Its hell here in Germany. They don’t do rugby and their idea of ‘football’ is the sodding Bundesliga, a third rate bunch of semi-professionals who queue up each year to get the chance to get beaten by Bayern Munich. And who knew, when booking a weekend in Berlin, that it would coincide with the World Cup rugby quarter finals and the four most incredible matches in rugby history. A history, I’d like to remind some, that is older than that of America, Australia, certainly Germany and lots of other countries I like to hold in contempt. And if I’m wrong on that, its only in a chronological sense, not a moral one.

Wales did mighty well against might South Africa but alas it turned into a game of two halves, the second of which proved too much for the injury-blighted Welsh.

New Zealand simply thrashed France. Simply. Easily. Efficiently. Mercilessly. Job done.

Argentina amazingly beat Ireland and beat them well.

But the most incredible game was Scotland’s against the Aussie foe. No-one gave Scotland a chance, and that proved to be correct. But not until the 80th minute. Because at the 78th minute the Scots were ahead by 2 points. And just had to ‘see out the match’. Then a penalty given away and in the last minute the Aussies kicked the 3 points and won.

Raising the question: how sorry can you ever feel for Scots? The answer to which I’ll leave to you and your personal innermost feelings and history. The Andy Murray effect, Nicola Sturgeon, Alex effin Salmond, the year 5 geography teacher, Dave Mackay, Billie Bremner, The Hogmanay Show…

The indigenous Eskimo-type igloo-dwellers, formerly known as ‘Eskimos’ before it became incorrect to do so, have allegedly, 100 words for ‘snow’. Similarly, Americans have 200 words for ‘hamburger’, 300 for ‘beer’. Well in Berlin they have 600 words for ‘grey’.

Its grey today. Which almost adds to it, unaccountably. Off on a 5 hour walking tour. In the rain.

Oh happy monday

A xxxx