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
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.