06/03/2012 Sport Nation

Hello and welcome to Sport Nation, your essential guide to the very

best of Scottish sport. This month from Cardiff to Shetland and plenty

of places in between, we're bringing you the latest news on our

elite performers. Coming up: Three defeats from three for Scotland at

the Six Nations so far. A poor return, or reasons for hope? We

have probably the best hope against Ireland. A special investigation

into why the girls are beating the boys on the track. I really do feel

that it is equality of the sport that has made it more accessible

for women to be successful. Sports Nation exclusive from

Shetland as Scottish Rugby's poster boy visits the island. Rhona has

been to one of the Olympic venues to speak to one of our London 2012

gold medal contenders. It's great that people are supporting and

saying silver last time, gold this time. There is more to it than that.

And Tom Evans reveals his plans to run and win for Scotland at Glasgow

2014. It is going to be no easy feat, but if I continue training

the way I have been, who knows what the future holds?

Well, it is hardly the start the country was looking for to this

year's Six Nations. Three games played and three losses to England,

Wales and France. We reflect on the Three games in, and Scotland's Six

Nations campaign has come to a shuddering halt. Where has it gone

wrong, and where are we heading? Plenty then to talk about with

somebody who knows a wee thing or two about playing for Scotland.

Doddie Weir is the man! Scotland. Six Nations so far. Discuss.

Wherever you look it was stated that Scotland were going to do well,

and that is probably the first time it's happened that way for quite a

long time. But it's these little mistakes, and these little mistakes

have crept in, and these little mistakes are not allowing Scotland

to win the matches. That started with the first match against

England. A packed Murrayfield saw Scotland dominate England for long

spells, new boys instantly making their mark. In the end though,

mistakes proved crucial, handing an inexperienced England the victory,

and signalling the end of Dan Parks's international career.

retirement afterwards was a bit of a shock as well because if anyone

wanted to fight for the jersey even if his time might be up with this

team at the moment, anyone with a Scottish thistle really want him to

fight for the jersey. He should have taken that as a right and

fought for the jersey. But he, to me, took the easy option out to end

his international career. Two weeks later, Scotland travelled to

Cardiff. Again, a spirited display was undermined by individual errors.

A ruthless Wales made us pay. has the try! His second, Wales's

third. Ultimately, if there is a mistake on the field it is down to

that individual player. When I was playing, if you dropped the ball,

it is your fault. If you feel you can't catch that ball, then you

should not catch that ball. But taking that one stage back, the

coach has to have some sort of say into that as well because they have

to practise these skills. On paper, the visit of pre-tournament

favourites France was always going to be the toughest of tests for

Andy Robinson and his men. Initially, though, you wouldn't

have thought so. And another new boy showed Murrayfield how it's

done. It is a try for Lee Jones! the end, again, Scotland fell short.

And France will have that try. Speak to me about the young players

that have been brought in for this season. To me, Denton is one of

them. Very solid number 8, understands the priorities of a

number 8. He has had the experience of being in a sevens circuit. The

same with Hogg as well. Denton and Hogg for me have got a big future.

Has Lee Jones caught your eye? Yes, he has. He has come in well. It is

exciting. The young stand-offs that we have got - lovely to watch.

Every player wants to get their hands on the ball. Despite the new

blood, a campaign that promised much is dying. Trips to Dublin and

Rome now all that stand between Scotland and the dreaded wooden

spoon. It's funny how in rugby there are certain teams you enjoy

playing against. One of them is Ireland. The Scots always raise

their game against the Irish for some reason. We don't enjoy playing

against Italy, there is no doubt. To me, our best hope is against

Ireland because away to Italy, we have not had the best of records.

Whatever comes from Scotland's travels, the focus now is on head

coach Andy Robinson. Contracted until 2015, but with the unwanted

record of just two wins in 13 Six Nations matches. Rugby is

everything to him, and I think he has come into a job to try and be

successful. It has not been successful. Now, is that a reason...

Is that his fault? Is that the professional game in Scotland's

fault? We only have two teams after all in Scotland. He is trying his

hardest, I think, to try and become a winner for Scotland. But it is

not working. At the end of the day, it's results that everyone wants.

If he does not deliver the results then someone else has to take that

position to deliver. I think you're lining up for a big question, but

the answer is yes, it has to make changes at the end of this Six

Nations if no victories come about. And, if there is one, again it

still maybe has to be looked at to see the way and the manner - it

still has to be discussed during the summer. Here is to Dublin then.

