All ye who have prayers, prepare to pray them now. For Scotland need a miracle in Saint-Denis, Paris, on Saturday.
The Stade de France in the Saint-Denis commune in the northern suburbs of Paris is a magnificent stadium, the sixth largest in Europe, and surely all 80,000 seats will be taken for the clash of Scotland and Ireland on Saturday, for it promises to be a great rugby match.
Scotland go there on a wing and a prayer, thanks to the idiotic people at World Rugby who drew up the seedings based on the world rankings in January, 2020, that were already out of date by the time the draw was made on December, 14, 2020.
Scotland have achieved what was expected them and will automatically qualify for the next World Cup in 2027. We have a huge headache now facing us as a result of that premature draw, and funnily enough the patron saint of those who suffer from headaches is St Denis.
St Denis himself was a most interesting chap. He is often depicted in art without his head, and that is because he was martyred by decapitation on Montmartre in the third century. It was those nasty Romans in league with the local pagan priests who did the dirty deed on Denis, then the Bishop of Lutetia as Paris was known, but the saint had the last laugh by picking up his head and walking from Montmartre, preaching all the way, to the site that is now occupied by the Basilica of Saint-Denis not far from the Stade de France.
I am not saying that the Scottish team will have to work up a miracle as great as that of St Denis, but they must keep the heid and not play like headless chickens, otherwise we will get a severe hammering on Saturday evening.
I have consistently said that Ireland are hot favourites to win this encounter, and despite two fine Scottish performances against Tonga and Romania, I have seen no reason to change my mind. I have to call it as I see it, and the No. 1 team in the world has enhanced its reputation in this World Cup.
Yet there is hope for a huge upset because Scotland showed against France in the warm up matches and against South Africa in the first round of Pool B matches that they can compete with the best teams at times, and if they play as they can against Ireland for 80 minutes then we can squeak a win.
The problem is that a narrow victory isn’t good enough. Scotland must win by eight clear points and secure a bonus point by scoring four tries to absolutely ensure qualification for the knock-out stages, but I just cannot see that happening.
Gregor Townsend was rewarded for his daring to make 13 changes against Romania with a sublime performance all round, and the one thing we can be certain of on Saturday is that the chosen 23 will be up to the task and will meet the challenge of Ireland.
I’ll give my overall verdict once Scotland do come home – even if they do manage to beat Ireland and qualify we will be facing France in the quarter-finals and that will be au revoir time – but in the meantime can I say how much I have enjoyed watching Scotland in this World Cup.
My one concern for Saturday is that South Africa showed how to police Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe and Ireland will have taken the hint to give our two most dangerous attackers a cordon around them.
It is time for our other attacking souls to shine, and Darcy Graham has hit top form just at the right time. Yet the man I am looking to for inspiration is coincidentally earning his 50th cap on Saturday. Ollie Smith did well against Romania, but Blair Kinghorn’s all round talents and his pace have been outstanding, while he has stepped into the shoes of Stuart Hogg in a manner that bodes well for the 26-year-old from the Borders village of West Linton.
I hope Gregor Townsend follows the ‘50th cap tradition’ and allows Kinghorn to lead out the team on Saturday. It could drive him to even greater heights though as always, the match will be won up front because the pack must gain enough possession for our backs to use their undoubted skills.
That being said, Ireland have magnificent talents – the best team their island has ever produced - with the likes of Bundee Aki, Johnny Sexton, Hugo Keenan and James Lowe peerless in the backs and their forwards simply dominating nearly every game they play.
I am not saying Scotland have no chance against such a team, but rather than St Denis, prayers should perhaps be directed to St Jude, the patron saint of – well, you should know that…
