0:00:29 > 0:00:32Hello and welcome to May's Sport XIV. It's a busy programme.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Here's what's coming up on the show tonight.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40I'm getting bored in here all the time. I just want to ride my bike.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43We spend three months behind the scenes with cyclist
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Charline Joiner as she recovers from a broken back.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50That stays with you because it's real.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Alex Arthur reflects on his gold medal performance from 1998.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58HE SHOUTS
0:00:58 > 0:00:59And we bring you all the drama
0:00:59 > 0:01:03and excitement as the IRB World Sevens came to town.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10But first a story that not even a Hollywood producer would believe.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14If an athlete was to break their back in the Commonwealth year,
0:01:14 > 0:01:16you'd assume that would mean their hopes
0:01:16 > 0:01:21and dreams of competing would be ruined. Not Charline Joiner.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Four years ago she won a silver medal.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27On 4th January this year she was involved in a training crash
0:01:27 > 0:01:30but then returned to action earlier this month.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35Sport XIV has been given exclusive access to an amazing comeback.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50- COMMENTATOR:- Charline Joiner taking that sprint.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53'I could cry, I'm so happy.'
0:02:10 > 0:02:12'I was in Spain with the Scottish cycling team.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14'I was at the back of the bunch
0:02:14 > 0:02:17'and the crash happened at the front of the bunch of maybe about nine,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21'ten riders and then just got catapulted into the air.
0:02:21 > 0:02:23'I think I hit my head
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'and then I landed on my back on another fallen bike.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33'There was an electric pain, just started shooting through my body.'
0:02:34 > 0:02:41I had broken three of the transverse processes in my back,
0:02:41 > 0:02:43which are... You've got the spine
0:02:43 > 0:02:49and then you've got the little knobbly bits that come off the side.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52'I was so grateful and thankful that I would be able to walk again
0:02:52 > 0:02:55'that I wasn't even thinking about cycling.'
0:02:55 > 0:02:59I was thinking about, I can walk at this point,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01that's what was going through my head. I can walk.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05And every time I did something new, like I sat up, I would cry.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08And then I would walk, first steps, I would cry,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12'but then it was sore to cry, so I'd have to stop myself.'
0:03:14 > 0:03:15Oh, that hurts.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19'And I remember when the physio came round to my house
0:03:19 > 0:03:21'and he taught me because
0:03:21 > 0:03:24'I needed three people to get me in and out of bed, basically.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27'He taught me how to get out of bed and into bed on my own.'
0:03:29 > 0:03:34And I remember getting into the bed and my head hitting the pillow
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and just crying.
0:03:37 > 0:03:44This will be the longest I've been on the bike within one session.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50The longest I've been over two sessions is one hour,
0:03:50 > 0:03:53so I did 30 minutes each session, on and off.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56This is going to be 40 minutes, so.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59That's something that I keep reminding myself every day,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03how far I've come. Because if
0:04:03 > 0:04:07I don't remind myself that I'll get annoyed because I can't do something.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11But if I think, "Look, four weeks ago you were in bed and you
0:04:11 > 0:04:16"couldn't move without excruciating pain through your back and legs."
0:04:17 > 0:04:22'I've just got in my head, you know, those days when I'll be
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'competing on the track and in Glasgow and that's all I'm thinking
0:04:25 > 0:04:29'about now and I'm not thinking about how I'm going to get there.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33'I'm just believing that I'm going to be there.'
0:04:33 > 0:04:37I'm getting bored in here all the time. I just want to ride my bike.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47'My six week scan. I feel kind of nervous, but excited.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48'I've got a good feeling.
0:04:48 > 0:04:55'So, yeah, it was strange being back in that machine just remembering
0:04:55 > 0:04:57'last time I couldn't move.
0:04:57 > 0:04:58'It was sore.'
0:05:02 > 0:05:04And the bed's going to move again.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08'I've been doing quite a lot of rehab work
0:05:08 > 0:05:11'and I've been doing more meaningful sessions on the static bike,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15'managing to really apply some pressure to the pedals now.'
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Well done, that's all finished.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21'I should get the results in the next couple of days.'
