Friday, February 3, 2012

6 NATIONS TEST RUGBY: A New Look England

04.02.2012
England v Scotland at Murrayfield (6 Nations)

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Preview
How things have changed. The interim England coach, Stuart Lancaster, has swept the cupboard out and has named eight new players to test rugby, and thrown in a one-test player as the new captain. Risky stuff? Certainly, but I like the idea of a breath of fresh air in England rugby. It was much needed. All that remains is is there enough there to play a decent game of test rugby?

Scotland has presented much of the same old. Very little has changed since Scotland’s demise at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Same coach, same team, same results. Is there not such a depth of player talent in Scotland? Frankly I’m baffled.

It certainly will be a most interesting test match.

Last Five Encounters
01.10.2011 England 16-12 in Auckland (World Cup, Pool B)
13.02.2011 England 22-16 at Twickenham (6 Nations; Calcutta Cup)
13.03.2010 Drawn 15-15 at Murrayfield (6 Nations; Calcutta Cup)
21.03.2009 England 26-12 at Twickenham (6 Nations; Calcutta Cup)
08.03.2008 Scotland 15-9 at Murrayfield (6 Nations; Calcutta Cup)

England last won at Murrayfield in 2004, winning 35-13.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-England 8th, Scotland 9th
Europe Table-England 2nd, Scotland 3rd

Prediction: England by a couple of points

Teams

ENGLAND

2[1]

15   Benjamin Foden Northampton Saints
14   Christopher Ashton Northampton Saints
13   Bradley Barritt Saracens
12   Owen Farrell Saracens
11   David Strettle Saracens
10   Charles Hodgson Saracens
9   Benjamin Youngs Leicester Tigers
8   Phillip Dowson Northampton Saints
7   Christopher Robshaw (Capt.) Harlequins
6   Thomas Croft Leicester Tigers
5   Thomas Palmer Stade Francais, France
4   Mouritz Botha Saracens
3   Daniel Cole Leicester Tigers
2   Dylan Hartley Northampton Saints
1   Alexander Corbisiero London Irish
       
16   Robert Webber London Wasps
17   Matthew Stevens Saracens
18   Geoffrey Parling Leicester Tigers
19   Benjamin Morgan Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
20   Lee Dickson Northampton Saints
21   Jordan Turner-Hall Harlequins
22   Michael Brown Harlequins
       
    COACH: S.Lancaster

SCOTLAND

4[1]

15   Rory Lamont Glasgow Warriors
14   Lee Jones Edinburgh Rugby
13   Nicholas De Luca Edinburgh Rugby
12   Shuan Lamont Llanelly Scarlets, Wales
11   Max Evans Castres, France
10   Daniel Parks Cardiff Blues, Wales
9   Christopher Cusiter Glasgow Warriors
8   David Denton Edinburgh Rugby
7   Ross Rennie Edinburgh Rugby
6   Alasdair Strokosch Gloucester, England
5   James Hamilton Gloucester, England
4   Richard Gray Glasgow Warriors
3   Euan Murray Newcastle Falcons, England
2   Ross Ford (Capt) Edinburgh Rugby
1   Allan Jacobson Edinburgh Rugby
       
16   Scott Lawson Gloucester, England
17   Geoffrey Cross Edinburgh Rugby
18   Alastair Kellock Glasgow Warriors
19   John Barclay Glasgow Warriors
20   Michael Blair Edinburgh Rugby
21   Greig Laidlaw Edinburgh Rugby
22   Graeme Morrison Glasgow Warriors
       
    COACH: Andy Robinson

No comments:

Post a Comment