Calcutta Cup: Scotland vs England, Sat 13 March 5pm Match Thread

thomond2006

RBS SIX NATIONS: Scotland v England
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh Date: Saturday 13 March Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC HD channel, Red Button and BBC Sport website; Listen on Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

VS

Scotland
H Southwell (Stade Francais); S Lamont (Scarlets), N De Luca (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), M Evans (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, captain);
A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton); J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow); K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), G Cross (Edinburgh), N Hines (Leinster), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), P Godman (Edinburgh), S Danielli (Ulster).

England
Delon Armitage; Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye; Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Care;
Tim Payne, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Louis Deacon, Steve Borthwick (captain); James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Nick Easter.

Replacements: Steve Thompson, David Wilson, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Moody, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Ben Foden.

Previous results:
2009: England 26 - 12 Scotland
2008: Scotland 15 - 9 England
2007: England 42 - 20 Scotland
2006: Scotland 18 - 12 England-

Overall Calcutta Cup wins:
England - 63 (55%)
Scotland - 39 (34%)
draw - 14 (12%)

The Teams:

Scotland: Andy Robinson has made one personnel change to the side that lost to Italy. Nick De Luca comes into outside centre to win his 16th cap, with Max Evans moving out to the wing in place of Simon Danielli, who drops to the bench. Rory Lawson, Geoff Cross and Alan MacDonald also come onto the bench, replacing the injured Mike Blair, Alasdair Dickinson and Alasdair Strokosch.

England: Martin Johnson has made two changes to the England XV that lost narrowly to Ireland. Joe Worsley moves from the bench to starting role, swapping with Lewis Moody. Louis Deacon comes into the second row, replacing the injured Simon Shaw. Ben Youngs is in line to win his first cap, he replaces Paul Hodgson on the bench. Steve Thompson and Courtney Lawes also appear among the substitutes.

The Coaches:

Andy Robinson: How Robbo would love to get a win for his former employers. He has rebuilt his career in Scotland and would become an adopted Scotsman if his side deliver the Calcutta Cup. This is probably his only opportunity to register points on the board, with a difficult trip to Dublin to follow. We have seen the best and worst of Robinson's side in this championship, now's it time for them to deliver a win.

Martin Johnson: Johnno won't make any new friends in the media by resisting the opportunity to inject fresh impetus into a side that badly needs it. He has gone with the tried and trusted and it's evident that the tried don't look capable delivering a perfomance, much like Ireland in 2008 under Eddie O'Sullivan. If England lose, they are staring 3 defeats in the face with a near impossible task in Paris to follow Murrayfield.

Key Battles:

John Barclay vs Joe Worsley: As always, the battle of the breakdown is likely to decide this game. The two opensides will be at heart of it. Barclay has been a relevation for Scotland, he is strong ball-carrier and a menace at the tackle area. Worsley has been brought in for Lewis Moody who is unlucky to be dropped. While he is not the best ball carrier Worsley, like Moody, will tackle his heart out for England. He was brought in last season to stop Wales' Jamie Roberts. He may be asked to play a similar role against Graeme Morrison.

Dan Parks vs Jonny Wilkinson: Dan Parks has come into the Scotland and has been an big improvement on Phil Godman. Like his team, we have seen the best and worst of Parks. He was majestic against Wales but he struggled in Rome. Wilkinson has been the biggest point of debate in the English media. He is a committed player but he has failed to to put his backline into space. Also his goalkicking has not been up to his usual standards. One must wonder how many average games he must have before he is dropped by former teammate Johnson.

Chris Cusiter vs Danny Care: In this championship, Cusiter has not played to the high standard that he set in the Autumn, when he displaced 2009 Lion Mike Blair. He is captain of a side who can't seem to buy a win at the moment. Danny Care has been England's form player in this championship and unlike Cusiter, he has talented rivals in the shape of Ben Youngs and Paul Hodgson who are vying for his position. Against Ireland, he was a constant threat in possession. It is crucial that Care asks questions of the Scottish backrow and makes the correct decisions under pressure.

Prediction: England's negative selection could be their undoing. Scotland are always a tough proposition at Murrayfield and they need to win this game to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon. Scotland by 5.

smurphy29

Yep, England's selection is pretty dreadful. Johnson clearly doesn't trust Foden and is sticking with his mis-firing back three. And it's a pondrous, lumbering, average pack. They're there for the taking, but can Scotland do it? Their back row is winning great reviews and they should have the edge at the breakdown but how are they going to put 20 points on the board? That back line looks a bit toothless.

