ENGLAND AND JONNY ARE BACK

 

(Image taken from BBC)

 

So, here we go again, the Six Nations are back for another round involving ancient historic rivalries that you'd have thought the various peoples involved would have moved on from...but given that in this format they involve some quality rugby as well, I'm not going to complain. France probably think of themselves as the team to beat and so the biggest question would be, who would have designs on beating them. Could it be England or maybe even Scotland?

Well the competition opens up with those two sides butting heads. Last year when that happened Scotland won a sludgy Murrayfield encounter 18-12. The last time England won was back in '05, England won by the much more decisive margin of 43-22 at Twickenham! Fact is, the Scots' record at Twickers doesn't make for good reading north of the border. They've never won south the border in my memory and the history books say that you have to go back to 1983 for a 22-12 win on 'Auld enemy' territory.

Then again, England didn't come into the match on good form by anyone's standards. Having only finished third in last year's tournament they then had that disasterous series over the winter. Exit Andy Robinson, enter Brian Ashton, Englishman who formerly coached Ireland. Re-enter Johnny Wilkinson for the first time since the '03 World Cup. The Scots certainly had a better winter and had shown some promise last year but this was Twickenham, always a mountain for them.

England kicked off and though the Scots survived the first attack, Lewsey surged over the tryline only for the video ref to not give the try. Jonny did kick a penalty over though to open the scoring. The Scots soon got their own attack going and Chris Patterson levelled the scores with a penalty of his own. Cue a Wilkinson drop goal pretty much right from the kick off! Scotland soon responded though and some moronic England defending from their own lineout allowed Simon Taylor through for the first try of the game, Patterson converted, Scotland led. Johnny fired in another long range kick though and a second one completed the turnaround. At which point England took over with Jason Robinson surging through like only he can for England's first try. England led 17-10 at half time.

An early Scottish attack in the second half gave Scotland a penalty which Patterson kicked over. England soon responded and Johnny collected another penalty. And the kicking legend then really showed he was back when he kicked a penalty over from his own half! At which point it was game over, Robinson collecting his second try after a Scottish defender couldn't keep hold of the ball, Johnny converted before getting set up by Harry Ellis for a try of his own which he converted! And then the Scots gave enough space for Marcus Lud to join the party. England allowed the Scots to get a try for Rob Dewey which Patterson converted but that was only a consolation. Final score 42-20 and England wise I'm very happy. What price a title?

Ireland might have 'something' to say about that as they faced Wales in the Millenium Stadium. Rory Best opened the scoring for the visitors early on only for Stephen Jones to turn things round with three penalties. Ireland retook the lead when Ronan O'Gara converted a Brian O'Driscoll try. O'Gara then went on to finish off the Welsh late on by converting his own try for Ireland to win the game 19-9. Decent result from Ireland though the performance doesn't sound like it was world beating.

The French in the meantime faced Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. David Skrela opened the scoring with a penalty before converting tries by Christophe Dominici and Cedric Heymans. Finally Italy got on the scoresheet with a Ramiro Pez penalty but the French just rumbled through. Sebastien Chaval got two tries, Skrela converting one of them before the French kicker converted a try from Yannick Jeuzion. Lionel Beauxis finished the Italians off with a penalty. Final score, 39-3. No surprises there.

So, after one week, France head the table with England in second. Behind them are Ireland in third, Wales in fourth and Scotland in fifth.

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