If Scotland do not field their best team against the All Blacks at the weekend, it will probably be regarded as an understandable decision but it will not be one I agree with.
The suggestion is that, because they feel they have no chance of overcoming the favourites, Scotland will save their best for the clash against Italy which will determine the second qualifier from their Pool.
Fine if it comes off and Scotland actually beat Italy, but what sort of an attitude is this from the Scots. Are they afraid of a good battle? That does not sound like a nation which has a history of brave fights against all odds.
I would have thought their players would want nothing more than the chance to get onto the field and physically take on the All Blacks, to wipe some of the smugness from the All Black supporters, to prove that a bloody good hit against an All Black is just as effective as a hit against anyone else.
I am very disappointed in the Scottish attitude, especially when I recall the 1999 World Cup and their match against the All Blacks at Murrayfield in the quarter-finals.
I remember doing the commentary on TV ONE because Keith Quinn had lost his voice that day. The All Blacks stormed to a 17-0 lead early on and led by 25-3 at halftime.
The Scots were hardly in it. But in the second spell it was much different. The All Blacks went off the boil and the Scots made them look very ordinary, scoring 18 points.
In fact I always thought, on reflection, that the second half against Scotland should have sent warning signals to the All Blacks as they headed into the semi-final against France.
Anyway, this current Scottish team is much bigger and faster than the team of 1999 - in fact bigger and faster than they were at the start of this year! They look capable of physically testing the All Blacks and of putting them under real pressure.
Why give the New Zealanders an easy ride? Do the Scottish really subscribe to the belief that the All Blacks will be less effective in the knockout competition if they have soft buildup games?
And anyway what does that matter to Scotland's team?
What a crazy way to approach the world's biggest rugby event.
Mel Gibson's follow-up to the "Braveheart" film could contain the lines " ..but we will never put ourselves at risk against a better foe!"
C'mon Scotland. Be brave.
