England v Scotland Match Preview - Six Nations 09

RBS Six Nations 2009 - Saturday 21 March
ENGLAND v SCOTLAND
Match Preview

Why is it that this England supporter feels ten times more nervous about this upcoming game against Scotland, on the back of a thumping win the previous weekend, than he did before last weekend’s match against France? That’s what the Six Nations can do, throw form on its head and keep the viewer guessing as to the outcome of each game. France one week defeating and totally out-playing former Grand Slam champions Wales, the next turning in a hopeless performance against England at Twickenham, and when the championship was still on for them as well; that’s one of the reasons we watch rugby after all. I ask again, why can’t this England supporter shake the feeling that this could be Scotland’s game where it all clicks in place, in much the same was that ours did the week before?

Over the last few seasons, it’s become painstakingly obvious that England pull out their best performances when they enter a back-against-the-wall mentality and are getting slated by the media and the fans. Apart from the run up to the World Cup final in 2007, I can’t remember the last time England strung two good performances together in consecutive weeks. Remember last year? After everyone was gunning for their team they pulled out a sparkling performance to beat France in Paris, only to sink hopelessly in the mud against Scotland the following week. After being subjected to harsh words all week, they pulled out their best performance of the championship against Ireland and won very well. Same as 2007, England were hopeless against Ireland at Croke Park, only to pull out their best performance against France a week later, before slumping once again to Wales at Cardiff.

As Austin Healey recently pointed out, quite correctly, England need to learn how to start winning test matches when the chips aren’t down for a change, as well as winning matches well on the trot. That will be the sign that things are truly moving forward and as of yet we’ve seen no evidence of this since the Pacific Islanders game in the Autumn. Yes England have been getting better and better as each game as unfolded, but it will all come to nothing if they don’t regain the Calcutta Cup this weekend.

Delon Armitage continues to impress

England have named the same starting XV that impressed in beating France for the Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday. Fly-half Toby Flood and flanker Joe Worsley, who picked up injuries in the emphatic 34-10 victory over France on Sunday, are passed fit to play, however both will be subject to fitness tests later today. Gloucester centre Olly Barkley and Wasps’ Tom Rees have been placed on standby and the latter will likely take his place straight into the starting XV should Worsley fail his fitness test.

"We are confident both Joe and Toby will be fit," said England manager Martin Johnson. “It is a short week but when you win it makes things easier. We have not been able to train too much this week but the session went well this morning and we are confident they will be fit."

Johnson reserved praise for full-back Delon Armitage, who starred in the largely disappointing autumn internationals and has gone on to score three tries during the championship.
"Delon has been very good for us all season," said Johnson. “He has taken his chance fantastically well for a guy who was not in the original 64-man squad. You find your way in how you can and he has taken his chance."

The England lineout continues to function well

Scotland meanwhile have once again struggled this tournament: woeful against Wales, disappointing against a dismal France side, half-decent against a terrible Italy XV and unable to convert pressure into points against potential grand-slammers Ireland. They’ve missed the solidity in their pack from the Autumn that the likes of a fit and on form Euan Murray and Nathan Hines can bring, and their captain Mike Blair is having a disappointing competition. The burden of transforming their back play has been put on the Evans brothers by the entire nation, and whilst Thom in particular has shown glimpses of carrying on his best Glasgow form in a Scotland shirt, the pieces haven’t quite fit together enough to win test matches. Scotland have been playing well enough, but results have not gone their way. They are in a situation not too dissimilar to England before the France game, they just need a break and for things to suddenly click.

Head coach Frank Hadden has made one change to his starting line-up for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against England at Twickenham. Scott Gray, who scored a try against Italy earlier in the Six Nations, replaces John Barclay at flanker. Captain Mike Blair has overcome a back problem to take his place at scrum-half while Alasdair Strokosch and Thom Evans have also been passed fit.

For England, that winning mentality has to start now. After a dismal Autumn, ending up with a possible runner-up spot in the championship will certainly mark an improved overall performance, but in the long term, England need to show they can string together winning performances in back to back games. Having said that, it is amazing how one game can seem to double England’s prospective Lions tourist count. So much was good against France. Their endeavour and confidence to run the ball, especially from turnovers was pleasing to see; the setpiece, particularly the lineout continues to function very well; players continued to grow into their roles, with certain candidates being outstanding and quick ball was the order of the day. Johnson won’t be satisfied though, he will want better against Scotland, and it will have to be if England are to regain the Calcutta Cup.


England team to face Scotland at Twickenham:
D Armitage (London Irish); U Monye (Harlequins), M Tindall (Gloucester), R Flutey (Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Leicester), H Ellis (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), S Shaw (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins).
Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), J White (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), N Kennedy (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins), A Goode (Brive), M Tait (Sale Sharks).

Scotland team to face England at Twickenham:
C Paterson (Edinburgh); S Danielli (Ulster), M Evans (Glasgow), G Morrison (Glasgow), T Evans (Glasgow); P Godman (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh, capt); A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), J White (Sale), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester), S Gray (Northampton), S Taylor (Stade Francais).
Replacements: D Hall (Glasgow), M Low (Glasgow), N Hines (Perpignan), K Brown (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Perpignan), N De Luca (Edinburgh), H Southwell (Edinburgh).