| Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date: Saturday, 4 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
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Gregor Townsend hasn’t simply gained the Calcutta Cup in his time as Scotland coach, he is saved it. He is taken a rivalry that was each bit as crushed up as an heirloom on The Restore Store and he is restored it. Three wins and one draw in opposition to England in 5 Checks on his watch? Townsend is Jay Blades.
For the longest time the document solely confirmed England win after England win after England win. 9 England wins in a row from 1991-1999. 5 wins in a row from 2001-2005. One other seven England victories in a row to 2017. Scotland had the satan’s personal job of scoring a strive to not thoughts obtain a win in a lot of these seasons. That final Calcutta Cup earlier than Townsend’s arrival ended 61-21 at Twickenham.
Scotland are in a greater place now than they’ve been in nearly 1 / 4 of a century, however that does not essentially imply something within the savage panorama of the Six Nations. Townsend has had some huge wins, however not sufficient of them to make Scotland contenders. His workforce has ended huge dropping runs at Twickenham and in Paris. They’ve gained in Australia. They’ve performed magnificently in near-victory in opposition to the All Blacks and have put 50 factors on Argentina. And but.
Scottish rugby followers have been asking for many years whether or not that is the yr. They’re most likely fed up asking now. The nice in Scotland is excellent, however for those who had a fiver for each time one of many workforce’s supporters mentioned that it is the hope that kills you then’d be residing subsequent to the seaside in Barbados by now.
The Calcutta Cup is the one pocket of consistency. For the reason that Grand Slam of 1990, Scotland have performed England 32 occasions within the championship plus one other two within the World Cup. Scotland have gained solely six of them. Townsend’s workforce accounts for 3 of the six.
All through the Scottish canine days we kidded ourselves that this was nonetheless one of many nice fixtures. How might it’s when the one uncertainty on most of these afternoons was not about who would win however by what number of factors England would win by?
Townsend turned all of that round. There’s quite a lot of stats flying round right here, however they paint an image, do not they? It is laborious to consider however their document in opposition to England within the final 5 championships is healthier than that of Eire, France and Wales. In that very same time-frame their document in opposition to England is healthier than South Africa’s and is the equal of New Zealand’s.
And right here we go once more. Having seen off Eddie Jones, Townsend is now going up in opposition to Steve Borthwick’s England. A primary Six Nations for Borthwick, likely the final for Townsend. The entire thing is epic and exhilarating.
There’s been a deafening silence within the preamble to Twickenham, a hush that was so usually stuffed by the sound of Jones’s pound store thoughts video games. “Scotland are red-hot favourites,” mentioned Jones this time final yr. “They’ve to hold that burden. That expectation of successful is a special stress to deal with and I am unsure how they deal with that.” Decently, because it turned out.
Borthwick is above the pantomime. A severe coach and a severely spectacular man, it is a tumultuous starting to his reign. He is been unlucky with accidents however all of the indicators are that after the wishy-washy days of his predecessor, England are going again to fundamentals with an influence recreation. Bullying Scotland will likely be on the coronary heart of what they’re going to attempt to do.
Thrilling and scary picks supply promise
On Thursday, Townsend made just a few shock calls in his workforce choice. We anticipated the defensive organiser, and Townsend favorite, Chris Harris at 13, however as an alternative the thrusting Huw Jones is in. That is each thrilling – Jones is an incredible attacker – and scary – all of Scotland’s huge wins have had Harris taking part in an enormous position as grasp of the resistance when waves of assault headed Scotland’s manner.
Harris is on the bench however one other mainstay of the Townsend years, Ali Worth, is out altogether. There was an expertise argument behind the choice of Worth, however a type argument gained the day. Ben White scored in opposition to England a yr in the past. George Horne, a whirling dervish taking part in the most effective rugby of his life, is back-up.
On the wing, Townsend has gone for Kyle Steyn, a sensible footballer and chief, over Sean Maitland. Not many would have referred to as that one, however Steyn is having a considerable season with a successful Glasgow. He is in a backline cruelly robbed of Darcy Graham, who was central to each of Scotland’s tries within the Calcutta Cup final yr whereas additionally successful the turnover on the finish that completed the sport.
Graham was one of many world’s greatest wings when he was taken out with damage, however that Scottish backline remains to be probably deadly. Jones and Sione Tuipulotu within the midfield with Finn Russell and White at half-back? Such promise there.
Scotland are with out Zander Fagerson for the cost of the white brigade. Of all of the gamers they did not need to lose, Fagerson would have been near high of the checklist. WP Nel, 36 happening 37, has the job of dealing with Ellis Genge. Simon Berghan, two begins for Edinburgh since final April, is his understudy. That is a purple flag on Scotland’s hopes proper there.
Scott Cummings has been lacking for therefore lengthy that you would nearly neglect how essential he was. In his absence, Richie Grey, making his first Six Nations begin in six years, is the reward that retains on giving. George Turner is as dynamic a hooker as you will discover however his lineout throwing beneath extreme stress is the weak point. Having a 19ft lock – or thereabouts – to throw at will make issues quite a bit simpler.
It is reflective of the strides made by Luke Crosbie that even when Hamish Watson was declared match, Crosbie would have been the selection of many at seven. He is a powerful roughhouse and you may’t have too a lot of them. His former Edinburgh coach, Richard Cockerill, is now on the England teaching ticket and he as soon as mentioned of Crosbie: “A thin fats man who got here in from the academy. Skinny upper-body, pot stomach, little skinny legs. Now he is excellent.”
It was a humorous line, however Cockerill lavished reward on the openside – and Cockerill did not do a complete lot of lavishing in his time in Scotland, or anyplace else.
Scotland look a greater workforce and a greater squad, however that does not essentially equate to victory. Six Nations rugby is about much more than uncooked expertise. It is about temperament and self-discipline and decision-making when the warmth is at its most intense.
Townsend’s workforce gained the Calcutta Cup final season regardless of having simply 37% territory. They spent 54 seconds in England’s 22 whereas England spent two-and-a-half minutes in Scotland’s 22. They conceded 13 penalties to England’s 10.
They gained as a result of Russell’s kicking recreation within the pivotal minutes simply after the hour – when Scotland trailed 17-10 – was majestic. They gained as a result of Sam Skinner stole an English lineout with two minutes to go. They gained as a result of, within the final play, Harris made a wonderful deal with on Elliot Daly and Graham’s pace of thought on the breakdown was faster than anyone else’s.
Scotland managed the massive moments higher than England. They’ve accomplished quite a lot of that beneath Townsend within the Calcutta Cup. Yet another victory they usually’ll be a step nearer to finding the Holy Grail. They need to be contenders. They should storm Twickenham to get issues began.
