Putting the wind up Scotland's bravehearts

IT WAS cool weather for kilts in Dublin last night. Both the rain and the temperatures fell and icy winds swept up the Liffey, startling Scotsmen on O'Connell Bridge with sudden up and unders.

The city centre was like Bannockburn or Culloden the night before. But the bravehearts were the ones behind the bar counters, as the Scots gathered in apparently unprecedented numbers. Ryanair alone was claiming a record 10,000 Tartan invaders.

There were only about 5,000 in Gogarty's pub in Temple Bar, and a sample 15 of them had all travelled by ferry from Stranraer. Worse still for Bord Failte, 11 of these were staying with friends and the others were in B & Bs. But theories about Scottish thrift were belied by hotel statistics, which suggested there was hardly a bed to be had from Balbriggan to Bray.

The winsome Fiona Trotter and Lindsay Anderson (a tip for inebriated Irish fans today: the Scots women are the ones in the trousers) were among those who had made the trip oversea and overnight.

With them were the splendidly named duo of Spruce Baillie and Duncan Smart. All perfectly charming people, until one mentioned the possibility that Scotland might (lust conceivably) be beaten tomorrow. Which translated through the mists of rain and Guinness into something like: "I am Edward Longshanks and William Wallace is a big girl's blouse."

If Ireland win today, it will break a tradition stretching back to 1989. But all sorts of other traditions will be falling by the wayside.

Both teams will be professional for the first time in a Five Nations match. Rob Strong will usher in the new age by leading the crowd in a pre match rendition of Ireland's Call.

Ireland will also have a mascot for the first time: 11 year old Russell Burke from Beechlawn Special School in Hillsborough, Co Down. And Princess Anne will be at Lansdowne Road to lead the Scots in a stirring rendition of that song about slaughtering Prince Edward's army.