0:05:21 > 0:05:27Hopefully as soon as possible. I'm looking forward to getting them.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42'I feel a bit like I'm about to race. It's a weird feeling.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44'It's like nervous, but excited at the same time.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47'I think I'm a wee bit scared,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51'but there's obviously going to be fear in the back of
0:05:51 > 0:05:54'my mind and things because I wouldn't want to risk
0:05:54 > 0:05:56'breaking anything again.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59'So, yes, it's to be a controlled environment
0:05:59 > 0:06:02'and maybe do some kind of pacing effort.'
0:06:02 > 0:06:04I'm not sure what the coach has got in mind for me,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06but just go along with it.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10- COMMENTATOR:- McCullough, bringing herself up to the line here
0:06:10 > 0:06:12for the gold medal.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Yes, there it is, so Australia take the gold medal.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17Scotland settle for the silver.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Jenny Davis and Charline Joiner are the winners
0:06:22 > 0:06:24of the silver for Scotland.
0:06:25 > 0:06:30- I feel quite emotional.- What are you doing?- Quite shaky.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34You'll be fine.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35'I know Charline is resilient enough
0:06:35 > 0:06:38'and she's got the character to be able to pull through.'
0:06:38 > 0:06:42It might even have cranked up her motivation a little bit more
0:06:42 > 0:06:48because she had a much higher sense of urgency because she had to
0:06:48 > 0:06:51get going and get her fitness back as quick as she can and as
0:06:51 > 0:06:56soon as she's there, she's going to have to step it up another level.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Get yourself ready, Charline.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03'I was just going round
0:07:03 > 0:07:07'and seeing what it was like and getting my confidence back up.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10'I just felt like I hadn't been away from the track.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15'Having to hold back when I actually feel quite fit and fast was quite
0:07:15 > 0:07:20'tough, so by the last effort I was glad that I could give it full.'
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Good work, mate. How does that feel? Do you need to do that?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37- I tell you what, position, awesome.- Good.- Well aero.- Oh, yes.
0:07:38 > 0:07:45'You know, after being off the bike for so long, I'm not that far from
0:07:45 > 0:07:48'the qualifying time as what I thought I would be,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50'so that's really good news.'
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Really, I'm keeping an eye on...
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Is she comfortable on the bike, is the first thing?
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Any indication of pain would be a sign of something not quite right,
0:08:01 > 0:08:03so we'd want to investigate that a little bit further.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06In terms of looking at her technique on the bike,
0:08:06 > 0:08:09having a check on position - has that changed significantly?
0:08:09 > 0:08:12To make sure that she's not picking up other ways of moving
0:08:12 > 0:08:15as a result of the injury, and it all looks really good today.
0:08:15 > 0:08:16Back feels good.
0:08:16 > 0:08:18No...
0:08:18 > 0:08:20No pain.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22It's not even stiff.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24I feel like I'm fixed,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27but apparently I'm only half fixed!
0:08:32 > 0:08:35I was at the track with you last time,
0:08:35 > 0:08:38and I pushed myself a little bit too hard.
0:08:38 > 0:08:40CHARLINE COUGHS
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Then came off and started coughing.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45What we call pursuer's cough.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49It's not pushed me back, but it's maybe stopped me
0:08:49 > 0:08:53from moving forward faster than I would have liked to.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57But you're always going to have setbacks
0:08:57 > 0:09:00and there's nothing I can really do.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Yeah, that's the most weight I've lifted since, erm...
0:09:14 > 0:09:16my accident, yeah, so...
0:09:16 > 0:09:20I think it's a really positive step
0:09:20 > 0:09:23and I'm still keeping really positive.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35This morning was my last scan.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37I've not got the results back
0:09:37 > 0:09:40but I actually went to see the doctor before and I did some tests with him
0:09:40 > 0:09:43and he gave me the all-clear to ride on the road.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46I mentioned that I had a 12-week scan on Twitter
0:09:46 > 0:09:49and Lizzie Armitstead messaged back saying
0:09:49 > 0:09:51"Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant!"
0:09:51 > 0:09:53She knew it was for my back,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55but I did put out another tweet,
0:09:55 > 0:09:57just to make sure everybody knew it wasn't that!
0:09:58 > 0:10:01My first race back will be in Buxton
0:10:01 > 0:10:04on my birthday, Good Friday, 18th April.
