To wonder why so many Scottish people a thrilled when England do badly at sport?

[Jollyphonics]

I'm not bothered about the rugby at all personally, but this is irritating me. I have several Scottish friends, and their Facebook newsfeeds are full of gloating about England being knocked out of the world cup. It's a recurring theme with all sporting contests - mant Scottish people will support some random team from a country they've never heard of, if they're playing against England. I don't see the same with Wales and Ireland. Why is this? Is there that much resentment?

Out of interest, how much does a professional rugby player earn compared to their footballing equivalent?
Average premier rugby players earns around £90k pa whereas average football player earns around £1.6million per year.
Highest paid rugbys player earns around £3-400k pa & Rooney earns £15m pa.

The only people I've heard bleating We Woz Robbed are people who don't actually follow rugby to begin with but start on the assumption that England would win because reasons. This, to be fair, is most of the media.

England did some good things but the parts that went wrong are undeniable. Spurious team selection, very young, very inexperienced squad, questionable captain although I think Robshaw did his very best to be fair. I can't see how Lancaster is going to be able to stay, though.

Yamayo you make a really good point; at its best French rugby is beautiful and a joy to watch whereas English is... well it can get the job done, but is a bit leaden bloody drop goals indeed . I miss the old days. I'm sure it was better in the old days.

The only people I've heard bleating We Woz Robbed are people who don't actually follow rugby to begin with

Completely agree.

I haven't followed rugby that much for years, (but raised in the valleys, Dad was the village rugby club chairman, dated lots of players so saw a lot of rugby in my youth), and I must say I'm quite shocked by how the game has changed.

The players these days are massive, there are no fast skilful little guys any more. I really think they need to change the rules or reassess the safety equipment or something; the level of injury seems unacceptable, I bet all the top players will be utterly fucked in later life.

Even Warren Gatland was commenting on telly a few days ago at the way players have become so massive over the last very few years. Being hit full pelt by a 6' 4" 17 stoner must be like being running into a steam roller. Never mind the head and neck effects for those in the scrum.

To think my DH once played prop forward at 11 stone. Unthinkable now.

I know Grimble, my Dad was a hooker at about 10.5 stone and 5'6". Hard as nails though, used to carry big sacks of coal around like they were nothing.

Mind you, he was pretty average sized in our village

I think that a lot of it has to do with the professional era.the transition players that moved from amateur to professional have all gone.

The crop of players we now have, have always played the game at top flight as professionals.

It's always satisfying when a little country does well compared to a big country. That is never going to end.

I am a massive rugby fan. Was working in a male dominated environment in London during the six nations this year. Big rugger buggers. Gleeful rivalry during that. Im irish. But certainly there was an assumption that England were the ones to beat. Turns out Ireland won and them fecking Welsh were the only ones to beat us.
As an irish person I would always support Scotland or wales. Similar histories. We weren't allowed speak our language either.
In this war, as I see rugby as war as opposed to poncing around passing a ball and my what thighs they have!
If ireland go out I will be supporting wales all the way. They are looking good.
Nz? Bastards need to be taken out!

SoDiana

This little country taking out a bigger one is amusing and rather selective. Which country has pretty much the most successful rugby team in the world and is pretty much favourites wherever they play? Tiny (bastards) New Zealand - population under 4.5 million, less than Scotland (5.5 million).

My DCs state primary plays mixed tag rugby and the state secondary one of my other DC attends rugby and cricket at a fairly high level - produced one of the current England players.

My primary aged DS refuses to go anywhere near a football pitch/club and is much happier at a rugby club - ironically he is a gentle soul and I think it's the culture and lack of respect and discipline in football he hates. I think (in my limited experience) there is a better team ethic in grass roots rugby. He might stop when it becomes full contact though!

But in nz it's their national game.

and also are NZ even semi successful in any other sport? As well as a Rugby team, Scotland is sitting at No 40 in the world football rankings compared to NZ, NZ are 6th in the Cricket rankings.......Scotland have a cricket team :o

We have world class tennis player, cyclists and many Olympians - we do not bad for a country that has an appalling health record, shite weather most of the year so outside sport is limited, and still a lack of encouragement and facilities.

sorry NZ are at 148 in the football rankings - missed putting that in.

Pretty sure I remember Scotland winning Elephant Polo World Cup a couple of years ago :)

Course Wales are currently fab at football too thanks mainly to Gareth Bale.

Myth I'm sorry but I find the "lovely team spirited respectful rugby kids/ horrid undisciplined rabble football kids" cliches really really tedious and inaccurate.

Stoorie - then we are, in fact, the people!

Scotland are clearly just spreading our talents too thinly or in the wrong places :)

We should do what the US do and invent a new sport that only we play and then declare it the World Cup bet we'd still get beaten though :o

Myth I'm sorry but I find the "lovely team spirited respectful rugby kids/ horrid undisciplined rabble football kids" cliches really really tedious and inaccurate.
Cannot agree more. Have taught both at school. Snobbery at its worst

Its banter and the English do the same back to us?? I dont think people mean it in a mean way? Not that im interested really, im not that into sport but ido see it both ways. Actually, the only things ive seen against the english team are from the welsh and welsh memes etc on fb. I did however hear Chris Evans on radio 2 this am talking about it with the sports guy. Chris said he was gona now support wales and the sports guy said he would support wales or new zealand. Chris and the sports guy then went on to make jokes about the fact they wont be supporting Scotland. Oh and earlier today i had said to my partner (who is a massive rugby fan) that England are the only host nation to bot make it further than the group stages. He was actually sad about it because he says it means rugby might not get so much interest especially getting young folk into the game. So please dont tarnish us all with the same brush. Btw...when Andy Murray wins a tennis match he is British and when he loses he's Scottish. Yeh, we noticed ;)

Its just what happens. Fulham gloats when chelsea loses and vice versa round here.

NZ are good at netball too. Then it's all sailing rowing and equestrian.

We're just good at being tenacious bastards who get everywhere and into everything except for football/soccer because well rugby