Aye, I think we can.” Even as a kid, watching the great Andy Irvine from afar, and then subsequently as a uni student in Edinburgh, the most memorable matches always involved England being sent homeward to think again.
The weather was utterly atrocious and a strongly fancied England side, hoping for a first grand slam since 1995, were flushed away by a slithering splashdown from an ecstatic Duncan Hodge, who scored all his side’s points.
Edinburgh’s cold, malty air, the walk down past Haymarket (before the trams), the distant hills, the lone piper on the Murrayfield roof … the pre-match mood always recalls the glorious tartan-tinted newspaper intro from years back.
The next day’s exultant headline in the Daily Record – “Battlers 19 Bottlers 13!” – has also stood the test of time.
As England prepare to host Scotland on Saturday, relive some of the most compelling clashes between the old foes.
