"What a day on Saturday!
In the morning the Tartan Army marched to the Rocks area of Sydney and unfurled the giant Scottish flag on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. We could easily have made international headlines if someone had let go and the wind had whipped it into the air and up onto Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Everything went well. Kilts stood on the top step. Piper played Highland Cathedral and Flower of Scotland. Japanese tourists took lots of photos and everyone with any claim to Scots ancestry came up and signed the flag. TV cameras rolled and we all had our 15 mins of fame. Guaranteed that in 2007 the others will have giant flags too. On to the game and what an experience that was . Pre game gathering at Captain Cook Hotel with three pipers.
On to the Stadium. Neutrals were all supporting Fiji who also had a very vocal support of their own. Not many fingernails left. Prospect of going to see quarter final without Scotland playing was not attractive, but our boys gave their all and we got through. Glenn Metcalfe and Cammy Mather got the supporters' vote for man of the match. They were both immense at tackling. Fiji No 4 got our back up for deliberately lying down and wasting time. Ref should have sorted it out.
Definitely not a good night for the blood pressure. At the end of the game we gave our Glasgow flag a good wave and this was acknowledged by the Glasgow players on the pitch. We had promised ourselves a big party after the match if we won but no one was really up for it. We were all shattered.
On to Brisbane! G' Day from the Magnificent Seven."