ENGLAND EARLY LEADERS, SCOTLAND FALL SHORT

 

 

It's time once again, for ancient rivalries to be settled over games of rugby. It's the 2009 Six Nations. Last time round England were coached by Brian Ashton and somehow came up with second place despite some disasters early on in the tournament. The last time we actually managed to win the tournament was with Clive Woodward in charge and that was the Grand Slam of '03. As for Scotland, well they dodged the wooden spoon by the skin of their teeth last time round. They have also never won the Six Nations as we currently know it, their best finishes have been two third places, the most recent one in '06. The last time they won the old Five Nations championship was in '99, despite seemingly never beining in contention for the title.

Last time around, England faced Italy at the Stadio Olimpico. Paul Sackey grabbed the opening try for England with Johnny Wilkinson converting. Italy replied with two David Bortolossi penalties. Toby Flood then got a second try for England which Johnny converted before adding two pens before half time. The second half involved Bortolossi and Johnny kicking two penalties each before the Azzurri took over before Simone Piccone got himself a try converted by Bortolossi. Still, the men in white won that particular encounter 23-19, continuing their 100% record against Italy in the competition. Still, that was one of the tighter games between the two sides.

This time round...well six years is a very long time. Martin Johnson, captain of our '03 side is now the coach of the men in white and the first matches of his career weren't the smoothest. So it would be a nutter that would bet on England winning the title this time around, we'll be doing well to match our second place in '08. First order of business this time around though are the Italians visiting Twickenham, now coached by former Springboks coach Nick Mallett. Riki Flutey was a new name in the England side, as was Sefon Armitage, younger brother of Delon who was one of our better players over the autumn. With Johnny running into yet more injury troubles though and Danny Cipriani unable to do the business, it was time to give Andy Goode another go at fly half.

Well England wound up benefitting from a selection messup that meant the Italian back division was completely useless which meant that Ellis could set up Goode to grubber kick through open space and score and convert his first ever international try. The Italian defense were then caught on the hop again as Haskell was able to feed Ellis who met no opposition whatsoever. England's third try came after Goode picked up a seriously dodgy Italian pass, booted it towards the try line and Flutey ran on to grab his first international try. The Italians finally got on the scoresheet through two penalties by Kiwi mercenary Don McLean but Goode added a penalty of his own and though McLean grabbed a second pen after one of our guys got sinbinned but England were still winning 22-6 at half time.

The Italians had the opening attack of the second half and at the other end were starting to frustrate England but again the men in white found holes in the Azzurri defence and Flutey fed Ellis to run through one of them, Goode converting. Italy certainly didn't look like turning it round but to be fair, England weren't firing on all cylinders either and a second sinbinning did not help. Finally the Azzuri's efforts paid off when it was England's turn to go headless and even then, Mirco Bergamasco only touched the ball over the line at the third time of asking. However, once again Italy game England another gap down the left flank and Cuetro came steaming through for the home side's fifth try, Goode converted and England won 36-11, the scoreline slightly flattering.

Last time around, Scotland had to face Wales at the Millenium Stadium. Frank Hadden's men may have opened the scoring but after that they pretty much got taken to the cleaners and the Welsh ended the game celebrating a 35-10 win. Murrayfied has been a more profitable stomping ground for the Scots though and the last time the Welsh were there was back in '07. The first half was certainly a scrappy affair and the Scots barely reached half time with a lead. They had much more control in the second half with the Welsh pretty much falling apart but still, the final scoreline of 21-9 said that this wasn't the classiest rugby match of all time.

This time around well, Wales were defending champions and therefore tournament favourites. Scotland for their part didn't look to have put on much of a surge since last year, and Hadden's crew opened up their Six Nations campaign with a load of injuries, forcing Jason White to play out of position for their Murrayfield opener while Edinburgh's Geoff Cross made his debut. Chris Patterson also didn't start the match, Phil Godman replacing him at fly half. The Welsh had had a very good autumn but knew full well that their Murrufield record was hit and miss and yet they needed the win if they were going to defend their title. This match looked doable for the Scots.

It was Wales that did all the early attacking and so deservedly opened the scoring with a Stephen Jones penalty. Scotland then started to get some attacks running with use of a forward battering ram but not only did that come to nothing, it led to injuries and a sinbinning for the home side. Wales made full use of their extra man though, the Scottish defence offering running rather than tackling resistance and a string of passes saw Tom Shanklin grab a try. More woe came for Scotland after some dodgy scrummaging, Michael Smith finding Alun Wyn-Jones for a second try. By this point Patterson had been belatedly introduced and grabbed a pen before his team came close to grabbing a try. It was Jones that had the last word of the half with a late pen though and Wales led 16-3 at the whistle.

Wales ripped through the Scottish defence within second of the second half starting, Daffyd Jones sent the ball to Shane Williams who found Lee Halfpenny who went over for Wales's third try. Patterson was able to pull a penalty back. That was just a drop in the ocean though with Mike Philips setting up Williams for yet another Welsh try, the Scots defence looking hopeless. It was Wales's turn to get a guy sinbinned though and the Scots attackers finally came up with something. The latest Scots-Kiwi Max Evans had come on as a sub and collected the ball out wide to run through for a try, Patterson converting. That triggered a late surge of Scottish form which should have led to a second try but the video ref said no. It would have been too little too late though, Wales won 26-13.

Well the Scots came out of their first encounter empty handed, the only thing they have to show for their efforts is that they don't hold the wooden spoon. That currently belongs to Italy who the Scots are level on points with but with a +12 match points difference advantage. As for England well they have no such concerns right now. They are not only two points ahead of the Scots but despite everything are actually top of the table right now. Their nearest challengers are Wales who are level on points with the men in white but England have a +12 match points difference advantage. I'll enjoy it while it lasts, chances are I'll get a serious reality check before this tournament is over.

Click here to go to 'other sports' archive

Comments go here

Click here to return to sports homepage

Click here to return to Matt G's homepage