SCOTLAND have good cause to feel confident going to Twickenham based on their home victories over Ireland and Wales.
However, the challenge they face comes more from their loss to France away, because England and France present very similar obstacles.
Scotland’s visits to Paris and London do not make for happy bedtime reading over the last 20 years – in fact, it’s the stuff of nightmares. That is why they have to get away from history were England and Scotland are concerned, and leave it for the classrooms, colleges and universities, or, where rugby is concerned, for the statisticians.The only thing they will need to focus on this Saturday is that rugby results are settled by 80 minutes of action on the field. Eddie Jones is already focused on that, and that is why he is trying to put the emphasis on Scotland, saying that there are big expectations on Vern Cotter’s side going into this Calcutta Cup clash.
Jones is trying to shift the focus onto the Scots because he knows that against Italy his side had a poor first half performance, and also that they have not yet produced a powerful display for the full 80 minutes in their previous three games in the 2017 Six Nations.
The gains Scotland have made mean they can now expect to beat any opposing team when they are at Murrayfield, and so far they have done that. Replicating it when they travel is another matter.
Overall, the Scottish pack doesn’t smash above its body weight in the collisions, and that means they have to excel in other areas – and they do. The work rate of the Gray brothers, Richie and Jonny, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson and Hamish Watson has been tremendous. They are not explosive in contact, but they keep digging away and their persistence often delivers quick ball.
The good tries the Scots have scored, such as those against Wales, was when they hit up the middle with urgency before moving the ball so that chances were created out wide for a dangerous back three featuring Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser, Tommy Seymour and Sean Maitland.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin March 05, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin March 05, 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Leaking 42 points at home is 'unforgivable'
DEFLATED Jamie George declared his side were not up to scratch after they slumped to another dismal defeat at England headquarters.
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.