Scots to lose ‘unlucky’ tag
We are closing in on the start of the much-anticipated Six Nations campaign and Saturday throws up a monumental clash, as Scotland get set to take on the Auld Enemy England at Murrayfield (Scotland 11/8, draw 20/1 England 4/7).
This is the oldest fixture in international rugby union and this weekend’s encounter is set to be another intriguing battle, with Scotland having another great chance to cause an upset against England. Having not won in Edinburgh since 2004, Murrayfield has been a venue of slim pickings for English sides in recent years and the new crop of players will once again face a fiery atmosphere north of the border.
There are three new faces in the starting XV selected by interim head coach Stuart Lancaster, with Northampton Saints back-rower Phil Dowson coming in at No.8 and Saracens duo Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell both making their debuts in the centre.
This is a massive occasion for these debutants but what about the newly-appointed England captain Chris Robshaw?
The Harlequins flanker has enjoyed a strong season in the Aviva Premiership this term but 25-year-old has only had one previous cap for his country against Argentina. Scotland will be looking to make life very difficult for these fresh faces in the England (9/2 Six Nations outright) squad, who will not have gone through the rigours of a Calcutta Cup encounter before.
But the Scots will not want to focus too much on their opponents, as they hope to put right all the things that went wrong during the first World Cup campaign, where they did not reach the knockout stages of the competition.
If a rugby match was 75 minutes long, Scotland may well have topped their World Cup group in New Zealand last year. However a lack of concentration and a naivety ultimately cost the Scots a quarter-final place, with the side losing both crucial encounters to Argentina and England in the dying minutes.
Head coach Andy Robinson is looking to put the disappointment of the World Cup behind them but has stuck with many similar faces for this weekend’s clash. Edinburgh duo David Denton at No.8 and Lee Jones (12/1 first tryscorer) on the wing are set to make their debuts but this is a far more experienced Scotland side than their opponents on Saturday.
Lancaster has been brought in, on a short-term basis, for now, to bring a fresh look to English rugby after the debacle that was the World Cup Down Under. However the former Saxons coach may have attempted too many changes too soon, with a one cap skipper and a centre partnership with no international experience.
If Lancaster pulls this off he will have taken a big stride to becoming the permanent national coach but considering the experience, hunger and potential in this Scotland side, he and his England side might well be sent home to think again.
Saturday will also see France host Italy at the Stade Francais in what is set to be a very one-sided affair (France 1/33, draw 33/1, Italy 10/1).
The Italians caused a major upset in last year’s tournament with a surprising victory in Rome, however this will be a completely different prospect in Paris. Coach Marc Lievremont has gone by the wayside and Phillipe Saint-Andre has come in looking to put his stamp on the national side.
With the former Gloucester coach in charge of Les Bleus, France (6/4 Six Nations outright) will be serious challengers for the Six Nations title and the Azzurri should not pose too much of a problem on Saturday.
