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16th Oct 2015

The Scottish rugby team are using Alex Ferguson to inspire them to World Cup glory

It's Fergie time

Ben Kiely

They must have figured Mel Gibson’s speeches from Braveheart have lost their zest considering… you know, everything that happened to him since.

Vern Cotter has a novel idea of inspiring his side ahead of their quarter-final clash against the Aussies on Sunday. The Scotland coach has adopted some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most famous quotes in an effort to get his side prepped for a shock win over the Wallabies.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 8:  Tommy Seymour of Scotand scores a try late in the second half during the International match between Scotland and Argentina at Murrayfield Stadium on November 8, 2014 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Cotter has apparently showed the team a stirring speech by the former Manchester United boss, in which the legendary boss said that big games can be won by “playing the game, not the occasion.”

Vernon told the Scottish Daily Mail: “Sir Alex has won a few trophies and is a very good man to listen to.

“We watched a video of one of his speeches from a conference he did in Glasgow and part of it was him giving advice on how to play in a final.

“The major part that stuck was to play the game not the occasion and that will be a big focus for us against Australia. That’s so important as we can’t get too carried away just because it’s the World Cup quarter-finals.”