Five Nations Championship this season.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27There was this collision, it was
0:24:27 > 0:24:30David Leslie taking out Gallion, Gallion was taken off.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Replaced. I think the French confidence took a real dip.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34Our confidence took a real lift.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37That changed the game completely.
0:24:37 > 0:24:41Jean-Pierre Rives started mouthing to the referee.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44He got the wrong side of the referee.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48In all games of rugby, you should try to keep on the right
0:24:48 > 0:24:51side of the referee because he can be your friend.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53And so the French were being penalised a lot.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Dintans throws.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Through goes Leslie. Leslie charges on. The pass is taken by Joinel.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Penalty. Can Dods bring Scotland back into the game?
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Dods then, straight enough, long enough. It's there.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Scottish hearts are lifted once again. Well taken by Robertson.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21Robertson feeding onto Campbell. On halfway.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Penalty against the French for being on the wrong side.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Dintans annoyed at the treatment of Rives.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33French indiscipline has lost them 10 metres again.
0:25:33 > 0:25:39That time Philippe Dintans the culprit. Dods then to make it 9-9.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45Looks good. He's done it again.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00Gathered in by Dubroca. He's been the line-out sweeper for the French.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04Berbizier. Lescarboura with a drop goal. That's a massive kick.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08What a superb kick and it's over.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13A big throw in for Scotland. Robertson on to Rutherford.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16They feed onto Leslie. That caught the French napping.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18And it's a penalty for killing it.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22Peter Dods then to make it 12-12.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28CHEERING
0:26:28 > 0:26:29All the way.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35Four penalty goals for Peter Dods.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39We've about three minutes to go. It's 12 points all.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42The Grand Slam hanging on those last three minutes or so.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45It's a try there for Scotland!
0:26:45 > 0:26:47And the scorer is Jim Calder.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51And they've gone into the lead, 16 points to 12.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54I suddenly had the ball in my hands. I was over the line.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55I did think I was offside.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59I looked up and the referee, Winston Jones, was signalling a try.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03I just thought, "Well, magic. We seem to have got away with it."
0:27:06 > 0:27:11Oh, he struck it as if he was playing for Gala without any strain at all.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Trying for the sixth.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17And succeeding. 21-12.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Back from Paxton. Laidlaw to Baird. Baird sprints.
0:27:28 > 0:27:33The kick to Blanco. Blanco showing unaccustomed frailty there.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34Dods has it.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38The referee's whistle goes for the end of the match.
0:27:38 > 0:27:43And Scotland have done it. The scenes of exultation here.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47There is the happiest man in Scotland at the moment, Jim Aitken,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49captain of the Grand Slam.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54We haven't had scenes like this at Murrayfield since 1925.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57And the whole of Scotland rejoices.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Jim Telfer was waiting in the changing room for us to come
0:28:03 > 0:28:06up the tunnel and he hugged everyone of his players.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11He was emotionally very moved by it all.
0:28:11 > 0:28:18The scenes of undiluted joy, jumping up and down and holding each other.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19I can remember that.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22It was like reaching the South Pole, if you like,
0:28:22 > 0:28:25it'd never been done before by almost any living Scotsman.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28I think they just couldn't believe it.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30It was a moment in history they'll never forget.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33These players should
0:28:33 > 0:28:36and will remember it for the rest of their lives.