By way of a tribute to Scotland's inspirational lock Doddie Weir, who passed away last week, we decided to pick five great moments from the big man's career, at both international and club level...
Moment #1: Doddie scores twice against New Zealand
(Rugby World Cup, South Africa 1995)
Doddie notched 61 caps for his country. And at the 1995 World Cup, he became the only Scot to score two tries against New Zealand.
The sides' quarter-final meeting was a 78-point thriller. The All Blacks' rampaging winger Jonah Lomu gave the Scots a torrid time, but Weir's double helped restore pride — the 30 points they scored was the most they had managed in a Test without going on to win the game.
Moment #2: Doddie wins his first English Premiership title
(Newcastle Falcons, 1997-98)
When rugby turned professional in 1995, Newcastle United Football Club owner John Hall splashed out on second-tier outfit Gosforth. He renamed them the Falcons and his wealth propelled them all the way to the top of the game. One of their 'fantasy' signings, Doddie, was instrumental in their success.
Legendary commentator Bill McLaren once described the lock as being, “On the charge like a mad giraffe”. In 97-98, few could stop that charge.
Moment #3: "Mistaken identity"
(Lions Tour, 1997)
Those that knew him spoke about Doddie's sharp wit. That was highlighted in the documentary, 'Living with Lions,' which followed the British Lions' tour of South Africa in 1997. Questioned by a reporter on whether he broke an 11pm curfew, Weir's response had his teammates in stitches:
"Mistaken identity.”
Who could it have been then?
“My father is out on Tour."
Moment #4: Doddie lifts the Anglo-Welsh Cup
(Newcastle 30-27 Harlequins, Twickenham, 2001)
Back in 2001, Newcastle were once again the best team in the country. Coached by Rob Andrew, they boasted England stars Jonny Wilkinson and Jamie Noon, Samoan man-mountain Inga Tuigamala, Scotland scrum-half Gary Armstrong and Doddie Weir, the inspirational skipper.
He led the Falcons to one of the best moments in the club's history as they edged out Harlequins in a thrilling Tetley's Bitter Cup Final, with the Geordies scoring four tries to Quins' two (although the South West Londoners would claim that the touch judge got a close call wrong in the build-up to the decisive try).
#5: Doddie scores his only Five Nations try
(Scotland v Ireland, Murrayfield, 1997)
In 1989, Doddie made his only appearance for Scotland B playing against Ireland's second string. In his column in The Herald, Brian Meek wrote: "Melrose's Doddie Weir still looks like he should eat more porridge, but his jumping and catching are a joy to watch... and he gets about."
By the time he was playing for his country's first team in 1997, Doddie had certainly been on double helpings of porridge. And the power of those extra oats showed as he bundled past four Irish defenders to score his only Five Nations try.
