Match Thread: England V Scotland, Twickenham, Sat 14 March 17:00, RTE/BBC

sydthebeat · 13-03-2015 10:47pm #1

Venue: Twickenham Date: 14 March 2015 Kick-off: 17:00 GMT Coverage: Watch live on RTE 2, BBC One, BBC One HD, online, tablets, mobiles and BBC Sport app from 16:30 GMT; listen on BBC Radio 5 Live; text commentary on BBC Sport website.

England

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Scotland

“You are hereby ordered to fall upon the rebels, the McDonalds of Glenco, and put all to the sword under seventy. You are to have a special care that the old Fox and his sons doe upon no account escape your hands, you are to secure all the avenues that no man escape. This you are to putt in execution at fyve of the clock precisely; and by that time, or very shortly after it, I'll strive to be att you with a stronger party: if I doe not come to you att fyve, you are not to tarry for me, but to fall on. This is by the Kings speciall command, for the good & safety of the Country, that these miscreants be cutt off root and branch. See that this be putt in execution without feud or favour, else you may expect to be dealt with as one not true to King nor Government, nor a man fitt to carry Commissione in the Kings service. Expecting you will not faill in the fulfilling hereof, as you love your selfe, I subscribe these with my hand att Balicholis Feb: 12, 1692”

And thus was instigated “The Massacre of Glencoe” one of the darkest, tragic events in Scottish history, where a whole clan of McDonalds were slain over the night of Februray 13 1692.
There are many who fear a similar planned execution of Scottish warriors at 5:00pm on March 14 2015, by a ravenous horde of English battlers, still carrying the scars of an emphatic tactical defeat by the militant army of Hibernia.
This English bear is wounded and sore. They were so clinically disassembled by the Irish they would have had serious self-reflection to ponder over the past fortnight. Just how did Ireland make them look so meek? Where was the famous English power play at ruck time, where Ireland managed an incredible 98% success rate on their own ball? Haskell was impotent, Robshaw was shackled and their 4 to 7 were restricted to just 16 runs between them, compared to double that of their competitors.

Scotland, oh what could have been??
Starting with a valiant 7 point defeat in Paris where they absolutely played the best rugby, then to a 3 point defeat at home to wales where a controversial referring decision and some stupid indiscipline cost them any hope of the victory. The script said that they would iron the cracks out against Italy, open them up with the running rugby that was evident in the first two games and lay down a marker that the Vern Cotter era was paying dividends…. The script was not so much ripped up and used to wipe the Italian hoops. Rubbish defending and ill discipline again cost them, despite how much they may argue that a very harsh ban for Russell was a mitigating factor. The Scotland Bear is also wounded, but alas I fear fatally so.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes (Turn and face the strain)
Poor Scotland, just when they seem to be adopting an attractive expansive style of play they suffer the loss of an important cog in Alex Dunbar. The Edinburgh centre, Matt Scott, comes in to deputise but is no replacement. His two tries in his last outing against Treviso probably flatters to deceive a distinctly average 2015 so far… and for the 37 minutes of six nations rugby hes played this season, hes carried for a total of 7 meters. Adam Ashe returns to the bench. Big Jim to second row again in place of the lesser Gray.

For England Kruis gets dropped completely as Lawes comes straight back in and Parling takes the bench spot. Tom Wood makes his return and expect him to explode from the bench. Mike Browne takes the 15 jersey and is probably still schooling Goode on how he would have caught that kick.
England are so stoked for this game it has been reported that in a training game, refereed by JP Doyle, where the first XV took on the second XV, the game had to be called off before full time… such was the ferocity of the hits that Lancaster was fearful of a significant injury.

So how can Scotland win this??
well if they start with .... ah no, theres no point kidding myself... Scotland will not win this. The bookies have England -16 and i think thats very generous on Scotland.

it wont be pleasant viewing if your a scot.

Im going England by over 25 points

Neil3030 · 14-03-2015 2:58am

Against Italy, Scotland demonstrated how creative they are in conjuring up novel ways to humiliate themselves.

I am now convinced it's a sex thing.

England by 40+

English Lurker · 14-03-2015 3:17am

Takes a fine mind to put a gloss of humour on an incipient beating. I wouldn't be surprised to see England muck this up and it ending up a lot closer, but it'll still probably be a win. There's an ugly disparity in the front rows for my money and I'm somewhat surprised John Barclay's been left down in the valleys, must be some story I've missed there.

stephen_n · 14-03-2015 8:53am

Scotland will be Scotland, an annoying pain in the arse, living off side, slowing down ruck ball and generally disrupting England as much as possible. For all the expansive play Cotter is trying to bring, that's the DNA of Scottish rugby, they will be fired up against sasanach's as always and will probably frustrate for 60 mins but I'd fancy England to run in three tries in the last 20 minutes.

vienne86 · 14-03-2015 9:23am

Very hard to get excited about this match. But I have been thinking since the start of the tournament that Scotland cold be a banana skin for someone. I really can't see England NOT thrashing them today, but maybe Scotland will make it difficult for them.

14-03-2015 9:39am

Brilliant write Up. The intro was "RTEesque"

Losty Dublin · 14-03-2015 11:53am

Seriously, I can see England running up 50+ points on Scotland. It will be uglier than Rod Stewart in drag.

Taco Corp · 14-03-2015 4:57pm

Here's hoping for an unlikely Scotland win

kksaints · 14-03-2015 4:58pm

Horrible version of Flower of Scotland there.

Losty Dublin · 14-03-2015 4:58pm

Worst anthem singing ever, Scotland.

BunkMoreland · 14-03-2015 4:58pm

Out of sync on the Scottish anthem. Not a good start.

Sever Tomorrow · 14-03-2015 5:01pm

Hell of a start from England.

vienne86 · 14-03-2015 5:01pm

Oh Lord.....England look like getting over the line already.

lochderg · 14-03-2015 5:02pm

just listened to God Save Our Queen -c'mon England -for Christ's sake- get a friggin decent anthem-that one is chronic

Fireball07 · 14-03-2015 5:02pm

Great start from England but Scotland survive.

Have to support Scotland now, after losing to Wales.

Fireball07 · 14-03-2015 5:04pm

Jonathan Joseph again. Too easy.

vienne86 · 14-03-2015 5:05pm

Ugh - try England already. This'll be hard to watch.

kksaints · 14-03-2015 5:05pm

So easy.

Pudsy33 · 14-03-2015 5:05pm

Where the **** is Matt Scott going

Dangerous Man · 14-03-2015 5:06pm

Oh Scotland...

rayself · 14-03-2015 5:12pm

That was an early try could be big points match

rayself · 14-03-2015 5:13pm

Could effect the result this year as looks like it might go down to points again

Fireball07 · 14-03-2015 5:14pm

What are Scotland doing? Who the fcuk was that idiot who got in Laidlaw's way?

vienne86 · 14-03-2015 5:15pm

Scotland playing like a team in the Pro12.

Pudsy33 · 14-03-2015 5:15pm

Christ Scotland are so infuriating

matthew8 · 14-03-2015 5:15pm

Looks like England have gone out there with a big score in mind. Looks like we'll need France to do us a favour.

Dangerous Man · 14-03-2015 5:15pm

Scotland are... just... what? I was hoping they'd keep England close but it looks really, really, REALLY bad already.

Fireball07 · 14-03-2015 5:17pm

Excellent! Much better scrum from Scotland that time, locked it out at first.

Fireball07 · 14-03-2015 5:19pm

Nowell looking very lively so far but England's execution in the 22 has been shocking so far. Scotland have been so error-prone, but England haven't taken full advantage yet. Scotland need some leadership though, need to wake up.