The man who kicked away Scotland’s greatest chance of beating New Zealand will be at Murrayfield this afternoon, hoping against hope that this Scottish team can make history and finally put an end to his own tortured memories.

The All Blacks are in Edinburgh to play their 27th Test match against Scotland. Since 1905, they have never lost a single one.

There have been just two draws, a 0-0 thriller in 1964 and in 1983 a 25-all draw that was within an inch or two of what would have been Scotland’s most famous ever rugby victory.

With time just about up that November day at Murrayfield, Scottish wing Jim Pollock raced onto a kick through by centre David Johnston to score wide out.

Full-back Peter Dods lined up the conversion attempt about two metres in from touch.

“Aye, there was a fair bit of euphoria” Dods said with disingenuous humour this week from his home at Cloven Fords, three miles or so out into the country from his beloved Galashiels.

“Actually, the place was going mad. I knew full well what was resting on that kick. At the end of the day, you blank the noise and just try to get your concentration levels up.

“I hit the ball well and for a time it was touch and go whether it went through the posts. But it just faded to go over the posts, there was really nothing in it, it was so close.

“Of course, it would have made history but these things happen in games. Yes, the kick did miss the chance to win the game and make history. But you can’t blame just one kick. So it didn’t get me down that much. I was disappointed at the time but you move on.”

Dods has got a copy of the match on film.

It wasn’t televised live in the U.K. but a New Zealand TV crew gave him a copy of their broadcast back home. Has he watched it often?

“Once, that was all. I think it’s somewhere in a cupboard at my home but I couldn’t tell you where.

“I would just love the Scotland team on Saturday to end that unwanted record. But it’s a tough task. I suspect it’ll be the same old story, how long can we hold them out.”

In one sense, Dods had already done more than his duty that day. Scotland were out scored by three tries to one but five penalty goals by Dods kept chipping away at the All Blacks’ lead.

But in the end, it was the most important one of his life he missed, although that same season, just a few months later, his exemplary goal kicking helped steer Scotland to only the second Grand Slam in their history in the old Five Nations Championship.

But Dods knew then and he still insists that beating New Zealand is a special task, a matter of hard endeavour that is so often doomed to failure.

His words carry a warning for Ireland who tackle the All Blacks at Croke Park next Saturday.

“They’re still the hardest team to beat in world rugby and they always will be.

“There is no country or team better in the world at grinding out a win in tough circumstances. That deep desire to prevail is bred in them from youth.”

Canada dry of talent these days

Exactly how Canada justifies a fixture against Ireland at Thomond Park this afternoon, I’m not quite sure.

Those days when the courageous Canucks reached the quarter finals of a Rugby World Cup seem almost as lost in the mists of time as Northern Ireland’s appearance in the last eight of soccer’s World Cup.

Actually, the Canadians did it in 1991 after finishing second in a qualifying group with France, Romania and Fiji.

Sadly, the Canadians have followed countries like Romania and Samoa in declining from their halcyon days. In 1991, they eventually went out in the last eight to New Zealand, but only by 29pts to 13 thanks to the efforts of players like fly half Gareth Rees, full-back Mark Wyatt and inspirational forwards Al Charron and Norm Hadley.

These days, Canadian rugby has drifted back closer to its amateur roots. Professionalism has opened up a vast chasm between the leading countries and the rest. Canada won’t threaten any top notch professional country and therefore it’s daft pitting them against Ireland.

Declan Kidney’s men would have received a far tougher test against Fiji or Tonga. But by being lumped together as the Pacific Islands touring team, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are being denied the opportunity to grow stronger individually.

It’s a depressing trend because it’s clear what is happening. About seven countries – New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Wales, France, Ireland and England are so far ahead of every other, it’s a no contest when they meet lesser opposition.