0:10:04 > 0:10:05How do you feel, all right?
0:10:05 > 0:10:08- Yeah, I feel like I could... I'll be fine.- Yeah.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11I do need to, maybe, off the track
0:10:11 > 0:10:14do some shifts to get my speeds back up.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17But I felt like I could've pushed something bigger.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Today I've got to go out behind the motorbikes,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38getting some motorbike pacing,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41It basically just allows me to go faster than what I can.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44The motorbike makes a windbreak,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47so I can tuck behind it and go really fast.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50It just allows me to get up to really high speeds.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53It helps me with speed endurance -
0:10:53 > 0:10:55going really, really fast,
0:10:55 > 0:10:57and strength.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I think, maybe just...
0:11:00 > 0:11:01What gear are you on?
0:11:01 > 0:11:04You're just bouncing a wee bit, maybe. Just a wee bit.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Today showed me that I've come a long way.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I've actually recovered really quickly,
0:11:19 > 0:11:24because I was getting up to the same kind of speeds that I was last year.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28It wasn't able to go as long, as I was before,
0:11:28 > 0:11:30but I was able to hit the speeds
0:11:30 > 0:11:34and after a couple of weeks of doing that, I'll be back up there.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38So it was a really positive day.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It was hard.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44I feel sick.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46Well, go and be sick.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Get your breath back.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50One more, Charline?
0:11:50 > 0:11:55Get off and have a wee walk around, just to keep everything moving.
0:11:55 > 0:11:56So, are we all set?
0:11:56 > 0:11:59- Last one?- Yep.- OK? Let's go for it.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Good first session.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26How do you feel, Charline?
0:12:26 > 0:12:29- Hm?- How do we feel?- Tired.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37So, I was supposed to be going to Buxton today, but I'm not.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38I'm packing up for the track.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Quite relieved I'm not going,
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Erm...to be honest, I'd been...
0:12:43 > 0:12:47My whole focus since the accident has been on the track,
0:12:47 > 0:12:51so I wasn't going to be as prepared as I could be,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54for a time trial.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56So, it's not really what I need.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01I just need to focus on one thing.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04Erm, which is the track.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07And I was not looking forward to that drive.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10My back has actually been a bit niggly, so...
0:13:10 > 0:13:13Yeah, I think I've made the right decision.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16Oh, no...!
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Things can be fixed!
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Just like backs.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39We are in Edinburgh Airport
0:13:39 > 0:13:44and I'm on my way to my first race in Stoke.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Last night we had a little bit of drama.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48I was looking for my passport
0:13:48 > 0:13:50and couldn't find it.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Er, realised that it's actually... it's probably been stolen
0:13:54 > 0:13:56with my toolkit.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Someone's walked into my house and taken some of our stuff.
0:13:59 > 0:14:04I had about seven chain rings in it which cost about £108 each.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Top of the range stuff.
0:14:06 > 0:14:08Luckily you can use your driver's licence
0:14:08 > 0:14:10on non-international flights.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25Thank you very much.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33I feel quite speechless.
0:14:33 > 0:14:37I don't know how to describe the way I'm feeling.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39It's a bit of excitement,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41relief...
0:14:42 > 0:14:44RACE STARTER COUNTS DOWN
0:14:44 > 0:14:45KLAXON BLARES
0:15:06 > 0:15:08LOUDSPEAKER: 'Charline Joiner taking that sprint..."
0:15:11 > 0:15:14First race back,
0:15:14 > 0:15:19I got seventh and I won the bunch sprint that I was in,
0:15:19 > 0:15:21and we won the team prize.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25I love racing!
0:15:25 > 0:15:27I love racing.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I could cry, I'm so happy.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31It's happy, it's relief...
0:15:31 > 0:15:33Some people didn't know whether...
0:15:33 > 0:15:35how I would be back in a bunch,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38but it's literally like nothing's happened.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39# I got shoes on my feet
0:15:39 > 0:15:41# I got a shelf full of books
0:15:41 > 0:15:44# And most of my teeth
0:15:44 > 0:15:46# A few pairs of socks and a door with a lock
0:15:46 > 0:15:47# I got food in my belly... #
0:15:47 > 0:15:49I've learnt to be a bit...