I'm 50% looking forward to this one because it's nicely poised and a few reputations are on the line, but the other half of me is braced for death by aerial ping pong for 80 gruelling, seemingly unending minutes.

chupacabra

Every time i see Robinson:




I cant help but think of this guy from that 70's show:

corny

Scotland 4 penalties and 2 drop goals-England 3 penalties and 1 drop goal. Not to be missed!

More than a prediction though i don't think Scotland deserve 5 defeats (assuming we win against them of course).

thomond2006

corny wrote: »

More than a prediction though i don't think Scotland deserve 5 defeats (assuming we win against them of course).

Agreed.

Their first 60 minutes against Wales was the best I've ever seen a Scottish side play.

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

Agreed.

Their first 60 minutes against Wales was the best I've ever seen a Scottish side play.

Scotland have obviously offended the Gods of rugby by choosing an Englishman as a coach.;) It's the only explanation for their freakish bad luck this year. They've played some very good rugby thus far and certainly don't merit a wooden spoon. I'm backing them to put one over the English this weekend.

Danakin

Andy Robinson's expressions seem to be set on glum and he has rarely had an opportunity to change this in his international management career. Scotland have had incredibly bad luck and this has looked to me like their best chance of a win in the Championship (I actually thought Italy were likely to win in Rome as that is the game that they always target and their controlling and defensive style is best suited to playing Scotland).

What are England playing at though? Lewis Moody is a decent player and he looks like the only England forward who can consistently link with the backs if they attempt to play a more expansive game so they drop him?

For Joe Worsley. The man has given Dusatoir-esque tackling performances before but even by English standards he is a destructive and non-creative wing forward.

Judgement Day

toomevara wrote: »

Scotland have obviously offended the Gods of rugby by choosing an Englishman as a coach.;) It's the only explanation for their freakish bad luck this year. They've played some very good rugby thus far and certainly don't merit a wooden spoon. I'm backing them to put one over the English this weekend.

I reckon England will have their work cut out this weekend and while I want to see them win, a further loss might make them even more dangerous in Paris.

PhatPiggins

Scotlands backrow as a unit have been outstanding I can see them mincing the English one. MJ's selections get worse by the game, Deacon and Worsley starting dear God they wouldn't get a game for Italy

Looking forward to Scotland putting a hurting on them.

danthefan

Dropping Moody is hilarious, what the hell is Johnson thinking? Maybe he played 'too much rugby' against us or something, or maybe gave them too much quick ball that the players felt compelled to do something other than hoof it down the field.

If I was an England fan I would probably be in the depths of despair at the moment.

JustinDee

toomevara wrote: »

Scotland have obviously offended the Gods of rugby by choosing an Englishman as a coach.;) It's the only explanation for their freakish bad luck this year. They've played some very good rugby thus far and certainly don't merit a wooden spoon. I'm backing them to put one over the English this weekend.

Just say you're a team finding it tough to not only make it into the opposition's third of the field but into three-pointer range.
You then battle and battle your way up to the opposition try line. Give three attempts to break through for a score but your opposition keeps you out.

With the ball not even 2 metres off the opposition try line, do you:

A)
Plug away for more phases to go for the 7 points, even to move it to midfield and accomplish this? Not only scoring full points, ensuring win but running down the clock.

OR


Drop kick for three points?

I would have absolutely gone troppo had a team of mine taken option B. That lost them the game. The Italians put in a huge effort. It was nothing to do with bad luck. Bad decision making maybe but bad luck? Nah.

Otacon

danthefan wrote: »

If I was an England fan I would probably be in the depths of despair at the moment.

My boss is an English fan... and yes, he is. That is one of the stupidest decisions I have seen from Johnson. Moody is probably one of England's best performing forwards.

JustinDee

Otacon wrote: »

My boss is an English fan... and yes, he is. That is one of the stupidest decisions I have seen from Johnson. Moody is probably one of England's best performing forwards.

If anything it highlights England's planned tactics for the weekend ie. whallop the Aussie at no.10 for Scotland.

anonymous_joe

I'm getting worried now. I'm really praying Johnson doesn't do anything as stupid as dropping Moody for real. He could get fired! It'd be tragic for us if he got fired...

PhatPiggins

danthefan wrote: »

Dropping Moody is hilarious, what the hell is Johnson thinking? Maybe he played 'too much rugby' against us or something, or maybe gave them too much quick ball that the players felt compelled to do something other than hoof it down the field.

If I was an England fan I would probably be in the depths of despair at the moment.

When I first read that he'd been dropped I thought thats because he's moved to Bath!

