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You are here: Home » All Blacks year by year » 2014 » 2014 All Black tour Diary » AB Tour Diary; Catch up Days 15-16 November 2014
16 November 2014
Saturday 15 November 2014
New Zealand v Scotland at Murrayfield. Match day for the All Blacks. And for us following them in the tour groups.
Actually considering all things; the day went very efficiently for us all. Our two parties travelled from the Apex International Hotel to the famous Murrayfield Ground by coach and found our way to our seats; West Stand Upper Gate 24. As easy as pie.
The mood of the crowd of 66,000 was excellent, as it always is in my experience in Scotland. And the game, while tough and a bit of a disappointment to our people, was at least win for the All Blacks. So we trudged back to our coach in lively humour. It had been a good day. Any day when the All Blacks win is good - but this time the 24-16 margin was too close for many - and there was much discussion about play and players - deep into the night in the warm pubs of the Grassmarket. (See my match comments elsewhere on this site)
Sunday November 16 2014
Surprisingly, there were no visible hangovers in our tour group today. Today was to be a day of coach touring so I guess no one wanted to overdo the post-match activities too much. Or was it respect for the fact that our first stop was to be at a Scotch whiskey distillery!
Which meant we were a cheerful bunch as we headed out. The first stop was at Glengoyne distillery where at about 10.45am (!!) a complimentary glass of the 'good stuff' was offered around. All 36 in our group took gentle sips as we enjoyed a tour of how a tradition Scotch distillery works. Another 'wee dram' was offered to us as we approached the gift shop - which I am sure helped souvenir sales no end.
Next up we motored to the lakeside of Loch Lomond where we cruised for an hour. To be sure It was a lovely experience but I must admit here to changing my position from the upper deck where it was so cold and dreich (Scottish for 'bleak') it had become impossible to enjoy. (I noted, as I scurried below, that the hardy Scots also on board did not move an inch. No doubt such a lowering in the temperatures did not affect them one bit.)
Our last stop in our bus travel day was across the countryside to Stirling where a grand castle overlooks the city and from its upper decks you can see way across to the famous William Wallace monument.
The whole day was a great relaxant after the rigours of Heathrow on Friday and the strains of watching Scotland nearly beat the All Blacks at Murrayfield in the past two days.
In fact it is more touring and sightseeing for us in the days ahead as we begin a slow drop down to Cardiff to see New Zealand try to finish its rugby year in style against waiting - and perhaps desperate for a win - Wales!
Comments 1
4 August 2002
More Gold for New Zealand rugby at the Commonwealth Games
This time at Manchester with Gordon Tietjens as coach and Eric Rush as captain New Zealand wins the sevens final beating Fiji 33-25.
SHARP, RICHARD
Wasps, Bristol, Cornwall and England
14 internationals for England 1960–67
2 internationals for British Isles 1962
The pale-complexioned, blond-haired flyhalf who was seen as England’s and the Lions’ ready-made replacement when Bev Risman ‘went north’.
Sharp actually broke into the England team in 1960, before Lions star Risman had followed his father to rugby league, and took full advantage of the established player’s injury. He struck a swift accord with Dicky Jeeps and was considered the key to England’s Triple Crown success, kicking a critical dropped goal against Ireland, and another against Scotland.
The following season, indecisive England selectors couldn’t choose between the two talented men available, so played both, Risman at inside centre until he turned professional.
That gave Sharp an unchallenged position, for all that 1959 Lion Phil Horrocks-Taylor was still playing, but his international career was effectively to end within little more than a year. A smashing tackle early in the 1962 Lions tour of South Africa put Sharp out of action until midway through the tour, though he recovered to lead England to a championship win in 1963.
That was his international career, save for a brief return – also as captain – when England went down heavily to Australia in 1967. Sharp was not called on again.
He later became a journalist, covering rugby for the Sunday Telegraph, and was awarded the OBE in 1986.
Who was the last New Zealand Referee to control the All Blacks in an Official test match?
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28 December 2014 (9 years ago)
Stewy
What a great trip and for me Stirling Castle the top castle with so much history-cheers Malcolm Bruce Stewart from the town of the oldest rugby club in NZ Nelson. Great photo to treasure.