0:15:49 > 0:15:52I've always been a happy person
0:15:52 > 0:15:54but it's so much more important now.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- # Nothing's going to bring me down - Nothing's going to bring me down
0:15:57 > 0:15:59# Nothing's going to bring me down... #
0:15:59 > 0:16:03You know, when you're lying in bed and you can't walk or stand,
0:16:03 > 0:16:05it just puts everything in perspective.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09And, you know, I realised that cycling is just what I do
0:16:09 > 0:16:12and what I love but, you know, my friends and family are my life.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22I'm really happy with how it went, considering it's my first race back.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24It's just going to get better every time now.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26# Getting hotter now it's only getting sweeter
0:16:26 > 0:16:28# Baby
0:16:28 > 0:16:32# Ooh, it's getting hotter now it's only getting sweeter. #
0:16:32 > 0:16:37So, erm, I just need to keep my confidence up
0:16:37 > 0:16:42so that I can...just be confident in myself to actually get
0:16:42 > 0:16:47the breaks next time, stay near the front a bit more and I'll be fine.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56I just really... I want to be at the Games so much.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59And I need to prove that. So, I think....
0:16:59 > 0:17:02# Best of all
0:17:02 > 0:17:06# I got my man baby... #
0:17:06 > 0:17:09Four months and a week since I broke my back.
0:17:09 > 0:17:10# I got my baby... #
0:17:10 > 0:17:12So, I've done well, I think.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18And the cycling team will be picked later this week so keep
0:17:18 > 0:17:21your eye on the BBC Sport Scotland website for all the latest details.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25As we saw there, Charlie Joiner is a silver medallist.
0:17:25 > 0:17:2816 years ago, boxer Alex Arthur went one better
0:17:28 > 0:17:31and the passage of time hasn't diminished his memories.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Henry Gilliland did it in 1950. John McDermott did it in 1962.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45And Alex Arthur is going to do it here in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Walking to the ring, it felt almost like a pressure
0:18:01 > 0:18:03but also a release of pressure.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07So, it was mixed emotions because I was already there.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11I remember telling myself, "Just go do what you always do," you know,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13"whatever happens happens."
0:18:13 > 0:18:19- ANNOUNCER:- In the red corner, Marty O'Donnell representing Canada.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21He was a world-class amateur.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23He'd already been to the Olympic Games,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25he was punching really hard.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27He dropped a couple of opponents in the build-up to the final
0:18:27 > 0:18:29in earlier matches.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31And he was left-handed.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35So, my tactics were different to the other matches.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36KLAXON BLARES
0:18:36 > 0:18:40The plan was to get an early lead, to get a really convincing lead
0:18:40 > 0:18:43and try and score well with straight right hands.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46The plan was to land as many right hands as I could
0:18:46 > 0:18:49then slip off, dance out the distance,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52go back in, attack again and keep moving.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54But it never quite worked out like that
0:18:54 > 0:18:56and I found myself standing my ground a little bit too much,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58trying to trade punches with him
0:18:58 > 0:19:01to show him that I was just as strong as him
0:19:01 > 0:19:04and I fell short on the lead and I was losing, going into round four.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08I started boxing to instruction.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Come on, Alex, because Scotland really needs this one.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18That's better stuff from him. Getting out of the way.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21In the fourth round, I done it perfectly.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23I threw three or four really fast head punches.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25And I started mixing my combinations up.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27So, I would throw maybe two shots to the body
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and then one shot to the head and then I would move.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33And I think I got like a four-point lead going into the last round.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38And this has been a good turnaround by Arthur.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41The old Alex Arthur style is now starting to come in.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45And this has been a great round for Arthur.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46He's turned it around completely.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50Four points to the good going into the last two minutes.
0:19:55 > 0:19:57I was pretty tired.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58But because I knew I had a lead
0:19:58 > 0:20:02and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, you know,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04I maintained my composure
0:20:04 > 0:20:08and I tried to just be really smart, defensively,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12you know, and I didn't run away as such because I knew I had a lead.
0:20:12 > 0:20:17But I definitely boxed more cagily, you know,
0:20:17 > 0:20:21I was dead cagey about how I went about my game plan in the last round.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25He's the best featherweight in the Commonwealth and Alex Arthur,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28the Scots captain, is going to lead by example.
