England Lost the Battle of Murrayfield & the Calcutta Cup - 2008

England Rugby could not be so low!  We have had a week of headlines that frankly we could have done without regardless of whether you agreed or did not agree with Ashton's decision.  However, the knives are well and truly out for Brian Ashton now, rather apt for the month of March don't you think?

First of all we must give credit to Scotland, they played with passion and mastered the conditions better than England ever did but most of all they wanted that win more than anything else.   Nothing else mattered to them, they had not won a match in this year's six nations and what better that a match against England for the Calcutta Cup to rouse the old flame inside.   Well played Scotland you deserved the win.

I remember sitting in the stands at Murrayfield (getting soaked to the skin) watching another England side who put on a similar performance during Clive Woodward's reign, remember this?  The year was 2000 the inaugural year of the RBS Six Nations and England on for the Grand Slam. 

The headlines read almost the same as today, the weather was horrendous  and England played like headless chickens that day as well. 

(Interestingly Wales were doing well that year and a certain Mr. Neil Jenkins broke two more international rugby records as the home side bounced back from their French defeat in style Wales 47-16 Italy)

Scotland celebrate their surprise win over England - RBS Six Nations 2000

Princess Anne waits to hand the trophy to the England team

"England were so shell-shocked that they even forget to collect the Six Nations trophy from HRH Princess Anne".

FAST FORWARD TO 2008

 Scotland 15 v England 9 - Calcutta Cup Match 2008

England and Scotland 2008, both kicked the ball away, both put high balls up in the hope of catching errors.  It worked sometimes but for a fan it was the most boring match to watch.  It was very similar (the kicking that is), to the ~2007 RWC Final.  

This kicking the ball down the middle of the park all the time just baffles me, what is the point?  They catch it, they run, hit a tackler or they send up another kick.   Ball in Hand, why can England not keep the ball in hand anymore and run with it?  Is that not what rugby was originally about, the ball was picked up and the player ran with it.  Why do we have so much endless kicking.   These tactics surely have to come from the coaching team.

England need a clear out not just with management but with player personnel also.  The start has to come with Brian Ashton and I personally would prefer he does the right thing and resign but if he needs to be shown the door then Rob Andrew has to earn his money now!

England need a fresh approach, let's get back to the flat line and absolute discipline on the field of play.  Let's see some passion, creativity and desire to win matches and let's see the Backs getting involved.  As fans please, let's be able to jump up and down and shout TRY, TRY, TRY for goodness sake!

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