Ridiculous I know.

toomevara

Worsley is Johnson's comfort blanket...he's terrified of the Scottish back row, and he's stuck Worsley in there to tackle them to a standstill. Limited, myopic and conservative...pretty much sums up MJ's reign this far.

toomevara

Bloody love flower of Scotland at Murray field...excellent rendition. Come on Scotland!

thomond2006

Johnnie Beattie is a beast.

3-0 Scotland

irishbucsfan

Oh god I hope Scotland win.

Maybe a little because its England (I'm tribal like that) but mostly because it would hopefully finally end Johnson's England career.

His backrow selection is AWFUL for this game. To drop Mad Dog Moodey, one of the form 7s in world rugby, is ridiculous. To retain the awful Armitage ahead of the young, exciting Foden is a slightly less horrifying decsion, but still its typical of an English management team who wouldn't know creativity or flair if it farted down their throat. There's plenty of players who should be in the team ahead of the players that have been picked, and they need to lose today (and lose Johnson) if they want to move forward.

Also, the Scottish back row is the form back row in the championship, and I love a good back row.

toomevara

Some nice enterprising play from Scotland....going for a line out, statement of intent hope they back it up.....

bleg

Scots are really up for this

Johnny86

Who is commentating along with george hamilton?

chupacabra

Scots are playing very lateral predictable rugby as usual. Good thing england are rubbish.

chupacabra

Johnny86 wrote: »

Who is commentating along with george hamilton?

Mark McDermott. Hes alright

wixfjord

Under 34.5 looking good so far. Utter ****e.

narwog81

compare atmosphere here with the awful silence in croke park.... murrayfield is rocking

chupacabra

narwog81 wrote: »

compare atmosphere here with the awful silence in croke park.... murrayfield is rocking

Have you ever been to croke park? You feel so far away from the action its like your watching it on tv. When we are back at lansdowne (as dissapointing as the attendance is) we will have a cracking atmosphere again.

toomevara

Scrum situation an absolute farce...Jonkers needs to get a grip.

thomond2006

9 - 6 HT.

As Toomy said, the scrum situation is farcical.

Come on Scotland!

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

9 - 6 HT.

As Toomy said, the scrum situation is farcical.

Well neither front row is binding correctly, hence the perpetual collapses and 3 minute scrums...a joke.

PhatPiggins

Crap Flood is on , Engalnd could win this now.

Dempsey

Anyone want to call over to my house, I got some really nice paint drying here, well worth the watch!! :pac:

Sill penalty to give away and let England back level without much work

Dempsey

Parks, you are going to upset me!!

EDIT

Both players are wrecked!!

irishbucsfan

I've never been this bored, yet excited in all my life.

Scary injury here

highgiant1985

nasty injury there....

Any one else watching the match on RTE? Who is the second commentator? Hes really annoying the match is bad enough with out having to listen to him.

toomevara

Lordy-lord, the horrible tedium of it....Is this really the best two fully professional national rugby teams can produce? Sigh....Youngs is on, reckon this guys going to be good., and with Foden/Flood on England have finally arrived at a interesting XV. 3 scrum halves in their backline....

Co45

Just shows how far behind we are when compared to the SH.

Anyone else think Andy Robinsons theatrics are unwarranted?

Aidric

Deleted User wrote: »

Anyone else think Andy Robinsons theatrics are unwarranted?

He's at it in every game, in stark contrast to every other coach. He's like a little kid throwing his toys out of the pram. It's just as well he's in his little box.
Andrew Cotters commentary for the BBC is incredibly grim, like the match wasn't bad enough.

Aidric

Aidric wrote: »

Andrew Cotters commentary for the BBC is incredibly grim, like the match wasn't bad enough.

Desperate. So sterile. I really miss RTE.

bleg

Ref is absolutely awful.

Aidric

Stupid from Parks. They could have recycled that and went for 7 imo.

The decision making from Parks is poor. Why not try your hand at a few phases of play? It may result in a try. A penalty advantage should be a last resort.

narwog81

lazarus rises from the dead!:D

toomevara

Good God, Scotland's back play is utterly incompetent. Embarrassingly awful game of rugby from two desperately poor teams. Neither deserve to win, neither deserve a draw.

Podge_irl

This may well be the worst game of rugby I have ever seen in my life.

bnt

BBC Commentator says "one mistake could settle this game", which sounds about right with 2mins left.

Imhof Tank

Is there a more annoying little bastard in rugby than Danny Care? See him patting the Scot 16 on the head after the penalty concession just there? Same with the penalty reversal incident with OLeary against us.

Despite the quality of the game the atmosphere is far superior to that of Croke park

chupacabra

game over? Had to leave with a few minutes to go

bleg

Race to the bottom