THE STORY OF A SPORTING YEAR

The sundayherald sports team pick their highlights from the last 12 months and look ahead to what's instore for 2002 astrange year for inter-national rugby, 2001. It was really pretty disjointed.

Scotland played their first game of the Lloyds TSB Six Nations' Championship on February 4, losing to France in Paris, and their last game of the tournament on September 22 against Ireland at Murrayfield, winning handsomely and ending the visitors' dreams of a title.

Foot-and-mouth disease was the reason for the protracted international season, and in-between times we had a Lions tour to Australia.

Only three Scots were named in the 37-man tour party to take on the world champions - Scott Murray, Tom Smith and Simon Taylor.

The inclusion of Smith and Murray was no great surprise - Smith had been the mainstay of the victorious Lions front row and Murray was acknowledged as one of the finest lineout specialists anywhere in the world. But Taylor was the real surprise package. His tackle count in the record defeat to England at Twickenham assured his place on the plane to Australia.

As it turned out, Taylor only played one full game before a knee injury ended his tour, and Murray found himself frozen out. Smith played all three Tests, but the selection of nine Welshmen in the party was unbelievable given that the Welsh had been as ordinary as leek soup. Perhaps the Welsh head coach being the Lions coach had something to do with it.

Gordon Bulloch was flown out as a replacement but did not really feature - although he did have a proud moment, replacing Keith Wood late on in the first Test. And Andy Nicol had the most bizarre experience.

Leading a tour party of spectators, he got the call the day before the final Test and found himself on the bench for that match, although he didn't get on.

As far as the pro teams were concerned, Glasgow enjoyed a good start to the season and got as as far as the semi-finals of the Celtic League, proving that they are becoming more competitive. Edinburgh signed a couple of high-profile players from the southern hemisphere, Todd Blackadder and Brendan Laney.

Laney provided controversy for the autumn Tests, playing for Scotland after just one match for Edinburgh and allegedly leading to a revolt of senior players.

2002 will be most noted for the introduction of the third pro team in the Borders, most likely to be coached by Tony Gilbert, the former Kiwi assistant coach. It will be interesting to see where the players are going to come from, and how many - if any - of our top exiles return to the fold.

England and France are the opponents at home in the Six Nations, which means the pleasant prospect of trips to Rome, Dublin and, er, Cardiff for the supporters.

Hopefully, the Celtic League will be expanded and the Borders can make an impact, while it is time that Glasgow and Edinburgh did better in the Heineken Cup.

Copyright 2001
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