ENGLAND ON FIRE, SCOTLAND CRUMBLING

 

Well after the first round of 2008 Six Nations matches, neither England nor Scotland had much to talk about. Wales had managed to conquer Twickenham for the first time in a generation. France conquering Murrayfield is a more regular occurance but still a downer for Scotland fans, particularly with an overhauled French squad. So both sides had something to prove in their following games as they sought to return to the form they should expect given the quality of players available.

England's first stop was the Stadio Flaminio to play Italy. Sackey opened the scoring for England with Johnny converting with Italy replying with two David Bortolussi penalties. Flood then got England's second try which Johnny converted before adding two pens before half time. It was the Azzuri's show in the second half though. Bortolussi and Johnny kicked two pens each before the Italian kicker was able to convert a Simon Picone try. Still, England held on to win 23-19.

Then it was to the Stade de France with the men in white hoping to get out of Paris with a Six Nations win for the first time since 2000! The result was nothing short of awesome. Again England opened the game with Johnny converting a Sackey try before the class kicker added a pen before France could even get on the scoreboard. Les Bleus replied with Damien Traille converting a Lionel Nallet try. Johnny kicked another pen to give England breathing space before half time then Traille pulled three points back with a pen. Johnny then grabbed a drop goal and pen, France could only reply with a Dimitri Yashvilli pen and then England finished the game off with a try from debutant Richard Wigglesworth, converted by Johnny to take England back accross the channel with a 24-13 win in their pocket!

As for Scotland, well they started with a trip to the Millenium Stadium to face Wales, looking for their first win in Cardiff since '02. Well Patterson opened the scoring with a pen but not much else went right for the Scots. James Hook converted a Shane Williams try and added a pen and though Patterson kicked his next two pens, Hook responded by converting a try of his own. Patterson got two more pens but then Stephen Jones took over for Wales, getting a try and two pens and Wales came out with a 35-10 win.

Next stop for Frank Hadden's men was Croke Park where they looked for their first win in Ireland for a decade! And though Scotland ran the early stages of the match, the men in green had other ideas! David Wallace opened the scoring with a Ronan O'Gara converted try and with Scotland only able to reply with a Patterson pen, O'Gara converted a Robert Kearney try soon after. Patterson got another pen but needed to hit the ground running in the second half. That honour went to Ireland though, Marcus Horan getting a try and O'Gara adding a pen before Scotland got a word in edgeways with Patterson converting a Webster try. After that though it was all-Ireland, Tommy Bowe getting two tries, O'Gara getting one of them and Ireland won 34-13.

Elsewhere, France beat Ireland 26-21 at the Stade de France with the French running the first before before Ireland managed to run the French close in the second half. Wales then beat Italy 47-8 at the Millenium Stadium, a serious reality check for the Azzuri who looked like they might make it a close game at one point but then got utterly outclassed by a Welsh side that have come out of nowhere under Warren Gatland to still be in the running for a second Grand Slam this decade!

So, Scotland remain on course for the wooden spoon. England however a four points ahead of them. That only puts them fourth in the table but still only two points behind the all-conquering Wales and well in the title mixer for what could yet be anyone's tournament!

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