One of Scotland's most successful ever track and field athletes says

that women are outperforming men in the sport because now they are

being treated equally. And Liz McColgan should know. She's now

training the next generation of athletes and is witnessing the

girls out doing the boys. If your school was anything like my

school, then boys versus girls would very much have been at the

match of the day when it came to playground sport. But, in the world

of grown-up sports, specifically Scottish athletics, one side has

taken the lead, and it isn't the men. With London 2012 and Glasgow

2014 on the horizon, the big names 2014 on the horizon, the big names

stage with Eilidh Child and Steph Twell, long-distance runner Freya

Murray, with Lynsey Sharp and Eilish McColgan offering hope for

the future. So, why are our women Well, I think it is blatantly clear

that they are outperforming the men. There is a greater progression of

records by women. There is greater representation on UK teams, GB

teams. The medal performances by women in major championships is

greater, so it's a no-brainer, frankly. It's great to have seen

Eilish McColgan and Lynsey Sharp doing so well this year, and Steph

Twell and Eilidh Child. They have done a fantastic in previous years,

and last year as well. It is great to see them all doing well and

performing well, you know, and looking at them aspiring to compete

in London 2012. Here in a public park in Dundee on a cold Tuesday

night is where the answer perhaps lies. Former world champion Liz

McColgan is unpaid, training the potential champions of the future.

She feels women have finally found their feet in the sport. There is

an equality in the sport now. 20 years ago, when myself and Yvonne

were running, there wasn't the equality. When I started running,

women were not allowed to run for 3000 metres. Now they do 10kms in

marathons and that is in a 20 years span. I feel it is equality of the

sport that has made it more accessible for women to be

successful. Eilidh, Liz's daughter is keeping the family tradition

going, but as the child of two athletes with her father Peter a

competitor in the steeplechase, McColgan the younger is in no doubt

that at least in her family, men and women have very different

attributes. Obviously my dad was not at the same level as my mum,

and I think that was clearly that he did not work as hard. He was a

bit lazier, a bit more laid back. Mum was always on target and

hitting everything she was meant to do. Husband and wife, Peter

McColgan and Liz, so happy. And Liz so anxious that to get him to baby

Eilidh. She didn't miss a day's training - she was always there on

time. Dad was not bothered if he missed one day or two days, it

wasn't that a big deal. He had a completely different mental

attitude to my mum, and that is probably why she ended up going on

to do what she did because she was so determined. She worked harder

than everyone else. Eilish is working through the ranks with

Lynsey Sharp, herself the daughter of athletic parents in the form of

Commonwealth gold medal sprinter Cameron Sharp, and Scottish record

holder Carol Lightfoot. She believes that athletics demands

sacrifices, regardless of your gender. I suppose there is a

stereotype that the man is the breadwinner of the family, and the

woman is the one that has kids. To be an athlete, I suppose they both

have to give that up because my dad did not work until towards the end

of his career. My mum started late, but had kids after she had stopped,

pretty much. I suppose it is batting that stereotype which makes

you successful in an athletics career. You hear the word

"sacrifice" a lot in sport, but I don't believe it is a sacrifice.

You know, I don't feel that I missed out on anything in my sport.

I travelled the world, met the greatest people, won lots of races,

had lots of ups and downs, and had five kids at the end of it. I

really don't feel that I sacrificed anything. Here at Scottish

Athletics Headquarters in Edinburgh, the view is that our women doing

well doesn't necessarily mean our men are doing badly. But is an

outbreak of girl power something they take pride in? The current top

performers are female and they deserve all the credit and kudos

that they get. Whether it is Lee McConnell, Steph Twell, Lynsey

Sharp, Eilidh Child, and the list goes on... They are right up there

in Scottish rankings, British rankings and, we hope, some of them

up proving in world rankings, too. Child is coming up strong. Can she

come up this last bit quickly? think the community of athletics in

Scotland is supportive of one another. I think that the big names

in the female side that you have mentioned will actually be

supporting and supportive of the up-and-coming male athletes. When I

was coming into it there were quite a few guys around at that stage,

and men were dominating Scottish Athletics. So, I think it just

comes in peaks and troughs, really. We have had some great Scottish men,

and we have got some great Scottish women as well. Now, while the

international rugby team is struggling to win in the Six

Nations, the sport itself appears to be in good health in one of the

most remote parts of the country. Shetland has appointed a full-time

rugby development officer to grow the game there, with a little help

from a Scotland superstar. Jim Mason has this exclusive report.

