Scotland v England 2012 - Calcutta Cup

England - A new era yet again, this fan expects and demands results.  Come on England

RBS Six Nations 2012

Saturday 4th February - Kick Off 1700 - Murrayfield

Scotland v England

(Calcutta Cup)

Once again England Rugby ventures into a new management/coaching era!  Neutral onlookers maybe thinking that English Rugby appears to have turned into a shadowy version of England Football.  After all we can now boast as many managers since the heady days of 2003 and Sir Clive Woodward's reign.

Roll Call: 

1997- 2003 - Sir Clive Woodward, 

Oct 2004 - 2006 Andy Robinson,  

Dec 2006 - Jun 2008 Brian Ashton, 

Jul 2008 - Nov 2011 Martin Johnson 

and now 2012 - Stuart Lancaster (albeit temporarily)

Many of the players also have behaved in a loutish football manner and still appear to be offending if we take this last month and week's news into account but  it is good to see Stuart Lancaster taking a hard line just this last week.    

As an England Fan - I expect and demand more of the England management and players.  

They get paid good money, more money than most of us get paid for our daily work tasks and many men and women have to work long hard hours at jobs they dislike but cannot escape.   These fans use their hard earned cash to watch and support England. They look forward to good rugby, honour amongst the team and above all some pride in the shirt.   Not utter contempt that some players have shown over the last year with regards to their position and as to what they feel they can do and get away with.

Well as an England fan .......... I am telling you guys, it has to stop now!  You need to earn our respect again and you can start by winning the Calcutta Cup this Saturday, or a least putting on a damn good performance.

We have a new Captain in the Harlequins skipper Chris Robshaw and what a breath of fresh air he brings to the camp and squad. He said on his appointment "It’s a huge honour and a very proud day - hopefully one that will live in my memory for a long time to come. Thanks to everyone who has helped me, especially Quins,"

Come on Chris, go rattle a few cages and bang a few heads together, we are right behind you!

And to those new players in the camp/team I wish you the very best of luck and to the players who have been there done it and got the shirt.................................. don't you dare let us down. 

Do you hear England....... Do you hear!

Well it looks like a brand new look - Good Luck England & Bring it on!

Scotland: Rory Lamont, Lee Jones, Nick De Luca, Sean Lamont, Max Evans, Dan Parks, Chris Cusiter; David Denton, Ross Rennie, Alasdair Strokosch, Jim Hamilton, Richie Gray, Euan Murray, Ross Ford (Captain), Allan Jacobsen.

Replacements: Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, Alastair Kellock, John Barclay, Mike Blair, Greig Laidlaw, Graeme Morrison.

England:15 Ben Foden (Northampton Saints),14 Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints),13 Brad Barritt (Saracens)*,12 Owen Farrell (Saracens)*,11 David Strettle (Saracens),10 Charlie Hodgson  (Saracens), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers),1 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), 4 Mouritz Botha  (Saracens), 5 Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), 6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), 7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, Captain), 8 Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)*
Replacements
16 Rob Webber (London Wasps)*17 Matt Stevens (Saracens)18 Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)*, 19 Ben Morgan (Scarlets)*20 Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)*21 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)*, 22 Mike Brown (Harlequins)

*Uncapped