DOUBLE BLOWOUT
Well last time around we faced Ireland at Croke Park and actually gave the men in green quite a match in their Gaelic sports cathedral. However we still wound up coming away empty handed after a 14-13 defeat with a late try proving too little too late. The last time we beat them though was back in '08 at Twickenham, with the men in white ending another dissapointing season on a high note after a dominant 33-10 win over an Ireland side whose stock was rising. Overall, well our record against the Irish isn't as good as it used to be and let's face it, they did come into this season's tournament as defending Grand Slam champions, still on home turf we usually do well against them.
And this time round we had something to brag about. Ireland were certainly not going to get back to back Grand Slams. England on the other hand, looked like they might still be in a position to do so. Slight problem though, the recent display against Italy was anything but inspiring so ultimately the match would be decided on which England side turned up. The men in green, not looking invincible, were there for the taking, particularly as on paper they weren't fielding their strongest lineup. Still, on home turf England were the side with more to prove. On this match, our title chances rested, even if an unusually quiet Twickers could have fooled you about that.
Well after a promising opening few minutes from England, the dumbest turnover of all time led to the men in green opening the scoring with a Tommy Bowe try. England replied by stepping it up and the result was a Johnny penalty. More attacking play from England followed but ultimately came to nothing and it was actually Ireland that got the next score with a Dave Sexton pen. An off form Johnny found his range again before half time but England were still unable to turn the game round before half time. England were 8-6 down at the whistle but weren't loking completely useless so it was a case of seeing if they could find an extra gear at half time.
Well England did reasonably in the early stages of the second half till a nitpicky ref gave a pen Ireland's way rather than England after a rumble. The men in green promptly put our backs against the wall, Paul O'Connell found a hole for Keith Earls who grabbed a try. England prompty replied though and drove the ball over the Irish line, Leicester man Dan Cole taking the credit for his first try for England, Johnny converting to level the match. Finally England took the lead when Johnny grabbed a drop goal. Yet somehow we let the Irish get away, with Bowe ripping through our defence to grab his second try, converted by Ronan O'Gara. Ireland left town with a 20-16 win.
Well last time around, Scotland faced Italy at Murrayfield and came up with one of the more solid wins of that campaign, doing the Azzurri in to the tune of 26-6 with the home side never really looking a threat to Frank Hadden's men. Last time they faced the Italians at the Stadio Fluminio was in '08 and things didn't go so well then, the Scots may have been leading at half time but still the Italians turned things round late on to win 23-20. For the last time the Italians were beaten by the Scots at the Stadio Fluminio, well you have to go back to '06 and even that encounter was a messy one. Still, the Scots avoided the wooden spoon with a 13-10 win.
This time around, well before the tournament, Andy Robinson looked like he might actually have his uses as Scotland coach. Slight problem, despite a solid performance against the French and an awesome performance against the Welsh, his side had yet to pick up a win. A long term injury for Chris Patterson wasn't going to do them any favours either. Yet this was a trip to the Stadio Fluminio to face Italy, another team who had yet to pick up a win, though they nearly mugged England last time around. Still, it was a must win for both teams with the loser almost certain to be handed the wooden spoon. It'll neither be the most glamourous fixture of the campaign but it's usually interesting.
It was a predictably messy start to the match and unfortunately for the Scots in was the Azzuri the got first blood, Mirco Bergamasco slotting first one pen then another. Eventually the Scots got an attack of their own going and Parks was there to pull three back. That score woke up the Scots who started to run the show for a while and another Parks pen levelled the scores. There was a great chance for the Scots to take the lead before half time but the penalty was blown and the score was 6-6 at the whistle. This was not really a vintage performance from either side and whoever could find that extra gear first would claim the honours this time around.
Unfortunately the Italians were again quicker on the draw with Bergamasco opening the half with another pen, but then Parks replied with a drop goal. The Scots XV was then overhauled but were soon left dodging bullets as the Italians tried to find a way through. Having survived, Parks then slotted a drop goal to give the Scots the lead for the first time in the game. Yet it was the Italians that had the last laugh, Gonzalo Canale fed Pablo Canavosio who burst through to grab the only try of the game. The Italians held on for a 16-12 win and the Roman local went suitably nuts. For Scotland, well, if they can't beat Italy then they deserve to get whitewashed.
Elsewhere, Wales faced France at the Millenium Stadium. Well France opened the scoring with an Alexis Pallison try converted by Morgan Parra who then added two pens before converting a Francois Trinh-Duc try. The Welsh were nowhere at half time. The home side finally got their act together in the second half with Stephen Jones grabbing two pens before converting a Lee Halfpenny try. Frederic Michelak turned back the clock to stop the rot with a pen before Parra game back with another pen of his own. Jones converted a Shane Willams try right at the end but it was too little too late and France won 26-20 to remain on course for the Grand Slam.
So the table looks like this. England are dropped two second place, two points behind France but still in with a shot at the title. Furtherdown, Scotland face the wooden spoon, two points adrift of nearest rivals Italy.
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