Yes, it is Scotland's rising rugby star Richie Gray in a Viking helmet.

He is in Shetland to help grow the game in one of Scotland's most

isolated communities. First, it's time for a grilling. What's it like

being that tall? It's amazing, it's quite cold, but I suppose it is

quite cold today. What was it like playing in the World Cup? The World

Cup was awesome. Everyone in New Zealand plays rugby and they love

it. It was good. Have you ever been in a really small car? Yes, I used

to have a Vauxhall Corsa, which was really small. I just took the front

seat out and sat in the back. It was good fun! The reason for the

visit was an important one for rugby in Shetland. The sport's

first development officer has just been appointed and he has his work

cut out. We get kids from Sandwick all the way up to Bray, which is a

25 mile drive and a ferry. We have got one girl who comes on a ferry

about 30 miles. Yeah, the The day started out with a session

with the kids from a primary school in Lerwick. How does a rugby

development officer spent his day? Going round to schools, trying to

improve their basic skills of rugby. Trying to get them to participate

in the club so there will be more Lunch was next on the agenda.

you go. That looks fantastic. Geography means that Shetland's

rugby team have a lot of travelling to do to achieve their fixtures. We

met them at the ferry terminal before they made their overnight

trip to Aberdeen. Show us your hands. So what about the Shetland

players of the future? What did they make of Richie's visit? It was

fantastic, meeting a professional Scotland player. He is big, isn't

he. Huge. I never knew he was that big. What do you think of having

someone like Daniel to make sure that rugby grows in Shetland? Is it

a good idea? Yes. He is good with the young ones and teaching them

and all that. More interaction with local kids in the afternoon and

then a personal visit. Coincidentally, Richie's dad works

in Shetland and has been keen to chart his son's progress. He has

been playing well. It is disappointing for the team that we

have not made our mark, but there are a couple of games to go and I

am sure Richie and the boys will get some points. He is my biggest

critic and I have not been told I am doing well. It's always, you can

do better. That is just a dad really, isn't it? It's a nice break

to come and see your dad. It has been really warm. Everyone is kind

and welcoming, as my dad said they would be. It has been a brilliant

reaction and great to see some of the kids participating in Rugby. It

Olympic selection continues to be the major focus for hundreds of

Scots up and down the country. Rowers met a silver medallist from

the last Games in Beijing. He is doubling his chances of success in

London 2012. This is a Lee Valley, the Olympic venue for canoe slalom.

I am wearing a life vest because 13,000 litres of water per second

is the gushing along their below me. In the midst of it there is a

This is David Florence, the first Scot to make it to the podium with

a silver medal at the Beijing Games four years ago. Competing for Great

Britain, he has got to turn it on. This is his first Olympic final.

