Hi there Becs. Firstly jus tto sa yI hope your health is better?
Also just t oask you what you make of thsi poll I saw on Planet rugby.
The Poll results:
Scotland by a wisker 1214
England to edge it 710
The visitors to run riot 241
The hosts t owin big 236
To close to call 179
Surely this can't be right. England would have to be favourites! I admit I do not watch these NH games so I have to be unaware of something.
This will be a highly motivated Eng team with the new coach,captain et al.They will want to restore the honour thrown away by their world cup counterparts.I dont see the Scots beating them but I dont think they will lose by much either.
Here's hoping the Scots halt the new England dawn.
Key weaknesses to overcome by England are their very ordinary pack. It just doesn't have the same level of power that we have come to expect from England. Scotland on the otherhand are extraordinarily powerful up front. The breakdown is the key facet of play to win tests and England are shockingly poor here. Again, Scotland win this area comfortably. Scrums and lineouts are something Scotland edges as well. England do possess a better backline though, but Scotland have shown an underrated ability to rip bigger sides open. England will need to be highly motivated. I would be very surprised if Scotland botch this one up.
Sadly, Beeno, my health is no better and they keep finding more problems which may or may not be solveable.
In answer to the question, yes, it would be true. Scotland are strong favourites tomorrow for many reasons. England have a new team and Coach. Some established players are injured. And Scotland are at home, where they have won for the past 8 matches against us.
So, all the signs would indicate that they should win. If they don't ? Well, that might just give them a huge wake up call.
Do I want them to win ? No, I don't and I would love to see some of these new players stay in the England side for a long time, if they stay fit and grow as I would hope they will.
It's a new era. No-one knows what will happen...just have to wait and see.
Three uncapped players in the England starting XV and I think only six players remain from the World Cup quater final defeat by France. Scotland playing at home of course will be an advantage and as Becs said Scot have won the last 8 matches. England may surprise us who knows. I have noticed some pundits still favour England, will be interesting.
