Gary Armstrong pictured above playing for Scotland on 3rd. February 1990.
Photograph George Herringshaw. ©
(Part 1) 1988-1991.
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First capped as a 22 year old against Australia at Murrayfield in 1988, Gary Armstrong had an extraordinary international career which came almost full circle when it ended 11 years later on a damp, dark night under the lights at Murrayfield against New Zealand in the quarter-final of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The Jedforest scrum-half made his international bow just eight months after club mate Roy Laidlaw had finished his own illustrious test career, winning the last of his 47 caps in a 9-6 defeat against England. The generous Laidlaw switched to stand-off at club level to allow young Gary the chance to develop at scrum-half and such was his progress that he became an automatic choice for Scotland for the next four seasons, playing a key part in the very successful Scottish side of the late eighties and early nineties. A try scorer on his Five Nations debut versus Wales at the end of the season both he and fellow international debutant and half back partner Craig Chalmers toured with the 1989 Lions to Australia. Although Armstrong did not make the test side the experience was invaluable and he played a vital role in securing a third Gram Slam for Scotland, which culminated in the classic winner-takes-all clash against the Auld Enemy at Murrayfield on 17 March 1990. He toured New Zealand in 1990 when Scotland narrowly missed claiming the scalp of the All Blacks in their own backyard in the second test in Auckland, outscoring them by two tries to one but ultimately going down 21-18. A mixed season followed in 1991 when the Five Nations champions finished third in the table but were rejuvenated by the time of the Rugby World Cup and strode confidently into the semi-final, for a repeat shoot out against England this time for a place in the World Cup final. Unfortunately for Scotland they could not repeat the heroics of 1990 and lost narrowly by 9-6. (Nick Oswald)
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Gary Armstrong playing for Scotland on 5th. November 1994. Image G.Herringshaw. ©
(Part 2) 1992-1999.
| Gary Armstrong had established himself as a pugnacious and tough competitor at the very highest level, playing very much as an auxiliary flanker. Although his passing was not his strongest suit he posed a constant threat to opposition back rows with his sharp incisive breaks and a devastating hand off. So it was a bitter personal blow when his rugby career was wrecked by not one but two potentially career ending knee injuries in first 1992 and then 1995, causing him to miss the entirety of those two international seasons. In between time Gary added 6 caps to his total in the 1993 and '94 Five Nations, winning games against Ireland and Wales at Murrayfield in '93. During his time away from the international arena two new top class scrum-halves had emerged in Andy Nicol and Bryan Redpath and the three of them, who all captained Scotland, enjoyed a battle royal over many seasons for the number nine shirt. Armstrong returned to the national shirt on the 1996 tour to New Zealand, playing in both tests, and led Scotland for the first time in the 1998 Five Nations. After missing four matches he returned as captain for the 1999 championship season and led Scotland to a brilliant if unexpected Five Nations title. Scotland played some thrilling rugby with the midfield of Townsend, Leslie and Tait setting the tournament alight, peaking with the five-try demolition of France in Paris. When the following day Scott Gibbs scored a late try to beat England at Wembley, Wales handed the last Five Nations title to Scotland. Armstrong then had the honour of leading Scotland in the World Cup, winning his 50th cap against Samoa before bringing down the curtain on his international career against a Jonah Lomu inspired New Zealand in the quarter-final. He returned to finish his playing career in Scotland, leading the fledgling Borders professional side for two seasons and passing on his vast experience to a new wave of Scottish players, most notably to Chris Cusiter who established himself quickly as a scrum-half of real class in the test arena. (Nick Oswald) |