One more gate downstream. He is absolutely flying. This is a

tremendous time. He is in the lead and could get a medal in at the

final. Brilliant! I've only been to one the Olympic Games, but I am now

an Olympian and an Olympic medallist. It will stay with me

forever and I will be proud of it. It is an amazing experience and I

hope to repeat the chance. He says he hopes to repeat because

selection into Team GB will be an achievement in itself. People don't

realise how difficult it is to go to the Olympic Games in the first

place, particularly in canoe slalom. With only one sport for each

category, for some of the categories, we have got two or

three boats that are top performers and only one will get to go. It is

really tough and it is not the fun part necessarily, but that is

competitive sport and that is what you have got to do. But this time

around Florence has taken a decision which could double his

chances of success. The last few years I have taken up C2 with

Richard Hounslow. It is going pretty well. Only to try to get to

the Olympic Games. It is exciting times. Compared to going into

Beijing, I am in as good shape as I was so leave. The difference now is

what taking up the doubles category as well as the singles. I have two

chances at selection and assuming I get to London, two chances to go

and win a medal. But also, it is more of a challenge for training

for both of those and racing for both of those for selection. It is

He has been to the Olympics already and won a silver medal, so he has

got a lot of experience. We are hoping that extra experience will

help us get the edge. After the session on the water, it is

straight to video analysis. managed to keep the weight on the

front. I was not far off. You see how you are drawing down? Yes. It's

like seeing yourself after a run, you have a different perspective of

how it was and it allows you to build more and more understanding

of what you are doing. If you hit a gate by a slight margin, it can

cost you a lot. In Beijing, I literally brushed a gate by a few

millimetres with an elbow and that gives me a to second penalty. That

put me out of the poll position. Absolutely superb. His very first

Olympic competition. He has been so consistent throughout the last 18

months, but Team Florence have done it. Well done to all of you, and in

particular, well done to David Florence. Surely he is going to

stick around for another four years and try and get the gold medal in

London. A lot of people outside the sport do not understand how it

works and how competitive and difficult it is to get to the

Olympic Games. You meet people in the street, and it is nice, it is

great people support you. They say silver last time, got this time.

There is more to it than that, but the people who really know me and

what I am doing, my coach, my family and friends, who have an

understanding of what is going on, they know it is about going to

selection and in the best I can bear and preparing the best I can

for the Games. Winning a silver last time does not mean you will

win a gold this time. It means you have the potential to be right up

there in the world. And now for the latest chapter in the incredible

story of Thom Evans. He is a Scotland international rugby player

who have to retire in 2010 because of a life threatening injury. He

has now switched to sprinting. Late February and many of Scotland's top

athletes gathered for the National Indoor Championships. For one of

their number, it's the first steps A good debut heat for Thom Evans,

but you may know him better from a different arena. And through for a

try! And there he is, Thom Evans. That is why he is here. Thom Evans

caps a good performance with a try. But after just 10 caps, that

promising career was ended when he suffered a broken neck in Wales two

years ago. Given the severity of the injury, he admits he never

imagined he would be a competitive athlete again. I was just happy to

be walking again, to be honest. I am so grateful to everyone who

looked after me. I feel I have come away from a fatal injury relatively

unscathed and I am grateful for that. The man who treated Evans

highlights how close to death he came. When we realised there was

weakness in his legs because of the spinal cord injury, you can seek he

could have been paralysed. The blood vessels that are in the neck

supply the brain. It is life- threatening. We lost a patient not

so long ago with an injury like that. In his first outing, Thom

Evans had support from the he's friends in Rugby. He is amazing.

was a tough injury and to lose your career that is difficult, but he

will always bounce back. And it was not only rugby stars in the crowd.

His model and actress girlfriend Kelly Brook turned more than a few

heads. She is really supportive and I am very lucky to have someone who

is as enthusiastic about me progressing in the sport as I am.

One last good luck kiss and then on Evans misses out on a medal and he

concedes he is still adjusting to a very different discipline from

rugby. You are expecting guys to come in at all angles to smash you.

You can get away with the technique been slack, where as in a straight

sprint, everything has to be working as one. It is so technical.

Part of me wanted to tackle the guy next to me, but I had to restrain

myself. It is strange because obviously there is so much

camaraderie in a rugby team and when you are feeling the pressures

of going out to an international game, you have other guys to talk

to. Whereas you just got to get yourself up for athletics because

it is an individual event. But he has got some expert advisers in his

corner. Come on, Alan! Come on, The wife of Alan Wells helped into

Olympic gold in 1980. Now she is helping Evans. Thom is in a

fortunate position. He has got Alan there if he needs him. There is no

correlation between training someone for rugby or training them

to be a sprinter. I could teach him how to do a block start. We have

done no training really. We have just had to sharpen up what he has

had an making what explosive and technically efficient and Roman out

there and see what happens. course, it is still early, but how

good can Evans become? There has been talk of the Commonwealth Games,

but in my mind, it is a bit too I want to carry on training the way

I had been training and see how I am over the summer. I think I will

be good at the 200 and 400. I want to assess it from there and decide

what to do. It won't be easy, but if I continue with my training, who

knows what the future will hold. has got enormous strength and he

has shown that with rugby. He came into rugby late compared to a lot

of us and he was exceptional. Just had the desire to be as good as he

possibly can. It's the same with sprinting. He will work harder than

anyone to get as good as he can possibly be. Two years before 1978,

Alan ran 10.52. No-one thought he would win. Anything is possible. It

is exciting, the journey. Well, that is it for this month.

Next month we are devoting the whole programme to the Scottish men

and women dreaming of being heroes at the London Olympics. That is the