Scottish rugby fans are becoming more and more like children waiting for Santa Claus.
Before Christmas, they get excited and full of optimism as the national side lifts their spirits during the autumn Tests.
But then, in the New Year, the cold reality hits home and the default setting switches to despair. It’s even worse when you have travelled to Cardiff in an upbeat mood.
All that expectation, all that feeling this could be the start of something magical…then it comes crashing down in a horrible heap.
Wales boss Warren Gatland predicted big win over Scots and his team delivered
Let’s be honest about the manner of the Scots’ 34-7 thrashing at the hands of Wales in the opening match of the 2018 Six Nations. It was as one-sided a contest as I’ve witnessed in the last 30 years. The Welsh were simply better in every department.
In advance, much had been made about the injuries which had afflicted both teams. The Scots were missing key personnel in the front row, while the Welsh were deprived of such talismanic figures as George North, Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb.
Yet, in the event, the absentees proved almost irrelevant. Whereas Scotland made a big deal about the potential of debutant Chris Harris, their opponents demonstrated their strength in depth with a vengeance.
Steff Evans had a fantastic match, Leigh Halfpenny bristled with menace, and Aaron Shingler, who failed to forge a career as a professional cricketer with Glamorgan in 2007, was sensational.
The Scots, by comparison, were pallid and mediocre and barely in the game for long periods of the one-way traffic.
Big names such as Stuart Hogg, Jonny Gray and John Barclay had almost no impact on the proceedings, while their rivals ran riot. Finn Russell, occasionally a mercurial class act, had a shocker.
He wasn’t alone. Ali Price at No 9 was equally uninspired. And when your half backs are both in the doldrums, the chances are your hopes will wither on the vine.
I’ve no doubt Scotland will improve for their meeting with the French.
But perhaps, it’s time to recognise that the autumn internationals don’t matter that much in the grand scheme. Yes, Scotland trounced Australia, but they did do against 14 men for more than half the tussle.
And Australia aren’t very good!
The Scots owe it to all the patriotic supporters who made the trek to Wales to up the ante by a huge amount next weekend.
They had better turn up for this one!