0:20:28 > 0:20:33And Alex Arthur is only five seconds away from winning Commonwealth gold.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37And he's deserved it. He's been the master all the way through.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42I remember when they announced it and it just said Arthur, Scotland.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46I remember falling on my knees thinking, "Thank goodness.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48"Thank goodness for that."
0:20:50 > 0:20:55Honestly, still, to this day, for me, it's the highlight of my career.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58It's the absolute...
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Personally, it's the greatest moment.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03It wasn't for monetary gain, you know.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08It wasn't for a promoter, it wasn't for anything else other than
0:21:08 > 0:21:11the fact that I was winning a gold medal for my country and my family,
0:21:11 > 0:21:16you know, and that stays with you because it's real.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24There's plenty been happening this month. He's Jane Lewis.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26She'll fill you in.
0:21:26 > 0:21:31Scotland's Niall Stott picked up his 150th international hockey cap
0:21:31 > 0:21:34during the Four Nations tournament in Glasgow.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Despite finishing bottom of the group,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40coach Derek Forsyth has had his appetite whetted
0:21:40 > 0:21:43for the Commonwealth Games.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46It's great to come in and all the people are in the stand, the kids,
0:21:46 > 0:21:49they're all cheering, they're wishing the players well,
0:21:49 > 0:21:51they're talking to the players after the game, yeah, it's great.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54I think the Commonwealth Games in July and August
0:21:54 > 0:21:56will be fantastic here and it will really bind the team.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Meanwhile, Scotland's ladies finished seventh
0:21:59 > 0:22:01in the Champions Challenge,
0:22:01 > 0:22:04following a 3-2 defeat to South Korea.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09Team Scotland has named its badminton team for Glasgow
0:22:09 > 0:22:14and it includes Robert Blair who represented England four years ago.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16Recently, I went to university in England
0:22:16 > 0:22:20and I ended up representing them as you need some funding,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24it's not a rich sport like football or something like that
0:22:24 > 0:22:27so they offered me a place in the tournament
0:22:27 > 0:22:29so I ended up playing there.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31But I have been back living here for quite a few years now,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34about four or five years so it was natural.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39And it's nicer for me to represent my home country and especially
0:22:39 > 0:22:41when something like this is on your doorstep.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46The athletics team has also been bolstered and among those added
0:22:46 > 0:22:49is 42-year-old marathon runner Hayley Haining.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- COMMENTATOR:- It's going to be a glorious, glorious win.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56Mo Farah for Great Britain!
0:22:56 > 0:23:00Mo Farah has announced via Twitter that he is Glasgow bound,
0:23:00 > 0:23:03though he is yet to decide on an event.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10And finally, we're off to Scotstoun.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Now, Scottish international rugby teams
0:23:12 > 0:23:14haven't been doing too well recently.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18Would that change as the IRB Sevens came to town
0:23:18 > 0:23:20in a dress rehearsal for the Commonwealth Games?
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Phil Goodlad was there.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26In the little town of Melrose, sevens rugby was born
0:23:26 > 0:23:27and we gave it to the world.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Can anyone stop him in this position?
0:23:30 > 0:23:33He cuts inside and the answer to that is no.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36No-one can stop him.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40And on the first weekend of May, the world brought it back
0:23:40 > 0:23:43as round eight of the IRB International Seven Series
0:23:43 > 0:23:45came to Scotstoun.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51The attraction of sevens, you know, you follow this around the world.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55Johnny, the 15 aside game can be very, very complex,
0:23:55 > 0:23:58in terms of its intricacies and the ruck and the breakdown
0:23:58 > 0:24:01but for sevens, it is seven minutes each way, seven players, there is
0:24:01 > 0:24:07a try scored every 90 seconds, John, and it is the most wonderful sport.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12And those in attendance were in for a wonderful weekend,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15typified by Scotland, first match against Australia,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18though it didn't start all that well.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21He's through for the opening try.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23This is the opener for Australia.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25They lead by five points to nil.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Scotland responded with tries by Scott Riddell
0:24:28 > 0:24:31and Colin Gregor before Lee Jones sealed the win.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35He's up the far side. Can he get clear? He's made it!
