Rugby World Cup: Don’t under-estimate Scots with a sense of grievance – Vladimir McTavish

My nerves are being shredded by the fate of Scotland – and my nextdoor neighbour – at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, writes Vladimir McTavish.
Scotland supporters, like Vlad's neighbour, will be hoping they are not home soon. Picture: GettyScotland supporters, like Vlad's neighbour, will be hoping they are not home soon. Picture: Getty
Scotland supporters, like Vlad's neighbour, will be hoping they are not home soon. Picture: Getty

My next-door neighbour has been on the other side of the world since last month and I sincerely hope I don’t see him for a few more weeks.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the guy, I’ve actually never even met the bloke. It just so happens, that he is a member of the Scotland rugby team out in Japan for the World Cup, so obviously none of us wants him to come home too soon.

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I have never been impressed or star-struck when I have met any famous people in showbusiness or television circles, as we all do similar jobs in the same industry.

However, whenever I meet a sporting celebrity, I behave in exactly the same way as my 13-year-old self would have done.

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For all I know, he may have recognised me and is very excited by the fact that he lives next door to a comedian who has sold out Carnegie Hall. OK, it was Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline, and it wasn’t the main theatre, it was in the Meeting Room which has a capacity of 35, but hey, it’s still a sell-out at Carnegie Hall.

Anyway, Scotland’s World Cup looks like it is going to come right down to the wire in the final group game against Japan. This nerve-shredding situation was made all the more tense due to a couple of dodgy decisions by the same referee who “cheated” us out of a semi-final place four years ago.

Scotland going into the last game of the group stage in a must-win game? With a sense of grievance? We wouldn’t have it any other way, would we?