RBS Six Nations Championship 2010

Calcutta Cup Clash 

Match Review Thoughts

Scotland v England

As Scotland ran onto the Murrayfield turf a loan Scottish Piper played high up on the roof, the pipes died away and the Scottish crowd sang Flower of Scotland  unaccompanied. I could feel the tingle of patriotism ripple around the ground.   That anthem stirred emotions and hearts and I must say in my opinion that was the best anthem I have heard sung this Six Nations.  Throw in a Nimrod fly past and it set up the game really well.   

Always, Always whatever the team they want to beat England, none more so than Scotland.  Age old rivalries linger and fester, most English taken away from sport don't have that deep sense of wanting the fight with the neighbours but on the Murrayfield turf you could almost sense those distant troops from eons gone by and Edward's Army being driven home again.  Aye to think again about how to score a TRY!

Shame the game turned out to be such a drag....... I can sum it up right now in a few words really, Try-less, nervy, handbags at times, injuries but above all lack of discipline.   But I promised to do a review so here we go.

Aerial ping pong started the first half off, Scotland held under England pressure and moved the ball well.  Within 5mins Scotland had a penalty which Dan Parks took with no problem at all.  England giving away penalty after penalty.  The English in the crowd found their voice after 10mins and started up Swing Low much to the annoyance of the Scottish crowd.

11min in England getting quick ball and for the first time looking dangerous, the finishing off and last pass being the problem, plus discipline.  I actually thought Joe Worsley put in some crunching tackles and answered some of his critics.

I know that Wilkinson would not be put off by the booing, but do we really want to see that in the game of rugby.  The difference on the continent is they have trumpets, drums etc., they make a noise but ........booing? Come you Scottish supporters you can do far better than that!

The Scrum was a disaster on both sides Stop, Start, Stop, Start and didn't the Ref., play well!  I saw more of him than Flutey!

It really was a awful game  score half time Scotland 9 v 6 England

Second Half:  Out the all came again, England wearing new whites and within seconds Scotland gave a penalty away and Wilkinson brought the game level again.

Starting to look like a real battle now we just needed swords and daggers but...... hand offs, punches (Hartley) , head banging and some massive hits did nicely, causing injury mayhem and masses of replacements. 

Englands Ben Foden jumps for a high balland won it!

I stopped writing at some point during the second half because frankly it was beginning to bore me to bits. England would get a penalty pull into the lead then some professional English player would do something stupid and hey presto penalty to Scotland and we were all square again.  Some awful injuries during the match and hopefully, Ugo Monye is ok. 

 Ugo Monye on the run and looking dangerous

Observation: The laws have changed, yes I agree but........all teams play to the same laws, yes they try to hoodwink the ref at times but and this is the BIG BUT.  The difference between when England were really good all those years ago 2001-3 was.... and I will spell it out just in case any player is looking.

DISCIPLINE

If a player is confident in his own ability, there is no need to transgress as he knows he can deal with whatever comes.  Until this England coaching team work more on the confidence aspect of the game and empower these players to believe in themselves, then they will give penalties away.  

We did have a couple of moments when I thought we might just break through and score a try but, there is that word again BUT.

I was so bored in that second half, I found the whole think tedious and a waste of my time.  Thank goodness we had not paid the £50 a ticket we were offered on the Friday night.  I live 110 miles from Murrayfield, we could have gone but hey I got better things to do with my money. 

So as Edward's Army straggles back over the boarder how apt that Hadrian's Wall (World Heritage Site) is being lit from end to end by a team of 500 volunteers holding flaming torches. Starting from Segedunum Roman Fort in Wallsend, the final beacon will be ignited at Bowness-on-Solway, on Cumbria's west coast. 

For those interested link here Hadrian's Wall 'line of light'

No doubt that will help them see their way home.  Never mind lads  there is always next time.......Heaven help England next week, Les Blues must be laughing and will be itching to put England to the guillotine.   

Scotland (9) 15
Pens: Parks 4 Drop-goals: Parks 
England (6) 15
Pens: Wilkinson 3, Flood 2

Scotland: Southwell; S Lamont, De Luca, Morrison, M Evans; Parks, Cusiter; Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hamilton, Kellock, Brown, Barclay, Beattie. 
Replacements: Danielli for Southwell (69), Godman for Parks (71), R Lawson for Cusiter (60), Cross for Jacobsen (71), S Lawson for Ford (65), Hines for Hamilton (51), MacDonald for Brown (55). 

England: D Armitage; Cueto, Tait, Flutey, Monye; Wilkinson, Care; Payne, Hartley, Cole, Deacon, Borthwick, Haskell, Worsley, Easter. 
Replacements: Foden for D Armitage (50), Youngs for Monye (55), Flood for Wilkinson (44), Thompson for Hartley (61), Wilson for Cole (77), Lawes for Deacon (73), Moody for Haskell (61).

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon

Related Articles:

• Scotland v England 2010 Calcutta Cup Match Preview
• Win a signed Centenary England Shirt