0:24:35 > 0:24:37It's a drive for Lee Jones.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40This is the one that secures the win for the Scots.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45A clash with the USA was plain sailing,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48reflected by a 26 points to nil victory.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58It was a day when tensions were running high...
0:24:59 > 0:25:02..even in the mighty All Blacks camp.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I just saw the huddle and the coach didn't seem entirely happy with your performance.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Yeah, he said we were a bit messier on the contact area.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Also not really using Whipp.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Sometimes, you'd like to tap him on the shoulder and point to
0:25:14 > 0:25:17the scoreboard and say, "We've won two out of two so far"?
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Er, I don't think I have the, er, confidence to do that at the moment.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23There was no shortage of confidence in the Scotland side,
0:25:23 > 0:25:26however, and victory over Spain would guarantee qualification
0:25:26 > 0:25:29for the cup quarter-finals.
0:25:29 > 0:25:30He's inside again.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Scott Riddell inside again! To Colin McGregor.
0:25:33 > 0:25:35What a score.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Superb support played by the Scots.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42A 19-point win set up a meeting with South Africa.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45You know, it's a good day one but as I said to the boys the other day,
0:25:45 > 0:25:48one counts for nothing. All it's done is provide us with an opportunity.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50We need to take that opportunity.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55On Sunday, there was a sense of destiny about Scotland's
0:25:55 > 0:25:59attempts to make pussycats of the mighty Springboks.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02And while it didn't start too well,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05the courage of this side was about to be displayed yet again.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12In goes Vernon. Vernon for the try for Scotland.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Scott Riddell!
0:26:16 > 0:26:19Riddell! Is it in? The try is given.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Canada or Kenya, who do you fancy, for your sins?
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Looks like Canada are 14-0 up just now
0:26:26 > 0:26:29so it's quite a big lead in these conditions so it may well be them.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32We know their strengths but again, it is about focusing on us as a team
0:26:32 > 0:26:33and executing our game
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and just building, as we have been all tournament.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- Best of luck and well done. - Thank you very much.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39# Let me take a selfie. #
0:26:43 > 0:26:46Was the Scottish bubble about to burst against semifinalists
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and Commonwealth opposition Canada?
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Scott Riddell's late try merely consolation.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Brilliant work to get right up there in support.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Five. Canada, ten.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15So, rather than a final, Scotland finished their campaign
0:27:15 > 0:27:19on the wrong end of the third fourth place play-off with Fiji.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- COMMENTATOR:- Can he make it to the corner? He's there.
0:27:22 > 0:27:28A defeat not enough to take the gloss off the weekend.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31We all know you from the full 15 but just how difficult is it to
0:27:31 > 0:27:34readjust or indeed how easy? Because you've made it look easy.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Oh, no, it's been very difficult.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40I was lucky enough to be in camp for two weeks and learned the ropes.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41I really enjoyed it.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44A lot of it is about playing rugby but the exposure
0:27:44 > 0:27:47that I have had out there is night and day from 15s.
0:27:47 > 0:27:5015s will feel very crowded and comfortable now. Put it that way.
0:27:50 > 0:27:51I guess a number of people
0:27:51 > 0:27:53will be surprised that Canada have made the final.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56When you look at the Commonwealth group for the end of July
0:27:56 > 0:27:59for the sevens, you'd think, "Well, Scotland and New Zealand will get up
0:27:59 > 0:28:02"in that group," but it just shows how difficult sevens rugby is.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06Well, we like to think so. We had New Zealand and Canada last time in the Commonwealth Games
0:28:06 > 0:28:09but Canada proved how tough a nut to crack they've been this season.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12They've played some of their best stuff in the last two tournaments.
0:28:12 > 0:28:13Good luck to them in the final.
0:28:13 > 0:28:18But a word of caution - these boys will be back and hungry, as ever.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24And that's it for today.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Our next programme will be in June as more stories of Glasgow 2014
0:28:28 > 0:28:30loom large on the horizon.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Now, Scottish sport was saddened by the passing of Elena Baltacha
0:28:34 > 0:28:37and our thoughts are with her friends and her family.
0:28:37 > 0:28:38Bye-bye.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44This year,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47I would like to be number one in Great Britain for my age group.