After many years in the rugby wilderness, Scotland is finally showing signs that it can produce players in the mould of David Sole and Gavin Hastings with the emergence of the virtually unstoppable winger Sean Lamont. New coach Frank Hadden has produced some good results with an extremely young squad, whose fitness will be a key factor in 2007. Scotland’s improved performance is linked with a policy change that has enabled the national squad to enjoy a higher level of professionalism. So expect to see skipper Jason White leading out a confident side buoyed by rejuvenated home support as Scotland test their mettle against New Zealand at Murrayfield in their second game of the Rugby World Cup 2007.

St Étienne :
Situated in the Rhône-Alpes region, St Étienne is a charming city filled with many architectural treasures,delightful parks and modern attractions such as Astronef, a state-of-the-art planetarium featuring the only space simulator in France. In the heart of the city is the Place du Peuple, St Etienne’s bustling commercial centre, filled with boutiques, open markets, cafés, bars and restaurants. For a great way to see the sights and get inside information on the best bars and restaurants take advantage of guided walking tours provided free of charge by the St Etienne Tourist Board. Further afield you’ll find many areas of outstanding natural beauty, including the wonderful old volcano, Le Puy de Dôme. The city’s stadium is the Geoffroy-Guichard, which holds up to 36, 000 spectators in close proximity to the pitch, creating the electric atmosphere that has given the stadium its nickname ‘the Green Cauldron’.

 

Edinburgh
Capital city and cultural centre of Scotland since the 15th century, Edinburgh is one of the most beautifully situated cities in the world. Flanked to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills – and affectionately known as the ‘Athens of the North’ by virtue of its impressive and individual architecture – Edinburgh is also renowned for its cobbled Royal Mile, which leads up from the Palace of Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle. The castle itself sits atop a craggy outcrop overlooking the immaculate gardens of Princes Street and the tempting shops, welcoming bars and great restaurants of the West End. Once a rugby stadium with the world’s largest capacity (104,000) Edinburgh’s famous Murrayfield today holds up to 67,500 spectators and is a magical venue defined by deafening noise,whistling wind and the ferociously passionate support of the home crowd.