Quintin Dunlop's Test career was short and spectacular, comprising
a pair of wins in a week over England, he tells the Scotland on Sunday's Tom English.
""That's it there," he says, pointing to the sacred garment, the one he wore on 20 March, 1971 when he made his debut for Scotland at the age of 27 and played a part in their first victory at Twickenham in 33 years. Oh yes, history recalls Chris Rea's late, late try and Peter Brown's nerveless conversion and little more than that, but Dunlop was there all right. Proud as could be. Still is.
"He was there a week later, too. The 1971 season was odd in so many ways. It brought a momentous Scotland win over England in London and then another a week later in Edinburgh. It finished 26-6 in the Centenary International of 27 March. Five tries to none. The biggest winning margin in the fixture ever to that point. It was written that Scotland had never before played with such fire and craft, that it was peformance fit for a king and watched by a prince.
"The Prince of Wales was in attendance. Clueless, but watching all the same. Before the match, when introduced to the teams, he'd asked Alastair McHarg, the Test second-row of three years standing, a question that rather betrayed his innocence. "You're a forward - or something?" But even Charles would have been able to figure out the havoc that Scotland wreaked on England, a defeat that sparked some self-mocking humour that was best summed-up by their centre, Chris Wardlow - "I would like to make a pile of every kilt and bagpipe on which I could lay my hands and burn the lot" - and added to by Edward Heath at the post-match dinner. "I think I shall address you not as an Englishman but the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom," he smiled."
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